By the time Nix arrived back at the Inn a few minutester, Gideon was sitting quietly with Rhy and Shae. The guild leader of Smander seemed very pleased to see him and shook his hand excitedly.
"I''m d to finally have found you, Nix!"
Nix grinned slyly, "the stowaway makes an appearance."
Shae weed him with a hug, holding onto his hand after she released him. "How''d it go?"
Nix nced at Rhy, his face free of expression. "Bad. There are lots of Air and Water Elementals that have already been drained of their essence."
Rhy''s dark eyes stared at him. "Is Wilo one of them?"
Nix nodded slowly. "I think so. I didn''t find her corpse, but the receiving crystal gave me an indication that her essence has already been drained and stored."
Rhy''s eyes shone with emotion; she paused for a long moment. "Whatever you need, Nix, we have to set this right."
"Thanks... It''s bad, but I haven''t given up on her yet." Nix smiled encouragingly, "we may still turn things around before it''s all said and done."
The silence went on for nearly a minute before Shae gestured to Gideon. "He picked up the Wood Element."
Nix studied the assassin carefully. Gideon seemed the same, but the proof was his presence in Elementia. "You followed us through the tunnel."
"I did," Gideon admitted.
"Good. I''m going to need your help." Nix patted him on the back. "You took a risk; truthfully, I like things like that. Taking chances often times yields unexpected results.
Gideon''s thoughts moved back toward Artemis, the overly friendly Goddess of the Woods. "You got that right."
Nix brought out three Orion puppets and sat them on the bed. "We''re going to need Inferno''s strongest elementals. I need names."
Shae and Rhy nced at each other. "Pon," they both spoke at the same time.
Nix nodded. "Yep, Pon, the Magnificent is on the list. Keep going, need four or five more."
Shae pursed her lips as she considered the options. "Fajii, Mt, and Mina."
Rhy nodded in agreement. "Ronnie isn''t far behind them."
"I need Ronnie actually, so let''s include her. Is Nether considered an Element?"
"Yes, it is." Shae''s warm brown eyes showed her amusement. "Finally going to expose your trump card?"
Nix frowned at the redhaired Smander. "Who says I have a trump card?"
"Don''t you?" She replied.
Nix didn''t answer, but instead took a seat on the floor. "I''m going to need everyone''s armor."
Shae pped her hands excitedly. "You learned some new stuff!"
Nixughed at her expression. "Maybe."
A few momentster, three separate sets of armor wereid on the floor in front of him. Shae was leaning over him, her red hair falling against the back of his neck. "Do me first!"
"Um... Some space Shae." Nix examined the three different armors. He''d already worked with Nether Breaker Armor when he did Bali''s.
Nether Breaker Armor: Leather
+100 to all Stats
+2000 to AC
Immune to Nether Effects
Immune to Control Effects
Dark Wind [Air Only: Growth Type]
+ 500 to Air Abilities.
+ 500 to Flight Speed.
+ 200 to all Stats.
+ 1000 AC.
Special Effect: Nether Wind.
Fire Archon [Shae Only: Growth Type]
All Fire Abilities are doubled.
+300 to all Stats.
+3000 AC.
+ 500 to Mana Regeneration.
+ 500 to Health Regeneration.
Nix shook his head at the Archon Armor. "This is really good. Going to put a Camo-Ovey, then on to the good stuff." Nix started the queue while the three other upants moved away and pretended they weren''t staring.
[Shae] [Camo-Ovey] [Camouge Fabric V] [ Fire Archon Armor] [ Ice Dragon Leather] [Lamia Leather] [ck Orion Puppet]
Nix studied the Ovey queue. "Sorry, Shae, but I''m going to enhance your Fire Armor with some Ice Dragon leather."
Shae smiled widely from the other side of the room. "Whatever you think is best, Nix."
Nix studied theyout for another moment and then selected the Craft Icon.
[Critical Crafting x2]
Archon Emperess: Shape Shifter Set [Shae Only: Growth Type]
Description: This armor is the [Archon Emperess]
Orion Shape-Shifting Set.
All ambient sound
within one meter of the wearer is
pletely suppressed.
All Fire Abilities are doubled.
+500 to all Stats.
+5000 AC.
+ 1000 to Mana Regeneration.
+ 1000 to Health Regeneration.
+300 to Speed.
+200 to Lightning Resistance.
Enhancement: Complete Camouge
is activated at will.
Enhancement: A poison counter is added to
each sessful attack.
Bonus: Wearer is Immune to Poison
Bonus: Wearer is Immune to Ice Damage
Special Effect: [Ice Breath]
Nix set up the next queue and activated the crafting icon.
[Gideon] [Camo-Ovey] [Camouge Fabric V] [ Nether Breaker Armor] [Ice Dragon Leather] [Lamia Leather] [ck Orion Puppet]
[Critical Bonus] [Phase Shifter]
Forest Stalker: Shape Shifter Set
Description: This armor is the [Forest Stalker]
Orion Shape-Shifting Set. [Gideon only]
All ambient sound
within one meter of the wearer is
pletely suppressed.
+ 3000 to Armor ss
+ 200 to all Base Stats.
+200 to Speed.
+ 200 Poison Resistance
+200 to Lightning Resistance.
Enhancement: Complete Camouge
is activated at will.
Enhancement: A poison counter is added to
each sessful attack.
Bonus: Wearer is Immune to Ice Damage
Immune to Nether Effects
Immune to Control Effects
Special Effect: [Phase Shifter]
Nix nced up at the excited faces. "Gotta wait until everyone is done."
[Rhylia] [Camo-Ovey] [Camouge Fabric V] [ Dark Wind Armor] [Ice Dragon Leather] [Lamia Leather] [ck Orion Puppet]
He took onest look at the queue and then activated it.
[Critical Crafting]
Shadow Raptor: Shape Shifter Set [Rhylia: Growth Type]
Description: This armor is the [Shadow Raptor]
Orion Shape-Shifting Set. [Rhylia only]
All ambient sound
within one meter of the wearer is
pletely suppressed.
+ 750 to Air Abilities.
+ 750 to Flight Speed.
+ 300 to all Stats.
+ 3000 AC.
Enhancement: Complete Camouge
is activated at will.
Enhancement: A poison counter is added to
each sessful attack.
Bonus: Wearer is Immune to Ice Damage
Bonus: Wearer is Immune to Poison
Special Effect: Nether Wind
Nix nodded in satisfaction and then handed the armor back to their respective owners. "The three of you will be the assassin team. Your mission is simple; Kill Bhchi, the Ice Nemesis."
Shae activated the shapeshifting armor and morphed into a ck Orion feline. "You can add shapeshifting to armor sets?"
Nix nodded and took note that Shae''s Orion was quiterge. "The Orion is an ice creature. It has thermal vison, ice immunity, and enhanced Speed. It''s the perfect form for hunting an Ice Nemesis."
Gideon whistled softly and then activated his shapeshifter set. He stalked across the room to stand in front of Nix. "What''s the n?"
"We''re going back to the control room. I''m going to take control of the city, while the three of you wait for the Nemesis to make an appearance."
Rhy finally gave in to the temptation and activated her shapeshifter set. The ck feline rubbed her head against Nix''s leg like a four hundred pound house cat. "Then what?"
"Shut down the Earth Sentries, gather our team, and go from there."
Shae changed back into her human form and sat on the edge of the bed. "How long will it take you?"
Nix shrugged. "No more than a few minutes. However, when the Guards go down, you can bet that the Bhchi will make an appearance."
Rhy chose this moment to change also and sat next to Shae on the bed. "How is this city operating?"
"I''m missing a piece of that puzzle, but I can say that Hierophant may be dead, but he has enough bone marrow left to supply the city with its basic needs."
Gideon was thest to change back; he was smiling widely at the three Inferno members. "This is the kind of stuff you guys do? From now on, I want in!"
Nix let his expression be serious. "You three are to remain stealthed until the Ice Nemesis appears. No matter what."
Shae nodded. "Understood."
****************
Ten minutester, the stealthed group arrived back at the lumpy ck Ice barrier. Nix entered the same way he had before and then waited until the rest of the group entered before he closed it up.
"No more talking from here on. Gather next to the dragon corpse and wait." Nix approached the city interface and opened it up.
[Dyrekstad System Operations]
1. Security
2. Power Grid
3. Transportation
4. Master Key.
Nix was alreadyfortable using the dragon city interfaces. "Disy all sub-menus.
[Dyrekstad System Operations]
1. Security
a) City Controller (Hierophant)
b) City Shields (Disabled)
c) City Gating Privileges (Disabled)
d) Earth Sentry Company (Enabled)
2. Power Grid
a) City Utilities Power
b) Greater House Power (Disabled)
c) Residential Power
d) Business District Power
3. Transportation
a) Mark V Thrusters (Disabled)
b) Orbital Stabilizers (Disabled)
c) City Levitators (Disabled)
4. Master Key.
a) Annonymous (Disabled)
b) Intercity Communication (Disabled)
c) Direct Control (Disabled)
d) City Links (Disabled)
"Open Security Interface, City Controller."
[Dyrekstad System Operations]
1. Security
a) City Controller (Hierophant)
b) City Shields (Disabled)
c) City Gating Privileges (Disabled)
d) Earth Sentry Company (Enabled)
Dyrekstad City Key is not present.
Inferno Master Key override is in effect.
[A message has been sent to Hierophant regarding your actions. He has three minutes to answer.]