You have chosen the Mage class to begin your journey in the System
Class: Mage
Attribute gains per level:
* +4 Mental Stats
* +1 Physical stat
* +1 Secondary stat
Class Skill Bonuses:
* +50% Increase in experience gain for Magical Skills
Class Pool Bonuses:
* +25% Increase to max mana
* +25% Increase to mana regeneration
May choose one of the following Skills to learn now:
* Firebolt
* Icy Wind
* Earthen Wall
* Winds of Haste
* Force Missile
* Shield
* Mage Armor
* Flash
* First Aid
* Curse
McOris looks away from the screen towards Ruko, "Soo... what do all these skills do exactly?" he asks.
"Ha, a good question. Though one easily answered by yourself. Just focus on the skills, and your question of what they do, as opposed to focusing on them as definite choice. The System will let you know the specifics for something like this" Ruko responds with something approaching a smile.
McOris turns back to the message with a nod, and focuses on the first listed.
Firebolt: Creates an orb of contained fire, and shoots it at enemies within range. May cause target to catch fire. Range, size of orb, intensity of flame, chance of burning target all increase with skill level and Willpower.
Easy enough to understand. Though the lack of specifics is a bit annoying. Clearing away that notification, he focuses back on the list, and the next option. Still though, throwing fire around sounds both very dangerous, and totally awesome.
Icy Wind: Creates a chilled breeze in targeted direction. May push targets back, slow them, cover them in frost, and potentially freeze them. Speed of wind, range, depth of chill all increase with skill level and Willpower.
Battlefield control in this one. The debuff is a pretty nice effect. Much more suited to group combat and seemingly deals significantly less damage. Would probably be better if he actually had a team to work with already.
Earthen Wall: Raises a wall out of the ground. Maximum size, durability, and control over the shape increases with skill level and Mental Fortitude.
Now, this one is interesting. Create walls out of the ground? How fast is it, could it be used to build a house? Potentially incredibly useful in figuring out a way to give everyone here a home. Not really something he's interested in though. He's far more interested in something more directly combat oriented.
Winds of Haste: Your target is surrounded by helpful air. Increases speed and reaction times of target. Speed, reaction times, and number of targets increases with skill level and Willpower.
Another support skill, though this one improves allies instead of hurting enemies. Potentially extremely helpful in conjunction with more dexterity based classes. Though, still not what he's looking for in a skill.
Force Missile: Hits a target with a missile of pure force. Can not miss. Amount of force, number of missiles, and range increase with skill level and Willpower.
Oh, now this one has promise. Can't miss? Might have found a winner here. That firebolt seems wonderful, but it apparently needs aiming, or at least it can miss. Thinking back to the Ranger tests he did earlier, he's pretty sure that would work rather poorly for him. Still though, best to check the others, just in case.
Shield: Creats a shield of force near the target. Automattically defends target against attacks. Size, durability, and longevity of shield increase with skill level and Mental Fortitude.
Useful defensive skill. Still though, he's looking for something that will let him actually defend himself, not just survive. Maybe something to learn later though.
Mage Armor: Creates an armor of force around the caster. Durabilty and longevity increase with skill level and Mental Fortitude.
Rather similar to the Shield skill. Too defensive minded for his tastes. Still though, also potentially useful later. Something to think about.
Flash: Causes a flash of light centered at designated point in range. Bright light can daze or cause blindness in those who see the flash. Caster is immune to negative effects. Brightness and range increase with skill level and Willpower.
Another pure support skill. Doesn't seem to be worth getting in comparison to the other skills on offer at this point.
First Aid: Heals target for a percentage of missing health taken in the last 10 seconds. Number of targets, range, and percentage healed increase with skill level and Willpower.
Now, this one is very nice. Seems like it'd be extremely helpful in a group. Having someone with a skill like this seems mandatory, but almost worthless for someone alone.
Curse: Decreases a random stat of the target by a percentage for a period of time. Multiple stacks of curse from the same source will effect a different stat. Percentage and time increase with skill level and Willpower
Well, that seems like it will be very nice to have around as well. Still though so many different kinds of support skills. Nothing specific either, wondering why McOris looks up from the list of options and he asks Ruko, "So, why doesn't it tell us specifically what the skills do?"
Ruko turns to focus on McOris, "None of you have the skill, and the values often change with every skill level to at least some degree. Giving a specific value for the damage of a skill is deemed rather worthless. For example, the Firebolt skill is capable of causing great damage to any foes made of ice, and yet it would do nearly nothing against something made of fire, assuming it didn't actually heal the thing instead. As for range, there is no maximum, and the minimum values vary dependent on your stats, and other skills that you may have. The descriptions for the skills you are seeing are generalized things for everyone who sees them. When you actually pick a skill, it'll go on your Skill List. Your Skill List tells you what every skill you have is, and its level. From there you can look at the specifics of it for you at the time. Now, pick your skills, and I will lead you to your next destination."
The rest of the group nod thoughtfully thinking over their skill selections. At least one person seems rather excited by it. McOris is rather confident in his choice, Force Missile seems like the best skill for him. He hasn't seen anyone he knows here, and he's less than certain in his ability to form a group. Best to be able to work alone. He nods to himself, then makes his choice.
You have learned Force Missile
Well that's not very informative, McOris thinks to himself, before recalling what Ruko said about the Skill List. So he tries to bring his up.
Skill List Force Missile: Lvl 1
Still not what he's looking for, so he focuses on the skill itself.
Force Missile, Lvl 1: Hits a target with a single missile of pure force. Can not miss. Range: 20 meters. Cost 20 Mana. Amount of force, number of missiles, and range increase with skill level and Willpower.
Alright, now he knows what it does exactly. He can't wait to actually use it. This time someone else asks the question first though. "So, how do you actually use the skill?" A woman standing across from him asks.
With a chuckle, Ruko answers, "Simple really, but I think it best I show you after I give you a target, just in case. Follow me." and he proceeds to walk through a door the rest of the group were pretty sure wasn't there before. The group walks through the door cautiously, McOris keeping himself near the middle of the group. Through the door they see a wide field of grass. Looking at Ruko they see his name and level floating over his head. 137 McOris thinks to himself, how long would that take to get?
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Wait a second, the hell is up with that even being there? He quickly asks, "Uh Ruko sir? Why do we see your level now?" Moving through he notices that its not just Ruko, everyone there shows their name and level.
"Ah, right, none of you have seen this kind of thing before. This is actually the normal way the system works. This is a training dungeon. For very low level folks like you. Normally this is reserved for children, but well, at the moment that's basically what you lot are. When you leave the safe zone, most of the world will be like this, showing you the names and levels of every monster and person around you. There are skills that can give you additional information, especially about the new resources the System has introduced into your world, but those aren't usually acquired by mages. Anyways, I digress, I brought you lot here in order to get some combat under you belt against something reasonably certain not to kill you. Here you'll find an enemy that apparently shows up in quite a bit of your fiction as fodder. Zombies I believe the term is. Nasty pieces of work those, still though, I'm sure you'll be able to handle them quite well."
"Wait, did you say Zombies? We have to deal with Zombies? What the hell is this? Where do their bodies come from, will they turn us into one if they get a single bite? How is that fodder?" The youngest looking member of the group asks, clearly distraught.
"We did say that the System is giving form to these horrors from your species myths, legends, stories, and fictions yes? Every culture will have at least some monsters and the System fills the horrors from beyond into shapes and forms that your species knows how to counter from their fictions. The System first tried giving them random forms, or forms from the System creators fictions. Neither worked terribly well. Thankfully things have changed since then. Giving your people a chance to combat these things. Now apparently there are different kinds of zombies. This type is the Necromantic Zombies, the easiest of the lot. No real intelligence to speak of, just wandering hordes of mindless undead. Course, this is just a training dungeon, so, not really hordes." Having walked out into the field a hundred meters or so, he pulls a chair from nowhere and sits down. "Now, your goal is to amongst the group of you, kill 100 Zombies. In order to do that, you are going to form what is known as a party, in order to keep track of it, I'm going to give you a Quest. Quests come in all kinds of formats, but the basic gist of it is simply do a thing, and the quest-giver will give you something for it. Very useful for getting things done, and since the System keeps track of things, you don't have to worry about anybody trying to cheat."
Quest: Kill 100 Zombies as a party!
Steps:
* Create a party with other people here
* Find and Kill 100 Zombies
* Return to Ruko
Rewards:
* 10 System Currency each
Failure Penalty:
* None
Accept: Yes/No
They all looked at this new notification and decided Yes.
Quest Accepted
"Excellent, now then, you need to learn how to create a basic party. The simplest method is simply to say, Local Party Invite, do that and a party invite screen will pop up for everyone in your level range. Its level range restricted because the System doesn't want high level people forming parties with low levels and just going out to increase their level by taking on things far outside their league. See these basic parties make it so everyone shares in experience and System rewards evenly. Please note, attempting to use that to cheat the System has... consequences. I'd suggest you don't find out what they are. So do actually try to help out the party when you are in one. On a lighter note, the party also lets you see the pools of your party members as well. Extremely helpful for ensuring you know if you have a member in danger. Now go ahead and make your party."
An older gentleman is the first of the group to do so. Before everyone's eyes, a new window appeared inviting the new people into the party.
Local Party Invite sent. Would you like to join the local party? No party Leader is available for this party type. All rewards are shared equally among members.
Current Members:
* Maximilian Alexander
Join Party? Yes/No
Easy enough to answer. Yes McOris thought and then a new screen appeared before him. Somewhat expected at this point.
You have joined the Local Party, all rewards are split evenly.
Current Members:
* Maximillian Alexander
* McOrris Fiels
* Sarah Smith
* Westen Reeder
* Amy Carter
* Randolf Busman
* Barny Griffen
* Elizabeth Anders
* Caleb Young
"Alright folks, so before we go haring off after Zombies, which are apparently a thing now. God I'm too old for this. Anyways, back on topic. We should probably tell each other what skills we got. Hopefully we have a good range of skills so that we can see about using them intelligently." Maximillian seems intent on being the leader for this party, and no one else seems to mind. He's an older gentleman, greying at the edges, wrinkles in his tanned face. He stands straight and tall, wearing a blue button up shirt, and slacks. "I can cast Icy Wind, slowing and damaging enemies at a distance."
McOris is standing directly to his right. Short, thin, pale from lack of sun, and still wearing the cloud pajamas he was in that morning. "I chose Force Missile, I'm not too good at aiming, so it seemed like the best choice of those listed."
"Well, I went for the Earthen Wall. I really like the idea of it, and it seems like it'll be really useful for building things. SInce apparently the wall it makes stays there. I'm looking forward to seeing just what I can do with it," Caleb, standing nearly 6 feet high, lean, shaved head, and wearing a runner's outfit, continues the clockwise trend.
Amy speaks up next. "Well I went for Winds of Haste. I, really really really didn't want to not be able to run away from something scary. I know its going to come up eventually, and this way I can make sure I can stay far far away from aynthing trying to hurt me. And since its far away, I'll be able to blast it with other skills, and fucking slaughter anything that gets in my way." She starts off rather shy, with her long green dress, red hair in waves down her back, but as she continues to speak, her mouth curves into a slightly too wide not to be creepy smile.
Sarah, brunette with a heart shaped face, is in the middle of the women there, and speaks up next. "I went for Firebolt. I always dreamed of being a witch when I was a child, and now I can be. Fire is the standard start, and I'm going to have a ton of fun with it. Even if I have to use them against Zombies of all things. Actually... ha! This is going to work out great, fire does amazingly well against Zombies doesn't it?" She's short at only 5 feet tall, but quite curvy with it, wearing a low cut teal blouse, and a green skirt.
Elizabeth is next and is wearing a victorian style dress, black with red highlights, with a pale face, and black hair falling straight down her back. "I went with Curse, fits my personality, and means I'll hopefully be able to learn more of these kinds of dark arts. Hopefully I'll be able to become an actual Necromancer."
Barney is next in line, and grins at Sarah before telling everyone, "I picked Firebolt too, wanted to be a pyromancer, slinging fireballs all over the place. Destroying these monster things by the hundreds. Figure Firebolt is the best I'm going to get to start with." He seems quite pleased with himself. In a t-shirt and shorts, he has brown hair, combed over to his left. Little chubby, but obvious humor in his eyes.
Westen has a more serious look on his face. Standing taller than anyone else there at around 6'2, he's tall, dark, muscular, with his hair in cornrows. "I took First Aid, figured few other people would, and I know we are going to need it. Mistakes get made, especially with everyone as new to this insanity as we are. Hopefully I won't need it much, but at least if we do, I'll just keep getting better at it. If you get hurt, say something, there is a time limit on me healing you, don't try to shrug it off, none of us are Warriors."
Randolf is nearly as short as Sarah, skinny, with thick glasses. His hair is frazzled, and doesn't appear well kept. He's wearing a 3 laws of robotics shirt, and jeans. "I decided to go with Flash. I... I um, I want to be a Laser Mage. If I can control light, I could maybe make a sword out of it, or just shoot Lasers everywhere. This is just the first step."
Maximillian looks around the group and nods approvingly. "Alright, now that we know what everyone here can cast. How many times can you cast it? I can use mine 7 times in a row. Takes about about 2 minutes in order to get my mana back."
"Well I can use mine 8 times in a row, takes around 2 minutes too." McOris responds. Feeling rather proud of himself.
"Oh dang, 2 and 90 seconds."
"8, but 2 and a half minutes."
"Oh... 4 times for me. But a little under 2 minutes"
"3 times, I'm assuming all these skills have different mana costs. Ah, yes 2 and a half minutes to fill back up."
"Ha! 5 times, but almost 3 minutes."
"6 times, and 2 minutes as well."
"Oh wow, Flash is cheap then I guess, I can cast it 14 times, and it takes about 3 minutes to recharge too."
Having finished going over everyone's numbers in order, Maximillian motions everyone to start walking. "Alright everyone, we should probably plan out how we are going to use our skills. I'm thinking we'll have Caleb create a wall between us and any Zombies we find. Amy, you'll save yours for if we get surprised by one. Elizabeth, try and use yours on any lead Zombies we come across in groups. Damage dealers, take turns shooting at them, try and make sure that something is going out to hit them in a constant cycle. I'll be slowing any that try to go around Caleb's walls. Westen, I believe you already know you are on the lookout to stop anybody getting too hurt. Randolf, do your best to Flash every Zombie we come across, starting at the closest ones. Hopefully it'll disoriente them even though they are undead. Now then everyone, let's go kill us some Zombies." So saying, he starts walking off further into the field, and towards a hill ahead. The rest of the group follows, ready to start their first real test under the System.