Orc Wars 2 : Lazarus

Chapter 21 - Nyx

Level up.

Lazarus, Assassin Level 76.

Level 76 Familiar Companion unlocked. You now have one Familiar slot. Find and train a loyal companion to help you on your journey.

Lazarus smiled excitedly. That's cool. He wondered what type of creatures Simtrixx had in store for them. He could use all the help he could get. Wait until he tell Valentine about this, then the Thief would rush to level up just to get a pet.

He then turned from the fading notification to stare into the mirror, and sighed. The image looking back at him was unrecognisable. A dirty, blood covered stranger wearing rags stood in front of him. His hair was a tangled mass, his clothes torn and drenched with dried blood and gore. The figure was slouching, showing his weariness.

Health, 38 per cent

He straightened up and reached for a bottle of Isis's special brew, gulping the contents in one long swallow.

Health, 68 per cent

Immediately he felt better. Oh, he had recovered by 30 per cent, not bad. Isis had improved the mix again. She was really trying to help him. It was a win-win situation, he got effective high grade Health potions (compared to the newly available standard Health Potions from the games store) from her. Isis got richer from her trades with him. She also gained experience points for researching, experimenting, making and creating new brews, some of which she sold to other players but she kept the special ones for him.

Lazarus looked down at his ruined outfit and grinned. Rose would kill him if she saw what he had done to her newly chosen outfit. He shrugged, so much for white. Quickly he went to his wardrobe and peered in.

"Something not black, hmm ..." He shifted through a few pieces of clothing before picking a dark brown outfit with cobalt blue runes.

A few minutes later, Lazarus was looking more like the famed assassin he was than the scruffy vagabond when he ported into his chambers. His long dark hair was soft, shiny and neatly retied with a matching blue leather thong. His pale face clean again, he stretched and turned. He flexed his muscles and shifted his weight, feeling the various weapons hidden on his body. Everything was in place. He nodded to himself, satisfied.

Valentine had gone off after the Level 45 Boss fight to settle some 'domestic' issues. He had been summoned by Allegra, his Battle Master. She seemed displeased with him about something.

"It's not like I'm afraid of her ... I just respect her," he had explained to his amused friend.

Valentine had looked resigned as he tried to tidy himself up a bit before porting off. He would have had preferred to face another horde of spiders than to face his aggressive blood thirsty Battle Master when she was in a foul mood.

Suddenly, he grinned and winked. "Let me go see what she wants. It's bound to be interesting." Lazarus had chuckled and wished his friend well.

Refreshed, Lazarus decided to continue. Maybe he could get more experience points at another dungeon. It was rumoured that the level 50 dungeon was not as difficult. Anyone surviving the previous dungeon would find it a piece of cake, or so it was said. He would go check it out. He was going to have to solo it. Where was the team Valentine had hinted at?

The assassin walked out, making his way through the Keep and then onto the grounds. The NPCs he passed shouted greetings at their Lord while others waved, being further away. He waved back smiling. How different it was now. He remembered the sombre desperate atmosphere when he first entered the once small village during Season One. At that time, they were barely surviving, starving, afraid, their future bleak.