EPISODE 33: Class Skills
-Edryan Queendom, Year 7291. Season: New Beginning.
“WHAT,” Amaya yelled in near disbelief.
“What do you mean you don’t want to specialize with your first skills? This combination you drew up is… disorganized,” the young woman said with frustration. Her voice echoed through the Great Archive of Kangius. The three of us sat at a large table with multiple scrolls open between us. A tray for snacks, fruits, and juice stood in the center of it all.
I laughed light heartily before responding while Madria quietly nibbled on some fruit and LSG snacks. Spending time with the two young women brought me joy as both held their unique antics. It brought my mind out of the trouble and stress. Dealing with the Spatial Convocation would not be as simple as I described to my mother and her harem. They were a powerful force that answered to no one but their own leaders. Remnants of a different age who managed to stay from all conflict. They were not the only ones in Edryan, but they were the most powerful. Alongside the Merchant Association, they controlled trade as a spatial mage's unique abilities were too valuable.
“Here me out,” I began only for Amaya to cut me off. The annoyance on Amaya’s face was clear in her magenta eyes. Her two afro puffs were gone as two Ojou Ringlets or princess curls replaced them. I thought the style suited her very well. Tomorrow was my official coronation and today was one of my final free days for a while. Amaya and Madria's promise to help me choose my skills had to be fulfilled today. I couldn’t delay any longer, my schedule would not permit it. The moment after my coronation was over Imperius Academy would be heading out. Operation RAILs and several others were greenlit and establishing an army was not a small task. The beginnings of my build were to be established now or never.
“It's better for your first five skills to go one way as you can start readying yourself for skill combos and chains. Usually, a fighter would go with the combination of three attack skills one movement and one defense. Your hero class bypasses class trees and allows you to choose from a multitude of trees and skills. And you want to get….” Amaya’s hands traveled to her temples as she rubbed them gently. “…crafting skills.”
“Here me out! At least listen to my reasoning before you judge me.”
“Go ahead Lawruthian,” Madria piped up. Her brows furrowed as she licked off the last of the juices from her fingers.
“What I want to do is simple. I get two crafting skills preferably ones that are multi-functional and can provide me with a host of benefits while I do the same for the skills to defend myself with. (Imperius Combat Arts) would fulfill all three of my basic requirements. It would give me attack, defense, and movement,” I said with confidence to the two ladies.
“That’s stupid.”
“Outrageously so,” Amaya agreed.
“Lawruthian, you have two paths in front of you. One is to go the correct route and the other would be to follow… whatever that is,” Madria gestured in the air. “Your coronation is tomorrow, and the academy has something big planned,” Madria sent a probing gaze in my direction, but I didn’t bite.
“Can you afford to play around like this until level 15? That is when you’ll get your next five class skill slots. Perhaps at level 10 when you achieve a few more general slots but…”
I let out a heavy sigh. “You’re right Madria. Both of you are in fact but…”
“Do not split your path for small gains Lawruthian,” Amaya said in a concerned tone. “It's better to go all in, in one direction, rather than spread to different streams. You can still grab a few supplementary skills when you achieve level 15 yet in truth it’s better for you to wait for level 25 to unlock your second class after the first-class advancement.”
“The way you format your main class will forever guide you. A mix of different class skills will not benefit you in the long term,” Madria finished.
“They are right.”
The voice suddenly spoke up from behind our group. We turned to view the Royal Tutor approaching us. I smile and hurriedly stood, pulling out a chair for Eliana to take a seat. While Madria and Amaya curtsied in greeting. She smiled at me and patted my hand as I moved to retake my seat.
“The librarians have alerted me you’ve been going at it for hours now. Are you still undecided?”
I let out a rueful smile. The noon sun came through large grand windows that displayed a field of green grass outside of the library. The Great Archive of Kangius was the royal library that stored the queendom's largest skill repository. With detailed information on skill trees, their skills, and the class type requirements for those trees. It reminded me of a Roman temple as it held a Temple of Athena-like build.
The group was here since the sun rose and from the looks of it, we wouldn’t leave until it set. Perhaps with the help of Eliana that would change.
“Don’t mind me, continue your discussion,” the older lady said. Helping herself to some of the snacks available. Madria quickly prepared a glass of juice for Eliana while we turned back to the topic at hand.
“There are two paths for you to follow. You can either become a warrior and use your hero class as the queen and most of the Great Families do or you can explore an almost completely unknown path and use the class to become the greatest artisan the world over.”
My decision was already made. Just as I was opening my mouth to speak several maids made their way towards us. Loud chirps of protest erupted the moment Minerva saw me. The maids delivered her to me on a silver platter.
The owlet hopped down the platter and scurried her way over to me. Protesting loudly as she reached my feet before using her tiny beak to peck me as she gave me what could only be described as a scolding look.
“Okay! Okay,” I said while laughing. Picking up Minerva and placing her on my shoulder. All but forgetting the audience around me.
“Chirp!”
“What do you mean I left you? You didn’t want to wake up! I wasn’t going to wait around forever.”
A shrill accusatory chirp came from Minerva in the form of protest and the owlet pecked at my ear. Latching on and tugging at it as my mother did on the day she hatched. I didn’t take any damage from the bird's attempt besides the overload of cuteness from Minerva’s pouty face.
“Chirp.”
“All right, next time I’ll take you with me no matter if you’re asleep.”
I turned my attention back to an amused Eliana while both Amaya and Madria peered at Minerva with curiosity and confusion. I decided a small explanation was in order.
“Minerva, this is Madria Gamal and Amaya Musa. Two good friends of mine who are helping me choose my class skills. Madria and Amaya this is Minerva my… companion,” I said with a pause at the end. They did not need to know what Minerva was truly.
They gazed at Minerva with a mix of curiosity and slight wonder. Amaya opened her mouth to speak but closed it. The question I knew was coming left unasked as Madria’s foot made itself known to her own.
Perhaps I would tell them one day, but that day was not today. Minerva preened proudly under the gaze of the two ladies. Before the small chick hopped from my shoulder and unto the table. I’d have to take another look at her status page soon. It seemed her level-ups matched my own as we both remained level 4.
Madria gushed and immediately picked the small bird up while Amaya hesitantly touched Minerva’s fluff. For several moments Minerva basked in their attention as Eliana looked on with a smile on her face. I clapped to recall the gang's attention. That bird is going to be trouble no matter where she goes!
Chirp!
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A glare was sent in my direction that I ignored as I spoke. “I’ve decided to choose class skills that will help me build better golems.”
Madria nodded immediately accepting my decision. Amaya on the other hand spoke up. “Are you certain? You have the opportunity to build the perfect spell-sword class. A mix of spell casting while using the blade. That is no small feat.”
“That is true,” Madria began, “but he also has the same opportunity to go down a path that has been rarely walked. To build feats no other has had a chance to. Isn’t it exciting?”
“I’m certain and like Madria said. This is a path not many have walked. Besides Edryan already has seven heroes. One less fighter won’t hurt.”
The girls exchange a slightly confused glance that escaped my notice. I sat down and began to pull many of the scrolls laid about the table. A comprehensive list of skill trees and the skills in them were displayed in each scroll.
Skill Trees were exactly like the name suggested. Progression built trees that led from the basics to the advance. An example of these trees would be (Guardsman). The (Guardsman) tree could hold skills like (Armor Plate) which would superimpose their chest armor giving them higher defense. Or (Target Lock) a skill that could lock their target into place. These skills could transform into (Enhanced Armor) and (Inferior Stasis). (Enhanced Armor) wouldn’t just superimpose over their chest plate but their entire body. (Inferior Stasis) would lock a target in place and once they achieve the (Advance Guardsman) skill tree it would lock their mind to the exact moment as it transformed to (Superior Stasis).
Hero classes could skip all of that and target individual skills directly while making it a Heroic Skill. This was part of the advantage the Heroic Tier class could give their user over everyone else. That is also where the problem lies. As most classes follow a general skill pathway, it is easy to truly excel in your class. Since Heroic classes can pick and choose, merging and having your skills be cohesive altogether is much more difficult. I could learn the (Superior Stasis) skill while taking another skill such as (Power-Shot) or (Wind Blade) skills that respectively belonged to (Archer) and (Spell-Sword: Wind) trees respectively. Although you could find such skills in other trees such as (Ranger) or (Wind Mage).
A light appeared in Amaya’s eyes from my words as she got excited. “Well let's make you the best Heroic Golemancer the world over!”
“Chirp!”
Would you like to make this a class skill, upgrading its tier to Heroic in the process?
Accept
Decline
Times 5.
Accept! Times 5.
A new Skill has been unlocked!
Skill Name:
(Rune-Scribing of Elevation)
Description:
Inscribe runes upon any material you deem worthy. Enhance their effects to the next level.
Function:
Any project inscribed under the use of this skill will imbue a 25% effect boost to all rune scripts.
A new Skill has been unlocked!
Skill Name:
(Golem Forging)
Description:
You don’t create golems you forge them piece by piece. Forging creations from Stone and Dust, Wind and Water. Forge these creations using any element under the Prime Sun.
Function:
Using any material you can tangibly grasp, forge golems to complete any task.
A new Skill has been unlocked!
Skill Name:
(Golem Commander)
Description:
Under your command, no golem shall falter. No magic will break them. No swords shall shatter them.
Function:
+50 Base Attack/Defense to golems under your direct command. +10% increase effect for buffs. +15% HP/MP.
A new Skill has been unlocked!
Skill Name:
(Emergency Repairs)
Description:
Uh Oh! That’s not supposed to look that way!
Function:
Apply a quick fix that will hold as long as your mana holds.
A new Skill has been unlocked!
Skill Name:
(Overclocked)
Description:
This is to go…even…further…BEYOND!
Function:
With a surge of mana increase the attributes of golems underneath your command by 30%. After exiting this state -30% of the golem’s attributes for 4 hours.
I lay on my oversize bed, sinking into the soft layers of the mattress as the stars of the Gods shined their radiance into my room. Light from the Astral Realm and Heavenly Kingdoms where lands such as The Promised Land resided. The flowery scent of soap and lotion drifted its way to my nose. My freshly washed body was ready to drift off to sleep.
The stars literally played host to the domains of the gods. A concept I found hard to understand. Yet their clear constellations showed themselves in defiance of my thoughts. Saying to me: ‘Here we are to stay’.
I gazed at my new class skills once again. Thinking over the events that took place for me to achieve such skills. Skill trees and the skills within them were not the only way to gain a skill. Empty mana crystals could be used to imbue skills becoming an entirely new item called Skill Crystals. The Great Archive of Kangius was not a repository that just kept skill trees and various skills details within them. It was a repository of every single skill my royal family could get their hands on. From the most common (Fireball) to (Cooking) and (Cleaning) skills. If an Edryan had it at one point, the repository was sure to store it. Which is why it was guarded by Ani – The Librarian. One of the twenty members of the Queen’s Guard.
Ani was as stubborn as a mule. Getting her to sign off on any skill leaving the repository was a task in itself. Not even the authority of the Crown Prince could make her budge easily. It was thanks to Eliana’s help that I was able to retrieve the skills I needed. Although I understood Ani's stubbornness. As it was her task to ensure the repository kept several copies as well as hunt down any new skills to be added to the Great Archive.
It was late into the evening with heavy debate from Amaya when we finally completed my build. Madria remained sort of a mediator throughout. Much thought and effort from all parties went into ensuring my build was as optimized as I could make it for 5 skill slots.
My first skill, (Rune-Scribing), belonged to several classes and skill trees. (Runesmith), (Inscriber), (Tailor), to name a few. Any magical crafting class that dealt with inscribing runes onto an object held (Rune-Scribing). What I received was (Rune-Scribing of Elevation) a Heroic tier version of the skill. (Rune-Scribing of Elevation) was an active skill that cost 25-MP to activate and 15-MP per 10 minutes to continue running it. Yet its effects were wonderful. All my inscribing underneath the running of the skill would have a 25% effect boost. That meant if I inscribed a (Fireball) spell with a damage output of 90 its true damage would be 112. Not to mention its Status Effect of {Burning}.
(Golem Forging), (Golem Commander), were mainly under the (Artificer) and (Golemancer) skill trees. These skills with (Rune-Scribing of Elevation) were my bread and butter. (Emergency Repairs) and (Overclocked) were my subsidiary skills to help in any situation. Whether combat or exploration. Something that would stress its importance as Operation RAILs commenced.
Although my skills looked fancy and overpowered that was because they slightly were yet that would only be for a while. Heroic tier classes were near-perfect in every way except one. Skills could not level. A (Spell-Sword) could get skills from several skill trees available to him. The skill could start on any of the five common rarities and the (Spell-Sword) would be able to raise their proficiency until a skill evolution. Gaining a second function or ability to said skill.
Heroic tier classes could not do that.
We’d be able to choose from any class and skill tree to perfect our build, but those skills would be forever locked at the Heroic tier until a class advancement. Only then could the skill upgrade unless some rare circumstances occurred. Such as you achieving a Feat from the skill. That could cause it to evolve prematurely.
It was why Heroic skills were overpowered. They were already in a maxed state as they could not raise and gain new functions until a class advancement. The first-class advancement wasn’t until level 25. Just 21 levels away for me. No big deal!
The soft breathing of Minerva made its way into my ears. The owlet must be exhausted from showing herself off today. Gently I closed my eyes to join her and welcomed the darkness of sleep.