As we arrive at the house, we notice a couple of small coyotes picking at the Tentaquil corpses. Our approach scares them off, and we quickly check the house to ensure no monsters got inside while we were away. Once we confirm that the house is clear, we all agree to take an hour to shower and unwind while reading through our tutorials and notifications. Valerie and I initially suggest that Olivia and Avery should shower first, but they insist that we, as the ones who took the damage, should go first. Reluctantly, we give in to their demands.
"Alright, should we go through these notifications?" I ask, the weariness evident in my voice.
"Yeah, might as well. Maybe then we can finally get some rest," Valerie replies.
I click on the class tutorial icon, and a window appears, covering my vision. It contains a block of text, with a "Next" button at the bottom indicating the next page.
"Welcome, adventurer, to the Class Tutorial. Classes are awarded based on several factors, including skills, spells, and titles. It is through the combination of these factors that you are given class options. Classes represent paths of knowledge, and the system is here to assist you along that path. Knowledge is always available for the curious to discover. Every class provides you with two starting spells and opportunities to acquire more through class quest rewards. You can also obtain new spells from the Stream of Creation, which will appear in a different color.
At level 5, you will gain a basic class. This basic class serves as a guiding stone for your path. You can acquire a second class or specialization at level 25, and another at level 50. After level 50, the path you walk is entirely your own.
Here is an example list of 10 basic combat classes: Fighter, Mage, Thief, Cleric, Paladin, Druid, Marksman, Ranger, Monk, and Elementalist.
This is just an example, as there are as many non-combat classes as there are specialists in the universe."
"Wow, that's a lot to digest, and there are more factors involved in determining a class than I initially thought," I remark as I click the next button.
You currently have the following available classes to choose from:
Arcanist: Arcanists are fascinated by the discovery and research of magic, studying the impact of mana on the world. Their magic revolves around neutral-type mana, also known as arcane. As they progress, their abilities focus on manipulating the fundamental aspects of reality.
Mage: Mages are jacks of all trades, having access to a wide range of spells from different schools of magic. Their versatility allows them to adapt to various roles, and their later abilities bring either significant damage or meaningful impact to any situation they encounter.
Druid: Druids act as caretakers of the land, using their gifts to restore balance through both life and death. They feel a deep connection to nature and strive to maintain equilibrium wherever they go. Their control over the elements found in nature is unmatched.
Marksman: Marksmen are skilled sharpshooters specializing in medium to long-range precision damage. They harness their mana to enhance their ranged attacks with a variety of weapons and employ abilities to make their shots deadly accurate. Their later abilities make them unrivaled in dealing damage from a distance.
Arcane Hunter: Arcane Hunters combine spells and abilities with mid to close-range weapons. They excel in burst damage and utilize buffs and debuffs to maximize the effectiveness of their attacks. Some Arcane Hunters develop abilities that specifically target mages or magical creatures.
Arcane Arborist: Arcane Arborists possess a fascination with the impact of magic on trees and wildlife. They utilize their connection to the land and magic to delve into the mysteries held by plant life and wildlife. Their later spells revolve around the intricate relationship between life and mana.
"I'm dumbstruck by the array of interesting choices before me. Where do I even begin?" I mutter to myself.
"You're right, some of these choices sound really weird, while others sound incredibly cool. I don't know if I want to be an 'Arcane Hunter,' but damn, it does sound cool," Val adds.
Welcome, adventurer, to the Stream of Creation Tutorial. The Stream of Creation encompasses the combined life of everything that was, is, and will ever be. It contains thoughts, dreams, nightmares, items, inventions, and knowledge. The stream is the repository and generator of everything in the universe. It grows and evolves as life comes into being and fades away. When knowledge and experience are gained, they contribute to the power of the system through a symbiotic relationship known as the Great Symbiosis. The system relies on the stream, and it must protect it from the Sower. The system cannot directly confront the Sower, hence the importance of safeguarding the stream. As individuals grow stronger, they gain greater access to the stream, extracting its mysteries while contributing back to its growth.
At Level 5, you gain access to the Stream of Creation at the first Basin rank. For every tenth level starting from Level 10, you unlock access to a deeper basin.
Here are the ranks and costs associated with each rank:
1: common 10SP BRC: 2
2: uncommon 20SP BRC: 4
3: rare 40 SP BRC: 8
4: epic 80 SP BRC: 16
5: legendary160 SP BRC: 32
6: mythic 320 SP BRC: 64
7+: Unknown.
The rate at which you receive stream points varies from person to person, but one constant remains: every individual gains an increasing amount of SP with each level, as represented here.
SP per Lvl Basin rank
1-10:4 BR: 1
10-15:5 BR: 1/2
15-20:6 BR: 2/3
20-25:7 BR: 3
25-30:8 BR: 4
30-35:9 BR: 4
35-40:10 BR: 5
40+:10 BR+1 Per 10level
This projection is based on level alone. Another factor that affects the number of stream points an individual receives is their Mana affinity. For every 10% of Mana affinity, a person gains one stream point, with 0.1 SP per 10% and the last 10% giving 1 SP per 1%. This is due to the deeper connection to Mana at the later stages of Mana Affinity. As an example, someone with a maximum Mana affinity of 100% would receive 19 points per level, in addition to the base points based on their level. Assuming this person is at level 40 and gaining 10 points per level, they would be receiving 29 points per level. For more information on Mana Affinity, please refer to the Mana Affinity tutorial.
"Hey, baby, have you reached the Stream of Creation tutorial?" I ask. "It's quite a hefty read. But if I'm understanding correctly, you should be receiving significantly more stream points than me. If my calculations are right, I'm receiving 11 points per level until I reach level 10, which would explain why I only have 43 stream points left," I explain, glancing over at my wife.
"It seems that due to my Mana Affinity, I'll be receiving more points. Good call on making us buy something quickly. We all obtained the title 'First to the Basin.' This title will only improve as time goes on. I don't think I'll ever give mine up," Valerie says with a gleeful smile on her face.
"By the way, what does the title grant you?" I ask. She shows me the prompt, and the only difference is that hers doesn't mention being the first. It states that she is among the first 10 to claim a reward from the basin. This confirms that we're receiving different prompts and confirms the benefits of being among the first.
I explain all this to her, and she playfully responds, "Damn it! If I didn't love you so much, I'd be so angry. That is such a good bonus for being first. What made you think of it, anyway?" she asks.
"Well, in some of the old video games I used to play, there was a rush for resources at the beginning. It was during this resource rush that players who gained an early advantage were the strongest in the end. When I saw the significance of titles, I started thinking about ways to gain early game resources, so I looked at the prompts and what they were indicating for the future. I figured that something called the Stream of Creation would be a good place to get a head start on resources," I explain with pride in my voice.
"That's why you insisted that we access the stream and buy the first things in the basin, right in the middle of the street after a big fight. It was reckless, baby. We shouldn't be taking risks like that remember this is not a game. It did pay off in a very beneficial way," she says, mockingly reproaching me.
"Alright, my love, I'm going to explore the Stream of Creation window because it's pretty," I reply.
"You're just a slut for anything purple," she teases, grinning playfully.
"Hey!" I exclaim, pretending to be offended. "You're not wrong, though."
I open my menus to the Stream of Creation tab and encounter the pop-up that I ignored during my first time through.
"Congratulations, adventurer. You have entered the Stream of Creation. From this menu, you'll be able to access your Basin ranks and purchase items from the basin."
As I open the tab, I see a stream stretching infinitely into the distance. It is a kaleidoscope of colors beyond my imagination. On either side, deep purple sparkles with cosmic starlight. The stream appears truly vast, with colors flowing into vortexes that funnel ribbons off the stream into cosmic purple basins.
It is from these basins that the knowledge of the universe is recycled and redistributed, allowing future generations to continue learning, growing, and evolving.
"You have access to Basin ranks 1 and 2. You have 43 points available. Would you like to enter Basin rank 1 or 2?"
"Well, apart from the pretty lights, there isn't much to the stream tab, is there? Alright, time for my second-to-last tutorial," I comment.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"Welcome, adventurer, to the Quest Tutorial. Quest rewards are granted by the system. They often align with self-growth, events, dungeons, and invasions. Quests given by individuals, cities, or churches are rewarded by the entity that posted the quest. These quests rarely earn SP unless they are selected by the system for an upgrade with bonus optional objectives that contribute to the quest's goal. Cities may offer titles as rewards, but most titles come from the system. Rewards from system quests often in most cases, rewards from the system are random, but your class plays a role in what you receive. Unless the reward specifically states 'class item,' it will be something based on your class.
In the beginning, three class quests provide spells and abilities for your specific class.
You have been given the following quest, which cannot be refused:
Quest: Pick A-Class. To complete this quest, all you have to do is choose a class.
Quest reward: 100 exp, Ring of Storage, Adventurer's Starting Skill Book.
Well, that all sounds pretty good. I can't wait to complete more quests and see how things unfold. Now, onto the Friend tutorial.
Welcome, adventurer, to the Friend Tutorial. To become friends with someone, you simply need to make physical contact while considering them as a friend. Family members are automatically added to the family tab in the friends menu. If a family member hasn't reached level 5 yet, you'll receive a notification when they do. You can message friends as long as they are in the same world. You also have the option to block someone from messaging you. If you wish to send a message to someone in a different world, you can use a carrier available in the Radigar world.
That's a relief off my chest. I check my family tab and see that all of my blood relatives are grayed out, except for my dad, who is still alive and apparently at level five.
"Hey, honey bunny, are you ready to go out and talk to the ladies? Maybe purchase some things from the basins. What do you think?" I ask.
"Sounds great. I'm not sure about picking classes just yet. It might be smarter to wait until we get to Urza and see what the people who are supposed to teach us have available," Valerie suggests.
"You know what? I didn't even think about that. I think I'll pick mine before going to sleep so I can allocate my attribute points and be ready for tomorrow," I decide.
So we head downstairs, and Olivia and Avery are already finished with their showers, chatting with each other. We gather to discuss our different classes, and I fill them in on mine and the choice I'm leaning towards.
"Arcane Arborist is the top contender for the class I'm going to pick. It speaks to one of my biggest fascinations in video game fantasy worlds, which is how magic affects trees, plants, animals, and entire ecosystems that develop because of it," I explained passionately. "What do you think, my love?"
"You have to make that choice yourself, but if it's something you feel passionate about, then you should take that into heavy consideration. We don't know the length of this journey or how long we might live, but it's important to have something you're passionate about as the focus of your skill set," she replied.
Then, a sly grin appeared on her face as she continued, "Well, I was thinking about picking the Arboreal Paladin class. I've always loved playing paladins, and fighting for nature sounds like the best option for being a Paladin. Plus, with my work in forestry, it seems like a surefire bet. Unless the people in Urza have an ultra-special elite rare class, then I'll probably pick that one, hoping it has a druidic alignment. But failing that, would you like to be a druid with me?" Val says.
"Baby, you're going to make me cry," I said, wiping at the corner of my eyes. "Of course, I'll be a druid with you, honey bunny."
Olivia and Avery both made a hand gesture mimicking throwing up and joked,
"If y'all were any more adorably sweet, we'd have diabetes," Olivia jests with a hint of laughter in her light Texan accent.
"Alright, well, I'm going to pick mine now so we can see what it's like," I said with excitement. I opened my class menu to find the Arcane Arborist. I selected it and received a prompt. "Are you sure you wish to pick the Arcane Arborist?" I clicked "yes" in my excitement. Then, I received a prompt in a style I had never seen before. It had a dark, rich brown color with vines wrapped around the edges, adorned with purple arcane energy.
"Congratulations, you are now an Arcane Arborist. You have gained the following spells: Contour Nature and Earth Strider."
Earth strider: ability mana cost 30 dashes, long 50 mana per/min. 10 Stam. per/min
Cast speed: 1 second dash/ Channeled
Allow the caster to move As though they were flowing across the Earth.
Active: In short range can be used to create a burst of speed you go to 5 times your movement speed. At long ranges, it can be used to increase the movement speed by 3 times and can sprint at 5 times for 3-time stamina consumption. must travel 300 yards with this ability active to gain long-range effects.
passive: Allows caster to cast spells while moving you must be connected to the earth somehow. If you are in the air, on or in the water You have to be stationary to cast spells.
level bonus: Reduce costs by 1%
Rarity: Uncommon
Contour Nature: Allows the caster to manipulate nature within a sphere of influence with a radius of 5 feet for every 5 levels of the spell. The materials used have different costs based on density or whether they are living.
Plants: 10 MP per second; can be bent, moved, or shaped as long as the plant is living and within the sphere of influence.
Wood: 50 MP per second; can be warped, repaired, or cut. Cannot cut living wood.
Soil: 75 MP per 5' x 5' x 1' per second.
Stone: 250 MP per 5" x 5" x 1" per second.
Passive: The environment bends toward to caster giving a bonus to stealth in nature +10 to stealth. Rarity: Uncommon
As the knowledge of the two spells pours into my head, I clutch my head in pain. It feels strangely similar to a severe brain freeze but without the cold sensation. A silver prompt appears in my vision.
"Congratulations, adventurer! You have completed the quest 'Pick a Class.' As you do not have a storage container large enough for your prizes, they will appear before you. You have been awarded 100 XP, a Ring of Storage, and an Adventurer's Starting Skill Book."
A familiar purple basin materializes in front of me, and I reach forward to grab the two items.
"Congratulations, adventurer! You have reached level 6. You currently have 12 unspent attribute points."
Ring of Storage: An extradimensional space that measures 5' x 5' x 5'. To bind the ring, drip some blood onto it and then equip it.
You have gained the following class quests: 'One with Nature' and 'Peer into the Arcane.'
Quest Name: One with Nature - 1
Difficulty: Common
Quest Description: Restore balance to an area, granting it the boon of balance. Balance: Plants grow two times faster and yield 50% more resources. Lasts for 6 months.
Balance:
Type: Class
Rewards: Class Spell - Nature's Bounty
Quest Name: Peer into the Arcane
Difficulty: Common
Quest Description: Restore the magic equilibrium of an area, deepening the cosmic connection.
Equilibrium: Deepens the area's connection to magic. Increases mana regeneration for friendlies by 10% and enhances magic potential by 15%.
Type: Class
Rewards: Class skill - Arcane Sight"
I place the skill book on the table and gaze at the ring in wonder. My heart pounds with excitement as the prospect of having a proper inventory sinks in. I rush to the kitchen, grab a knife, and return to the living room. I stab my finger and let a small drop of blood fall onto the ring. Everyone looks at me in confusion as I equip the ring. I move to my inventory page, and there it is—a 5 by 5 cube. I laugh with giddiness as I pick up a chair and place it into my storage. Gasps escape from everyone's lips. With the biggest grin on my face, I exclaim, "Inventory!" while raising my arms in the air. I make the chair reappear by willing it into my hands, and it materializes with a soft thud as it lands on the floor. Laughter fills the room as we all revel in the absurdity of the events that have unfolded in the past two hours. The tension dissipates as we continue to laugh, feeling a breath of fresh air and relief wash over us.
Once we manage to compose ourselves and stop laughing, I say, "It's kind of disappointing that I don't feel any different aside from knowing these spells, which in itself feels odd. It's like I just know how much mana I need to use and how it affects things, but I don't know all the details of the effects I can achieve."
I explain the two spells I gained and provide information about the ring and the unused skill book. Realizing it's a good time to use the skill book, I continue, "I guess I should use this skill book now. I've received an Adventurer's Starting Skill Book. as i pick up the book i get a prompt asking if I would like to use the skill book. I click yes, as i do the book starts to glow a deep purple. Watching the book with more then a fair bit of caution it starts wo turn to sand as the book crumbles the particles of sand gathers between me and the book. Then in a rush they fly into my forehead.
You have gained the skills gained are 'Scan' and 'Language Translation.'
Scan: This skill allows you to see basic information about monsters and people. It can be detected by the feeling that somebody is watching you.
Language Translation: Allows you to understand all lesser spoken languages. It cannot be used on beings of an higher plane, such as gods, demons, angels, or entities from dimensions like the 4th or 5th, as their interaction with the 3rd dimension is limited."
Suddenly, knowledge on how to perceive things in a deeper way floods into my mind, albeit not as overwhelming as the first time. "Wow, that feels weird," I remark to everybody. "This is cool. It's a scan skill that allows me to see basic information about people and monsters. Hey, is it alright with everybody if I scan them?" Everyone nods, intrigued by the idea of being scanned. I scan each person in the room, curious to see what the experience will reveal.
"Well, that feeling is odd. It's like a more intense version of the sensation you get when Somebody is watching you. It doesn't pinpoint exact locations, but I do get a general sense of direction," Val explains.
"This is really cool. Having this information will be invaluable in knowing which beasts we can take on and which ones we should avoid. I can't wait to see the types of monsters out there. Although, knowing our luck, we'll probably encounter every single beast," I chuckle.
"Alright, while I go poking around in the Stream of Creation to find a class spell, why don't we turn on the TV and watch something to relax? I'm open to other suggestions if anyone has any," I suggest.
Avery speaks up, expressing her thoughts on our plans for going to Urza. Well, I ain't sure if I'm cut out for da adventurin' life, and I ain't sure if I wanna stay once we get there. I think I might come back here, meet up with my family, and figure out what to do from dere. But I can't do dat until I reach level 10. What do youse guys think you'll do assumin' we all make it to level 10?" Avery finishes, lookin' downcast.
Olivia nods in agreement. "I feel the same way 'bout this whole situation. I don't wanna go to your Urza either, but since we don't have a choice, we gotta make the best of a bad situation. I sure as shootin' don't wanna stay longer than necessary. If we all end up bein' sent there together, we can team up, protect each other, and watch each other's backs. We don't know what the political landscape will be like, and we don't know much 'bout this world at all. It's worrisome to think it might be a bunch of different races who can't understand each other," she says, her irritation evident in her voice.
I raise my hand to interject. "Well, I forgot to mention the other skill the book gave me, which is Language Translation. It allows us to communicate in any spoken language," I say sheepishly.
"That's really good to know. Once you arrive in Urza, we can contact you and find you. Assuming your plan is still to come to our world as soon as you reach level 15," Valerie says.
"Yeah, that's my plan. First, I'll reach out to your parents to drop off the dogs since they're going to stay with them," I explain to Valerie.
"Yes, I asked my parents to take the dogs in. They're not thrilled about everything that's been happening, but at least they're happy they were able to get the Heal spell. That's a relief," Valerie explains.
"Why d'ya reckon the system gave us all these free spells, 'long with storage and a way to communicate with each other?" Olivia ponders aloud, curiosity lacing her words.
"I think it might be because whoever created the system knew that planets without integration with Mana would be at a massive disadvantage. Bringing all worlds into the system would have a heavy toll on populations without our level of technology," I speculate. "Think about it, if this happened during the Middle Ages, do you think we would have 20% casualties across the globe? Without the ability to heal or protect ourselves?"
"That actually makes a lot of sense. Have you been thinking about this a lot?" Valerie teases.
"As a matter of fact, I have. I feel like we've become quite powerful very quickly, and I believe it's due to our level of technology. However, I don't think it will make a significant difference in the grand scheme of things," I respond, sticking my tongue out playfully.
As we turn on the television, a warning about an approaching storm and moderate flooding appears. The breaking news announces that monsters are emerging from the ocean onto land, and beachfront properties need to evacuate to the nearest forward operating base. The military has mobilized and regained control of major cities. Citizens with the Heal spell are encouraged to join the military for protection as they pass through neighborhoods. Those outside military-controlled areas are advised to stay inside their homes or seek shelter, as the monsters have become significantly stronger, resulting in a high casualty rate of 24% of the world's population.
"Alright, so we have a choice here, guys. We can stay here and chill until tomorrow when you leave at noon, or we can go pay a visit to my buddy Jake. He's a local blacksmith, and he might be able to make weapons for you guys to take to Urza. That way, you'll have both ranged and close-range weapons," I suggest.
However, they all decline, expressing their desire to prepare for tomorrow instead. I understand their decision. I, on the other hand, would prefer to venture out today while it's still daytime, rather than going out tomorrow when it's raining. After giving it some more thought, I bring up the subject again.
"Alright, I've thought about it some more, and I think I'm going to go to Jake's anyway. You don't have to come with me; it's only a 10-minute jog away. I'd rather find Jake today while it's still rain-free than wait until tomorrow. Besides, he's my friend, and I want to make sure he's okay," I explain.
Valerie looks at me with concern and asks, "Are you sure you'll be okay going alone, baby?"
"Absolutely, don't worry. I have a class, a movement spell, and I can use the scan skill now. I won't engage in any unnecessary fights. I'll be back in like an hour, at most," I reassure her.