<GloomSpire Cavern> was a notch harder. We got to see glimpses from windows on the way down the stairs. A sunken tower fortress in a massive cavern, topped with a whirlwind of ghostly magic even Ellis could see. Technically I could probably clamber all the way across the ceiling to that, but I wasn’t so confident in solo-ing a full boss, yet.

So we started splitting off to the sides, engaging ethereal and poisonous undead goons cautiously. Well, not goons, these things were level 5-7 mainly. Mooks. We’d grab a dead end, web up some obstacles, shoot and attract a couple, then let me cocoon any that really got close. A few ghosts was enough to get a few levels and a pattern, then we retreated for the night.

As Mentor, I got dibs to choose how to level up Ellis, it was only fair.

—

---

“I’m not going Highwayman!!” They really slap their tail around when they’re mad, “I don’t care- what’s the difference between S-Class and A-Class?!”

“Depends- 5% generally, but if we want to avoid dying, then core combat is strongest. What’s the problem with it!?”

“Not a man. Highwayperson, that I’d go for.” They preened, camped out cooking the deer I’d caught. “I’ll take Grifter. That good enough, Ms. Adrakne?”

I’d forgotten I stuck that as my surname. Even if it was sarcastic, and wrong, it was more respect than they’d shown me thus far- they’d slumped on my back rather than climb the stars back out, lazy bitch. “Very well, my padawan, if we’re going Grifter, then we’ll use all that charisma…”

—

---

“Ellis” HotSingles69
Gender: NonBinary Height: 5’11”
Species: SeaCubus
Background: Noble
Class: Brigand_Grifter_9

Species Perks:
<Amphibious 2>
<Disarming_Beauty 2>
<Siren_Song 1>
<Dextrous_Tail 1>

Class Abilities:
<Second_Hand_Discount 3>
<Silver_Tongue 3>
<Cunning_Strikes 6>
<Backstabber 2>
<Below Notice 2>

Passive Features:
<Empath 1> <Cold_Resistance 1> <Pickpocket 3> <Stealth 2> <Arbalest 2>

Strength: 15 Dexterity: 16 Constitution: 12 Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 11 Charisma: 19
Health: 84/84 Mana: 116/116
Luck: 1/1 Reputation: +1

—

---

We camped out where I’d fought them. Strung up a big web hammock high in the arch, a smaller one down below so they didn’t rob me and ditch me. Sleeping in armour is a real pain and I was all kinds of exhausted the next morning, but I didn’t want a wake-up shooting. Ellis stuck around, and cooked up the rest of the deer, which was barely enough, then we headed back down.

Hate to admit it, but Ellis started paying off. I can handle ghosts every day of the week, but the other undead were tricky. And they have decided to dive into any significant water pool, or narrow gap they can, which has yielded exactly one bag of coin. But one is more than nothing.

Another pool yielded our first bloated corpse. I miss when we’d met no bloated corpses. Exploding zombies. They pop when attacked, the poison damage heals other undead, and the poison ruins my webs.

They are the bane of my lovely traps. I hate them. Thankfully I invested in some Poison Resistance, but still covered in slime, gunk and ichor. Yuck.

Ellis isn’t, they use me as cover. Sneaky scamp.

—

---

We reached the tower to find it locked. Which isn’t a big deal, I can literally climb to the top easily, or drop from above. But the treasure is more probably inside, and looking back on my quest log, there is a key sidequest on the surface.

“Want to call it here? I’m ready to log out, honestly.” Ellis sighed.

“Yeah, same here.” I admitted, “Oh wait, I can’t.”

“Wanna break and explore some more? I… hold on,” They pulled out a map, checking notes, then looked at me, “Oh yeah- one more sidequest then I’ll get out of your goop.”

“It’s hair… what? Need more help?”

“Nah- nah, it’s a present! There’s a haunting side quest I ignored, at some hot baths. Perfect for getting you less stinky.”

I’m a shower guy, but a bath sounded like heaven. The disadvantage of <Keen Taste> as a skill is I could slightly taste all the Bloated Corpse ichor across me, and the sooner I got rid of that, the better. “Fine, then you get out of my goop and go grift some people.”

“What? Don’t you love having me around, Gabs?” They hopped on my abdomen, smug and teasing. “Now, ya! Mush!”

I shook them off and skittered off. They were strong enough to escape. They might even overtake me. Felt good.

---

Day 9! Some steady progress here, first character sheet for someone besides Gabby!