"Simply put, this world has many different intricacies that the other 52 will have to get used to. But as you are the wildcards, I thought I should make it more wild for the others. Now, as always for games, have fun!!!" Yoko says after what felt like a year long conversation.
Whiskey rubs his head, trying to make sure he keeps all the information he was just told. Instead he is being ushered to a portal instead of being teleported away by a flash of light.
To sum up all Yoko told the two Jokers, all members of the game are playing against each other, however it wasn't announced to them. Next, the reason both their Potential stats say ERROR is because they are the wildcards. They have the most potential out of all the players, but also the least if they don't do anything about it.
'Well that bit makes sense, I was wondering why Jokers were important to this game.' -Whiskey
And, as to have some fun watching the game, Yoko gifted them a free class creation. Now, Whiskey doesn't know what the girl, who he finds out is named Tara, made, but he is proud of his.
Class Created: Refiner
A one-of-a-kind class, the Refiner is one that get's stronger over time. Able to make the weakest sword into a blade stronger than Excalibur as long as it lasts each trial by fire. Same can be said for the player. Refiners get stronger over time, as the class will also improve over time, making the creator into eventual all-powerful as long as they can last while playing. Used long enough, the class will present the player with the ability to make the class stronger, adding aspects of a class into the Refiner.
Using inspiration from some fantasy books he read, Whiskey decided to create a class that will never need to be switched out. And Refiner was born, completely overpowered even by the goddess' standards. In fact, when Whiskey made it, she tried to bribe him to hand it over to her as hew new class instead of her class already of Goddess of Games.
After that, it was just a sum of whether or not they understood the world enough as well as the cards. The Aces may be overpowered amongst the players, but in Nomad they are only High-class soldiers, nothing like generals, masters, and heros. Twos meanwhile will all be started in the weakest city of their respective races to give them a fair chance, and so forth for the weaker cards. However, the difference between face cards and the others is that instead of being the strongest as Aces, they embody their Suit. So the King of Spades will be something like a world-class martial artist, and the Queen of Clubs will be a master poker player or a lottery winner.
Now, the meaning behind the Jokers. There are two jokers, the Black and White and the Color. Tara obviously is the Color, which means she doesn't look at the world with hate, but rather with ambition despite her seeming bored face. It also means she is considered the hero by the Deck, while Whiskey with his Black and White Joker is the villian. Now, this isn't set in stone, it's just viewed that way. Yoko made sure to really nail home that this game must come down to 1 of 54 players, and that any choices are up to the players.
Also, in this time, Whiskey was able to find out what all his titles mean.
Mind of Many(Unique)
Within the bearer of this title's mind rests more than one distinct personality. With each personality, there will be a completely different skill set with changed stats and skills. Stat Whore(Legendary)
The Stat Whore Title is awarded to those that meet the desire to become stronger from feeling weak and restrained their entire life. With this title, the player can now gain power at an incredible speed, and making it easier to find hidden stats. Warrior's Child
Children of soldiers are known to carry the genetics of their parents, providing an increased proficiency with weapons. Wildcard(Legendary)
Title presented by the goddess of games to remind the bearer they are meant to progress the game forward as either the hero, villian, or something else entirely. Title provides user with +100 to the Luck stat. Trial by Fire(Class)
Special Title of the Refiner class, provides the skill Refine and the time that the player stays alive increases their power by removing weaknesses such as poison vulnerability, soft skin, and vital points. Gives a bonus +50 to all stats for having a class at the level of Godlike.
So, in all, Whiskey has gone from his old self to around 4 times stronger and wiser. Not to mention that he can finally be considered lucky.
'I guess I'll take a look at what I'm working with as far as stats. Status Screen,' Whiskey thinks with some slight anticipation. After all, he should finally be considered strong by his old world's standards.
Check that, DEFINITELY by his old worlds standards.
Status screen Name: Whiskey (Whiskey) Level: 1, (0%) Card: B/W Joker Race: Elven
(Vampiric) Class: Refiner(Godlike) Title(s):
Mind of Many(Unique), Stat Whore(Legendary), Warrior's Child,
Wildcard(Legendary), Trial by Fire(Class) Health: 5600/5600 Mana: 5500/5500 Stamina: 6000/6000 Strength: 18(+50) Agility: 23(+50) Vitality: 12(+50) Endurance: 20(+50) Intelligence: 20(+50) Wisdom: 30(+50) Luck: 2 (+150) Potential: ERROR Skill(s): 7 listed (Think 'Skills' for more information)
Of course, Whiskey tried to view his skills, but they were listed as classified until on Nomad.
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Now, with the long long informing process the goddess seemed to love to torture him with, he can finally start plaing the game. Especially in his new body, all the strengths of a vampire without the weakness of the daylight or him being hungry for blood at all times being an Elf. Strange counter-balance but it seemed to work for him. However, no matter how much he tried, he could change his body structure, not his hair or eyes, which remain black as the night and dull grey respectively.
Putting this all to the back of his mind, Whiskey walks forward without looking back, ready to start a new journey in this world.
***
After a bright flash within a beautiful forest canopy in broad daylight, a body rests in slumber at the base of what appears to be a gigantic crystaline tree. It shines a bright green on the clearing, and it's roots spread out for days under the earth creating the forest of the elves. There are no signs of life near this tree, as by all in the forest it is respected as a holy existence.
If any were to see Whiskey, as it is his body sleeping under the tree, they would try to attack him outright for disgracing the entire forest. Suddenly, a little ripple appears on the trunk of the tree, and a girl steps out while looking around for a disturbance. She is covered in a leafy fabric that compliments her pale skin and startling green eyes. Cascading down her back to rest below her butt is hair that seems to be blonde and green depending on the light that reflects off it. If any were to see her, they'd immediately think of her as one of the mysterious race of Dryads.
Seeing the body of Whiskey, she shrieks, "W-w-what are you d-doing? H-How did y-y-y-yo-you manage to get here without me sensing you?" she looks around in fear, wondering if something out there will attack her tree.
Looking back down, she sees that he hasn't moved, so she moves around to look at his face. Looking at his distinctly elven face, she notices he is sleeping peacefully.
Seeing him so calm and happily sleeping, she blushes slightly before she decides to rest next to him. Before she knows it, she also drifted off to sleep.
Some time later, particularly when the sun is about to set, Whiskey stirs. Lifting his head up and twisting so he can sit up, he looks around only to see the beautiful dryad resting peacefully beside him.
Deciding to ignore it for now, he thinks what he has been anticipating for a while now. Skills.
'Status Screen, Skills' -Whiskey.
Skills List: Brawler: (Intermediate 3, 33%) Wielder of this skill is no stranger to a fight, in fact they usually chase them whenever possible. When fighting, pain makes them hit harder and they rarely get distracted. Power of hands and feet when fighting increases as level goes up Pain Resistance: (Advanced 9, 90%) Gaining this skill reveals a past filled of hurting. Level of mastery reveals exposure to pain and resistance to all forms of physical pain. Not to be confused with sturdiness of the body. Bladesmanship (Beginner 5, 20%) Advanced version of swordsmanship skill, requires in depth knowledge of all types of blades to unlock and becoming more skilled with only one blade will not advance this skill. Proficiency of new bladed weapons increase as skill increases. Attacks also get faster and more deadly Battle Stamina (Beginner 8, 56%) When fighting, the bearer of this skill can keep fighting even when stamina is drained without much drawbacks. Drawbacks lessen as skill rises, but drawbacks of no stamina heavy limbs, slower processing, delayed coordination, etc. Mental Replacement(Unique) (Due to the nature of this skill, Mastery is not available) Unique skill for the player possessing the Unique title Mind of Many allows to make efficient switches to other personalities on commmand Refine(Class) (Beginner 1, 0%) Skill can be used on any material besides the flesh, renders a strengthening technique to create a stronger version of the previous item. Does not equip magical properties or enhance magical properties, only strengthens physical attributes. Blood Sucker(Race) (Beginner 1, 0%) Absorb the blood of alive bodies or freshly dead corpses to regain health, mana, and stamina. Fills up each equally and cannot be absorbed in such a way to target one specific status.
Seeing his skills, it sums up his life until this point. One fight after another all the way from his childhood to the moment he got teleported here. And he is still probably going to fight all the time on Nomad. But anything is better than back then...
All those needles... So many tests, so much pain, so many dead before their time... And never being saved...
It was all erased from existence... Besides Whiskey...
"STOP IT!!" Whiskey shouts out to clear his cluttered mind from thinking on the past.
He forgot he wasn't alone so he doesn't hold back in his yell, startling the girl next to him awake in fear of the noise.
The dryad rushes to the other side of the crystalline tree, showing she is a very timid girl.
"Ah.. I'm sorry, I forgot I wasn't alone. But, can't you forgive me, I'm a stranger to these parts and very confused," Whiskey says a small calmly as possible, not trying to make any enemies with the mysterious girl.
"I-i-its okay. I'm j-just not used to p-pe-people," The girl replies, but she doesn't reveal her face from behind the giant tree.
Contemplating on how he should proceed for a second with her, Whiskey then speaks, "Well how about something simple first. What's your name and where am I?"
Now her head peak she around the tree, causing Whiskey to see how the tree and her eyes match each other perfectly.
"Me? W-well I'm a d-dryad, and I'm c-ca-called Floriana. And you don't know where you are? You're in my f-forest, the Elven K-Kin-Kingdom, right besides m-my World Tree."
'A World Tree?? What unbelieveable luck! Praise the goddess Yoko!' Whiskey calls out in his mind.
Now he really looks at the tree, noticing its height and it's seemingly majestic feeling.
"Huh, well son of a bitch.." Whiskey mutters as he realizes his foolishness.