Class Management, Ted discovered, was a lot like the appointments you got with a career advisor when you were at school, or if you were forced down the route by the government whilst trying to claim benefits. There were a half dozen ‘teachers’ seated at desks in the room, there to work with the recruits on a one on one basis, to talk them through their classes and abilities. The rest would be given busy work, in the form of ‘exploring the CPS’. This aspect reminded Ted of an IT class where the instructions were inexplicably printed on A4 paper despite the whole point of the lesson being computer usage. Surely a complicated system like the CPS would have an integrated guide? He’d already found the help menu, so there were obviously some capabilities there. But then, there were for the OAP IT lessons too; they just chose not to use them.
The first desks were filled by the first six to walk in, whilst everyone else found an empty seat and picked up the sheaf of papers. The room was suddenly filled with the low murmur of conversation or of quiet muttering as the rest of the group followed the instructions on the paper and vocalised CPS commands.
It turned out that in this lesson the remaining menus had been given access to, now allowing access to the Inventory Management System, the Journal, and the Class and Rank Management System. It appeared that the Help Menu was simply what Ted had already discovered; ask a question, get an explanatory pop up.
It was pretty exciting. Ted had resolved the night before that he’d try and embrace this thing for now, only questioning when his cynicism really overwhelmed him. So he was taking everything on face value, and using his knowledge of game mechanics where possible to exploit it. The fact that he’d already gained access to skills and techniques earlier than expected showed that there was a little more than met the eye; not necessarily hidden goals, but definitely less obvious routes to success.
He opened up the Inventory Management System first, not sure what to expect; in a game it would show a picture of a body with equipped items, next to a huge lists of items stored on the player’s person, normally in an impossibly large invisible bag, capable of holding three thousand potatoes and a dozen swords. He found that half of this was absolutely correct, as a mutter of ‘Inventory Screen’ caused a window to open, showing an outline of a human that Ted assumed was him. Lists appeared next to the outline at the relevant heights, though they only listed the five things Ted was wearing;
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- Inventory -
Equipped
Head: None
Body: Standard Issue T-Shirt, M, Green,
Arms: None
Legs: Standard Issue Trousers, M, Green; Standard Issue Boxer Shorts, M, Black
Feet: Standard Issue Socks, Green; Standard Issue Boots, 9, Black
Inventory: None
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Reading the guide that had been provided, it didn’t look like he’d be given any unlimited storage for his inventory; he’d need a bag or to rely on his pockets. The system would pick up on those and register them, however. He tried inspecting one of the items that was equipped.
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Item: Standard Issue T-Shirt, M, Green. A medium sized, green t-shirt provided by the Authority Basic Training Camp. This T-shirt provides no additional benefits.
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The other items were much the same; Ted checked them all, just to make sure. Going back to the guide it informed him that most items only received information if they weren’t obvious at face value; i.e. a t-shirt pretty much just covered your top and kept you a little warmer. There’d be no other information unless there were hidden, or uncommon characteristics, such as enchantments or inherent properties of the materials. If the t-shirt had also given the power of flight, or defensive properties beyond that of thin cotton, it would have been pointed out. As it was, the Inventory Management System page expected you to do a little work on your own. The page also said that there was a Technique linked to item identification, and that even when wearing something, you may not be fully aware of its effects.
That seemed to be about it for the IMS. He flicked over to the Class and Rank Management screen and was suddenly overwhelmed with information.
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- Class and Rank Management -
Class: GateKeeper
The GateKeeper is a Magic and Melee combination Class, focusing on spear and polearm based combat and transport and movement based magic. GateKeepers normally work as infiltrators or escorts, providing strong defensive capabilities and discreet movement powers to allow carriage and transport of important people or items to where they need to go. GateKeepers do not normally work together, finding their skills work best as a support to other teams.
This Class requires, and provides an affinity with the following Skills:
* Spear Mastery
* Staff Mastery
* Shield Mastery
* Timing
* Spatial Magic
* Portal Magic
* Time Magic
The GateKeeper, Level 1, receives increments to the following Attributes:
* +3 Strength
* +2 Agility
* +2 Spirit
You are Currently a Level 0 GateKeeper
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Well, that was a bit different. It certainly sounded like an interesting class, and the list of Skills that he received a boost too was exciting to say the least. It also helped him understand why he’d found use of the spear so easy the day before; he had an inherent affinity to it.
Unfortunately, there was an image forming him of a GateKeeper in his mind; a picture of a man in large robes, holding a spear and helping people… cross a road.
He slammed his hand down on the desk, causing a few around him to look up in surprise.
Had the system made him a magic Lollipop Man? The absolute bastards.
He closed the screens and looked at Jerah, who had the slowly becoming familiar look of someone focusing on their CPS screens.
‘What Class are you then?’ Ted asked him, drawing his attention.
‘It says Warrior Monk.’ Jerah replied. ‘Unarmed combat and acrobatics. I guess that fits with my previous life. We did spend much time in combat.’
‘That sounds like a badass Class.’ Ted said appreciatively. ‘We had films and legends about monks with martial arts skills in my world. They could fly, use chi, throw needles through windows, all kinds of things.’
‘Why would you want to throw a needle through a window?’ Jerah asked, confused.
Ted thought about it. ‘I’m not sure. It looked very cool though. I’m sure it’ll be one of the first skills you’ll learn.’
Jerah continued to look confused, unable to tell if Ted was joking. Ted gave him a pat on the back to reassure him. ‘It’ll be very useful, don’t worry.’
He looked around to see whether they were close to meeting their career advisors, seeing that the teachers were making their way down the room, and were only a short way from him and Jerah. He also saw that the Bear-person was sat next to him, and was also looking around as if looking for a distraction. He decided to introduce himself.
‘How are you finding it all?’ he said, leaning over to make it obvious who he was talking to. The Bear-person registered him with a wrinkling of its nose. Snout.
It gave Ted the opportunity to properly look at the figure. He’d been thinking of them as a Bear-person, as had Jerah who had confirmed that there was a very similar equivalent on his world; a huge hairy mammal, with large paws and a snout. The comparison was only slightly off; the Bear-person was over 7 foot tall, with slightly less beady eyes, and the snout being both longer and wider than he’d seen on a bear, allowing an almost human like mouth, if extended. When the Bear-person spoke, in a surprisingly light, lilting voice, Ted saw that the mouth was filled with razor sharp teeth.
‘I’m sorry?’ the Bear-person responded. It sounded female, but Ted wondered whether that meant anything to Bear-people. Ted shrugged in response.
‘This whole thing. The new life, the CPS. How is your new Class?’
The Bear-person looked at him for what felt to Ted like an uncomfortably long time. He became a bit uncertain of his decision to start a conversation; he’d been riding off the success of a friendship with Jerah, and a pretty cool looking Class. He was relieved when the Bear-person spoke.
‘It has been a very confusing time. I am surrounded by the hair-less and the scaled. In my world, these were non-sentient beings, not much more mindless than the roving Coa bushes. But now there are many of you, and few of my kind. I am pleased that the Lord chose me to fight the Enemy, but it is not quite what the songs said the forests of the Almighty would look like. I am uncertain.’
The Bear-person’s eye contact with Ted had been intense and unwavering throughout the long speech they gave, and the strength of emotion that he felt through it made him almost want to give the person a hug. A bear hug, Ted thought to himself, almost laughed, then shut himself down.
‘I’m sorry to hear that. It has been confusing for all of us, but at least there are many of us; I can believe it is much harder for you. We call ourselves humans, by the way. My name is Theo.’ He held out a hand to shake.
‘My name is Kara.’ the Bear-person said. She put a paw to her head, and then to Ted’s, ignoring the hand entirely. The strength of what he believed was supposed to be a welcoming gesture was enough to push him back into his chair. ‘I heard the instructors calling you Ted, though.’
‘That is a misunderstanding.’ Ted said. ‘I’m sure it’ll get cleared up soon. So what Class are you?
At that moment, one of the career’s advisors took a seat opposite Ted, introducing himself as he did so.
‘Hello there. I’m Andin, and I’m here to talk about your Class and position in the Authority’s Army. Ted, is it?’
Ted groaned.
‘No, it isn’t.’