We’re still in the Goose and Crow, and I’m leveling up while mildly buzzed. It turns out that beer doesn’t mix well with decision making. I’ve been flicking through the various options displayed on the screens of my thy for a while now, and I keep changing my mind.
“For fuck’s sake Doon,” says Andraya, slamming her empty cup on the table. “Just make a decision! You’ve got three attribute points to boost any attribute currently at zero to a score of one, or you could save them up to boost more important attribute scores later. And you’ve got a single special action to choose. That’s it. It shouldn’t be taking this long.”
“Sorry, sorry. Maybe get another round of drinks? I won’t be long.”
“Fine! I want you to be done by the time I get back, so we can toast the incredible achievement of you reaching level one.” With that, Andraya storms off to the bar.
I’m waiting for Misty to lean in and tell me to ignore Andraya and take my time. But she doesn’t. She just nods. I think I’ve tried even her gigantic patience.
“If you’re stuck,” says Veppi. “I can toss a coin. You grab a coin, choose wings or serpent for either option you’re considering, then flick it and-”
“I know how coin tosses work Veppi.”
“Alright, just trying to help.”
Right. Concentrate Doon.
I settle on the Core Attributes screen. I had to dive into the help text for this one, as it wasn’t as straightforward as being able to boost any of my attributes by one. Instead, there’s an attribute points system. You gain three attribute points each time you level up, and you spend these on boosting your attributes. Higher attribute scores cost more points than you get with a single increase in level.
The help text has this handy table, which explains the increases needed, up to a maximum of 9. Any higher than that needs divine intervention, or other incredibly rare attribute enhancing gear or modifiers.
Attribute Score Attribute Point Cost 1 1 2 3 3 6 4 10 5 15 6 21 7 28 8 36 9 45
So for example, if I want to boost my Dexterity from four to five, I’d need five attribute points. And I only have three. But I could boost any of my scores currently as zero to one or two.
Dexterity and Strength are primary stats for Slayers, so saving up my points and boosting either of those next time I level up would be a safe bet. But so far, I’ve felt my lack of Savvy and I can boost that right away. Having zero Savvy contributed to me acting irrationally back at Misty’s house with Koldarus, and I felt like a right tit as a result. So maybe just being a little bit better at understanding situations in this world would help avoid such mistakes in the future.
“Savvy it is!” I say. I boost it by one, and hit ‘confirm’, saving two attribute points to boost either Dexterity or Strength when I reach level two.
“You chose Savvy?” says Andraya, returning sooner than I would have liked with an armful of drinks. “What did you do that for? You’ll never be as savvy as us. It’s a pointless stat for a Slayer.”
“Jesus Andraya,” I say. “You were pressuring me.”
“Not pressuring you to make a stupid decision.”
“Maybe,” says Veppi. “If Doon had a single point of Savvy to begin with, he would have known not to choose it when leveling up.”
“I think it will help,” says Misty kindly. “For when we’re not around. It might save you from diving into a fight you have no hope of winning.”
I do feel different. At least a bit. I feel more aware, in the most subtle way, of the social environment I’m currently placed in. I notice that there’s a gentle hierarchy among the townsfolk. Drifandi appears to be top of the tree. He’s seated in a great location at a sturdy table, near the bar and by the hearth. People treat him with a hint of deference. At the other end of the pecking order, sits a group of goblin youths. They’re by the door and they’re largely ignored. No one is being unpleasant to them, but I bet it would take them longer to get served at the bar than some of the others. I also see that the goblin with the colander helmet at the stone arm club looks handier than I noticed before, more capable in a fight. If I were to pick one of these makeshift goblin warriors to stand shoulder to shoulder in a battle, he’d be a good choice.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Pick a Special Action now Slayer,” says Andraya, “and we’re done. We can leave this town and begin the more important quest.” I notice she’s already knocked back one of the two drinks she bought herself, and is now working on the second.
“We shouldn’t rest here?” Mistle asks. “The goblins have offered us rooms free of charge, here in the inn.”
“There’s still a couple of hours of day light left,” says Andraya. “So we could make progress on our journey. But let’s see how long it takes Doon to make his bloody mind up.”
I flick on to the Special Actions screen and review my choices again. I can only pick one, and they're unique to leveling up from zero to level one. They won't be offered again.
> Special Actions - Slayer Level One.
>
> Choose one of the following:
>
> Sprint Strike [special move]: Cover distance at double speed to attack at an intended target. Useful for taking out archers and spell casters who lurk at the back of the enemy pack. Melee engagement penalty does not apply when Sprint Strike is used.
>
> Minor disarm [special move]: A powerful move but risky at level one. You strike out to disarm your enemy, with a 7% chance of success. The chance of success increases by 2% per additional level. This is replaced by Disarm, if you select it at level 4.
>
> Anticipate [special move]: For the next fifteen seconds, you have heightened awareness of your enemies’ attacks against you. Increases dodge by 15%.
>
> Quick Recovery [passive]: Reduce duration of stagger and knockdown by 50%
>
> Grit Spray [wyrd]: Gather granular missiles from the ground in front of you and hurl with force at the target. Deals 1d6 damage in a 10ft cone in front of you.
>
> Turn blade [wyrd]: For the next fifteen seconds, slashing damage against you is reduced by 50%.
“They’re all so useful,” I say. “I think I need some help.”
Andraya sighs. “Again? Just shut your eyes and pick one.”
“If it would help,” says Misty, after taking a large swig of the drink that Andraya placed in front of her after returning from the bar. “You can tell me your thoughts one more time.”
“I’m going outside for some air and a smoke,” says Veppi, excusing himself.
“Thanks Misty,” I say. “We’ll talk through the actions - quickly - and I’ll make up my mind. I promise. So, I reckon Turn Blade is out. It sounds super handy, but I won’t always be fighting bad guys armed with those kind of weapons. In the battle we just had, it would have been shit.”
“Okay, so cross that one off the list.”
“Quick Recovery, sounds good in certain situations. Like when the River Lizard knocked me down, perhaps I could have got out of the way in time and he wouldn’t have had the chance to step on me.”
“Maybe, yes. That is a good one.”
“Bit dull though,” I say.
“For fuck’s sake,” says Andraya, slurring her words now. “If that’s the way your mind is working, just pick the one with the flashiest fucking name.”
I ignore her and continue my conversation with Misty.
“I’m too risk averse to go for Minor Disarm. Chance of success is too low, so I reckon I’d waste too much time trying to knock the sword out of some wanker’s hand, when I could be hitting them instead.”
“So what does that leave?” says Misty.
“Sprint Strike, Anticipate and Grit Spray. All good options.”
I read the descriptions of those three choices one last time, take a swig of my drink and make a decision. I’m almost embarrassed to declare it, as it seems like I’m taking Andraya’s sullen advice and going for the most exciting sounding option.
“Grit Spray it is,” I declare, before selecting it in my menu and hitting ‘confirm’.
I get that XP-style buzz again, as my menu pats me on the back.
> Congratulations, Doon of Tooting, Xeni.
>
> You are now a Level One Slayer.
>
> Health +5
>
> XP to next level: 3,000
I flick past my stats screen as there’s nothing much to see there. Just a single point increase in Savvy. But I remind myself of my Special Actions, as it makes me feel just a tiny bit powerful to see the number of them growing.
> Special Actions
>
> Attack specialisation - enchanted blade [passive] +1 to hit when wielding a magic blade, +1 blade effect
>
> Surgical strike [special move] increases chance of critical hit, at the cost of chance to hit
>
> Flare [wyrd] temporary blind up to 3 creates in a 10ft cone in front of you
>
> Grit Spray [wyrd]: Gather granular missiles from the ground in front of you and hurl with force at the target. Deals 1d6 damage in a 10ft cone in front of you.
So now, in every scrap, I can open with a Flare or Grit Spray and follow up with a Surgical Strike. Then in the next 15 seconds while I wait for Surgical Strike to cool down, I can cast another Wyrd if I want to open strong, or save my spare Wyrd for later. Then it’s Surgical Strike when it’s up, until the enemy is done.
Nice.
“Okay, I’m done!” I declare. “Let’s drink up and hit the road.”
I look around at my companions to see Andraya passed out with her head resting on her arms outstretched on the table.
“Or we could wait until morning of course.”