Pastrana Goes Shopping

I arrived at the Deluxe Estates Guild as usual, promptly at 7:15. And as usual, I am one of the first to arrive. I know technically we are not scheduled to be here until 7:25, but if you don’t get here early, you just waste part of your workday. Don’t they know that? I am sure most of them just don’t care.

Ah, Merz Sholut got here just two minutes after me. That is not too bad. He is one of the few people around here who regularly seems to care about his job. From what I have seen, his work is quite passable.

“Good morning, Pastrana Gold,” he tells me. “I expect today to be slow. We cannot begin the Staber job until noon tomorrow.”

I knew that, but I am sure he is doing his best to make polite conversation. It won’t hurt me to play along. “Good morning, Merz Sholut. I have heard that the Stabers are very influential throughout Cycles and neighboring villages. If we do well, it could lead to us traveling in their circles.”

Just then, someone arrived to drop off a package. I can usually tell if someone needs help, like that 17-year old messenger pup. He is still only Level 15. He is Second Duchy, but at least he knew enough to leave those savages behind and live among Humans. He actually thought it was a good idea to combine the Archery and Hunter classes. How could he not see how much overlap there would be?

“Son, Nusrel Frok, may I have a moment of your time? With my Rank A Analyze, I can see that your goal is to become a hunter. I applaud you for taking this sort of menial work until other opportunities open. ‘The ambitious start small and dream large.’ I must say, you have a focused build, with both the Archery and Hunter classes. Delightful as it is, you can broaden that a lot with learned skills such as foraging, woodsmanship, and ranking your self defense to at least B. Also, be sure to build up that Perception. 28 is good, but an Archer needs all he can get.”

“Thank you for your kind advice, sir, I need to go now. Other deliveries.” he said just prior to leaving.

Good, he recognizes the value of my experience. The pup is industrious, too.

“Who in Skawa’s Playground was that bitch?” Nusrel wondered as he hurriedly got away. ”I am so unimportant she did not even bother to introduce herself. I’m sure she has never even hunted and skinned a deer. Doubtful she knows which end the tail is at. Then she had the gall to say ’menial work’?? I took a few months off from my hunting apprenticeship to help my family establish their very respectable business. What a clueless busybody.”

Everyone in the office continued working on our plans for the Staber estate. After about an hour, I got into a conversation with Merz where I mentioned that we were refurnishing our home from scratch, only using the old stuff until we could replace it with high quality new. He said that his wife ran a well-regarded shop selling household fabric items, where custom orders would be welcome. It sounded like something worth investigating.

Since it was a slow day, I asked one of the founders if it would be alright to take an hour off for shopping. He said that there would be no problem, and to take my time. The leaders here seem to appreciate the needs of talent, at least.

It was not difficult to follow Merz’ directions. There it is, “Sholut’s Household Fabrics”. This seems to be a respectable shopping area, so there is hope there might be usable items in there.

I entered a surprisingly nice shop. Everything I see is attractive, some even artistic. Analyzing a few of the items shows them to be of high quality. She even has enchanted items. This is much more promising than I expected. Just then, a Human-looking woman enters from the back. As she introduces herself, I see she is highly skilled, as expected from her wares. But for the second time today I encountered someone who has overlapped their classes, with her being a Clothsmith/Carpetmaker. As my father taught, that is a sure sign of an unimaginative mind. It would be forgivable, though, if it were not for her mixed blood. Why do they allow such creatures to open shops here, in a good neighborhood no less?

“You are Belenay Sholut? Merz’ wife is a half-breed?” My surprise and disdain were so great, I simply walked out. I wonder if he knows, or if the wicked woman has been hiding it from him? His Analyze is only Rank C, and unless someone told him, he would not know. Too many people think it ‘rude’ to speak the necessary truth.

There is a greengrocer’s shop. Maybe I can salvage this trip. If the proprietor is purebred.

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Analyze Analyzed

This is for those interested in power mechanics. If the details of such things do not interest you, fine. I hope you enjoyed reading about Pastrana.

Analyze is one of the most common skills in the story, usable in at least a limited form by just about anyone. Other works may refer to it as “Identify”, but they don’t generally explain the mechanics of how it works. Those authors actually think you are not interested, with “magic” being sufficient explanation. 😮

But not me! Here is Analyze, in agonizing detail.

Analyze (Magic or Ki, but available at Level 0). Description from Ch.10.

Analyze allows you to obtain extra information about objects and beings. At Level 0, it offers no more information than can be obtained by thorough use of your senses, though quicker than a detailed observation. At Level 1 and above, rank determines the degree of information provided. Below rank D, contact what you wish to Analyze, although at any rank you may Analyze items shown in your Inventory. Rank F values:

Ki or MP used: 3 (0 at Level 0, at Rank D and above, extra 1 ki per rank)

Recharge: 3 sec

Note: There is no magic involved. It is simply an information query to your interface, which charges you token mana or ki for the report.

Terms

* p = perception / 20; major factor in usable range.

* rp = rank points, the measure of how close the skill is to advance in rank

Range: Except at Rank F, there are two distances at each rank. The close distance is how far the skill may be used at its full rank. The far distance is how far the skill still operates at one rank lower. The “far” distance at E is of such minor consequence that few people ever bother to use it for that purpose. Almost always better to touch and get a full E-rank report unless you have significantly high perception. (But if your perception is that high and your Analyze rank is that low, see Pastrana for build advice.)

F – 0 yards (touch)

E – 0 yards. p yards at Level 0, Rank F effectiveness

D – (1 + p) yards. 4 times that at E rank

C – 3 * (1 + p) yards. 4 times that at D rank

B – 6 * (1 + p) yards. 4 times that at C rank

A – 12 * (1 + p) yards., 4 times that at B rank

S – 25 * (1 + p) yards. 4 times that at A rank

Earns 1 rp per unique object or being analyzed in the last hour. (I.e., you cannot just keep analyzing the same knife in your hands hundreds of times.)

Living Beings

(not all qualities always applicable;, bold indicates specifically non-sapient qualities)

F Level 0: what normal senses can detect, but faster

F Level 1+: name, sex, species, level, job | passive/territorial/aggressive/angry

“Job” is typically how a person earns their income, which may or may not be related to their classes. If earning regular income from multiple sources, it identifies the one they have earned the most in during the last 50 days. If it switches, it cannot change again for 10 days. Young people may be given various designations, such as student, orphan, or scalawag.

“Species” is the generally accepted classification of a true-breeding type of creature. If a genetic combination of races, it will show as “hybrid” if the minority race is at least 25% of the makeup. Otherwise, the majority race will be reported. An unnatural after-birth combination of species would be reported as “chimera”. Some combination creatures may have specific classifications, such as minotaur or naga.

E: age, non-numeric stat gauges if any below 90%

Unfamiliar species age: child/youthful/adult/mature/old

Familiar species age specified in years

D: classes, learned and instinctual non-magical attacks

C: learned skills, xp of a foe or friend, defeat count (foes of equal & greater level), weight

B: gifted skills, all skill ranks, magical attacks, species traits

Traits would include descriptions such as “frequent hibernation”, “transforms at night”, or “highly obnoxious odor” (but not an attack). Chimera component species reported by fractional makeup, such as "1/3 hawk, 1/3 bear, 1/3 frog". Hybrid racial makeup reported, such as “3/8 Covargh, 5/8 Human”. If the majority species (chimera or hybrid) were more than 49/50, the being is considered pure, and no combination trait is listed..

A: character sheet (minus karma & galactic year), stats with numbers, home

S: planet of birth, whether awakened and type, karma

S: immortals (but not gods) can identify immortals by their immortal archetype

Objects (not all objects will have all qualities)

F Level 0: what normal senses can detect, but faster.

Includes quality, material, use, and whether an object is enchanted or charmed.(“aura”)

F Level 1+: adds names of any enchantments or charms

E: identifies if relic or antique, whether expireable

D: quick description of charms and enchantments, termination or uses remaining

C: negative qualities such as cursed, trapped, poisoned, etc., weight

B: origination (general location this world)

A: maker, their guild or group

S: origination if off-world

I may alter or add to this information later. If you read something puzzling concerning Analyze in the future, check back here. Please add a comment if you think I screwed up.