Theo held himself close to the wall, peering around the corner to verify the layout that he’d seen on the plans. It was as expected; a few cargo containers and a CCTV camera facing the wrong way. The CCTV camera currently above him had a view of the area that would show anyone approaching, but would completely miss anyone beneath it; a criminal failure, in Theo’s mind. People seemed to think that you could just put cameras up and you were secure, that no one could get to you.
They were wrong.
He rounded the corner, staying plastered to the wall until he reached the double doors to the warehouse. Then, abandoning all discretion, he threw them both open.
Blood started pouring out of the doorways.
Ted woke up, sweaty and confused. He was lying on his bed in the inn, still fully dressed, and with a pounding headache combined with a full body ache, similar to the worst hangover he’d ever had. He groaned and looked around him, seeing a purple potion and a note on the bedside table. He reached over and grabbed it, just about reading it through bleary eyes.
You passed out - mana exhaustion
Drink this potion and come down when you’re ready
- Cam
Without hesitation he swigged the potion, feeling instant relief, as the grogginess and aches went away. Looking at the potion, he wondered what it was; then decided to take Cam’s advice, and used Identify.
Identified: Mana/Health potion
Interesting; a combo potion. He’d not seen those before. He wouldn’t point that out to Cam though; he’d been reminded enough of how poor the training he’d received was. He wondered how Jerah and the others were finding their reception on the Front; if the training really had been that below standard, they’d be a big disappointment to the waiting regiments.
He sat up, and then stood; feeling grotty and dirty despite the refreshing potion. He decided that it was high time he washed and changed; he’d spent the whole day travelling and training in the same set of gear, sweating and getting generally covered in road dust. His room had an ensuite, which he’d yet to investigate, and on doing so, found himself pleasantly surprised; he kept on expecting rudimentary, medieval style facilities, and had to keep on reminding himself that magic took the place of technology here, and just because they didn’t have planes, didn’t mean they didn’t have plumbing or like hot water.
Which all meant to say that his bathroom did indeed have a shower.
He washed and changed, assuming that Cam wasn’t in a real rush for him to come down. He then checked his status and notifications, unsurprised to find that there were about a dozen; various Techniques, Skills, and Status notifications, including one telling him that he’d passed out due to Mana Exhaustion.
Would have been nice to have a warning on that one, he thought to himself. But overall, despite the disaster at the end, he found himself looking at a massively enhanced Status page, one that he found himself pretty proud of.
____________________________________________________________________________
* Stats -
Name: Ted Phillips Thirday 1930
Race: Human (Earth)
Level: 1
Rank: Recruit
Class: GateKeeper, Level 1
Health: 100/100
Magic: 100/100
Strength: 5
Intelligence: 5
Agility: 5
Spirit: 5
Skills and Techniques:
Spear Mastery - Basic - Level 10
Stand Your Ground - Level 5
Charge - Level 1
Staff Mastery - Basic - Level 3
None
Shield Mastery - Basic - Level 7
None
Throwing Weapons - Spear - Basic - Level 1
None
Basic Magic - Level 10
Light - Level 10
Magic Sensing - Level 5
Identify - Level 5
Fire Magic - Level 1
None
Timing - Level 7
None
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Looting - Level 1
Animal Harvesting - Level 1
Agile Manoeuvres - Level 10
Dash - Level 10
Drift - Level 8
Break-Fall - Level 6
Dodge - Level 6
Jump - Level 1
Stealthy Manoeuvres - Level 1
____________________________________________________________________________
He wasn’t sure how, but he’d managed to gain himself a Skill in Fire Magic, which he was very happy about, and Magic Sensing had shot up five levels within fifteen minutes of him obtaining the Technique; additionally he had options to gain additional Techniques in Spear Mastery and Basic Magic. He reviewed what the CPS was offering him for each.
____________________________________________________________________________
System Message:
Level 10 in Spear Mastery - Basic has been reached!
This is a significant milestone on your road to truly mastering the spear. Your better understanding has allowed you to gain one of the following Techniques:
Power Thrust, Level 1;
Fire Spike, Level 1;
Drill Thrust, Level 1;
____________________________________________________________________________
He requested more information on each one, though he recognised Power Thrust from the first ever Technique option he’d received in his first couple of days in Basic. It hadn’t changed at all, and while it seemed like a solid choice, it definitely seemed less exciting than the other two, based on name alone.
____________________________________________________________________________
Technique
Special Attack - Fire Spike - Level 1. This Technique is a combat technique that can be used with spear or polearm based weapons, but requires the user to have a basic understanding of Fire Magic. The user channels magic through the spear to give an attack a fire elemental effect, causing burning and heat damage. More magic can be used to increase the power of this technique, but technique may fail if overcharged. Higher levels of this technique will allow an increased intensity to the elemental effect and variations to be added.
This Special Attack is supported by the Skill: Spear Mastery.
____________________________________________________________________________
Technique
Special Attack - Drill Thrust - Level 1. This Technique is a combat technique that can be used with spear or polearm based weapons. The user uses mana and wrist dexterity to add rotation to a thrusting attack, increasing armour piercing capabilities. More magic can be used to increase the power of this technique, but technique may fail if overcharged. Higher levels of this technique will allow more powerful strikes, higher torque, and variations to be added.
This Special Attack is supported by the Skill: Spear Mastery.
____________________________________________________________________________
Well, that seemed like an obvious choice to him; he could quite happily twist to the spear himself, but adding fire to an attack could only be a good thing. He chose it, smiling as the Technique was added to his Stats page and he suddenly felt knowledge drop into him on how to use it. He made a note to ask Cam about the Skill interactions though, as this seemed to be something that wouldn’t have been an option if he hadn’t gained the original Fire Magic Skill. Did this mean there were some strategies to improving Skills and Techniques?
The Basic Magic level up was only offering him two Techniques: Aura Sensing, and Mana Shield; on review of the detailed information he wasn’t sure which one would be best to choose, as neither of them were as simple or clear as he’d have expected.
____________________________________________________________________________
Technique
Magical Technique - Aura Sensing - Level 1. This Technique is a Perception technique used by extending your magical senses over a living being to view and understand their Aura. More magic can be used to increase the strength or distance capability of this Technique, but the technique may fail if overcharged. Higher levels of this technique will allow better understanding of Auras, and variations to be added,
This Magical Technique is supported by the Skill: Basic Magic
____________________________________________________________________________
Technique
Magical Technique - Mana Shield - Level 1. This Technique is a defensive magical technique that allows the user to create a hardened magical shield around them that stops interference with their use of magic or their internal magic source. This shield does not provide protection against physical attacks or magical attacks that cause physical effects.
This Magical Technique is supported by the Skill: Basic Magic
____________________________________________________________________________
Even for a magical world, aura magic seemed a bit wishy-washy and hippie like for him, but he also didn’t think that the Mana Shield was all that useful either; it wouldn’t stop a sword or a fireball, so how much would it really do?
He decided to ask Cam, and so promptly dismissed all notifications and screens, and headed down to the bar.
On the ground floor of the inn he found Cam sat a table in deep conversation with a Baraye, who sat on a reinforced chair on the other side of a small table. The Baraye had black fur, noticeably darker than Kara, but appeared slightly smaller than her, though it could have just been the hunched over seated position. Cam waved when he saw Ted, and beckoned him over to the table.
‘Evening my friend! Good to see you’ve recovered. Let me introduce you to my good friend Benn.’ he said as Ted approached. Benn put his paw to his forehead in the same gesture that Kara had when Ted had first met her, and so Ted copied the gesture. He saw Cam smile slightly at that, and he guessed that he’d done the right thing.
‘I’m The- Ted’ he said as he sat down on a third chair at the table. He’d almost tried to go by his old name, and then thought better of it. He’d ended up with the worst of both worlds.
‘The Ted?’ Benn asked, his ursine facial features not allowing Ted to read any mood. ‘Surely not, The Ted we’ve all been hearing about?’
‘Yes, probably that one.’ Ted said, playing into the joke. ‘I’m glad my name has gotten around.’
‘I’ll make sure to watch my paws and claws then!’ Benn said, an expression which Ted thought must be similar to minding your Ps and Qs.
‘Right so.’ Ted said, then broke out into a smile. ‘Nice to meet you Benn.’
‘Likewise.’ Benn said. ‘I hear you’ve been a bit ill. I’m glad to see you’re feeling better.’
‘Mana exhaustion.’ Cam explained. ‘I was helping Ted train his Skills and Techniques, as we arrived early, but I didn’t warn him well enough about the risk of overexertion when using so many Techniques in short order. In addition to the actual Magic training.’
‘Cam is a very hard taskmaster.’ Ted said, solemnly. ‘Cruel, even, I would say.’
‘I am nothing but fair!’ Cam said. ‘Ted just has a lot to learn.’ Benn nodded.
‘I’ve heard you’ve just come from Blackmoor Camp.’ he said to Ted. ‘Unfortunate.’
‘It’s got a reputation?’ Ted asked.
‘It does! And not a good one!’ Benn said. ‘Last I heard, they weren’t even training the recruits how to march!’
‘I should probably get a drink.’ Ted said, standing up. Benn and Cam laughed, though not meanly. ‘Are you guys okay?’ He noticed that the two were drinking from flagons filled with a dark liquid. Beer? Looking around, the inn wasn’t full, but there were a few people round, but no merriment that would imply drunkenness. Ted was hit by a flash of horror as it occurred to him that this world might not have alcohol. It was religious after all.
‘I’m fine, thanks.’ Cam said. ‘But I’d recommend the local ale. They make it out back, it’s very good.’
‘Not for me lad.’ the Baraye said, raising his flagon to show it was half full.
‘Just me then.’ Ted said. ‘What an adventure; my first beer.’