As the convoy disappears down the highway I hear "BEN! There you are. That was intense. Thanks for hanging out. Was that you warning about the moths, I thought I recognized your voice."
"I'm here." Looking up at her as she sits down across from me "It was me, you also have something out there just to the South I can feel them watching us"
"Seriously, figures it has been attack after attack for hours now. What do you think about this." She waves her hand around.
"About what?"
"The Garrison." She adds air quotes to the word. "Somehow I'm in charge and Robert thinks I did it, anyway, welcome back. John mentioned something about giant spiders you ran into?"
"They were just a ways to the West, the convoy will pass the spot but there should only be a few that returned since we left and I doubt they'll mess with that many people." Pointing at the gazebo "ummmmm you got a fancy gazebo, that's cool."
"That is the command center of the 'Garrison'." she adds air quotes with both hands "did you miss the walls magically forming a perimeter and the lights all around us getting brighter?"
"Well I was busy upgrading my class so.....kind of. What does this Garrison do for you?"
From the north edge of the wall I can hear voices and someone shouts to go to the East side. A moment later one of the new gates open and a tired looking Rick comes in with group of 16 or so very exhausted people. The gate slides shut behind them and he is looking around "What the hell. Why did I get a notification saying I'm entering 'Middle of the Road Garrison' and what happened to this place"
Joan gets up to go help Rick, letting me know she will be right back. I take a moment to look at the new tab in my screens. On my left, my screen is still open, it's always open these days, I enjoy the added area to my sight, and quick access to notification and info. The screen has more tabs on it now, the new ones are labeled Fort/Garrison/Base and the last one is Market/Village/Town.
Selecting the tab for Fort/Garrison/Base the page opens up and I see a screen divided into three sections. The top and bottom sections are empty but in the middle under Garrisons I have 1 entry.
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD / Commander - Joan Bridgers / Occupants 32 / Registered Defenders 0 / Bonuses to Defense and Healing / Income 0 / Taxes 0
Interesting. Checking the tab for Market/Village/Town the setup looks the same with a divided screen and no entries. If I had to guess anyone defending should register with the commander, Not my Job, what's that old saying....Not my pig....not my farm....They can figure it out.
Back to planning, we will be heading to Verdi, about ten miles from here, so not too far. I'm sure we can find a vehicle somewhere on the route. With a little tinkering I streamline my stat sheet removing the blank spots and condensing my attributes
Name - Benjamin Bateman (AKA - Ben)
Level - 4
Race - Human
Active Class - Advanced Combination Class - Shrouded Skirmisher / Long Guns - Artillery / Freezing
Owned - Garrison: Middle of the Road
Inactive Classes - (b) Gambler, (b) Card Mechanic, (b) Drunkard, (b) Crafter, (s) Parkourist, (b) Medic, (s) Opportunist, (s) Gunfighter, (s) Visionary, (s) Courier, (s) Scavenger, (s) Pathfinder, (s) Restorer, (u) Spatial Artificer
Health - 836
Passive Health Regeneration - 44 per hour
Mana Energy - 572
Mana Energy Regeneration - 192 per hour
Stamina - 130
Stamina Regeneration - 244 per hour
Class Points - 8
Mind - 24 (11 Intelligence - 3 Wisdom - 10 Willpower)
Body - 36 (10 Endurance - 15 Strength - 11 Vitality)
Movement - 25 (10 Dexterity - 8 Agility - 7 Speed)
Awareness - 23 (15 Perception - 8 Mana Sense)
Attributes, Affinities
Quests
Much better, everything fits in one screen now and is easily readable. If I ever get titles, notoriety, or loyalty I should be able to add them back onto the screen. A quick check around shows no emergencies, there is a-lot of noise in the distance. Fighting sounds consisting mostly of gunshots and loud animal noises, rumblings that sounds like buildings collapsing or rock slides, and a strange rushing noise that makes me think of white water rapids, That could be the river.
Sipping on the atrocious coffee available here at the new Garrison I spiral open my inventory, I wanted to check on what happened after the classes combined. It looks like two of the sixteen inventory spaces combined to create a larger storage space more than double the original size. The new spot is labeled Shrouded Skirmisher and it contains the two items I have not moved that I purchased when I selected the original Brawlers Class which then became the Skirmisher Class and now is combined into Shrouded Skirmisher. Trying something new I Imagine the two items moving from the active Shrouded Skirmishers Inventory and moving into the center General Inventory. It works and the Brass Knuckles and Tarp disappear and appear in the larger center inventory, Nice!
With a thought I summon out the Knuckles and give them a quick Identify.
(sys) Brass Knuckles / Weapon - Armor / Offense - Damage based on Strength / Defense - Protection to hands / Equipment Slot - Hands / Bonus to damage, adds multiplier when imbued with Mana Energy, Elemental Energy, Affinities / Note - can be worn over light armor, gloves, hand wraps
Those would be good for up close and personal combat, I like my current gloves as I am pretty sure they let me hold onto my weapons better. I had never considered layering armor or system clothing or items.
(sys) Gloves of Gripping / Defense - Light Armor / Utility - Passive and Active Enhanced Grip / Equipment Slot - Hands / Note - Gloves passively enhance grip to items and weapons
There is a feeling of safety inside the new Garrison. I wonder if there are bonuses active or if it's just an effect of being behind walls, even though the walls are made out of cars stacked on top of one another. At least the lighting in here is better, the shadows are not as overwhelming and it is bright enough to see or read by.
Checking on Joan she is still talking with Rick it looks like they are having a....heated discussion....I could probably listen in if I cared. She is waving her hands around the walls and interior space and his face is blank and amazed. It looks like I might still have time before she comes back, it's a good time to go through some of the items I've picked up earlier that might be useful. One at a time I bring them out and place them on the picnic table 3 rings, a belt, a dogs collar, the taser from earlier, and a matched set of throwing axes.
Since I could store the random items I've found throughout the day in my inventory I assume they are system store Items. I have a-lot of them, but still a lot of room in my general inventory.
The first ring is a silver band with small blue and green gem chips set in a spiral around the surface, golden runes are etched into the metal running parallel to the crystals. Putting it on the ring lights up in a wave of color as each gem glows and the runes slide around and around. The emerald and sapphire chips swim across the surface following the pattern of the spiral the combination is hypnotizing trapping the eyes, after a moment it settles down and the ring is melded to the skin on my left pointer finger, the etched symbols and gemstones continuing their pattern from the metal band spreading out onto my skin. Concentrating on the connection I can feel how to use the magic of the ring by itself or through an attack or action.
Ring of Bewilderment / Item - Ring / 3 Charges / Bewilders, Confuses, Hypnotizes all who can see the Ring when 1 charge is used. Strength and time increased with additional charges
Wow, that is a powerful effect. The second ring looks like linked together feathers of a greenish red metal forged into a band that is wider than a standard ring. It is nearly weightless, as I slide it onto my finger the feathers come alive adjusting and wiggling around, moving without moving, then settling down and sinking into my skin which now resembles a tattoo of feathers wrapped around my ring finger, covering at least two thirds of the finger. The metallic tattoo doesn't impede using my finger but you can feel the ridges and texture of each feather.
Ring of Levitation / Item - Ring / 2 charges / 1-1-1 User can lift 1 pound per 1 Mana Energy for 1 minute. Variable.
Another cool ring with a useful effect. The instructions on how to use the spell are added to my mind like memories. The third ring is a plain circle of a dull brown material, It resizes as I slide it onto a finger on my right hand, after the first two this one was something of a let down.
Ring of Clean / Item - Ring / 5 charges / May require more than 1 charge based on size and need
Maybe useful, everything gets dirty right? Next up what I took to be a belt is actually not quite a belt. Made from a brownish tan material I can stretch it, attach it to itself, form a pouch by pulling on it and molding a shape, the color changes as I hold it, and as I wrap it around my gun belt forming 2 pouches, it adjusts to match the color and style, weird but cool.
Utility Strap / Item - Belt, Strap, Wrap / System items can be attached, linked, held for easy access. Only owner can remove or attach items. Up to 5 accessory pouches can be formed. 100% Adjustable. Requires Mana Energy for each adjustment
People really are creative in what they get from the system. Their loss is my gain I guess. The collar is cool, after reading the description I wonder if I can be my own pet.
Spiked Collar - Pet / Item - Enhancement / 10% Enhancement to Offense, Defense, Attributes, Skills, and Abilities / Uses Ambient Mana Energy
Maybe The Raven would want it. After trying to put it around my wrist and ankle to see if I could get the benefit of it, I slip it back into inventory. Picking up the Taser, I give it a quick inspection.
Taser / Enhanced Stun / 15 Charges - Moderate / Penetrates Light Armor, Clothing, and will affect multiple touching targets
I can see a few uses for that. Trying out my new belt Upgrade, I hold the taser next to the belt and add the tiniest bit of Mana Energy. It attaches similar to a magnet, just held in place. Magic is pretty cool as I can grab the taser, bring it to action, but then, when it gets close to the belt again it attaches itself, no additional Mana Energy needed.
Examining the two axes, I try to figure out which one I purchased and which one I found. They look identical before I look at the details.
Tactical Axe / Weapon - Light to Moderate Damage / One Handed and Thrown / Designed for battle this axe has a sleek design for close-up action or targeting a distant foe. Enhance with Affinities, Skills, or Mana Energy. The Tactical Axe will return to its sheath after inflicting damage and absorbing a percentage of the targets Mana Energy. Small changes to the surface of the weapon can be made over time to customize color, shape, weight, and size / Smith Mark D'Orgunal / Axe 2/3
Precision Axe / Weapon - Light to Moderate Damage / One Handed and Thrown / Crafted for tournaments or battle this axe ties into the owners Luck, Perception, and Axe Skill to always strike where it is aimed. The Precision Axe will correct for movement of the target based upon the owners Skill and Luck. When enhanced with Mana Energy it will explode with Force and Fire damage then return to its sheath. Small changes to the surface of the weapon can be made over time to customize color, shape, weight, and size / Smith Mark D'Orgunal / Axe 3/3
Different axes, same look. I remember the tactical axe as the one I picked out with one of my later classes. The second axe I grabbed from the spiders den in amongst all the bodies. Removing the Taser and unwinding the strap I lengthen it a bit and wrap it around my chest twice. Attaching an axe to the wrap under each arm I check to make sure I can get them into action quickly. The strap wrap seems to attach itself to my shirt and somehow the combination of shirt and strap support the weight of the axes, strange.....magic. I send my Taser back into storage.
Thinking about other items I bought I bring out my belt knife, everyone should have a good knife at hand. Attaching it opposite to my .357 on my gun belt, I'm starting to feel like what I assume a mountain man from 150 years ago would be like, I just need a fur skinned cap and a grizzly old beard. Checking through my inventories again I take a moment and slide everything from the individual areas into the main general inventory. Nowhere near full yet even with stacks of creature bits, it is just getting cluttered.
Let's see anything else useful to a night journey, most of the stuff I've found today isn't useful to killing or survival....lipstick, computer, coins, a spice collection, kitchen knives, a three pack of boxer shorts, reading glasses, a wallet, and a bunch of other misc. The item I considered for a bit was a safari hat that had a nice set of tassels, curled up sides, drop down mosquito netting, and a band of silver coin like medallions. A bit of the old West meets the Australian bush meshed with a tiny bit of Africa....but definitely doesn't match the gear I'm wearing as it is a jaunty tan and brown color, maybe later.
During all of this I discovered a handy feature of being able to organize my inventory, once I had everything in the main area, If I think weapons, all the weapons go into one section, If I think defensive items, all the defensive items go into one area. This was handy because I discovered I had three jackets, two that I had purchased and one rain coat that I had found. I summoned out the long western style duster that looks big enough to act as outer armor layer.
Heavy enough to know you're wearing it, but light enough to not get in the way and covering me from neck to boots. As a bonus it counts as heavy armor, I picked this beauty up when I selected my Gunfighter Class, by the time I was selecting the Specialty Classes I was buying anything that felt useful.
When I first pull it out of inventory, it is a light tan canvas colored overcoat with generic stitching and buttons down the front. The experience of adjusting my system clothing soon has me holding a dark grayish long trench coat, blackened buckles and snaps, double breasted with storm flaps and access panels to get at my weapons in a hurry. I add a variety of pockets and a roll up hood just in case I need head protection in a hurry, the sleeves are loose and adjustable. With a slice up the back, so I can jog if needed.
Duster - Overcoat / Heavy Armor / Protects from all non enhanced damage, Absorbs 50% of Incoming force, Increases stealth effects / Weatherproof / Heated and Cooled
Once I'm wearing the Duster I feel like a gunman in an old western movie, ready to ride into town on my trusty mustang and fight the bad guys.....or rob a bank depending on the movie I guess.
After trying it on I make a quick change, I add a pocket for my Baton / Bo Staff, Low down on the right side it's an easy grab to withdraw and with a thought and a touch of Mana Energy I can extend it into its five foot fighting staff form. Taking a moment, I practice accessing both axes through their access panels, my .357 can be grabbed through one of the pockets and the other pocket allows me access to my Bowie Knife. Taking the jacket off again I make a change to one of the sleeves a small easy to access hidden pocket into which i slide my folding pocket sword. At the end of that I notice my Mana Energy is down almost 180 points and I have a small headache.
All ready to go. Looking around, I realize just about everybody in the place is staring at me. I want to give them all one of those stupid little half waves close to the body, but I resist the urge. Joan walks over "Nice show, like a good stage magician, you just kept pulling stuff out of thin air. I see your armed now with more than just your fancy stick.....well.....I don't suppose it matters anymore." She gestures at the picnic table "Have a seat. What are your plans now, you don't seem to have made it too far on your journey west."
"Bleh, I got ambushed by some gigantic spiders, rescued some people, and figured they'd be better off with you here. At least two of them, I think Sam's gonna leave with me when I go." Pointing of to the West "I'll leave soon since we are going the same direction as those guys who just left, so.......they can clear the road for us."
"You say us, you and Sam?"
"And another guy named Craig, a Fire Mage, wants to go with."
"Ok, I had a favor to ask, you seem to understand the new rules better than other people I've met, would you mind writing them down for me, anything you think might help?"
"Sure, I can do that. I even have....." pretending I'm a magician I pull my notebook and pen out of thin air "Something to write it on!"