A System for a Lowly Wisp

Memory Wisp

“This body moves so slowly. I need to figure out how to speed that up or I definitely won’t be killing anyone at this rate.” Quill was hovering around the pond trying to get used to his new body. Without hands to grab anything or legs to help move him along he had to muster up a certain amount of will to propel himself in a certain direction. “Forward…” Slowly, he drifted forward and slightly up towards the tree lines.

“No wait, down.” now he was drifting straight down. Descending faster than he was ascending. “This is exhausting…” Spending the night wandering around the forest he now knew why wisps just floated around and circled things. They were not sentient to begin with and all they had going for them was their movement and their singular ability.

Hours had passed and he was now slowlying floating towards the relative direction he was shooting for occasionally bouncing off trees and the ground. Looking up at the night sky a thought came to him. “How am I sensing things if I don’t have a face or eyes?” That was interesting. to him. Pondering the idea he wondered if perhaps he had 360 degree vision or if it only pertained to where he imagined his face to be. Scent, Taste, hearing. All of those things he might have but how were they working. “I’ve not had taste or smell for 100s of years so that is not something I would miss now even if it were to stay gone.” 

He could hear the leaves whistle in the night. The crickets chirping and the small animals skitter about the forest floor but how was this happening? “Another mystery to add to my growing number of questions. Oh right, I will need to make a new one once I get hands, again…”

Circling a tree deep in thought Quill remembered something from before he awoke as a wisp. “Oh right, the network of the underworld!... Now how do I use the network?”

‘Simply think about what it is you are looking for and it will pop it up. If you have any more questions please feel free to ask. Each question costs 1 point.’ Responded the voice in his head from before.

“Points, what are those?”

“Points are accumulated when you complete objectives that further your dreams and aspirations or further the network. To see how many points you have just think about it and your information screen will pop up.” 

This spell was more complicated than he originally anticipated. But, nonetheless his interest was piqued. “Show me my Points.” Quill thought and just as quickly as he thought it a screen popped up in his mind.

*Name*- Quill

*Race*- Memory Wisp

*Hit Points*- 1

*Spell Points*- 1

*Strength*- 0

*Perception*- 1

*Endurance*- 1

*Charisma*- 0

*Agility*- 1

*Intelligence*- 1

*Luck*- 1

*Network Points*- 3

*Skills*

*Siphon memories- lv 1*- Allows the user to siphon memories from a valid target. Common form of substance for Minor Spirits. Skill based on Intelligence and Charisma.

A lot of this made sense to him to some extent. But wow when the spell said it would take everything from him it really meant it. He had next to nothing in the way of spells or power. If the Hit Points were an indicator of anything it meant one hit and he would vanish. He needed to think of something so he could build his new powers up.

“Memory Wisps. The lowest form of spirits. I had 1000s at my command gathering power for me from all over the world. They were so simple to create even a child with a little understanding of necromancy could create one.” In fact, it was the first thing he had ever created during his time as a human necromancer.

“They feed off of memory and deliver the excess memory to their master.” It was very ineffective with just one but once you had a network of them it was a good way to sustain an undead body without expending too many resources. “I am too weak and slow to just waltz into town and drain a human of their memory now. I need to think of something else.” looking around the forest for something he noticed a small nest of squirrels in a tree. “That could work but animals are more hostile and aware of spirits than humans are. If they spot me they could probably destroy me before I even got a chance to do anything. THINK Quill you know everything about necromancy, figure out a solution!”

Scanning the surrounding forest Quill made out a distinct but faded house in the distance. Forgotten by time it seemed as if nature itself was trying to reclaim it. “Maybe something of use could be found there. Plus it will get me away from any onlookers.” Slowly moving his way towards the building Quill squeezed his vapor form through the rotted window. Looking around he noticed it was bare. No valuables were left that he could see. Bandits or perhaps someone else must have taken them long ago. It was not the objects of wealth that he was after though. 

“Ah ha!” laid on what looks like the remnants of a bed was a small wooden doll. It looked like it had its fair share of play even before the moss covered it. A faint glow seemed to emanate from it. “This is perfect. I should be able to siphon something from this.” hovering over the doll Quill struggled a little, quivering as he tried to siphon what he could from the doll. “Hmmm how does this work exactly?”

‘To use a skill you must say out loud or think of the skill in your mind then it will activate.’ The voice from deep within him responded.

“Oh so like an incantation. Very well”

“Siphon Memories!” Quill thought to himself as loudly as he could almost trying to show off to...well himself he now realized. 

“Get him son! You got this! One more strike and he’s finished!” A sturdy voice laughed as a younger voice started growling in a childish manner. A memory flooded into Quill’s mind of what looked like a large burly man playing with the toy soldier. A younger boy, most likely the man’s son was holding another figure. This one was mage looking in shape with a large pointy hat.

“I’m the evil Lich Lord and I have come to eat your family!” The young voice giggled as the doll charged another doll, clashing them together as they both laughed. The father raised his son in the air and spun him around. Then placed him on his shoulders and ran outside.

“You’ll be a mighty fine soldier one day boy. Just keep hope like that and maybe you will take down the mighty Lich Lord!” The boy giggled. “But dad, that’s your job!

“I am far too old for something like that, It is up to the next generation of heroes to slay the new evil that has come over the land.”

The perspective switched to that of the doll and Quill could make out something from the distance. Somewhere far from the boy and father were what looked like onlookers in the bushes watching them. Fear and uncertainty began to flood into Quill. The memory started to get hazy.. Quill began to feel exhausted, but took the chance to pop open his stats screen from before, hoping to see an improvement.. Peering over his stats, he noticed his Spell Points had been reduced to zero.

“Ah, right, mana depletion, I had not felt this in a long time. I guess I will just rest here for a moment and continue where I left off.” Mind fading Quill fell into a deep sleep that seemed to last forever. He dreamed of his life back at the tower before the ‘Heroes’ came and ruined it all. He dreamed of what he could be reading right now or mastering. Most of all he dreamed of the knowledge he was missing out on. Eventually he awoke to see the day had faded to night and in front of him was a new flashing notice screen. 

‘+1 Point acquired’

“What’s this, a point? I must have earned it from siphoning from the doll.” Pulling up the screen it was indeed there. He accounted for the point that was spent asking the question about using skills so he was still at three points. “I should increase my Spell Points a little so I can improve my siphoning. It seems useful for now.”

Quill heard a c***k from above and saw what looked like a spider about the size of a small cat . It chittered its teeth when it sensed his recognition.

“There has to be something I can do. What about my spell list?” Opening his skill list mentally he scours through the list. “What’s this?.” Just below Siphon Memory a new thing popped up.

[Add new Skill]