The Power of Ten

Chapter 1-20: Plinking by Paladin

Getting close to dawn...

Good morning, Sir Pellier! I called out to the Paladin standing at his watchpost. He couldnt have missed me shooting stuff, as everything I shot out tended to be black limned in silver.

<Good morning, Miss Traveler, Master Helix>, he answered calmly, not letting up on his alertness, despite less than half an hour remaining before sunrise.

I was wondering if you used the last few minutes of the day to get in some shooting. I would be happy to pull for you, if you like.

He gave me an assessing eye. <Those Rays of yours pack a big punch. I saw you one-hit some of those shadows.>

Luck! I replied, as that was exactly what it was, although it flabbergasted the Archers that I could do so. Couldnt quite kill the wraiths that way, if they had flames up... and they did. The Wraiths also knew theyd die if I critted and they came into the warded area, so basically they tried to flee, and didnt get too far.

If you are ready to spend your Smites, wed like to kill off a couple spectres, if we can.

That got his attention. He harrumphed and said, <Miss Traveler, I dont spend Smites on trivial things.>

I leaned into him. Paladin, if you kill an undead still burning with vivic fire, it doesnt come back, I said softly.

He blinked. <What? Are you serious?>

Undead serious. And I shouldnt need to tell you that the Karmic gain for killing one of them permanently is much higher than just using them as target practice.

<Spectres, aye?> He was definitely thoughtful, and at the same time realized he didnt have a lot of time. He glanced at Helix. <You still got those Lightning Rays to provide backup?> he asked, somewhat louder.

Yes, Helix nodded quickly.

The Paladin studied the undead out there circling around thoughtfully, ignoring their cries and distorted faces of the people they were negative reflections of. <What about a ghost?>

It would take all three of us to bring one down, and thats if we all hit. Wed need more backup to be sure. Id rather not risk it yet.

He nodded to that. <Okay, let me signal that Ill be doing some shooting. Lets start on shadows, and work up to wraiths. Master Helix, if youll stand overwatch and finisher, Id be obliged. When we do the spectres, I want all of us shooting.>

Will do! Helix replied cheerfully. He still had no idea he was speaking Human now, even after chatting with me all night.

He had some big dreams now that all this Karma was rolling in, and he could Do Stuff...

---

The Paladin signaled to another of his crew, who waved back acknowledgement, lifting a rifle in reply.

The Paladin was actually using a pump-action Shotgun, of all things, whose barrel could shorten drastically down to the size of a sawed-off, allowing him to use it at devastating close range. It was perfectly useful for popping off incorporeals with the area spread, although the range wasnt that great with shot. He could always swap in slugs if he wanted to shoot things at range.

He made sure he had a full load of ammunition, cast his Endless Ammunition so he wouldnt run out and have to reload, and with gun to shoulder, followed my pointing finger as Helix held his staff out, watching alertly.

The undead werent dumb, and knew what we were trying to do, so they swooped around, trying to make the shot more difficult. Unfortunately for the shadows, they werent that fast, and I could peg one without much problem.

Zap! POOM, POOM! The shadow got a hole in it, and then exploded as two rounds blasted into it accurately, Sir Pellier pumping smoothly as he acquired instantly and blew it away in a burning fireball.

Nice, hed definitely invested in his shotgun skills. Without missing a beat, I picked another shadow, shot, and he followed up.

The incorporeals had no armor, so the Ghost Touch ammunition really ripped into them. Not realizing much was wrong, the spirits just jeered at us, crossing in front of one another to see if wed hit the wrong one... pulling a spectre in could get lethal fast, after all.

Still, we polished off ten shadows smoothly, and he grunted, impressed. Wraith, I told him, he barely nodded, and I shot another Ray.

The wraith wasnt expecting those shotgun rounds to hit it so hard. They looked to be doing 15-20 a hit, and were hitting even if the spirit tried to swoop and dodge. Knowing they didnt have much time, the wraiths were charging the instant they were hit, bringing them past the Barrier and cutting off their Shroud and Darkflame Buffs. Sir Pelliers second shot had no difficulty popping them off.

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He nodded slightly as we progressed, time counting down to the final minute. <Time!> he said softly.

Helix, follow up what I hit, I said, and this time, five Shards, obsidian wrapped in four colors of fire, snapped in around my hand.

This was going to be an overwhelming attack, designed to kill it out there, with full buffs.

A surge of holy light came from Sir Pellier, his Shotgun glowed with The Light as I launched.

That spectre wasnt expecting to be hit, and my Weaponized Shards drove into it for bunches of damage, only one missing. That was roughly 8d6+45 damage, and a buffed spectre should be clocking around 100 Health, maybe more.

POOM POOM KRAK!

A Lightning Ray and two glowing shots thundered into it, and with a hollow shriek, it was blown out of existence.

We all felt the faint rush of Karma... yeah, that was definitely worth it.

Next! My second flight of Shards cycled up as the incorps, and as they went out, Sir Pelliers Shotgun flared again.

The second spectre didnt fare any better than the first. It might have been able to flee, if not attack us, if not for a minor fact. To wit, on the first round of a Smite, the Smite deals double normal damage. So, the +1/Level damage from Sir Pellier, a Six, was +12 per shot instead of +6, and just that little bit was enough to send it to the point of no return, combined with Helixs 4d6+11 Lightning Ray coming in.

Two spectres were worth ten wraiths, and were a kind of boast, that we could hit hard enough to take one out.

We cycled down to pick off six more wraiths, then shadows, until Sir Pelliers spell ran out, and hed have to consume real ammo.

I spent one more Shards, as I had a spare Slot, and they watched me blow apart a Wraith with it solo, although Sir Pellier was scoped on it, just in case.

Damn. I didnt really think you could do that, Helix admitted. Those have to be the nastiest Shards Ive ever seen!

Thanks! Im trying to improve them. Wussy things that they were. I couldnt even pop a spectre alone! I felt useless...

Sir Pellier agreed, after waiting for me to stick my glowing thumb by my ear.

And I had a whole four shots to spend. I rolled my eyes.

<You didnt manage to break through? Even popping a wraith like that?> Sir Pellier seemed shocked.

What my Bloodline has planned, and this tie to the Shroud, is advancing me sideways, not up. Its annoying, but I cant do anything about it. I glanced at Sir Pellier. You need to take a Level in Monk.

<Monk?> He looked down at his flak armor. Monks didnt wear armor.

To be precise, Zen Archer Monk, or Gun-Fu Monk, if you prefer. Increases your damage with firearms, and more importantly gives you better dodging, and applies your Wisdom bonus to your shooting.

His eyes widened slightly, and he thought about that. , he admitted. Wisdom was often not high on Paladins, who got by on faith and zeal more than introspection.

Buy the Ascetic Monk Feat. Changes the Primary attribute for Monk Class abilities from Wisdom to Charisma.

Both of them looked interested in that. Helix piped up eagerly, Can I do that?

I glanced at him, and shook my head. You dont have the Faith to do Enlightened Monk, and going Drunken Monk would mess up your spellcasting. Its a natural fit for a shooting Paladin. Get your Wisdom up to a decent level, and it becomes a nice complement for hitting things. Before then, the increased damage, better foot speed, and dodging ability will be much more effective than some GI flak armor.

He considered that. He thought about it, concentrating and there was a flicker in his eyes, and a strange shifting. I could feel a sudden realignment in his life energy as his Ki flickered and came to the fore.

Swap Stunning Fist for Heart of Zen/I, I said promptly, and he blinked. For your Bonus Feat, take Zen Archery. Buy the Ascetic Monk Feat, take off your armor, and buy Zen Mastery/1. I turned to look at the sun, only a few minutes from rising. After Renewal, buy the Dodge Feat, and Zen Mastery/2. That will increase the damage of your firearms two stages, and youll basically be as hard to hit as if you were wearing all that stuff.

<Some of those undead down there do use guns>, he reminded me.

And your next Level, you will take Dodge Missile as a bonus Feat, I replied calmly. Then youre going to buy Dodge Ray, so you can avoid the magical ranged attacks of the ghosts and stuff.

He hesitated. , he admitted.

My eyes flicked to his Shotgun. Nice toy. Did you Name it yet?

<No?> he asked, reading something in my expression.