(Available from Level: 10)
Mastery - Pestilent
Passive
Effect: Increases the base damage of your damage over time effects by 20%.
Note: Once unlocked, each subsequent Skill Point invested in Mastery - Pestilent increases damage bonus by an additional 2%. At Mastery level 10 and above, each Skill Point will also increase the time of your damage over time spells by 1 second.
Skill Points to Unlock: 3
Unused Skill Points: 7
Garath did an internal 'woot!’ after reading the Skill’s description but continued on to the Blood Tree’s newest offering without purchasing it. He was pretty sure he would buy it, of course. Even without spending the ten additional Skill Points into the rank bonus, the passive ability was too powerful to pass up. Still, he figured that waiting until he had at least read each new option would classify as better-safe-than-sorry and read on.
(Available from Level: 10)
Mastery - Sanguimancy
Passive
Effect: Decreases the Health cost of Blood spells by 20%.
Note: Once unlocked, each subsequent Skill Point invested in Mastery - Sanguimancy decreases Health cost(s) by an additional 2%. At Mastery level 10 and above, each Skill Point will also decrease the cooldown of all Skills and Abilities by 3%.
Skill Points to Unlock: 3
Unused Skill Points: 7
‘Another interesting option,’ Garath thought to himself with one hand absently scratching at his curly mop of black hair below the well-fitted brim of his silly hat. These Masteries could potentially become incredibly powerful, especially after reaching rank 10 and gaining the secondary effect. Again though, he didn’t purchase the Skill. Better-safe-than-sorry and all that. Instead, he decided to move on and read the last Level 10 Skill before making any decisions.
(Available from Level: 10)
Mastery - Puppeteer
Passive
Effect: Increases the base Attributes of all summoned creatures by 15%.
Note: Once unlocked, each subsequent Skill Point invested in Mastery - Necromancy increases the Attribute bonus by an additional 3%. At Mastery level 10 and above, each Skill Point will also slightly increase the mental connection with summoned creatures, allowing more complicated commands.
Skill Points to Unlock: 3
Unused Skill Points: 7
Just as he had been with the descriptions of the first two Masteries, Garath was impressed. He was also starting to see that eventually he would have to pick one of the three trees to specialize in, and Demonology presented a tantalizing option. Summoning creatures to fight in the front and absorb damage while he cast spells from a distance would allow him to gauge the full scope of each battle and help coordinate his Party or Raid. He was still partial to the damage over time and avoidance technique that he had been employing throughout The Culling, but going the route of a full on summoner would definitely have its advantages.
It seemed to Garath that the Necrologist Skill Tree was designed to force a choice at Level 10. He had 7 unused Skill Points and the Masteries would each cost 3 to unlock. He could potentially purchase two of them and have one SP left over - but only because he had already made it to Level 11 by the time he had read the descriptions. With a nod to himself, Garath purchased Mastery: Pestilent and Mastery: Puppeteer, confirmed his choice, and then moved on to distribute his Attribute Points - leaving a single Skill Point to be spent at another time. With a directed thought, Garath replaced the Skill Tree partition of his MENU panels with the Profile partition - bringing up a holographic image of himself with his stats listed to its right.
After a cursory inspection of his Attributes, with the main purpose of checking for any surprises or discrepancies as Garath already knew that he had received +9 Wisdom, +9 Vitality, and +3 Regeneration from the 3 Levels he had gone up since last checking his Profile, the Necrologist considered his options. He was pleased with his relatively high Vit and Wis stats, but felt that his Attributes were already becoming a bit one dimensional.
In light of the fact that he did the majority of his fighting in the nimble form of a House Cat, Garath decided to put five points into Dexterity for increased mobility. After that, he split the last four points evenly between Vitality and Regeneration. He confirmed his choices and took a deep breath as the feeling of his newly improved Attributes washed over him like a rejuvenating ocean breeze on a hot summer day.
When he finally made his way out of the washroom, Garath noticed a few new faces in the main hall and was promptly approached by Athios for introductions, Raid invitations, and battle instructions. One middle aged guy and another two families with small children had made their way to the stronghold during the break. Based on the combined report they had provided Athios, which was then given to Garath, the city outside The Band’s blood forged safe zone was not faring well at all, which more or less matched up with what Garath had seen with his own two eyes from the vantage point of the roof a few hours before - complete carnage.
After explaining the defensive strategy and directing the newest Raid members to their respective positions, Garath walked back out the double doors to ready himself for the next wave.
Chapter 16
Don’t make faces
“I’ve got fifty bucks on more undead,” Warrion was saying. The lanky Assassin was leaning against The Band’s church turned school building turned apocalyptic safe house.
“Safe bet,” Athios agreed, a cigarette hanging loosely in one hand. “Not that you could really do anything with your winnings though.”
“Good point,” said Fergus. The muscular man set his mace down, leaning the handle against the wall next to Warrion. He puffed up his chest and put his
