So, with at least a bit of foresight I could have mentioned that this and the next chapter will be delayed, but I forgot, sorry.
I'm currently studying for my last exam this term, so I'll probably take until thursday at least to complete the next chapter. After that, though, I plan to take some time to note down all my side characters etc. and then start releasing more rapidly again, hopefully.
On another note, does anyone have a more general/better term for "physical damage carry" in moba terms? Otherwise the next chapter might just be "The Carry" and I'm not sure if that is commonly understood for what I mean.
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Jill took her time looking at the map. She planned a route and made a few screenshots. Then, she left for her first destination. She headed towards a street close to the one Dad'sal was currently walking in.
In front of a shop with unusually large windows that revealed leather-wrapped mannequins decorated with all manner of clothes, Jill had to stop herself from running away after pulling down the pants of the noble that blocked the door, just because it would not leave a good impression on her first teacher.
Instead, she opted for checking out the clothes in the windows and the wares of the other shops nearby.
Eventually, the man left and Jill walked inside.
Grand CoutureClothes for all occasions
"Helloo, do you have bread?" Jill marched to the counter.
"Ah, I'm sorry. You probably want a bit further down the street, I sell clothes as you can see." The reed-barked Arborea tailoress with two large, feathery leaves as headdress looked at her visitor gently.
Jill stared at her silently until she grew visibly uncomfortable. Then she blinked, grinned and walked the rest of the way to the counter.
"Greetings, I am forging my own destiny and want to learn tailoring. I already know the basics. Would you be so kind as to teach me? Of course I will work for you in exchange."
This time, the tailoress stared.
She shook her head before tilting her head at Jill. "You're a strange one, aren't you? Well, as per the agreement, I will teach you tailoring. If you know the basics, you can help by cutting the pieces for some of the less expensive clothes as payment."
"Alrighty!" Jill walked right past the tailoress while checking the name above her head, "Gran Lightbark". The tailoress followed her with a raised eyebrow.
"Take this black linen here and the cutouts there. I have an order over twenty servant tunics, four of them are already done, so cut out sixteen more sets. You need these arm pieces twice per set." Gran supervised how Jill was doing, but left after the first set of cut pieces with an appreciating nod.
While Jill worked, she opted for stitching together a grand cape with fur trimming before starting on the linen parts Jill had already finished. They worked in silence until Gran commented on Jills fast work.
"You said you know the basics. As I see it, that's an understatement. You cut as fast as me, with no large difference in quality too."
"It's true though, I only know the basics. I think it might be an advantage of us new souls that makes our bodies do more exactly what we mean it to do."
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--- In a video published before Utopia Unchained's launch:
A man in casual clothes sits on a sofa. At the bottom of the video a label declares him as "Jim Zipper, Balancing Department". He starts talking with a wave of his hand.
"When we set the parameters for Utopia Unchained's creation, we wanted to appeal to more than just the usual gamers. So what we did, was to make your real skills matter. That means several things."
The video cuts to a baseball player preparing to swing. "We want to give you reasons to play that are more than entertainment and learning to stitch. The first change we made was for agility."
As the baseball player swings, he is replaced by a leather-clad warrior with a longsword, in the exact same position. The baseball is likewise replaced by a small armored beast with a maw full of teeth that takes up almost half of its body. "In our game, agility only lets you move faster. It doesn't, however, give you any different perception of time than all the other players." The warrior continues splitting the leaping monsters. "If you want to train your reaction speed for that championship, why not do so with us, on an epic quest to exterminate monsters." The video continues with different examples. A biathlete readies her rifle while sliding into a kneeling position. Mid-slide, she is replaced by an amphibian ranger, her rifle by a bow and the target by a large bird that shoots towards her. An assassin sneaks up on his target, dagger in hand. As the target turns around, he strikes at the open throat just to get replaced by a table tennis player deflecting a ball...
The video switches back to the developer. "On the other hand, we wanted to get other hobbies and activities inside the game." The video splits. On the left side, a researcher is dissecting a fish with fascination apparent on his face. The scene is replaced by the same man, now in black linen and with an array of vials in belts strapped to his body. The fish and analytical equipment make way for a contraption made of beakers, burners and flasks alongside a large scale. On the right side, a young woman meditates next to a lake. At first, only her clothing and minor details in the background are replaced by a long robe or strange plants. Then, a fireball appears in front of her and starts dancing around her figure.
"For those that like stories, we made sure to set the game into a multi-faceted world with dozens of races, all with their own backstories to discover." The video shows the developer again, next to him a series of different avatars replaces itself faster and faster. From the generic pointy-eared and lean elves over beastmen and treants, the row continues with variations of muscled, dark-skinned elves, kelp-bearded dwarves and half-elementals - part stone, part man - and many more, too fast to make out.
"One last point of warning though. We have deliberately set system assist to be on the rare side of effects. Just because you have a high level in fencing won't mean you will hit where you want. On the other hand, if you strike correctly, no matter your skill level, you will hit. There is neither accuracy nor dodge chance obtainable in stats. At most, you can hope for an effect like incorporeality. This also applies to other things. Without the correct procedures, your alchemy level will mean nothing. If you can already sew, you can go straight to producing high quality clothing if you find the right materials."
While the video darkens, the developer seems to recall something. "Oh, and if you plan to create your own class, you will probably receive even less system assist."
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Jill made a note to tell Gunfrey about their discovery, since he usually complained about how an attack should have hit if not for his precision stat. If he didn't hit now, Jill would be sure to remind him about the fact that it was his very own precision that misfired.
"What are you so happy about?" Gran curiously looked at Jill.
"Oh it's just that I have to remind one of my friends about something." Jill continued cutting and grinning.
"With your attitude earlier, I fear for their mood after you are done with them." Gran continued as well.
"Splendid job. What aspect of tailoring do you want to get into first?" Gran folded the last tunic and added it to the stack of already finished pieces.
"Could you tell me about them? I plan to create both practical clothing - fur coats and the like - as well as pieces that give off a certain vibe, like nobility or danger."
"Danger...? Oh well, which aspect do you want to get into first? I can think of fitting skills for both." Gran stopped Jill from answering the first part with a wave of her hand and then tilted her head at her.
"Since the climate is currently mild, I'd like the second one."
"Alright, here you go." Gran raised her hand at Jill.
Warning: Gran Lightbark is trying to teach you Tailoring – Perception ModificationAccepting this skill as provided will take you on the path to a custom class.
You will be locked out of acquiring a normal class and will have to fill the 4 other skill slots currently available to you to acquire your class.Tailoring - Crafting Base SkillTailoring is the art of creating clothes and other apparel from fabrics, soft leather and pelt.
Now go forth and create that princess glitter dress of your dreams!
Selected starting subskill:
-> Perception modification: While working on clothes, modify what others see them as.
I accept this skill.
I do not accept.
"Thank you. Could you show me a demonstration?" Jill accepted the skill before making puppy eyes at Gran. "I have no idea how I should best go about using this."
"I guess I could give this cape some extra love..." Gran took up the cape she had been working on and started to stitch a few small, yellow symbols that contrasted its vivid green fabric. With each symbol the cape seemed more beautiful and lively, even though the symbols may not have been what Jill liked personally.
"It's not important what you do to it, as long as it fits what you want roughly. The most important point is that modifying its visual perception can only be done while working on it. For maximum effect, you should use it as soon as possible. If you plan to learn making fabrics, you can already use it then for even greater effects." She grabbed the cape at a different side to continue.
"Think about what you want others to see when they see it, what mood it should create. Then bring that into every stitch." Gran continued working on the cape while Jill gave her thanks and goodbyes.
Jill returned to the plaza and then through the gate to the port. There, she searched for a warehouse that was currently getting new wares - workers carried crates off a large ship - and approached one of the overseers.
"Yo, I am forging my own destiny. I'd like to help you guys move around crates."
The overseer blinked at her.
"Uuuh, sure. I guess. Just grab them on the ship and bring them in here, sorting is done later." Suddenly getting a free worker, a young female at that, did perplex the man quite a bit. However, both the use of Jills inventory and her presence caused his work to speed up greatly, much to his satisfaction. The other workers were all trying to impress their temporary companion that easily sucked crates into her black cloud sphere before skipping towards the warehouse.
After half an hour of moving bubblestone crates, Jill groaned and headed for the overseer. "Excuse me, I may need another work to get what I want, do you require help filling crates somewhere?"
"Of course. Bob! Get her to Brend, no dallying, or I'll leave your punishment for the others to decide." The addressed worker was happy because of the unexpected break and gulped at the possible consequences.
As such, he immediately hurried to place his current crate where it belonged before motioning Jill to follow him while he fell into a light jog.
After Bob introduced her to Brend in another warehouse and explained her purpose, Jill got a short introduction into how she had to pack what items before she was handed a carpenter's hammer and a pouch of nails fit for the bubblestone. She grabbed a few pelts, stacked them into a crate and sucked it into her inventory after nailing it shut.
Like this, another thirty minutes passed before Jill got what she came here for:
Notice: You have created a new skillIf you choose to acquire it now, this skill will take up one of your 4 free skill slots.New skill – Player Exclusive SkillUsing crates to increase the amount of things you can carry in your inventory may make those things harder to get at, but you most likely won’t ever need a pack mule or cart.
Dedicated crater: There’s now a new hole slot in your inventory that accepts 100 crates of the same type but no other items, crates in this slot can be retrieved with a thought
Orderly Crate Storage: crates in your inventory stack one denomination higher than their size allows
(To accept now, please name the skill)
Don't acquire this skill but remember it.
I don't want this skill.
"Boxing." Dong.
"Crating?" Beep.
Jill continued working for a bit before trying to return the hammer and the nails. However, Brend shoved them back into her hands.
"Keep those, as a memento if not for anything else, you earned them. We have enough of these and thanks to you, our men will get more free time today."
"Thank you, I'll leave then." Jill headed back into the city and then towards its middle.
On her way, she adjusted the nail pouch and its belt so it hid her inventory sphere from most people.
Slowly, the magnificent stone keep of the city lord came into full view. There where no extra walls around it, just one large building with thick walls and little towers at the very top that overshadowed its flat roof.
After she approached one of the guards at the gate, Jill saluted and then, alongside grand gestures, said in a solemn tone: "Good sir, I am forging my own destiny. Would you be so kind as to grant me entry? I would very much like to discuss learning with a very important member of your keep. Do tell, where may I find the magnificent Harry Nettlebark?"
The guard, his posture gradually turned even more dignified than Jills, basically deflated at her last words. His companion looked at them for a second before bursting into laughter.
Grudgingly, the first guard straightened again before turning his head towards the inside. "Kid! Get your lazy butt out here and show this boisterous lady to old man Nettlebark."
Out of an inconspicious door in the side of the gate, a young Arborean boy made his way towards them. He waved at Jill wordlessly before speeding into the keep. A few meters in, he looked back until Jill approached, then turned and ran again.
In a corner of the keep, they arrived at a simple coral door. The boy motioned at the door before leaving Jill in the same speed he had led her around.
Jill knocked. After some shuffling, an old Arborean clad in colourful linen opened the door.
"You got the wrong corner of the castle, girl. The young lord's chambers are in the west. On the other hand, he won't even like you, so just get lost." Nettlebark turned around to close the door.
Swiftly, Jill placed a hand on his shoulder. "Please wait, I am forging my own destiny, I need your help or at least directions."
The old tree man stopped. "And what makes you think I even have the knowledge to help you recklessly fight hazard-like monsters or get rich by forcing yourself onto some prince, hm?"
"You're still in your position." Jills comment made him laugh and wave her in.
"So, tell me, what do you need from this old court jester?" Nettlebark flopped into one of two arm chairs.
"Aura amplification or something similar." Jill plopped into the other arm chair.
"So you want to go after the young lords after a-" Jill started releasing her specter side. The black smoke tendrils covering all but her glowing red eyes made the jester scramble backwards in his arm chair until Jill stopped and was back to normal after concentrating for a while.
"Don't put me in the same boat as those. I need a stronger aura to properly introduce any enemy my team encounters to raw, primal fear." Jills attitude wasn't easy going anymore.
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"What in the world... no, never mind, I am in the wrong here. It is true, as you guessed. Without illusions I'd have long been replaced. With how you worded it one of the few things I know will be what you want. If you show me that again, I'll consider it a deal. You might just make for a new story in my repertoire. Ah, also, could you tell me a story from your world? I assume there are childrens stories where you originally come from?"
"Only if you lock the door and promise not to tell anyone what I am about to show you." Jill focused him with a stern gaze.
"By the life I had thought lost, I vow to take your secret to the grave." Nettlebark looked completely serious, not even diminished by his colorfull attire.
"Oh? I need ten minutes to return to normal. You expecting any visitors?" Jill stood up to give the jester a better view while he locked the door.
Then, Jill released her specter side without holding back and closed her eyes.
As the apparition separated from her main body, Nettlebark stared at it in wonder. "What are you...? No, I said nothing of answering my questions, sorry."
"I'm both, more I won't say."
While the jester focused on the specter, Jill started training her eyes. Over the course of 10 minutes, she managed to open her eyes a little while her specter's eyes only twitched. While it wasn't yet usable, she was happy that she could control both bodies seperately already, however faint it may be.
After Jill was in a single body again, they sat down to be more comfortable while Jill started telling Nettlebark stories from the real world.
A few old fables later, the jester pointed his hand at her. "I never thought I'd be doing this someday."
Harry Nettlebark is trying to teach you Illusion Magic – Perception AmplificationThis will occupy one of your 3 currently free skill slots.Illusion Magic - Magic Base SchoolIllusion magic is all about manipulating others. Make them see what isn’t there and miss what is obvious, both with their eyes and other senses. Success in changing perception of something is often related to the original appearance. Making a monster more threatening is easier than making a small pet appear threatening.
Selected starting subskill:
-> Presence Amplification: Increase what other beings feel about you explosively in an area around you
I accept this skill.
I do not accept.
"Thank you. I'll be on my way again then. Maybe you'll have a real story to tell about me somed-." Someone knocked at the already unlocked door and entered. "Hey Harry, Elen wants to hear ano- Oh wow, hello there." A young Arborean male, "Acacius Strongbark", in noble clothing barged into the room.
"Excuse me, I didn't know you had a visitor." He turned towards Jill and took her hand. "Fair maiden, become my generals wife!"
"I'm sorry, before my time as their personal story teller, the children of the lord only ever listened to romantic stories about eternal love and perfect couples. He must have thought you would perfectly fit our esteemed general. I hope you won't hold a grudge? I am sure the young lord won't hold it against you either."
"It's fine, he gave me the chance to test your skill, I'm totally satisfied." In contrast to the apologetic Nettlebark, Jill skipped along towards the exit with a big grin on her face.
"Will you get into trouble because of me? As my teacher, I won't let that happen, you know?" Jill got a bit more serious.
"No no, one shivering noble is enough for my taste, although the story will surely entertain the young Elen. I just hope he comes out of that closet soon."
"Just tell him I will come visit if he stays there." And before Nettlebark could respond, Jill slipped by the guards and outside of the keep.
Jill returned to the port once more.
"Hey guys, I'm back. Can I throw in some more work and get payed in old crates? I need some 1 meter large ones and some as small as you have them."
By now, Brend was somewhat used to her strange demands and just confirmed her with a nod before showing her what needed to be moved. Now with her skill, Jill was even faster as she could stack up to ten times her former amount into her inventory if it was crates or boxes.
In just half an hour, Jill emptied half a warehouse and deposited everything neatly on the ship it was destined for. Afterwards, she took a short break and received her first crates, they looked as if they would fall apart after one or two more trips. For her purpose, however, they were perfect.
She walked a bit to the side to not affect anyone and started using perception amplification in short bursts. Every time, she tried directing what she felt as the spell released towards her hand that was inside of one of the crates. Afterwards, she pulled out her hand and slammed the crate shut.
Little by little, she managed to use the spell not from her center but from her hand. When she felt she could reliably do so, she returned and worked some more.
Jill walked out of the warehouse she had last worked in with a big grin. In her inventory was a stack of ten one by one meter crates and, in her crate slot, 50 small crates. These had apparently once held small strongboxes and the like for better stacking but were sorted out because of old age.
She searched for another empty spot and found one between the city wall and a warehouse. There, she resumed her behaviour from earlier: Presence amplification inside a crate before slamming the same crate shut as fast as she could.
With no luck after another thirty minutes, Jill changed her plan. This time, she felt for the spell and tried to keep it in the state it was in while she activated it as long as possible.
And that finally brought her the result she had wanted.
Notice: You have created a new subskillIf you choose to acquire it now, this skill will occupy one of your 2 free skill slots.New skill – Subskill of CratingAs an expert packager, you can now even package spells in crates.
Remote activation: crates with spells give you a general sense of where they are and can be activated remotely.
No saving power: Activating a stored spell costs power, storing it as well.
Out of control: spell-filled crates that are opened or destroyed activate automatically. Without sufficient energy, the stored spell will dissipate.
(To accept now, please name the skill)
Don't acquire this skill but remember it.
I don't want this skill.
"Spell Crating." Beep.
Using her skill, she captured presence amplification inside one of the small crates, noting as it now possessed a faint yellow outline. As she focused it, she was surprised to see its properties appear.
Small Crate of Presence AmplificationA small old crate filled with presence amplification by Jill.Weight: 1Durability: 2/10Aura: 1
She noted to never let others see it before it was too late and pulled out the rest of the small crates from her crate slot. She grinned as the loaded crate still fit in her crate slot. Jill closed her inventory and with a thought, the crate was in her hand again, ready for being released.
As a last test, Jill focused on a small swarm of birds that used one of the warehouse roofs as a resting place. With a quick sprint, she threw her crate at them.
Too early, she started releasing her specter side, however, as she triggered the trapped spell shortly before it hit the roof, most of the birds still flew away as they cawed in terror.
For her last skill, Jill took out one of her large crates and used her sacrifical knife to carve out two holes in a wall, around a fifth of its height from the base.
She flipped the crate over her head and looked out of the holes. They were way too small to really see anything. Jill used her knife again and widened and combined the holes into a small window.
Slowly, a crate moved about in the port's backstreets. Whenever people were looking at it, it would remain still. Whenever nobody could be seen or heard, the crate started to move. As this type of crate was very common and also looked old, nobody investigated it. There may have been some that saw it moving, but they retreated instead, not knowing what might be inside the crate. Stories were told of the cursed crate that followed behind workers, just to be dismissed as tales by others. That was, until they encountered the moving crate themselves and screamed in panic at the thought of the over-exaggerated stories told by their companions.
One shivering sailor even told of the hungry crate, as he had heard munching sounds coming from an unusual and lonely old crate. Another told of red eyes that gleamed in the darkness before the crate came into view, fanged maw wide open.
Jill even stayed inside the crate to eat and drink. Despite how stupid her idea sounded even to her, she wanted this skill. To potentially increase her chances, Jill finally packed away her crate and headed to one of the warehouses. Through a side door, she entered unseen before popping out her crate once more in a corner. With the sharp increase in people around her crate and some more time, Jill finally got what she wanted and at the same time, her class.
Notice: You have created a new subskillIf you choose to acquire it now, this skill will occupy your last free skill slot.New skill - Subskill of CratingOne with your crate, one with the world.
Crating yourself, you melt into the surroundings.
However, you may have been too successful in hiding.
One with the crate: your current crate will become your personal crate, exclusively used for this subskill and summonable
One with the world: under your crate, you are hidden from view while your crate is ignored by those that see it
Hidden too well: Energy does not regenerate while hidden
(To accept now, please name the skill)
Don't acquire this skill but remember it.
I don't want this skill.
"Cardboard Camouflage." Beep.
While the crate dematerialized, Jill viewed her new class.
Custom Class created!Forging your own destiny, you have acquired or created 5 skills. A new class has been created from your skill set.Note: You have just filled your last free skill slot. While learning or creating a new skill is possible for anyone, having a free skill slot makes this process infinitely easier.Note: For using a custom class, you will recieve one new free skill slot every 5 levels.Note: If you are offered a secret class, you may instead choose to advance your custom class in rarity, adding free skill slots and opportunities to set strength-weakness pairs and/or strengths.Your custom class will have the following benefits:Illusion tailor: clothes you create are 10% stronger presence modified
Double amplification: Presence amplification also amplifies the perception of your clothes
Mainly original: 10% easier to create new skills
Triple experience: Crates near you or in your inventory slowly mend and improve, eventually reaching the limit their materials allow
You may set 1 pair of strengths and weaknesses
(Please name your class to accept)
I decline. (Usable once, resets your skills completely)
"Jill of all boxes." Beep.
"Add another crate slot to Crating, add penalty to stack size of uncrated items." Beep.
Class modified:-> one more Crating crate slot
-> 10% less stack size for uncrated items, rounded up
Yup.
Nope, let me try again.
Jill grinned and left the warehouse in her new crate. Shuffling through the workers, they looked at her crate, but nobody looked at it strangely and nobody screamed in fear of the cursed crate stories.
She startled quite a few of the passersby as she canceled the crate. Jill was aware that the others would probably need more time than her, so she headed for an empty corner of the port. There, she pulled out the small crates and converted all of them into spell-filled ones. Afterwards she holed up in an unused warehouse room with blurry windows and very old and weathered coral planks. She released her specter side and continued training her eye coordination. Despite her earlier success, she didn't improve any more and instead returned into one body as soon as she could to instead train her aura amplification. She didn't cast it repeatedly, instead, Jill opted for carefully releasing each spell, holding them as long as she could while moving the spell around.
At the end of the day, Jill returned to the plaza while she looked over her stats.
Basics
First NameLast NameDefault NameJillClassLevelExperienceJill of all boxes125%
Status
HealthSatietyHealth/s90/90Sated0,55Energy100/100Energy/s10
Attributes
StrengthEnduranceConstitution12911CapacityGraspAgility101011Weight LimitAura Limit2120