Chapter 130
MIGHTY BOOK – Chapter x, Character Statistics
Preface: This chapter is for your eyes only. No one else may read this chapter, no matter how they might try. Although you may discuss what you learn with others you may only do that – discuss what you learn. You are prohibited from relating a 1 for 1 exact copy of this chapter to others. Paraphrasing is likewise forbidden.
This chapter's knowledge is locked to you. Make that knowledge yours and you may share it with others. Until that happens though you will be restricted in what you may say.
Goddess bless, and good luck.
Statistics: Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma
Although this may be difficult to hear, these five statistics do not have very much to do with their titles – at least not in the way you might think. Strength for example does not mean that a person with a 10 in Strength is stronger than someone with a level 3 in Strength.
Statistics on Eden are not a representation of a person's power in that statistic. Instead they are more of a container and represent how much that person's container can hold when full. This makes no sense without additional lost knowledge beyond mere statistic numbers. You will be provided that knowledge without any additional fee as a gesture of goodwilll.
Humans, as they are born, look as if they are finished products once they grow in to adults. Adulthood has traditionally been treated as the final form of a human, progressing from infancy to childhood to puberty and then, finally, to adulthood, where a human body's transformations are complete.
An adult human on Eden however has an additional upgrade path, one that has been lost to time. There exists ranks among human body types in Eden. The same goes for many of the sentient races. A human is born as an unranked human and possess only basic abilities. That body can be upgraded however to a ranked body, which is capable of containing much more magic than a basic unranked human body.
This is why unranked bodies grow old and die – they were never intended to last that long in the first place. Instead they were supposed to have been upgraded to a stronger more durable body long before the 'starter' body gave out due to old age.
Human bodies range between unranked, then humans ranked C, then B, then A, then S. Each rank has more magical capability than the one before it and is able to handle far more powerful Class Choices when leveling up. There are ancient tales of higher rank bodies having additional abilities as well. What those might be has long ago been forgotten and will require rediscovery through transformation.
It is this transformation that stands between level 20, and level 21 and to a lesser degree between level 10 and 11. It is the wall that keeps those on Eden from progressing beyond level 20. What they are missing is their body's transformation. They can grow no more powerful without increasing the amount of power their body can hold and handle.
Upon reaching the point of transformation a number of rituals must take place that 'fill up' each of the statistic 'containers.' These rituals are a combination of meditation and movement. The amount of time it takes performing the transformation rituals is significant.
What the ancients decided to do was stop performing their rituals only at the time of transformation. Instead, they moved the timing of the rituals and would perform them immediately upon leveling.
When a sentient creature levels their magic is at its most malleable point. The creature's magic is in a state of flux in preparation for that creature's Class Choice. Rituals take advantage of that malleability to help lower the total amount of time rituals must be performed in order to 'fill up' each of their statistic 'containers.'
Once those containers reach a certain threshold and are full the body itself is ready to transform in to its next form. Not many people reach level 20 and so the rituals gradually fell out of use. Why perform a ritual for a level that you might not even reach? Eventually even the knowledge itself was lost.
Currently all a person on Eden does upon leveling up is pick their Class Choice. In ancient times however there were rituals that a person was expected to perform within an hour or so of their leveling up. Should that not be convenient or possible the ritual may be performed later but will not be as effective. In that case multiple ritual attempts may be required.
After hitting level 10 the first transformation may take place. This transformation is not required but will result in stronger Class Choices being offered up until level 20 when an additional mandatory transformation must take place.
The transformations also require a ritual but one quite unlike the ones performed at the time of level up. Transformation rituals are the total and complete breakdown of the body – after which it is rebuilt stronger and more powerful.
Future entries will outline the requirements for the transformation rituals but for now all that you require is how to perform a ritual after leveling up.
To do so begin by kneeling down. All steps are performed with eyes closed. It is important that you do not stop breathing during the movements. Do not hold your breath. Be advised that it is normal to sweat profusely during these rituals and you may wish to prepare a change of clothing in advance. The sweat can be quite pungent – this is normal and nothing to be concerned about.
Picture in your mind's eye a blue ocean expanse as far as the eye can see. You are the ocean. Maintain that picture in your head and focus. There is only the ocean. Rise from your kneeling position and perform the following steps using a brisk graceful motion. Do not stop at each step but flow through them.
Step 1, Rising Dawn, lean forward and...
----
Jay had cracked his Mighty Book open to read a bit. Just as they had been about to start exploring Aiden had taken out a shiny foil object and then pulled a piping hot grilled cheese out of it. Carly had been amazed when Aiden had shown her his magical sandwich maker.
Jurg's Fromage Pouch – Rare – This pouch always contains one piping hot grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese is random and will be either American, muenster, or sharp cheddar. It will be precut and will be either cut diagonally in half, cut across in half, or not cut in half but with the crust cut off. Upon withdrawing the sandwich the pouch will seal itself for one hour. After the hour has elapsed the pouch may be used again. The pouch may not be used to store any other item. While the pouch must be bound before use the actual grilled cheese may be eaten by anyone.
Everyone's mouth started watering at the same time. Their exploration had been put off for another five minutes as Aiden pulled his grilled cheese in to five small pieces and shared it with the group.
“Mmm.” said Norri while chewing. “Cheddar! No crust!”
Carly chewed happily. “Can we have another?”
Aiden shook his head while he chewed. “Nope. Not for another hour. It's too bad, I wish I could use it more often.”
Carly shrugged, “Well you could save up a ton of upgrade stones and see if the timer goes down when it's upgraded to very rare.”
Norri laughed, “That would be, like, 40 upgrade stones! Shouldn't he spend those on a Class Ability or a weapon?”
Carly grinned as she smoothed out a wrinkle on her robe, “Good point.”
Aiden gave his foil pouch a gentle pat with one hand. “Don't listen to them,” he cooed to it. “You're fine just the way you are.”
Carly and Norri laughed at Aiden as he carefully stowed his pouch away.
Jay had taken the opportunity to read a bit about statistics in the new chapter in his Mighty Book and the more he read the larger the frown on his face grew.
“What is it?” M'redith finally asked after she had noticed his facial expression.
Jay tried to say that statistics are a container but the words wouldn't come. He tried a different route.
“Statistics are a lie!” he finally said a bit hotter than he had intended after becoming frustrated at not being able to speak as he wanted to.
M'redith laughed, “Ok?”
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Jay shook his head to clear his thoughts. “Remember when I was granted lost knowledge of statistics?”
M'redith nodded, “Yes! Ooph,” she said with a shiver, “That place was creepy. You haven't mentioned it since then. Was that what you were just doing?”
Jay grinned and nodded. “Yes. And I've found out some amazing stuff.”
M'redith grinned as the others came over to see what the commotion was all about. “Like what stuff?” M'redith asked.
Jay sighed. “That's the problem. I'm not allowed to talk about it until I 'make the knowledge mine' – whatever that means.”
Carly had been quiet with her lips pursed but finally spoke up, “What's this all about now?”
Jay rubbed his head with one hand. He wasn't sure about letting Carly in on it but decided it probably wouldn't hurt. “It's about statistics. I've a whole bunch of information now that I am physically incapable of repeating.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” Norri asked as she eyed Jay oddly.
“Statistics are grgll,” he tried. “Statistics are GLRLR! DAMNIT!” Jay swore but with a grin. “It's kind of funny once you get used to it. Every time I try to repeat what I learned my tongue gets all twisted up.”
Norri laughed. “You're funny.”
Jay looked at Norri with an exasperated face. “I'm not doing it on purpose!”
Norri continued to laugh at Jay.
“Well.” M'redith started, “Is there anything you CAN tell us?”
Jay paused and went quiet. What if instead of explaining the 'how' he just showed them the 'what?'
“Look, you guys just leveled. There's something you need to do after every level up. And no, I can't tell you why. Because I CAN'T! Help me move these two benches.” Jay said as Aiden hopped up and helped him slide two benches off next to the other two. That made enough room for them all to do a ritual Jay thought.
“Do we have to?” Norri asked while still smiling.
“No. You don't have to, but if you really want to learn how to use your statistics right, well, this is how you start.” Jay answered with a shrug.
Carly looked confused but the way in which everyone else just blindly followed Jay's instructions convinced her that there must be something to it. Use your statistics right? What does that mean? Everyone knows that statistics don't really do much.
She had been wracking her brain trying to figure out how Jay always managed to come out ahead no matter what dungeon he was sent to. Perhaps this was a part of it? She walked over to stand with the others nearby Jay.
Everyone took up spots to the side and behind him and Jay sat down on both knees. The others mirrored his movements.
“Imagine an ocean,” he began and Carly looked at him like he was crazy.
“Really.” he insisted. “Close your eyes and picture an infinite ocean – nothing else. Now follow me...”
----
The room stank of body odor and some acrid scent that Jay had never associated with sweat before. It was something new, something that only seemed to happen when running the ritual.
It was awful. The sweat they all exuded while running through the movements was profuse and quickly soaked whatever they were wearing. They stank horribly. There was an old saying that if you could smell yourself a little then others could smell you a lot. Jay could smell himself a lot and gagged for a moment. Only the Goddess knows how bad he must smell to the others.
The ritual took roughly an hour and once they had begun the others hadn't wanted to stop. It felt good performing the ritual and no one could figure out why. The ritual was work and required lots of movements where weight distribution and transfer counted for a lot. More than once they had to start over due to losing their balance.
Finally however they all managed to get it right and perform one set correctly. They would have continued on if it weren't for the fact they were in a dungeon.
Jay flicked on his aura and immediately was surrounded by motes of light as his sweat was wicked away from his body and clothing and disappeared in to motes of light that gradually faded in to nothingness. His smell improved a great deal.
M'redith squeaked and stood closer to him with a wide smile. The smell and sweat had been awful but worth it. The others seemed to think so as well. They each seemed happy for the experience, especially since Jay quickly cleaned everyone up using his aura. Soon the room's foul scent was replaced with that of a tropical island.
The group stood about afterwards with perfectly cleaned hair, skin, and clothing. They smelled like a tropical beach and it was a wonderful departure from their previous scent.
“How do you all feel?” Jay asked.
Norri tilted her head to the side. “I feel great but bloated? Like, emotionally? Or mentally? I can't put my finger on what exactly it is but I feel... full?”
Aiden nodded, “Feels odd.” He moved his arms in a windmill pattern to stretch them a bit and leaned back to stretch his back muscles out.
Carly wasn't sure how she felt. She had done some silly exercises with Jay and now she felt...something. The ritual had just felt right somehow in a way that nothing else had felt like ever before. Jay was on to something, of that she was sure. She'd have to keep a closer eye on him. She was already trying to keep a close eye on him! Goddess, how many secrets did this man have?
Secrets might be a bit strong of a word for it, Carly thought to herself. Unknown properties would be a better phrase to use she thought and nodded once. Whenever Carly felt as if she had gotten a good grip on Jay and his abilities he showed up with something new and unexpected.
Everyone knew that statics showed how strong or smart you were. It had been that way for as long as Carly could remember. It was known. Yet here was Jay not only claiming differently but in a way that demonstrated that he knew something, some knowledge that everyone else appeared to lack.
He wouldn't share his knowledge with them but he was willing to show them something. Carly still wasn't sure what she had just learned but she attempted to burn the movements in to her mind so that she would not forget. She cursed herself for not bringing a notebook and writing kit. Next time she wouldn't forget.
“Thanks Jay! For...whatever just happened. At least it felt good.” M'redith said with a smile as she gave Jay a quick side hug.
Jay appeared to lose himself in his thoughts for a moment before he spoke. Haltingly.
“What you did was a ritual. You have to do it after every level up, preferably right after you level up. It won't work as well otherwise. If that happens you will have to run the ritual multiple even many times to compensate for it.” Jay said slowly as he felt out what he could and couldn't say.
“Where did you learn that?” Carly asked.
Jay looked hesitant but managed to speak without issue. It seemed that he was allowed to say where he had gotten the information.
“It was given to me. At Ashagi. Gifts for gifts.” Jay said with a shiver as he remembered the tall black creature with more mouths than arms that had granted Jay the knowledge he now tried to pass on to his group.
The rest of the group went quiet as they each remembered their trip through Ashagi. Their thoughts were sobering and they seemed a bit less cheerful when Jay continued.
“It is of utmost importance that we get each of our stats to level 10 by the time we reach level 10. There will be another ritual. And then – your power will grow greater than those without this knowledge. I can't tell you more than that.” Jay finished with a smile. He hadn't said grgl even once that time. “I'll tell you more when I'm allowed.”
Carly said, “Thank you,” and the others followed up right after her. Carly wasn't sure what she had just learned but by Goddess she was going to remember that 'ritual' and perform it after every one of her level ups. Jay was weird but powerful in a way Carly wasn't familiar with and he grew in power every time Carly saw him. If he said to do the ritual then Carly would do the ritual.
Carly decided she would keep this information secret and only perform the ritual when alone, even if that meant running the ritual multiple times. She wasn't sure if she wanted others to learn whatever secret she had stumbled on to. Maybe she would share the knowledge with Chenowith. Carly tapped her lips with one finger as she thought through the ramifications of doing so.
“NOW can we run the dungeon?” Norri whined with a smile.
M'redith laughed, “Yes Norri, now we can run the dungeon. Let's start with the Traveler's plaque. Care to give it a go Jay?” she asked.
“Sure! Give me a sec,” Jay said as he walked over by the winding stairs and reached out to touch the plaque.