The promised mont all of Wepwawet’s Champions had been waiting for was finally here.
The Ranks-Up.
Between the Champions that perished in Whiro’s Incursion but still retained experience on revival, those who participated in Hastur’s battle, and those whose side-activities—mostly hunting Tiamat’s brood—involved a lot of fighting, Wepwawet had quite a large amount of soldiers to promote. Now that they could finally pause without a Titan breathing down their necks, most had given thought to which path they ought to pursue, and Wepwawet granted them their wishes.
Thank the gods that they included a ‘mass Rank-up’ option in the system. Wepwawet began with the survivors of Hastur’s Incursion.
Victoire Fleuret, Blade of Winter, has Ranked-Up in Snowheart! 3 STR, 3 AGI, 3 VIT, 4 SKI, 3 MAG, 3 INT, 4 CHA, 3 LCK! She earned the Ice Mirror II Perk!
Ice Mirror II: You take half damage from magical attacks. If targeted by a spell, you gain a chance equal to CHA% (max 50%) to reflect it back to the sender as a Frost elental attack.
Sagesse, Wereowl Ambassador, has Ranked Up in Nurologist! 2 STR, 2 AGI, 2 VIT, 3 SKI, 2 MAG, 2 INT, 4 CHA, 5 LCK! She has earned the Spell Sniper Perk!
Spell Sniper: You can turn a spell that would affect multiple targets into a single-target spell; in exchange, the range is multiplied by the spell’s Tier.
Soumis, Submissive Dragon, has Ranked-Up in Fire Dragon! 5 STR, 3 AGI, 5 VIT, 3 SKI, 4 MAG, 1 INT, 4 CHA, 3 LCK! He has learned the Ferocity III Perk!
Ferocity III: All natural Weapons inflict 8 damage. This replaces Ferocity II.
“Aaaaaagh… Soumis is seeing stars…”
Wepwawet shuddered upon hearing Soumis’ telepathic shudder of pleasure—why did he have to make sothing sacred so awkward?—and then swiftly moved on. Filou was the next one on the list.
“Are you sure you don’t want to wait for your knighting?” Wepwawet asked the squire through telepathy. “You might obtain better abilities if you wait until afterwards.”
“Yes, I am certain, Your Godliness,” Filou replied with determination. “I have earned that power as a squire, and thus a squire I shall remain when I reap the fruits of that labor.”
Wepwawet had the feeling he was simply struggling to let go of his old life, but granted his wish nonetheless.
Filou, Brave Heart, has Ranked-Up in Squire! 3 STR, 3, AGI, 3 VIT, 3 SKI, 3 MAG, 3 INT, 3 CHA, 3 LCK! He has earned the Rider Apprentice II Perk!
Rider Apprentice II: You can ride a Rank 4 monstrous creature or animal without splitting your attention, allowing you to attack at the sa ti, and you cannot be dismounted by force. This replaces Rider Apprentice I.
The next was Slimon, whose ‘contribution’ had clinched the Incursion.
Slimon, The First Ooze, has Ranked-Up in Inventor! 2 STR, 1 AGI, 4 VIT, 3 SKI, 2 MAG, 4 INT, 2 CHA, 5 LCK! He has earned the Failure Tolerance II Perk!
Failure Tolerance II: You take only half-damage from the backlash of your own items, failed crafting attempts, and attacks. This replaces FailureTolerance I.
“Alright, Slimon, you are now effectively immune to your own innovative experints.” Wepwawet would have said ‘mishaps’, but he knew Slimon would have complained about the ‘inaccurate’ wording. “The explosions rocking your lab won’t bother you anymore.”
“Would that perchance include a frost dragon’s breath, Your Godliness?”
“Uh, no?” Wepwawet marked a short pause as suspicion swelled in his heart. “Why are you asking that specifically?”
“J-just intellectual curiosity, that’s all!”
What was he planning? Bah, no matter. Wepwawet had too much to deal with to add another thing to his plate.
Viviane Coeurdelion, Lionhearted Archer, has Ranked-Up in Ranger! 2 STR, 4 AGI, 1 VIT, 5 SKI, 1 MAG, 2 INT, 4 LCK! She has earned the Trapster II Perk!
Trapster II: Can craft traps up to Quality D. Replaces Trapster I.
Mistouffe, Intrepid Cat, has Ranked-Up in rchant! 2 STR, 2 AGI, 2 VIT, 3 SKI, 2 MAG, 2 INT, 4 CHA, 5 LCK! She has earned the Town Skipper I Perk!
Town Skipper I: Grants a bonus to 1 AGI and CHA per rchant Champion Rank.
Grudu, Prehistoric Behemoth, has Ranked-Up in Weremammoth twice! 10 STR, 4 AGI, 6 VIT, 4 SKI, 4 MAG, 2 CHA, 2 LCK. He learned the Unstoppable II and Toughness II Perks!
Unstoppable II: Immune to Paralysis, Stun, Slow, Petrify, Poison, Disease, and Instadeath Ailnts. This replaces Unstoppable I.
Toughness II: Gains a chance equal to VIT% to survive a lethal blow (max 50%). This replaces Toughness I.
Only Grudu had gained the experience to Rank-Up twice due to participating in two Incursions in a row. A pity his intelligence didn’t increase as well. Wepwawet figured he should probably ask his Crafters to develop an INT-boosting item of so kind for him.
Next were the other Champions who had participated in Whiro’s Incursion, but died during it and received a free revival later on, along with those helping hunt down Tiamat’s spawn.
Goreville, Werewolf Warchief, has Ranked-Up in Werewolf! 3 STR, 3 AGI, 4 VIT, 4 SKI, 3 MAG, 1 INT, 4 CHA, 3 LCK! He has earned the Ferocity I Perk!
Ferocity I: All Natural Weapons inflict 2 Damage.
Cynisca, Crushing Rider, has Ranked-Up in Charioteer! 4 STR, 2 AGI, 3 VIT, 3 SKI, 1 MAG, 2 INT, 1 CHA, 2 LCK! She has earned the Mounted Killer II Perk!
Mounted Killer II: All Swords, Spears & Bows Weapon Artifacts equipped inflict 5 Damage. This replaces Mounted Killer I.
Raymond Le Hardis, Glars General, has Ranked-Up in Knight! 4 STR, 3 AGI, 3 VIT, 3 SKI, 2 MAG, 2 INT, 2 CHA, 3 LCK! He has earned the Man-At-Arms II Perk!
Man-At-Arms II: You are adept at carrying heavy equipnt; your total equipnt’s weight is reduced by 6 (min 0). This replaces Man-At-Arms I.
“So that’s what it feels like to Rank-up,” Lord Raymond said, having been only recently snatched away from death’s jaws. “It feels surreal to think I was dead only a few days ago.”
“I told you you should have bought life insurance,” Cynisca told him. “My husband and I struck gold with our new post-mortem financial plan!”
“What about my own resurrection Rank-Up package?” her aforentioned recently resurrected husband complained to Wepwawet. “Does it co with monetary compensation on top of it?”
“You should have put that in your employnt contract, Jarlack,” Wepwawet replied with amusent before assigning the last Rank-Ups.
Jarlack, Chief rcenary Officer, has Ranked-Up in Cavalier! 4 STR, 2 AGI, 3 VIT, 3 SKI, 1 MAG, 2 INT, 1 CHA, 2 LCK! He has earned the Trample II Perk!
Trample II: Inflicts 5 damage when mounted. This replaces Trample I.
Insupportable, Snowbound Dragon, has Ranked-Up in Frost Dragon! 5 STR, 3 AGI, 5 VIT, 3 SKI, 4 MAG, 1 INT, 4 CHA, 3 LCK! He has learned the Ferocity III Perk!
Ferocity III: All natural Weapons inflict 8 damage. This replaces Ferocity II.
Alright, discarding Ferocity I since Goreville’s lee Master I already does the job better, replacing Mistouffe’s Costcutter I because it was never too useful anyway, switching Spell Extension for Spell Sniper since massively increased range against a single big target will be more useful than a limited area of effect… and that’s all.
“Alright, you all should be good from now on,” Wepwawet telepathically inford his Champions spread across Elphion. “Bear your gifts with pride, you’ve earned them.”
A chorus of thanks and prayers answered him, only for the grating voice of Insupportable to cut through them all. “More, minion! More! I have been hunting those broody critters for days! I deserve more!”
“That’s enough for now!” Wepwawet snapped back at the egotistical wyrm. He suddenly regretted not taking The Stranger Among Us Miracle from Hastur. That way, he could have had an excuse to smite Insupportable without feeling guilt about it. “Now that’s all done.”
“I would have thought that strengthening your soldiers would be the first thing on your mind,” Victoire teased him through private contact. “You’re getting distracted.”
“Don’t push it, Victoire. I’m an amazing multitasker, but it’s just one ergency after the next.” Wepwawet let out a telepathic sigh. “Even this respite won’t last.”
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Victoire imdiately sensed his discomfort. “Are you worried about Stalheim and Timberan?”
“Partly.” Wepwawet had already sent Kale to Stalheim and Renarde to Timberan alongside other godly ambassadors to help the local authorities settle the post-Incursion transition. The deities of Elphion had agreed to let each civilization pick their new patron—if any at all—but would still make their cases to them. Axomamma in particular had recomnded that either Ganesha or Wepwawet oversee Stalheim in her absence, while Watatsumi obviously recomnded Epona for Timberan’s stewardship. “There’s also Tiamat’s brood, whatever Beelzebub is up to, and… another thing.”
Victoire didn’t say anything, and patiently waited for him to confide in her, which he did. “We’re going to hold a vote tomorrow to elect a class president to arbitrate disputes between us,” Wepwawet said. “My na… has been put forth alongside Horus and Epona.”
And most startlingly, he had a rather good chance to win. Ganesha and Artemis would vote for him for certain, and Ishtar seed likely to do so as well. This would grant him the majority of the votes if Epona’s followers voted for her and Sun Wukong didn’t force a tie, though Horus might convince Epona’s group to support him. Wepwawet tried to sit out of those discussions since he already had enough on his plate.
“You fear you are not up to the task?” Victoire guessed. “You would be wrong to think so.”
“Did I mishear?” Wepwawet teased her. “Are you telling your own god that he is wrong?”
“Yes, because you are. Everything I have seen from your classmates tells you are the only reasonable pick.” Victoire chuckled on her end of the telepathic line. “Would it be blasphemous to say the bar is not that high?”
“Probably, but I’m touched anyway,” Wepwawet replied. “I’m more worried about the losers’ reactions. I don’t think they’ll overreact, but… you never know.”
And he was worried about his father’s reaction should he lose the election… and especially if he won it.
“I think we will be fine,” Victoire reassured him. “Both Zorash and Valentine have agreed to send reinforcents to deal with Tiamat’s brood, and those countries have never been on the sa side for anything. Things are changing for the better in spite of all the challenges we face… and I have the feeling this is just the start.”
What could Wepwawet say when faced with such optimism from his greatest Champion? Victoire’s faith in him, and in their shared power to bring peace to Elphion, inspired him as much as a god inspired his followers.
She was right. They had defeated over half of the Titans, united the gods of Elphion for the first ti since they had arrived, and taken steps towards forming a united front against their true enemy. This progress had co at the cost of savage destruction and the loss of a few classmates, but it was progress anyway.
“Anyway, I think we’ll be able to have everyone attend Filou’s knighting in Narc and the Incursion victory celebrations once things calm down a bit,” Wepwawet said. “How did the eting with Gaspar go?”
“Very well. Although his cris are grave, he seems genuine in his desire to repent, and his contribution to the mind-shielding circlets made a difference during the Incursion. Most importantly, we need all the Champions we can get.”
“I see. So you do vouch for his recruitnt?”
“Yes, although…” Victoire audibly shuddered on her end of the telepathic line. “Another issue propped up. A scaly issue.”
Of course they had one. Wepwawet sighed in resignation as he materialized as a spiritual projection in front of the Orestown Altar, where Victoire was waiting for him alongside Gaspar and a rather unwelco face.
“Young Wepwawet, at long last,” Glatisant said, addressing the god as if he were a new student being introduced to the classroom. “After a long mont’s consideration full of high-spiritual internal intellectual debates, I have reached the conclus–”
“No,” Wepwawet said imdiately. He knew where this was going, and he didn’t even want to even entertain the idea. “Just no.”
Unfortunately, such a refusal always fell on deaf ears when it ca to dragons. “Young Wepwawet, I understand it may be difficult for you to comprehend why I am always right, so I am willing to repeat myself as many tis as it takes,” Glatisant replied, her tone oozing with what could pass for maternal condescension. “I have been more than impressed with your service on behalf of my fellow dragons–”
“Not this again,” Wepwawet grunted in annoyance. At this point, he wasn’t even angry anymore; just tired. “I serve no dragon! I am a god! They serve !”
“Yes, yes, I have heard of this theory. Moving on.” Glatisant cleared her throat. “I have been most impressed by your monarchy conservation efforts. Defending the Queendom of Lavaland from a republico-barbarian invasion, sending that anarcho-usurper of a King in Yellow running, fostering the growth of a new kind of mimic princess, and ensuring Lady Victoire’s growth from a self-appointed commoner to a true paragon of royalty is nothing short of an amazing performance; you are a flower bound to bloom under my enlightened guidance, which shall be like a star elevating your intellect—”
Victoire shot Wepwawet a look that all but scread ‘I warned you this would happen’ as Glatisant went on and on and on about her intellectual superiority. While Gaspar said nothing, the scowl on his face showed that he understood their pain.
“—I have thus decided to lend you my help and wisdom so that you might grow into the defender of the dragon way of life you were always ant to be,” Glatisant concluded, phrasing it as if she were doing Wepwawet a favor. “I, of course, require proper compensation in the form of this ‘divine Champion’ power I have heard about.”
“Uh huh, uh huh,” Wepwawet replied while rolling his eyes. “And of course you want a castle too while you’re at it?”
“I am not asking for much, only accommodations worthy of my station. A castle is not strictly necessary; I can settle for a fort with a castle view.”
“Well, too bad for you, the answer is no,” Wepwawet replied, stressing the last word. “I thank you for your help during the Incursion, but that is all. Go bother soone else.”
Glatisant’s head tilted to the side. “I keep hearing this word ‘no’ as if it was supposed to an sothing.”
“Let translate it for you: it ans it will be a cold day in Duat when I allow a third dragon Champion into my ret–”
Glatisant, Visionary Dragon, has added herself as your Champion.
“What?!” Wepwawet choked at the notification. “How?!”
To lessen the pressure on the spam ssage filter, and because we both know you would have folded anyway.
“I did not consent to this!” Wepwawe attempted to expel Glatisant as his Champion, to no avail. “Damn it!”
“I knew you would co around,” Glatisant replied, never having doubted for a mont. “I am inevitable.”
“It happened again, didn't it?” Victoire guessed, before sending him a telepathic ssage. “You should take it upstairs.”
“You can’t believe how much I hate the technical departnt right now.” If he ever found the god that made the System so sassy, Wepwawet would strangle them on the spot.
Unfortunately, there was nothing more to be done, so he cald down after resigning himself to his fate. It would seem that his tenure on Elphion would be defined by playing kindergarten teacher for overgrown flying lizards. “Whatever. Gaspar, will you beco my Champion too?”
“If Your Godliness would have .” Gaspar cleared his throat. “I am not a foolish man, not anymore at least. I understand that bringing into your fold is more of a chance than I deserve.”
“That remains for you to prove otherwise,” Wepwawet replied. “You will serve under my enchantress Wintresse’s close surveillance for a ti until we feel certain you can be trusted… but behave, and that trust will co. We gave a second chance to the magmorians. We will give you one too.”
“I see. I cannot tell if that makes you wiser or more foolish than my previous employer.” Gaspar lowered his head in obedience. “My words might sound hollow, but I shall serve you in the fight against the lunarians until my debt is paid.”
“Then I welco you into my flock,” Wepwawet said upon bathing Gaspar in his divine light, his stats appearing in front of him.
Na
Gaspar, Disgraced Sage
Type
Human
Rank
7
Class
Wizard 7
Faction
Wepwawet
Movent
Walk/Fly/Swim/Teleport
Strength
Agility
Vitality
Skill
14
14
14
24
Magic
Intelligence
Charisma
Luck
43
42
24
17
Accuracy
20
Evasion
15
Innate Perk: Archmage
Can learn spells from any school of magic whose Tier is equal to or below their Champion Rank.
Spell: Dominate Fiend
Spell: Spellshield
Tier VII Diabolism. ntally Enthralls a Rank 7 or lower Demon Type creature within sight.
Rank VII Thaumaturgy. Create a barrier protecting the caster and everyone within ten to twenty feet from Tier VII or below spells.
Spell: Chain Lightning
Craft Wondrous Item III
Rank VI Thaumaturgy. Fire a powerful blast of lightning that then arcs to hit other enemy targets within range.
Can craft enchanted wands, rods, staves, potions, and accessories of rank C or below.
A pretty good recruit overall. Gaspar’s age had taken a toll on his physical stats, but he had more than enough magic and crafting expertise to compensate.
And now… the other one.
Na
Glatisant, Visionary Dragon
Type
Dragon/Fairy
Rank
Commander 9
Class
Fairy Dragon 9 (Monster)
Faction
Wepwawet
Movent
Walk/Fly/Burrow
Strength
Agility
Vitality
Skill
65
53 9
55
36
Magic
Intelligence
Charisma
Luck
49
9
44
35
Accuracy
35
Evasion
48 4
Innate Perk: Lightning Dragonscale
All damage received is halved. Immune to Lightning, resists Wind and Water, but weak to Earth. Immune to Instadeath, Stun, Paralysis, and Petrify ailnts. Resists Poison, Freeze, and Disease.
Lightning Breath III
Ferocity III
Can exhale a powerful electrical breath inflicting heavy Lightning damage in a conic line. Ignores Lightning Resistance and has a chance to inflict Paralysis ailnt equal to (LCK/2)%. Cooldown: one minute.
All natural Weapons inflict 8 damage.
Lightning Bruiser II
Virgin Princess Radar
Gains an AGI bonus equal to Champion Rank; inflicts Lightning damage on contact.
Can sll any virgin princess within a range equal to a mile multiplied by your Champion Rank.
Wepwawet double-checked the Intelligence stat of 9. Below the average human, but still higher than any other dragon in his employ.
Glatisant was indeed a genius by her kind’s incredibly high standards.
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