《Demi-status》 Sudden Summoning Henry was just having his breakfast before starting his journey to work. Nothing unusual about his day. Chowing down his cereal when he suddenly felt a bit funny in his body. Something started shredding inside him and then Henry felt nothing. The Overuniverse sentience was not in a good mood. It existed to monitor the other universes and take appropiate action when needed. There had been increasing unauthorised traffic lately. Cultists. Summoning things. All well and dandy when they were summoning the right way and the right things, but this ritual that had attracted his attention was scribed wrong. Instead of trying to summon a hellhound from the hell dimension/universe, it had summoned a human from the human prime universe. Which had a soul that wasn''t protected by this type of transfer. As a result in his universe buffer, he had a nearly destroyed soul. Having a inspired thought, and looping the ritual and changed the creature summoned to a normal creature without a soul and therefore able to be transported without incident. Let them deal with that! Also as an afterthought the soul was popped into a soul recovery program and it was time to move onto the next problem. AAAArrrrgghhh. Damn cultists again. Meanwhile, in another universe..... ''The summoning had worked'' thought the head cultist ''at last the hard work he had put in, from making this cult grow, to putting together this ritual from hard resarch and countless hours work. He would command the hellhound to terrorise the town nearby an-'' In the circle sat a very unhappy hippo. It had been grazing away, in a pleasant deep puddle, just enjoying the day. Now it was hot and dry. PAYBACK MUST BE DONE! "That not a hellhou-" one of the cultists began before the hippo squashed him dead against the wall. The other cultists were then aware they were trapped in a small room with a very angry large creature that could somehow breech the circle. But the demon creature shouldn''t have been able to breach the circle! it was bound! The hippo however, did not come from the Hell universe/dimension and therefore did not care about the circle. Hence the first lesson about summoning. Always make sure what you are doing is correct, or it will end badly. The Oververse sentience was feeling much better after having dealt with the bulk of his neverending work backlog. A beeping reminder was going off about something in the back of his mind and he suddenly remembered about the soul recovery program that he started 6000 years ago. Evidently, it was finished and a soul was recovered. The Overvese sentience was excited by this, as it would be the first person he would speak to apart from his contemporaries in a very, very long time. Aeons in fact. Henry came to and was troubled by the fact that he couldnt feel his body or seemingly open his eyes. A stroke perhaps? This was not good. In fact it was awful, but for some reason , Henry couldn''t bring himself to panic. All of a sudden a voice spoke out of nowhere. " I am very sorry to have to tell you this, but due to a mistake made in the universe, you as you were, no longer exist. There are options I can offer, including being reborn elsewhere or even as something different. a magic using elf perhaps? I heard this is a popular daydream for a lot of mortals. or perha-" Henry then spoke, focusing on something he felt rather important to know. "What do you mean I no longer exist? Where am I? How long have I been like this?" The Overuniverse sentience suddenly found itself at a loss. It had never had to explain this kind of thing before and decided to recite the event log that it had in it memory concerning the soul. Henry was hit hard by this. However he decided to ask a question. That being, "Does this sort of thing happen often?" The Overuniverse sentience reassured him that what had happened was a fluke, that had been corrected so that even if someone enacted the same ritual again, the result would be the response that it had enacted. Meanwhile in another universe....... Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The king was looking forward to this afternoon. Having come to power after his father died unexpectedly. (having a knife rammed into your heart tends to do that in most universes.) He had come to the crown and proceeded to drain the treasury dry with his debauchary. To carry this on, he then levied outrageous levels of tax among his subjects, which was not well recieved. An unpopular king, yet clever enough to hire competent hirelings meant that his kingdom ran well, if unhappily for most people. He strolled into the room where his court wizard was setting up a ritual that had been discovered from long ago. It was reputed to summon a hellhound. The king was rather looking forward to this new experience. The room this was being enacted in was a bit small, but should be ok since hellhound were quite smallish and the only people here was him and the court wizard. The ritual was enacted and the king held his breath as a large..... grey creature was standing there? What was it? As he opened his mouth to ask his court wizard the creature stepped out of the circle and rammed the king into the wall. As he laid there dying his last thought was this was impossible as the circle was meant to contain the demon. The hippo very unhappy, proceeded to wreck the palace. The second lesson about summoning, is to always make sure that you are prepared for the unexpected. Henry digested this news and was silent for a while, enabling the Overuniverse sentience to start catching up his backlog. Bloody hell, someone had used that ritual again, good thing it had changed that. It diverted it''s attention back as Henry spoke "What are you up to? I can sort of hear you working away?" The Overuniverse sentience then explained his job, and how it seemed that lately, as more and more civilizations saw the light of day, the busier it seemed to get. Henry digested this and asked another question. "Why don''t you have localised troubleshooters to reduce your workload?" The Overuniverse Sentience explained that in fact the other universes had a main god who was meant to do that, but they were getting overwhelmed by the volume as well. "Well, why don''t you put people in under them, to focus on regions in the universe?" The Overuniverse sentience explained that it had in fact done this by creating gods for world, but unfortunately due to the programming on this, those gods had ended up being influenced by those who worshipped them and as a result had become unreliable. However, it had not thought about regions. This had possibilites, as since there would be multiple worlds involved it might be that a god of that level could work. It could only conclude the reason it had not thought of this before was due to the workload. Henry then said, "Well, is there anyway I can help you?" The Overuniverse sentience thought about this, knew the human could not take on the postion of this as is, and needed experience anyway. However there was a way forward that could be developed. In the dark, Henry could suddenly see a box with writing in it that said.
Quest Offered A way forward to create a regional god has been thought of. However this has not been done before The soul known as Henry is offered the chance to test this way forward and become a regional god. If accepted, he will be made a demigod and sent to a universe to to be trained and talents developed. Further quests will be offered after training concluded, based on the results of said training. This quest will remain foremost in quest log and change accordingly as needed. Reward - variable failure conditions - if given up or way is proven false.
Henry looked upon this and signalled agreement. The Overuniverse sentience rejoiced and explanied how this was to be acomplished. First, the change to demigod would be done, with choices to be made by Henry. Then he would be sent to the universe chosen and start his training. It wished him every success, and hopefully they would communicate again other then the quest log in a few thousand years or centuries or whatever. Henry then braced himself for what was to come. From soul, to body. Henry pondered on what was to happen when a blue box appeared in¡­¡­ his vision? Well, no need to stress on the mechanics for now.
Character Creation Quest In order to proceed with this, your soul must be moved to the relevant universe where it will then be intialised. Agree?
henry signalled agreement and all of a sudden, it was like a field of stars had entered his vision. Dazzled, he just gazed upon it til eventually, another blue box appeared.
Character Creation Quest A race and appearance is required as a starting point.
Henry started thinking about this. Many people would have gone with an elf like appearance, or a beautiful human appearance. However, this would not have suited his purposes. While he was sure that eventually, he would need to power up his divinity somehow, he did not want conventional worshippers or a mainstream religion. He was pretty certain that where it had gone wrong with the original gods. However the problem he had was that it wasn¡¯t just people he wanted to interact with. So he decided to pose a question to the blue box and see if it would respond. ¡°Is there a race in this universe that gets on well with most of the other races? Including unconventional or unusual?¡± The blue box wipes for a moment, leaving the words
Please Hold
So Henry waited and reflected that no matter what universe he was in, loading screens were inevitable it seemed.
All races in the universe was considered and not one stood out. However, you do have the option of custom designing your race and appearance.
Henry blinked at this and began to carefully consider this. In his old life history, was memory of a book he had once read. In it was remarked that humankind would almost alway adopt a wait and see what was what approach when something unusual was spotted or seen. It was only when it became commonplace, that people just treated it contemptuously for the most part. So unqiue was definitely a way to go. However, he didn''t want to be too unique as that could be a problem in and of itself too. So he imagined himself as he used to be. Changed the skin tone to a blue colour, then made himself look quite althletic. He looked at it and frowned. It was still conventional human, just a unusual colour. ''I should be thinking about the eventual path I want to take'' he thought. For instance, Henry did not believe that the path he would take would involve combat, or at least not much of it. So how would be strive to survive? He wouldn''t be a civilisation builder. In fact, he was hoping to spend as much time away from built up civilsation as he could. An explorer type? To a certain degree yes, however he didn''t not want to leave civilsation behind altogther. He was mulling over this when all of a sudden a blue box appeared
Help Function enabled Your thoughts have been noted and as a result, a template has been offered, along with choices made from the rest of the character selection choices, to show a complete character that may suit your needs. Further changes or even a restart may be done to this.
While Henry was a bit disturbed by the implication that his innermost thoughts was laid bare to this blue box..... system? magical genie? he decided to take it as a sign that it wanted to help him, or maybe was just getting impatient with waiting. So he looked at the compiled character. First up was a picture showing a new look. Still blue, it showed a more stockier version of him. with some additions. Instead of hair, it looked like he had feathers for hair. and instead of human ears, he had two tufted ears on top of his head. the feathered hair was like peacock feathers. He certainly looked unique and like people would take a second glance at him. He was quite entranced by it but was worried about looking too exotic. He decided to look at the box below it and maybe come back to this if needed.
Name: Henry (New name can be chosen? Race: Demigod
Racial Traits: Universal language, Improved Phyiscal and Mental abilities. 4 skills that can be chosen by character.?
Unique Traits: Dimensional Affinity, Soulforged, Champion
Alignment - Neutral (locked)? Recognition level - None
Game Level - More information needed Game Pieces - None
Open Skills: The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Divine - Universal language Legendary - Appraise Heroic - Steel Mind Extraordinary - Neutral Aura Basic - Mountain Body Hidden Skills : Divine - Dimensional Magic Legendary - Neutral To All Heroic - Lay Of The Land Extraordinary - Right Place, Right Time Basic - Knowledge Store
Other Skills - 4 to be chosen Bound Assets - None
Henry blinked as he read it. Some of it was simple enough, or he could guess the meaning of. Some of it was a complete mystery. He decided to try focusing on a section to see it would supply more information. Sure enough when he stared at the Race box, his mind flooded with information about his race. Demigod. Someone who was born or has ascended to the beginning level of divinity and is able to become a part of the game of the gods. For more information, either speak with your patron god or attend the demigod academy. Henry then reflected on the possible meanings of the rest of it, particularly the hidden skill, Neutral To All. He had an idea of what that skill could be. Sure enough when he focused on it, it told him that it meant he was neutral to all races in the universe, which would at least afford him the chance to strike a conversation and see where it would go from there. He then addressed the blue box from within his mind ''I thank you for your help, and this looks like what I was needing. However, two things. Regarding the 4 skills to be chosen, can I leave these for now until I can make an informed choice? two, I would like to change my name please.''
Question 1 answer : This will be permitted, due to the nature in which you have become a demigod. Normally this would be required when demigod status was acquired. When ready to choose a skill, simply open your status page and think ''choose skill''. A list will be provided and so long skill is on page, it can be selected. Question two answer : State your new name. Upon doing so, you will be spawned at the academy and met by your guide. Good luck
Henry looked at it. When he was young, he had played computer games. One of the first game he had ever played had been an exploration and choices game. He had kept the name he had given the character as a mainstream gamer nametag for the rest of his. It had seemed appropriate to resurrect it now. "Tinkerson" The world suddenly whitened, and Tinkerson suddenly found himself standing in an circular depression, with somebody standing just outside the circle. He breathed in, smelling fresh air, felt a breeze upon his skin and spoke "Hello." Here he was, reborn again and able to exist in a phyiscal form again. He wondered why he was so calm. Then his attention was captured by hearing the person speaking back to him. "Hello new student. I must say this is intriguing. The Universe God sent us a message telling us a student was coming to us via outside means. That he would know nothing and would require extensive lessons. In an academy where almost all of the staff are knowledge gods, this caused some consternation I tell you." Tinkerson blinked at this. and said "I''m sorry for the trouble?" "Nonsense, it will do some of those minor knowledge gods good, to know that they are not infalliable. It is often that feeling of knowing all that will be the downfall of a knowledge god. In a way, you have done a service to us." Tinkerson was at a loss, not sure how to respond to this. The person in front of him seemed to an affable older man in his sixties, dressed not unlike a tibetan monk. He smiled back at Tinkerson and then said, "Come, I shall escort you to a classroom for orientation. I should warn you this will be lengthy, lasting days. Before you think, what about sleep or food?! You are a demigod now. Some things will have drastically changed. Yes, you need to eat and sleep sometimes, but the need to do so will be measured in longer units of time then is what normally concerned by these activites. However this will be part of orientation. If you have any urgent questions, please ask now, but most likely you will learn the answers to them in the orientation. Welcome to the Rules Academy. Follow me." so saying he spun around and started walking towards the door way. Tinkerson followed closely behind. Wondering how much his life has changed but looking forward to seeing what the future had to bring, the sights he would see and the wonders he would beheld. Orientation for demigods. Tinkerson sat on a chair across from his guide. The room was bare apart from the chairs he was sitting on and a strange sort of slab of black stone on the wall. He waited for his guide to start. waited. waited. waited. Suddenly the guide smiled. "Well, this is a surprise. we have been sitting here for two days and in those two days you have done nothing but wait for me to start on this orientation. It a very rare quality, paitence. Normally a lot of new demigods will break in the first hour or two. Some might even make it half a day. Rarely does anyone make it a day. The amount of people who are sitting patiently after two days I can count on both hands and I been doing this for oh, 60 thousand years of your time, give or take. Normally these demigods are people with gods for parents and have learned this skill through dealing with their godly parents. You are only one of two that were not. The other person came from a hell world whereas to move quickly was to invite death. I have some of your details and from that I can see you did not come from a hell world." Tinkerson noted the amount of years that the guide said he had been doing this for. It sounded improbable. and yet. "Are you a god yourself?" The guide smiled back pleased. "Indeed I am. Kekemozz is my name. I am what is known as a God of Knowledge. This is a god that had chosen to pursue knowledge, rather then conventional power. I could explain a lot like this and this would take days but I have an ability as a knowledge god called bestow knowledge. Normally when I do this ability it bestows whatever knowledge I want that person to know. However, it not normally an method of learning as the mind does not take kindly to learning information like this. So I either do it in smaller amounts, allowing the person to more easily accept this information, or I do it in one big go and allow the person brain to eventually put it into order. The former works well with information of which there is not too much to impart, the latter works better for people who have attained higher levels of power." Kekemozz paused here for a second, to make sure that Tinkerson was following along. "You being new to this universe basically need an education in everything, in order to get to the information I really need you to learn. Doing it the short burst way would take up too much of my time and frankly, you are not worth that level of investment. Yet or possibly ever. If I do it to you in the latter way, even with the power level you have, it will probably take you several years to digest it. After all, you are trying to learn about a universe and as much of the basics of it as you can. So I would normally zap you, and then leave you here until you came back to your senses, having caretakers take care of your bodily needs." Tinkerson shivered at this. it did not sound a very pleasant thing to have happen to him. "However I have been informed that you have something that will enable us to bystep this. A skill called Knowledge Store." Kekemozz looked enquiringly at Tinkerson and Tinkerson remembering his status panel nodded back and then said "Yes, However it is at the basic level. Will this be a problem or?" Kekemozz upon hearing this leaned back in his chair and frowned. "Normally yes as although it would cut the time needed in half, I predict you would still need a decade or so but they seemed certain that you would be able to do this in much sooner time. Blasted Universe Gods. always skimping on the details. Well, much as I might dislike this, I see I am going to have to start a bit ahead of my normal schedule. You see, I would normally impart whatever information needed to bring you to the starting requirements, you would assimilate it and then we would have a discussion of what sort of path you wanted to take and then look at your status page to figure out if this is possible and what skills you have that meet criteria and what skills we could possibly add. This is how Orientation is supposed to work. Instead, I suppose we shall have to look at your status to figure out whatever we can. What I need to do is for you to focus on that slate over there and share your status to it." Kekemozz lookd seriously at Tinkerson. "Understand, you should not do this with anybody normally, appart from your patreon god, if you have one or eventually end up in the service of one. While your open skills can be divined by most gods in order to see if you meet a criteria, it takes an increasing level of difficulty to find out the rest. As your guide here at this academy, it is my duty to guide you to what you need and also never reveal whatever you reveal to me. Which suits me well, as I am a knowledge god and we hate to share knowledge. So please, cast up your status." Tinkerson did as he asked and eventually up on the board came up his status.
Name: Tinkerson Race: Demigod
Racial Traits: Universal language, Improved Phyiscal and Mental abilities. 4 skills that can be chosen by character. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Unique Traits: Dimensional Affinity, Soulforged, Champion
Alignment - Neutral (locked)? Recognition level - None
Game Level - More information needed Game Pieces - None
Open Skills: Divine - Universal language Legendary - Appraise Heroic - Steel Mind Extraordinary - Neutral Aura Basic - Mountain Body Hidden Skills : Divine - Dimensional Magic Legendary - Neutral To All Heroic - Lay Of The Land Extraordinary - Right Place, Right Time Basic - Knowledge Store
Other Skills - 4 to be chosen Bound Assets - None
"Well, this is definitely interesting." Kekemozz shifted forward looking at the status page on the slab. "Parts of this reads like a standard demigod page, while other parts, not so much." Tinkerson blinked and then asked "Could you possibly explain that to me please?" Kekemozz smiled. "Of course I can. In fact, it one of my duties as your guide. Let me go over the parts that read as standard. Then I tell you what isn''t and why." He guestured to the top of the board. "first of all, the placement of all the boxes are standard for a demigod page. The language, all standard. It the contents of some of the boxes that are a bit, confusing shall we say?" Kekemozz got up and strode up to the board and started to point to relevant parts of the status, transporting Tinkerson back to his education days to a certain extent. "Name and race, all very standard as is racial traits. Your unique ones however, very unusal. and I will talk about this more when we talk about your skills. Alignment is neutral which is a bit unusual in that it a hard one to keep to. However, yours is locked to that. This means you may find certain restrictions when dealing with not neutral forces or powers. On the other hand, you will find that you are more likely to be welcomed everywhere. Knowledge gods normally try to be neutral, in order to be able to obtain information from anyone and anywhere. Your recognition level. a bit unusal, as people normally achieve some sort of recognition even if it only from where they come from. However, knowing what I know about you, this can easily be explained away. Game level. I have to confess, this is truly unusual, and may make you stand out to people who would be able to access that information as most who reach a certain power as a mortal will have at least the lowest rank of this due to being pawns of the gods, in some way or other even if unwittingly. You instead, the system is not sure about. This may lead some people to dismiss you, and others to see you as a huge threat. I suggest you get this recififed as soon as you can if nothing else. Games pieces, nothing, slightly unusual but again not totally unheard of." At this point Kekemozz broke off from his explantion. and looked at Tinkerson. "I realise that some of this will mean nothing to you, However once you have had the transfer of knowledge, this will change and you will be able to decide what you want to do. We will come back to your skills, as this is something big along with your unique traits and move on to the bottom two. Other skills to be chosen 4. Normally, you have to choose your skills when you become a demigod. I''m assuming the system was generous due to you knowing nothing?" Catching sight of Tinkerson amazed face, he smiled. "I see I am right. Well, this might help in the planning stages but we see. Bound assets none. This is unusal as normally the path to demigod will give you some bound assets. As a result of this, I believe I may be able to help there, once we get further along in the academy. Now back to your skills." Kekemozz sat down and went silent for a moment. Then he began to speak. "Your open skills are actually pretty standard fare for somebody who would have ranked up or been born to this. Oh there are variations accordingly, but on the whole, someone would look at this and think you are trying for a knowledge god build or perhaps a merchant god build." He smiled at Tinkerson intense interest in this statement. "However I will now go through your unique traits and skills and explain what the big deal is, and why this, this may be the key to you being able to deal with the bestow knowledge in a much better function then anyone else would." With Knowledge, comes understanding. "So now we talk about your unique traits and your skills. Now before I go into depth about the details of the actual traits and skills, allow me to explan how they normally get decided." Kekemozz looks contemplatively at the slab for a few minutes before he continued to speak. "The demigod racial skills always reads the same. All demigods start off with this in common. Your unique traits however, are what set you apart from being all the same. They are normally decided from people''s actions during their journey to demigod or if they are born a demigod, it tend to suit the demigod that is born. How this is decided is a mystery to me." suddenly a fleeting grin appeared and went across Kekemozz face. "Normally a distressing concern for a knowledge god, however I came to terms with the fact that I will never know everything. It is an important milestone for a knowledge god and can make or break them. but back to you. Demigod always start off with three traits. This can alter, or disappear and also new traits can show up, if you embody it in some way. These traits can also indicate in what way someone will develop. For example, someone with ''Thirst for Knowledge'' trait is likely to turn out a knowledge god. some of the traits in conjunction with the others can muddle things immensely. Knowing what I know about your background, I can make sense of this. Many people would be unable to. Dimensional Affinity means that you are likely to develop some way in that direction. for example if I saw Dimensional Storage, that would tell me that person would have access to a dimensional storage. Dimensional Affinity is much broader and we would probably have had to research what directions you will take, if it wasn''t for that big clue in your hidden skills. However, congratulations, You will at the very least have access to a dimensional storage. Which is very handy I assure you, it normally a trait or a skill that we try to make sure all our demigods get. Soulforged is another unusual one to see, but again, I was told what happened to your soul and the lengths to repair it. As a result you have a skill that means if someone was to attack your soul, They will likely have a very, very, bad day. At the divine level, it is powerful to have, as you will encounter many beings who sometimes think the soul is something to play with. You will give those people a nasty shock. There may be some other benefits. Again, this will be something you will have to experiment with and figure out. Then we come to your last trait. Champion." Kekemozz then looked Tinkerson right into his eyes, very seriously. "Champion is one of those skills that is exactly what it says. You are a Champion, chosen by someone. However, A champion of the poor, normally cannot wield to the same effects as a champion of the wealthy and vice versa. So people may find out you are a Champion. Their behaviour may change according to who they believe you are a champion to, and how powerful that person is. It can provide benefits but again, this is something you will have to research yourself. All I can say is, It not a common trait. in fact, it not an uncommon trait it a very rare one. However there is one area in which I can say it will likely aid you or hinder you. The Game of the Gods, to which the Game level in your profile alluded to." Kekemozz looked thoughtful "If nothing else, it a strange combination that will make people pause and will likely require a lot of research which in turn may end up redefining those traits. It is most unusal." Then Kekemozz looked towards the lower part of the status containig his skills. Now this, is a very strange one indeed." "Most of your open skills follow a common path for a demigod. Universal language is something that every demigod needs, considering the vastly different races and beings we sometimes need to talk to and as a result it always tops the open skills. Appraise is also a common one, However, it being at the legendary level, means there will be few things you won''t be able to identify. Develop that further and you will have a powerful tool that could help you in become a god of knowledge or merchantile. Use it wisely as a demigod and you will never be out of money or stuck in research. I realise I keep harping on about research, but I am a knowledge god after all." Kekemozz then tapped at the heroic open skill. "This is the interesting one for me on this list. I can only assume it is at the level it is due to your soulforged affinity. Demigods normally have their version of mindskill at the bottom. The ones who don''t tend to be non-combat or at least tactical oriented, which fits with what you have for your last open skill, but more on that later. This skill is what is going to enable you to take my bestow knowledge skill along with one of your hidden skills and be able to come through it in a short amount of time. I would honestly be thinking you were to become one of us if it weren''t for the fact that with some of your hidden skills, it suggest a different path. But again, we can talk about that when we go through your hidden ones." Kekemozz then pointed towards Tinkerson''s extraordinary skill. "This is an interesting one. Most demigods tends to develop an aura, but it will mostly be either a domineering one or a stealthy one. But here you are, slap bang in the middle. Again, useful to a knowledge god. Honestly, if it wasn;t for your hidden skills, I would think someone wants me to make you into a knowledge god but perhaps the illusion of that is what they want." His voice trailed off as Kekemozz thought about this. "But suffice to say, at the basic level, this aura just announces that you mean no harm. Again, experiment and research will develop it into something more. Which leads us to your last skill. I''m not going to sugar coat this for you. Although you will be vastly stronger then any mortal person you meet, You are going to be the weakest phyiscally in the Divinity stakes. That said, the fact that it mountain body does mean you will be able to take at lot more then you be able to give out. With this being your basic skill, I would advise all thoughts of being a combat god." Tinkerson nodded at this, fine with the assessment. He had never been a phyiscally imposing person and had abhorred violence. Not to say he hadn''t defended himself when he had needed to, but he was not one of those to go and find trouble. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. " So that takes care of your Open skills. Largely typical, with a couple in unusual spots, that can be explaned as a merchant or knowledge path. Your hidden skill however, are something else." A touch of admiration appeared in Kekemozz voice as he said this last part. It seemed that Tinkerson hidden skills were somewhat unusal. "Dimensional Magic being where it is, right off the bat, tells me you will probably be a mage or merchant build. Possibly an explorer one when added to your next couple of skills, but I''m thinking not. As I said, diimensional storage will be the least of what you get out of this. What else you can get out of this? well this, coupled with the dimensional affinity trait, the sky the limit really. Normally I would be given ideas according to the path you have said you wanted to take, but as we doing this slightly backwards, I have no idea at present what that is, and without the knowledge I am going to give you, I doubt you do either?" Kekemozz looked questioningly at Tinkerson to which he shrugged and nodded back. "Thought so. Anyway, once we figure that out, we can figure out what direction you care to study in while you are here." "Now, Neutral to all at legendary. This one is simply jaw dropping. You will literally start off as neutral to everything in the Universe. This might sounds simple, but it not. I am a knowledge god. To get the best information I can, and be able to work here like I do, I have to maintain a neutral reputation with a vast array of powers and races in this universe. Yet I can confidently say that there are powers and races who hate me or will have nothing to do with me. Your skill sidesteps all this, and so long you are able to maintain at least a neutral rep racially or with the powers, it is likely that you will be able to make contact everywhere. I''m not going to lie, I may well be contacting you in the future in the hopes that you can obtain some knowledge or even materials for me as a result of this skill. You will if you train your skills in that way, be able to act as a mediator or diplomat virtually anywhere you want, at any court of power. This is no small thing." Kekemozz then pointed to the next skill on the list, lay of the land. "This skill will prove very, very useful in your early demigod centuries and possibly so for longer then that. Lay of the land at it most basic will tell you the basic knowlege of the land around you for a certain distance. At extraordinary levels it will tell you the common knowledge of where you are. At Heroic, is where it starts to get interesting as it will reveal some secrets and minor places of interest. I would recommend upgrading this if you can, depending on the path you take. Merchant paths types will be jealous of this skill at the level you have it at and on the explorer path, this is the level at which it starts to be useful. Coupled with your higher skills, that would make the explorer path attractive." "Next we come the skill right place, right time. Don''t be fooled by the fact that it is only at the extraordinary level. This skill is a very rare skill that can produce some amazing results. It literally can unintentionally guide you to opportunities that others have or would miss. Make you duck the blade that would kill you if you had this power as a mortal. Nearly all mortals who end up with this skill, make it onto the demigod path. That should tell you how potent it is. It is also a favourite of trickster or luck gods so if you end up going up against one of those, unless this is higher, you are likely to lose in games of wits and chance. Never play games with these types if you can avoid it or can cheat somehow. There not a lot I can advise for this skill. It one of those that defies being studied or experimented with. But it can be a very useful skill indeed. and with that said we come to the very last skill on this list." Kekemozz sat down and stared intently at Tinkerson. "Knowledge store at it most basic is a way of retaining all knowledge that is given to you. That is why I could give you a large volume bestow knowledge and know you will retain it. However since it is at basic I would normally expect it to be years before your mind could organise it and assimilate it. However with your steel mind skill, this will cut the time needed in half. Add in your soulforged affinity and it possible it will take a lot less time. Also, with me doing this and making knowledge store have a work out, it may upgrade which brings me neatly to the last aspect of this I want to talk about." "Here how skills work among mortals. They train, learn a skill, and upgrade it. The more they upgrade a skill, the more powerful they can become. the more skills they learn and upgrade, the wider that power becomes. In order to become a demigod, mortals have to move up ranks from Basic - Extraordinary - Heroic - Legendary - Epic. once they reach the level of Epic, they are given a choice to stay at that level or move up to demigod. If they stay, they normally end up royalty somewhere, or working for some power and they will live far longer then ordinary mortals do. If they are in the employ of a power already when they become a demigod, they typically become part of that power court, and sometimes will be trained in house as it were. If they are under no one,or the power feels they could benefit more, they will come here. Those are the only two legal options there are. There are other ways but we will not be talking of them today and I am digressing. The point I wish to make is this. Mortals will work to learn a skill as can we. However, we have an extra thing that mortals do not. While your divine skills are the end levels for your skills, they can upgrade from the lower ranks. When they do, one of two things happen. either your lower ranked skills will also level up one to fill the empty gap for that level and something else comes in at basic, or another skill may just slot from nowhere into there. This is the power of the divinity. Also, sometimes skills will combine when on the same level and have synergy. However it is not just synergy between them, it is synergy with you. You may pick a path and think that is your true path. Sometimes, your skills will show you wrong at the lower levels. This is how demigods and gods can just fade and die. Lose your path or refuse to acknowledge your true path and you will fail." So saying Kekemozz got up and reached towards Tinkerson. Sunddenly Tinkerson felt a flood through his mind and knew no more. Its a brand new universe out there. Tinkerson suddenly woke up, in the same room that he was in, standing up. He looked at Kekemokk, who looked surprised to see him awake. Mind racing with everything that was in his head, he uttered the first works that came to mind. " I know kung f- er, I mean....... I seems to have assimilated all the information." Kekemokk approached and looked him over, gazing at him through narrowed eyes. "It seems you have. within two days of me giving it to you. Which I would have said was impossible. Now I''m guessing you haven''t pulled your status up yet?" Tinkerson nodded. "Good. Don''t. What we are going to do now, is take you to what will be your space here at the academy. You will then bathe and change. There will be clothing there for you, since you came with none. Then we will go on a tour of the academy and then go eat, where you will meet possibly some demigods like yourself, guides like myself and possibly others, depending. Then we will come back here and I will have your throw your status back up on the slab, and we will examine the changes. After that, will come where we would normally start off after assimilation. the path that you think you wish to take." So saying Kekemozz bustled Tinkerson out of the room and down the corridor. "Your space will actually be a part of my space, or rather a part within it. This space for you will comprised of a sleeping and bathing area, a private dining area, a library, a research and experimental area and finally, a storage area. The last may seem to be a bit superfluous to you, but well, you will be here some time. There will be opportunities given to earn money, reward and prizes." kekemozz paused. "I feel I should warn you. The academy is a dimensional construct. As a result, it can grow smaller and bigger as needed. Also, it can produce biomes, equipment etc, at a cost to whoever is requesting it. you would normally have the very basic quarters which would be the sleeping and bathing area. However, you were given an upgrade due to the Universe God, who is also extending you some academy credit to spend, once we know what path you will take. Also, a stipend each month for you to have and spend as you will." Tinkerson knowledge store suddenly fed him information, telling him the name of the Universe God, making him realise it wasn''t the one who dealt with. Which made sense as his Universe God told him that he was sending him to another Universe. Deals were made, he assumed. They reached the space, he had a quick look around. It was the size of an average flat back at his. He wondered about the lack of a kitchen, while he had a dining room, but again his knowledge store come to his rescue telling him that he could order food from the canteen to be delivered here at no extra charge, rather then eat in the canteen, which was the main dining area for the academy. He then proceeded to bathe, after which he looked at his wardrobe. There awaited a variety of clothes. Nothing like what he used to wear but, some very smart looking stuff nonetheles. He decided to choose what looked like some dark trousers and a blue shirt. However for his feet, instead of shoes are something like that, he picked out what looked to be some very solid, workman type boots. The kind that could slog through anything yet still remain dry. Tinkerson remembered having a pair like this in his old life and as a result, just couldn''t say no to them. Odd get up? Sure. But he was fine with it. He then met Kekemozz back in what seemed to be a main foyer level that had three doors. The one they had came in from, the one that lead to Tinkerson''s rooms and he guessed the other led to Kekemozz area. "shirt and trousers paired with a pair of workboots. Quirky yet practical. I like it. Now follow me and we have a quick tour of the academy." There was the portal room where he first appeared at, the room where he and Kekemozz first talked at, their rooms and as they entered the last door that was in the main foyer connecting all those areas, they entered a Dining area. Of which there seemed to be no other entrance......"Is it because the academy is a dimensional construct?" Guessed Tinkerson to Kekemozz who was smiling at him. "Well done! You be amazed at how long it takes people to get that one! Can see you are a sharp one which means hopefully that I won''t have to hold your hand too much. Yes, the area we were just in can be considered to our home area. The door we just entered is technically a portal. Here is the only place you will see other people at this academy unless you be invitied to other areas. Our portal room back in our area will take you to a couple of private areas if you need to experience the outside as it were. Once you attain a certain level here, you will be able to visit some other areas of the academy via our portal area. But you have to earn that privilege." He lead Tinkerson over to a nearby table and sat down. "Now, here the thing. Your knowledge store tells you how long you can go between eating and sleeping if you really want to?" Tinkerson blinked as it did so. He could literally go three months between eating and six months between sleeping. That could take some getting used to! "we do recommend you do eat and sleep on a weekly basis, as this will keep your overall power levels as close to optimum as possible. As a demigod, you can still possibly die to hunger and thirst, or possibly go crazy from lack of sleep. It will take considerably longer. Not a pleasant way to go. However, to get to that stage you have to run out of power first and that isn''t so easy. As you get more powerful, the less and less of this you will need, til eventually you won''t need to do these things at all. Now, here is what you are eating." Kekemozz reached into a box on the table and brought forth a shining marble and a vial of shimmering water. "These are ambrosia. either will actually take care of all your needs. You can still eat normal food by the way, but it just won''t do anything for you. Some people prefer the marble, some people prefer the water. It''s is entirely up to you what you have." Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Tinkerson guestured to the water and Kekemozz passed it on. He then proceeded to swallow the marble. Tinkerson opened the vial and swallowed the liquid ambrosia. Immediately, a feeling of feeling full came over him, like he had just had a feast. He shooked his head. "This is weird. But well, I can get used to this." Kekemozz smiled and said. "You may be wondering why we came here instead of just eating in our private dining rooms. Occasionally we all gather here if a gathering is needed, so you needed to know how to get here. You will also meet others here, as we do encourage students getting to know one another, as later in your academy training, you will be required to interact with one another. Normally, this can be a cautious affair, depending on if the races like one another. You, have the ability to possibly meet many of the students here and interact freely. Which is rare. As a result, we may be able to start that portion of your training soon, in a decade or so. we see. Anyway, it empty here at the moment so we shall just head back to the orientation room. " They made their way and sat down. Kekemozz guestured to the board and Tinkerson again concentrated to send his status up.
Name: Tinkerson Race: Demigod
Racial Traits: Universal language, Improved Phyiscal and Mental abilities. 4 skills that can be chosen by character.
Unique Traits: Dimensional Affinity, Soulforged, Champion
Alignment - Neutral (locked)? Recognition level - Academy Student
Game Level - Trainee Game Pieces - None
Open Skills: Divine - Universal language Legendary - Appraise Heroic - Steel Mind Extraordinary - Neutral Aura Basic - Mountain Body Hidden Skills : Divine - Dimensional Magic Legendary - Neutral To All Heroic - Lay Of The Land, Knowledge Depositary (sleep needed to upgrade properly to this.) Extraordinary - Right Place, Right Time Basic - Traveller
Other Skills - 4 to be chosen Bound Assets - None
Tinkerson saw there were four things that had changed. Recognition, Game, a skill upgrade and a new skill added. The first two he assumed was as a result of his knowledge and being at the academy. The skill upgrade had also seemed to changed the skill slightly. He had no idea about the new skill. "Huh. Well, the first two are self explantory I assume?" Kekemozz looked enquiringly at Tinkerson and he nodded back. The other two, well, Knowledge Store had upgrade to the level I expected to, but it also looks like the skill has changed slightly. However I can tell you how it has changed. If someone was to get past your soul defence, a hard task in itself considering your steel Mind, they wouldn''t be able to prise information out of you without utterly breaking you down. Depositary is a more hardened version of store, intended to keep whatever information you have, safe." Kekemozz looked at Tinkerson soberly. "This is a skill that can get you killed if the wrong person learns of it. However, you can also act as a courier between powers if need be for knowledge. I may well be using you for this meself while you are here at this academy." Kekemozz suddenly became much more relaxed. "Then we have your new basic skill, Traveller! Now this will definitely be useful to you as a demigod. As demigods tend to do a lot of travelling. You will find unless you make friends with that power or are doing a task for them, that they do not want you hanging around what they consider to be ''their turf.'' So you will find yourself either in wilderness or camped between places and moving about a lot. Traveller is a skill at it most basic that will tell you where you are in the universe, the planet you are on, continent, region. It will also tell you who is the local power and general information on them. Useful to be sure. Again, a good one to level up. Now, as your skill said, it is time for you to sleep so you can rank up. This might take a couple of days, as skills up that require sleep normally do. Once you awaken, we shall have a conversation about what kind of demigod you want to be, and what path you want to take." So saying, they headed back to their quarters and Tinkerson fell into deep, dreamless sleep. Do you know the way? Tinkerson woke up refreshed from his sleep. He got ready, choosing a different outfit but keeping the boots. He then went to the orientation room and found Kekemozz there. He sat down and looked at him expectantly. ¡±Morning Tinkerson. We are about to discuss the path you can take. But first I would like to hear your thoughts on this.¡±Kekemozz stared intently at Tinkerson, clearly awaiting his answer. Tinkerson lapsed into thought. He knew of all the supposed common ways of starting out and the paths he could end up on. But he didn¡¯t really like any one of them. It seemed¡­.. limiting. Plus, his overall goal didn¡¯t seem to fit into this. So he decided to be honest. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to do any of them to be honest. They seem narrow in scope as to what I want to do and I think I would be better off choosing my own way.¡± Kekemozz stood there unreadable for a second and then he smiled. ¡±Congratulations. You have just avoided the first hurdle of your training. An often destroying one. Many come here trying to rush to the power they feel they deserve, or don¡¯t realise the scope of how high they can rise and choose the easy way. This can result in them forever remaining demigods, with a few exceptions or they implode themselves. Which. Is. Fatal. It also the reason we did it in this room.¡± Kekemozz pointed to himself. ¡° I am a god of knowledge which I am content to be and I will never rise higher, which I am fine about. Going higher means you are playing higher stakes in the game of the gods and also end up with more responsibility. Imagine ending up with a gaggle of worshippers that kept calling upon you. No thank you.¡± Kekemozz shuddered then became more serious looking. "I know what your eventual goal is. It was shared with me, as apparently they are hoping I will be able to help you avoid all the pitfalls that i can, as I have a good track record so far with my students. So now we established that you don''t intend to be rigid or singluar focused, do you have any idea where you would like to head? Please tell me and then I will tell your my opinion." Kekemozz looked expectantly at Tinkerson, who started to speak as to what he thought. "One thing I have decided is that I do not want to go along a singular path. I do not want to become a sort of world god, so I am intending to avoid being worshipped by large communities or even build one on a particular world. I have an idea, which may serve me in the long term future, which we definitely involve me figuring out what I can do with the dimensional magic, what can be possible as I increase in power levels. I am planning to make extensive use of the quest boards when I get access to them, which I know is a while off yet. I got four skill slots that I need to fill and I would like advice on what to choose. While I have a grasp on my eventual plans, I think I need some help and advice on how to get there." Kekemozz nodded thoughtfully at this. "I take it you plan to avoid wars and such like? subterfuge and such like as well do not appeal to you?" Tinkerson nodded to this. "You also intend to keep moving around, so you probably want to portal to other worlds as you can and so you do not want to stand out. If you had more in the way of knowledge skills or wanted them, I would suggest being a knowledge seeker but I imagine this is not a path you want to go, as it mostly dead ends with knowledge gods. hhhmm. I''m thinking twofold. A merchant which will explain the diimensional space and lack of equipment being carried by you. Plus explorer which, if you do fringe quests will come in useful. Plus, if you can upgrade that lay of the land along with traveller, might actually end up getting you some interesting assets and paraphernalia. Some of which you might be able to barter if it not useful to you. I will certainly reward you if you find knowledge that I do not posess, as I can trade it among my peers even if I do not have a use for it myself. I agree with you about the dimensional magic training. It would be a crime not to capitalised on that. As to the four skills. I have some questions for you. Depending on the answer to those questions, we can choose some skills." Kekemozz rubbed his hands together in glee. "I do so love putting a plan together." He then became more businesslike. "So, you plan to do quests when you can, singular or will you plan to put together or join a team?" Kekemozz looked enquiringly. "Singular is the plan at the moment, I may end up teaming up with one or two more, but it will not be a big team. I am not looking for big happenings, I am looking more for the quieter ways." "Normally I would advise a good offensive and defensive skill. However, with your neutral skills and alignment, you probably would not make brillant use out of them or much use at all. You are not a pacifist though?" Tinkerson shook his head and kekemozz breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. It can work, but it hard going and normally they require a protector type. In that case, although you do not want the subterfuge path, I advise a skill of there called blend. If you work on that, it will enable you to hide in plain sight of everyone. even your dwelling if you build one will take on aspects of this. Beings more powerful then you will be able to detect you of course, unless you can work it up high enough. However at most basic it make people think you are one of them unless they have a strong mind or skill that can combat that. Which will help with your travel covers. Yes, this would be a useful skill." "Agreed." Said Tinkerson at once. While he did not mind having to defend himself if need be, he only wanted to fight as a last resort. "However, I do recommend you learn at least one offensive skill for a last resort. Particularly if people try to rob you as your merchant cover, not realising you are more powerful then they think. You probably be able to use the aura to dissuade them, but some people are just not, well, right in the head shall we say? give it some thought. If you decide otherwise, you still can use the skill slot for something else." Kekemozz tapped his fingers thoughtfully. " As for the third, Have you thought about being able to use a summoning skill?" Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. "Er..." Tinkerson did not know what to say about this. On the one hand, improper use of summoning skill was the reason why he had ended up here as he had, tearing him away from his previous life, but was that a bad thing? Plus, from the sound of what the Overuniverse Sentience said, it was going to be something he would see a lot of if he managed to make it to the position. It would not be a bad idea to learn how to do it properly from the start. After all, it was said that proper usage was fine. "Define summoning." "Well it just occurred to me, that if we could summon something that could act as a bodyguard, make a long term contract between the two of you, it might help out with your non offensive and non defensive capabilities without you having to learn those skills. I would advise on learning something to look like you can at least look like you can defend yourself, but if you decided you didn''t want to, this could fill the gaps." Put it like that, it did not sound like a bad idea at all, so he nodded to this. "For the fourth skill slot. You say you intend to take quests, you are planning to work in a small team or on your own. This will limit you on the scale of the job in power, but you said you were willing to take your time, so if you were willing to take on jobs that may involve you in sticking around for a century or two, would that bother you?" Tinkerson reeled a bit as he thought on this. It was all very well knowing that he would effectively be immortal, but what would it feel like when he was living those centuries? Would he become colder like in some of the stories about immortals in his old life? He was bound to change in some ways, but how? He thought of the gray wizard from another book series that he liked, who had been long lived and the elves that were mentioned in the story. If he was continually living on the edge of society he could become some sort of crazy hermit story for a village. He steadied his thoughts and decided that he could live with this if need be. He had the time, and he could always change the plan if need be. It might take time, but he had that. He nodded to Kekemozz "In that case I would advise on jack of all trades. It a skill that focus on knowing the basics of every craft that normal humans do. Masonry, carpentry, smithing and other skills like that. You might even develop an actual skill if you concentrate on a particular craft long enough. Now, think those three skills, and choose them in your status. Then we shall have a look at where they come in at. After which, I will take you to your rooms and highlight some useful things about the library and the research and experimental area. Then it will be time for you to better yourself. In this, I cannot help. I might be able to answer a question or two, or point you in a particular direction if you get really stuck, but the work must come from yourself. Tinkerson nodded and then focused on his page and concentrated choosing his skills. He felt a shiver of power and then threw his status up on the wall.
Name: Tinkerson Race: Demigod
Racial Traits: Universal language, Improved Phyiscal and Mental abilities. 4 skills that can be chosen by character.
Unique Traits: Dimensional Affinity, Soulforged, Champion
Alignment - Neutral (locked)? Recognition level - Academy Student
Game Level - Trainee Game Pieces - None
Open Skills: Divine - Universal language Legendary - Appraise, Summoning Heroic - Steel Mind Extraordinary - Neutral Aura, Jack Of All Trades Basic - Mountain Body Hidden Skills : Divine - Dimensional Magic Legendary - Neutral To All Heroic - Lay Of The Land, Knowledge Depositary Extraordinary - Right Place, Right Time, Blend Basic - Traveller
Other Skills - 1 to be chosen Bound Assets - None
"Now that is interesting. Normally they should come in at the bottom two parts of the page. Blend I did expect to be on the hidden side. Jack of all trades again, on the side I thought it would be. Summoning however, I did not expect on the open and that high. Then again, knowing how you come to be what you came to be, maybe I shouldn''t find it surprising. I wonder how much research it would take to push that even further? Anyway, to your rooms." So saying, Kekemozz lead the way. to his rooms and Tinkerson followed. Study time. ¡°This is the library. It is where you are going to spend a lot of time. It is connected via that small slate to the academy main library. I already had it stocked according to what we were talking about.¡± Kekemozz tapped his head. ¡°Knowledge god, I got a personal link to it. Every book here is a copy of the original the library has, it just replicates it for you and you can keep them! So when you graduate from here you will have books to put in your own library. Now heed me on this. You can request any book we have. However, some of these books will be too advanced or different to you. In keeping with the whole increasing your own judgement, we don¡¯t tell you what ones. Choose wrongly and you may die. At best.¡± With those ominous words, Tinkerson vowed to start from the bottom to build on his foundation of knowledge. Hopefully that would tell him what ones not to til he was ready, or give a clue. ¡° I will leave you here til you are ready to seek me out or if something goes wrong.¡± So saying, Kekemozz strode out of the room. Tinkerson marvelled at his library. There was so many books. A comfortable couch. Books. A desk and some writing materials. Books! Where to start? Oh an introduction to magical smithing? He wondered how well that would go along with the jack of trades skill? Perhaps we start with this first. Maybe read that one next to it about masonry afterwards. He read. And read. And read. Suddenly he found himself on the floor, feeling very weak, with Kekemozz looming over him. ¡±Had a feeling you was going to be one of those learning this lesson early.¡± He said cheerfully¡¯. ¡°Welcome to the problem of over focusing while being of the divine. You lose all track of time. This time round; you are only suffering the effect of not eating and sleeping, which we can remedy. However, consider this a lesson to learn. You need to recognise you still have limits, however the consequences for breaking these limits can be very bad at this level. Sometimes it can lead to a breakthrough, but more often then not, it like this. Or worse. Now drink this, sleep and we meet in our usual meeting room.¡± So saying he picked Tinkerson up and threw him in the bed in his room after dropping two vials of ambrosia in his hand Tinkerson awoke, much refreshed and proceeded to get ready and headed to the meeting room and sat down opposite Kekemozz. ¡°What exactly happened to me? I can make sense of some of it but.¡± He gestured helplessly. ¡±it an excellent question. We don¡¯t warn our students of this because we like them to learn the way you did. It a kinder way of finding out then if you try to avoid it and end up doing it anyway. Trust me on that one.¡± Kekemozz looked almost haunted by those last few words. ¡°As to what it is, congratulations. It is what I call the first divine power. Concentration. You might think ¡°doesn¡¯t everyone concentrate on what they are doing?¡¯ The answer is, not to this level. There are many theories as to this one. My own is that it helps you to block out external stimuli to concentrate on what you are doing, or focus on something specific. Why you get this so early? Well that related to working directly with a deity, in one of the most useful ways they can. Which I¡¯m not going to tell you about. Instead, we be training you to be able to direct it and create certain alarms as it were. Because used right, it can be useful. Throw your status on the slate.¡± Tinkerson did so and promptly swore.
Name: Tinkerson Race: Demigod
Racial Traits: Universal language, Improved Phyiscal and Mental abilities. 4 skills that can be chosen by character.
Unique Traits: Dimensional Affinity, Soulforged, Champion
Alignment - Neutral (locked)? Recognition level - Academy Student
Game Level - Trainee Game Pieces - None
Open Skills: Divine - Universal language Legendary - Appraise, Summoning, Jack Of All Trades. Heroic - Steel Mind Extraordinary - Neutral Aura Basic - Mountain Body Hidden Skills : Divine - Dimensional Magic Legendary - Neutral To All, Knowledge Of The Land Heroic - Knowledge Depositary Extraordinary - Right Place, Right Time, Blend Basic - Herbology,
Other Skills - 1 to be chosen Bound Assets - None
¡°Amazing isn¡¯t it? In case you were wondering a month has gone past since I left you in the library. I''m curious as to how you managed to change lay of the land and heightened it however. since you managed to parlay the traveller skill you had in it¡± Tinkerson jolted at that one. A month?! He thought it was only a few days. Then he focused, trying to remember how he had upped these. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "Jack of all trades was just simply reading into a lot of different trades, not just the nuts and bolts but accounts by people at the top of their field. Knowledge of the land...... I think it was a combination of the enconomics I know, some books on the most common methods used in this universe and threes different encylopedias that dealt with trade goods, plants and information on the powers and the areas they rule." Kekemozz nodded thoughtfully. "Which explains your new herbology skill. I imagine your appraise skill might also evolve if you read the rest of the encylopedias, but first we will train you in a couple of skills to deal with the concentration state, plus, I think it time I taught you how to change your status page. It is getting a bit tedious seeing all this information up here. We make a general status page, with a Skill page to be added on. With this knowledge, if you need to create new pages for things, you will be able to do so. Which will help if you acculminate assets or whatnot, the way you seem to be doing skills at the moment." Tinkerson ended up working with Kekemozz on the concentration skill for a week solid. It was not a pleasant thing to learn, since the only way to be snapped out of it by outside stimuli was to basically be hurt badly. It was a good thing that he could take a lot of damage and also recover quickly, otherwise the zap that Kekemozz kept giving him to jolt him out of the state, would probably have killed him by now. Nevertheless, by the end of the week, he had his brain and body hardwired to be able to bring him out under certain conditions, or a time limit. Apparently the more he grew in power, the longer he could go. They then concentrated on his pages, changing information, adding pages and what not. Finally he was left with two pages for now, that looked like
Name: Tinkerson Race: Demigod
Racial Traits: Universal language, Improved Phyiscal and Mental abilities.
Unique Traits: Dimensional Affinity, Soulforged, Champion
Alignment - Neutral (locked)? Recognition level - Academy Student
Game Level - Trainee Game Pieces - None
Bound Assets - None
Open Skills Hidden Skills
Divine - Universal Language Divine - Dimensional Magic
Legendary - Appraise, Summoning, Jack Of All Trades Legendary - Neutral To All, Knowledge Of The land
Heroic - Steel Mind Heroic - Knowledge Depositary
Extraordinary - Neutral Aura Extraordinary - Right Place, Right Time, Blend
Basic - Mountain Body Basic - Herbology
1 Skill still needing to be chosen.
"Ok, that is good progress for this last week and a bit. The empty box in your status will most likely be used for a permanent summons if you get one. Your college permissions can go there for now, when you get some. The skills read a little easier on the eye. Now, you can get back to studying. I am going to set you a target. A decade. Do nothing else but study for the next decade you can requistion books on whatever you want. Then, we will go into your research and experimental area, In which I shall set you some exercises to do. You will do those exercises and no other, for 5 years. Then we will come back here and throw your skill page up on the board. There will be upgrades to skills due to the exercises I given you, possible merging of skills. With the studying on top, there may be further changes to skill, plus some new ones as well. I would have thought." Kekemozz looked me straight in the eye. "Understand this, the next 50 years, will be the start of the foundation of who you are going to be. These 15 years will dictate on the next 10 years. Those together will dictate on the next 25. It is how demigod get seperated from the mortals. As you are now, the mortals who choose to stay at the epic rank can probably equal you in some way or another. But with the next 50 years work? You would probably be able to fight off an entire team of of them without a sweat. Make your studying count. Follow my exercises diligently. Then after we have reckoned where you are, you can then experiment and research freely with the next 10 years after. At that point you will have finished the first half of what this academy has to offer. What happens after that, depends on those 25 years. Way of the book. Before Tinkerson dived back into the books, he decided to set his study. He had 10 years to read whatever he wanted. It might sound a very long itme, but if he wanted to seriously up his skills and also get some new ones and up those, He would need to be selective in what to take. First, the Encylopedias he had started reading before he crashed out. They were basically a guide to the basics of everything in the universe that existed. That was the basics however. if he was willing to read on to the next level of it, it would also go through variants and rarer information. Plus there was also a third part that spoke about particular places and contained ALL the information gathered about them. By ALL, this literally meant everything. To read the basic was going to take him two years, to read the second part, would take him another year and then the last part would take him a year. That was going to be four years total. 40% of the time he had to study. However, it should take his appraise skill up. Then he would read the memoirs of various people that interested him. They were not the normal people that interested everyone however. No, most of these people were comprehsive in their information about their work and renowned in their field, but were not powerful in and of themselves. Take for example this gentleman here and his story. Gregor Understone was his name. He had been a dwarf. When he had been aware that he was dying of old age, started to narrate about the things he had studied and worked with and had it bound into a memoir. That subject had been about rocks. Literally everything you can think of about rocks. He had read it within three days in the month period and he had managed to work out that it had upgraded his lay of the land skill before it had merged with traveller and upgraded to knowledge of the land. He had a thought that perhaps by studying the memoirs of people like this, he would gain access to information that while mainly useless to mortal, might actually be of use to someone like him, who could probably manipulate and use the essences with the right skills. He allocated three years to this, covering a variety of subjects, including a very interesting one he found written by another demigod on dimensional construction. It appeared he had figured out how to construct dimensional buildings and spaces plu- but he digressed, he needed to finish sorting out his plan. that was 7 years sorted. What should he study for the last three years? He smiled as realised what would be extremely useful to him. The subject of summoning. That what he would do for the last three years. So he set to it. Stopping to eat and get a few hours of sleep every week, allowing his mind to collaborate with his knowledge skills and cross reference, enabling skills to level up and merge and new ones be developed. At the end of the decade, he stopped and went and told Kekemozz. Who lead him to the research and experiment room. "This, is where you normally can try out ideas you get, to see if you get practical knowledge of your learned information, or experiment to see if you can do something you thought of using that studied information. Which can take years in and of itself. However, here lies your next danger. Get it wrong totally or in part, can lead to bad things happening to you, which can lead to a a variety of things including you being no more." Kekemozz nodded soberly at Tinkerson widened eyes. "This is the bigtime. Bigger rewards, bigger risks. For now though, all I want you to do, are these exercises. This will enable you to become familar with spaces like this, plus will also open up the inate abillities that demgods should have, including storage space." So Tinkerson took the instructions and learned. First, was how to change it according to what was needed. It could be a room. It could be a forest. A crowded city street, a cliff by the sea. It brought to mind of the shows that would have a room that could do things like this back in his world, like the star trek series. Once he had gotten himself used to the basic controls of it, he then started to do the exercises that was assigned him. Some of them were very repetitive and boring. Some were very complexed. The one that boggled him, was the city streets one, where he was required to try and use blend. Somehow, he could be detected by the imaginary citizens of this city, and he had to work at it to blend. Then he was using it in a forest with monsters hunting him. These monsters could hurt him, although it always froze up when short of killing him. He did not enjoy that one, although he got pretty good of using blend in ways that was nothing short of amazing in his opinion. Again, only stopping once a week for ambrosia and sleep. Tinkerson stepped into the meeting room and sat down. Without waiting, he threw his skill page onto the slate and continued to steadily look at Kekemozz. Kekemozz grinned back and suddenly, the information the page changed slightly. "So we can better understand what changed and how, plus some flair on style. Now let look at the information."
Open Skills Hidden Skills
Divine - Universal Language, God''s Eye Divine - Dimensional Construction, Knowledge Of The land
Legendary - Neutral Aura, Summoning, Master Of Trades Legendary - Neutral To All, Knowledge Depositary, Blend
Heroic - Steel Mind Heroic - Way Of The Barter
Extraordinary - Elemental Craftsman Extraordinary - Right Place, Right Time,
Basic - World Body, Animal Handling This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Basic - Staff Master
"Well, this is interesting. I am not going to go through the skills like I did last time. You learned these skills yourself and so should know what they do. I will just explain the new colour code and ask you some questions about how you managed to change some of these. Most I suspect I know, but a couple of them surprise me on this. Anyway. Orange is new, Purple is upgrade from studying, green is from the research room and mixture of both colours means a combination of both, obviously." Kekemozz then took his eyes off the slate and looked at Tinkerson. "So the questions I have to ask. Dimensional construction. I know it coloured green due to the experimental work you did, getting the dimensional storage. However, the purple and change from magics to construction is the interesting one. I imagine you read the account of Freiser and his journey into this?" Tinkerson nodded agreement to this "The fact that it just shows up like this, makes me think that is where your dimensional talents mostly lie, although I reckon we can get another skill or two for you from this at some point if you want." "Now I see others have moved up, pretty much as I expected most of them. Happy You upgraded mountain body to world. It mean that you will be a lot harder to hurt. You really did read all those encylopedias huh? Well, God''s eye is proof of that. Also what helped upgrade Knowledge of the land I imagine. Was not expecting to see your knowledge one reach legendary, but I suppose I shouldn''t be too surprised. You do like knowledge, just not consumed by it. Blend I''m impressed by, was expecting that to rise one level, not two. Rest look normal, expect for one, but I''m guessing that to do with one of your new skills, so let start there." Kekemozz stared at Tinkerson. "I was not expecting you to get Elemental Craftsman. How did you manage to get this and bump up your trades skill to master and legendary no less?" "Well, I can only ascribe it to the marvellous collection of materials I was reading. plus the elemental training you made me do." Began Tinkerson. "Jack of all trades turned to master, after I had read a series of interconnected memoirs, from a group of master craftsmen that worked together in a collaborative effort, acculminating in a series of true master and grandmaster works. I did not understand most of how, til after the exercises you assigned me, which is when I learned elemental craftsman." "Huh, that would make sense. Those memoirs are definitely some potent materials, we were lucky to get those. Ok then, animal handling I can make sense of, due to the summoning portion, along with the encylopedia sections. The only reason it will have upgraded but not moved levels. Staff Master is the one i''m guessing you used your last skill up on, due to it being master rather then just simply staff work. That along with the way of the barter skill, I''m guessing you read the epic merchant series?" Tinkerson nodded to this. "Thought so, Well, that along with other skills means you will probably be able to pesuade most powers to let you remain in their lands, even if not the central parts. Plus it is a good way to make a living for the early demigod, beside the mission board." Kekemozz then stood. "Ok then. The next 10 years. You are free to use the library and experimental room without running any of it by me. If you need my advice, you can ask for it. That said, I doubt you will. You seem to solidly know what direction you want to take, have listened to the advice I have given you and have gained useful skills. I would suggest more time in the experimental room then the libray. Meet me back here in 10 years." Tinkerson strode out. Read, trained, read, trained, trained, trained. Read, trained. 10 years went by, Tinkerson strode back to the meeting room and again threw his skills up on the board.
Open Skills Hidden Skills
Divine - Universal Language, God''s Eye Divine - Dimensional Construction, Knowledge Of The land
Legendary - Neutral Aura, Summoning, Master Of Trades Legendary - Neutral To All, Knowledge Depositary, Blend
Heroic - Steel Mind. World Body Heroic - Seeker
Extraordinary - Elemental Craftsman Extraordinary - Scholar
Basic - Tracker Basic - Master Merchant
Tinkerson looked at it, with his jaw dropped. 10 years and this was all there was? Kekemozz was roaring with laughter and as he wiped away his tears said "You may be wondering why this looks so much less then before. There are two reasons. I will explain them once I get over how funny your expression was." He then proceeded to calm down. "Ok here goes. your animal handling skills, barter and staff master I believe combined to make Master Merchant. Now the reason that it at basic, is because this is a higher skill overall, as it requires skills learned to combine. That said, once you get out into the real universe and get some experience in it, it will most likely level quickly. Tracker is not one I was expecting you to get, How?" Tinkerson explained about how one part of his experimental training, he managed to avoid a beast wave, and mislead it, all through seeing tracks and changng some of it. "That explains that. Might be useful, might be useless. When your skills clutter up in the centuries to come, if it hasn''t combined with something else, you can create a lesser used skill page. Glad to see you have levelled up your body a couple of levels, that will mean it be harder for you to be taken out and you can witstand more punishment. Scholar" Kekemozz sat back at this one. "It does kinda fit. You do like and enjoy learning knowledge. You just like to employ it as well. I imagine although this might level, it probably the highest academic rating you will get. Then we come to seeker. You may be wondering why seeker and not an upgraded version of right time, right place. Simply put, right place, right time can be replaced by knowledge and instinct. Which I suspect is what happened here. Seeker however is a talent to find leads and hidden parts. It can be used in conjunction of a number of skills, or just as a skill in it own right. Interesting you got it." They both looked at the slate in silence. "Go eat, sleep and come back here tomorrow, and we will talk about the next 25 years and start you off on it. It will be very interesting for you. Possibly entertaining for me." So saying, Kekemozz departed the room. City of the demigods. "So you have done your intial 25 years. Consider that your first year as it were. Now we begin to show you some things. For which the portal room will be used. As of now, you have access to a single location through that portal. It is known as the city of the demigods. Only demigods reside there, or of that power. Epics can visit there. However, as a student, you will have limited access to this city at first. You will start off in what is known as the public sector. Within this sector is the public portals, a market, a arena, some pubs and the like. There are other buildings that I will leave you to explore and try to access. Your eventual goal is to gain access to the Guildhall. It sounds simple, but that all the information I am giving you. You will be given a starting amount of capital. This is all we will give you." Tinkerson noticed the emphasis that was put on give. "Once you have gained access, come talk to me. The next 25 years are yours to spend as you wish." "But, what is my eventual goal in this? What is the purpose?" Tinkerson asked. Kekemozz looked back at him neutrally. "whatever you wish it to be. I have told you what is expected of you. The rest of it is up to you." Tinkerson thought about this. It was clear that there was something that was not being told to him. However he was told of the length of time he had to reach the end goal whatever that was. 25 years. Faith. He had a feeling that what part of this was about. The ability to follow orders and just do what he was told on faith. After all, it was what religion was based on back in his world. Do as you are told, follow the rules and you will be rewarded one day. Have faith. However he was sure there was more to it then that. He was lacking in information. Knowledge. The only way to get it, was to go out and work for it. What he did with that, well now. Maybe that what they wanted to find out. So he left and went to the portal room and teleported to the city of the demigods. Tinkerson sat on the bench and stared up. He could see space. As in outer space. The part of the city he was in, as far as he could see was enclosed by walls, with the ceiling being a big clear glass ceiling. There were a couple of planets in view, and a far off sun that just illuminated where he was. "It a space station." he said out aloud. "The whole city is on a space station." He supposed it made sense. With the portals, the fact that nobody knew where the city was, and everything else that he had discovered over the course of the entire week. He had just walked around the whole place, saw all that he could saw and just generally observed the place. Then, he portalled back to the academy, ate and slept. Then in the morning, he had gotten dressed and came back to here. The portal area, which reminded him of a large central city train station. He sat on a bench, looked up and said the first thing that had come to mind. He then walked over to the entrance to the portal area and looked at a single demigod standing by the entrance. Dressed in a kind of uniform, he had seen them dragged people off. Many times he did not know what for. Many other people looked shocked, but the people who actually lived here didn''t. The people who seemed to have been coming here some time didn''t. So that meant there must be....... "Hello sir, I was wondering. Is there a book of rules and or a guide to the city of the gods that I could have please?" The guard looked at him sideways and swore. Quite fluently and in several languages. "I had you down for at least a month. I thought you might be sharper then most of the students, but you are definitely sharper than I thought." The man reached out a hand and a book appeared in his hand. "Take this. This is the official rules and guide to this city. Also, take this." Tinkerson stared at the marble he held, and felt the power rolling off it. "Why are you giving it to me?" "Rules. I was the earliest to guess at a month. Since you guessed before then, it means that you win the pot. Nice for you that. This marble holds 50 demis." Tinkerson stared at the marble. He had been told that the divine dealt in three currencies. The one he was being offered was the first. simply put, rather then coinage, it dealt with power. A demi was the lowest amount. It was equal to the amount of power a demigod could put out in a year. So 50 demis was worth 50 years of power. Not a small measure. He took the marble and pulled the power into his own reserves, then gave the marble back. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! "I thank you for this. Unexpected but a pleasure. may I know your name?" "Jesary. This is my main post, I seen you come back and forth quite a lot over this week. Exploring and watching. made me quite curious." Jesary looked at Tinkerson and said. "Would you be interested in some advice?" Tinkerson knew exactly how to answer this one. "What will it cost me?" Jesary nodded approvingly. "Definitely smarter then the average academy student. This one will be free. We are actually obligated to ask this of students. Those that reply no, are reported. Those that reply yes, are reported. Those who reply like you, have their picture stuck up in the main guard room with a keep an eye out. Not because we trying to police you or anything, but this job can get boring and people like you, are how we make our entertainment. So long you obey the rules of course. The advice is this. Sit back on the bench, and read the book. Thoroughly." So Tinkerson did. It took three days before he was confident he had taken all that he could from it. Stowing it away in his inventory space, he thought about what he read. It was a big book. Lots of rules. Most of them commonsense. However there was four rules that were considered to be unbreakable. Most of the others, you might be able to wriggle out of or pay the dues needed. These four though, could be a death or exlie situation. 1. Don''t make deals you can''t complete. 2. The game of the gods can not be played here. Plans may be made, supplies gotten. But the game can not be played on this station. 3. While passive powers can be used, Active powers are only allowed in certain areas. 4. This is a neutral city. All enemities and such, are to be shelved while here, unless you use the arena. These were known as the four pillars of the city of the demigods. Four rules that could not be broken in any way. Tinkerson looked through the guide and nothing stood out in regards to all the information he wanted to know. So he went over to Jesary. Who greeted him with a smile and a "I can not tell you how to get into the guildhall." "Was I that obvious?" Tinkerson asked charigned. "No." Said Jesary with a smile. But it a common enough question from the students. What I will say to you is this. Have a proper look around and see where people fit in." Tinkerson thought this a bit strange, but decided to do so. He knew the layout. He knew the rules. Now he needed to figure out how this place really worked. So he went and looked round again. The market was what was next to the portal area. Beyond that, the guildhall. To the left was the arena and west seemed to be rows of rooms, that offered various things. He decided to go to the arena first. There, it seemed, seemed to be a cacophony of cheers, screams and weapons clashing. He looked around and acknowledged that this was never going to be a place that he felt comfortable in. That he would suceed in. It seemed to be purely a place of pure war and power. A light went on in his head. He headed over to the place he dubbed the rows. There he took a look around and saw rooms developed to all kinds of things. Of crafts, of finished goods, of discreet little pubs and what looked like coffee shops? He suddenly realised it contained multitudes. He then went to the market and examined it with fresh eyes. Here were all sorts of goods being traded. Some common, some not. Conversations were happening as to plants and monsters and elements. an open auction sat in the middle of this market, where some people obviously not impressed with the prices being offered in the market, tried to sell what they had for a higher price. It was very fluid and situational. Then he went and stood in front of the guildhall. Watched people come in and out, while all the while trying to fit pieces to a puzzle in his head. Then he went back over to the rows, and sat in a coffee shop. Sitting there, with a drink, he thought and thought. Til suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder. Pieces fitting together. Tinkerson turned around. A person stood there, but he was unable to tell if it was a man or woman. Dressed in what looked to be a kind of suit, skin tone matching the colour of the suit, which was gray. "Are you a new student?" asked the person. Tinkerson nodded yes, not sure what they could be wanting. "I thought so. I am also a student at the academy. I was wondering if we could talk?" Tinkerson nodded and guestured to the chair opposite him. The person settled into the chair and proceeded to make themselves at ease. Tinkerson then asked a question. "May I ask what we will be talking about?" The person nodded agreeably and began to speak. "My name, is Lowry. I am part of a small pantheon of demigods who work together for mutual benefit. I have been assigned to watch out for students who might benefit the pantheon and to try and recruit them. Based on what I have seen of you, I feel you might be a good one for us to recruit." "I see." Said Tinkerson. He gathered that he would be meeting other students eventually. He had guessed that most of the people he had seen bewildered were in the same boat as him. He was not adverse to teaming up with people. However, he was adverse to larger groups. All the signs were pointing to older students profiting off the back of the younger ones, of power flowing upwards. A natural progression of things from what he could determine. However, he did not want to go that route. So he was going to have to shut this down. Hopefully in a way that would get people to leave him alone and maintain his neutrality. He had a feeling that Lowry was not going to be that easy, however. "I am as you said, new. So I do not wish to commit to anything at this time, until I get a better feel for this. Even then, I do not like to work with others if I can help it." "I. See." said Lowry, communicating that they did, and wasn''t happy that they was being basically fobbed off. "Demis here do not tend to progress well on their own. We are taught to work in groups or pantheons as it were. However. I can appreciate how new this must be for you. You do not strike me as a new soul, yet you seem to not know the ways that a demigod who had worked their way through ranking would act, but you are not part of a pantheon or group. You are an unpredictable quality and i do not like this. So I tell you now. Stay away from our dealings unless you come prepared to join or bargain." So saying their piece, they walked out the door. Tinkerson stared at his hands. He was obviously missing something here, and need information. Then he thought about it and smiled. Leaving the coffee shop he walked down and over a row, until he was outside what looked like a bookstore and walked inside. The person at the counter, sitting in the shadows said "May I ask what you are looking for?" Tinkerson smiled and replied. "I am looking for something on the workings between the academy and the city of the demigods." The person in shadows lent forward to bring their face partially out of the shadows, revealing that they were male. Apart from that, Tinkerson would be hard pressed to say more than that. "Interesting. How long have you been allowed access to the city? I don''t remember seeing you before." Tinkerson told him. "Interesting. I would say this points you out as a knowledge path, but I don''t believe this is true. Nor political, as you wear no emblem. Interesting. I can give you this knowledge. In fact, I can give you a marble containing this knowledge, plus some other facts that you may find useful. It will cost you 50 Demis." This, was the exact amount that was paid to him by the guard. Which was interesting of itself. He nodded and flowed the extact amount needed into his marble and handled it over. The man in shadow collected the power and then handed it back, with it shimmering. It contained knowledge and the way to absorb this was by sleeping. So he hurried back to his room and slept. Only for an hour. But when he woke up, fresh knowledge was buzzing in his head. He now understood the dynamics of it. It was very clever. To exploit this information however he would need to broaden his foundation. He sat down and sketched out a preliminary plan. 1. He would need to use the markets. He had the knowledge for what he wanted to do, and knew what he could roughly achieve, and what he couldn''t. 2. Was related to the first. He need equipment. It didn''t need to be the best from the get go. But it did need to be as good as he could get. Some of it he could trade for, some of it he was probably going to have to either build, or find others that could build it for him. 3. This was the part he didn''t like. Networking was a big thing here in the city of the demigods. Tinkerson was more of a loner. However it was clear to him, that in order to achieve his goals, he could not do it all himself. The path to divinity was built upon the back of others it could be argued. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it 4. Achieve entry to the guildhall. He would only be able to do this when he completed the previous three and then achieved the conditions needed to unlock it. He stared at this list. Time to put his knowledge to use. He had 30 demis that came from what the academy gave him. He estimated that he needed a lot more. Time to play the markets. He portalled back to the city and then proceeded to sit and watch the portals. He went to an area of the market that did not seem to be part of the rest. But Tinkerson had noticed something about this area. He hoped it would be what would give him his start in trading. He watched the stalls in this particular area. It was not a hive of activity like the front of the market was. In fact, from what he could see, most of it was ran by students. Pantheons and groups from what he could see. He had learnt the difference between the two as well. Pantheons were demigods who were working together to achieve their goals. A formal agreement and everything. The downside was, if one person was underperforming, the whole pantheon couldn''t move up. Demigods were practical people with practical solutions most of the time. Thus, it would not bode well for that person bringing the rest down. Groups were people who were just working together for the moment. Some had agreements made in power, others didn''t. A lot of people were getting shafted in that second group, far as he could determine. He also noticed that quite a lot of the finished goods that were sold in the market came from here. Not as expensive as what was sold in the rows, but not as good either. In fact, some of it was obviously imitations of superior equipment using substandard materials. He would not be buying anything from here. So where could he buy the good stuff? He knew that he could make quite a bit of what he needed, but he also knew that he would need to buy some. He just wanted decent equipment that he could start off with. While he mulled on this, he walked to the front of the market. He noticed that some of the people who were coming here were not the same level of power as most of the people here. These he assumed, were epics. However, from what he could see, most of them had decent equipment for what they were and they all looked competent. He noted that most of them were going to the same place, where they sold everything they had. Some were going and obviously selling to others, but it looked like what they had were of rarer or smaller quanities. He sat down on a bench and started to watch where most of the epics were seemingly going. He sat there for quite a while. He noted what a lot of the epics were bringing. He couldn''t quite see what they were being sold for. He could tell from the faces if they were happy with the deal or not. From this, he was able to determine that a lot of the time, both sides seemed happy with the deal. The bench creaked as somebody sat next to him. "I noticed that you seem to be watching where I work most intently these past couple of days. I can also see that you are a new student. Tell me, do you know the rules of this place?" Tinkerson confirmed he did. "Good. I don''t have to be worried about you doing anything stupid, as you know the penalties for it. Would you like to tell me why you are sitting here and watching so intently?" So Tinkerson spoke to him. Explained what he had worked out so far, and how he had gotten there. How he had worked out what he was going to need, and was trying to figure out the best way of achieving this. The older demigod listened and then sat and thought for a while after Tinkerson had finished. "I find it fascinating what you have managed to gather so far in such a short span of time. I suspect you will go far. Would you like some advice?" Tinkerson gave the same reply he gave the guard. The other demigod laughed. "It good to know that you are not naive or stupid. In this case, I would give you the advice in exchange for an agreement. That when you start getting hold of materials, aside from the ones you want to keep for your own needs or that of whoever you may associate with, that you sell what you don''t need to me." Tinkerson mulled this over and asked a question. "Raw materials, or do you want finished goods too?" The other demigod raised their eye at this. "Commendable thinking here. It is primarily the raw materials I want, however if you find something you feel may be of interest to me in the finished goods way, by all means bring it along." Tinkerson agreed to this and brought out his marble. Infusing it with one demi worth of power, he then clinked it with the other person''s marble which also had one demi of power. The marble flared and a blue screen appeared in front of Tinkerson eyes.
Agreement reached An agreement has been made between Tinkerson and Hepht. The agreement is as follows. In exchange for advice given by Hepht, Tinkerson agrees to sell his excess materials to Hepht while he is a student.
Hepht looked satifised with the deal. Tinkerson realised with a shock that he had been careless with part of the deal. He had not specified for how long. Fortunately Hepht himself had put a limit on it, and it was for as long as he was a student. Tinkerson resolved to read some books on agreement soon. He then focused on Hepht as he started to speak. Wheelin. Dealin. "Im sure you have noticed the prices on most of the finished goods. Do you have any idea on how much the materials are going for?" Enquired Hepht. Tinkerson indicated he didn''t. "Materials that are sold by epics is normally sold to us by one of two ways. Barter for some other materials or in coinage. I imagine you haven''t got any coinage?" Tinkerson confirmed he hadn''t. Hept nodded and then gave him directions to a shop in the rows that dealt in mundane coinage. He also gave a bit of advice in the best types to get. some were worth more then others, some were trusted more then others. "With that out of the way, tell me, have you noticed the bit of space in the portal room along side the wall with some people sitting there?" Tinkerson confirmed that he had. "These are students like yourself. They will often buy from people coming straight out of the portals and sell some of the common consumables, enabling a quick turnaround for the team or person that is selling. If someone was to deal regularly there, and build up some trust, it possible they could make contacts. Contacts that would be willing to source particular materials." Tinkerson mind worked furiously at this. "Are those along there allowed to sell finished equipment?" Hepht nodded to this. "Why don''t you have people there?" "Only academy students are allowed to set up there. It a way to give those who manage to work or find this out, a leg up. I would advise in exchanging three demis worth of power for coinage. This would give you enough coinage to buy a plentiful supply of basic to heroic levels of materials. Possibly a few legendary, although I would expect them to use barter more for that. Epics, I doubt they will come to you about unless you have gained complete trust of the team." Tinkerson nodded to this. They spoke for a few hours more, mostly on prices and such for different materials although Hepht was impressed by the scale of Tinkerson''s knowledge and assumed that Tinkerson was strictly on a merchant path. Tinkerson did not disabuse him of this notion. He then wandered back to the portal room where he saw Jesary on duty. Pausing by him, he asked. "Is there a rule book for merchants?" Jesary reached back and pulled out a book and gave it to Tinkerson with a smile. "I won on that one. I changed my bet on this after speaking to you last time. Is there anything else i can help you with?" Tinkerson found himself thinking on how Jesary had phrased this. "Are there any more books you could give me?" Jesary grinned broadly at this and reached behind him and gave him five more books. It seemed that he had won again on Tinkerson. Tinkerson then went on through the portal back to the academy. Heading back to his room, he then researched the books he been given. As well as rules for merchant, there were rules for people fighting in the arena, rules for people selling in the rows, a book that concentrated on agreements, a book for setting up a faction and a book on dealing with epics. Tinkerson then proceeded to read all of them. He then went and ate, and went to bed. Tinkerson awoke with knowledge that he had read the evening before fitting together. Everything was interconnected in the city of the demigods. The sooner you worked this out or found this out, you could work at using it to your advantage. This was the first hurdle of these 25 years. The later you found this out, the more likely you were not to gain power. A demigod needed power in order to move forward. He understood now, that the city of demigods was likely a city made of demigods that had never made it past this point. What happened then, Tinkerson was unsure of. One thing he was sure of, he wasn''t going to find out the hard way. He then went and looked for Kekemozz. He knocked on his door and when Kekemozz answered the door, requested they adjourned to the meeting room. Once there, they settled in and Tinkerson begain to speak. He explained all he had found out so far. How he determined how it all fit together. That he had worked out a path through it all. However he was hoping that Kekemozz could guide him on how to shore up a weakness he had. That of working with others. Kekemozz listened through all of this, and then spoke himself. "Two months. You have worked out in two months what was supposed to take you roughly three years to work out. I am damned impressed. I am not allowed to help you with any of this, but advice on how to help solve a problem that concerns your own personal self? This is what I am allowed to do. Oh before we get into that, take this." So saying, Kekemozz held out a marble. Tinkerson took it and absorbed it and handed it back. 70 demis of power. Which meant he now had 100 demis. He started at Kekemozz. "That is what is awarded to students who meet criteria. I imagine you will get something additonal for having smashed the time allocated by the academy for doing so, but that will be rewarded by the board. It out of my hands." So saying, Kekemozz moved onto the topic of working with others. "This was a weakness I noticed in your original build. However, this is the one path that we are not allowed to assist on, unless asked for. The path of power. Not of strength, but political. If you follow this in any way, you will most likely end up playing the game of the gods. How deeply, is up to you. Just remember, greats gains can be made, everything can be lost. So you now ask, how can I work with others? It is actually a cornerstone of reaching the highest heights. If Gods did not manage to work together for the most part, the universe would have died from the wars waged. Fortunately, your Knowledge of the land includes knowing whose land you are on, which can be an advantage in at least knowing who you will be ultimately dealing with." Kekemozz looked Tinkerson in the eye. "You will never be part of a pantheon. With your eventual goal, you will not have equals for a while I suspect, as nobody will think to achieve it, until you do. However, I do recommend you set up a faction. I am in fact, the head of a faction. Under me, I have people who seek out new knowledge for me and confirm whisperings of it. A knowledge faction. However, it is a lot smaller then others, as I mostly use it to cover knowledge concerning the academy. You need to start thinking of what sort of faction you want to start. In the meantime, I will give you a list of books to read. With your intent, you should learn what you need to learn. If you do not, I would surmise you will fail your end goal." Tinkerson took the list and trudged off to his rooms and the library in a state of shock. He had been a loner by nature. While he had enjoyed the company of his workmates and some close friends, in general he tended to stick to himself. Now, in order to complete his goal he was expected to be able to in charge of faction of people and direct them. The skills he needed for this were not skills that would come naturally to him. Which meant, he was going to have to figure out a way forward through this minefield. He sat down in the library and scanned the list he was given. One struck his eye. It was a memoir of a man who had worked in service of a god, eventually becoming an epic. Due to the nature of his work, he often had to interact with others. However the man was a lot like him. He was not a natural leader. Yet he had risen in power based on being a leader for his god. How had he achieved this? He figured this would be a good place to start. It took him four days to go through it. Once he had, he thought about what he had read. Not all the pieces were fitting together, although he had a better grasp of how. So he scanned the list again. Found a book compromising of how a group of people who had worked together during their epic years had then parlayed into a faction rather then a pantheon as was usual for a group of epics working together. He read that one in 2 days and it made more of the pieces in his mind fit together. He decided now that he had a barebones framework in his mind, to read through the list and also read a couple of books that were linked to the first couple he read. One that explained how the man who had became an epic through his leadership had not chosen to become a demigod. Part of this was about his experiences as a leader. The other detailed different power structures that were found throughout the universe. After finishing all of these, he went to sleep. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. When he woke up, he sat up in bed and pulled up his status.
Name: Tinkerson Race: Demigod
Racial Traits: Universal language, Improved Phyiscal and Mental abilities.
Unique Traits: Dimensional Affinity, Soulforged, Champion
Alignment - Neutral (locked)? Recognition level - Academy Student 2nd stage
Game Level - Trainee Game Pieces - None
Bound Assets - None
The only change here was his recognition level. Which made sense. He hadn''t really done anything else. Now for his skills.
Open Skills Hidden Skills
Divine - Universal Language, God''s Eye Divine - Dimensional Construction, Knowledge Of The land
Legendary - Neutral Aura, Summoning, Master Of Trades Legendary - Neutral To All, Knowledge Depositary, Blend
Heroic - Steel Mind. World Body Heroic - Seeker, Master Merchant, Scholar
Extraordinary - Elemental Craftsman, Diplomacy Extraordinary - Signatory
Basic - Tracker Basic - Leadership
He looked at his skills. Master Merchant had moved up one and was coloured differently from before. He figured that the colour would be from skills levelled up from city of the demigods. Scholar had also moved up and he guessed it was from researching a topic that did not come naturally to him. Then there was three new skills. Diplomacy and leadership were two he was hoping for, but what was signatory doing there? Then he realised it was probably due to the agreements he had made and such. He pondered on the idea of factions with his newfound knowledge and understood there was a way forward for him. It would depend however, on the people he recruited. He understood that he would not be able to be like the big factions. No, his would probably be more like Kekemozz. Small, where everyone knew everyone else in the faction. It was also likely to be a hidden faction. Which in turn could cause problems in his dealings if people thought he was just a lone person, ripe for the taking. He thought about this and realised he could disguise his faction as a group at first. That way he would be associated with people, and grouping would probably be a good way of meeting people and learning about them. He lingered on this a while before finally deciding it was time to start on the merchantile side of things. It was probably one of his strongest sides, and he needed to get materials together so he could create, using his elemental craftsman skill. He couldn''t wait to experiment with that. So he portalled to the city of the demigods and proceeded to the shop recommended by hepht. Having a greater windfall in demis then he had expected to have, he decided to exchange 10 demis for coinage. He spoke at length with the proprietor of the shop. The gentleman in question, having been a bit bored when he had walked in, talked joyfully of the different coinage that he could buy. While, strictly speaking, it was all the same weight and had exactly the same spending power, the coinage wanted varied on how the epics intended to spend their coins. It turned out that most worlds had their own coinage. Worlds that were strung together in a pantheon often had the same coinage. As a result, due to the citizens of those worlds, the coinage of those worlds was obviously worth more then coins from other worlds, as they tended to distrust that coinage in favour of their own. There were some exceptions. One was a coin that had been set up by the city of the demigods and as a result it was popular with most epics due to it spending most highly in the city of the demigods over the local coins from where they came from. Since the city of the demigods tended to have the best equipment for their levels, epics brought often from there. The second exception was not so much a spending currency as it was a collectiing currency. The owner of the shop indicated he would explain more if a fee was paid of five demis. Tinkerson paid, as he thought the knowledge was useful. The owner then began to explain. Scattered through the universe were treasures that could only be opened with certain keys. Left behind by civilisations and powers that had collasped since, if you could find how to open them, it could be yours or sold for a goodly amount. Sometime in the past, someone had hit on the idea of setting some of these treasures to be opened by inserting coinage from that civilisation. How this came about, nobody knew. But as result, people would accept coinage of this sort, in the hopes of coming across these treasures. In the end, advised by his skills and the gentleman in front of him, he purchased seven demis of city coins, two demis of the three most popular particular coinage and one demi of collectable coins. With the collectable coins he went for rarer types. It might take him a while to get rid of, but to the right person, they would be worth a lot. He then went to the portal area and sat down in a spare spot by the wall and started watching the portals. Welcome to the city of the demigods I blinked my eyes as I came out of the portal. Damn light spots. People tell me I am imagining things but I swear, further we go with the portal, the worse it gets. So anyway, the city of the demigods! finally here. This is my first trip here, as I am new to the group. I look around the place and think it mostly similar to most portal areas I seen, but indoors until I look upwards and am rooted by what I see. Stars! and two huge round circular objects! Plus a very far off ball of light far away. My jaw suddenly drops as my education suddenly connects. "We''re in space!" I blurted out. The rest of the group start laughing and my uncle cursing hands over some coin to the leader of the group. She turns to me and smiles. "Well done for working that out Franky. You be surprised at how long it takes some people to twig. I knew you were a clever fella." I blush at this, since i have a bit of a crush on our leader. She may be several years older then me, but she looks only a few years older and has a body that most women would kill for. But it not that which ultimately attracts me. Well, not all that does. She smart, kind and does not take any shit from no-one. One of the smaller villages we passed through, the headman tried to bypass her in favour of talking to a man as he put it. He soon changed his tune after Sario then ordered us to keep on moving on. "My own flesh and blood let me down!" Said my uncle mock aggrieved. Then laughed. "You were always a quicker thinker then your da is for sure. Should keep that in mind." Dressed in dark leather and with his skill set, most people seemed to forget my uncle was around. We had used this to our advantage more then once over our journey and it had gotten us out of some sticky stiuations. "Definitely more educated then most of us." Laughed the biggest member of our crew. Dressed in hard armour, Most people couldn''t get over how big he was. He did have the blood of gaints in him and ranking up along with his skills had only added to it. It was no surpise he was the tank of our group. "Stop teasing the poor lad, the lot of you. Look how red he going" Chided the last member of the group. Kind, softly spoken and an excellent healer, it could be startling when she was in the middle of a battle and suddenly turned into a full on battle priestess, complete with rage. She had followed her God for a long time, but did not attempt to preach. But if you asked her to expand on her God, be prepared to listen for a while! "Right. Unfortunately Franky, we don''t have the time to show you around. Need to get back to the family as soon as. So we going to sell to one of the guys over the back there." My uncle then smiled deviously. "But tell you what, to make up for it, we let you choose which demigod we will sell to." I gulped at this. If I chose wrong, we could end up with a crappy payment. "Don''t be so mean to him Shad." Scolded Sario. She then turned to me and spoke. "Honestly, it won''t matter on the payment, but doing this is an art in and of itself, so we are quite curious as to who you pick and why. Consider this a training experience." I was a new epic. Having been born to two legendary level, I somehow managed to start off an epic. This was rare, as normally, people became epic as a choice over demigod. Those like me, could actually become a demigod, since we were born epic rank. It was advised to get experience first, as many people who didn''t, ended up here and no further. So I was being gradually trained as a replacement for a member of the group I was with, that had decided to "Run off and make stuff" as he had put it when he left. While it left the group a member short, It just meant they could not take on dungeons until they had a fifth member. Which was going to be me, but after I had trained and equipped myself to a satisfactory level. So in the meantime, they took on more normal quests or just generally roamed about, adjusting me. I was nearly there, Training was mostly done, It was just equipment I now needed to stock up on. I looked over the people sat against the back of the wall. Some of them made me feel uneasy, so I discounted them straight away. Others I was feeling quite friendly towards and I also dismissed them. Obviously it was an aura type of thing, but I had been warned not to be taken in by those. I suddenly paused as I looked at one gentleman down the wall. He had an aura, but it was neither good or bad. It was just there. A neutral aura. That was a strange one. While people could disguise themselves with the others, a neutral aura could be not be counterfeited. I looked at the man closely. Most Demigod who excelled in power, were musclebound younger people. Mental paths tended to go for older, more reassuring looking faces. This man however.... He looked early 30s. He had the sort of build my team leader had, but his body movements did not mimic hers. He more reminded me of the merchant back home. Which, would make sense considering these people were here to buy or sell. But there was something about him. Others were displaying wares and putting on a show. Some were sort of hidden away, transactions prepared to be shielded from everyone else. This demigod however, there was something in his eyes. I decided to ask him a question. "Can you do identify services?" "Yes." Hhhhmmm. that was rare. Useful to us too, since I knew we had a few pieces that we had no idea what they were. Weapons and equipment my uncle and our tank, Tedd could normally identify to around legendary rank. but materials, we didnt have a clue on. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. "Methods of payment?" "I am willing to pay in coinage, barter or collection coins. for the identify services, If you sell to me, I will identify for free. Any that you choose to keep after I identify, I will ask 3% of what it worth." This was also unusual. I been told that most demigods along here would only offer one or two of the methods, yet here was someone who could do all three. Plus, the price he offered for his identify services were 2% lower then normal. I nodded to him and mumbled be back. I made my way back to the group. "Made your choice Franky?" I suddenly realised with some embarrassment I had forgotten to ask the demigod name. I nodded and led my group back to the demigod in question. Sario began negotiations. "Hello, my name is Sario. We are looking for somebody to sell to. However some of what we have is undentified and we would like to know what they are before we sell. We are also interested in seeing if you can take on a commission to find a weapon for our newest member here which we can pick up on our way back through." My jaw dropped and I moved to protest. "You need a weapon Franky. The next part of the training we hope to do with you will require a weapon suited to you. Your dad old sword, is not it." They were not wrong. I had been trained in a variety of weapons, but the only one I had that was of epic rank was my dad old sword. It was a good sword. However my sword skill was not so good. I was best rated in axes and crossbows. I had hoped to scour the market here to find something, even though I was unsure if I be able to afford it. "I am Tinkerson" replied the demigod. "I can certainly identify the materials. If we get that part out of the way first, then total up the value of everything and you can decide if you want to keep, sell or barter it all. The rest, we can talk about at the end." Sario nodded acceptance to this, and pulled out the seven materials we had been unable to identify. The rest we had, even if it was of higher quality, because the team had come across them before. These however, were a mystery. "Three of them are of Heroic quality, two of them are legendary, and two are of epic." My jaw dropped at this. All of this had came from a trove from our toughest opponent on the other world. It had been my toughest fight to date and looks to have really paid off. "This epic in particular is worth particularly much, as it can be used in divine ranked workings without bringing overall quality down." This was huge. I probably be able to get both the axe and crossbow with my share. "Will you show me the rest?" Sario brought out our most prized possession as a group. A legendary ranked dimensional bag. It was this that enabled us to go for years at a time, holding on to the best to sell back here, as the city of the demigods would normally provide the best prices. She looked enquiringly at Tinkerson who just focused on the bag, and then nodded calmly at her. "I have totalled up the raw materials in the bag, is there anything else you wish to sell in that?" We all blinked at that. To be able to do that, meant the guy had one hell of an indentify feature. Sario then answered him "Aaahhhh, we wouldnt mind selling some of the other stuff we have here." She then listed what was for sale. Tinkerson nodded and then looked at me. I felt something strange pass through me and I swore. It wasn''t just an identify skill this demigod had. He could see everyone on me, and about me. "May I ask why you just did that to Franky?" Sario''s voice was like ice. Tinkerson blinked and then said. "My apologies, I should have asked first. Since you wanted me to get him equipment, I thought I would see what he has and his skills so I can see what best to get him." The whole team fell silent. This was a rare service, that normally cost a lot. We were just going to give him some general specifics and hope he would be able to help us. "aaahhhh, what is that service going to cost us?" Tinkerson eyes suddenly flickered. A sign that a skill had just kicked in. "I didn''t realise I could charge for that. I am somewhat new to this side. However, the reason I did this was because I have a proposal to make. How much are you willing to spend on Franky here. "The whole lot." I suddenly let out a squeak. and Sario looked at me. "If he about to offer what I think he is, we be a fool not to take it. The group had talked about this, and we were prepared to do this just for the weapons. However, I think our friend here has something else in mind." "Indeed. I noticed from your bag youare relatively well stocked for I am guessing your next expedition. Was there anything else you were hoping to source?" "No. We were planning to head on a journey to get some equipment and weapons augnments for Franky here and so we stocked accordingly." "So you don''t need any fancy stuff as it were, just well made with slots for those augnments and possibly a born one imprinted on them?" "If you can get that" Said Sario dubiously. Tinkerson then turned to me. "I recommend you keep that ring as part of your new outfit, as it apparently is scalable." I nodded, as I knew that about the ring. "I provide everything else to at least an epic quality. My word and power on that." This was huge. Most of my stuff was legendary, with a couple of heroics and my father epic sword. To get what he was proposing, would be a major upgrade. "Why?" I asked. "Why are you offering this? I imagine the material you talked about would be worth some, but this is a big deal." Tinkerson regarded me for a minute before addressing the whole group. "I am relatively new to the academy. As a result, I am still in the building the foundations of my power stage. What you have in this bag would allow me to advance that. Plus, I would also like to talk about the possibility of this group doing some work for me and sourcing some materials." "You have a deal." Said Sario holding out her hand. They finalised on a time to come back and Tinkerson then transported all that we were selling into what seemed to be a dimensional space. A true skill of worth. Some epics could get it, but it was a very rare power. Nearly all demigods had it though. We then walked to the portal to go home. I looked back at Tinkerson, who seemed lost in thought for a moment. Then watched as he walked purposely towards the entrance to the main market. "Don''t worry lad, we have a proper look around when we come back" Said uncle Shad. I nodded and then walked through the portal with the rest of my crew. Prepping. Tinkerson sat in his favourite spot in the little cafe. He couldn''t say why he liked this place so much. Maybe it was a resonance from his old life? He contemplated his spoils from the last few weeks. He had made out surprisingly well over the last few months. While he had not made a lot of profit on the demi side, he had managed to get his hands on plenty of rarer material and funnily enough had even expanded on the rare coins that people were collecting, which he hadn''t intended to do. He had found himself fascinated by them however. Again, he had plenty of mortal coinage and decided to keep hold of it for now rather then convert it to demi. He had sold the materials that he deemed that he would not need for his plans to Hepht who had been most happy to get some of the rarer ones he did not want. It was now time to start to use another of his skills that he had not used. Elemental craftsman. He was planning to churn out some basic stuff, that might sell well to the people who visited him and get a feel for the skill. Maybe create some tools that be useful for himself. Then, he would make some equipment that would be suitable for the young epic. This would hopefully give him enough experience to craft something that would be useful for now, for himself. First however, he was going to have to find somewhere to craft. He focused a look on the cafe owner, who upon feeling his look, paid his attention to Tinkerson. "Hey Henare. Do you know somewhere I can craft at? I am looking for a multicraft space really, so that I can craft all manner of things." Tinkerson knew from my book knowledge there were places like this. He did not know where or which would be good ones. Most of the shops were easy to look at and decide. The craft rooms were hidden away. he suspected it was another part of the academy testing. "Hepht likes you. I think I send you to his uncle. Grane has a room that he rents out for this purpose. He will give you a good deal. Go two rows over and look for a weapons shop. There will most likely be a man sleeping in a chair there. Speak to him." So saying, Henare bustled Tinkerson out of the cafe and set him off in the right direction. I found the shop in question and fortunately I didn''t have to wake anyone up. I spoke to the older looking demigod there and told him who sent me and my name and why I was bothering him. He nodded and asked me how long I wanted the place for. I had three months before the team I spoke to would be back, and I had plenty to experiment with. He named a price for the three months. 6 demis was a bit pricey but I paid. As soon as I got into the craft section tho, I understood. Everything here was the best tools and such to use. By using this equipment I would probably be able to create better equipment then I expected. I sat down at the bench that was in the middle of the room and began to write down some ideas for equipment. Some of it was even going to be ideas I had from reading fantasy books in my old life. If they sold, fantastic. If they didn''t, the practise would be good. For a good month I just churned out various bits and bobs and got used to the equipment I was using. There were some magical workaround for stuff. I was glad for that as I didn''t fancy curing leather the old fashioned way. There were even some supplies I never even got but was able to use courtesy of Grane. I was going to be responsible for paying for them to be replaced but I was fine with that. Between that and soliciting advice from Grane, I was getting more then my money worth. Grane at first just let me get on it. After a couple of days he asked me about a couple of the things I was making that were from the fantasy books I had read and thought them damn good ideas. As a result he had warmed towards me and gave me some practical advice towards making. I felt in my soul that there was serious progress being made on my skill list due to both making and the advice, But I held off looking for now. I even made a toolkit that could be lugged around and might come in useful. I doubt I could make quality products with them, but repair work was definitely a service I might be able to supply at a moment notice. I then spend a month making armour and weapons of all sort. Most of them varied in value, but since at the moment I was just trying to practice and figure out how to use different materials and how they reacted to being used the way they were, I was fine with this. I also found something out about myself. I loved the complexity of it. Simple items did not interest me. Oh, for equipment that could be mass produced and was useful, I did not mind making a batch of here and there, but making basic stuff, did not interest me that much. For example, this sword I was making. Most of the swords I seen so far from the people who sold them me were basically hunks of metal given form. Oh sure, most of them were gotten from monsters who made it basically that way, just hammering it out. Those did not interest me. With the sword I was making, using the equipment in the room, I had blended two metals together for the blade, making it durable but ever so sharp. I had also made a handle out of what had looked to be some bone from a monster and a scabbard to go with it, made from the leather of a monster. I had melded the bone to the sword so it all looked to be one piece and then magically connected it to the scabbard, so that the sword would reappear in the scabbard. That was a brainwave I managed to do with dimensional construction. It end up with a status page like this.
Blade of Return If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Made by Tinkerson This sword was created as a result of the demigod first crafting session. Due to his distaste of making it simple, he created out of multiple materials. As a result, the quality is lower then it could have been, but the effects drawn from the materials make it formidable. Legendary quality Effects Return - Blade is connected to the scabbard. As a result, whenever the sword is willed by the owner back to the scabbard. Sure Grip - This blade will never slip out of it owner''s hand. Ever strong, Ever sharp - This blade will never need sharpening. It will also never shatter unless the blade it is up against is higher then Epic.
All in all, I was pleased with it and thought it the best out of what I had made, weapon wise. as I stored it away, I realised I only had a month left. I used the first week to prep all the materials I was planning to use for Franky''s stuff. I had come to realise, that I would hold off on mine. There had been a couple of things that I wanted to that I realised I did not have the materials for and also needed to study a bit more. As I could not go anywhere, it would not bother me to wait a while. The second week, I spent going over everything I had done over the past two months and a half, then studied some books on parts I thought I had been weak on. I discovered that I could have affixed elemental effects to what I had made as a finished effect but I shrugged thinking I would do that with my own, as that part seemed easy to do. It was the source materials that was hard to get hold of, but I was fortunate in that I had access to the city of the demigods. I could get hold of nearly most common elements. When I had looked at Franky, I had gotten a status page like this.
Name: Franky Lerd Rank: Epic Class: Wood Warden
Affiliations: Usiage''s Adventurer Guild, Sario Iceshard''s group Affinities: Flame/wood
Game of Gods status: Unclaimed 34 years Bound equipment: Ring
Short and sweet, it told me all the information I needed to know about him. I had to look up his class, turned out it was a starter class that could be evolved, but was only used as a starter class for legendaries and above. While he was vulnerable to ice, his leader''s main element, earth and fire combo meant he was hard to take down, with some nice offensive skills. I had also read his skills, but since I was only interested in weapons to use, I just browsed that. Axe and Crossbow were his two main weapons, with the crossbow being the main one. I thought a while on armour. He would not want a all metal setup like the big guy he was with. But he certainly wouldn''t want the light equipment the other man was carrying. Medium. Leather pants with toughened pads. Boots the same, but with thin metal soles and caps. An armoured shirt though, of lighter design then the big guy. Gloves that could take a beating but supple enough to pull a trigger on a crossbow along with vambraces. For a helmet however, viking style designed from his world with the flaps to help protect his ears and side of his face. This should enable him to be armoured where he needed to be, but able to take some punishment. For the axe he was thinking a two handed battle axe. The shaft of the axe would be quite long to give him some reach if he needed to stay out of the close up. For the crossbow, He thought a cross between a medium and heavy would be best. The heavy was a bit unwieldy, but thanks to the materials he was using, he could scale it back to a medium sized one, without losing the power. He rubbed his hands together here. This would be a fun one to make. For equipment, He would make a necklace with some protective effects and a belt that infused some speed and strength. He then finished off with two bands that could fit on his arm between the armored shit and the vambraces. He rooted through his box trying to get an idea for a ring when he came across a particular material that he had intended to play with, trying to figure out what he could do with it. He stared at it and grinned. If he had time, he would do that too. The next two weeks went by, and all the equipment was made, including the mystery ring. Everything had turned out better then he had expected, although he had nearly fumbled the ring and just managed to finish it. It turned out ok, but he was a bit disappointed. When he had told Grane however, Grane had read him the riot act. Apparently, what he had done with that, if it had gone wrong, could have ruined the workshop and killed him. Grane was ok once he calmed down, but had said if Tinkerson was going to muck around with stuff like that one, best he do that in a specialised room. He then gave an address for where to do that. Grane had said elemental effects were best done in a damn enchantment room, with finished equipment, or at least the fiddly bits done there if it wasn''t finished. He went back to his room to sleep. Ready to meet the team refreshed, the next day. Interlude. Not a chapter. So as I write this, I have hit the first goal of the writathon. Hit 25k by the 16th of January. I be honest with you, I did not think I would make this. If you look, you will see I have started a book once before. It was a bit of a slog and I ended up giving up on it. Maybe I come back the idea and restart but who knows. But this time around I decided I was going to make a true honest go of it, and not get discouraged by myself. (own worse enemy :) ) I''m partially deaf and have a couple of other bits wrong with me. I never let any of this set me back and im now a 40 year old man who has worked his life and am mostly ok with where and who I am. But when I was young I was clumsy as hell and just awkward. As a result, I was not popular or had many friends at the time. But I had books. I loved to read, Something that I still love to do now. I always said I would write something and here we are. I have always had sources of inspiration that could inspire me to write out a scene that quite frankly would make me so happy to write. The first chapter being a case in point. (love the bits with the hippo.) I could make scenes like that and some short stories. But where I seemed to fall down was linking those scenes together and writing the bits inbetween. I let this discourage me for a long time and kept saying ''some day.'' This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Well with this writathon, that some day has come. I will get to 55k words. I will get this to a stage where I could stop and although I could go on, everything would be wrapped up for that part. (Hate it when series end on a cliffhanger and then it all gets cancelled.) I hope I will continue. I hope I will improve. Even if the only people who end up reading this are the 12 people that have decided to follow this story, I will be happy. Because at the end of the day I am not out to prove anything to anyone. I am trying to prove to myself that I can do it. I not really had any interaction about how anyone feels about this book, and that fine. If you just want to read and have me do my own thing that cool. That said, if you wanted more of something or have some questions, please do ask. It may take me a day or two to think on an answer and reply, but I will. But I do want to give a shoutout to ChocolateMintChipmunk for all their editing suggestions. I be honest, in trying to reach the target word counts, I have not really looked back for them, until you had made the suggestions. It has been most appreciated so far. Dressed to kill. We came walking back through the portal from home. It had been nice visiting, but after having been gone for 6 years I was a little taken aback at how some things had changed, yet some things had stayed the same. I spoke to my uncle Shad a little on this, and he told me that as the years passed, I would mostly become used to it, but then it would hit me like a hammer between the eyes at the most unexpected moment. Told me how he had one exact moment like it, when he had met his childhood sweetheart at my grandparent''s funeral. He was the same as the day he left town, but by that time she was 170 years old and approaching the end of her life. The surroundings were all the same, there were people there that looked the same as when he had left. But others had grown older. That when he and my father had decided to move to a higher tier world. Basic tier were for people who just wanted to live out their lives in peace. The other end of the scale where people like me were allowed was Epic worlds which were basically one big Monster planet, filled to the brim with every sort of creature that wanted to kill you. My parents lived on a Heroic world. Real chance of danger, but real chance of advancement for people too. I was jerked from my introspection by us arriving at the city of the demigods. This time we were going to look around as we had gotten the rewards from the last 6 years of wandering. I was looking forward to seeing what the demigod Tinkerson would have for me too. It was starting to remind me of when we would go somewhere special for my birthday. The happiness and starting a war in my stomach. I needed an upgrade. The last 6 years had been done to hone me to a certain point. But to move on, would take quality not quanity. I was staring in awe at the market. I had seen bigger. In fact, one of the worlds my father and uncle had taken me to had a city that was as big as this and was the hub for a market that once a decade sprung up around the city. It was amazing, but this. Words could not do justice. The power and magic that was just flowing around it, every item worth a small fortune. Plus the amount of people around that was at epic or higher. Normally, you be lucky anywhere else to get maybe six full teams of epic on a planet. This place held more like sixty teams plus all the demigods that were walking around. Then in the distance was the arena. Roars and screams plus explosions could be heard from there. Tedd was looking over too, his feet twitching. "Alright, you can go over there" Sighed Sario. "We meet you once we met Tinkerson." Tedd grinned and looked at the priestess Melda, who rolled her eyes and nodded. "Just stay out of trouble. In fact, take Shad with you. That way even if you get into trouble, at least you got someone to back you up or at least run the betting." Uncle Shad laughed at that one and then accompanied Tedd in the direction of the Arena. It looked like Melda and Sario were staying with me. I was watching a barter taking place between a demigod and a epic when I suddenly saw Tinkerson heading towards us. Sario and Melda started to chuckle at my reaction. "Greetings" Said Tinkerson. "Are you ready to complete the transaction?" I nodded eagerly. He handed me a ring and told me to bind it to my self. I was looking forward to what this ring would add pow- "HOLY TITS OF UDUREDA!" I shouted, before remembering belatedly where I was and the people that were around. Most of them laughed at me, although I could see Sario looking a bit embrassed and her look also promising a meeting where advice would be given along with possibly a very brutal lesson in sparring. But I just couldn''t help my self. Because the ring wasn''t a normal ring. It didn''t just give me a boost in something. It was a storage ring. It probably cost more then what we gave him and now it was bound to me. But it was weapons and equipment I needed. "I see your look, but that ring cost me nothing to throw in really and I want to make sure that your group will look favourably on doing some errands for me. Now I want you to focus on the ring and think ''Set 1''" I do as he says and suddenly I am wearing a set of armor. Tinkerson smiled and then shared with us some status screens.
Storage Ring Made by Tinkerson Bound to Franky Lerd Divine Quality This ring will hold inaminate objects in status. Can be upgraded by original maker. Cuirass of Protection Made by Tinkerson Bound to Franky Lerd Divine Quality This cuirass offers Divine grade protection. Can be upgraded by original Maker
Trousers of Movement This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Made by Tinkerson Bound to Franky Lerd Divine Quality These Trousers help with mobility. Can be upgraded by original maker Helmet of Ward Made by Tinkerson Bound to Franky Lerd Divine Quality Wards are set upon this helmet. Can be upgraded by original maker
Vambraces of Flexibility Made by Tinkerson Bound to Franky Lerd Divine Quality You will not fumble what you are holding. Can be upgraded by original maker Boots of Solidness Made by Tinkerson Bound to Franky Lerd Divine Quality Anyone tries to knock you down, will get a shock. Can be upgraded by original maker
Armlets of Magic Made by Tinkerson Bound to Franky Lerd Divine Quality Offers protection and help for magic. Can be upgraded by original maker Belt of Gaints Made by Tinkerson Bound to Franky Lerd Divine Quality This belt offers strength and endurance. Can be upgraded by original maker
Necklace of Utiliy Made by Tinkerson Bound to Franky Lerd Divine Quality This Necklace has a variety of ultility functions. Can be upgraded by original maker
"HOLY TITS OF UDUREDA!" shouted Melda. "what?" she said in response to the look Sario gave her. "My god won''t mind, and you know Udureda loves her tits being praised, being a god of courtesans as she is. These items are amazing." I looked at the description with marvel. Now all I needed was weapons. Maybe I could find something here. "If you hold out your hands and call forth the two weapons that are in the ring, you see what I done with those." Hang on. Weapons as well?! I called them forth and held a crossbow in one hand and an axe in the other. It was a good thing I had those gloves and that belt, because otherwise I would have dropped them. The axe was an intimidating looking thing and I fell in love with it. Able to hurt people yet keep a little distance, it was a true Battle axe. As for the crossbow, whatever I shot with it, was definitely going to feel it. Not in a good way either. Tinkerson then shared the descriptions for these too.
Axe of the Warden Made by Tinkerson Bound to Franky Lerd Divine Quality Made specially for it''s owner, it can protect or it can hurt. The choice is yours. Can be upgraded by original maker
Crossbow of the Warden Made by Tinkerson Bound to Franky Lerd Divine Quality Made specially for it''s owner, to hurt or kill with as much power as it can. Can be upgraded by original maker
I finally remember to breathe. What was I going to owe for this?! This was a divine set. a minor one to be sure, but a set. It wasn''t going to just increase my power. It was going to make me a heavy hitter. Sure, I might not be able to take as much damage as Tedd, or hand out as much as Uncle Shad in one go, but my staying power in a fight as well as general damage, was going to be ranges better then it was before. "What extra are we going to owe you? What will you want us to do to cover what you have given us?" Said Sario helplessly. She knew what was the worth of what I had recieved. and what we had given him was in no way comparable. Tinkerson looked surprised. "The original agreement was this in exchange for what you gave me was it not? I admit, it turned out better then I had expected, and the ring was perhaps a tad out of the agreement but it was worthless to me and I thought it was be helpful to Franky here in years to come. By the way Franky, there is a booklet in the ring that contains more about your equipment" Useless to him. A ring that apparently held from what I could determine, more then our dimensional bag could and still had some supplies in it. "But what about the other stuff in here?!" I blurted out. Tinkerson gave a dimissive wave. "Just stuff I had created for practice. I noticed that you don''t have some of this around here, and I thought I would give it to you guys to see if it proves useful. If it does, let me know please. That all I ask." That all he asked. The guy had just given me a fortune in equipment and weapons and a ring that could hold it all plus more. "So what was the errands you wanted us to run?" Asked Sario idly. Tinkerson brightened up at that and replied. "I have no errands as such, but if you could save any curious or expectional stuff you find, and bring it to me, I''m sure I can make a good deal for it. One of a kind books or spells would be good, even if they seem trivial. I might have a friend that would be curious in that anyway." A good deal. He was unreal. Ok, I needed to calm down. Granted, I just got what was to me the jackpot, but I had to remember this guy was a demigod. They were powerful. Only..... Wasn''t he supposed to be a new demigod? What the hell would he be like at the height of his power?! "Uh, yeah. We can do that." Said Melda slowly. Tinkerson smiled and walked off. "Thanks!" He said over his shoulder. The three of us just stood there watching. Then finally Sario stirred. "OK, we going to find the other two at the arena, then we going to rent an arena practice room and test the equipment." Oh. This was going to be exciting. But it was also going to hurt for me. A lot. Unexpected directions. Tinkerson carried on walking around from the team. His duties discharged, He went and stood in front of the closed doors of the Guildhall. Closed to him that is. He had stood here and watched some gods try to dash in when they were open, only to be rebuffed out. He had the materials to make a full set of equipment for himself. He would have done so and then tried to see if he could get within the doors himself except he had noticed something. The last few months of watching those doors, everyone that he had seen who had walked through for the first time had done so in a group. This did not mean as a group of all new demigods either. Some had joined established teams missing a member. Some had gone in a slightly larger group and clearly not been a combat person. But one thing had been clear about every group that had gone in. It had a clear combat team core. So he had a choice. Either change his fit and skills or build up the ones he had to provide value to a combat group, or start his own group to be able to lead them through. He thought about the first option. With his craftsman skills and merchant skills plus the god''s eye skill, it probably wouldn''t even that long. Only, he had seen how most of the demigods had treated the other demigods that they considered weak or lacking skills. He had experienced some of it himself recently. Not too much as he was still new on the scene. The ones that had not managed to access it in 10 years were being treated shabbily. The ones who had been here 20 years, derisively. He would probably be still be derided for not taking a combat path. A group of his own as leader though. Sure, he would still have to be able to prove himself. He would never be a combat leader. But so far, he had managed to come up trump on the merchant path along with his crafting. Along with the skills he had learned for setting up for a faction, maybe he would be able to parley the group into being part of his faction if he chose the right people. After all, hadn''t he just made what he thought would be a worthwhile contact among the teams of the epics he had seen over the past few months? It would take time to assemble the right group together. To equip them. To figure out what he needed. While he was doing this, he could further the conacts he had made already among the demigods who resided here and maybe find more epics willing to work with him. To start this all off however, he would have to start off his own faction. This would tell everyone around him that he was not for recruiting. It probably would get him some derision. But he could deal with that. It was time to show that he was going to be his own man and that he was going to do it the way he wanted to. To start a faction however, he needed someone willing to follow him. He looked at the demigods that were near the doors. It was possible to see which ones did have not much time left to access those doors. Their faces lined with worry and hope every time a team looking for a member came along. Some of the newer demigods, who were confident of proving their worth or convinced of their own worth, waiting for a team to pick them. He did not want somebody from those groups. He needed someone with some skill. Someone he could reason and work with. Even if that person would eventually move on. He needed them more for getting through the academy years. If they wanted to go seperate ways after that, then they could with his blessing so long they passed. He thought about the epic teams he had interacted with. Thought of Sario who was obviously competent in leading her team. He needed a partner like that. However, he had found out a truth about the academy that he wondered how many had found out. The academy comprised of two parts. One part was for people like him. Demigods who had little experience of struggling up the mortal ladder, who had come straight to the academy as they were. Normally born to parents of other demigods or higher, they normally had little experience. The second part of the academy were for people who had climbed the ladder or had gained a lot of experience. The academy was more of a finishing school for them. As a result, the 50 years that Tinkerson was doing now? They didn''t have to. Their starting position was from the end of the period of 50 years that he had to do. Tinkerson did not mind this however. He did have a lot to learn. Even with his newfound powers and knowledge, he still needed the time to absorb them and become used to it all. Looking around at the people there, Tinkerson decided he would go and seek advice from his guide. Kekemozz listened to Tinkerson intently. They had met in Tinkerson library, sitting in a couple of comfy chairs, sitting and conversing like friends enjoying a pleasant evening together. Once Tinkerson finished saying what he had to say, Kekemozz smiled at him and began to speak. "I am glad to hear you have decided to do this. I have hear positive things about you from different sources. They are all quite eager to see what you will do next. Tell me, have you wandered the under halls of the arena yet?" Tinkerson blinked. Truth be told, he hadn''t. Not being a fan of combat related activities he had diecded to leave it for now. He said as much to Kekemozz who nodded agreeably. "I don''t disagree with you about the top half of the arena. However, there are some interesting things to learn in the under halls of the arena. I would suggest you pay a visit." So saying he rose up and left the room. Tinkerson remained where he was, thinking. He had been given a rulebook to the arena. It had mentioned nothing about the under halls. He cursed. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. None of the rules books and guides he been given had told him half of what he had found out. In fact he had only gotten some of those books when he had properly explored the areas concerned. He had made a critical mistake. It was time to recitify it. So he rose up, went through the portal and headed in the direction of the arena. Once there, he started to look around. He then came across a familiar face. "Oh bloody hell. I knew this would come back to bite me in the arse. That the last time I do a favour for a friend." Said Jesary wearily. Tinkerson had spoken with him several times and he had become a good acquaintance. Looking at him, Tinkerson decided the time had come to see if he could make a new deal. "Hello Jesary, I wonder if we could possibly have a frank discussion? Jesary mulled this over and then said. "Tell me what you are doing around here first." So Tinkerson told him he had come to find out what exactly were the under halls of the Arena were. To which Jesary face brightened up. "Ok, there a bet or two to be won here. However, I can''t be frank about them for two reasons. 1, Im not allowed to talk about them. What guards bet on, stays secret. 2. You don''t even have a blooming clue what down there yet. Yet, there hope. My money not lost yet. So let have this discussion." He patted a spot on the bench beside him. Tinkerson lowered himself down and looked around. It was a relatively quiet area of the arena, away from the main sands of the combat area. "You told me once that one of the duties of the guards was to keep an eye on the students. You also gave me some advice in looking around and seeing where people fitted in. I believe I failed that advice by not following it in depth. So I was wondering if I could strike a deal on some more advice, keeping within the rules of the city?" Once Tinkerson said the part about keeping within the rules of the city, Jesary relaxed. "Thought I might have to give you a little beating there for breaking the rules but you managed to frame that beautifully. Striking a deal. I am not adverse. What are you willing to offer and what do you want to know?" So saying, Jesary adpoted a relaxed pose. Tinkerson took a few minutes to craft his response. "While I am guessing you are not allowed to take me to the under halls, I wonder if you are allowed to describe the process of accessing them? Also any relevant advice you feel you can volunteer. For this service I can offer this." Tinkerson reached into his bag and brought out an object that he had crafted. It had been a ring that he had created while practising to build Franky''s loadout. He had not offered it to Franky as he had intended to keep it for himself. He felt it might be useful to Jesary however and would improve the relationship between them, which Tinkerson felt much more important.
Ring of Veritas Made by Tinkerson This ring was made from a metal that was once part of a god''s equipment. Due to the nature of that god and the length of time he had the equpment it had some of the god''s magic imbued upon it, and retained it when made into a ring. Divine quality Effects Let whoever is wearing it know when someone is lying to them. If illusions are being used upon whoever is wearing it, it lets them know and helps them to overcome the effects if they have the skills to. If fed mana from the person wearing it, will create a local effect useful to the wearer.
Jesary looked at it, and examined it with an open mouth. He then closed it and said, "Well you know how to entice people that for sure. I am willing to accept the deal." So saying he took the ring and put it on his finger. "Now as to how to access the under halls, there are two ways. One is the way of combat in the arena, achieving particular goals. I think I would be right in assuming that you are not going that way. The second way is more interesting. It to test other skills. I think this would be the best way for you." Jesary looked at him with a serious look. "For advice. I am not sure I can pay the full value in this so I would say this. Once you have gained access and explored it, come find me. DO NOT attempt anything. Just do that freaky thing you do where you extrapolate from what information you learned, and come talk to me. I believe I will be able to give you full value then. If you go over to that desk over there, and tell them you wish to gain access to the under halls by ways other than combat, and they will guide you." So saying he nodded and walked off. As he did so, he muttered to himself and Tinkerson managed to catch his words. "Better warn the boys back at the barracks. I reckon things might be getting interesting again in the next couple of years." Tinkerson walked towards the desk and repeated the part about gaining access to the halls via ways other than combat. The person nodded and asked him to follow him. Tinkerson did and was led to a room that held a couch, a chair and somebody sitting in the chair. He guestured for Tinkerson to lay on the couch. Tinkerson started getting therapy vibes and was finding it strange. The person in the chair then spoke. "My name is Johns. I am the invigilator for this exam." Hold the line. "So you are hoping to access the under halls by way other then combat. There is a way to do this, but it will be a daunting task. Using a divine object with your permission I will put you into a dreamscape where you will attempt to complete a mission. The mission will depend on the option you select. You will not a be a demigod with power for the duration of the dream. Instead you will be a mortal with a job to do. How you complete that mission will determine how much access you will get to the under halls, if you get access at all." Tinkerson listened to this and then spoke. "Can I ask some questions?" "You may. But I may not answer depending." Tinkerson nodded to this. "First some background. Knowing what I know about the academy, I must mention that I have once been an mortal. Just not in this universe." Johns blinked at this. "The question I wanted to ask is thus; Will this affect the score I can get and access?"Johns sat there motionless for a moment. then spoke. "While what you have said about coming from another universe is unique as far as I know, This will not affect your score and access. However if I may ask a question in return, did you ever serve in combat or combat related position in your old life?" Tinkerson shook his head. "Then we will be ok. While you may have skills that prove advantageous from that period, Most of this test is to see how you will react to combat related part of the dreamscape. Now as to your options." He shifted in his seat to make himself more comfortable. "By coming here you have decided to avoid the direct combat side of it. There is no shame in this. Some people are not suited to this. However, the universe being what it is, the heights you may hope to climb, combat will come to you and you must meet it in some shape or form. Some people lead. Some serve. Others carve their own paths. In this, we must find out what you will do. So tell me, do you wish to lead? To serve? or do you desire the ability to choose your own way? Know that if you take the last option, it is an all or nothing proposition. With the other two you may only gain some degree of options within the under halls from basic to full. With the last, you will either pass to all the halls can offer, or you will fail, and this option will not be offered again in any trial given in this city. Pick wisely." Tinkerson muilled over this. He did not wish to serve. He didn''t particuarly want to lead either. But that omnious warning given about the third option made him question if he should take one of the first two options. However, when had he ever taken the conventional way? "It going to be the all or nothing for me please." Johns nodded and guestured him to lay back. Tinkerson did so, and then began to feel sleepy. He found himself walking down a road with a heavy pack on his back. He blinked and tried to bring up his status. Nothing. It seemed as if he was in the dreamscape. He marvelled at the suddeness of it. He could see a city in the distance. It looked a bit shabby but the walls surrounding it looked formidable. He guessed he was headed to this city so he continued in this direction. As he neared the city he saw a bench and decided to put his pack on it and examine it and himself. He was holding a staff and he realised with a start that although he did not have access to his skills, he still retained the knowledge on the staff. How to use it and fight with it. He was dressed in what looked to be some protective light leathers suitable for journeying in troubled areas. He then went through his pack. From what he determined, it was the pack of a tinker. Trade goods, with some tools that he could use to repair stuff if he had the materials. It seemed he remembered the basics of being a merchant and repairing and crafting. He shouldered the pack and continued walking to the city. At the gates he was recieved by a guard at the gate. Who told him that he was conscripted into the forces of the city to protect against the monster wave that was coming. He was to report to the city hall were he would be asked questions. Depending on the answers to those quesions, would depend on what he would be doing. He was then escorted with some others to the city hall by some guards. Some of the people walking with him were full of anger. Some were weeping or looking like they were going to their death. Others were just silently waking along. He looked about as they walked through the city making note of some of the things he saw. Eventually they came to the biggest building in the centre and walked inside. They were shown to a room with a bunch of chairs. Told to sit until called. Tinkerson sat and waited til one of the guards pointed at him and told him to come along. He did so, being shown to a room that held a man sitting at desk. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. "First, I must apologise for having to conscript you like this. But you know the laws of the land. Monster waves must be fought with all available resources. I notice you have a tinker''s pack on your back. It may be I do not need to conscript you as a soldier if you have skills that could be useful elsewhere. May I ask your name? Tinkerson replied with his name. "Bit on the nose that. May I ask what skills you have?" Tinkerson told him about the merchant skills and repairing. "hhhmmm I have you in mind for a couple of positions. However, is there any other information you can give me that might help to let me make a decision?" The skills that Tinkerson had given were those he had learned as a demigod. However before he had ever become that, back before he had ever became in fact Tinkerson, he had another name and another life. He could no longer remember much of it. However there had been one thing he could remember. He had loved his job. His job as a logistic administrator. He spoke at length about how he had seen that most of the supply warehouses and repair foundries were in the centre of town. no doubt due to these monster waves. However, he had also noticed that it was a long way to the walls. In the district he had came through, he had noticed there were some buildings empty. No doubt by people fleeing the monster wave before the city had been able to conscript them. So he propose that the city should commandeer some of these buildings, creating a small supply depot where people could re-equip and drop off items to be mended and returned. This would cut down on the amount of time it would take them to be able to rest and reprepare for fighting the monster wave, which would be two weeks of constant attacks. The administrator listened fascinated. In this world Tinkerson had recreated a position that he had heard about back on his own world when he had been a mortal. Quartermaster. "You have convinced me of the need for something like this. So I am going to take a building in the western quarter. You will speak to the soldiers on the western wall and get some idea of the needs they will have. Once you have done so you will submit a request to the warehouses and foundries for the supplies and equipment you need. Depending on your success in this monster wave, will inform what will happen after. If it is shown to have improved that wall''s need and defence, then you will be rewarded. If it doesn''t you will be punished. If the wall falls, I will make sure you died a very painful death." So saying, the adminstator sent off Tinkerson to the west wall saying someone would find him once the building was chosen and commandeered. What you got? Tinkerson made it to the western part of the city. He first climbed up high so he could see the entirety of the wall, and what it looked out to. The view from the wall showed the land was flat. It should be a killing ground if it wasn''t for two things. One, not far from the wall was a bloody big forest. The second thing was it was full of scrubland in front of that. In short, it held plenty of cover for invading forces. Fortunately they would not be facing men who would probably take tactical advantage of this. However, the animals would be able to take some advantage of this. While there was some cleared space around the wall, it wasn''t enough in Tinkerson opinion. He then looked upon the wall. The wall itself was solid. He could well believe that it had handled monster waves before and still stood. However the defensive implacement along the wall did not look what you would call the best. On the ground, near the middle of the wall was a gate. Surrounding the gate was what looked to be the main encampment for the wall defences. Tinkerson decided this was a good place to go and have a wander and talk with people. So he headed down and towards the encampment. When he got to the guards he showed the warrant he had been given. It stated that Tinkerson had been given power over supplies for the west wall and was to discuss such with the west wall''s commander. The guards looked this over and pointed him toward the gatehouse. He then headed to there and requested to see the commander. He was asked to wait as the the commander was busy handling something at that moment. Tinkerson nodded and asked if he could speak to some of the soldiers that were around the gatehouse while he was waiting. The lieutenant hesitated and then said yes, so long he stayed within sight of the gatehouse. Tinkerson assured him he would. He then moved to a group of soldiers that were lounging by the gatehouse. While most conscripts were dressed in mismatched armor and equipment and some of them missing that, this lot were fully turned out and much more alert then everyone else there. He asked them if he could speak to them. "Got any food?" Tinkerson took off his pack then brought out a couple of loaves and some meats and handed them over. "Oh wow, some actual meat. For that sunshine, you can talk with us til we got to move on. What you wanna talk about? "I noticed that you are a lot more put together then most of the people here." Some of the people there laughed. "Are you posted here or just passing through?" "Well, we are posted here. We are actually meant to help with the defences and train up the conscripts but well, as there always is at the beginning of these things, some officers are having to decide on a plan of action first so we to sit on our backsides til something get sorted." Some sarcastic muttering came from the back. This was bad. Trained troops like this were worth their weight in diamonds at the beginning of a state of emergency like this. They needed to be used or at least functioning usefully. They knew their business. All they needed was to be let loose. So he moved on to the next part. Explaining who he was and what he was to do, The leader of the squad showed some animation. "So you mean when we damage shit, we can bring it to you and you can get it repaired while I get some kip?" "Sod that sarge, he said he be able to feed us! I can''t remember the last time during a monster wave someone promised me that! Mind you, if you don''t deliver, it not gonna go well for you." Said one of the troops. Tinkerson nodded to this and said he would have some soup even if nothing else, but he hoped to do better. "Hey, soup on the regular will do if nothing else, you do that and you will have made some friends here." Rumbles of agreement accompanied that. Turning back to what appeared to be the leader of the squad, the sargeant, Tinkerson began to speak. "I''m not sure where I be situated at the moment, but the idea is to be close enough to here that you can come to get what you need rather then going to the centre of the city, but far enough it should be out of danger. Have a think on supplies you and your squad need, both short term and long term for this monster wave and I see what I can do. I come find you after my meeting with the officer in charge. I think I see the Lieutenant coming to find me." The squad looked toward the person coming towards them. A soft voice spoke from the back. "Oh fuck he looks so new that he still got that squeak. Please don''t be the new squad commander." The lieutenant reached them and nodded to Tinkerson. "The commander willing to speak to you now." Then he turned to the squad. "Please wait while I escort this man to the commander. Apparently I have been place in charge of this squad." "Very good sir." Said the sargeant. As the lieutenant walked away and Tinkerson followed him, he heard a thump followed by an aggrieved ow. He then heard a voice say "That what you get for cursing us Rosser. You just had to say what you said." Tinkerson was brought to an office within the gatehouse. He stood aside to let what appeared to be some miltary officials leave the office. The lieutenant guestured for him to enter inside and went ot leave. Tinkerson then spoke. "Can I offer some advice Lieutenant if it alright?" The lieutenant nodded subconciously. "Please do. I am new to this and am not sure what to do. I have had some training on how to lead men, but in truth, the men I am to lead are far more experienced then I am." Tinkerson nodded kindly and spoke. "As a lieutenant, your task is to make the decisions that the squad need to do it job. My advice would be this. Listen to what your sargeant tells you, make your decision, then tell the sargeant what you have decided and have him carry it out at his discretion. However this does not mean you need to do what he advises. Only you can decide. I just advise you to listen to what he has to say before you decide." The lieutenant nodded at this. "Good luck and I will probably see you soon." So saying, Tinkerson strolled into the office. There sat an absolute bear of a man. He was obviously a career miltary man. However, to be the age he was, and to be the rank he was, it said one of two things. He had either fought his way up from the ranks. Or he was out of favour for promotion. Tinkerson needed to find out which, and if it was the second why. If it was because he was useless at the political side of thing, then so long Tinkerson could convince him to leave that to him, he might be able to work with that. If it was because the man was stupid, then Tinkerson was in for a rough ride. Tinkerson stood straight in front of his desk, If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "Well, you might not be miltary but looks like you got some discipline and idea of respect of command." Said the man tiredly. "Which is more then can be said for the meeting of jackals I just chaired." Tinkerson was fairly confident from that statement, that some elements of being not good at the political side of things was definitely playing a role here. "Now may I ask what the hell you are doing in my tent and why I have to meet you? You aren''t angling for a position of some sort here?" Tinkerson handed over his orders, and explained what he was there for. Some colour came back into the major''s cheeks. "You might be one of the few rays of hope I have left at the moment, if you can achieve some of what you say. One of the others I had was the veteran squad I had. It was dampened by the fact I had to put a wet behind the ears kid in charge of it, but I heard what you said and hopefully he listens. He was the best of what I could pick from, but without having been in the middle of it, who knows how he will react? Anyway, Have you any questions? or advice, I am not too proud a man and you look like you have some brains." Tinkerson winced internally. If this was how he was, no wonder he was not looked upon with favour. Still, he looked like he knew combat. a skill that Tinkerson lacked. If he could get the major prepared and equipped, he bet his life that the major would take care of the rest. In fact, to a certain extent, he was betting that. "I do have a couple of questions that involves my role, but first, can I ask questions involving yours and your area of operations?" The major nodded. "I noticed that there is forest and scrubland in front of the wall. While I acknowledge there not much you can do about that, have you thought to clear the scrubland?" The major nodded. "In fact, that is number one on my list of things to do. However, in order to do so, I need the officers under me to supply me with details of supplies and numbers of men under their command. I have a sheet detailing me the number I should have, what equipment I might need, what equipment they may have. But my officers are more intent on scoring points off of each other, to be the hero of the west wall, heaping glory for having won the defense of the wall. The fact that we need to do this first, is not something I think that has crossed their mind." Said the major dryly. This was bad. No wonder he looked so despondent when I came in. I then equired as to who exactly the officers were. "Sons of the scions of the city, every one of them. Oh third born and after to be sure. That why they are thirsty to make a name for themselves. They had weapons training and once the veterans have given basic training, they should be able to continue it. Having been born to the station that they were, they should be able to lead men of course." To which the major grinned sardonically. "However, they seem to be a bit unclear on the concept of working together with peers of their own rank." The major slumped. "The lieutenant is the only one who has undergone proper miltary training which is why I put him in charge of the squad. I be too afraid of that squad killing one of the others and claiming that acidents happen. Because it wouldn''t fly after the third or fourth such incident." I could take care of supplies and what not. The major here could take care of the proper needs for combat and leading. The squad would be able to act as the backbone of the wall and give the training that was needed to start things off. The officers were going to be my biggest challenge. "I believe I have a grasp of that part of your problem sir. I can deal with the supply situation with what has been vested in me by city hall. I just need to get an idea of what needed first. May I ask what the normal course of action concerning the wounded?" The major straightened up and looked happier at the fact that it seemed part of his problem was in fact, no longer his problem. He frowned at my question and told me "Technically there should be a area situated a bit back like yours for this. It normally sorted by the city healers. However, I have not heard anything about this." This was bad. The living conditions, despite being within the city was not good around here. It was crowded as well and I had read books on what disease could cause within an army. This needed to be sorted and quickly. Well, I had to go back to the centre. perhaps I could pay the healers a visit. I suggested this to him and he looked even happier. "You know, you seem to be solving or taking on quite a few problems for me. It only fair that I give you help in being able to take care of problems that you may be able to solve for me." So saying he wrote something out and then chucked a pin at me. Rank pin of captain. "Here, this along with the letter should give you some authority. It states that you report only to me and that people should listen to you as if you were speaking with my voice. Don''t let me down. I''m placing some trust in you." Nodding, I ask him if he has a list of supplies that he knows he will need at minimum. He hands me a list. I promise to see what I can do about that plus the other problems. He nodded and added. "If you get nothing else soon, please source food. You be amazed at what troops can do when being adequately fed." I noded and left the room. Once outside I spotted the squad and the lieutenant. The majority of the squad was standing to the side while the sargeant was speaking privately to the lieutanent. I wandered over the squad. "Hey look, he a captain now. Blimey. They let anyone be an officer don''t they? Wonder if I can try my luck." The sound of flesh hitting flesh sounded out and some hissing to which the only words I could understand was Rosser and shut up. The sargeant and the lieutenant rejoined us. "Good news lads. It appears the lieutenant has miltary training and is willing to ''listen'' when needed. In return, if he asks us to do something, we do it in proper miltary fashion. Saving questions and remarks for after the job. That includes you Rosser. "Why am I getting picked on?!" The sargenant ignored the voice from in the middle of the ranks and noded to me. I then spoke up. "So I spoken to the major, and have gotten some errands to do. I am also to source supplies including food I am sure you be pleased to hear." The squad cheered. "Now I am sure you had a chance to...... look around as it were, and have an idea of what you need. If you could give me the list and also a list of what you think you will need to help you in your training, it would be appreciated." Like magic two lists appeared from within the squad. The training list requests was conventional. The squad supply requests, not so much. Still I nodded and said I see what I could do. So saying, I headed off to the centre of the city. Why are we waiting? As I was on the way to the town centre, a runner found me and told me my area of operations was free for me to move in. So I went and took a look. It had originally been a pub, so it suited my purposes immensly. I could store supplies in the cellar, Put in beds upstairs and use the downstairs as the main area for resupplying, plus a place for soldiers to have something to eat. I also made note of the fact that we could set up an area for the injuried next door, in what looked to a warehouse. Satifised with what there was, I continued into town in order to get done what I could. My first order of business was the supply depot. I looked around til I found a gentleman that was obviously in charge. Now to see if I could make a deal. I introduced myself and what I was about. The gentleman practically hugged me when he learned that all he had to do was get the supplies for the west wall moved to where I was and I would deal with the rest. I showed him the supply lists I had on me. The Major''s and the Training''s supply list was fine. Then I showed him the squad''s...... requests. Needless to say some profanity were used here and some haggling started. Once I was sure he was ''amendable'' to a present or two, I brought out a bottle of good whiskey from the bag on my back and told him that there would be another if I got everything on the list. He hemmed and hawwed and then told me three days was best he could do. I smiled and shooked his hand for acceptance. He looked at me befuddled and then clasped my forearm. Oh well. At least I knew the proper greeting for here now. I then went to the armory. This was going to be the essential one. I would have to again persuade someone for preferential treatment. The person in charge was not the best bet here however. I needed to find a senior smith. It took a little while but I found someone. I then made a deal. It cost me most of the raw materials I had in the bag but at least it was done. I managed to arrange a pick up and drop off arrangement and parted feeling like I had just been robbed. It would be worth it in the long run, but damn if it didn''t feel a bit rough now. That left the healers. The headquarters was right next to the city hall. I went in and identified who I was. I was shown to an office where an older, kindly looking gentleman sat. Something told me this wasn''t going to be a good meeting. He started off by telling me that he didn''t currently have the personnel for the west wall at the moment. When I asked him why, he blustered for a while and then told me the truth. The major''s political standings or lack of, had meant that in the backroom dealings between the more astute officers, he had well and truly shafted. While I had managed to work out a deal where the supplies and equipment was concerned, There wasn''t much I could do here. I inquired did he have anyone available at all. To which he said he did, he just didnt have a full complement. I asked him what he had. It turned out that he had the surgeons, so I wasn''t totally screwed. Just mostly, as that was all there was. As I sat there thinking, a thought came into my head. I asked him if there was a midwife guiild, and if there was, where was it based. It turned out there was and as luck had it they were based here. I told him about the building next to me and requested he send the surgeons there. I then went downstairs to the midwives guild. There I met a truly formidable woman by the name of Charlotte. Within short order, I had secured access to the rest of the personnel I needed, just in the form of women which I had no problem with. Charlotte was coming along with them so she could the place up and running. As I went to leave, I decided to ask a question. "If you don''t mind me asking, why have you thrown behind me what looks to be a sigificant part of the guild behind me?" Charlotted cocked a eye at me and replied. "Cos im gonna show those bastards upstairs that I am everybit as good as they are. In fact, I am a sight bloody better." I had no argument with this. In fact, I was willing to bet on her with everything I had. I then headed back to the town hall and requested to speak to the administrator I had talked to before. I had to wait an hour but eventually I was ushered into an office, where sat the man I had seen this morning. He guestured to the chair in front of his desk. "Well Tinkerson I look at you and the reports I have recieved so far, and I''m feeling slightly more better about taking a bet on you. Getting Madam Charlotte involved was inspired thinking." That told me one thing. This man was watching everything I did. Which I didn''t blame him for. "Now since you got most of the problems in hand, I take it you are here about the young Officers?" I nodded. He sighed and stood up and went to the window to look out of it. "As you no doubt have guessed by now, the Major is a lifer through and through for the army. Normally he wouild be stuck at some godforsaken posting on a border somewhere defending and away from all the politics and happy as a clam. But since he is one of the best monster hunters I have, I need him here. Right in the middle of the heart of politics. And the major is a fucking disaster there. As a result he got dumped with all the glory seekers and headstrong lads of our leaders. They will of course defend the wall admirably, die for the city or be grievously wounded and the major will probably be sent into exile to the border again if he still lives for not preparing those boys properly. I don''t particularly like the situation, but I have no solution. If you have thought of something, then please, enlighten me." The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. "Sir, you may have these more at higher level, but have you thought of maybe hiring an aide de camp for the major? Someone who can''t fight, but might be able to help behind the scenes as it were." The Administrator frozed in thought. "That could work." He said at last. "Oh I have no doubt they will still be a pain in the arse, but it should enable the major to work around them and the person I have in mind should be able to stop anyone playing silly buggers again with the politics. Capital thinking captain Tinkerson, I look forward to seeing what you do in future" Translation. Go back to work. I bowed and left. I made my way back to my little depot. The warehouse was full of activity, being gotten ready for it conversion as a medical headquarters for the west wall. I saw activity also at my depot and grinned. Look like Charlotte had been able to get me the staff I needed. Bloody miracle worker that woman. I stepped inside to see the veteran squad sat around a couple of the tables, the sargeant and the lieutenant at third table, eating. "Well Captain, looks like you were as good as you said you were. Food! There also beds upstairs for us I been told." I have decided to make sure that the veteran squad had somewhere to live. They were going to be vital in what was to come, and I needed them in tiptop shape. By staying here, I could enable that. "Saw we got our training supplies. What about our er, other items?" "Three days or so. Best I could do." The sargeant nodded, satifised with the answer. "Turns out we not as screwed as I thought we were. We got supplies, equipment here or on the way, turns out some of the troops had to defend against monster waves before so we havent got all noobs. Just most of them. Also, someone arrived from headquarters and called the officers together. Nobody heard from them since. So we been able to laise with the other sargeants and sort stuff out." The NCOs were the backbone of any army and it seemed that fortunately we had good ones here. It seemed everything was in hand. I bid them all good day and went to find the major. As I left I heard the sound of flesh hitting flesh and the lieutenant calling out "That what happens when you touch a woman backside unasked, Rosser. Keep your hands to yourself unless otherwise asked to." I went back to the gatehouse and found the major. He was enjoying a glass of what looked to be some clear alcoholic liquid. "The man of the hour! I must thank you. I thought I was likely to die here. As it is, we have a chance. That aide de camp has taken the other officers on an ''inspection'' tour of the city defences elsewhere for now." He raised a glass to me and downed it in one. He then put it all away and then got back to business, continuing our conversation. "I am getting the scrubland cleared and erecting some breakers near the woodlands so nothing can just charge out of there. You gotten the medical, supplies and logistics sorted. The squad are about to start training who they can. The officers will be kept out of our hair until that part is finished, or as finished as a one week training session can be. A lot of people are gonna die here." He looked grimfaced. "Then we got two weeks of nonstop monster coming against the wall. The wall I have no problem with. The defences I can now erect thanks to you. The people are going to be the problem, undertrained as they are. But we can equip them and feed them and perhaps the medical headquarters might be able to save a bunch of them that would other die when they get injuried." He looked me in the eye and then clasped my forearm. "But we done what we can. I do what I got to do and you do what you got to do, and we meet back here after it all completed and we see what is what. Hopefully we both be alive. I nodded and went to walk out the room. Suddenly I found myself looking over a battlefield. The battle looked to be nearly finished. It hovered over one section of it. It showed the sargeant hacking at a formidable monster with a huge axe. While he was doing so, the lieutenant was guarding his back, making sure the other monsters couldn''t get to him. Members of the squad fought around them. Some of them were missing. The major was back on the wall, making sure nothing made it beyond it. Wielding a two handed sword, he kicked monsters off the wall if he could, and hacked them to pieces when he couldn''t. All of a sudden, the monsters started to retreat. "Let them go!" Bellowed the major "The wave is finished. we won! we won!" The scene then faded to black and a box appeared in front of my eyes.
Mission Passed The battle was won. All objectives were met. The wall stood. The veteran squad lived and were able to carry out all activities thanks to their supplies The major lived and was able to hold the line despite the inexperience of his officer''s corp. The hospital quarters was able to save more then two thirds of the men sent to them, giving the defenders an overall 70% survival rate. Special objectives You created a unique unit in the form of the depot. Due to the workings of this unit, the wall was able to perform the defence beyond the expectations of the mission. If you chose the last option, you have achieved a pass grade and have not failed.
The under halls. I woke up to see Johns. He smiled at me and waited for me to sit up. He then began to speak. "I must say, I rather enjoyed that. I was able to watch on this screen your dream as it happened, as it were. Rather inspired. You served, yet lead as well. fufilling the conditions needed to win the game. You saw what was needed and managed to fill the hole by creating the depot which played to your skills. You have won access to the under halls. You have also won a prize. Before I give you that prize, we will have to have a chat. It is concerning the game of the gods." This was interesting. I knew according to the rulebooks the game of the gods was not allowed to be played in the city of the demigods. Johns continued. "As you should have learned by now, playing of the games of the gods is not tolerated here. However, trading for pieces and favours within is, is allowed here, and only in the under halls. By parcipating in some of the activities down here, you can also win game pieces." He leaned forward. "Understand, we are threading a fine line with the rules here. But this is probably one of the few places that demigods can dig themselves out of a hole they been buried in by a The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
A couple of days later I was playing a game. It was one in which I had to get a convoy from a to b, while trying to avoid attack. It was proving to be more fun then I had thought it would be. I had myself as a character in this game, leading the convoy. Due to my skills that I was willing to reveal, I had established myself as a master merchant who responsible for the convoy. My character had given me bonuses beyond the standard character there, but meant I faced increased danger. Although so far I had moved the convoy quite well. To my astonishment, I had also been offered to upgrade the squad that was guarding the convoy to the spec of the squad I had used during my entrance exam. This was when I found out a major component of the under halls. You could create characters and teams, and used them as templates in the game to replace the standard characters and teams. Each win would give you upgrade points for them, depending on their actions. However, if they were wiped out, that was it. Those characters and teams were lost forever. You could also trade them with others for what they had. Thus, you could create an army deck as it were. So far, I had the major, the squad, my character and a hospital unit. I could have used my champion slot as a character, if there had been anything in there. Although if that died in battle, the slot could be awarded to the champions of the game, depending on what type of game you wanted to play. I had resolved to go to kekemozz and see if I could do a summoning and fill that slot. Foundation laying as it were. I won the game, having got my convoy to where it had to be. The demigod I was playing cursed but shook hands in good grace. I took my winnings which involved some credits that was solely for the underhalls and could be used in the auction down here. I also won a unit from the other side to use in further games if I wished, a mounted unit. I then moved on to a game that I had been watching out the corner of my eye, while playing my own. It featured a seige, kind of like the one I had been involved in, although this one had two opposing armies rather then a monster wave involved. The seige looked like it was going well. Certainly the demigod thought so with the crowing he had been doing. However, there was a unique feature for people who were watching the game as opposed to playing it. You could see the hidden moves. The guy who was attacking, had certainly made some. I had been watching them. It was near time to see if they would come due. All of a sudden, the castle being sieged ran into problems. The storage depots were blown up. Food was spoiled. Some critical units had their officer assassinated, leading to the units collasping or just doing nothing. All of a sudden, the leader of the city was killed and the gatehouse had been siezed allowing enemy troops in. It was all over now. I watched and thought what I had just seen happen. This was something I was no good at. Frankly, it was not likely to be something I would learn to be good at for a good long while yet. "May we talk?" All of the sudden, the man who had won the game was in front of me. I looked at him and nodded. "Excellent. Let go for one of the private booths. I think it might end up being a long discussion." So saying, we moved to the area and got a booth and sat down to talk. The foundation is forged. Two demigods sat at a table, in a booth protected by a privacy field. Tinkerson looked at the demigod across from him. He was fairly certain that he was a student like himself. However, one that was more closer to the end of his 25 years, of this he was certain. The man had played that last game masterfully. He would most certainly be an asset. So why hadn''t he joined up with anyone yet? Tinkerson decided to introduced himself and did so. "I know who you are. You have been making a little bit of a splash. I imagine more trades for information about you has been made this last month then anyone else. Despite this, remarkably little could be found out. I have gone over what I could find out and decided a conversation was in order." The powerfully built demigod shifted in his seat. He seemed to place importance in what was happening. Tinkerson himself was feeling something. He realised it was one of his skills trying to tell him something, but it was dampened by the supression in this place. Nontheless, he dug deep to make a connection. A spark was made. The seeker skill was activated and it was telling him that this was a moment that would make or break Tinkerson and his plans. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Kusog. I am the son of a unusual pairing. A god of war and a goddess of reason. It was a one time coupling that resulted in me. As I grew, both parents seemed to be happy with the fact that I had seemed to inherited traits from both sides but not actually seem to be dominated by one side or the other. For the first 50 years of my life I lived with my mother and learned the skills of a scholar and how to use logical thinking. I then spent the next 50 years with my father and learnt the ways of a warrior. But I seemed to excel in the fields of being a orchestrator of war rather then a fighter. While my father seemed to be a bit disappointed at first that it didnt seem I would be a warrior supreme, the fact that I was able to beat many of his generals in games, seemed to improve his feelings immeasurably. I then entered the academy, did my first 25 years and have to date spent 20 years here. I have five years to open up the guildhall." Here he fell silent. I listened and thought about what he said and decided to ask some questions. "You seem very competent at what you can do. I wager that you would have been able to get on a combat team if nothing else. So I have to ask, why haven''t you taken that option yet?" "I have learned much about myself in these 20 years. I could have done it as a warrior, you are correct. It is not what I want to be known for however. I do not know the details as to what happens after we past through those doors. But I have a feeling that our position will be important at that point. So I was seeking to start my own faction. However, I have come to find out that although I am brillant at handling the details of war and combat. Plus seeing to the overall aspect of a combat team, I would not make a very good faction leader." He fell silent. This explained much. However he had spent 100 years learning from two gods. Then 25 years honing his mind. 20 years here learning about himself and playing the games. He didn''t have equipment apart from the basic stuff that was sold by the market. But I am willing to bet he had an army for the under halls that could not be beaten by many others. Time to ask the next couple of questions. "If we were to join forces, where would you see us going? What are your intentions for the future?" Kusog took a moment to think about this before answering. "I will answer the second one first. My intentions for the future is to lead exploring missions and possibly missions to help people in remote places. If I join a faction, I hope they will allow me to do this. I hope to move to godling rank. I am uncertain about god rank." I blinked at this. That was unusual. People were usually wanting to go all the way. "As for us, I can tell you what I hope for, but you will have to reveal more of your own plans before I will agree to anything." Reasonable. "In that case, I shall tell you now as to my plans to the extent I have them planned. Like you I am hoping to stay more out in the boonies, but trade will also be something that I will probably be involved in, which will help with the supply of your exploring missions and the selling of goods from that you may wish to sell plus identification. As to the helping people, I am definitely very open to this. I have some plans involving setting up a base of operations, that may be of interest to you. But this I will not expand upon til we reach that level. We could do this in a group, but I wish to set up a faction." It was my turn to fall silent and wait for the answer. "I agree to the group. As to the faction....... Tell me, do you know about the team games they put on here once a month?" I shook my head to this. "There are three stages to it. First we gamble in the gamblings halls. It is dangerous because the wagers we have to put up beside a certain amount of under hall credits are the game pieces we have built up for here. Once that stage is concluded, with us playing seperately for that, we then go into three table top games. One each of those will be played by one of us, with the third being a joint effort to team up on the tabletop. Once that part is done, we play in the dreamscape, teamed up, with only the pieces that survived from the tabletop games." Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. "If we win this we will get rewards, once of which I have been working towards for a long time. If we win this, I will agree to making a faction with you and seeing where it leads. I reserve the right to leave if I think it deviates from my purposes." I thought about this. It would be a good way to find if we could work well together. I was amendable to this. I then asked when was the next one to happen. Two weeks time. Perfect. enough time to make some prep and gather some resources. I signalled agreement and Kusog agreed to take care of registering us for the competition. I decided to go see Kekemozz. Time for some guidance.
I had begun to think of these halls as home. But I knew that it was not really that. It was just were I lived for now. Nonetheless, I have spent a lot of time here. Sitting in the library again, having a chat with Kekemozz about the slot that had opened up and the possibility of summoning something to fill it. "I would normally advise you to wait, as you never know what you can get around these part, and the power supression makes it hard for a summoning to happen. However, I have a window. For my own purposes I had planned to have the supression lowered in my quarters so that I can contact some others through the universe. This will enable you to do a decent summoning. With me to hand, we should be able to make sure nothing goes wrong. However, be warned. This place does have enemies, and it possible that one will through slip through and kill us. It unlikely, I have done this a few times, but the summoning adds to the danger. However, I would be excited to see what you could pull in." To put it simply, Kekemozz just loved to see what would happen. There was a popular meme for it back in my old life. It involved the phrase, ''Hold my beer.''. For a demigod of knowledge he was surprisingly cavalier about how he learned his new knowledge. But this was what made him stand out as teacher I felt, rather then shooting up to the levels of a knowledge god. So we made our preparations. and I ended up having to get some materials towards the ritual. Kekemozz supplied some of it, but apparently the summoning ritual was individualistic to a certain degree on who was summoning. I had to get the keypoint materials. so I splashed out to this and ended up spending 30 demis towards it. Not a cheap sum. But it would improved his chances. They set up the ritual in preparation. the suppression was lowered and Kekemozz did what he had to do. Once that was done, he gave the nod to Daneom to start the ritual. "I call upon the universe to show me the way. To open the spaces between and spread the word. A summoning is enacted and the clarion call goes out. A champion rank is offered in the games of the gods and more will be offered in time. I offer my soul to examine." This was the dangerous part. While I could only be examined by someone seriously thinking of taking the position, I was vunerable to a certain point. I felt pressure on my soul as several entities looked at it. It was very unpleasant. Suddenly there was only a few left looking. Suddenly I heard a snarl and Kekemozz raising power beside me. "You are not welcome here," He said most firmly. I guessed something tried to come through that did not have good intentions. All of a sudden there was only pressure from one point of my soul. All of a sudden a pair of eyes looked into mine. The eyes were the of the colour gray. I saw a mountain in those eyes. A meeting of sky and stone. In front of me suddenly was a bird. It reminded me of a raven from earth, but there were differences. For one, this bird was about 3 times the size. It was also grey. wordless communication started between us. He would come when called. He acknowledged that at the moment there was no spot for him currently as I was undergoing my training. However, he was curious to explore the mortal realms and from the looks of me, I would be going to the kind of places he preferred. So he would be content to wait. In the meantime, he would occasionally commune with me and look out through my eyes. I agreed to this and so he finally shared his name. It was most unexpected. "Jack? Jack?!" I said incredulously The bird nodded. Well, at least it would be easy to understand. The pact was made and he disappeared back to whence he came. Whereever that was. I suddenly felt the supression of the academy go back up and the space was rendered safer again. I saw Kekemozz looking at me thoughtfully. "Interesting. A Dimraven. It a bird that can travel through dimensions. Most familiars need to be dismissed when you travel through dimensions. He won''t have to be. You are not likely to be lost either. They always know where they are and he will always be able to find you, so long nothing is blocking your bond. I leave you to find out more then that." I knew more thanks to my studies. Some of what was mentioned in those studies was very interesting indeed. It might be that kusog and me would have better luck exploring then most. Cards and dice. For the rest of the time until the tourament I played around in the under halls. I brought some underhall credits using 3 demi. It wasn''t a fortune but it enabled me to bring on my new summons as a character, upgrade the major and the squad. I also brought some other units that I thought was for my style of play. I then went and played some table tops for low stakes, just losing credits, no units and getting used to the style of play. Kusog was doing the same, however I also notice that he took more risks then I did, but they paid off for him. Then again, he had been playing for 20 odd years. The day of the tourament came. First up was the gambling part. It was an odd part. you were picked at random to play in games. You had to accrue a certain amount of points, which was scored by the credits you put up or collateral in the form of your units. you then had to reach a target by winning. If you lost it all, obviously you was out of the running. Seeing as the target was double what we had to put in, it was obvious that at least half of us would be going out. I paid using the under hall credits I have, saving my units for later. Some demigods looked at me enviously, only able to make the cut by using the units they were to play with. I then went on to pay several games of card and dice. While I eventually managed to make the target, it reinforced to me that I did not like games of chance like this. I much preferred to be as much in control of my fate as I could. Kusog also made it through as well. After two days of this, finally we could move on to start the next part. First, we had to put up an army. This is where it could all fall apart. I was more the organisational type, using irregular units. While Kusog used powerful units that enabled him to wipe the floor in a fight along with newly formed units. However, if the powerful units were lost, a severe reduction in combat power would hit us. However the weak troops might level up and become more of use or they might be wiped out. While the beginning scenario for each of us was designed to be roughly in line with our troop, the third might throw a curveball at us and leave us trying to tap dance to win. So we had to get as much through as we could to give us more options. I chose to send the following in for my army. My character, along with my summons and a convoy of supplies. This cost a full third of my points. However, If we met up with Kusog army intact, and won the third game, it would give us an considerable advantage in the dreamscape. Lieutenant Tiewt and the veteran squad. I had reinforced them back to full strength and spent some credit to upgrade them slightly. They took up the points totals so that half of my points were now spent. The remaining half of my points I had chosen what was considered to be an unusual set of choices. But I had conversed with Kusog and we agreed it made sense for me to have them. First was the mounted unit. Fast, quick to react and could fill the other side full of arrows. However if they got bogged down or trapped, the unit would be dead in an instant. However, they also gave me the option to use them as irregular scouts that would help to make sure my convoy would always be on the move, as safe as I could make it. I also had a healer along with a smith with me who could at a pinch, do rudimentary repairs but would come in more useful when I teamed up with Kusog. Along with their supplies, they cost me a quarter of the points left. For the last quarter I chose something unusual that I had found while exploring through the auctions and swaps. A mage with elemental powers. Not normally that popular due to the single or dual element versions of the mage being more powerful, I envisioned the mage being a ulitiy type mage, able to solve minor problems for me and giving me a more wider range of choice since I didn''t know the terrain we be in. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The game I played was interesting. I had to connect with five of the 17 villages that were on the map and then I could leave. For every village more I hit, I would get a bonus towards the third game that could extend to the dreamscape. However, I was being hunted by the army on the other side. The longer I stayed on the map, the more likely they were to find me. The problem was, I had no idea from where he would be starting. I took at look at the feaures of the map. Although we could see the terrian I had no idea what season we would be in, until we played. If it was spring or winter, I might have problems. It was a mountainous region so I might be able to play hide and seek while travelling to the villages. But if I got myself trapped it would be game over. I managed to hit 14 of the villages before I had to leave the map. Most of my forces made it. However, my mounted forces were decimated. Out of a 40 strong force, only 4 of them made it. They had achieved what I needed them to. But if I wanted to play them in the future, I was going to have rebuild them first. That if, they survived the next part. Kusog started off his game. His was the same except that he was the one hunting. He immediately marched his more powerful units to bottlenecks and had them roaming around those parts. Most of his weaker troops he had them doing hit and run tactics and moving quickly around the villages. In short order he had defeated his opponent and kept his powerful units. However, he lost around half olf the weaker units, but they upgraded to regular troops. Then came the third game. By this time there were only a quarter of the teams left, the rest either having lost or wrecked too much of their army to continue. Kusog came stood at a side of the table to me. The objective was to meet up and set up camp, prepare defences and anything else that we could do. However, the same was going for the team up against us. we deployed and I used my summons for the first time in the games. With his talents he could fly high, find out where everyone was and I could then signal Kusog as to where I was. To which one half of the team against us moved towards where I set off the signal. To which I smiled. Because as well as having launched the dimraven up, I had gotten the elemental wizard to travel with the four members left of my mounted unit. As a result they did hit and run tactics and slowed down the army heading for me, enabling Kusog to find then and hit them hard. This left us with one half still lef to find and dispatch. We found them at the designated area trying to set up defences. we sent in two heavies from Kusog team plus the veteran squad. It was soon taken care of and we had won the board. The umpire came over to us and congratulated us and asked us what trump cards we had to play going into the dreamscape. We smiled and showed what we had prepared. My convoy had plenty of resources plus the extra it had picked up from the villagers. I had also managed to find some extra equipment in those villages. This enabled us to set up a truly formidable camp, with hardened defences. My veteran squad did some training with the regular troops while the healer made sure everyone stayed healthly. The smith made repairs and generally worked on improving the gear of the regular troops with items from the convoy. This meant the regular troops moved up a level and became tougher. Added to the heavies that Kusog already had, it meant that we had a force that could take and give a beating. I assigned the four mounted troops to the elemental wizard and made them train the wizard to ride a horse. This meant I had a unit that could move quickly for an extra advantage to help support where needed. Well supplied, well equipped, well fed main force with support and a well established base camp. I fancied our chances going into the dreamscape. Then I was told what the objective was for the dreamscape and I felt some doubt. Me and Kusog would take control and have to last a month. That was all the information given. No ''invasion coming'' or ''Monster wave'' or anything. We would have to find out and hope that we would cope. Dreamscaping Me and Kusog spawned into the dreamscape. We had decided that since this was more combat oriented, he would be the major in control. I would take on my old rank of captain and basically be his second in command responsible for the camp. We had both spawned avatars of our characters to go with the forces and we would essentially be taking control of these. I found myself in a room that was not unlike the depot I had created in my first foray into the dreamscape. Around the room sat members of my forces. I walked over to the lieutenant and asked him for a status report. "Oh well captain, we have finished with the training sessions and gotten the troops as far as we could. The mage and the mounties have been wandering around the surrounding area taking note of what around and the general layout. The smith been busy repairing our gear from the journey here and cranking out upgrades for the troops under the major. The healer been keeping us all healthy. Other then that, we just waiting for directions as to what going on." "Sitting on our arses doing fook all, which I''m not complaining about. No sirree." A smack of flesh against flesh sounded behind me. "What was that for?!" said a voice aggrieved. "Shut up Rosser" Said the lieutenant calmly. He had come a long way from the newly made lieutenant I had seen him as. It was hard to believe that he was not really a real person, just a figament made by the dreamscape. I slowly began to understand how the game of gods came to be. I shivered at this and resolved to try to avoid much of it. I had a feeling I wasn''t going to be able to however. "Very well. Hold the fort down here, and I am going to see the major to see what we doing next. Once we established a plan, hopefully we be able to get what needs to be done and then go home."! So saying I left the depot and went outside to find... snow? Oh this was going to add a wrinkle. It wasn''t heavy yet, but it was coming down quite quickly. I moved over to the largest building in the encampment. It was likely to be the headquarters and where Kusog was based. Sure enough, I found in a room looking over a table that looked much like the table top version of the area we was in. However, there was a difference to this one. Apart from where the encampment was, and the area around from which I assumed was the area visable from the camp, most of it was kind of a featureless look. The parts that was not were gray, but you could make out the terrain and other details within it. Kusog glanced towards me and began to speak. "This is our campaign map. From here we can make our plans and see where we are and what there as the troops explore it and then make their way back to us to report what there. Now you are here, I will open the objective panel to tell us what we have to achieve to pass.
Mission Objectives Your country has decided to expand it borders this way. As a result you and your forces have been sent to this area in preparation for readying the area for the settlers that will be coming. In order to do so, The following objectives must be met.
The map must be scouted and every place of interest investigated. Any monsters that are a considerable threat to the area must be taken care of
Enough forces must survive to the end of the campaign to safely guard the area Once the settlers start to come in, provision must made for them until they are established.
Please Note There are bonus and hidden objectives in this campaign Completing them will give you possible avantages and will count towards your overall score.
Kusog and me sat there in silence for a minute. Then Kusog stirred. " I am proficient in doing the main objectives. However, I have to admit, on missions like this, the bonus and hidden objectives are not my forte. I can normally work some of them out, but others are twisty enough that I normally dont do well with those." I nodded and replied. "I see what I can do there then. I propose you send my mage and mounted troops on a quick trip of the open trails we do have in this area. The snow will probably prevent them from going cross country with the level of snow around but If we can use the trails it might be we can access most of the area quickly enough. I noticed a mountain in the area so I am going to take Lieutenant Tiewt and his squad and survey from up there. Along with my dimraven, I should be able to give us an expose of the area surround it, opening up more of the map. Once that done, we meet back here?" Kusog nodded. I then returned to the depot and picked up the lieutenant and his squad. To the surprise of no one, Rosser needed another slap to make him stop complaining about having to go out. I sent my dimraven ranging out around us on our journey. This was a fascimile of my dimraven however, created for the game and as such it had no personality. However it relayed images back to me of the surrounding area letting me know what was around so we could avoid anything that we might have trouble with. I also marked some places as places of interest for Kusog to investigate. Caves were monsters might be residing and so forth. It took us two days to reach the mountain and another day to climb it. As we reach the top I then looked out around where I was. Suddenly, I felt something stir within me and suddenly look out through my eyes. ''This is what I want to do. Explore and see new sights. Here what I can see.'' Suddenly a voice sounded in my head and I recgonised it as my dimraven. My mind was also containing more details about the areas I could see. I heard a chime and something say, ''unit upgraded'' It seems like my dimraven had affected his counterpart within the game. Having surveyed a good portion of the area I noticed something about the very mountain we were standing on. There was crack on the top of it, and something was crawling out of it. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Hey fellas, I don''t like the look of that." A growl could be heard coming from the crack. "Yeah, I really don''t fucking like that." The sargeant snorted and said "Thank you very much for your input Rosser. As a reward I nominate you to investigate that crack once we deal with whatever crawling out." The creature crawling out looked like some kind of oversized creepy insect. The squad exchanged glances and spread out. All of a sudden a battle ensued. I stayed back trusting in them to sort it and call out if they couldn''t. Sure enough in short order they managed to deal with it and although there were some injuries, nobody was killed. We stood around the crack looking in. There was actually what looked to be some kind of staircase moving down. I started to move down when the lieutant spoke out. "Ah, sir I believe we should send a scout down first before you. Rosser, please investigate." Muttering words like why me and what did I do, Rosser got ready to go down. Around his body he had several knives and the main weapon on his belt was a machete type weapon. Clearly he liked knives. He then descended down the narrow staircase. We had a tense few minutes waiting til he came back. "Well sirs, I''m not sure what going on down there. There is a beast, but it caged up. It looks like somebody been living down here. It all looks safe enough however. No traps set up. I reckon that creppy crawlie was the main defence for here." I decided to head down below myself. With some of the members of the squad going in advance of me, to make sure there wouldn''t be any surprises. I tried to insist that it was unnecessary but the sargeant and lieutenant remained firm on this. As we reached the doorway, I paused and looked around into the room. In one corner was a bed and a desk that had obviously seen some use. Threre were papers strewn about the surface of the desk and I picked all of them and put them into my storage. I would read them later and and see if there was anything useful. In the other corner of the room was the creature that was caged. Looking like some kind of big wolf, It was being surprisingly well behaved. I then realised my neutral aura was at play here and it had calmed the beast. It looked hungry. Reaching into my storage I brought out some meat and threw it in the cage towards the creature and it started eating. "Well, it sure seems something been living around here. However, there very little here so either the main base is elsewhere or whoever fled with most of what they owned when they heard us coming. What the plan Captain Tinkerson?" said the sargeant. I thought able this and then spoke. "We got what we came up here for, took care of a threat. The creature in the cage could be a threat, but we bring it with us, see if we can tame it or find some use for it. Then we head back to camp." Eventually using food I got the animal to come with us. Despite being almost as big as a horse, it was surprisingly friendly. It could be my aura, or it could be that we had fed it and freed it. Whatever the reason, it was time to head back to camp. Once we made it back I went to the campaign room where I found Kusog. He guestured to the map. "Between the mounted troops and your foray, We managed to survey a network of the area and I believe covered the area around us quite sufficiently. I have taken out threats that I seen in the surrounding area and have moved a couple of the units out to patrol the roads and take on whatever they can or call for backup on what they can''t." I looked at the map. The top left hand quarter, which is where we were situated was pretty much explored and cleared. There was a couple of things that caught my eye but I decided to come back to them later. As for the rest of the map, It looked like a network of cracks around the area. Nonetheless, it gave a general idea of the area. I proposed that we question the mounted unit and send troops out to vantage points in the area to expose the areas to the view of our map. I also told him what we foudn on our journey. "That smacks of a hidden or bonus objective. I probably would have killed the creature." He brought up the objective page again.
Mission Objectives Your country has decided to expand it borders this way. As a result you and your forces have been sent to this area in preparation for readying the area for the settlers that will be coming. In order to do so, The following objectives must be met.
The map must be scouted and every place of interest investigated. 27% done Any monsters that are a considerable threat to the area must be taken care of. 4/26
Enough forces must survive to the end of the campaign to safely guard the area. 98% of troops left Once the settlers start to come in, provision must made for them until they are established.
Please Note There are bonus and hidden objectives in this campaign Completing them will give you possible avantages and will count towards your overall score. Hidden areas found 1/6 Hidden threat disovered
Interesting it had updated. I then asked if we found out an objective my other means would it show up? Kusog nodded. "In one of the games, I read about an iron mine, Controlling it became a bonus objective that showed up on the panel." I smiled. I then asked if there was orders and information that had been sent with us. It turned out there was, but Kusog hadn''t bothered with it as most of the time, it was a pure slog for little revealed. I suspected that I would be able to improve on that, particularly given the papers I had found in the cave. So I took all the paperwork off Kusog hand and retreated back to the depot. There I started to go through all the information I had, and created a wall connecting said information. Once I finished this, I called Lieutenanat Tiewt, Sargeant Towers and the mage to me. I then questioned them as to what they had learned, from their own experiences with the area, or what had been learned from the troops. I then added this information to the wall. It took me a further 2 days. We had now been in the game for 8 days. As I rose on the 9th, I moved towards the command tent, confident I was about to add heavily to the objective board. Objectives to be met.
Mission Objectives Your country has decided to expand it borders this way. As a result you and your forces have been sent to this area in preparation for readying the area for the settlers that will be coming. In order to do so, The following objectives must be met.
The map must be scouted and every place of interest investigated. 69% done Any monsters that are a considerable threat to the area must be taken care of. 10/26
Enough forces must survive to the end of the campaign to safely guard the area. 93% of troops left Once the settlers start to come in, provision must made for them until they are established.
Please Note There are bonus and hidden objectives in this campaign Completing them will give you possible avantages and will count towards your overall score. Hidden areas found 1/6 *updated* areas possibly identified, physical investigation needed. Hidden threat disovered *updated* Believed to be a criminal who fled justice. As per orders from command, find three areas suitable for settling. Once this is done, The settlers will start to come your way. *updated* one area has been found and deemed suitable, with the bonus of mining potential. Help the villagers with their extra needs once they start to establish their villages.
Kusog looked at the last lot and turned to me. "How?" He asked. "If we can achieve these, we will acculmate some good bonus points. How did you find out about some of them? You haven''t even left the compound." I pointed to some parts marked up on the campaign map. "When we did the first journey, that when I noticed this area by the mountain. After speaking with some of the people we have here, I determined that it would make a good village spot. That how I found that. I''m guessing that what activated that one. For the hidden areas, I made guesses, based on what people had seen. I have no idea if they will pan out. As to the criminal, he is actually mentioned as heading in this direction in the information we recieved. However with the papers I found, I managed to confirm it was him for sure. The last one, was kind of an accident from me musing about the difficulty of starting a new villages and what can be done to help other then the building and erection of the village. Looks like that was enough to unlock that. There may be more, but I would have to investigate." Kusog stared at the map. "I might have a couple of places for you to investigate or at least send your squad to have a look. I can also put a couple of the squads I have at your disposal if there somewhere you think that there could be danger at to be nipped in the bud." I nodded. "Took the words out of my mouth there. I was going to suggest that we send some forces to this part of the map. It looks like farmland next to a large lake. Could be a good settling spot but I suspect there will be something either in the lake or nearby that not going to go quietly. I was planning to send the squad to these ruins over here to investigate, I send those squads you given me to go along. After they done that they will investigate the other areas of interests there and make their way back to report. Shall we meet back here in three days?" Kusog nodded and we parted. Three days later we met again. It had been an adventurous three days. The ruins turned out to have a hidden basement with the criminal hiding in. Along with some spider type monsters and others. I was sure that most of us were going to have nightmares about that. However we won, but one of the squads Kusog sent along with us ended up with only two people left. The other squad and my squad did not get off unscathed either. However, it wasn''t as bad as it could have been. The lieutenant had killed the criminal and we cleared the place out. Some good loot was gotten from here. The wolf like creature we had rescued came along and help us to take care of it too. The sargeant was becoming quite fond of him. The places of interests I had marked were mostly nothing although a couple of the places had some rare materials growing there that I identified with my god''s eye. Depending on what we got set up, it might come in useful to the villagers in later years.I related this to Kusog who nodded and then proceeded to relay his own news. It turned out I was right about the lake area being a good place to settle. Unfortunately I was even more right about there being something nasty. It had taken out 80% of the forces that Kusog had sent along there. However it had been butchered after and many rare materials taken from it, which the smith had been able to use in conjunction with what I had found to upgrade our forces, all to elite status. He had also continued the exploring and killing of monsters. We brought up the objective map.
Mission Objectives Your country has decided to expand it borders this way. As a result you and your forces have been sent to this area in preparation for readying the area for the settlers that will be coming. In order to do so, The following objectives must be met.
The map must be scouted and every place of interest investigated. 96% done Any monsters that are a considerable threat to the area must be taken care of. 19/26
Enough forces must survive to the end of the campaign to safely guard the area. 57% of troops left Once the settlers start to come in, provision must made for them until they are established.
Please Note There are bonus and hidden objectives in this campaign Completing them will give you possible avantages and will count towards your overall score. Hidden areas found 2/6 *updated* areas possibly identified, physical investigation needed. Hidden threat disovered *updated* Believed to be a criminal who fled justice, now brought to justice As per orders from command, find three areas suitable for settling. Once this is done, The settlers will start to come your way. *updated* two areas has been found and deemed suitable, with the bonus of mining potential and fishing/farming to support the area. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Help the villagers with their extra needs once they start to establish their villages. *Updated* Area boss found and killed. The area is less likely to spawn dangerous creatures. *updated* special local resources found 3/9
We looked this over and agreed it was the right time to trigger the settlers. We only had to decide one more settling area, which we were thinking would be the forest area far down in the bottom right corner. We would probably have to establish an outpost of soldiers nearby there in order to make sure it was protected. I mentioned it would make a good hunter''s paradise and if we situated the outpost half way between the mountain village and the new forest village site, It would be able to move to either one if needed. The lake village was quite near our main base here so that was covered. The news came that the settlers would be here within a week. We decided to explore the rest of the map and take care of remaining monsters. This didn''t mean there wasn''t any monsters not in the area, just not ones that could prove a village wide threat. I also explored around trying to find the local resources and the other hidden areas. One of them was actually a small valley which held a resource. It was protected on all sides, depressed as it was in the hilly area. I unexpectedly made contact with an elemental in this area. It turned out that he was a hunk of living stone that could move and this was his garden. Initally hostile, under my aura he calmed down and we were able to make a deal. Unexpectedly he managed to tell me where all the remaining hidden areas were and some resources that would only be connected to by the mining village. I hoped that this would count towards the objectives however. By the end he was quite friendly and surpisingly looking forward to having neighbours. He did say that he didn''t want any one invading his garden, but barter could be made for some of what was grown in it. I promised him we would leave his garden alone. I made it back to the camp just in time for the settlers to come trickling in. I looked the group over, making notes on the demeanour and styles of the people plus the equipment they brought with them. I then went into the command tent and spoke to Kusog. "Im guessing this lot are mostly hunters, farmers and quarry types, coming along to start the villages off. I seen a couple of builders as well, but it looks like we might end up doing most of the inital work here." Kusog nodded and pointed to the area we were settling up the outpost. "I have sent your mage and some troops to construct the outpost, so we ahead of the game here. Since they are there, we send the settlers for the hunters that way and a messenger to warn the outpost and get them started on the hunting village as soon as the outpost is finshed. I am going to go part of the way and get the mining village set up. You ok taking care of the farmlands? I have a feeling that where most of the official infrastructure for the area will be as well anyway, so I think you will be better at planning that area." I nodded agreement here and went to collect my squad. I told them what we were up to. Rosser got slapped again for complaining. It was beginning to become a ritual with him. I gathered up the ones heading for the lake villages. Most of them were farmers. However, two of them I took particular note of. One was a merchant type. We conversed along the way and I was able to sort out a trade network that would be benficial for the area. The merchant was ecstatic, as this was normally the hardest part of his job. But If I could get him sorted, I knew it would mean money would flow into the area for the goods we produced along with supplies heading for us that we would need. If we became a place of note, it would only help us. The other person I immediately could see would be a problem. A minor noble, he had obviously been sent to govern the local area for the crown. However, it became apparent that he would line his own pockets more. This would not be good for the area. So I spoke to the sargeant and we had a litle conversation. When we reached the lake, we started to set up base and build the farms. The noble of course demanded for his mansion to be built first. When we told him food was more important he told me the king was going to hear about this. However, this was not to be. That evening the noble went for a swim in the nearby lake. He was never seen again. We reliteraled to the people around us that this area wasn''t totally pacified, that only major threats had been sorted. The sargeant blandly told me the squad had examined the area and couldn''t find anything. He stressed they would be unlikely to either. Mthere turned out to be a disgraced noble''s son among the settlers. Since he had no major role in the settler''s party he agreed to become the interim mayor for the area until the crown sorted something out. I smiled and agreed. Once we got the basics sorted and settled a plan for where the expansion for the village could go, I left to return to the camp. "That slops stuff we fed to the pigs off was good. Where do you think they got it from?" Everyone stared at Rosser. "What? I just noticed it seemed to be shredded finely but pretty meaty, just right for pigs. Almost like.... Oh. I shut up now." It seemed that it was indeed a time for miracles. Once I returned to the camp I waited for Kusog. He took a couple of more days due to the distance inovled. Once he came in we brought up the objective panel.
Mission Objectives Your country has decided to expand it borders this way. As a result you and your forces have been sent to this area in preparation for readying the area for the settlers that will be coming. In order to do so, The following objectives must be met.
The map must be scouted and every place of interest investigated. 100% done Any monsters that are a considerable threat to the area must be taken care of. 26/26
Enough forces must survive to the end of the campaign to safely guard the area. 49% of troops left Once the settlers start to come in, provision must made for them until they are established. Done
Please Note There are bonus and hidden objectives in this campaign Completing them will give you possible avantages and will count towards your overall score. Hidden areas found 6/6 Hidden threat disovered *updated* Believed to be a criminal who fled justice, now brought to justice As per orders from command, find three areas suitable for settling. Once this is done, The settlers will start to come your way. *updated* Done. Help the villagers with their extra needs once they start to establish their villages. *updated* Trade network and alternative command put in after original command disappeared. Considered completed *Updated* Area boss found and killed. The area is less likely to spawn dangerous creatures. *updated* special local resources found 9/9 *updated* New area boss found and treaty established. Monsters more likely to spawn as neutral *updated* Outpost created. This will help in protection for local residents.
It appeared that we had completed it. My surroundings began to fade to black. and so I awoke on the couch. Johns was there in front of us, sitting on a chair. "outstanding stuff. We have been watching on the screens, monitoring and just enjoying what was happening. Three teams completed this, of which you were the last out. However, you were the only one to complete all objectives, including the bonus and hidden ones. Well done. You won." I blinked. Well, no messing about here. I looked towards Kusog. He looked euphoric at learning we had won. He nodded to me and said. "All conditions were met. I''m with you." With that, he went to collect his winnings. I followed along wondering what I had gotten. I had a feeling I was going to have to meet with Kekemozz after this and go through everything that I had. But first we would set up the faction. I collected my winnings and we then went to set up the faction. It was a bit anticlimatic, it was basically an agreement between me and Kusog saying that we had agreed to join forces and were setting up a faction. I then arranged to contact Kusog once I was done meeting with Kekemozz and trotted off back the portal area. Stats, Stats, stats.
Name: Tinkerson Race: Demigod
Faction (Hidden): Viaggiatori (Leader)
Racial Traits: Universal language, Improved Physical and Mental abilities.
Unique Traits: Dimensional Affinity, Soulforged, Champion.
Alignment - Neutral (locked)? Recognition level - Academy Student Rising Star
Game Level - Novice Game Pieces - Champion''s Slot (filled by summons)
Bound Assets - None Summoned contracts: Jack (Dimraven)
Open Skills Hidden Skills
Divine - Universal Language, God''s Eye Divine - Dimensional Construction, Knowledge Of The land
Legendary - Neutral Aura, Summoning, Master Of Trades Legendary - Neutral To All, Knowledge Depositary, Blend
Heroic - Steel Mind. World Body, Elemental Craftsman Heroic - Seeker, Merchant Executive, Researcher, Leadership
Extraordinary - Diplomacy Extraordinary - Signatory, Intrigue
Basic - Village Construction Basic - Quartermaster, Miltary Construction
Faction : Viaggiatori (hidden faction)
Membership : Tinkerson (Leader) Kusog (Member)
Assets : None
Based : City of the Demigods
"Well." said Kekemozz. "There has certainly been some overall improvements, but not as much as I like to see in your skills."
"However, I think the blame can partially be laid at my feet here. I sent you off to do the necessary research without too much interference. It clear, that in not coming from this world you do not have much clue about skills and some of the other information. So we are going to go through this, piece by piece and explain everything." So that is what we did. First up was the status page.
Name: Tinkerson Race: Demigod
Faction (Hidden): Viaggiatori (Leader)
Racial Traits: Universal language, Improved Physical and Mental abilities.
Unique Traits: Dimensional Affinity, Soulforged, Champion.
Alignment - Neutral (locked)? Recognition level - Academy Student Rising Star
Game Level - Novice Game Pieces - Champion''s Slot (filled by summons)
Bound Assets - None Summoned Contracts: Jack (Dimraven)
This was a fairly simple one to go through. The name and race was the most basic of my information on the status page. Requiring no explantion, we moved past this to the faction part. It was a hidden faction that I belonged to. Simply put, At the moment, the only people who knew it existed was me, Kekemozz, Kusog and whoever Kusog might have told, which would probably be his guide for one. My alignment, which was locked to neutral. My recognition level which now showed as rising star. Clearly winining the under halls competition had an effect. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. My game level had risen to Novice, no doubt in acknowledgement of winning in the under halls. My game pieces was a champion slot so far filled by one of my summons, Which was also the one in my summoned contracts, Jack. I had no bound assets. I shrugged at this. I had crafted nothing for myself nor brought anything. It was only to be expected. "Ok, so that your status page over and done with. Now to the meat of it. Your skills."
Open Skills Hidden Skills
Divine - Universal Language, God''s Eye Divine - Dimensional Construction, Knowledge Of The land
Legendary - Neutral Aura, Summoning, Master Of Trades Legendary - Neutral To All, Knowledge Depositary, Blend
Heroic - Steel Mind. World Body, Elemental Craftsman Heroic - Seeker, Merchant Executive, Researcher, Leadership
Extraordinary - Diplomacy Extraordinary - Signatory, Intrigue
Basic - Village Construction Basic - Quartermaster, Miltary Construction
There were open skills, Which were skills that could be detected with some identify skill. And there was hidden skills, which could only be volunteered by me or seen only by someone who had broken past my defences. They were broken up into five categories; Divine was the first one. The maximum the skill could reach. However, the skill could then evolve, and depending on the complexity of it, plus how well I understood it, would place accordingly. Legendary. This was for skills that were levelled sufficiently, but were not quite at the top of their game yet. Heroic. A strong skill, but only middling in understanding. Extraordinary. A good start to a skill, but more work still needed. Basic. Basic understanding of the skill. Nothing more, nothing less. We then went through the skills and the bonus it gave to each level that it passed or was at. Kekemozz also gave me a key chart for the rating for each skill that followed the ranking scheme (D) (L) (H) (E) (B). First, we started with my Divine open skills. Divine Language (D) - No more advancement can be made. If it can communicate, it covered by this. God''s Eye (D) - No more advancement can be made. If it can be seen, it can be identified. Only a skill blocker of the same level can stop this. Followed by my Legendary opens. Neutral Aura (D) - Everyone who meets you will be open to being at neutral stance to you. However, a mistake can be made at the start of the meeting that can cancel this effect. Summoning (H) - You have learned summoning at a reasonable level. Improvements can be made and evolved. Master of Trades (H) - You have learned how to construct all manner of items and buildings, but your knowledge can be improved upon and evolved. Then my Heroics. Steel Mind (L) - Your mind is a tough nut to crack and fool. That said, only hard won experience can improve and evolve this skill World Body (L) - Evolved from a lesser skill. reasonable comprehension. More study needed in this to improve. Better technique out there. Elemental craftsman (L) - You have begun this path. There are branches to this path. Only experience in this and your choices can move this on. My Extraordinary skills Diplomacy (E) - Congratulations. Kings and other figures in authority might not kill you if you fuck up. Much work can be done here. Lastly, My Basic skills. Village construction (B) - You have begun to understand that it not just buildings that go into building a civilisation. Only by doing, can you learn more. Then we went through my hidden skills. Divine Dimensional Construction (L) - Congratulations. you know how to build using the dimensional. Can be improved and evolved Knowledge of the Land (D) - You know where you are. You know who runs the area. Where to explore for areas of interest. Only by merging could this skill ever become more. Legendary Neutral To All (D) - While you can anger individuals and groups, This means you should still be able to deal with the races as a whole. However, some races just hate everybody. You gonna have to work a bit harder on those. This skill will give you a better chance then most. Knowledge Depositary (L) - You are acculminating a lot of knowledge. Generally speaking, it get forgotten or shoved to the back of the mind. This skill however, allows you to track whatever you have learned down. As a bonus, the information will always remain yours unless you choose to share. Only a few people can break it down to see what you know. Can be improved and evolved, but only through your mind being attacked. We do not recommend this. Blend (E) = There are better skills out there. However, passively, this may be one of the better ones. You have worked it to a high level. Heroic Seeker (L) - Why? it a question you find yourself asking constantly. You don''t let it obsess you to the levels that knowledge path seekers do, but you do like to know more often then not. As a result you have begun to use the information available to you to sub-conciously figure out and use to your advantage. Can be improved and evolved if you continue to improve the qualities of your findings. Merchant Executive (H) You can run a merchant shop or convoy. You can set up a trading network. If there something can be done merchantile wise, You can probably do it or figure it out. Only experience can move you on from here or skill merging. Researcher (E) - You have begun to move from scholar to researcher. Working in conjunction with other skills you have, you just need to improve this a bit more to be able to start a skill merge or possibly a skill cascade. Leadership (B) - You have learned how to lead people and can do an ok job of it. Some of what needed is experience. Some can be added skills to learn. Do better. Extraordinary Signatory (E) - You can set up and execute contracts at all levels. That it. Let hope this merges or evolves. Intrigue (B) - If there sneaky stuff to be done, you have started to get the idea on how to do it. Again, we can see this merging in the future. Basic Quartermaster (E) - Congratulations. If you ever get drafted, you probably won''t end up being shot for poor miltary behaviour. Miltary Construction (B) You know how to set up an encampment and outpost. There a lot more you can learn. We suggest hitting the books for a start. Kekemozz sighed. "This needs to improve. But only time will be able to do that. You moving a bit too fast for your level is my takeaway from this. Start to learn and experiment with skills you have more. Let look at your faction information now.
Faction : Viaggiatori (hidden faction)
Membership : Tinkerson (Leader) Kusog (Member)
Assets : None
Based : City of the Demigods
There was the name of my faction including the fact that it was a hidden one. The members which currently consisted of me and Kusog. We had no assets and was based in the city of the demigods. Apparently we could change that if we wanted to, once we established outselves somewhere. "You haven''t been on this stage for much longer then a year and a half. Yet at the rate you are going, you will complete it in a lot less time then you should. Provided you can attract more members. I also recommending a period of study and experimentation before moving onto the next stage, However I know there only five years left for Kusog. I advise you both to take advantage of those five years before advancing, studying and improving your faction and relations" He then stood there for a moment looking at the information displayed. Recruitment Drive "Not as much improvement as I like at all, but you have come quite far in a small space of time. You know what to do to improve yourself. I am going to have a break now, Do not come back to see me for oh, two years. By then I hope to see some improvements. Do work well my boy. Oh before I get, here." He touched his finger to my forehead and there was a ding.
Rewards given for progress so far New area awarded within the academy and your quarters attached for the purpose of gathering together your new faction. Open access now revoked to Kekemozz quarters, but main meeting room can still be accessed for due to the teaching aspects between you and Kekemozz. Private information passed by Kekemozz. Assets given by Kekemozz. 300 demi reward for setting up a faction. Rules concerning faction and Academy While you have set up a faction, It hidden status will mean that people will identify you as a group, even with heightened information gathering skills. This will change after you have finished the academy. There are additional rewards that will be allocated if your faction manages to survive graduating the academy. You have these rewards, but they wont show until then. Faction wars are not tolerated at the academy or the city of the demigods.
Huh. Well that was interesting then. I went to contact Kusog and suggested we meet in our new headquarters. He agreed and I headed there. I stepped through the portal room to an identical portal room. I went through the door to find myself in a big meeting room and Kusog standing there. He nodded to me and pointed to two doors that had our name on them. "Our quarters. There is also this on the table here." It was a tablet. I examined it and found it to be a sort of upgrade/control tablet for the headquarters. I looked at the options and created another tablet for Kusog that would show him everything as well and told him to look through it. There was a lot of information there and it took us a while to read through. Eventually we both finshed and began to speak. Within a few minutes we had filled each other in on all that we knew about factions and the headquarters here. We then agreed that there wasn''t really any point in us getting any upgrades, before we recruited. Thus we decided, it was time to start the recruitment drive. We headed to the portal and went to the Markets. While we wanted a combat team and Kusog had some ideas on that, we needed to fill out some more niche roles within our organisation. At the moment, I was overall in charge, and Kusog would be in charge of the combat teams plus combat supports. We probably wouldnt really fill out the combat support roles in the five years we had left, except if we found a good fit purely by accident. On the other side of things we needed someone who would deal with the gathering side of things, someone for crafting which I could fill in for while we were at the academy but we would probably need someone by the time we established a new home. I also had some other ideas as did Kusog. We had managed to merge some of those ideas. it would prove interesting. Kusog had no contacts in the markets. It did not interest him. I however, did. I went straight to Hepht "Ah, Mr Tinkerson. So lovely to see you. Started a group I see. I have heard of Mr Kusog, I look forward to what your partnership may bring about. May I ask what you need with me?" Hepht greeted me and Kusog in an easy way. It did not surprise me that Hepht knew the basics. A man who made his living scanning materials and equipment, would have a very good identifying skill and would know how to find out what he wanted to know. "Mr Hepht. I find myself in a bit of a quandary and wondered if you can help me." "I most likely can. But it gonna cost you. Help doesn''t come for free round here." I well knew this. However, I was fairly confident on what he would ask for a price, and it was one that would be easily paid in my eyes. Kusog had needed a bit of explaining on this, but once I laid it out, was fine with it. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. "As you know, I am a fair hand at merchanting and such. Mr Kusog has been hired for the combat side of things. I can also do some basic crafting, enough to get us by for now. However, once we get past the guild hall doors, I know we can do missions. Which means we need an expert for gathering, to help us identify where we can overlap and combine missions in an area. I was wondering if there was anyone you could point us to?" Hepht stopped the chopping he was doing. He looked at me and Kusog and appeared to be thinking. "You two have a bit of a rep. Tinkerson, you are rising fast. Kusog, you could have rose fast but you didn''t. Yet I sense it wasn''t because you didn''t have the skills. This make you non conformists, pair of ya. Simply put, you both would suck working in large groups and factions and pantheons. In fact, I can''t picture any of you in a pantheon, full stop." Hepht smiled at this point. "I been training a guy who like you. He gets plenty of offers from people who see I am training him but turns them down. I have asked him why, but he says they aren''t qutie right. He quite frankly knows all I got to teach and is wasted here. Come back here in a day, and I introduce the pair of you." We nodded and walked off. "Well, if we can recruit him, looks like we got a handle there. Now we need to find somebody or bodies who can fill our other needs." There were a few needs. We needed a front person. Someone who could handle the contract details and gladhandle the people who would need finesse. I might be able to bring them to the table. I need someone to convince them to stay at the table. Again, I was using another person I had met, this time in the rows. Henare. We found her in her shop and explaned what we needed. She heard us out and then spoke. "You most definitely need a public relations person. However, I can also see you need someone who going to be able to collate everything together and sort it. While you do a fine job of the basics for that Tinkerson, you need someone more in depth for the paperwork as it were." I shrugged. I had planned to handle that myself for now, but if we could find someone and agree terms, I wasn''t adverse to it. Henare thought for a while. "There someone over in the arena who will probably do for your front man. He actually doing a line in betting there and networking among the epic teams there. He seems to be a right character but it hides a lot of depth. You might even find other uses for him in your group. Can you guess who I mean Kusog?" "Charses. In thinking about it, He would actually be good at the job. I was a bit worried about his trustworthiness shall we say?" Henare shrugged. "That where the hidden depths come into play. I would recommend you visit him. As for the admin person, I understand you been to the Knowledge store down the way Tinkerson?" I nodded. go and talk with old man Kitsun. I think he might be able to help you more. It gonna cos you tho." I had a sinking feeling that this was going to be the case. We then walked to the bookstore. Might as well get this bit out of the way. The old man, Kitsun was sitting exactly where I had seen him last time, still in shadow. "Hello young fellas. I hear you have come to maybe make a deal. It will cost you. But I be willing to sweeten the pot." Just like last time, the old man seemed to know everything. He seriously unerved me. However, I had gotten a good deal with this place, that had enabled me to move far ahead. "In regards to the person you are looking for, I can get her to meet you at the portals when you go back. She has learned a lot from me, her father and a lot from her mother as well. This along with the information I wish to give you both is valued at 100 demis. This deal is all or nothing. My daughter and information, or no deal." Me and Kusog retreated to talk outside the shop. "Do you think this will be worth it?" Asked Kusog. I looked at him directly and replied, "Normally I would say no. However, Henare recommended the person which commends her in my eyes. Plus the information that Kitsun gave me last time? I would have paid 100 demis for that, knowing what I know now." I saw this affected Kusog. He had been amazed at my progress so far. One of the reasons he was willing to defer to me. In the end he signalled his agreement to make the deal. We went back inside and Kitsun smiled at us. "Excellent. I''m sure your faction will be a sucessful one." How?..... "Oh I guessed on that one, please to see I was right. you both need to work on that if you wish to be leaders. Now the 100 demis please?" I handed it over, feeling pain in my heart. True, it had been part of an unexpected windfall but it still hurt to see it go. "My daughter will meet you at the portals and speak to you there. As to what else I have to offer." First he brought out four books. Three were open, one was bound with a lock. " This first book, an upgraded headquarters at the academy. These two books, one is for Kusog and one is for Tinkerson. They will impart skills and learnings towards your positons in a faction. I would not read these til you have a month spare gentlemen. Now to this last book." He moved out of the shadows and we saw his eyes. Fox eyes. I was reminded of some old myths from my world. "This book is bound and you won''t be able to access it until you have walked over the threshold to the guild hall. After that, all members of your faction should read this. Not all will get the same gist from it. It will work to up to 12 people. Once you have reach that limit, it will just disappear. I promise however, that it will be worth it." I looked at Kusog. He appeared deep in thought. Finally he nodded his thanks to Kitsun to which I belatedly added mine too. We then started walking back to the portals. There we met a woman who had the same eyes as Kitsun. We conversed and found out her name was Misun. We invited her to the faction and stepped back through the portal. I entered the book to the tablet, where it then told there was an ungrade available. "Once we have gotten the two other people we need, we trigger the upgrade then." I said allowed and the others nodded. There was now a third door with Misun name on it. We all ate and made pleasant conversation for a while discovering that Misun had some high level information gathering and sorting skills. I could think of other advantageous to skills like that, once we rose in power. Much happier, I bid the rest goodnight and then went to sleep. Will he? Wont he? I awaken from my sleep and venture out into the main conference room to find Misun already there. We talked a little, and Kusog joined us shortly afterwards. We then made our way to the portal to go to the market, to hopefully recruit our dismantling and gathering specialist. I walked ahead of the other two, searching out Hepht. He saw me coming and gestured me over to the corner of his little yard. There was a man smoothly making his way through an animal that was 4 times the size of him. Yet, there was not one wasted motion. Everything I could see was clearly cut to the length he meant to cut it to, and there was little mess on him. Oh, to be sure, some. But not the bucket loads you would expect to see from someone literally cutting through something that size. Hepht called out and signalled him to come over. "Dougda, these are the people I wanted you to talk to. There has been no demands made, they just asked me if I knew anyone who was interested in moving on and joining them for the purposes of gathering materials. I naturally thought of you, but since you have not actually told me what you are looking for, I suggested they talk to you." Dougda nodded. He looked at each of us in return. When he looked at me, I could feel some sort of identify skill used on me. He noticed that I noticed. "You are not pantheon. You could be group. But I''m thinking, faction?" This was the moment. Did I want to reveal to someone I just met, the most important piece of information about myself right now? Not really, but sometimes, to get a little, you have to give a little. So I nodded. "Purpose of faction?" This floored me a bit. While I had an overall goal, the fact was that the reason he started this faction was simply to say that he was his own man. So what was the purpose? "The purpose of the faction at this moment is just to say that we are willing to help each other, yet be our own people. To help shore up each other weaknesses and lend our strength to each other as needed. I want to explore." I said, with it rushing out of me. "I want new challenges and adventures and to help people." Said Kusog. Misun softly said. "To see things I learned and meet new friends." Dougda gave a nod and spoke. "You have given me varied answers, and this was what I sought. To find a group that could work together but might not have a common goal. But would be willing to help each other as needed. I will join you." So saying, he turned to Hepht and bowed. "It is with regret that I have to tender my resignation for my work. I have found a new way to walk." Hepht clapped him on the shoulder. "Dougda, you''ve been one strange little man to have in my yard. But you have always done what you have said you would do, and have unfailingly been successful in every task I set you. Walk your way with pride and honour." He nodded to the rest of us and went back to work. Happy that we had managed to recruit Dougda, I then went to see if we could recruit the person Henare recommended us to get grab. Charses. I was of two minds about this one. My faction was going to be a hidden one for the most part. However, so many people had guessed what we were up to already. Granted, these were people who were reputed to have the pulse of this city. So maybe I needed someone who could smooth and hide away things. However, with the way that I first laid eyes on Charses, I had to question if he was the person for the job. "DDDDEEEEMMMMMMMIS AND EPICS! We have a delightful little exhibition fight going on later to decide a beef between these two teams of epics! Dwerwe''s Delvers against Gwerwe''s Giants! It promises to be a fantastic bit of action!" I took my eyes away from Charses, dressed in an eye-gouging tunic of purple and orange, and studied the two groups being advertised by the fight. They looked very similar. In fact, as I narrowed my eyes and looked at the leaders, I realised they must be related to each other. "Fancy a bet, mate?" A voice intruded onto my thoughts. "Not at this moment, thank you. But I wondered if you could answer a couple of questions?" "Sorry mate, but not without a bet. You can pay in mortal coins if you got any, if you like." With a sigh, I pulled out 100 gold coins from a pocket and pointed to the guys on the left. "Dwerwe''s Delvers! Good team to bet on. I think they may have the edge, but we see." "Yes, well, my question is, are they related?" "Oh yes. Brothers." "And they are fighting each other?" "Well, Delvers is an honourable name among darvwes and as a result the second team are a bit sore about not being able to use it here, on account of the naming convention for the arena. So I proposed we have a little grudge match to settle it." I suddenly whipped my eyes to the person in front of me. Sure enough, it was Charses, but dressed in a sober suit of brown. I looked at him and then at the person dressed in the orange and purple tunic. Also Charses. I looked back at the Charses in front of me. This was quite freaky. Yet, effective. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Can me and my group have a little chat somewhere after the fight, or another time when you aren''t busy?" "Well, normally I get a bit leery when a group of people want ''a talk'' after a fight, but you got Kusog with you, and he has always been a stand-up guy. Tell you what, see the guy over there?" I looked over and boggled. Jesary. "I''m willing to talk by him if you like." "That would be acceptable." Charses nodded and walked off. Soon enough, the fight started off. Dwerwe''s men were tough, but Gwerwe''s men it seemed felt the need to prove something. "Dwerve''s Giants are the losers, while Gwerwe''s Delvers are the winners!" I smiled and walked over to by Jesary. He nodded and looked at the rest of my group. "Kusog, Mitsun. Dougda. Now you''re talking to Charses. Yeah, you''re definitely putting together a faction, ain''t ya? Haven''t even gotten the combat team yet." I sighed as I realised how people have been guessing. If I was setting up a group, I was doing this arse backwards to a certain degree. However, I did have a bit of a plan for this. "Hey Jesary, since it you, yes I am. I would also like to make sure it doesn''t spread. Who do I pay and what it gonna cost me?" Jesary adopted a pondering look and then spoke. "Well, If you get Charses to join you, him. If you don''t a lot of demi and me." Simple enough. Hope I would be able to sort this. Charses eventually came over. "Cheers for waiting, I had to sort the bets out and then get the darvwes to calm down a bit. Now what do you fine people want to talk about? Hey Jesary." Before I could speak, Jesary cut in and said. "Hey Charses, this is the faction you have been waiting for. That man there, will cause a lot of bloody trouble in the years to come. I mean, he''s trying to keep the fact he in a faction quiet, and he''s wandering round like a newborn lamb." Charses eyes lay upon me, and then the rest of the group. "This is the infamous Tinkerson I keep hearing about? Lowry doesn''t like you. You turned him down. You got Kusog with you, who a walking disaster in his own way. Misun. Love your father work. Following after him or blazing your own path?" Misun shyly admitted that although she would be blazing her own path, elements of her father''s path were sure to follow. "Oh what fun. And you, little guy. I don''t have a lot of info on you. Which can be troubling. But exciting." I looked at Charses in fascination. I had met people like him in my past life. Rarely, but enough to recognise the type. They did not like being bored. Staying still. If at all else, rather than just letting them stay still, it would be better to give them a box of dynamite and say ''Go there and have fun.'' then to just let them be bored. On the other hand, give them a mission, with lots of detail, and everything would be covered. Public relations? More like disinformation specialist....... Which was what I needed, really. I looked at him and Misun with different eyes. He would go in, all razz and jazz. Everyone would focus on him. In the meantime, Misun would slip in and find out what was really needed. Everyone would think one thing, but the reality would be different. Thank you Henare. "So, want a job?" "What do I get to do?" "What if I was to say that other than generally help out with problems as they arise or with faction missions, whatever you wanted to do, with whoever you could rope in? That we all got our own goals, just not averse to helping each other out." "Oh. Jesary, He''s letting me do what I want. He''s not telling me. He is asking me. Will I have to fight?" "If you have to fight, it will only be because we are all fighting for our lives." "That should scare me, but it strangely excites me! I''m in!" Jesary stood off to the side, muttering to himself. "Oh, they are not going to like this. They are not going to like this at all. The captain going to have my balls for this. I probably will be allowed to still work, but I might be banned from the betting for a while. Til at least this lot is gone from the academy." I smiled as I walked off. I would have to try and do something to help Jesary if I could. We went back to our headquarters, while Charses would dart off on the way to speak to someone, time and time again. I decided to ask him what he was up to. He blithely told me that he was getting people to believe we were a group rather than a faction, that the reason why it was a bit backwards was because the group leader was a bit of an idiot and the rest of us were milking it for what it was worth. I sighed but figured I probably wanted a valid reason for people to believe that and much as it made me sound like a bit of an idiot, the inexperience of me as leader would explain a lot. We made it back to headquarters and sat around the table. The others all looked at me. Looks like it was time for me to do my bit. "Here we are. Five people with goals obscured from each other for the most part. Which is fine for the moment, if we just want to get through the academy together and go our separate ways. I and Kusog know roughly what each other are looking for, and will remain a team after the academy. All I ask of you other three is to think on your goals, and if this group can help with them after we leave here. If that answers yes, and you would like to stay, then I would ask that you reveal them to me at least at some point before the academy ends. If you decide it won''t then know it won''t be an issue to call it quits when the academy ends." I looked round the table and watched everyone take this in. "For the moment, the goal is this. Kusog as far as I am aware, has the least time before his 25 years is up. Correct?" Everyone agreed. "So this is what I purpose. Kusog and I have a couple of books to read that we have been told will require a month of study. Misun, If you could gather information on a good group or even generate a list of combat demis that we could get to work together for a group in that month, that will give us a head start on the combat team. Charses if you could help her, that would be appreciated." Misun nodded demurely, as Charses just smiled a broad smile and nodded. "What will you want of me?" Dougda voice quietly asked. "Misun father gave us an upgrade disc for this place. I wondered if you could look into it and the options it could give us, please? You strike me as a methodical, exacting person. That way, when we meet back up in a month time, we can discuss everything." Everyone nodded. I and Kusog then ventured to our room to begin reading the books Misun''s father had sold to us. You got to be faction starting. I started reading through the book that Kitsun gave me. It was as I surmised, a book on leading a faction. Yet it was so much more. Within the pages contained were memories. Memories that downloaded directly into my mind to teach me the lessons contained within. I watched demigods, godlings and gods battling through. Saw the interactions between them. The misunderstandings. Saw the differences between what a faction and a pantheon was. One was about the power, and the other was about how you used the power. Saw the effects it could have on it surroundings and on the mortals involved. It could be so glorious, yet so very terrible. And I managed to divine my path that I wanted to take, or at least what I think I wanted to attempt for. I was certain Kusog would be with me. Less certain about the others. But that was ok. For I was slowly realising. I didn''t have to do everything as quickly as I thought. I had time once I got through the academy. One of the scenes showed to me was about a demigod who just wandered a planet for 700 years. Never using a level of power above basic save for healing. She would examine plants and heal everyone she could and also anything. She opened a new world up for herself through the earth spirit of the world, deciding to show her hidden secrets that it had not shown anyone else. It ended up making her a goddess and now several temples are established around the universe for her and her clergy are famed for their healing. Healing was not strictly a path I wanted for myself, but from talking with Kusog and trying to figure out what I did want, I did know the path I wanted to follow at first was among the more mundane. I didn''t want instant power. I wanted to earn it. Furthermore, I wanted to earn it by the deeds of my own hands and current power. I knew Kusog felt the same way. We never had the chance to become adventurers. We never had the chance to test ourselves as much as we liked. I did not want the combat path. I would fight if I had to, and chances were, there would be times. But I preferred to achieve it by working to the root of it. Being attacked? Build defences. Now we got time. Time to find out the why. To see if we could solve it another way. Or the power of level changed in an area and the village are struggling to keep up? Then we help to improve things, so they can keep up or get to the level needed to be able to survive. This could be by building defences, teaching them better ways, or just a lot of little things mashed together. If they didn''t want to, no shame, we could lead them safely to somewhere they could survive. The point being, we had the power. We had the means. We just had to figure out the best way forward. Right now, that was building a faction to get through this stage. If it meant I had to rebuild it at a later date, so be it. I had the time. Which is what this book was trying to teach factions. We were essentially a planted tree. We could achieve what we wanted with time and effort. Decide what I wanted to be. The power could come later. The other thing the book taught me was that my difficult job was going to be my teammates. People didn''t always tell the truth. We''re not always honest about their true feelings and objectives. So it was going to be up to me to make sure we were all on the same page. For the academy, I was confident about this. It was what came after that could make it a problem. Yet what I learned in the meantime, might mean I would know if I could trust them more or to cut ties after. A faction lives and dies with it people. At the moment, we didn''t even have half those people, and I have no idea how many of them would want to stay after. So for now, all I could do was observe and show what I wanted to do. With this, I might be able to figure out who was actually interested and who wasn''t. I came out of my room after a month to find Kusog similarly coming out of his. We sat down at the table and looked at each other. "How are you feeling, Kusog?" "Thoughtful. Very thoughtful. I am guessing your book was about the long term leadership of the faction and the direction to head in?" I nodded to him. "Mine focused on the more day to day of faction running, and also about managing a combat team. I am going to be interested in what Mitsun and the others have found out, but I was thinking that we probably won''t be able to recruit a team. We will probably be building from scratch?" Surprise hit me on this, and I decided to ask him why he thought this. He nodded as expecting me to ask and replied. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. "Here what I am thinking. As you most likely don''t know, a conventional combat team or normal adventure team since they are built off the same archetypes as it were, normally consist of a tank, a healer, two damage dealers and the last being a support type or damage dealer. That the conventional team, and they are normally conventional builds. However, let be honest here, we are not conventional, are we?" He cocked an eyebrow at me and I shrugged and then nodded agreement with him. "Therefore, we might as well build as we mean to go on. So we find individuals that we can mesh together to form a squad. I don''t know exactly what comes after we get through those doors, but by all guesses it should operate as an adventurer''s guild, just for us demigods instead. If that the case, the missions offered will probably be a lot of the same types as offered at the adventurer''s guild." He sat back. "You and me have spoken. We know our eventual goals. We are planning to tread our own path. I say we start now. We recruit with this in mind. Maybe not everyone will stay after the academy, but we will be at an advantage with those who do." He was right. I had seen a path for us, and he was right. It would be easier with people we knew. We would recruit to our strengths. Mitsun, Dougda and Charses came walking back in. We greeted each other happily and just talked of lighter things at first. Then I brought the meeting to an actual start. "Mitsun, You and Charses were going to look into potential combat recruits. What did you find?" Mitsun looked a bit awkwardly at Charses and eventually answered. "We looked around a bit, and I have to say, none of the combat teams themselves are what we think would work for us long term. Oh, we could team up, but I would not invite them into the faction." I and Kusog exchanged looks. "We did actually talk just now and thought that might be the case. What do you recommend?" "Well, Charses knows a lot of people. As a result, we ended up seeing a lot of people doing sparring and such, that was not for general view. Also, I reviewed some paperwork and ah ''sources'' of my own. We managed to gather quite a list of people who might be interested in working with us and being part of a team." She pulled out several dossiers and passed them around. We all looked through them. "Ok, let this information just settle in the back of the mind. Let move on to Dougda for the moment. What did you find out about the upgrade disk?" Dougda smiled and began to talk. "First off, let me start by saying that it not just an upgrade disk. It is an actual base disk. We will be able to take it when we leave and set up an outpost, so long we have the needed materials. We will also be able to upgrade that to a home base disk, again with the right materials. This is huge. Don''t get me wrong, a lot of materials needed, none of it cheap. But I say this will make us a lot safer when we finally get out there." This was big. It would mean that we would be able to build something to keep us safe. While we were effectively immortal, we could still die if hit with the right level of power. This would give us a chance to survive in hostile places. "Now as to the upgrade, well. We do have a choice. We have our rooms and the conference rooms at the moment. The disk is offering to either create a combat room or a library compromised of all of our separate libraries for a start." I knew what I would choose. While a combat room might come in useful later, the fact was, with the arena basically next door, it was useless. But the library..... We all had our strength and flaws. This would enable us to find and rectify this as good as we could. Maybe not the best we could, but it would be a start and less of a painful beginning. "For a second chance, we can either choose additional training from the academy or we can build our own dojo." This was a more difficult choice. The advice would definitely be helpful. But if we had motivated individuals, the dojo would be the best choice. I decided on the dojo. If somebody could not improve using it, then it was a sign that they would not be suitable for us. It was a tough decision, as even I could benefit from the advice to a possibly ridiculous degree. But we were looking to build to the future and as such, I decided the personnel was more important. The last decision to make, we would not have to make until we built a proper outpost. A minor blessing, although I wondered what I would choose. What would the real world teach me, as it were? I could only speculate and do the best I could do until then. I informed the rest of my choices. Mitsun was clearly ok. Dougda seemed ok with my choices as well. Charses I had no idea about. But then again, it was for giving that kind of scrutiny to others that I hired him for. I could not well complain if he was showing that face to me while unsure of the way it was going. I just had to hope and believe. Have faith, as it were. Have Faith. I woke up early on the morning we were planning to go and examine the potentials for our teams. There were five of us. It was possible there would be people chosen that I had not chosen at all. Would I veto them all? Or trust in the people I had teamed with? I liked to think I could trust my team. But the truth was, I might not be able to at this moment. Faith was going to be required. If I couldn''t have faith, then I might as well give up now. It was ironic. I was an atheist in my original life. Yet, here I was in a universe in which gods existed. Hell, If I played it right, I would become one. So what did this make me? A pretender? An upstart? It troubled me. But the life I was living was proof there was something. Did I try to manipulate this, or did I just do the best I could with the info I had? I had agreed a deal to become a galaxy god, but there was no clear path for this. If I were to stumble and fail, I don''t think it would be unexpected. I could then live however I deemed fit, without having to worry if I was about to step on a potential landmine. However, I had made the deal and whatever had been said of me, I always kept my deals. I wasn''t about to change that now. It was time to have faith. In myself, in my new faction and people I had yet to meet. Sure it could go wrong, but so long I could get back up, I would carry on. We sat around our table. We had all examined our dossiers. It was time to decide who we were going to go and look at. I decided to open up with the pair that I wanted to go and look at. The first demigod I wanted to look at was a big guy. While I was convinced that Kusog was right in that we would probably be not conforming to the stereotype of a party, I felt this guy was someone who would be able to fulfil a role of heavy hitter and tank in one go. Why he wasn''t in a team? I likened him to Dougda. He was obviously on the lookout for something and wasn''t willing to compromise on what he wanted. Which meant he would either be an easy recruit, or a hard pass from the start. The other person I had was a guy who was a bit of an enigma. A researcher at heart, from all I could work out. The reason he qualified to be part of a combat team was because he seemed to be a summoning specialist. I suddenly felt another pair of eyes looking through mine. ''Man has the blood of the beast masters running through him. Not a true summoner. However, cannot be dismissed, as he seems to have the talent of his bloodline.'' Jack wordlessly spoke through me. Fortunately, I had come across information about the bloodline he was speaking about. They would not be able to summon inanimate or true humanoids, but would be able to call monsters and animals that they had established a relationship with. If he was a direct descendant of the original Beast Master, he would likely be a formidable presence. He had indicated to people from whom Mitsun had gathered information from, that he was not interested in a pantheon or pure combat groups. I felt we would be served quite well having the man on our team. I relayed my choices to the other around the table and the reasons for selecting them, including what Jack said. The other offered their choices. As it happens, Mitsun had also thought the Beast Master''s descendant would be a good pick, while Charses having met the big guy that I had chosen for my first pick had chosen him as a possible choice as well. "I think he would be very amenable to being a part of this team from the conversations I had with him in the past. He actually likes to craft as well, but people just keep seeing him as a point and pound guy. It annoys him." Charses said. Hopefully we could get both. I sent Charses to speak with the big guy, since he knew him. Mitsun went and spoke to the beast master. We had also determined on the three others that needed to be spoken to. One was a woman both Kusog and Dougda both chose. She was a healer, but from the skill set I was told about, she seemed to remind me of a herb witch more than anything. However, she also had a knack for plants, which sounded scary as hell. The other two were actually a pair that had worked together and refused to be separated from each other. One of them was not a combat specialist, but I found that he seemed to be a utility wizard beyond compare, which made me not discount him. The other guy was the one that everyone seemed to try and recruit onto their team, as he seemed to be a one-man wrecking crew, but he would not join without his friend. Dougda and Kusog went to speak with them, leaving me at the headquarters. I was looking through the remaining dossiers and debating on if we should add a sixth person in. while five man combat crews were normal, six-man teams were allowed as well. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Charses came back with the big guy. His name was Sands. We made some conversation while waiting for others to come back. Mitsun was next and introduced Gethed to us. Dougda came back with the pair, who refused to be separated. It turned out they were a couple. Hekrys and Machre. Kusog came back with the herb witch, but he also had someone with him under guest right who wanted to speak to us. The herb witch introduced herself as Tuella. We then paid attention to the stranger who had come in with Kusog. She met our eyes and began to speak. "I notice you now seem to have a five-man combat crew. However, I would like to be added to take it up to the six allowed. I am an elemental caster, and looking at the people you have gathered, I believe you would be served in having one." I thought about it. She wasn''t wrong. But I wondered why she was angling to join. So I asked her. "It true I could probably get a slot in a normal combat team or in a pantheon. However, I have come to know some members of your team over the last few years. They have come to be people I respect. I believe that if they are banding together with you, it is for a worthy cause. I have heard your name spoken in recent weeks, and I believe life could prove interesting with you." She smiled. Upon seeing that smile, I was reminded of an old proverb that was often used as a curse in my old world. ''May you live in interesting times.'' However, I didn''t have a problem with her joining, and he did indeed fill a gap. So I looked at the others and once they nodded, I gave her an invite to our faction. We then told them what we were planning to do, and I gave them the same spiel that I gave the others for staying over the long term. We then initiated the upgrade and had to portal out and then back in. The main room was suddenly a lot bigger than before. Along the longer lengths of the room were the combat teams doors on one side and the rest of us on the other side. Then on the widths sides was the library on one with the dojo on the other. We sat back down at the expanded conference table. "The plan is this. We got three years left to gel as a team and set ourselves up the best chances for whatever comes after the doors open. I will not restrict or tell you what you need to focus on. That not what this faction is about. That said, if we can''t compliment or help each other after these three years of preparation, we maybe fail. So please, think on what you wish to do. For myself, I have set myself with outfitting the team and doing some training. I can trade for materials and equipment and even make it. However, I also know some of you have skills in this department, so please do not hesitate to tell me what you need or how you can help." Kusog said he would work with the combat team and also do some training. The combat group said they would train together and focus on how to support each other. Dougda said he was going to pick up and train some new skills that he felt may come in useful. Mitsun and Charses agreed with him, saying they would endeavour to do the same. We then put together a shopping list, of items and materials that were needed. It would take me some time to gather all this, but I relished the challenge. I also suggested that each year we would do a training scenario in the underhalls to see if we could identify further issues when they felt they were at a stage in their training to step it up. Plus, it might also show us what working together could be like, and would enable anyone to drop out if they felt it wasn''t working for them. It was always a possibility, after all. But I was hoping not. At the end of two years, we would pull everything we were willing to share to the faction and see if there was anything that was needed in addition. At the end of the third year, we would approach the doors and see where they lead to. Everyone agreed and we went our own ways. Quite a lot of us into the library. I suspect to pick up or brush up a skill that would involve the teamwork needed. I smiled. I was fairly confident we had all chosen well. However, my smile faded. We had prepared as well as we could, but the truth was, only time would tell. With this in mind, I decided to start on the trading first. I headed to the portal, ready to go to the market and see what we could get, what I was going to have to commission for and what might be useful in creating. Gethed accompanied me as he was interested in seeing what he could use for creating as well. I found his crafting skills were above mine, but he could not add the effects I could add. I suggested that at some point we would hire Grane''s workshop and see what we could make together. An offer he enthusiastically accepted. interlude I am rushed off my feet with work, while also ill and as a result, I have not been able or been in the mood to write. As a sort of apology, and because of the way my mind had worked until now, I have created a new book on my profile ''entitled stories ideas and scenes from my mind''. Not a lot there, but hopefully it will at least give you something to glance at. I hope to have written something and publish it next weekend. Sorry about the wait, but my mind and body is feeling trashed right now. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Decision to be made about the story The Hippo trudged happily along the riverbed. It didn''t know exactly where it was. It had originally been born on a planet called Earth. There it had lived a number of years until, suddenly, it was yanked into a very strange setting and had proceeded to kill the people it found there and generally wreck the place. Then it was transported to this place. It was the only creature here, and had no idea of how much time had passed since it first came here. All it knew that very occasionally, it would be minding it own business, having a lovely day when all of a sudden, It would be transported to a new place. Where it would then kill and wreck the place again. It was not an intelligent creature by any large measure, but it had noticed that it had seemed to be living a very long time. Also, that after every time it was summoned, it grew larger and stronger. It had truly been a long time since it was last summoned however, and it was currently enjoying a truly delicious water plant. That was when it happened. A sort of haze rose around it, and suddenly it was in another place. It came nose to nose with a creature. Who blinked and said. "That not a demon." To which it then attacked. And killed everyone that was there. It had no idea what a demon was. But if it ever met one, It was going to kill it. For the simple reason that whatever they were, They were probably to blame for this happening. A LOT! In the meantime, It would teach these creatures that summoning him and ruining his dinner was truly a bad idea. Thus fulfilling the third rule of summoning. Always make sure that what you are summoning wants to come and is willing to play by the rules. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. After it killed everything in the room, it then took down the building it was in. After it done this, it was going to carry on wrecking the place. However, It got distracted by this wonderful river right next to the place. It was warm, and had good food. It munched on the plants, occasionally killing the odd human who came near it, til it recognised something in the distance. The man looked at the hippo and sighed. He was a demigod who worked for the local god and recognised the creature. "Someone been using that blasted ritual again. Every time I think I got rid of it, it pops up again. Might take a century or so, but here we are. I even said it doesn''t summon demons! Yet people keep bloody using it!" He then began to enact the banishing ritual. As he did, he reflected on the fact that this was the 206th time he had met the creature. He had never been able to figure out what a ''hippo'' was, as that was the only detail he could get through the identify skill. He wondered how long it would be til the 207th time.