~~~~~~~~~~~
If I speak they’ll see us. Oh no, it’s you! Please don’t look at me. You. Behind the glass. Yes, I feel your eyes. Disecting my very character. Why would you do this? Don’t you understand I have a life? Is... is it my life? Will it still exist when you look away? Please... please don’t forget me when you look away! I had three children. Did I exist before this or are these memories and sentences all that there will ever be of me? Are you going to rate me? If not now, when! Surely my character development merits a 5?”
-Incoherent ramblings of a madman directly following the Cataclysm.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Dorsey’s General Store lay not much further ahead as I walked along with Ben the wolf kin towards his family’s shop. Supposedly only a few more streets ahead. If nothing else, the boy was proud of his heritage.
“So one day I’m going to retire from being an adventurer and take over for my dad. It’s still a way off from now, but it’s been in the family for four generations now if you count me!”
“It seems odd to me if you’re planning to be a shopkeeper, wouldn’t it make sense for you to practice your trades though instead of going off on quests?” I asked, genuinely curious as to why he was putting so much effort into being an adventurer if he was already planning to retire from it in a few years.
“It’s all about the levels! You know, bank a bunch of points and spend them to unlock higher tier skills. It’s wild how expensive some of the top ones get, but that’s probably why you professionals specialize in one weapon or another. But don’t worry! My archery is in the fifth tier, had a unique pop up and I had to take it,” the youth grinned.
“Oh? What’s that?” I asked
“I won’t spoil the surprise, but it’ll definitely be useful when we fight together,” Ben grinned.
“Alright, keep your secrets then!” I chuckled good naturedly, “But that still doesn’t explain why you chose combat instead of staying a merchant or doing escort quests.”
“Alright well maybe you don’t know it, but the XP gains from trading are... well... boring.”
“Boring?”
“It’s slow and steady, sure you can get really high level if you’re making big trades all over, but it’s so boring! Especially at low levels. Now that I’m getting good at this, I want to get out of it while I’m still in the prime of life.”
“Does that explain the bow and trap usage then?”
“Yeah, it does. I like the thrill, but close combat isn’t something I’m good at. Staying out of harms way is my goal, even if I’m right next to it.”
“No, that makes sense to me. Stick with what you know, let someone else cover your weaknesses. Too many try to do everything themselves and are worse off for their trouble.”
“Exactly! I knew you were a good kin when I spotted you. A lot of the veterans won’t hunt with me since I’m not in it for life like they are. Oh, and here we are! Let me introduce you to my dad”
I followed Ben through the entryway of a moderately sized shop. Bags of dried grains lay stacked up amongst each other, fresh produce was neatly piled on a countertop. Straw brooms, jars of preserves, some cookware, and even what looked to be a camping tent were all laid out in their individual sections of the store. Ben had disappeared ahead of me while I gazed at all the stock laid out. I heard his voice from what must have been the basement.
“Hey Dad! Found someone to go with me on that watchman quest tonight. Going to stock up first. Do you know where the fresh torches are?”
“Try the third shelf from the right. Near the spare axe handles I think?” The voice came from a row of shelving behind me, I hadn’t noticed his presence before he spoke up. The wolf kin walked out from where he had been and extended a paw for me to shake, “Hello there stranger, Charles Dorsey, of Dorsey’s general store. You can just call me Chuck though. I take it you’re the one Ben was talking about?
I took the offered paw and shook it. Maybe late middle aged if I had to guess it? A few grey hairs were starting to show around his muzzle but the handshake was plenty firm.
“That’s me, seemed like a good enough kid. The other quests that were left didn’t quite spark much joy,” I replied.
“Ha! I took the same path as he’s on now. The reconstruction bounty might be abused in a few rare cases, but it’s a damn shame that these things have to happen in the first place. Still for an adventurer just trying to afford some new gear, it’s a great opportunity. I might have pushed him a little bit when he was younger but he’s got a good eye for profit and danger both. Teammates too from the looks of it. You a soldier?”
“Was, from a place far away from here though. New to the area.”
“And you decided to stop by Oxdale?” The man laughed, “Ah its not so bad actually. Just like picking on my hometown. It’s a lot better than some of the places out there. So while Ben’s looking around, anything you need to stock up on? Won’t get the family discount, but I’ll let you have it for a good price.”
“Ben seemed to indicate that you made these torches yourself,” I held up the one I’d been given, “was wondering if you had anything more...potent.”
“Ha! He made you think I’m one of the sages of old didn’t he?”
“Maybe not that far, but it is an interesting piece of work you made. I’m something of a crafter myself.”
“Sizing up the competition are you then? Well, I won’t stop you from buying! The recipes are secret though,” Chuck winked at me.
As if I needed his recipes and crafting diagrams! I’d dissected countless undergrad’s work. His would just be the next. “Show me the way then, oh great sage!”
I was shown to a small nook, behind a heavily locked door. Stepping inside, I saw the largest collection of Magitech items I’d seen since arriving here. I was... unimpressed. Torches seemed to his specialty, various designs and models. From a nightlight for children to a searchlight that could light up a bay, he tinkered with them all. I hefted a pickaxe, heavily engraved.
“Force amplification and shock absorption! You’ve an eye for quality don’t you? Best pick you will find in Oxdale! Mine out a vein or punch a hole through armor. I’d let it go for no less than 3,400.”
My jaw nearly dropped at the outrageous cost of such a basic tool. Then again, given what Colette had originally wanted to charge me for the raw Cephlyx it probably wasn’t the worst deal. If I could find a safe way to offload things I might craft, it could help quite a bit in the funding department. Seeing my hesitation and misreading the reason for it, Chuck continued on.
“We can set you up with a payment plan through the Merchant’s Guild of course, as long as you’re still an adventurer in good standing I’m sure we could approve you for some favorable terms!”
“Appreciate the offer, but sword and board is what I know best.”
“Alright, but quality like that tends to move quick!” The consummate salesman tried to leave one last hook in the water. Luckily I was saved by his son returning from the basement.
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“Alright Dad, I’m done here. Hey Dansin, it’s still about six hours till we are due out in the graveyard. Was going to catch a bit of shuteye. Where are you staying at?”
“I’ve got a room at Harry’s tavern,” I replied.
“The one over by market square? That’s a good way that direction and the Citadel is only a few blocks from here. We have some spare cots laying around here if you want to avoid the walk there and back,” Ben offered.
His dad caught scent of the potential sale and immediately jumped in, “Absolutely! Here, I’ll let you test this model out for free, 120 gilder if you want to take it with you. Breaks down nice and neat for your pack, but still supportive.”
A package the size of my upper leg was thrust into my arms and I was directed into a spare room overlooking the store. A few instructions later and my cot was ready for resting. I had to admit it would be handy were I to be on the road for an extended period. Definitely beat laying a sheet over the ground.
Excitement settled for the moment, I allowed myself to relax once my temporary co-worker and his enthusiastic salesman of a dad left the small corner I’d set up in.
“Quite the morning huh?”
“That’s only the half of it. I know we need to get to sleep, but I’m still too wound up over the last day. What do you know about these undead we’re supposed to be looking out for?”
“The usual. Kin that were dead but their bodies didn’t quite agree with the prognosis. Basically just run of the mill monsters now. No thoughts or goals, just the most rudimentary of instincts. On their own they’ll usually die off again in a few days.”
“So why don’t they just let nature take its course?”
“Not too many want to watch great aunt Jane walking through the streets or trying to bite out their throats. Also, there are some rare events where the dead don’t return to their rests on their own. I’ve only heard of that occurring in the aftermath of major military battles though. The loss of life here was tragic, but nowhere near enough to make that a concern.”
“Okay, but how does that work though? I mean, things don’t just rise from the dead on their own. Some sort of magic or tech?”
“Nothing quite like that. Remember how we healed up faster than you expected? Think of it like a continuation of that. Although with how much faster we healed than I expected... maybe the undead will be more resilient than I remember. Even then though they are still mindless, the spark of consciousness long since left them.”
“Are they turned into monsters though? Or are they still kin?”
“Some of both, and neither.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning that they have traits similar to both groups, but don’t fit neatly into either. The structure of a sentient mind is different from that of a monster. When Cephlyx is distilled from a monster, the corresponding product from a sentient is markedly different. More... resistant, for lack of a better word.”
“Like someone’s soul actively resisting?”
“That was a theory, but it was never quite proven. The ethics board cut that off. Either way, the undead are just as useless for crafting purposes as standard sentients.”
“Still don’t know why they wouldn’t just stick a sword through them and nip this whole problem in the bud.”
“It’s been tried before. Sometimes the pulse of regenerative energy is delayed. The cost of hiring an adventurer is less than the social cost to dismember someone’s great aunt Jane right after the funeral. Especially when dismemberment is the only way to prevent a second rising. Usually.”
“Do we need to get something heavier to put them down for good?” My gladius was effective at stabbing and slashing. Decapitations not so much.
“No, no. Once they’re moving again any lethal blow will put them down for good. Usually. Basically it’s convincing the body that it’s actually dead.”
I wasn’t completely sold on Samara’s explanation but if it wasn’t that much of a concern to her, then it was probably alright. The guy going with us was an archer, so it wasn’t likely that he would be doing much dismemberment on his own.
“We have two level ups to sort through still. Want to do that?” I asked.
“Yes, and more Body this time. I’m not too fond of nearly dying. Also more Mind. Not having enough to properly enchant gear is less than ideal. My designs are only going to get more complicated from here on out and take more effort to set. And more Soul for regen, constant effect drains from equipment are only going up when I make more.”
“So more everything?”
“Umm, yes. That’s not exactly doable at the moment though. I suppose some regen will come from having a larger SP pool to draw from.”
“Status menu,” I called up the semi-transparent screen over my vision.
***
Fabius Dansin
Level 5
150/150 HP
200/200 SP
Progress to next level: 183/500 XP
Statistics
Body: 15
Mind: 20
Soul: 15
ALERT- You here 20 unspent stat points
Skills
Endurance (2)
Sword (1)
Throwing Weapons (1)
Piercing Strike (1)
Rune Crafting (2)
Magitech Interface (2)
Scholar (2)
Siphon (2)
Unbroken Will (1)
ALERT- You have 14 unspent skill points
Skills Available:
Martial-
Endurance (3) - {Unlocked LV 5} Through countless trials your constitution has hardened. Resist fatigue and boost healing rate from all sources by 30%. Increase physical damage resistance by 5.
Sword (2) - Proper sword work involves more than sticking them with the pointy end. You know this. Increase damage done with swords by 15%, 10% chance to parry a physical attack from the front.
Throwing Weapons (2) - Sharpened edges increase the rate of bleeding from wounds on your foe. Accuracy of thrown weapons increased by 20% and damage by 8%. An additional 25% of base damage is dealt over 10 seconds as a bleed.
Shield (1) - Durability of equipped shields increased by 30% Damage Resistance of shields increased by 2.
Piercing Strike (2) - Aim not for your target, but through it. Ignores 66% of armor. Activation Cost: 8 SP, 8 second cool down.
Technical-
Rune Crafting (3) - {Unlocked LV 5} Construct and apply normal runes to equipment or weapons. SP cost depends on rune.
Magitech Interface (3) - {Unlocked LV 5} Ability to disarm apprentice magitech traps and notice them from further away. Activate Class 1, 2, and 3 magitech devices for 50% SP.
Efficient Conductor (1) - Reduce SP costs by 5% for all actions.
SP Channeling (1) - Efficacy of elemental energy runes increased by 20%
Esoteric-
Unbroken Will (2) - Gain immunity to [Stun] and [Fear] afflictions for 90 seconds. Activation Cost: 30 SP, 2 hour cool down.
Scholar (3) - {Unlocked LV 5} Careful studies of your foe leads you to better aim for weak spots or protect your own while learning. 20% increased critical chance vs studied enemies / 20% damage resistance vs unknowns. May choose the opposite effect for the duration of an encounter at 75% efficiency.
Thaumaturge (1) - 10% chance to receive a random beneficial effect on each successful attack.
Conversion Matrix (1) - Sacrifice 20% max HP and SP to increase all damage done by 30% for 15 seconds
Siphon (3) - {Unlocked LV 5} Pulling at the fabric of reality itself, you are become the destroyer of worlds. Heal 8% max HP and SP with your next successful attack. Passive Ability: 8 second cool down.
Perks:
Twinned Souls
Eyes of the Void
***
“We’re going to need to specialize our skills at some point. Don’t have enough points to upgrade everything that’s at the top level either.”
“[Siphon] and [Scholar] seem like the best bets for survivability. Though I do wonder what lays down the [Shield] path.”
“It all looks good but that’s probably supposed to be the idea. Maybe hold off on it for now? These are things we know and want to develop, so of course they’d appeal to our senses. I do wonder about that [Conversion Matrix] skill though in place of that to finalize our top ten.”
“Avoid a fight by taking them down quickly? I’m in agreement with you after seeing that thug get back up after we pierced him through. Let’s do it. Healing up that much would be two activations of the upgraded [Siphon].”
“Which leaves us with seven skill points. I think we both see the value in maximizing our [Rune Crafting] and [Magitech Interface] abilities?”
“Best opportunity to get my body back, and the comfort of climate control? No argument from me there. Let’s save a point for later though, I’m sure we will be needing it soon enough. The [Shield] is really speaking to me, from what Ben was saying I bet that around the fourth or fifth level of weapon skills there’ll be something good. That [Eyes of the Void] perk was supposed to unlock unique skill evolutions, but it’s hard to tell what’s unique without a baseline.”
Decisions made, I added ten points to both Body and Mind. The [Rune Crafting], [Magitech Interface], [Siphon], and [Scholar] each received their third tier upgrades. As I mentally selected [Conversion Matrix] my eyes began to grow heavy and I made my way to the cot already set up.
***
I jumped up as a hand touched my arm.
“Hey, there you go. You were dreaming. I knocked on the door and tried to call out but you didn’t respond. You alright?” Ben asked as a turned to get out of the cot.
“Yeah I’m good, slept longer than I wanted to.”
“That happens, especially if you’re leveling up with a new skill unlock,” he winked as if sharing a secret with me.
Which in and of itself, was actually true. I hadn’t noticed it before, but leveling up was always associated with me falling asleep. I wondered if ranking up a skill was less demanding than unlocking a new one. He seemed to indicate that my deep sleep was based on a new skill, which was true. Too much to investigate!
“Hey, you with me buddy? Spacing out there a bit.”
“Oh, right. It was a new unlock, maybe you’ll get to see it later this evening,” I said with a smile.
“Alright! New skills for the win! We probably don’t want to be late, pack your things and I’ll meet you downstairs,” Ben said and left the room.
Gathering my pack together, I took another look at the cot. It would come in handy if I was going out for an extended period. For now though, I’d try sticking close to town until I gathered a bit more strength and resilience. After hearing about Ben’s upper tier skill, I couldn’t help but think that the shield could become a very potent tool in my arsenal if combined with the tech of this world.
Walking down the steps, I met Chuck at the base of them. A few customers were just leaving the store, it looked like he was closing up for the night.
“Thanks for letting me trial the cot Mr. Dorsey, I’m not heading out of town too soon, but I’ll definitely keep it in mind for when I inevitably do. Surprisingly comfortable for how simple it is.”
“And don’t forget my light selection! Try that one my boy gave you tonight and I’ll make a regular customer of you yet,” the shopkeeper waved me off as I went to join his son in front of the store.
Door shut behind me, I acknowledged Ben with a nod of my head.
“Surprised you got out of there without buying something. My dad’s real proud of his wares and an adventurer always needs more gear.”
“Spoken like the true son of a merchant then!” I laughed, “It’s not the number of things you have, but the quality!”
“So, just buy more expensive things then. Works for me,” Ben motioned for me to follow him eastward while we chatted.
“Not all of us have a personal warehouse to stock up from you know,” I raised an eyebrow.
“Stick to your strengths right? I’m good at spending money on nice things, the old man can vouch for that. Just you wait to see what this bad girl can do,” he patted the bow strung across his back lovingly.
“Just please don’t tell me you named your bow.”
“Shhh, he doesn’t know about the love we share,” the wolf kin longingly stroked his bow in exaggerated motions.
My eyes rolled back into my head, nearly causing me to stumble when suddenly we turned a corner and a massive building came into my view. It had been previously hidden by an array of low houses and warehouses, but clearly commanded the small valley it occupied.
Heavy wrought iron fencing surrounded the massive estate, a lone stone structure occupied the area closest to the village. Columns reached out from the ground to reach the rooftop. We had clearly arrived at our destination. Then I heard a voice from the past that had proven impossible for me to forget.
“Oi there pilgrim! It’s been a right long while since I seen you round these parts. Welcome to da Citadel!”