[Kossa Smithson’s Point of View, 10 Sixthmonth 726]
I’m glad Master Brune Thorm agreed to sit with me as we do this. Since it's midday he will likely have some customers off and on, but at least I’ll be with him in his shop if I have any questions. He’s not Dad Dad, but I trust him. Dad Dad had been a bard and telepath, which led me to choose becoming a bard in his honor.
Master is crafting a set of small nakers, inspired by Shorren Krosset’s performance a few weeks ago. I’m excited to eventually learn to play those. They might even be small enough to be worn and used in battle.
Onre and Sun had already described their leveling experiences in as much detail as we could force out of them, so I had a pretty good idea what to expect. I had taken a seat in the corner of his shop and told him, “Here I go.” Brune told me to feel free to interrupt if something puzzled me.
I had my interface present the classes hierarchically. It was currently displaying:
Support ⮕ Miscellaneous ⮕ Sensory
Generalist Bard ● | Instrumentalist Bard ● | Vocalist Bard ●
Soul Singer ● | Light Dancer ● | Odor Master ●
I remembered that Odd had been a Light Dancer in his previous life. Brune was a Generalist Bard. But two of the other classes were new to me. “Have you ever heard of a ‘Soul Singer’ or ‘Odor Master’?”
“Yes,” he responded. “Soul Singer is a non-aetherial choice sometimes chosen by entertainers and pure warriors. I have met a couple but have not been privileged to listen to one. Their voices are said to literally enthrall souls, for good or ill. I think Odor Masters must be very rare; to my knowledge, I have never met one.”
“Thank you.” I decided to see what my interface would tell me about each one.
A generalist bard can use magic in both her voice and with instruments. Natural singing talent is boosted moderately. Total effectiveness is less than the instrumentalists and vocalists who have chosen to specialize, but a generalists tool set is larger. Mutually exclusive with Instrumentalist Bard, Vocalist Bard, and Soul Singer.
An instrumentalist bard can add magic to the tunes she plays on any instrument except her voice. Mutually exclusive with Generalist Bard and Vocalist Bard. Soul Singer is an option, but it is strongly recommended that those with natural singing talent simply rank their Basic Singing skill instead. Choosing a class which will significantly broaden your capabilities may well be the better option.
A vocalist bard is an exceptional singer who broadens her song with magic. Mutually exclusive with Generalist Bard, Instrumentalist Bard, and Soul Singer.
Soul Singer is a non-aethereal class which will eventually enhance one’s natural singing talent to an ethereal degree. Class holders learn to affect their audience at a deep and heartfelt level. Mutually exclusive with Generalist Bard and Vocalist Bard. Instrumentalist Bard remains an option, however.
Light Dancer allows you to magically shine various sorts of light or shadow on any surface or no surface at all. This light will affect friend and foe quite similarly to the aetherial bardic classes.
Odor Master allows you to magically emit and transmit a large variety of odors ranging from barely noticeable to objectionably strong, and from pheromonic and pleasant to oppressively foul. Mutually exclusive with Perfumer.
I guess Perfumer must be listed within the crafting hierarchy. I’m glad to learn all that, but it didn’t change my choice.
I made the selection.
Instrumentalist Bard accepted. You will be given the option to change your selection prior to locking in both classes.
My secondary hierarchy was:
Adventuring Magic ⮕ Elemental
Aeromancer ● | Geomancer ● | Hydromancer ● | Pyromancer ●
Forcemaster ● | Energy Mage ● | Void Mage ●
I think I have a solid understanding of the first four. I know Niscus is a Forcemaster, but I don’t know how that might differ from an Energy Mage. Let’s look at the one I want and the final three.
Hydromancy uses magically summoned temporary water to affect both the battlefield and daily life. It also offers profound control of pre-existing water.
A forcemaster uses magically contained pockets of force to manipulate her environment in various ways. These may be used defensively, offensively, or in a utilitarian manner.
An energy mage is primarily offensive in nature, capable of utilizing lightning, sound blasts, and other such energies to attack foes.
A void mage is generally offensive in nature, but some of its abilities can be quite useful in minimizing damage caused by someone or something else. Instead of magically casting energy outward, you draw specific energies in. A small portion of that energy is utilized to restore mana.
I see that Brune is not currently with a customer. “Master, why have I not seen more void mages? The class sounds like it would be extremely useful and flexible.”
“I agree with you, Kossa. I cannot think of a single void mage in town. Perhaps those who wish to be adventuring mages envision themselves as blasting foes from far away. They might view void mages as more of a support class, not the “zap!’, ‘bang!’, ‘bash!’ they have dreamt of since childhood. Are you thinking of choosing that over hydromancy? It offers similar flexibility, but I would guess a void mage is stronger on the battle or adventuring field.”
“But I know of several forcemasters. People choose that even with its general utility.and strong focus on defense.”
He replied, “My guess as to the popularity of forcemasters relates to their Bubble Pocket skill. To have that capability as a matter of course is highly desirable, compared to the rarity and expense of a bag of holding.”
“Yes, I can see that – as long as you are conscious and have the mana. I think I would be strongly considering Void Mage if I hadn’t already decided to honor the memory of Sterbian by choosing Hydromancy.”
“I understand. Just remember Hydromancy is your choice for you, not his. I’m sure he would want you to choose what you really desire as the way to honor him.”
“Thank you.”
Crap. It was so clear what I would be choosing. Okay girl, don’t get too distracted. There are dozens of classes which would tempt me if I surveyed them all. Stick to this set, and specifically Hydromancy versus Void Mage. I think Hydromancy would have broader utility outside of battle than Void Mage does, and in battle it would be more active than reactive. No, I bet sucking away someone’s or something's life force is pretty darn active as well.
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Which would be better for the team, my team?
I envision myself as using bardic skills in a support capacity, and ranged elemental magic offensively. I have offensive capacity with either class. I’m sure there are defensive uses for hydromancy, but a void mage can draw off a lightning or other energy attack.
In the end I decided based on what would likely support my team best in the worst circumstances and chose accordingly.
Verify that you choose Void Mage as your secondary class: Yes ● | No ●
I selected Yes.
Lock in Instrumentalist Bard and Void Mage: Yes ● | No ●
I stopped and thought to myself. “How good is that particular pair?”
Useful, and some mana is recovered for more bard play. Ferret hasn’t chosen yet, maybe he’ll choose Hydromancy.
Yes again. My character sheet appeared.
Name: Kossa Smithson
Race: Human (12.5% Covargh)
Sex: female
Age: 15
Primary Class: Instrumentalist Bard
Secondary Class: Void Mage
Level: 1
Base Attributes:
Agility: 10
Charisma: 10
Dexterity: 11
Endurance: 12
Intelligence: 13
Luck: 9
Perception: 11
Strength: 9
Vitality: 10
Wisdom: 11
Free Points: 2
Level bonuses
Race: +1 Agi, +1 Dex, +1 End, +1 Per, +1 Str, +1 Vit
Primary Class: +1 Cha, +1 Dex, +1 End, +1 Int, +1 Per, +1 Wis
Secondary Class: +1 Agi, +2 Int, +1 Luc, +1 Vit,+1 Wis
Stats
HP: 80/107, max = (Luc + Str*3 + Vit*6)*(1+lvl/10)
SP: 93/124, max = (Per + Agi*3 + End*6)*(1+lvl/10)
MP: 0/134, max = (Wis + Dex*3 + Int*6)*(1+lvl/10)
Granted Skills
HP Regen, E
SP Regen, E
MP Regen, F
Encouragement, F
Lethargy, F
Absorb Warmth, F
Learned Skills
Running, C
Swimming, D
Meditation, E
Tactics, D
Basic Singing, E
Basic Musicianship, C
Common Labor, E
Flower Arranging, D
Puttering, D
Hunting, F
Shopkeeping, D
Wrestling, D
Visualization, E
Deception, F
Basic Knifemanship, D
Common Magic Skills
Analyze, F
Do you wish to assign your free points at this time? Yes ● | No ●
What doesn't add at least two each level? Oh, I’m like Onre, with just 1 in charisma, luck, and strength. Okay, go with body.
“Yes. I would like both free points in strength.”
That will help my hit point maximum.
Strength: 11
“Please describe Encouragement.”
Encouragement applied to any tune will buff nearby allies with a more positive attitude, courage, and hopefulness. It will help offset debuffs which tend to discourage your allies. Talent, rank, dexterity, wisdom, and perception are primary elements of this skill. Your perception increases range and the volume heard, but not actually acoustically. Wisdom increases the duration of the effect after your play has ceased. Rank F values:
Mana cost: 1 mana/second
Minimum play: 3 seconds
Continued duration: 3 + (3 * play period) seconds
“Please describe Lethargy.”
Lethargy applied to any tune will debuff nearby foes with tiredness, sluggishness, and, to a lesser extent, the will to fight. It will help offset energizing buffs. Talent, rank, dexterity, and perception are primary elements of this skill. Your perception increases range and the volume heard, but not actually acoustically. Rank F values:
Mana cost: 1.25 mana/sec
Minimum play: 4 seconds
Continued duration: 2 + (2 * play period) seconds
I’ve been waiting for this for weeks. Lethargy is going to be significantly increased when I use my silver flute due to its somnolence enchantment. And its reverse somnolence will bounce some of that back to me and my friends, adding some to Encouragement. Great!
"Please describe Absorb Warmth.”
Absorb Warmth draws off heat energy from any single target within range. Some of that energy is returned to you as mana. Intelligence and rank affect the amount of energy drawn off, and wisdom affects how much of that is converted to your mana. Rank F values:
Mana cost: 10 mana
Draw: 1% body heat / minute
Duration: 2 minutes
“Alright Master, I have completed leveling. I decided to go with Void Mage for my secondary. My three granted skills are Encourage, Lethargy, and Absorb Warmth.”
“lf you are feeling your choice somehow betrays Sterbian, cast those thoughts away. He would be as proud of you right now as am I." He walked over, bent down, and briefly hugged me. "Now, does Absorb Warmth have an instantaneous effect, or is it damage over time?” I told him over time, and not very much at Rank F. “Nothing is powerful at F. I don’t know much about the skills of a void mage, but you may end up as a fighter who appears weak at first, but your total effect on battle is one of the greatest by the end.”
He handed me my training flute. “Encourage me.”
I brought up my stats. Like I thought “Master, I should meditate for a half hour or so; I barely have any mana yet.”
He laughed at himself and apologized for his oversight. “It’s just about time for apprenticeship. Let’s head over to campus, and then you should spend the first 25 minutes meditating. Remember to start using your Analyze on the way. It is not capped any more, and at F it doesn’t cost any mana.”
I agreed, reminded that this was the first day apprenticeship will be held at the academy. Level 1, Rank F Analyze was even useful.
Brune Thorm – male Covargh
Level 32 Music Shop Proprietor
That’s so much better than ‘likely a male Covargh’.