---Maddy---
Maddy practiced her ability again and again. Her gaining [The Reapers blade] or ‘magic slash’ had filled her with a sense of familiarity and intuitive understanding of its use and limitations…but she didn’t want to take that for granted. Instead, she made a mental sort of review of the skill – practicing it repeatedly and mentally noting down what she learned.
* [The Reapers blade] could be used once every three minutes. It covered her scythe’s edge in a thin line of blackness that stayed for roughly 10 minutes before fading not disappearing until it was “used”.
* It didn't work on any non-scythe-based weapons – But she wasn't trying things exhaustively.
* When she slashed something using an 'active blade', it made an attack roughly 50-100% stronger. A single attack that was – the line faded after one use but carried through to multiple creatures if she got them in the same swing.
* Anything that survived the attack had to deal with a lingering black rot that spread from where they had been hit…usually killing the monsters a few seconds later.
* The black rot only lingered for a few seconds – three when she timed it last – but in that time it dug through flesh and rapidly curdled the cut skin like some sort of magic acid hellbent on making the most unappetizing steak she had ever seen.
* After killing a creature affected by the rot – anything killed in those three seconds of ongoing damage – an invisible sort of twitch let her know the skill cooldown was reset.
For most groups that last note meant she could chain her slashes indefinitely making sure she killed something each time.
Single-use slightly stronger attack plus short ongoing affliction to a single target. Alternatively, a constant skill on every attack, assuming there’s plenty of weaker targets to reset the cooldown. There’s something about putting everything into point form that really organizes things isn’t there.
Twang.
An arrow drilled through the boar's side, squishing into the melted flesh her skill had left and hitting some vital spot in the monster – causing it to disappear.
👫 Achievement get: Dynamic Duo
Description: Killed a total of 150 same tier monsters in a group of two. You socialite you.
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Stat: +1 Hearing strength,
Stat: +1 Sound defense.
* Assuming I manage to kill it…or have a partner make a follow up strike.
Troy had annoyingly refused to stick with the blowgun, slingshot or hand dart… returning to a bow he claimed ‘felt the best’.
So many people are going use such a generic weapon, we have to stand out to get far – why can’t he just understand that? I haven’t seen anyone else using a blowgun – that’s why it's perfect!
Maddy knew she could have pushed him into sticking with a less used weapon – a few words, a firm push here or there…but she was wrestling that side of herself into submission. She had already slipped a few times – Troy was just so easy to manipulate and years of practice were hard to shake off when she was stressed out.
She hated that side of herself – she refused to dictate her teammate's builds for them more than she already had.
An offhanded swipe of her black-tipped blade killed a rabbit jumping from the side.
👆 Achievement get: I see you, I kill you
Description: Kill a monster within 500ms of noticing it.
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Stat: +1 Brain speed.
A burst of light shone through the air beside her, a glowing arrow flashing forward and sinking completely through a rabbit's body.
“I did it! I got a skill” The boy beamed over at her.
“Well done!” Maddy smiled back and raised her hand for a high-five. She paused for him to walk forward and receive his reward.
Maybe if I commit to being his partner it will feel less like I’m just using him.
…yeah that sounds good.
I don’t want to be the type of girl who treats people solely on usefulness, I refuse to become my mother – no matter how much his weapon selection is suboptimal.
“How many stats do you need to cross the barrier? I’m nearly there.” She asked him out of hand.
“I…haven’t been keeping track. I’ve gotten at least 10?”
...I'm at 26 if I've been keeping track. He's probably close. Still in the first few hours that...should be pretty good right?
“…the old women mentioned we could check by trying to pass the barrier? Want to go try it out?” Maddy offered.
“Okay” Troy nodded quietly.
…he’s so submissive I’d hate to see what someone else could do to him…yeah, it's for the best he sticks with me.
Keep telling yourself that.
Maddy led the lanky manchild across the field. They stopped twice to defeat boars before reaching a shimmering veil.
Up close, the barrier looked somewhat like oily glass, Head on it was completely clear but looking to either side, a reflective rainbow sheen hung in the air – refracting light in a manner that Maddy could only call “odd”.
Placing her hand against the barrier caused her fingers to spread out as if she were pressing it against a wall – but no feeling of touch was relayed back to her brain. Pushing harder bent her fingers back slightly, the dim twinge of reduced pain registering after a point… but still no sense of touch returned to her.
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“Going say that means we don’t have enough yet,” Maddy said turning back to her teammate rubbing his hand back and forth along the touchless barrier.
“Yeah,” Troy stated marvelling at the phenomenon in front of him.
“I figure it's still early but we should start thinking about our party soon. So far I’m our close-ranged melee fighter and you’re our long ranged archer…Now, I could start working on defense – and become a tank hybrid – but I think we are better off finding a third member to be our tank. Want to go find someone?”
Troy seemed put off by the idea of adding a member but nodded a moment later as if realizing he was being difficult.
“Alright, let's head back to the tavern, I think that will be the best place to find our tank.”
…
Maddy walked between her fellow travellers stepping around people in the surprisingly large Inn – Troy trailing along behind her. She was looking for a tank, but more specifically a tank that looked…amicable to joining a group.
Tanks were surprisingly hard to find.
If this were a video game she’d have dozens of people to ask, but as it was, she saw maybe three characters holding shields – all of whom seemed to have already found groups.
Deep down a faint voice in her head said to pick the easiest-looking person to manipulate and make them start working towards being a tank…but she brought that metaphorical voice out behind the back shed and pumped it full of angry bullets.
Someone, I just need to find someone who can work at blocking and holding someone down. It doesn’t have to be someone holding a shield I just need –
Eyes passing over everyone sitting alone, something flickered in her memory.
I passed her earlier today. She was…someone who was trying out a shield right? A massive tower shield? I don’t see it anymore but she’s sitting alone.
Dodging around a waiter Maddy approached the woman gesturing to the bench across from her and speaking confidently.
“Mind if we sit down?”
“That’s fine.” The women's physique was surprisingly muscular from up close, with strong-looking broad shoulders, a tomboyish sprawl of arms and legs and sharp eyes… in contrast, her voice was shy sounding – soft and incredibly quiet like a mouse.
She sat in a booth halfway along the tavern's wall, an uneaten plate of mush pushed far into the corner of the table. Directly in front of her was a mostly downed tankard of some clear drink – presumably booze – and she held a clear mug loosely in one hand.
“My name’s Maddison but you can call me Maddy, all my friends do.” Reaching across the table Maddy offered her hand and smiled disarmingly.
The woman stared at the offering for a moment, then reached out with her empty hand and shook it firmly.
“Jess,” the women responded quietly as if in afterthought.
“I want to be straight with you, We are hoping to find a tank for our party. Are you interested?”
I think straightforward is best with her, no point beating around the bush for a while first.
The woman scratched her head for a bit then pulled out a whip,
“How did you know I’ve been working on defense – are you some kind of stalker? My weapons…well like this.”
“I saw you earlier with a massive shield and recognized you. This is Troy by the way,” Maddy spoke quickly, trying to figure the woman out. Her mental profile flipped a few times before settling once more.
The woman glanced at Troy who seemed much more enthusiastic about a second member now that he knew it was a girl...then flicked her sharp eyes back to Maddy.
“Why?”
An open-ended question that could mean multiple things…I think she means it in this way.
“I think working together is better, because focusing on individual strengths is the best path to success. Besides that, it's lonely to travel alone right? Groups, that form early are bound to be more tight-knit?” Maddy spoke, trying to sell the woman on why they should team up.
Jess held her head back for a moment staring up at the ceiling before sipping her drink and nodding.
“Sure.”
Near the entrance of the bar, a fight started forming. A waiter had spilled something on a tightly wound man just waiting for an excuse to pick a fight. Scooching back further into the booth, Maddy watched for a moment before returning to her tentative newest partner.
“So tell me about yourself?”
🙌 Achievement get: Form a 'party'.
Description: Strength in numbers. You've formed a group dedicated to fighting together.
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Stat: +1 Brain power.
...
The group stood in the field practicing working together on each of the individual monsters offered.
Jess had already gained a 'creation' affinity from tanking hits with a shield that let her create flat barriers at the end of something she was holding. After switching to a whip that meant she could fling a cord out and place a yellow pane of "barrier" in front of – or to the side of – creatures faster than she could move.
The barrier shattered after a single good hit, but was enough to stun a charging boar and let the others finish it off in the few moments of its confusion.
💫 Achievement get: Stun Kill.
Description: Kill a creature thats been knocked out somehow. Opportunity or planning?
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Stat: +1 Brain power.
Despite her tone and soft voice, Jess was incredibly aggressive while fighting – throwing herself at the creatures with wild lunges and a wild look in her eye.
👥 Achievement get: Group kills 1.
Description: Killed 100 within-tier monsters in a proper party.
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Stat: +1 Arm strength.
Stat: +1 Arm Speed.
Stat: +1 Core Strength.
After confirming everyone had the 27 stats needed, Maddy stopped them and started to speak her plan.
"So, has anyone noticed how we were offered a free meal and a free night's rest?"
"Yeah, I already had my meal, they just kept bringing stuff to me till I said I was full." Jess spoke quietly. Troy just nodded at the question so Maddy continued.
"Only one night's rest, that means they expect most people to leave sometime tomorrow – unless they are willing to put in the effort to barter for more nights.
Considering the average person will leave tomorrow I think we should leave right away, achievements are based on doing novel things or acting outside of the norm after all." Maddy continued.
"Are you sure about that? As far as I remember from the strange agreement I made, achievements are based on effort. How much you push yourself?" Jess cut in.
...
"Okay, let's share anything you remember from the TOS." Maddy started again,
"Something about everyone having an equal chance, and effort being rewarded," Jess spoke scratching her head.
"I can become strong, better myself and become better at...stuff. Also, I'll be put somewhere safe." Troy spoke after they turned to him.
"Okay, so what I got was that doing unique things give better rewards. Being the first to complete something. Making decisions others don't make. That's a way of getting ahead without putting in as much effort. It's being smart. Where I'm going with this is I think we should leave the tutorial now and hope either we get an achievement for leaving as soon as possible or we get a head start on whatever comes next."
Looking at each other Jess and Troy seemed to be gauging the other's reactions.
"Should we not sleep first? What if we don't have a bed in the next area? It's getting late - shouldn't we leave early tomorrow?" Jess asked after a moment.
"I'm guessing quite a few people are going to think that way, That's why it's better to leave now. Be at the head of the pack. It's obviously a decision we all have to make together... but that's my vote. It seems like the smart thing to do."
Glancing at Troy with that last line he seemed to make up his mind "I think we should leave now as well".
Now for the last one.
"Sure" Jess spoke moments later, "I'm out voted anyways."
Oh, no more convincing was needed.
As the sun began to set on the first day the group of three began walking towards the outer barrier – as they watched someone stepped through ahead of them and subconsciously the group began moving faster.
The last few steps were made nearly at a run all three entering the barrier simultaneously.