Some of us in Navy boot camp said it was just a misspelling of “revile”. It wasn’t exactly a bugle playing now, and it was not exactly playing Reveille. But I swear I wanted to revile it, just as I had in boot camp.
“Query Time”
Local time: 5:00
The Covargh have a 20-hour day, from 0:00:00 to 19:49:49. None of that stupidness of Earth, starting a day at 12:00, and an hour later be 1:00. Well, the military had it right, anyway, with midnight being “zero hundred hours”. We used 24-hour time at the fire station too. But American civilians were still stuck on that 12-hour a.m. and p.m. nonsense. Anyway, 5 hours have passed, or one quarter of the day, or 6 a.m
I don’t know why I’m thinking evil thoughts at this Reveille; I had forgotten to have Interface wake me early, which would have been an hour ago. Everyone is already moving now, and I won’t have the quiet time to work on nascent skills. What I do have is almost 3 hours and 25 minutes until I disappear for my sixdays.
Hearing Mom and Arrjee already moving about, I got up too. Arrjee gets a big grin when he sees me looking tiredly at him. “You are not a morning wolf, are you?”
My answer begins with a quick growl. “I think it is the blaring music reminding me of when I was a fresh recruit, and how they used to rudely wake us up with a loud, simple horn we called a ‘bugle’. Like now, you could hear it throughout the camp, and I always felt it was just too loud and sort of bossy.”
Mom points out, “It is supposed to be loud and bossy. I thought you were going to get up earlier, though.”
“I was, but with our conversation, I forgot to tell my interface to do so. I’ll make time for my nascent skills after my sixdays.”
I started to get dressed. None of us slept in our undergarments. They were not self-cleaning, and mine had that torn and blood-stained leg. I had partially scrubbed the leg outside the bath, but I had not wanted to get it actually wet. Mom says, “Don’t put that on. Just wear your armor, and we’ll get that clean and repaired in Cottages.”
“My interface told me that my clothes would be cleaned along with me during my sixdays, but not repaired. So, okay. Thank you.”
I just put on my armor and set the garment with their gear. My coarse fur had accepted the armor pieces pretty well, with just some minor prickling as I dressed.
We just discussed trivial matters during our trip to the outhouse. Unsurprisingly, there were short lines consisting of the Blakemans, various guardsmen, and now us. Mom, Arrjee, and the Blakemans went to breakfast from there. I let them know I wasn’t hungry, and I would be processing my day over in our quarters.
One factor in my decision is that I did not need to eat. Any hunger would be taken care of during my sixdays in the void. I was a little thirsty, but I would get some water later. I just had a lot to think about, and I wanted to chill for a bit, alone. It has been less than a day since Jacques died, and so much has happened since then. And my first day is not even over yet.
I took a seat in our barracks room, and just shut my eyes to think. This was not a time for meditating. That would leave me intentionally non-focused. Instead, I remembered. Meeting System and Interface. Becoming Forrest, and the choices I made to be here. Experiencing this body for the first time as I phased onto Heere. Exploring, meeting Arrjee. Using a skill for the first time. My shock at his openness. Further shock at the realization that my “high” attributes barely allowed me to complete our run on the road to Cottages. Meeting his family. Hell, even Eager Beaver. Grandma and the revelations about awakeneds. A great meal.
Family.
Experimenting with my primary skills for the first time. Skawa. A quest. Helping people survive monsters. Well, maybe deadly beasts. Regaining my First Aid skill. Meeting the guard. Traveling to this fort. Learning about my brother’s first life, one I would never have imagined. Probably could never have imagined.
It has been a really wonderful day.
And I am terrified.
When does my bad luck kick in?
I have stuff to lose. People to lose.
For the first time in months, I want to live. I have reason to live.
Yes, you do.
“I was sort of expecting to spend the day lost, clueless. This is the opposite. Just about everything I could ever want is happening now. This isn’t how it should be for someone with 6.5 luck, is it? I feel like my luck must be 25.”
Luck is weather. What is climate?
“Interface, seriously. I don’t need you to be a cryptic asshole right now.”
What is climate?
…
“Karma! My high karma. So I don’t have to worry about bad luck?”
It is a concern. A tornado can happen during the nicest summer. Should you dread the tornado or enjoy family, friends, growth, and adventure? You are immortal, and you should have experiences. Some will be bad, but a lot will be good.
Or, you can be your own bad luck. Find a cave and stay there, where no tornado can ever hurt you. Experience experience, or sit frozen in fear. The choice is yours.
“For someone who doesn’t like being a coach, you’re a damn good one. You are something else, too. You are a friend. Thank you. If a tornado happens, it happens. I choose to live!”
You are welcome. I am very glad you choose to experience life.
Wait a minute. That is four times Interface has used the word “experience”.
…
Oh crap!
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“Query experience”
You have gained 1487 xp since achieving level 1.
“How many experience points does it take to reach level 2?”
1500, or you could just query your level
“Query level”
Level: 1 + 1487 / 1500
“When you showed me my character sheet, it just said my level was ‘1’”.
That was back in the void, and your level was still exactly 1. Plus the character sheet does not show experience, except in the broadest terms of current level and ranks.
“Aren’t you supposed to pop up little blue windows every time I gain xp?”
No. That would be sub-optimal. Constant notices would either repeatedly disturb your normal daily routines, or possibly be a deadly disturbance in the middle of battle. When you want to know, query. Should you want to monitor something, I can bring up a self-updating window for that. Your statuses are an example.
“Thanks. Not popping up endless notices makes a surprisingly lot of sense. How do I gain experience?”
Several methodologies exist.
1. Defeat foes
2. Quest completion
3. Demonstrate leadership
4. Use skills
5. Learn and rank skills
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
6. Miscellaneous
“What is Miscellaneous?”
Odds and ends. You have 500 “starter xp” as an immortal. Unborn awakeneds get it also.
Great, that is a really nice head start. I’m not sure it’s fair, but I’ll take it. On the other hand, we don’t have the years of life, growing abilities from probably four years old.
I select “Learn and rank skills”.
Analyze, F: 40 xp
First Aid, D: 37 xp (nascent D)
Meditate, F: 10 xp (nascent F)
Running, F: 10 xp (nascent F)
Nice. 97 of my 1487 xp came just from learning those four skills. That’s over 6%, but I doubt I can keep up that ratio. At rank D, First Aid earned a lot more than the F ones, but the non-nascent Analyze exceeded even that.
Dismissing that, I select “Demonstrate leadership”.
Encourage Arrjee to reveal his awakened status: 50 xp
Okay, cool. How much from “Use Skills”?
Note: Most of the gain from the use of skills goes to increasing their rank. For every 3 rank points (rp) in a gifted skill, you gain 1 xp. Every 5 rp in a learned skill gains 1 xp.
Top level breakdown:
* Gifted skills: 54 xp
* Learned skills: 23 xp
I guess that is fair. Thinking about it, I have not used my skills very much. I probably did not get any credit at all from using direct pressure on Hesta’s wound, because I did not officially know First Aid yet.
How much from “Quest completion”?
Save the family (Skawa), 100% success: 100 xp
“Thank you, Skawa. Not just for the xp, but for the opportunity to help as well.”
I don’t know if he is listening, but maybe he has a message service.
The big one is left. I clear the other windows.
“Query detailed breakdown of xp gain from defeat of foes”
1 level 8 zebor: 1579 xp, split
* Hesta Blakeman: 16%, 253 xp
* Arrjee Silverstone: 42%, 663 xp
* Forrest Rhodes: 42%, 663 xp
Only 1 zebor, huh? Yeah, that makes sense. We had not formed a party, and Arrjee and I had nothing to do with the death of the other zebor. Hesta obviously contributed to the demise of both and it looks like he damaged ours by 16%.
That makes me wonder.
“Query xp worth of Forrest Rhodes”
Forrest Rhodes, level 1 sapient: 1135 xp
That is 1000 more than my maximum HP. I must be worth 1000 just for being ‘sapient’. The remaining stats question I have concerns how far my skills have advanced in rank.
“Query detailed skill rank gains”
Gifted Skills: 163 rp total (54 xp)
HP Regen: D + 27 /1334
SP Regen: D + 66 / 1334
Ki Regen: D + 15 / 1334
Ki Punch: E + 7 / 317
Dodge: E + 10 / 317
Heal Other: E + 38 / 317
Learned Skills: 117 rp total (23 xp)
Analyze: F + 4 / 100
First Aid: D + 7 / 1334
Meditation: F + 10 / 100
Running: F + 96 /100
After reviewing the list, I noticed several things. It is clear that the higher the rank a skill has, the more rp to its next rank. It appears that the increase might be in some way exponential, explaining why so few people ever reach Rank S. Somehow I did get a little credit from the direct pressure first aid technique. It is going to take a lot to rank it up though. The good news is that Running is close to ranking up, and HP Regen is higher than I would expect.
“Interface, without knowing the underlying formulas, it is hard to say, but HP Regen feels high compared to the other regens. It should be low, shouldn’t it? Most of my healing was courtesy of Randolf Pokka. With its slow regeneration rate, I doubt I have regenerated 10 HP total.
Your observation is astute. Imagine if HP Regen were dependent on only your own regenerated healing to gain rp. To rank it, you would need to be a masochist, or at least willing to constantly engage in self-harm. System bypasses this by splitting some rp from your SP and Ki regens. (MP instead of Ki if you were a mana user.) Each keep 70% of their gross gain, and pass 30% of their rank points to HP regen. Added to this is direct rp from actual regenerated healing, and advancement in HP regen can keep up with the others.
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When Arrjee gets back we should take a run around the fort a couple of times. Just running the 20 minutes into town yesterday morning got me to almost ranking it. The xp from ranking a skill, plus any I earn due to actually running, will very likely level me as well. Arrjee likes to go running anyway for endurance training. Maybe Mom does too!
Hmm, maybe self cleaning armor cleans on the inside while being worn. If so, I don’t even need to worry about my body getting all sweaty.
I decide to go outside and head to the mess hall for some water. Nearing its door, I am met by Herma and Bob. He asks, “Forrest, are you going to get breakfast now? The porridge is real good and it ain’t got no lumps.”
“Thanks for letting me know, Bob. Right now I’m just going to have some water. But I’m glad your food was good.”
Hesta walks out just then, “Hail, Forrest. This is going to be a fine day. I even expect that our horse will have made it back home.”
“I hope so Hesta. Best of luck to you and your children. I’m just going in to get a drink and meet up with my family.”
They walk off, and I enter. I see where Mom and Arrjee are seated. Grabbing a glass of water first, I take a seat next to them. They acknowledge me with nods, and I see their bowls are empty.
“Hey pack, I have an idea. Are you in for an early-morning run? I was checking with my interface about my progress. It turns out I am about to rank my Running skill to E as well as reach Level 2. The run will very likely accomplish both. I know that does not sound like a big deal to you, but for me it will be double-firsts!”
Mom says, “I will enjoy that, but in a few minutes. I spoke briefly with Asha Yon as we entered, and he has a matter to discuss when we are done. We are old friends from when he used to work for the duchy’s postal service. He indicated it would just take a few minutes, but he did not seem to want to talk about it here.”
Arrjee acknowledges with another nod, and I say, “Sure.”
I finish my water. We get up and head to our room. Asha is waiting near it, and we all enter. Mom suggests we all take a seat. “Yesterday I was happy to see you were doing well. What is it which you would like to discuss?”
He responds, “It is not secret or anything, but I would have felt awkward discussing it in the presence of other guardsmen. My four-year enlistment expires in two months, and I have been considering rejoining the duchy’s post. By fortuitous coincidence we met, and it seems beneficial that I discuss it with you. What are your thoughts?”
“My immediate thought is that the post would welcome you back. Cottages has only had me as its agent for half a year, and you know how much more efficient we can be with more than one of us per village. On days where there are multiple messages to deliver to villages in different directions, our delivery schedule suffers. River will be losing one of its agents soon as well.”
After thinking a moment, Mom continues. “Let both the guard and the post know as soon as you decide to switch. That way both organizations can have some time to plan for it. Are you willing to relocate, and if so, would you prefer River or Cottages?”
“Well, Cottages is beautiful, and I think my family could be very happy there. The one thing I worry about – forgive me for having to ask – Cottages is entirely Covargh, right? Would we be accepted?”
Mom closed her eyes for a moment, and inhaled. “Yes, of course we would accept you. Forgive me for saying so, but where there is friction between our peoples, it is generally Humans feeling awkward around Covargh. Most particularly around hybrids like my son, Forrest. Could you and yours accept him as a friend into your home?”
He looks at me resolutely. “Yes, we would. My wife and I have never allowed that ‘half-breed’ attitude within our doors. The few who would utter such nonsense were not invited in, or were expressly invited out.”
My turn. Mom likes him. I stand and approach him. “Well met, Asha Yon. I am Forrest Rhodes, and you may call me Forrest.” I hold out my hand, and he shakes it. “I myself am new to the village of Cottages and have already seen and heard their condemnation of any negative attitudes toward Humans. And to answer your question, no, Cottages is not entirely Covargh. There is already at least one Human family there”
Arrjee clarifies, “There is just one at present. They are the Smithsons, a family of five who recently moved in from outside the duchy. The father is a tinkerer and their mother a florist. I do not know them well, although I do grades with their daughter, Kossa. She seems nice, and I believe she is 14 like me. My sister plays with their two younger kids.”
Mom says, “Other than exchanging pleasantries on the street, I do not know them.”
“I thank you all, and you may all call me Asha. When this duty week ends, I shall discuss this matter with my family. We will likely choose to move to Cottages, as we have no strong attachment to Trees.”
“Call me Arrjee. Forrest has suggested we accompany him for an early morning run. Would you like to join us?”
“Yes, I would like that. It is actually part of my routine. The guard has set up a running path around the outside of the fort for this very purpose. It is a little over a half-mile per lap.”
We leave our room and he leads us to the gate. Dawn is just breaking; and we can see that the sun is rising above the horizon.
My Mom tells Asha on the way, “You may have heard that Forrest is an unborn awakened. He just arrived yesterday. He is already expecting to rank his running skill to E this morning.”
Mom is perceptive and clever. She pre-managed his expectations, telling him in the most polite way ever to expect me to be a klutz. Arrjee, not so much. “When I ran with him yesterday, he had not yet revealed that he was new. It hurt to run with him and not giggle. But it was okay, because I was already almost positive he had not been here long.”
I manage the anger, coming to expect such feelings by now. “It is thanks to Arrjee I am so close to E. None of my other skills are anywhere near ranking. He met me in the forest, and we had about a 20-minute run to Cottages. Running had been a nascent skill, and I relearned it just a few minutes into our run. Its description says it is only 50% efficient at Rank F, so I am very much looking forward to E.”
“That brings back fun memories,” commented Asha.
I am thinking, “Yes, when he was probably eight or nine.” I sigh as we pass through the gate unchallenged. The running path is dry packed dirt, and it follows the fort walls about 20 yards from them. It is not a heavily wooded area, mostly bushes, grass, and flowers.
“We seldom encounter any aggressive creatures during our run. Especially with four of us, it is extremely unlikely that any would challenge us. Beasts know from years of existing near the fort to avoid it. Not even zebor packs come near, not when there is plentiful and safe prey elsewhere.”
Our run begins. They politely allow me to set the pace. After making our second turn, I see that behind the fort there is a river, about 100 yards beyond. It is all very beautiful, with no pollution or garbage or signs or fences that might have degraded such an area on Earth. There is one surprise, though, that I would not have seen an Earth. A water elemental seems to be seeking our attention, waving one of its arms broadly.
“Let us see what it wants,” Asha says. “The guard serves all in the duchy, although we seldom interact with elementals.”
All I see from here is that it is bipedal and seemingly made of water. Maybe it is a little bit taller than Covargh and Humans. It is hard to tell for sure from the path. Asha leads us in a moderate run towards it. With the running we already had done, I am starting to breathe hard by the time we got there. But it is not anywhere near as much as yesterday.