The following day went the same as the first dungeon dive. They cleared the rooms leading up to Stibs and were promptly forced to surrender by Stibs himself. The goblin had gained five levels between both encounters. Their little runs through the dungeon were pretty damn effective in leveling the defenders.
Trillia hadn't been able to make much use of the nova rune spell she had picked up. Amelia's musing rang true. Each rune took a staggering thirty seconds to carve. She tried to pre-carve them into stones, tried to carve each to be mostly done, then finish them quickly. The universe itself seemed to take its sweet time in activating the spell. The first level of rapid rune would bring the carving time down to a minute and thirty seconds. Which was significantly better than three and a half minutes.
Problem is, most of those fights were over in under a minute. It was something Trillia learned the hard way. Fights were fast, brutal, and efficient beasts that wasted no time.
She now sat at a table with Mon'tag, Amelia, and Gobbinz, who had left the dungeon to chat with the scouts and see if any of them wanted to test the dungeon's full defenses instead of the easier path.
"I think I'm going to void [Runic Scholar]." Trillia said to the gathered council. The class had only gained a single level in this run. It was only level six, and it wasn't providing any worthwhile skills that she could use in the here and now.
Mon'tag nodded at her statement. "That makes sense. It's an advanced class. Most advanced classes or classes with a longer duration are meant for when you're a higher level and can supplement them. Even this class. I reckon if you had a bunch of rune spells, it'd be an amazing class to have. But right now? You just lack the experience and arsenal needed."
Gobbinz offered her a pat on the shoulder. "It may also be stat based. With a much higher agility, it could be way faster to carve the runes. That disrupting ability of yours seems really good as an offensive weapon, and [Rune Sight] also seems valuable. I just don't know if it's enough to struggle through the class at this point."
Trillia offered the goblin a smile as he patted her shoulder. Listening to them as she nodded along. "This last run pushed [Fencer] to level thirteen. I could max it out in the next run or two, depending on when my duration ends. I wanted to work on an advanced class, but with the speed at which this one is leveling. I may just work on basic classes and try to get a bunch maxed out."
"You should check [Minstrel]. See if it's level twenty-four or twenty-five. Especially if you're thinking of voiding [Runic Scholar] to start over. Instantly maxing out [Minstrel] seems like a good idea if you take it at very short." Amelia spoke off-handedly as she looked at a few pieces of parchment that had Trillia's available classes written on them.
Trillia chewed her bottom lip, her head resting on her right hand as her fingers tapped against her lip. "Is there another class you can use [Mentor] with? Also, what happens if you evolve or max out [Minstrel]? Does the connection just end?"
Amelia looked up from the papers at the question.
"I've already evolved [Minstrel]. It's [Virtuoso] now. It evolves a lot of the [Minstrel] skills. I'm honestly not sure if I can use [Mentor] again with [Minstrel] or not. Or if I can use it with an advanced class. The requirements for [Virtuoso] are pretty steep. Mastery [Minstrel] at least two times. Class must evolve from a max level [Minstrel] and a [Charisma] of at least two hundred."
"Dang. Yeah, I doubt [Mentor] is gonna let you just give me [Virtuoso]. That's a lot of requirements of which I possess zero. You know what? Screw it! I'm gonna void scholar and take [Minstrel] at a very short. Hopefully, you can [Mentor] me in it again or something else." Trillia stood up, closing her eyes. Tugging at her classes, trying to figure out how to void [Runic Scholar].
Runic Scholar is currently level 6. If you choose to void this class, you will be forced to start over at level 0. You will gain no stat points until you pass level 6. Furthermore, all of your skills will grant no Species or Subspecies experience until they are past their current values. Are you certain you wish to void Runic Scholar?
Trillia opened her eyes, looking to the others for any last objections. When none came. She said yes.
Interestingly, her stats didn't drop. She knew that the skills were gone immediately. Looking at Amelia one more time, she nodded.
"Moment of truth, I guess." once Amelia returned the nod. Trillia took [Minstrel] as a Very Short.
Mentor has provided 25 levels worth of experience to the [Minstrel] class.
Class: [Minstrel] Level 0 -> Level 22 (MAX)
Before Trillia could get overwhelmed by choices, she looked at Amelia. "What should I take as my first mastery?"
"There is a passive that boosts mana regeneration. I don't think you need that. What level did it drop you at?"
Trillia told her it maxed her out at level twenty-two. Amelia nodded, looking through her own skills. "There's an active skill called [Marching Cadence]; it doesn't require an instrument, you just need to sort of have a whistle or wordy tune going as you walk. It stops stamina from draining as quickly during marching or traveling. It's quite useful. You could also take [Restorative Chant] so that it can actually level up."
Trillia nodded once more, trusting in Amelia's judgment. She fiddled some more and had her first class under Mastered Classes. It asked her which skill she wanted to lock in, and she chose [Restorative Chant]
Class Skill: [Restorative Chant] has been added as a Mastery Skill under [Minstrel Level 22 MAX]. Calculating Mentor experience from use of skill.
Class Skill: [Restorative Chant] Level 0 -> Level 15 (MAX)
Skill Evolution is available next time you take the [Minstrel] class, or any of it's evolutionary paths.
Trillia blinked at the news. "Wait, it was saving up and storing all the experience I gained from using [Restorative Chant]. It's maxed out at level fifteen!"
Amelia smiled wide at that. "That's amazing! You should read the skill description. I think it's going to be significantly more powerful in your hands than in mine."
Restorative Chant:
Chant is a loose term here. Really any audible sound is enough to utilize this most basic of Minstrel abilities. The cost of this skill is your Presence value multiplied by the level of this skill. It restores an amount of Health and Stamina equal to the cost of the skill to yourself. If used on another creature. It restores Health, Mana, and Stamina equal to the cost + 10%. At Max Level, you can designate whether the skill uses Presence or Wisdom.
Evolution available: Battle Hymn [Restorative]
This skill requires you to keep up a chant, song, or musical instrument for its duration. The cost of this skill is your Presence value multiplied by the level of this skill, +1% of your current mana per second. It restores an amount of Health, Stamina, and Mana equal to its cost to all allies that can hear the Hymn. You cannot restore yourself with this skill.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Trillia read the information back to Amelia. "I'm almost tempted to take [Minstrel] again. If I could have the hymn and chant as separate skills. It would let me heal huge groups of people and also keep myself topped off."
Mon'tag let out a whistle when she read the skill description. "You've got what? Three million mana just sitting there? That's thirty thousand health mana and stamina a second. From my limited understanding of most sound-based skills. It's literally any ally that can hear you. That's the type of combination that the rulers of kingdoms would pay you a fortune to march with their army."
Amelia nodded to that as well. Trillia sat there, a bit stunned. She had figured her mana pool would be pretty insane. But that was something else entirely. "Wouldn't that give people healing sickness and mana sickness really quickly, though? In addition, I don't regenerate nearly that much mana. It'd be something I could do every few days."
Mon'tag shook his head. "So what if people get mana and healing sickness? In the middle of a war or great battle, they either have to be killed in a single attack or they are invincible for a hundred seconds. An army can do a terrifying amount of damage in a hundred seconds if they never run out of stamina, health, or mana. Trillia, you need to be very, very careful about who you tell about that ability. Or any of your abilities, really."
Trillia felt her skills working overtime to keep the fear out of her mind. Mon'tag continued.
"The Queen and Grand Chieftain dissuade a lot of folks from practicing slavery, but it still happens. Even if it's something you can only do every few days. It could still turn the tide of any war that you're a part of. Talk to the Chieftain and the minotaur king about it. Who knows, maybe if you do get the hymn. It'd be an option of retaking God's Watch. Or, for that matter, you can stand next to one of those mana rifts and keep the thing going pretty much forever."
Gobbinz raised a tiny hand. Amelia smiled faintly at the goblin. "There's no need to raise your hand Sir Gobbinz. Speak freely. You're amongst allies."
The goblin nodded before clearing his throat. "I fear you're all wrong. The skill says 1% of her current mana. That means she'll never run out of mana. As her current mana depletes, the amount she is restoring will just change to her new current mana, right?"
Trillia and the others sat in stunned silence. Trillia had assumed it was something you just toggle, and it takes your current mana into account, and that was that. The four of them sat there in mostly silence. The sounds of the camp around them, as well as Gobbinz slurping soup down slowly. Trillia finally spoke up again.
"See if you can [Mentor] me in [Minstrel] again." she looked at her best friend with a smile. The hymn would let her fulfill her promise of retaking God's Watch far easier.
Amelia nodded, putting a hand on Trillia's shoulder and closing her eyes.
Amelia Shatterhoof would like to Mentor you in the Minstrel class.
Minstrel class has already been Mastered. Mentor experience contributions will be cut to 50% of normal values.
Would you like to accept Amelia Shatterhoof as a Minstrel Mentor? (0 of 3 Mentor slots are in use.)
Trillia read the information back to everyone before she accepted. Both girls could once more feel the other's life force through the bound. Trillia nodded.
"Good! Now we can max it out a second time. We'll re-take God's Watch before you know it. Now, onto what class I should tak-"
Pulling up her notifications, she quickly realized that she had gained a rather substantial amount of experience for having mastered a class. And the fifteen levels of chant.
Species: [Mortal]; [Orc] Level 28 -> Level 33
Subspecies: [Mana-Infused Orc-Adolescent;Runt] Level 20 -> Level 27
"I gained a bunch of levels because of that. Hmmm..."
Mon'tag spoke up quickly before she picked something. "You should get all your derived stats to a hundred. A lot of intermediate classes have those at a hundred. I have no idea if you'll have the rest of the requirements, never hurts to have options."
Trillia grabbed a piece of parchment and something to write with. She wanted to make sure she got this exact. She brought up just her current stats to see where everything was.
Stats:
[Brawn: 90]
\Strength: 39 + Vitality: 51/
[Dexterity: 231]
\Agility: 54 + Wisdom: 177/
[Charisma: 91]
\Intuition: 44 Presence: 47/
Nodding, she scribbled down some things. Bringing [Presence] and [Intution] up to fifty each. She put the other eleven points into [Strength]. She knew it wasn't exactly optimal. But maybe having the individual stats at a decent level would benefit her in some way down the line. With that out of the way. Trillia looked at her available classes. A new one had, in fact, shown up.
Swashbuckler
Duration: Short, Medium
Requirements
Dexterity of at least 200
Charisma of at least 100
Must have Rapier Mastery or Saber Mastery as a Skill, or their equivalents.
Must have fought in at least three duels
Must have access to the Fencer Class or the Pirate class or their evolutionary paths.
Must have fought in a battle while laughing or joking about the entire time
The Swashbuckler loves adventure! Highly skilled with Rapiers and Sabers, these daring adventurers specialize combat in awkward areas. Hallways, the railing of a ship, a balcony's ledge! The more precarious your fighting environment the more powerful your skills become!
Swashbucklers have a single active skill slot called [Swashbuckling] it can house all active skills derived from fighting with a one-handed sword-like weapon. All Active skills the Swashbuckler can learn are automatically learned and placed in this category. It will copy the abilities from other classes that fit into this category, but not absorb them.
Swashbuckler provides 1 agility every odd level.
Swashbuckler provides 1 presence every even level.
Trillia read the class out to the other three. A little smirk on her face. She liked the sound of the class. Plus, it had a short duration available just in case she didn't like it.
Amelia saw the smirk and rolled her eyes. Mon'tag burst out into laughter.
"Great, that's just wonderful. All you need to do now is go sailing on a ship for three months, and you'll have earned a multitude of sea-based classes. Hahaha, I can see it now. Our little Trillia Demonsbane, scourge of the twelve seas! Master of wave and wind!" Mon'tag was standing on his chair, one foot on the table, with his sword held high into the air. Gobbinz couldn't help but laugh at the image. Amelia groaned and hid her face, but a smirk had crept onto her snout as well.
Trillia's smirk grew wider still. Life was an adventure, after all. She now had both of her classes once again. She took a glance at her stats before hopping up and taking the same stance as Mon'tag. Gobbinz quickly joined them.
Name: {Trillia Demonsbane}
[Status: Alive; Scorned Divinity] [Buffs: Well Fed]
Species: [Mortal]; [Orc] Level: 33
Available Stat Points: 0
Subspecies: [Mana-Infused Orc-Adolescent;Runt] Level: 27
+5 Wisdom Per Level
Class: [Swashbuckler] Level 0
Class: [Fencer] Level: 13
Stats:
[Brawn: 101]
\Strength: 50 + Vitality: 51/
[Dexterity: 231]
\Agility: 54 + Wisdom: 177/
[Charisma: 100]
\Intuition: 50 Presence: 50/
Traits:
Runt
Limitless Mana
Thirst For Knowledge
Divine: Unwavering Determination
Alchemical Blood
Spawn Seeker
Racial Skills:
[Orc Savagery - Passive]: - Level
[Orc Constitution - Passive]: - Level 0
[Orc Tenacity - Passive]: - Level 2
General Skills:
[Stalwart Mana- Reactive]: Level 0
[Mana Obfuscastion - Hybrid]: Level 3
[Rapier Mastery - Passive]: Level 4
[Mana Sight- Passive]: Level 2 [Currently: Off]
[Runic Scripture - Hybrid] Level 1
[Universal Mana Manipulation - Hybrid] Level 0
[Basic Alchemy - Hybrid]: Level 1
[Basic Cooking - Hybrid]: Level 3
[Basic Herbalism - Passive]: Level 1
[Lesser Mind Magic Resistance - Passive]: Level 1
[Lesser Fire Magic Resistance - Passive]: Level 3
[Minor Telepathy - Hybrid]: Level 0
Class Skills:
[Swashbuckler]
[Fencer]
Active: Riposte - Level 7
Passive: Fencer's Grace - Level 4
Passive: Fleet Foot - Level 3
Health: 1010
Stamina: 510
Mana: 3,000,000/-