His linen shirt was wet with perspiration as Storm Shaman worked at stretching his muscles. He pushed himself for just that little bit more. “Ahhh there we go” he thought, achieving a full stretch that put him flatly perpendicular to the floor. Holding that pose required discipline and tenacity but Shaman had those in abundance being of both Sho and Aluvian heritage. In the back of his mind came a familiar voice, “Shaman you need to help Karima in Lin, she has had difficulty recovering her body.” Storm’s Edge always seemed cheery even when delivering bad news. “On my way brother” Shaman calmly mentally replied. Physically however, Shaman’s adrenaline began pumping and he quickly began to assemble his gear.

Shaman’s hands moved rapidly but with practiced ease as he began to don his armor. Each piece fit him well and made him an even harder target to hit. Black plate leggings mesh snugly with his black sollerets. The cuirass molded itself to his chest and abdomen. The charcoal gray sleeves came next and the tingle from the boost in his endurance flooded his body. The silver gray gauntlets then were slid into place. Next he placed the charcoal gray imbued Helm of the Simulacra on his head. The feeling of enhanced invulnerability, impregnability and magic resistance made his heart race. The finishing touches come from his necklace of Focus, bracelets of rejuvenation and mana conversion, and his rings of regeneration and willpower. Their magic energies added to his heightened awareness and sense of urgency. The last thing was to draw his staff and cast spells that increased his quickness and mastery of the dagger. He enhanced his resistance to being slashed, pierced or bludgeoned. Lastly he cast spells to enhance his dagger, Earthfang. The obsidian blade absorbed the magical energies cast upon it and became capable of additional, faster damage per strike while enabling better defense of it’s wielder.

Quickly Shaman moved energy from his stamina to his mana and then drank a stamina potion to replenish the lost energy. Reaching out with his mind he found Karima assuring her that he was on his way. Summoning his magic once again, he recalls back to the portal linking him with Lin. Swirling purple and blue ethers surrounds him, and he feels the pull of the portal magic began moving him to Lin. As the portal mists clear, he grabs Earthfang, and the last piece of armor for him to be ready - the imbued Shield of the Simulacra. He was enveloped in additional magical energies that enhanced his strength, and coordination and increased his armor protection. Standing in the early morning sun, you could make out the dark blue trim on the helm and shield and the dark green sash around his cuirass. This was the only color in an otherwise metallic black gray background that was Storm Shaman – Dagger Master.

Shaman turned to go and meet Karima in town. As he did, the flash of movement running along the road towards him surprised him.

“Hey Storm” Karima said as she stopped and turned towards Shaman.

“Hello there” Shaman replied with a smile. “Corpse recovery team reporting for duty.”

“Team?” Karima inquired.

“Team of one right here” Shaman said.

“Ahhh” Karima replied.

“How many bodies are involved Karima?”

“Three now, I just got killed again and was running back when you came into Lin.”

“Well let’s go and get them so you can get your stuff back then we will work on your vitae.”

“Ok, but I do not know how much help I will be since I have no armor.”

“Leave them to me and you just get your bodies as they become uncovered.”

In agreement, Karima led Shaman to the area of her demise. It did not take long to see why there had been a problem. There were groups of vorous shreths very near reedsharks and they were close to mosswarts. Step in the wrong area and they would all swarm. Karima slowed and pointed out towards the shreths and sticking out from the haunches of one of them was her body. Shaman nodded and asked that Karima wait here.

Shaman ran into the group and struck with such speed the first shreth could not turn around before it was dead. The obsidian blade made short work of the remaining two when Shaman was pierced in his foot by an elder reedshark. Whirling in pain from the hit, Shaman’s blade bit deep into the leathery hide, and produces a yelp of pain from the reedshark. The next hit sent blood spurting high over the elder’s crested head. Shaman’s training was paying off and he now fell into a deadly rhythm that was beautifully efficient in dispatching his foes. Striding forward his arm slides by his shield long enough to hit twice and then retreats to safety behind the shield. Bodies of opponents are everywhere when Shaman stops and draws mightily from a stamina elixir. He looks for the next adversary and finds none.

“Wow that was awesome.” murmured Karima.

Shaman was glad he had his helmet on so Karima did not see his blushing. He sincerely replied “Thanks.” “Let’s get your stuff and get the next body” Shaman said shifting the subject. As he watched Karima bend down and pick up her belongings, he felt the sensation of his applied magics expiring from his weapon and armor. “I need to rebuff Karima.” Shaman said as he put Earthfang and shield away for a moment. Withdrawing his staff he felt the swirl of item magic mastery infusing him. Quickly he reapplied the enhancements to his weapon and then summoned life protections. Switching to another staff he felt the item mastery leave only to be replaced by creature mastery. He recast the spells for quickness and dagger mastery. Transferring energy from his stamina he renewed his mana, he then applied level one attribute enhancing spells to Karima. It was not much, but it helped some to offset the vitae induced reduction of her skills. Putting away the staff he brought out his dagger and shield. Downing two stamina elixirs he resumed a defensive crouch.

“Ready”

“As I can be” laughed Karima.

Shaman really admired Karima’s upbeat spirit in the face of adversity.

“Ok the next one should not be far away.” Shaman scanned the immediate area and then saw a group of monougas. Karima’s body was close to them. Not a problem Shaman though as he threw himself into the group. The monougas bellowed and began clubbing at him. Their crude clubs could find no holes in his defense. Earthfang did not have any problem finding theirs as Shaman began to wreak havoc on the three-eyed giant’s legs. The sound of a frostbolt landing on one of the monougas made Shaman smile. Karima had joined the fray. The monougas soon fell to their combined skills. Karima began retrieving her items and Shaman started to scan for the last body.

While expanding his search Shaman caught the flicker of a purple flash near Karima. Vorous shreths spawned right on top of her. She stood to fight but was immediately hit critically by the big beast’s powerful kick. Karima realized that with out armor or distance she could be killed. She turned to run and in doing so exposed her back to yet another kick, forcing the air from her lungs. Her legs seemed to take forever to start her running. On her third step away she heard the bellow from the shreth, and even smelled it’s fetid breath. Then pain exploded throughout her system, as the shreth with incredible speed, delivered the final crushing blow. Karima thought she felt a tingle as her spirit rushed to the lifestone in Lin.

Shaman was very quick but still too far away to be able engage the shreths. He put his dagger and shield away and withdrew his staff. Slow, oh so slowly, he went through the casting motions. As he fumbled with his spells, Karima was trying to run. He finally found the heal spell he needed, and set to cast it. The spell fizzled. Quickly recasting he looked up to see the healing spell arriving too late to save Karima.

“Curse Asheron and his portals.”

Shaman switched back to Earthfang and with his shield attacked without mercy destroying the shreths with rapid efficient motions. “Too little and much too late” Shaman grimly noted. Reaching out to Karima telepathically he asked if she was OK. She replied that she was and was running back to get her bodies. While he was acknowledging Karima, he once again withdrew his staff, and began to magically enhance his protections and weapon. After completing this, he was struck by the fact that they still did not know where the other body was located. Seeing no danger for Karima in the immediate area, Shaman moves further away searching for the other body.

Success was his when he moved to the southeast. Multiple spawn of mosswarts and armordillos were guarding the body. Shaman let Karima know he had found it and would make it safe. After sizing up the situation Shaman stilled his mind and sought the area of calm. With in the calm the only thing that he focused on was the existence of Earthfang. The black obsidian blade became one with him and he with it. There would be no obstacles between them and their mission.

Observed from the outside the encounter began with the dashing of a black armored figure right into the heart of the mosswart encampment. Enraged at the intrusion the mosswarts went at the figure with spell, sword, and spear. Chaos reigned as each tried to assault the Isparian. The sounds of battle rang out as the combatants sought to eliminate each other. Mosswarts screamed in wailing agony as the black dagger struck them. Spells of electricity mixed with gouts of acid followed by crackling bolts of flames as the mosswart shamans sought magical help in removing the Isparian. Now the armordillos spun in to attack the black figure, causing the metallic swishing of their scales to add an interesting counterpoint to the dull clanks of swords hitting a shield. Mosswart bodies soon were stacked around the Isparian and more were doomed to join the recently departed but still the mosswarts came. Purple flashes with characteristic whooshing reveal yet more attackers arriving through portals. The Isparian pauses to withdraw stamina potions and begins drinking them with loud swallows. Refreshed the deadly dagger resumes it’s action, and the mosswarts wail in their frustration and pain.

More purple flashes and the scene dissolves into visceral panoply of colors, each vying for your attention. At the center is a black figure in stark contrast to the white snow. Surrounding the figure is a moving sea of green interspersed with red and brown flashes. The glint of silver is presented by the weapons as the arc to and from their target. Purple, orange, and green glows as the mighty spells are launched. Brown and gold circles flashing from the armordillos attacks. The absolute black of the dagger blade surrounded in a plume of red haze as the blood sprays onto the snow. This entire kaleidoscope suddenly ceases as the last attacker falls and the black armored figure stands alone, victorious.

Karima having retrieved her most recent body comes upon a scene of destruction. There are 15 bodies laying in a circle and small treasure piles to indicate another additional 10 corpses use to be here, but had decomposed. She saw Shaman breathing hard and his breath visible from his helm. Shaman pointed to her corpse and said wistfully, “Your body is clear.” Karima looked over and picked up her belongings and just shook her head and said “Wow!” Shaman apologized for his slowness and failure to heal her earlier. Karima would hear none of it. “Look at this and apologize for nothing.” Shaman acquiesced to her wishes and they journeyed back to Lin.

Tired from vitae and the lateness of the day, Shaman and Karima bade each other good bye. After Karima left, Shaman ran up the hill to the Archmage’s shop and began to buy components that could be used in spells for others in both the creature and life disciplines. With the same single-mindedness that he had pursued the mastery of his obsidian dagger, Shaman now began to learn the arcane combinations that would insure he could help no matter what the situation the next time a friend needed assistance. As he had trained his body to become one with his dagger now he trained his mind to become one with his staff.

Practice slowly paid the dividends Shaman sought, as he was able to go to the third level of expertise in both life and creature spells, and then was able to push his item skills to their fourth level. Replacing the components used in learning Shaman recalled to his house. Even though his muscles were tired from the day’s events, and his mind was exhausted from the new spell learning, Storm Shaman smiled as he laid down on his bedroll. He would be more than ready for the next time another needed his assistance.

Storm Shaman
Dagger Master

Author’s note: My thanks to Karima for her indomitable spirit, and for showing me the need for balance.