Without turning around I know it is Sam tapping on my shoulder. "What do you need Sam? I won't be ready to go for awhile and you might want to go with the convoy instead."
Hesitantly Sam says "I found a person who wants to go with us, and I want out of town safely, not cooped up in an arena like a bad zombie movie just waiting for the virus to arrive."
"Ha, my thoughts exactly" turning around I see another twenty something next to Sam. Reaching out to shake hands "I'm Ben, nice to meet you. Why do you want to go with us?"
Waiting for his reply I Identify the guy
Craig / Fire Mage / Human / Level 2 / Intelligence / Fireball
Grasping my hand I can sense his nervousness by the sweat and shaking in his weak grip. "I'm Craig, I want to go because I need to level and Sam tells me you're heading West which is where I need to go. I don't want to travel with these people, I don't think it'll end well if we hide together, and I don't have the power to help much right now."
"I'm not against going in a group, but we are going to move fast." Looking Craig over "It doesn't look like you have a lot of endurance or speed skills, there's who knows what out there waiting for us and we don't need easy slow targets."
Sam catches my attention and looks me in the eyes "I'm working on a speed Skill just like night vision, I'm going to run around the camp and try and force a skill to pop, Craig's going to join me, he is a mage maybe he can learn a haste spell."
"A mage, seriously, how'd you get that class? And what spells do you have?" Interested because a mage class would be handy, I have an affinity with Ice magic already maybe I could add an Ice Mage class.....
before I get lost in thought Craig responds "I was playing one of my video games right as everything happened, they had a real time event going on with bonus loot and free event adds, In game I run an Elementalist Fire Mage and when I got to select my skills and class I had options similar to my game." Waving his hands around a five foot staff appears with what looks like molten lava flowing through the brown wood or metal? on top is a large birds clawed foot grasping a huge ruby colored gem with bits of sparkly fire flashing now and then inside of it kind of like tiny fireworks. Each talon looks to be piercing the gem holding it in place like a prized possession. The scales from the foot extend down the tip of the staff as if the metallic wood grew a clawed hand and grabbed the gemstone. "I bought this staff from the system store as well as my one spell 'Fireball' but I can only cast it once at the moment and I need help to power up, Sam says you understand the system a bit and might be able to help."
"My first stop will be Verdi when we head West, If the main roads are clear like they say I may try and get a car or truck" Looking at the two guys "Craig, work with Sam and help him learn some type of Darkvision skill, then use the same method to learn a speed or travel skill, if we go on foot you need to be quick. Find Thomas and make sure he learns as well, if he still wants to leave with us."
Switching to look at Craig I add "What skills do you have, and what is your class Skill and Item?"
"My Class Skill is a multiplier for fire or heat based spells, it multiplies the effect and damage when I cast spells, which is pointless until I figure out how to get more spells and skills. My class Item is a wand which tells me it adds a percentage to my fire magic and aids in the use of Mana Energy."
"Well my advice is to try and learn the two thing I mentioned while holding that wand in your hand and channeling your energy through it, but that's just what I would do. I'm going to see if I can upgrade a Class, work on those skills and if you don't leave with the group when they head out we will go West together."
Turning back around I'm distracted by the various people arguing over by the 'headquarters' easy up and the new people are demanding food and shelter from their rescuers. Shaking my head I start reading the Class Advancement Information again.
The best use of my Class Points looks to be a Combination Class using my Stealthy Skirmisher and Ranged Warrior class. From what I can tell I might get a better version of an enhanced rifle and maybe bonus damage to attacking from stealth or something similar. I have fifteen points and a level due soon so at the cost of seven Class Points I'll still be able to advance another class later if needed.
Glancing around the camp I can hear the snipers rifle open fire again as well as smaller firearms joining in. Shortly after the spear welders run out, then they are escorting more people into the crowded area.
Perception or maybe my Danger Sense chooses that moment to let me know we have something above us, tilting my head up I can see something huge flying way up there heading into the city. I don't see any sign of The Raven, hopefully he is hunting or hiding.
A glitter....flutter....something in the air? Catches my eye. In the wake of the big critter above I see movement heading towards us, what looks like pack of giant moths I can see at least ten or more, gliding down from above with dust billowing around them as they silently approach.
Insect / Sphinx Moth / Level 3 / Endurance / Specialty - Paralytic dust / Stunning Gaze - Bite
Now more than fifteen in view, I shout out over the people talking and loud sounds of arguing "Incoming, air attack, moths level 3, to the North East fifty feet up. Watch out for the dust it has a paralyzing effect. Watching the camp go quiet then people racing around, the guards, police, reservists, and military people all get ready for another wave of creatures attacking, I go back to contemplating my classes. I mean I'll assist if needed but I'm busy here.
Selecting the Combination Class option and tossing in Basic Class Ranged Warrior and Advanced Class Skirmisher - Stealthy, I get a pop up notification asking me to select five skills for the formation of the class
Choosing Danger Sense, Treasure Sense, Firearms Proficiency, Steady Aim, and Penetrative Shot I'm hoping to modify the Skirmisher class into a Ranged Battle Class that can alert me to danger and help me find the good stuff when battle is done.
Once I commit to the skills, a new option to select an additional passive ability appears, I'm betting this will be similar to my Stealth option from the Skirmisher Class. Looking back through my skill list I settle on Chill Liquid from my Drunkards Class which unlocked Ice Magic I think, I haven't tried it yet.
Approving my choices with a thought and concentrating on what I want from the Class itself, my body registers the changes by sending surging electric shocks through my body, just enough to make me twitch. My brain feels like I just drank a Slurpee to fast and my eyes go blank and I'm blind for a moment, like I'm getting a system reset, haha. All of my muscles spasm and I'm glad I'm sitting down because right after that all my muscles go soft and I feel like I'm melting. Then a sense of power runs through my veins and I'm normal again.....well as normal as I get these days.
A blinking notification alerts me to my new class, which I notice is now set as active.
----------------------------------------
Advanced Combination Class - Shrouded Skirmisher / Long Guns - Artillery / Freezing
Foundation: Advanced Skirmisher Class, Basic Warrior / Ranged Class, Passive Skirmishers Stealth
Attributes - Vitality +7, Endurance +7, Strength +12, Agility +3, Perception +3, Willpower +4, Intimidation Attribute +8 (80%)
Luck increases chance of critical hits resulting in one shot kills, disabling wounds, or crippling effects.
Perception adds the ability to locate weak spots and highlights critical zones for targeting.
Intimidation Is automatically applied to any enemy within sight. They must overcome Willpower and Intimidation combined.
Class Item - Long Rifle/Artillery/Bayonet (Superior, Mana Enhanced)
-Three Offensive Uses - Artillery 25 rounds, Rifle 100 rounds, Mana Blade/Bayonet with extended reach (length increased by Mana Energy). Damage High to very high. Enhancements Force, Dark Fire, and Freezing. Reloads and repairs in Spatial Storage or with Mana Energy Infusion. Growth Item.
-Defensive - Unit will emits a field that extends out and will absorb and reflect damage, the defensive field is adjustable and obscures the vision of anyone targeting the position. The field ranges from smaller and condensed to larger with lower protection properties. The smaller the field the higher the protection, obscurity, and reflection. Field can extend weakly to cover a ten foot by ten foot area, blocks all non enhanced and lightly enhanced damage, blocks and reflects Mana Energy attacks. Uses Mana Energy to block each strike. Field is invisible to all but Mana Sense and certain skills or spells.
Class Skill - Superior Enhanced Attack
When used upon attacking an enemy or target the class holders accuracy, speed, penetration, damage, and enhancements are multiplied. Most strikes will result in critical or debilitating results. May be used with any type of attack armed, unarmed ranged, and skills. Enhanced attacks can have added force, dark fire, and freezing effects.
Passive Skill (Superior Class) - Superior Skirmishers Stealth Skill allows a fade and forget aura to manifest. The passive skill is most effective when user is motionless or movements are deliberately slow. When the Skirmisher class is active the skill is always on but can by reduced or removed at will. When other classes are set as active the skill can be used but is not automatically passive. Superior Skirmishers Stealth Skill cannot be broken, sensed, seen through, or targeted by any class lower than itself.
Passive Skill (Superior Class) - Frozen Aura - Creates a field of Freezing around the skill user. Attacks have an added Freeze Effect, Incoming actions that may harm the skill user are frozen/stalled/negated. All fire damage has a reduced effect within five feet of the skill user and must overcome level disparity. All frozen/ice/cold Mana Energy will be absorbed and increase the skill users own enhancements and Mana Energy with no damage or effect received.
----------------------------------------
More notifications are flashing up as I read my class description, thankfully there longer descriptions and more information attached to everything. The class seems overpowered and it looks like I went up a Class Level to Superior, whatever that is.
ADVANCED COMBINATION CLASS IS EQUIVALENT TO SUPERIOR CLASS
CLASS ITEM AND CLASS SKILL ARE ENHANCED ONE ADDITIONAL LEVEL (ADVANCED -> SUPERIOR)
PASSIVE SKILL IS EXTENDED, INCREASED, ENHANCED UP TO SUPERIOR CLASS LEVEL.
SUPERIOR CLASS UNLOCKS ACCESS TO GARRISON / FORT AND VILLAGE / TOWN MENU SYSTEMS, OPTIONS, AND ENHANCEMENTS (USES RESOURCES FROM SOURCE CLASS)
As I read the last notification a new pop-up appears.
YOU HAVE DISCOVERED A GARRISON*, LEVEL POOR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLAIM GARRISON* AS YOUR OWN?
*Garrison - A lightly fortified location surrounded by a wall and includes rooms for troops and a command center.
Look at that....additional information. Calling this roadway circle of vehicles a garrison is kind of funny. Selecting yes to claiming this location I get a new pop-up notification.
NAME OF GARRISON:
Hmmmmm....always more options. Considering for a moment I name it 'Middle of the Road'
IDENTIFYING PARAMETERS. GARRISON - MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, INCLUDES 2 GATES. METAL AND MISCELLANEOUS WALL. 17 SMALL INDIVIDUAL ROOMS (INHABITED). 2 SNIPER/RANGED POSITIONS, 1 COMMAND CENTER. DINING AREA. 3 STORAGE ROOMS.
UPON CREATION OF GARRISON, LEVEL POOR, THIS LOCATION WILL FUSE THE INDIVIDUAL WALL PIECES AND CREATE 2 RANGED/SNIPER TOWERS, MODIFY ACCESS GATES AND COMMAND CENTER:
With a thought I select to start the process only to be stopped by another pop-up
CHOOSE A COMMANDER FOR GARRISON OR COMMAND YOURSELF:
Choosing Joan as the commander, I mean I want nothing to do with it really. The final pop-up makes me smile.
YOU CAN CHOOSE TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, CHOOSE AN ALIAS, OR BE LISTED AS THE OWNER. ONLY SOMEONE OF A HIGHER CLASS LEVEL CAN SEE THE OWNER OF LOCATIONS. SOME CLASSES HAVE SKILLS THAT CAN BYPASS THIS OPTION.
Selecting an alias I choose the name of the owner to be 'The Defenders of Reno'. No one should trace this back to me with that as a name.
Around me the guards are still fighting the moths, the civilians? begin scream and swearing as the area is suffused with a silvery glow, very much the color of when a person uses a skill. Metal is being twisted out of shape and the various cars and trucks become joined into one as if they were melted or welded together. All the vehicles that had people inside using them as shelter are stuck until their spot is realigned along the new wall. The sniper positions on top of semi trailers have been reinforced and now they are in a nest surrounded by metal barriers and have room for additional people. The various lights which were a mish mash of lanterns, flashlights, headlights, spotlights, and other things have all been added into the structure and multiplied so the area is evenly lit and there are no shadows left in the inner area. The command center previously a pop tent is now a large reinforced gazebo slightly elevated so you can see outside the perimeter but slatted so ranged attacks would be deflected.
It only takes about 30 seconds for the changes to settle down, the defenders focused on the giant moths aren't really paying attention but as the last enemy falls people begin to notice the changes. I feel weak and drained all of a sudden, checking my stats I see that my Mana Energy is drained, my Stamina almost gone, and I'm missing a few hit points. Breathing heavily I try to look like everyone else. With frightened expressions people are looking all around the area like something bad is about to happen. With a grin I go back to looking at my new skills, leaving the 'Garrison' to others.
Pulling up my notifications I only see the new skill names listed in the pop-ups but with a little system manipulation I.E. a bunch of internal swearing, checking different menu's and earning a headache as I think at my menu's and categories. At the end of all of that I have my new skills and my previous advanced skills pulled up with what each one does.
Superior Danger Sense (Passive, Active) - Alerts you to danger in the area. Traps, Enemies, Intention, etc. The skill can sense danger around you based on your attributes and skill. Danger Sense will highlight the area of perceived danger.
Superior Treasure Sense (Passive, Active) - This skill interacts with Perception and Luck. Items of value, interest, power, and Mana Energy will highlight themselves when the skill is activated. Passive use will alert the skill user something may be near even with the skill is not set as active. The aura of each item will reflect their 'value' to the skill user.
Superior Firearms Proficiency - Any weapon classified as a firearm is usable by the skill user. No practice or training is required the firearm will be handled as if you are a professional and knowledge of the weapon will be available. System and Class Item firearms are used with increased damage, range, and power.
Superior Steady Aim - Any weapon, tool, or skill requiring aiming can be used in any circumstance as if you were holding still. This is a system aided skill and motion will no longer effect aiming.
Superior Penetrative Shot (Ignores or penetrates armor +5 - 50%) - Every shot fired has a 50% increased penetration factor against System Armor and Mana Energy items, skills, and spells. This skill used against non system enhanced targets is 100% effective.
Advanced Detox - Detox skill removes and treats toxins and impurities from the body. Removes all basic and advanced toxins and impurities from the target creature or item. Effect is reduced based on level of skill versus level of impurities and toxins. Skill has reduced effect over timed de-buffs or self inflicted impurities.
Advanced Pain Tolerance - When this skill is used a percentage of pain will be ignored or reduced. Willpower and Stamina are used to determine amounts and tolerance.
Nice to finally know what skills do, just having a name is fairly useless.
Wanting to pull out my new Class Item Rifle I feel its best to wait, too many eyes in this area. Paying attention to the frantic people all around me I realize everyone is staring at the new walls and gates of the Garrison.
What was a bunch of cars in a circle now resembles an old fort from the 1800's but instead of walls made out of trees all the vehicles have been merged and blended into a giant wall. Each vehicle that had a person or a group inside of it was now a tiny little room with car seats as reclining bed chairs, the mini rooms are scattered all around the outer wall.
The command center has multiple people inside it yelling at each other and pointing all around at what used to be a tent but is now a fifteen foot high metallic gazebo shaped structure with what looks to be small platform on the top for a watchtower maybe. I bet they are confused, I know I am.
The new upgraded danger sense is a constant itch in the back of my head warning me when people glance past me or walk nearby, I can sense a problem just out of site to the Southeast and another back the way we left all the dead spiders. Off in the distance there's gunfire, maybe from the convoy?
Shaking my head and closing my eyes I try the next skill, Superior Treasure Sense. Using the skill is just a matter of thinking about it and I Slowly open my eyes, the new skill is a-lot like my Perception and Mana Sense I use to spot system Items, it causes things to shimmer and glow. A soft silvery golden mist like aura surrounds items all around me. Most items are equipped by various people but here and there I can see little glows peeking out where something may have been dropped or hidden. Cool!
A few guys had zipped past on motor cycles moments during the Moth attack, weaving around the convoy before anyone could hail them. And now another mixed group of people stumble in from the East covered in scratches and bites talking about rats.....thousands of rats. The medics rush in and start to work on the new group.
Scanning around for Sam and Craig I don't see them close by, I spot Thomas propped up against a wall sound asleep. Joan and the military people are still talking in the command gazebo. From outside I hear another engine fire up and a oversized SUV joins the line of convoy vehicles.
The huge guy in fatigues whistles loudly. "We are heading out! Everyone not stationed here who wants to head to the safe area load up on the buses and RVs, anyone with children load up into the RVs. The next group heading this way is already full so it might be morning before you can leave if you wait. Food and beds wait at the next stop!" People start rushing towards the vehicles, watching the big guy I can just make out his last words to Joan "Figure it out! It says you're in charge, how do you not know what is going on. To contact the group use the new radio's they can cover the whole city. Phil's group will be by in awhile, make sure he leaves a few additional people here when he passes through."
From the roadway a truck with a canopy and lights on top starts up and joins the line up.
The place empties out fast, people are crammed into the vehicles in every spot they can fit. The newest truck seems to be taking up rear guard with two guys stationed in the back, weapons ready.
In another minute they go rolling away, heading West, I watch the tail lights slowly fade into the night.