Tinkerson woke up refreshed from his sleep. He got ready, choosing a different outfit but keeping the boots. He then went to the orientation room and found Kekemozz there. He sat down and looked at him expectantly.
”Morning Tinkerson. We are about to discuss the path you can take. But first I would like to hear your thoughts on this.”Kekemozz stared intently at Tinkerson, clearly awaiting his answer.
Tinkerson lapsed into thought. He knew of all the supposed common ways of starting out and the paths he could end up on. But he didn’t really like any one of them. It seemed….. limiting. Plus, his overall goal didn’t seem to fit into this. So he decided to be honest. “I don’t intend to do any of them to be honest. They seem narrow in scope as to what I want to do and I think I would be better off choosing my own way.” Kekemozz stood there unreadable for a second and then he smiled.
”Congratulations. You have just avoided the first hurdle of your training. An often destroying one. Many come here trying to rush to the power they feel they deserve, or don’t realise the scope of how high they can rise and choose the easy way. This can result in them forever remaining demigods, with a few exceptions or they implode themselves. Which. Is. Fatal. It also the reason we did it in this room.” Kekemozz pointed to himself. “ I am a god of knowledge which I am content to be and I will never rise higher, which I am fine about. Going higher means you are playing higher stakes in the game of the gods and also end up with more responsibility. Imagine ending up with a gaggle of worshippers that kept calling upon you. No thank you.” Kekemozz shuddered then became more serious looking.
"I know what your eventual goal is. It was shared with me, as apparently they are hoping I will be able to help you avoid all the pitfalls that i can, as I have a good track record so far with my students. So now we established that you don't intend to be rigid or singluar focused, do you have any idea where you would like to head? Please tell me and then I will tell your my opinion." Kekemozz looked expectantly at Tinkerson, who started to speak as to what he thought.
"One thing I have decided is that I do not want to go along a singular path. I do not want to become a sort of world god, so I am intending to avoid being worshipped by large communities or even build one on a particular world. I have an idea, which may serve me in the long term future, which we definitely involve me figuring out what I can do with the dimensional magic, what can be possible as I increase in power levels. I am planning to make extensive use of the quest boards when I get access to them, which I know is a while off yet. I got four skill slots that I need to fill and I would like advice on what to choose. While I have a grasp on my eventual plans, I think I need some help and advice on how to get there." Kekemozz nodded thoughtfully at this.
"I take it you plan to avoid wars and such like? subterfuge and such like as well do not appeal to you?" Tinkerson nodded to this. "You also intend to keep moving around, so you probably want to portal to other worlds as you can and so you do not want to stand out. If you had more in the way of knowledge skills or wanted them, I would suggest being a knowledge seeker but I imagine this is not a path you want to go, as it mostly dead ends with knowledge gods. hhhmm. I'm thinking twofold. A merchant which will explain the diimensional space and lack of equipment being carried by you. Plus explorer which, if you do fringe quests will come in useful. Plus, if you can upgrade that lay of the land along with traveller, might actually end up getting you some interesting assets and paraphernalia. Some of which you might be able to barter if it not useful to you. I will certainly reward you if you find knowledge that I do not posess, as I can trade it among my peers even if I do not have a use for it myself. I agree with you about the dimensional magic training. It would be a crime not to capitalised on that. As to the four skills. I have some questions for you. Depending on the answer to those questions, we can choose some skills." Kekemozz rubbed his hands together in glee. "I do so love putting a plan together." He then became more businesslike.
"So, you plan to do quests when you can, singular or will you plan to put together or join a team?" Kekemozz looked enquiringly.
"Singular is the plan at the moment, I may end up teaming up with one or two more, but it will not be a big team. I am not looking for big happenings, I am looking more for the quieter ways."
"Normally I would advise a good offensive and defensive skill. However, with your neutral skills and alignment, you probably would not make brillant use out of them or much use at all. You are not a pacifist though?" Tinkerson shook his head and kekemozz breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. It can work, but it hard going and normally they require a protector type. In that case, although you do not want the subterfuge path, I advise a skill of there called blend. If you work on that, it will enable you to hide in plain sight of everyone. even your dwelling if you build one will take on aspects of this. Beings more powerful then you will be able to detect you of course, unless you can work it up high enough. However at most basic it make people think you are one of them unless they have a strong mind or skill that can combat that. Which will help with your travel covers. Yes, this would be a useful skill."
"Agreed." Said Tinkerson at once. While he did not mind having to defend himself if need be, he only wanted to fight as a last resort.
"However, I do recommend you learn at least one offensive skill for a last resort. Particularly if people try to rob you as your merchant cover, not realising you are more powerful then they think. You probably be able to use the aura to dissuade them, but some people are just not, well, right in the head shall we say? give it some thought. If you decide otherwise, you still can use the skill slot for something else." Kekemozz tapped his fingers thoughtfully. " As for the third, Have you thought about being able to use a summoning skill?"
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"Er..." Tinkerson did not know what to say about this. On the one hand, improper use of summoning skill was the reason why he had ended up here as he had, tearing him away from his previous life, but was that a bad thing? Plus, from the sound of what the Overuniverse Sentience said, it was going to be something he would see a lot of if he managed to make it to the position. It would not be a bad idea to learn how to do it properly from the start. After all, it was said that proper usage was fine. "Define summoning."
"Well it just occurred to me, that if we could summon something that could act as a bodyguard, make a long term contract between the two of you, it might help out with your non offensive and non defensive capabilities without you having to learn those skills. I would advise on learning something to look like you can at least look like you can defend yourself, but if you decided you didn't want to, this could fill the gaps." Put it like that, it did not sound like a bad idea at all, so he nodded to this.
"For the fourth skill slot. You say you intend to take quests, you are planning to work in a small team or on your own. This will limit you on the scale of the job in power, but you said you were willing to take your time, so if you were willing to take on jobs that may involve you in sticking around for a century or two, would that bother you?" Tinkerson reeled a bit as he thought on this. It was all very well knowing that he would effectively be immortal, but what would it feel like when he was living those centuries? Would he become colder like in some of the stories about immortals in his old life? He was bound to change in some ways, but how? He thought of the gray wizard from another book series that he liked, who had been long lived and the elves that were mentioned in the story. If he was continually living on the edge of society he could become some sort of crazy hermit story for a village. He steadied his thoughts and decided that he could live with this if need be. He had the time, and he could always change the plan if need be. It might take time, but he had that. He nodded to Kekemozz
"In that case I would advise on jack of all trades. It a skill that focus on knowing the basics of every craft that normal humans do. Masonry, carpentry, smithing and other skills like that. You might even develop an actual skill if you concentrate on a particular craft long enough. Now, think those three skills, and choose them in your status. Then we shall have a look at where they come in at. After which, I will take you to your rooms and highlight some useful things about the library and the research and experimental area. Then it will be time for you to better yourself. In this, I cannot help. I might be able to answer a question or two, or point you in a particular direction if you get really stuck, but the work must come from yourself.
Tinkerson nodded and then focused on his page and concentrated choosing his skills. He felt a shiver of power and then threw his status up on the wall.
Name: Tinkerson Race: Demigod
Racial Traits: Universal language, Improved Phyiscal and Mental abilities. 4 skills that can be chosen by character.
Unique Traits: Dimensional Affinity, Soulforged, Champion Alignment - Neutral (locked) Recognition level - Academy Student
Game Level - Trainee
Game Pieces - None
Open Skills:
Divine - Universal language
Legendary - Appraise, Summoning
Heroic - Steel Mind
Extraordinary - Neutral Aura, Jack Of All Trades
Basic - Mountain Body
Hidden Skills :
Divine - Dimensional Magic
Legendary - Neutral To All
Heroic - Lay Of The Land, Knowledge Depositary
Extraordinary - Right Place, Right Time, Blend
Basic - Traveller
Other Skills - 1 to be chosen Bound Assets - None
"Now that is interesting. Normally they should come in at the bottom two parts of the page. Blend I did expect to be on the hidden side. Jack of all trades again, on the side I thought it would be. Summoning however, I did not expect on the open and that high. Then again, knowing how you come to be what you came to be, maybe I shouldn't find it surprising. I wonder how much research it would take to push that even further? Anyway, to your rooms." So saying, Kekemozz lead the way. to his rooms and Tinkerson followed.