I was tempted to just "ascend" right now but with the enemies being able to wander the halls I knew it was a mistake. I pushed my notifications to the side, holding off for now. I hobbled my way back to the two swords on the ground.
My hands shook slightly as I bent and picked up the mostly undamaged goblin greatsword. Only to have the blade burst into light fading away. A new notification blinked lightly in my vision snapping me out of the rage that was building.
Note: Dungeon-created weapons and armor only have a percentage chance of dropping. To raise this chance level appropriate skills or gain Title.
Note: Titles can be earned through completing quests, clearing dungeons, reaching milestones, inherited, etc.
I swore softly under my breath as I grabbed my battered sword, shoving it into my inventory before I slapped the goblin rider's chest thinking 'loot.' The goblin broke into light. A whetstone was resting on top of the chest armor.
I immediately snatched up the armor pulling it into my chest. It was only the chest piece missing the shoulders and arm guards the goblin had but some armor was better than no armor. It took me turning the armor this way and then that to find that it had the straps on the right side.
I put on my new armor, my tail flicking in excitement as it rippled and shifted, fitting itself perfectly to me once I had the last strap tightened. I let out a low whistle rubbing my hands up and down the armor as I tested my movements in it. It was a bit awkward but in time I'd have to get used to the weight. It about doubled my weight which wasn't saying much since I was about four pounds now. I finally outweighed my sword after the boosts to my strength and constitution.
Feeling less vulnerable I grabbed the whetstone and moved over to the small pond that always seemed to appear after I killed everything in the room. I put the stone in the water. I nodded to myself as I saw small bubbles float up from the stone.
I went back to the rabbit and cut its horn free, nibbling on it as I looted the rest of the body only getting its pelt. I shrugged as the horn fully dissolved before going back to the pond.
I pulled back out of my greatsword. I sat down pulling the dripping whetstone out after the bubbles stopped. I followed what remained of the previous edge to re-sharpen the sword. I made sure to use the full surface of the stone to avoid creating dips or unevenness in the surface of the stone. I found myself falling into meditation as I dragged the stone across the blade, switched to the other side of the blade, and repeated.
I'm not sure how much time went by as I sharpened my sword back to its razor edge or at least as close as I could get it. I tested the edge with my thumb nodding to myself as I looked the blade over. To my surprise, the edge was even and had no major flaws to it. I rinsed the stone off and was happy to see that it was still damp to the touch. I pushed my newly sharpened sword into my inventory.
I felt much better as I got up most of the shallow cuts have healed leaving only the gash in my leg. I tested my weight and it held up but I could tell I wouldn't be running at full speed any time soon. I made my way to my pack tapping my chin as I wasn't sure what to do with the whetstone. I didn't want to just toss it into my backpack and potentially get damaged as I moved about but what would I be willing to risk getting damaged or lost.
Not having a better option as the pelts would take up too much space I took my salt rock out. I placed it into my pack before, slipping my whetstone into my inventory. I pulled my pack back on before checking my health.
Health: 81/120 Stamina: 120/120 Mana: 170/170
Not as good as it could be but not as bad as what I started with. I stretched yawning softly as I made my way out of the dungeon. My eyes darted around taking in the scene around me. The area had changed in the hours? Days? I was in the dungeon. Campsite dotted the area around the entrance and the trees had been cut back creating a clearing and road headed out of the forest. Multiple eyes locked onto me from adventures that were watching the dungeon exit.
"Um…Hello."
I waved, giving them my best smile to put everyone at ease. People dressed in what I could only describe as wizard gear jumped to their feet with a fire burning in their eyes.
"Did that beast just talk?"
"Quick catch it before it gets away!"
'Fuck!'
I darted off to my left pushing my wounded leg for all it was worth. I had to dodge random arrows and spells that aimed to slow me down or herd me towards big burly looking adventures. I was forced to use Charge three times back to back to escape the firelight and fade into the shadows of the forest.
I darted up a tree going higher than I'd prefer to better put distance between myself and the zealous adventures. I had to slow down as the cut in my leg started to bleed again. I panted softly laying down on a branch.
I looked around at the nearby trees for a spot to rest while my ears swiveled tracking any sounds. I got back up making my way to a tree that had a hollow a few benched lower than where I currently was.
I gathered small branches and twigs as I went. Once I was at the hollow I started to build a nest inside it blocking off the entrance. I stuck sharpened spikes through the weave before I turned my attention to the inside of the hollow. I scratched at the wood carving more space for myself. I made sure to give myself twice the room I needed in case my ascension to a higher tier doubled my size.
I took my backpack and armor off after lining my temporary home in furs to act as bedding. I laid down using a rolled-up rabbit pelt as a pillow before I opened back up my waiting notification and pushed on with my ascension.
Congratulations, your ascension is ready. Please find a safe place to ascend to a higher-tier.
Ascend now? [Yes/No]
Races available:
Dire Primae Nigrum Sciurus: bigger, stronger, faster. Everything you are but more only alphas are your betters. Strength +5, Dexterity +4, your size doubles.
Fey-touched Primae Nigrum Sciurus: you have been touched by the magic of Farie and made it your own. +5 Intelligence, +5 wisdom, gain one spell related to the fey.
Primus Ignis Sciurus: embrace the flames within and burn away all that stands before you. +5 Intelligence, +5 Wisdom, gain Skill: Pyrokinesis
Primae Sciurian: forgo your beastly nature and return partially to what your soul is. +3 intelligence, +3 wisdom, gain access to the class system, adjust proportions to that of humans, become denser, immunity to all fall damage reduced to feather fall 30ft. *Note This is a new race as such the path to ascension is unclear*
I quickly smashed the Primus Sciurian option already going a bit crazier than I already was. In my defense, I'm sure everyone would have gone at least a little mad from having their day-to-day be fighting, eating, hiding, sleeping, repeat with no one and nothing to talk to.
Golden motes burst into life surrounding my body before flying into me. My body went rigid before my bones snapped, muscles tore and tendons stretched. My vision darkened around the edges before I thankfully passed out from the pain as everything shifted and moved around.
I woke up untold hours later feeling drained and famished. I ignored the notifications blinking away in the corner of my vision to stuff my face. Pound after pound of pork was ripped into and choked down until finally, I started to feel more like myself.
I took a glance at my inventory and winced as all my pork stockpile was burned through to help full my body's change. On the upside, I had room in my Inventory for my salt again. Then the change caught my attention. My inventory had changed from two rows of five boxes to four rows of five doubling the number of items I could store without worries.
I went to sit up and was slightly saddened that I had only grown about five inches putting me at two feet nine inches overall. My fur was the same shiny black with dark blue patterns. As I moved around I noticed that I was a lot heavier than before. I'd have to head outside to test it but it felt as though I only lost a bit of mobility to the increased weight.
I looked down at my hands turning them this way and then that. My claws were still there. They were shorter and a bit blunter. Overall they were better for using tools while still being useful as weapons. I'd have to find a pond or mirror to check what changed with my head but it didn't feel like much change as I poked at it.
I grabbed my armor putting it on much easier than before and watched as once again it adjusted to fit my new proportions. My arms stayed the same length but my torso had shrunk, while my legs stretched out and shifted their structure from quadruple to bipedal. My tail was still there thank goodness but it was shifted a bit higher up due to my pelvis changing shape.
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I sat back down and leaned against the hollow's wall turning my full attention back to my notifications.
Congratulations you have successfully ascended to a higher tier.
***WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT***
Rejoice all who walk the path a new race has joined the world through the efforts of an individual. The gods have seen it fit that this race flourish. Beasts from its base race are being elevated. A new God is being born to watch over these people.
Welcome to the System Squirrelfolk.
Congratulations Title: Progenitor received. You are the progenitors of a new race. All those of your race will hold you in high regard. Stand tall for your actions will be reflected on all your race. Worry not for your people as the gods have gifted them not only their own language but also that of the common language of the region they're in.
Congratulations, you have learned Sciurish. This is your Races specific language as such NO EXP has been awarded.
Goals updated:
riders defeated 5/5
Find the exit: complete
Assessing dungeon run [■■■■______]
Assessment completed. Three goals were completed. Additional rewards added
Rewards:
Title granted: Dungeon Delver
5 SC [silver coins]
Huntsman's Bow
Rider's Lucky Charm
Congratulations, you have reached adulthood and are able to pick a class. *Note classes help shape your path but do not define it. Classes start off basic but will evolve at key milestones.*
Classes available: Fighter, Mage, Monk, Ranger, Rogue, Scout
Congratulations you have chosen to become a Fighter! Fighters change from one to the next. You'd be hard-pressed to find two that are the same but, all Fighters are good at getting hit and hitting back harder. While they can use most weapons they excel when they focus on one.
Health and Stamina formulas have been changed.
Stats per level changed
+1 Ability point. *Note:Ability points are used to buy abilities that are unlocked based on your stats, skills, and their level*
A small list of abilities popped up for me to choose from. There were a few that looked interesting I was especially curious about an Ability called Imbue Blade but it and many of the better-looking ones were grayed out hinting that although I had the skills and stats for them there was some other prerequisite I was missing or I just didn't have enough points. It was hard to tell.
I ended up grabbing Weapon Focus [Greatsword]. It was a generic ability that I could take multiple times for different weapons. It would increase my skill gains with the weapon of my choice. If it was anything like D&D then it was the start of a line of abilities but that was for later.
With my Class taken care of, my Status popped up with the empty space for my name blinking. I rubbed my jaw with my right hand as my left drummed against my forearm. I always sucked with names and for the life of me, I couldn't remember my name from before I got to this world.
I could always go with a famous squirrel from mythology but that seemed like a bad idea just in case they turned out to be real. In the end, I went with a name that was still kicking around from Ancient Greece.
Status
Name: Theseus
Race: Primae Sciurus [Primal Squirrelfolk]
Class: Fighter
Level: 1
Titles: Dungeon Delver, Progenitor
Health:240/240 Stamina:180/180 Mana:200/200
Strength: 15
Agility: 18
Dexterity: 21
Constitution: 12
Intelligence: 20
Wisdom: 22
Skills:
Acrobatics level 2
Analyze level 2
Basic Greatsword level 4
Basic Leather Crafting level 1
Basic Spear level 1
Cooking level 6
Dodge level 3
Fire Resistance level 1
Harvesting level 1
Meditation level 6
Natural Weapons level 3
Pain Resistance level 3
Ranger level 2
Weapons Crafting level:1
Abilities:
Armored Skin Level: 2
Charge Level: 3
Danger Sense level:2
Feather Fall Level: 3
Tongues level: 2
Weapon Focus [Greatsword]
Spells:
Flame Breath Level 2
Imbue Natural Weapons Level 2
I looked over my new status, happy with everything the new changes. I walked over to my pack looking it over. I should just scrap the ugly thing. It was half burnt and had rips in place I didn't remember getting.
Instead of tossing the bag aside, I slipped it into my inventory along with all of the things I had scattered around. After securing my things I took out Hunter's Bow and Rider's Lucky Charm. The bow was a beautiful thing that looked to be made from the legs of the Huntsman spiders with a string made of spider silk.
I gently tugged on the bowstring smiling at the resistance. It seemed like the bow would last me a while if I ever got arrows to go with it. The Rider's Lucky Charm was a black rabbit's foot on a leather necklace. I slipped the charm around my neck and under my armor after Analyze on both items.
Rider's Lucky Charm:
Slightly increased the odds of retrieving higher grade items from looting.
Hunter's Bow:
A Good quality bow that is hard to damage and ready for enchanting.
I stashed the bow back into my inventory. I pulled part of my blockade away from the hollow's entrance and watched as the sun slowly peaked above the horizon. I smiled to myself watching as the sun slowly rose above the forest.