Ashes of the Fallen

A [Lightning Bolt] used up nearly 7% of my mana while a [Chain Lightning] used up almost 15%. The math on the spell cost was partially percentage based plus a small number, so even with a larger mana pool I wouldn't be able to cast indefinitely. The Frost mage on the other hand was using something like 3% of his mana per [Frost Bolt].

Needless to say, after that fight he was sitting at 76% remaining mana while I was down to 43%. Pacing was important since a full rest could take up to five minutes with the lousy provisions we had.

Maybe in the future I'll make sure to carry around some higher quality food. I couldn't be the one slowing down the group after all. With only my mana pool depleted and everyone else sitting around waiting for me… that didn't bode well for future invites.

As I sat on the cold mossy ground floor of the dungeon, the dwarf walked over with a smile on his face. With actual emotion compared to before, he spoke up. "Hey lightning mage, ye do good work. Those spells of yers stunned 'em every time. Made my job a hell'uva lot easier."

And with that he gave me a pat on the back and nodded.

He was ready to start the next group, whenever I was.

The second fight proceeded just like the first, and by the third trash group I had ended up switching to my bow due to my mana shortages. The priest had actually shown some concern when I went to pull that third group with only 15% mana remaining, which was something I valued in a party member.

He was watching my mana bar during the fight.

That was a sign of a good player.

Especially when one considers that a healer should be attentive to his or her party's needs. It's imperative that they know the condition of the party before, during, and after a fight. As a former healer, I could really appreciate when others showcased good habits.

Plainly put, I liked this group.

As we sat down to eat snacks and recover, I decided to peruse the damage meter. Pulling up the damage chart to see all of the details, it seemed I was leading in damage done by quite a margin. Leading the pack at 52% of the total damage done was yours truly, with the Frost Mage at 25%, the Archer at 19%, and the Tank at 4%. I also had the highest damage per second, which was sort of implied by leading in total damage done, and had the highest Area of Effect and single target damage as well.

Sorting out the categories, there was even a tab that showcased hit-zones for player accuracy. The archer and mage both aimed center-mass, with the majority of their attacks landing in the chest. The tank mostly deflected and parried blows but would occasionally land counter blows below the waist of the goblins. On the other hand, I was a bit higher up from center-mass, with a lot of my arrows hitting the neck or head.

I actually wasn't losing to the other archer in terms of arrow damage… it was a little saddening. Needless to say, we were both accurate minus a few wayward arrows between us. The headshots seemed to have brought me up to par, seeing as he had a better bow and superior arrows. Accuracy and well-placed shots were more important than the gear itself, after all.

Once we finished our rest we repeated the pattern, three groups and a five minute break, then two groups and a shorter three minute break. And then, the mini-boss of the first floor that gave me fits the previous time. That [Goblin Guard] with his [Old Aspis] and [Old Dory] that nearly proved too difficult the last time, was now a [Goblin Guard] with an [Old Dory] and some inferior quality shield.

One of the more interesting aspects of The Dragon's Wrath was that you could visibly tell what loot or items a creature had. The shield this guard was using was of a clearly poorer quality than the [Old Aspis] I picked up.

I guess I got kind of lucky after all.

Or maybe it was unlucky that the boss was so well-equipped the first time around, I couldn't really decide. Either way, it was one or the other.

Looking at the dwarf's gear, his shield appeared to be one and the same. The same wooden hoplon design but without a leather cover on the outside compared to mine, and with small cracks running through the wood. It honestly looked as if it would break at any moment, and that was a large concern with the items in-game. Most of the early items were only used a few times before being replaced.

My wood-chopping axe had been replaced four times already.

Knowing that our tank had such a poor quality shield that could break at any point during a fight, I felt a little guilty. If he knew I had a better shield in storage at the village, he would probably rage, or at the very least, be jealous.

It was likely in my best interest to keep quiet on that front.