I opened my eyes. I wanted to complain. That's what you do when you wake up in the morning after overexerting yourself. Except is wasn't that bad. Having a 31 in Constitution means that my body can take more three times what you could throw at the perfect human body. My Constitution Attribute was 5. Take how bad I would feel, on a scale of one to ten, and divide it by 6.2, that is my Statistic divided by my Attribute, or 31/5. If ten was the hospital, in my new body it would feel like like 1.61. Easily less than two on the scale. How do you complain about two out ten for pain. I guess it depends on how you look at it. I wanted to complain, but I didn't really see that I could that. Another way to look at it, is that taking away person's ability to complain is cruel thing to do.
My visit to the Dungeon went better than I expected. I gained fifteen uses of [A Chance at Greatness]. I planed on five months to reach Level 3. In one day, I'd cut out one sixth of that time. If I could replicate that again next Celestiumday I would hit Level 3. I need to plan out my [Limit Break] choices. Things were happening so fast last night I couldn't bring myself to waste a choice, so I picked a new Statistic to improve instead of triggering a [Limit Break]. I've been really frustrated about what to choose lately. I don't want to ruin the best Spells by taking them too early, but I don't want to waste a [Limit Break] on a useless Skill or Spell. I would have to look at that later. I had thousands of notifications to go through from my delve, first.
I checked the time. 10:05 AM. I had to be ready for today's Quests by noon. This evening we started training again. I had to get up, get shower, get dressed, eat, and get to work. Because now I was a Karma wage slave. I would have rather laid in bed. The shower wasn't a sauna. My clothes from the stores in the Dungeon were starting to get threadbare. The food from the inn was cold because I slept in late. Aern'Lenninisal was one of the last to arrive when left for the Quest, so I had to sit with all the elves without the benefit of [Tongues]. It's nice to know I can still complain.
Regamis, dressed in his usual all black, was standing in front of us on the Magic bus. Next to the elf was a middle-aged human, who was dressed in earth-tone, laborers clothing. “We will only be doing one Quest today. This is Master Ketner. He has recently reached Tier 2 and acquired his [Personal Palace]. Master Ketner is a farmer by trade. We will be helping him build a small farming community to help support the poor and underpriviledge. If we do well today, we may get an extra Quest, so it give it your best. I'll let Master Ketner explain.” With that, Regamis sat down behind the controls of the bus and we took off.
Master Ketner started talking. “You can call me Cal. We gotta piece a land that's way out. The only way in is t' fly. Now that I got my [Palace] we can do it. We need seedling boxes with compost and soil to start with for spring. We want to start clearing for foundations today. If we can get some wood cut for timbers and beams so it'll dry by the solstice that'd put us ahead. My crew can clear the fields in winter if'n we have t', but we gotta have a longhouse to be out there t' do it.”
While Cal spoke the bus flew over the mountain bordering the valley and headed away from Everdale at a quick pace. I glanced back only to be able to see the outer boundary towers and walls, and the light filled haze that hangs over every city.
“What I'm askin' for is hard work. What ever you can give us will be appreciated. Master Meadowwalker said you might have some questions.”
Several people looked at Nellamon. He paused for a few moments before raising his hand. When Cal called on him he stood and spoke with a calm measured voice. “I will begin with Justice. Are you or your people criminals or victims of any kind?”
Cal winced slightly, “Well...Jacob stole a chicken once, but he paid restitution and did his service. It was years ago. No one else though. I've never been the victim of no crime. Can't say about the rest.”
“Have you or yours ever been the victim of an accident or misfortune?”
The farmer perked up at that, “My sister came to Everdale when her village was destroyed. Maybe you heard 'bout it. Two years 'go bunch of Dungeon critters got out in a Crude eruption. Her parents, cousins, all her friends been in the soup line ever since.”
Nellamon replied, “That will do. Now for Courage. Is this place beset with wild beasts? Are you at risk of life and limb from weather or deprivation?”
Now I get it! He's setting up purposes to use their Virtues. Unlike Magic, when directly using a Virtue you need a reason for using the Virtue. It required you to align your motives with the Virtue. I hadn't seen them do this the last time we worked on a cooperative Quest. The one with the big road project. They had put me to work refilling the Stamina of the village workers right away.
Nellamon covered most the Practices but he skipped a few. He didn't ask about Sagacity or Compassion. He did dip down into the Habits, asking question for industriousness, cautiousness, and reliability. What he asked about last surprised me.
“What about Divinity? Do you and yours serve Celestium?”
Cal appeared more relaxed at this question. “I do,” he said proudly. “We got one or two don't like rules much, but even though the don't follow [Law] they are [Good]. The other thirty three all follow Celestium.”
“Thank you Master Ketner. You have been most helpful. Now we will be,” he said as he sat down.
Why was Tier 1 Paladin asking about one of the Principles, the highest College of the Virtues? That we be like me announcing how a was going to use Source Magic to help out these people. My face must have been showing my confusion.
“What troubles you Pilgrim,” Nellamon asked me.
Even I knew questioning why Nellamon, or anyone else on the bus, had access to Divinity would be like asking, 'Why would a god have anything to do with you?' Instead I pivoted to something I was already curious about. “Why is it OK for some of the farmer's people not be [Lawful Good], but you have a problem with Aern'Lenninisal.”
My friend perked up at the mention of his name.
“My problem is more with what he represents than with him,” he said with obvious disdain directed at Aern'Lenninisal.
The druid gave one his rare smiles while elaborating. “It is tradition, but not [Law], that an officer in the guard of Aeseiriral must be [Lawful Good]. My grandfather is not [Lawful Good], yet he was made a captain in the reserve.”
“There must have been a good reason,” I said.
Aern'Lenninisal nodded with an even bigger smile, “His Summons are dragons.”
With genuine curiosity I asked, “How do you a get a dragon for a Summons?”
Aern'Lenninisal lost his smile and deadpanned, “Very carefully.”
Of course I laughed. It would have been rude not to.
Nellamon was not amused, “It is even worse than he is saying. Archdruid Enfasel is [True Neutral]. There is no overlap with Path of Celestium at all.”
“Are dragons really that impressive,” I asked.
“They are,” Aern'Lenninisal said, “But that is not the whole story. Elves find it difficult to [Limit Break] Constitution. There are then very few people like Nellamon who take the Virtue of Incorruptibility that boosts Constitution. Dragons can serve the role of front line defensive fighters for us instead. That is why my grandfather was made a captain. It might also be that the person with the dragon usually gets what they want.”
I laughed again. My friend had obviously been holding these jokes back for a long time.
“Reserve captain,” Nellamon insisted.
Now things were making more sense. Nellamon's rigid personality was related to the Virtues he had taken. Maybe he wasn't that bad after all. It didn't explain everything.
“Why is all right for Master Ketner to have friends who are not [Lawful Good] but you confronted me about it?”
“Voluntary personal associations are not the same as family and community members,” he answered.
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“What is at about being a Pilgrim that makes it OK?”
Nellamon got a faraway look in his eye. When he began speaking it was clear he was quoting something, “Vornicalesex then asked Celestium, 'If I can kill the enemies of [Law] and [Good] cannot also kill those who tolerate or encourage anything but [Law] and [Good].' Celestium answered, 'We are all on a journey to reach an ultimate end at either [Lawful Good] or [Chaotic Evil]. Those who hover around those ends in this life may find that is not their final destination. Even I travel on that journey with my fellow gods. I tolerate them and encourage them to let everyone in the mortal realm find their own Path. There is a difference between those who celebrate a deviant, and those who respect the role that the gods have to play in the personal growth of each soul. To strike at all who are tolerant is to strike at me.' Vornicalesex then said, 'I will make it know that the Pilgrim on the journey with his fellow travelers will be respected for his respect.'” Nellamon returned his focus to me and finished with, “That is why you are respected, Pilgrim.”
I was going to ask some more questions when the Magic bus landed.
We came down at the edge of small mountain lake. The lake was fifty strides across at it's widest and a hundred and twenty strides long. We disembarked in at the head of a glen that went deeper in between the mountains than the lake did. A nearby small stream fed into the lake. Looking out over the lake, it had a mountain rising on either side, with no beaches or shoreline. There was an obviously artificial dam with a spillway. I could hear a rush of waters greater than the small spillway could provide. Another mountain rose in the gap framed by the top of the lake and the mountains at it side. The size of the distance to the opposing mountain and the sound of rushing waters led me to guess a large river was just below the little lake.
Cal started walking up the hill, into the glen. I could see Cal's people higher up than us. The glen went back about three hundred strides from the lake shore. Most of the people were moving rocks and mortar to create terracing walls. When he reached the closest terrace wall, the portal to his [Personal Palace] appeared floating in space. I few moments later gobs of dirt were flying out of it and falling behind the terrace wall. Cal studied only a moment the operation before turning back to us.
“I'll let you decide what t' do. Y' know yerselves better 'n I do. We got foundations to fill. Lumber to cut, 'n longhouse to build, seedlings to set up. Take your pick.”
Nellamon spoke up first, “Master Ketner, do you mind if we cut into this mountain to make your accommodations?”
“Guess not. Think you can finish it t'day?”
“I do,” he replied confidently. “Knights! File Formation! We Sync!”
The six young men I'd come to regard as Nellamon's posse, sprang into action. Nellamon turned toward the mostly vertical face of the mountain forming the edge of the small valley. The six of them lined up right behind him, single file.
An two handed adze appeared from Nellamon's [Inventory]. The knights mimicked Nellamon, their empty hands holding an imaginary adze as well as having the same stance as their leader. Then they synced. It was no longer mimicry. They were one. Nellamon marched forward and they marched forward. Nellamon's adze hummed with Chi as it came down and took a bite out of the mountain stone like it was butter. It would be wrong to say that Nellamon was swinging his tool. The force he was delivering was well beyond what Tier 1 person could do by themselves. They were swinging the adze, with the power of a Formation. A portion of each of their Strength and Stamina was in every swing. Rocks were beginning to pile up near the head of the Formation.
“Zema get the stone into the terraces,” Master Ketner excitedly shouted.
I turned to Aern'Lenninisal, and asked, “Let Cal know I can recharge his people's Stamina. I'm going to help Nellamon.”
He nodded and I walked up to the last Knight in the line. I cast [Recharge Stamina] until he was full. I tried [Recharge Mana] and [Recharge Chi] but they weren't needed. I made my way up the line. Strangely, when I got to Nellamon, he didn't need Stamina, just Chi. A few minutes in and Nellamon's speed doubled and the Knights behind him kept up.
I was able to keep up with them, but I a some difficulty when other people came up asking for a recharge. I had to fit them in when I could. The day went buy quickly. Every one of the Knights had to take a break at least once, but not Nellamon. He was a monster.
He created a three stride wide by three stride tall hallway that went into the rock face. He then he turned at ninety degrees and plowed toward the peak. He traveled straight back for a few hours.
Then he made two right turns and came back toward the entrance. He left a two stride wide strip in between the tunnel going in and the tunnel coming back. Then trimmed the center strip to make columns. By the end of the day he had a room twenty stride long and eight stride wide. He left three columns, two stride by two stride along the centerline of the room.
When he was done I had three notices waiting.
You have learned the [Life] School of Magic
It was about time. Now my [Recharge Stamina] Spell could restore 2 Stamina per second like [Recharge Mana].
You have completed the 'Help the Farmer' Quest
You receive 10% XP toward Level 3, 10 [Law Karma Points], and 10 [Good Karma Points]
You have completed the Hidden Bonus Quest 'A Better Home'
You have participated in building a better home than Master Ketner asked for and provided excavated rock material for other construction projects.
You receive 10% XP toward Level 3, 15 [Law Karma Points], and 15 [Good Karma Points]
After we finished, I topped everyone off, even myself. A shot of [Recharge Stamina] is always invigorating. I walked outside for the first time in hours. There was still light in the sky, but shadows filled the glen as the sun was low. Selenia was covering in dirt and grime from head to toe. She begged for a quick [Purify] from Nellamon. Then everybody wanted one, and I was back on recharge duty.
Master Ketner and his fledgling villagers were thrilled with the room we had built. They were already working on a door to cover the opening to the tunnel. I walked up the glen to exam the terraces. The first few where packed with dirt but the ones near the back of the glen still had exposed chunks of stone. Stone that Nellamon had ripped up with casual ease. Another reminder I wasn't on Earth anymore.
We said our goodbyes and loaded back up on the Magic bus. As we took off, I could see I was right. There was a river with rapids about seventy strides below surface of the lake.
With my suspicion confirmed, I decided satisfy the rest of my curiosity.
“Nellamon, Who here has the Divinity Principle?”
He turned to me and said, “I do.”
“I though you might need a Grand Class to unlock it. I know Archwizard of Time unlocks Time Source Magic as a Class Magic, but your not Tier 2 yet. How did you get it?”
“The same way I got most of my Virtues. I used a [Limit Break].”
I was still confused, “I don't mean where you got the Ability Points from. Is it just something you can buy? As an Archwizard I can get a Source Magic School by unlocking a Grand Class or by learning every standard Spell in the School. How did you unlock it?”
Nellamon shook his head, “I see your misunderstanding. A Virtue must be earned. It cannot be bought by a Class. It must come from a [Limit Break] or a Quest. Before I can spend the first Ability from my Class on a Virtue I must already have the Virtue by merit.”
Now I really was confused. “Virtues cost more than one point. How do can pay for a Virtue when you can only get one point for it every Level?”
This time Nellamon chuckled, “A Virtue's power is measured in integer multiples, but the points are accrued individually. It took me thirty years before I could use the first Level in Justice, because I insisted on only using [Limit Breaks] and Cultivation.”
I got a sinking feeling. I was interested in being a Wizard from the start. Celestium got that right. When I found out Virtues required a code of conduct and a mistake could cause you to lose your powers for a while, I lost interest in the Classes that used them. I still wanted to get Virtues, but I had planned to do that later with Ability Points. I thought back to what Celestium had said about the Virtues. He never said anything that disagreed with Nellamon's explanation , but I made a mistake in understanding what he actually did say.
I asked Nellamon, “So anyone can a get a Virtue whenever they have a [Limit Break]?”
“Yes,” he said
“Do you find it hard to follow the code of conduct required by your Virtues?”
“No. I don't think of it as a requirement. Once you look at the world a certain way, through the Virtues, it become clear that there is only one course of action you can take,” He replied.
When I went quiet he turned back around and watched the scenery.
I had been holding off on a [Limit Break] because I couldn't decide what Spell or Skill to use. Why not try to get a Virtue? I had enough XP thanks the Bonus Hidden Quest. I triggered a [Limit Break] for Willpower and selected Acumen. If Nellamon could get a Principle, so could I.
Congratulations! You have acquired the Acumen Virtue.
Something shifted. I could feel something around me. Multiple somethings. I looked up. Everyone was looking at me. I mean everyone. Even Regamis had twisted around from flying the Magic bus to look at me with confusion.
Nellamon bellowed joyously, “Pilgrim! You have joined the Path! How? Did you solve a hidden Quest with your questions?”
I thought carefully. I didn't want to reveal the nature of [A Chance at Greatness] in front of so many people. I said, “I have Boon that let me choose a Virtue.”
You have gained a [Law Karma Point] for not making a false statement while protecting your privacy interests
You have made a a quality decision that benefits you and those around with decisiveness.
You gain one temporary Virtue Point toward Acumen. You will retain this Point for twenty-four hours.
You have 2 Virtue Points for Acumen out of a maximum possible of 2.
I could feel the people around me. I wasn't seeing them. I didn't have to search for them. They were broadcasting their presence to me. I could tell that Nellamon had six Virtues, which were Service, Incorruptibility, Motive, Courage, Justice, and Divinity. Selenia had four. Fellowship, Fairness, Justice, and Faith. With my eyes closed, I could point to where almost everyone on this bus was. Everyone except Aern'Lenninisal. When I looked at him I knew he didn't have a Virtue. What had I done?