Walking with Don to the Faction Hall didn’t take to much time as the town was rather small. The Hall was a small building stationed at the edge of town with a great view of some Fields and the mountains in the distance.
“Here we are, doesn’t look like much does it?” Don asked while standing in front of the doors to the hall.
“It’s is smaller than I thought it would be, yeah.” Brand replied while examining the building.
“That’s what all the new ones say.” he sighed “ We have spent a lot of time and effort in building this Hall a long time…and a lot of people.”
“Wow…world maybe a more difficult than I thought.”
“Well, let's go in then.”Don pushed open the doors to the hall. Inside the hall, Brand heard the chattering of many people. They continued walking through the entryway into a large room filled with many tables full of people, as Don and Brand appeared in the doorway the room slowly went silent as people noticed a new face at the door. Brand started to sweat as he received the attention of so many people at once.
“Alright, ladies and gentlemen here is our new recruit Brand give him a welcome why don’t ya” Don yelled into the hall while padding Brand on the back causing him to stumble forward.
“Hello everybody, my name is Brand King and I will be in your care.” Brand told the crowd in a timid voice.
“Welcome Brand!” the crowd responded, going back to their food and conversations. A few young people in the crowd gave him a thumbs up.
“Phew” a relieved sigh came from Brand as wiping away the sweat on his forehead, he nodded his head in thanks towards the few that gave him a thumbs up.
“Lots of people here” he turned and whispered to Don.
“Yeah, most of the people in the faction usually stay here when they are not doing quests or jobs. Follow me I’ll take you to your trainer” He followed Don as they walked down the middle of the hall towards the counter along the far wall. A few people watched them as they walked, sensing no bad will Brand gradually relaxed. They reached the counter where Don walked up to a hooded man seated at the corner of the counter.
“Hey Rex, it’s your lucky day don’t mess this one up Ray likes him.” Don told the man while signaling the bartender for a drink.
“Fuck off Don, you know the others weren’t my fault, it’s cause they were too stupid” Rex responded while taking a sip of the drink in front of him.
“Sure Rex, OK Brand this will be your trainer Rex Klingshine he will help you get the hang of the world and teach you survival tips. Good luck I’ll be seeing you around “ Don walked off towards a table drink in hand, where presumably his friends were at.
“Sit down kid.” Rex said while giving him a once over.
Brand chose a spot 2 stools down.
“What do you know so far about our world?” Rex asked sipping on his drink.
“Not much the first thing I realized was the signboard, I only know my name from the status screen, everything else is a blank.” Brand replied leaning against the counter while watching the man.
“Don’t worry that is what happens to everybody. First thing and most important thing you need to know is that power is everything. With power you can protect yourself and your friends without it you become someone else slave or be killed. Got it?” Rex asked making sure he understood the most important rule of this world.
“Yeah power is everything, but what is power and how do I get it?” Brand asked wanting to know more.
“The main power you need to focus on is your level, the higher level you are the more points you can put into your main stats. The main way to increase your level is to kill monsters or people, killing them will grant energy orbs known as experience. Experience will increase your knowledge and efficiency in what you do, with enough experience your body will level up. Easy as that.”
“So, you are saying that when I kill things energy orbs will drop out and my body can absorb them granting me power?” Brand asked surprised.
“Seems you got the gist of it. Besides killing monsters there are also potions that can grant you power along with spells, but these are more advanced ways that you won't be able to touch unless you're lucky or skilled.”
“Everything that happens here pertains to Skills. Skills are methods used to interact with the world. There is an unknown amount of skills in the world, millions upon millions of them but we know that they can be leveled with repetition granting their own type of power. This power can’t be used with your main level but they can used to make the Skills themselves more powerful. Do you understand?”
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“Skills are actions with their own leveling system?”
“Yes, but not only actions it also represents the knowledge you have over that topic. A person with a high level skill knows that skill inside and out. For example, a person can have the Skill: Farming which is the main skill farmers use, they will have a much easier and produce more than a person without the Skill: Farming or farming is at a lower level. There are Overall Skills with many Sub Skills, Some skills turn into other skills when they are practiced to a certain level. Understand now?”
“Yeah, I understand.”
“Alright, you know how to level and what skills are, the next thing I’ll tell you is about your Health. When your health is gone your dead. There are some special circumstances like potions, healers, and necromancers but other than that when you die you die for good as far we know. Just don’t die and you won't have to worry about it, got it?”
“Yeah don’t die and there won’t be any problems.”
“Anyway food and potions increase health, mana is used for magic, something you won’t have to worry about till after level 10, but mana can only be increased with potions or mediation” Rex paused as he took a drink from the mug in front of him.
“That’s the basics besides that you can figure the rest out on your own, here are a few skill books the faction gives to all new members” 3 books appeared in his hands as he pushed them down the counter toward Brand.
“Basic Swordplay”,”Basic Examination”,”Basic Mapping” Brand read the titles are he stored them into his inventory.
“These books with help a great deal, now follow me.”
Rex took the last drink of his cup before standing up and crossing the hall towards the doors on the left side of the hall. Brand had to speed-walk as Rex was a large man taking long steps. Once through the doors of the courtyard, Brand saw that there were rows of wooden dummies in the center of the yard with rows of tables lining the wall near the doors they came out. A few trees were planted, they cast a shadow on the tables keeping away the sun. Rex chose a table towards the left wall and guided Brand to it.
“Sit down here are read the skill books when you have learned the skills, start to practice on one of the dummies” Rex instructed while he stood pointing at the table. Brand took a seat, as he sat down Rex walked to another table. He laid his head down for a nap.
Taking the books from his inventory, he laid them on the table in front of him wondering what book to read first.He finally decided to read Basic Swordplay first since it sounded the most interesting, picking up the book he opened it and began reading. The book took 2 hours to read and gave a basic explanation of what swordplay was and some basic moves, closing the book he got a notification from the system.
Basic Swordplay learned
“Cool, it worked” He opened the menu checking to see what changed.
Menu Status Skills Inventory Close
Seeing the new option he opened the Skills screen.
Skills Name Level Progress Basic Swordplay 1 0/100 Close
He read the description of the skill excited that it showed up.
Basic Swordplay You have the knowledge of what a sword is and how to use it to attack or defend.
“Yup, that summarizes what the book said.” Closing the screen he continued reading the next two books, both of which also took 2 hours.
Skills Name Level Progress Basic Swordplay 1 0/100 Basic Examination 1 0/100 Basic Mapping 1 0/100 Close
Basic Examination Allows for the basic identification of people and objects. Using this skill will display basic knowledge of the target.
Basic Mapping Allows the use of the map. The user’s basic surround will appear as a map in the corner of their vision when thinking of the map
“All these skills are really useful” he thought while stretching. He was hungry after having read for 6 hours without a break, he decided to get some food after noticing Rex had disappeared. He went into the hall up to counter and ordered some food. “What can I get to eat?” He asked the bartender.
“Trainees get water and soup for free if you want the better stuff you are gonna to have to pay.” The bartender told him while cleaning an empty mug.
“OK, I’ll take the free stuff please.” Brand said gratefully.
Brand silently ate his food after which he returned to the courtyard. In the courtyard he chose a random dummy, using he new found knowledge he raised his sword as he got in position in front of the dummy, before starting he examined the dummy with his new examination skill.
Name Wooden Dummy Level 1 Health 100 Description A wooden dummy used to practice skills.
“Cool” Brand thought as he saw the information appear in his mind.
Brand struck out with his sword hitting the dummy on the chest area.
“Thunk”
-0
“That must be a damage indicator.” He thought as a number appeared above the dummies head.
“Thunk…Thunk…Thunk”
-0
-0
-0
“These dummies are pretty solid, I wonder if my skill is improving?” he thought as he continued attacking the dummy.
Skills Name Level Progress Basic Swordplay 1 .4/100 Basic Examination 1 .1/100 Basic Mapping 1 0/100 Close
“Good it’s working, but it is so slow ill need to attack 1000 times to get to level 2 at this rate” he noticed after checking his progress.
“Thunk…Thunk…Thunk”
The sound of wood on wood could be heard for the next few hours as Brand trained on the dummy.
Basic Swordplay has progressed to Level 2
“Finally” Brand exhaled as he rested his exhausted body against the wall of the courtyard.
Skills Name Level Progress Basic Swordplay 2 0/100 Basic Examination 1 .1/100 Basic Mapping 1 0/100 Close
Basic Swordplay Level 2 You have the knowledge of what a sword is and how to use it to attack or defend. Level 2: +2 attack with swords. Movement of the sword becomes more flexible with practice.
“Cool, it gave me a bonus to my attack power when I use swords.”
“You seem to be getting the hang of it. Go to sleep tomorrow I will take you out to get some real experience.” Rex said while walking by, startling Brand.
Brand slowly got up and dragged himself into the hall looking for the bartender to find an open room. The bartender showed him an empty room down a side hall, following Brand slowly made his way down the hall. Arriving at the empty room the bartender gave him a key and walked back to the counter to serve other people. Opening the door he noticed that there was a well-made bed with a side room. Walking in he noticed that there was a tub of water in the side room and another bucket, realizing it must be the bathroom he took a quick bath in the water before falling onto the bed. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.