《Founding of Humanity - Animalist》


 01 - Founding of Humanity

    The cubicles are near empty, with everyone packed into the conference rooms. The network engineers have the server monitors up showing the hundreds of pings a second. The website has been replaced with a static "Please stand by" image. The official wiki is currently locked, with a timed release for 20 minutes after game launch. Every conference room has some part of its large screen showing the launch countdown timer. The servers are being turned on one at a time, each pulling a copy of the latest build image from the NAS named Mastermind. Those few people still at their desks are each tasked with testing the stability of one server, using their hard coded port access to cut through the load balancers and synchronization mesh to make sure their slice is online and ready. They sign in with their dev avatar, using only a vr headset to look around the settings and make sure sight and sound are functional. The haptic systems are ignored in the server-by-server last check, being left to spot checks by a few capsules in the PR department.


    Everything is showing green, as the launch countdown reaches 1:01


    <hr>


    -= Werlkhan =-


    I live alone. College didnt work out, but my part time job fills the gaps in income. My bread and butter is my gaming review board, which is quickly rising as the de facto standard upon which all games are measured. You can call me Werlkhan, as that is my handle everywhere but in real life. So, everywhere that matters to me. It was hard coming up with something unique enough that I can always claim it, but misspelling has its uses. World is pronounced werld, khan means king, so Werlkhan is a subtle reminder that I am here to conquer. But you dont care about that. You are here because today is the release date for Founding of Humanity, and you know I give the best details. I took the whole week off as vacation, and now it begins.


    I go to my comfortable corner, a futon propped in the corner of a small room in my small apartment. The only other thing in the room is the vr gear needed to connect to my passions. I sit down and start strapping it on. A belt goes around my belly button, well below heart and lungs, and its odd bulges remind me of a certain yellow utility belt. It is connected by a thick and armored cable that rolls up along my spine to the next segment, the shoulder mantle. This mantle is shaped like athletic shoulder pads, and I remember reading that the prototype was built on exactly those. Thehelmet is the last part, and as I power it on the integrated neck pillow inflates. A wireframe of my left arm appears in my otherwise black viewing area, and I move my arm until it feels like it matches the shape, and hold. Repeat with my right. The little circles in the upper corner turn green one at a time, and then my vision blacks again. Hardware and calibration ready. Last breath, then the tingles run all over as the gear paralyzes my limbs and takes over my senses.


    Connecting ....


    Please register new user: _


    Werlkhan


    Nothingness surrounds me, like it does at the start of any of these games. No reason to add costs by stylizing this step. I have no body yet. A new interface appears before my consciousness.


    Assign initial stats:


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>+/-</td>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>+/-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>+/-</td>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>+/-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>+/-</td>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>+/-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>unassigned</td>


    <td>12</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I could spread it evenly and start with 5 in every category, but I want to bring the pain. It wont let me go below 3, so ...


    Add 3 to vitality and strength, so I can stand toe to toe with anything in the early space.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Add 3 to dexterity so I dont miss. Why boast about your damage rate if you cant bring it to bear?


    2 for wisdom, 1 for intelligence, as I do not know what skills will require yet.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>+/-</td>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>+/-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>4</td>


    <td>+/-</td>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>+/-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>+/-</td>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>+/-</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>unassigned</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Accepted. Brace for tutorial.


    I appear in a training field, racks of wooden weapons on the sidelines and a grisly looking npc in front of me. I cant move my feet, and a few more players appear in the same field evenly spaced. Whatever the npc was waiting for occurs, and he stands a little straighter.


    Trainer: "Greetings, elect of the gods. Seeing you appear from thin air is entertaining, but I have wasted enough time. My name is Krowks. This is a new age, an age where the gods have decided to bless us with you so that we may tame this land. The priests tell me that you can pick and choose your own strengths, two points per level, whatever that means. I am here to direct you in gaining skills with which you shall push back the wilderness. Skills upon which this age of humanity will be founded! You will need equipment, and all I have here is practice tools. The town green in the west is surrounded by shops, and the town square in the east has the chapel. Respect the law, and we will get along. Now, take a weapon and familiarize yourself with it so you can go establish humankind as the dominant existance in this world!"


    Krowks then walked over to stand between some weapon racks, and we all were freed to move. A few of the players fall down, and my own first step is a little shakey, but the brain is a great tool and quick to make adjustments. I run to a rack and grab a sword and dagger.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Wooden Sword


    <hr>


    Dmg 3


    1-hand


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Wooden Dagger


    <hr>


    Dmg 2


    1-hand


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    It looks like Krowks is there to help people who have not played immersive VR before. Let''s skip the "pointy end goes into the other guy" talk, and go find a fight. I run to the mouth of a street on the edge of the training field and run into a system notification.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Attention!<hr>You areleaving the tutorial before completion. Skip tutorial?


    Yes / No</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    W: "Yes"


    I head east, the mostly transparent directional aide at the top of my vision swinging as I turn. The town is typical, mostly single story wooden buildings which lets me see the pitched roof of the stone chapel rising above them. Jumping around a few npcs who amble in the streets, I get there quickly. Chapels are typically respawn points and where you can be cured for a donation. Krowks back in the welcome speech hinted at a little more, mentioning the priests gave the information on stat increases.


    For those of you who weren''t reading the hype feed to glean every bit of info before hand, let me sum up for you. This game has freedom as well as restrictions. Restriction: we are all humans and get to assign two stat points per level. Freedom: anyone can learn any skill. Lets say you want to be a mage with the Target: Joint skill of an archer. Become an archer and level up until you get the skill and then switch class to mage. This means you are a few levels behind anyone who went straight mage, but you have the stat increases from those levels so you should be about even still, and you can still use every skill you learned. An ice spike through the knee will both slow and cripple. I am thinking that I will get some early rogue abilities and then go warrior. I want to hit hard, right where it hurts.


    <hr>


    Status: Werlkhan<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>1 (0%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>98.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>59</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>10.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>50</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>4</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>1.8 (32s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>0.4 (26s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>62</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>4c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 02 - First kill

    Dialog in this story has the speaker''s initial in front of it, unless it is bleeding obvious who is talking. NPCs will have some name or descriptor, leaving initials to be used by the player characters.


    W: Werlkhan - main character, first person naration is from this perspective


    <hr>


    I am standing on the main road that goes from the East town gate to the chapel. Time to see what wooden weapons do to level 1 monsters. Before I get in a fight, I should probably look at my status.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Class:</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>1(0%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>98</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>59</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>10.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexerity</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>39/50</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>4</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>0.89 (66s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>0.31 (34s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: right">unspent</td>


    <td style="text-align: right">0</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>62</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: right"></td>


    <td style="text-align: right"></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>4c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    This looks easy; my health will fully restore in thetime that it would take to walkfrom outside the gate to the chapel and back. Mana seems a little low for how even my stats are, but I am not worried as I am more a front line player anyway. I pity the mage that thinks they will come out of town hurling fireballs. I run to the nearest gate. Well, it''s called a gate but it is just a guarded hole in the wooden permimeter wall. As soon as I step foot outside I get a system message.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Hidden Class Available!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Animalist


    <hr>


    You spend all your time in the wilds with the animals, and civilization holds no interest for you. The animals are your companions, your teachers, and you draw your strength from them.


    [Class selection is locked until level 5]


    </td>


    <td>


    * No tutorial


    * No equipment


    * No stops in town


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    A hidden class so easily? Hidden classes are supposed to be strong, giving you unique weapons or bonuses. This must be weak, if it is just being handed out. Well, I can not equip it yet, so I will worry about it later. Outside the eastern gate I find a few farms built close, with some crop fields in need of care. The farm houses are spread apart, and appear to be nothing more than log cabins. The fields have a mix of things, some growing vines with broad leaves that creep across the ground and others growing upright grains. All the running has burned a portion ofmy stamina, so I walk towards the farm fields to see if there are any items I can scavenge.


    As I reach the edge of the nearest field a rat jumps out of the knee high cover of broad leavesand bares its teeth.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Rat - level 1</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The rat is larger than a real one. If it were to stand on its hind legs it would just see over the plants it had been hiding in, but I suppose that will make it easier to hit. I swing the wooden sword low, a one-handed golf swing, and connect with the rat''s head.


    -6 to rat


    That looks like it took a quarter of the rat''s health, so three more until my first experience points. The rat stumbles back to look at me, and then starts circling to come at me from an angle. As I watch, it stops and then leaps from a little to my left, going for my throat. The dagger is fast and good for defense, and I use it to intercept the rat and throw it off. The rat twists in air but still rolls a little as it hits the ground.


    -4 to rat


    Not giving it time to regain its footing I smash down with my sword, stab with the dagger to pin it in place, and wack it once more.


    -6 to rat


    -4 to rat


    -6 to rat


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">25exp</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The rat immediately disolves, leaving threecopper coins behind. As expected of a lv 1 monster, quick and cheap. Some one who is unused to immersive vr might have found that challenging, but this level of threat can barely hold my interest. The coins vanish into my inventory when I touch them, and I take a step into the field. Two more squeaks, and I see the leaves rusting towards me. Hoping backwards out of the field I bring my weapons up into a defensive posture. The first rat leaps just as it reaches the edge of the field, and I bat it to the side with my sword


    The second rat charges out right after, and instead of jumping goes for my ankles. One hop backwards and then one sideways to put the charging rat between me and the one I just threw off, and I bring both weapons down as hard as I can. Reaching the ground at my own feet with a dagger is a little awkward, but I still connect with both weapons halting the rat before it can reach me.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    I keep my sword pressed down on it, pinning it to the ground, and stab away with the dagger.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">25exp</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    and that rat vanishes. Before I have time to wonder how a wooden dagger can stab so well, the other rat lands on my shoulder and bites my ear. Pain fills my head and I start flailing to throw it off of me. The rat falls to the ground and takes another bite out of my leg. That leg stops supporting me for a moment, and I fall ontop of the rat. I can feel it pinned under my leg, and three quick sword swings end its life.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">25exp</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    6 more coppers, and the pain of having hole in the leg and an ear ripped off. I guess players should not be offended at starting on the same level as the rats, the little buggers are scrappy. "Status!"


    Werlkhan: Status<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Class:</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>1 (76%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>98</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>51/59</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>14.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexerity</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>21/50</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>4</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>1.83 (32s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>0.40 (36s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: right">unspent</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">0</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>62</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: right"></td>


    <td style="text-align: right"></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>13c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Letting out a long breath, I sit on the ground and wait. It took a couple seccondsto kill that last rat, so I am already seeing the recovery rate work. 7seconds later my health is full again and my stamina is almost there. This heal rate is wonderful, and pretty much means any noob can survive out here without potions. If it stays like this then FoH is going to be like an elaborate game of tag. Kiting is going to rule most encounters. If I can run away enough during a fight then I won''t even need potions! And I am close to leveling.


    Classes are available at lv5, so the game up to that point should essentially be tutorial. New goal: get a class before my two friends log in today.


    I run to the next field, kill a rat, and receive my first level. The faint sound of trumpets play some fanfair over my head, and I get a system message.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Level up!<hr>You have 2 unassigned points</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Gameplay is smooth, so I dismiss the message and let the points sit there. I take one step into this second field and hear the squeak of a rat taking offense at my pressence. This one goes down just as easy, and the 25 experience points gets me 16% of the way to lv 3. Certainly diminishing returns, but not bad really. I am getting better at deflecting the leap attack from the rat, and start taking it on the dagger every time. Three more rats (75exp) and some things happen. I reach 64% progress to the next level, gain 12 morecoppers, run out of stamina, and I gain my first skill.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Parry (dagger)


    Using a dagger or short weapon, receive and redirect attacks without taking damage. This is a contest of dexterity with your enemy.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I sit down for a rest and have a look around. It is a good thing the plants in these fields are only knee high; I can see past the fields without having to stand up. I am east of town. East of me is a wide open grassy plain. I can see trees to the north and a glint of water to the south, which makes sense. Being near a forrest means easy lumber and being near water is essential for a medieval town. It just works out that this starting village has easy access to a variety of monster habitats. I open my status sheet to see if there are easy to find relations between the stat numbers and my character''s abilities. Carry weight looks simple. It was 62 at level 1, 64 at level 2, and I have 6 strength so a 6*10ish limit. To test, I add one of my two points to strength and bring up my status.


    Werlkhan: Status<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Class:</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>2 (64%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>176</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>77</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>7</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>21</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexerity</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>60</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>4</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>.89 (86s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>0.63 (34s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: right">unspent</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">1</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>74</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: right"></td>


    <td style="text-align: right"></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>31c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The increase in mana is surprising, as it is twice what it was, and the mana regen is up too. Those are clearly level based changes. But my healing rate has not changed, adding 20 seconds to the time needed for a full heal. I can see that the low level fluff will be over quickly, and I wonder how quickly the monsters will scale in difficulty. I should log off for a quick lunch, and then head north to those woods.

 03 - Snakes in the Grass

    Maybe 4 hours until my friends are online, and three more levels to climb before I can get a class. Soon as I clear the slight disorientationof the transition to the game I check my surroundings. I am right where I was when I signed off. I head north across some grassy fields towards the woods. Stamina is important in battle so I don''t run this time, and halfway between the farm and the woods I see how hard a higher level monster is.


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Ambush!<hr>54 damage received</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    It feels like my leg has been shredded and I am standing on the tattered end! I fall to the ground with a shout of pain. A green and brown snake coils up from biting me and raises its head above the grass.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Plains Snake - 3</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    A level 3 snake nearly killed me in one hit! I swing once with my sword, going wide and missing. The snake bobs its head to follow the movement, and then looks at me again. I hold my dagger out, between me and the snake, while I try to get back up into a defensible position. The snake focuses on my dagger, matching every wiggle and dip, and hisses. It strikes and I parry, but I do not have as much dexterity as the snake and receive some damage


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>incomplete parry, 50% damage<hr>5 damage received</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I have 23% health left, and my heart is pounding so hard I can feel it everywhere. I''m sitting upright so my arms are free to fight. Either I take this thing now or after I resurrect at the chapel. I extendthe dagger out and the snake follows enough for me to smash it across the face with my wooden sword.


    -6 to snake


    What? I have increased strength and level since those rats, I should be doing more damage! As it is lifting its head I hit it again, this time pressing the head into the ground at the end of the swing.


    -6 to snake


    And I start stabbing with the knife


    -3 to snake


    -3 to snake


    -4


    -3


    -3


    -4


    The snake is writhing and trying to get free. I curse it for having such health while I keep stabbing.


    -3


    -4


    Then it gets its body under my sword, and starts pushing my sword up. This snake has more strength than I do! I''ve recovered the 5 health from the bad parry, but I am still dangerously low on health for this fight. However, that barrage of stabbings has brought the snake''s health as low as mine. About 30% left. That snake glares at me, and then strikes out to bite the arm holding my dagger.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    (9 damage received)


    I start beating on it with the sword while it is attached to me


    -6


    -6


    It draws back for another strike and I bring my wounded arm with the dagger up and ready. I activate the parry skill again to try and decrease the damage.


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>incomplete parry, 50% damage<hr>5 damage received</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Smack it while it''s extended!


    -6


    The snake crumples to the ground and vanishes in a twinkle of dust moats, and I collapse back to the ground gasping.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>85exp</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Level up!


    <hr>You have 2 unassigned points</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The experience from the snake pushed me to the next level, fully healing me as a side effect. The pain of my injuries is an instant memory. Feels so good.


    The snake also dropped its skin and one eye. I cannot see a description on them other than the plain labels, but I worked hard for these so I pick them up. If I am going to fight another snake, I want to be able to parry it properly. I put two points in dexterity, and am surprised to see my stamina rise from that. My last point goes into vitality, as I was too close for comfort to dieing out here. I am not too curious to see how bad the death penalty is. That one point brings up my health, stamina, and healing rate. My new status numbers bring me a little comfort.


    Werlkhan: Status<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>3(0%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>283</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>7</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>104</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>7</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>31.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>8</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>74</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>4</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>1.11 (93s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>0.94 (34s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">unspent</td>


    <td style="text-align: right">0</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>76</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center"></td>


    <td style="text-align: right"></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>31c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Skills: <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Skills:</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Parry (dagger)</td>


    <td>10 stamina, 0 cooldown</td>


    <td>Using a dagger or short weapon, receive and redirect attacks without taking damage. This is a contest of dexterity with your enemy.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 04 - Brambles Forest

    I am in the grass between the town walls, farms, and nearby forest. I almost just died from a stupid snake hiding in this grass. But, these snakes are a good amount of experience, which I need if I am going to get a class before my friends join me. New plan, stay in the grass here and kill some things for another level before trying the woods.


    I start moving forward slowly, sweeping my sword back and forth through the grass. That snake did 6x damage by ambushing me, and I dont want to give that kind of bonus to something that wants me dead. A few steps further and I find a turtle. This turtle is bone white with each facet of its shell having a 3 inch spike. It immediately pulls it head in, and a faint glow appears on its shell.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Ivory Spike Turtle - 2</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    He''s not putting up much of a fight, and he should be weaker than the snake. I test my sword on him.


    -0


    Okay, moving on. 10 steps further and I find another snake. This time, no ambush and I a parry his first strike with my dagger. Success! Although using the skill means the dagger does no damage, I do like the certainty that I take none. It dodges my first sword swing, but I can work with this. This time, I see some new information.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Plains Snake - 3


    <hr>Tough Skin: armor 1</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I did not see any armor information on the turtle, is that because I have a snake skin in my inventory now? Thoughts for when I am not in combat. I wait for its next strike and parry, then quickly swing out with my sword.


    -6


    Okay, this is making sense. The rats had no armor, so my increased strength is being negated by the increase in my targets armor. We settle into a pattern, and 8 swings later the snake is finished.


    85exp


    Level up!I pick up the Snake Skin, there is no eye dropped this time. I start my slow progress forward, searching the grass for more hidden enemies. Two more snakes killed with the same pattern, parry and wack, and I reach level 4.


    Level up!


    You have 2 unassigned points


    These points I will hold on to. My health continues to rise with my level, and I am feeling confident now. More than 400experience needed to reach level 5, so that is 5 more snakes. But I am really curious what is inside the woods, if it takes this much to get to them but they are also so close to the town. I am right at the border, having continued in this direction during my snake hunt. Well, no guts no glory. I step into the woods.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Brambles Forest


    <hr>sight range reduced 30¡ë</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Alright, this zone effect occurs in more than just buildings. The shadows began the trees seemed to deepen when I got that message. This near edge does seem to have a lot of bushes and undergrowth for a forest. Now that I know that monsters here do ambush players, I proceed with caution. This sight debuf is having a psychological effect already. There is danger here, waiting to eat me, and I cant see as well as I could two steps back. My heart rate increases and I start feeling jumpy. That would be the adrenaline which is now circulating my body. Whew, okay, I can do this. One more level and then back to town for a class. I hear a click off to one side, almost like the cock of a gun hammer. There, clinging to the side of a tree trunk, is a three foot mantis with 6 inch blades for front arms.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="125">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Blade Mantis -4</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Huh. The name makes it obvious those arms are not for show. I ready my weapons and turn to face it full on. It seems to take that as a signal, and twitches. In an instant that mantis is flying by me, opening my arm with that jagged natural weapon.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    (8 damage received)


    Ouch! What the crap was that! I spin around to face where the mantis had disappeared to, and see it climbing around another tree trunk to face me again. This must be his thing. Lets see if I can parry his attack! I grip my weapons tighter and get ready for his leap. He considers, his head leaning a little to the side, and then crouches towards the tree. I hear that click again, so it is clear what the mantis intends now.


    Stillness. We stare at each other, unblinking. Then the attack comes.


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">incomplete parry, 50% damage<hr>4 damage received</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Arrrg! What is with these high stats on low monsters! At least his damage is low. This time I dont wait for the mantis to prepare his attack again. While he is still climbing up a tree I run over and swing down with my wooden sword.


    -6


    The mantis is smacked off the tree and onto the ground, where it flips over and throws its arms up into a boxing stance. His health bar is actually showing a chunk missing, so his stats must be skewed heavily to dexterity. I dont even try to parry again and put all my effort into keeping the mantis on the ground.


    Sword!


    -6


    Dagger!


    -3


    The mantis bobs forward and slashes my leg before ducking back


    (8 damage received)


    I move closer to keep him in range; he''s close to half health but wicked fast. I swing and miss, and he takes the opening to go for my other leg.


    (8 damage received)


    Heart pounding, hands shaking, I continue to do battle with this 3 foot tall monster of thin legs and jagged blades. He charges in to wrap both his blades around my left leg and I do something crazy.


    (8 damage received)


    (8 damage received)


    (5 damage received from self)


    I stab my dagger through the shoulder joint of the mantis and into my own leg. My health drops to 100 (67%). Now it is pinned to me and cant dodge, and I lay into it with my sword.


    -6


    -6


    (8 damage received)


    -6


    -6


    The mantis disappears, and I pull my dagger out of my leg.


    90exp


    Thank the devs that it only had two thirds the health of that stupid snake. I fall to the ground here at the edge of the woods, and consider my status.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Class:</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>4 (21%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>428</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>9</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>92/149</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>7</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>42</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>8</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>41/89</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>4</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>1.56 (95s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>1.25 (33s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>78</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>31c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Ouch. The pain in my legs and arm is fading quickly. Advantage of the game, because a real knife wound like these would hurt for days. There on the ground in front of me are the drops from this monster. On top of the pile is an insect wing, fragile, transparent, glittering. I touch it and it goes into inventory. 5 coppers wait under it. At the bottom of the pile I see one of the arms of the mantis.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Chitinous Kris</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    dmg 6


    1-hand


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    That is a nice replacement for my wooden dagger. It looks like, until I get my class, I will be using the snake method that I worked out earlier. Pin them down with the wooden sword and stab with the knife. Speaking of snakes, those gave as much experience as this mantis, but if I find them first they are a lot less trouble to deal with.


    As I consider these things, I hear a growl from deeper into the woods. Looking up, there are three wolves walking slowly towards me from the deep shadows.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Young Wolf - 5</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    That makes the decision easy. I stand up and run headlong out of the woods. That mantis was level 4, andit took a third of my health. With the way these monsters have been increasing in strength, I dont want to take on three at once. As soon as I leave the brush on the edge of the woods the sight debuff disappears and the growling stops.

 05 - Class Unlocked

    I have chosen to avoid painful death by wolves, and return to the pleasant grass and nearby farms. With the Brambles Forrest behind me, I am looking south again with the grass between me and the farms. Further on south is that body of water that I have yet to identify. Doesnt matter right now, I have only a little time left to reach level 5 and get back to town for a class before my firends log in. It sure is nice to have the day off and get ahead.


    With my vitality this high, I am not so worried about the snakes. I know how to avoid their ambush, and moving slowly on my way back towards town gives my health time to regenerate. I recover almost 3 hp per second so it will be roughly 20 seconds before I am back to full health. Since it will probably take me 15 minutes to pick my way back to town, that sounds great to me.


    Heh. With all this thinking, I have used a few seconds already. Time to get snake bashing.


    Slowly making my way through the tall grass, sweaping it aside with my sword to look for snakes while holding my new Kris ready, I head towards the farms. Find a snake. Parry the first attack. Pin the head. Stab stab. Repeat. This mantis knife is doing 13 damage to the snakes on each hit, so the battles dont last long. I make it halfway across this dangerous stretch of grass and find another turtle.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="163">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Ivory Spike Turtle - 2</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The turtle pulls its head in and I see that same glow as before start around the shell. Maybe it is the same turtle; I dont know. My stamina is running low because of the constant vigillence, so I sit to take a break. I watch the turtle, who does nothing. I pull out the three snake eyes that I have in inventory and start comparing them. Slit pupil, amber iris, milky part. Turning them over and over, they look identical.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Inspect


    See uses and metrics of some objects</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Oh, right. I have to perform the action before I can get the spell, just like parry. Putting my new skill to use I see


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Eye of snake<hr>


    Potion ingredient


    socketable


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Half a minute later, with my numbers all full, the turtle stops glowing. It sticks its head out and hisses at me.


    "If you are going to be rude about it, I am going to stop ignoring you."


    I smack it with my wooden sword.


    -3


    Ah-ha! That glow must have been a defense buff. I stab it with my Kris.


    -10


    It really does not like that and bites me.


    (4 dmg received)


    It''s weaker than the rats. I dont even stand up. Sitting there on the ground I trade attacks with the turtle, getting two stabs for each bite he makes. Even with my high damage knife, it still takes some time. 9 stabs and one wooden smack, that turtle took 93 damage.


    50exp


    And it was hardly worth it. The turtle disolves away into dust, leaving 20 coppers behind which I promptly put in my inventory. I have killed two snakes so far on my return journey, earning me two more skins and another eye. I am now 72% of the way to the next level. Another two snakes should push me over the edge, and I am close to town. I stand up and move into the grass. Within feet of the edge of the grass I find a third snake, or seventh depending on how you want to count it. Unfortunately, I find it the painful way.


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Ambush!


    <hr>


    54 damage received


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Aaah! It still hurts, and the surprise means I cant brace for the pain. I turn around to face the coward that bit me in the back. It has already recoiled and is about to attack again. I parry the strike and bludgeon it with the wooden sword


    -6


    But it wriggles free before I can pin it down. I had moved in close while trying to pin it, so I stab and then drag the kris away in a slashing motion.


    -13


    -13


    Ha! The system accepts that as two attacks. The snake is really hurting, with less than half its health left. I hop back and ready my skill. The snake creeps forward, murder in its eyes and vengence on its mind. It feints a strike, and I fall for it by trying to parry. The snake then attacks my right legYou could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    (9 dmg received)


    and I smash down with both weapons


    -6


    -13


    It pulls itself back, nearly dead, and I jump on it with my wooden sword.


    -6


    85exp


    Good riddence. I hope these snake skins sell for big money. I am now at 92% experience and the edge of the grass. I think I will top off this forey with a few rats, since I have to go by them anyway on my way back to town. I leave the grass. There are the same two fields of squash vines on the north side of the path to the gate. The south side of the path has what looks like a dwarf variety of corn, and a scarecrow out in the middle of the field. A large all-black bird is perched on the head of the scarecrow; something for me to look into after I get a class.


    Walking along the edge of the farm field, I hear a familiar squeak. I put the wooden sword away and settle into a ready stance with the kris knife. The leaves rustle closer and closer, then it pauses. Then a rat leaps out from between the vines with teeth bared.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Rat - 1</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Compared to the mantis, this rat is not even surprising. I slash at it in mid air with the knife,then stab it once it lands on the ground.


    -14


    -14


    25exp


    I pick up the coppers and move to the next field. Walking along the path edge brings me nothing, so I walk up the west edge of the field until I hear the squeak. These things even announce themselves. So easy. I feel a little embarassed that they actually gave me a fight a few hours ago. The rat scurries over to a clear patch on the field where I can see it. It crouches down, wiggles a little, and jumps at me. Once more I intercept it in mid air.


    -14


    As it is falling I hear another squeak from out in the field. I should have enough time to kill this one before that one jumps. I follow it to the ground with my knife, and get the satisfying detailsin my combat log. Just seeing some numeric shape appear in the corner of my vision is nice.


    -14


    And then the green letters that float up with the light motes, telling me of my reward.


    25exp


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Level up!


    <hr>You have 2 unassigned points</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="449">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Congratulations! You have reached level 5 and are now able to equip a class.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I ignore all that and turn in time to see the next rat coming. I parry this one out of reflex, pushing it off to the side. This skill activation is smooth, though it looks like using only a dagger is notunlocking anything. I pull the wooden daggerback out of inventory so I now dual wield daggers. The rat turns to face me. I swing at it with both weapons


    -14


    -5


    The rat staggers backward, and then does something I would never expect. It straightens up and bows to me.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Class Obtained!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Animalist


    <hr>


    You spend all your time in the wilds with the animals, and civilization holds no interest for you. The animals are your companions, and you draw your strength from them.


    Statbonus per level: n/a


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Class Skill Taming


    Force a creature to accept defeat at your hands, and it will join you. Limit 2/lvl</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Class Skill Herd Enhancement


    Receive a buff of 10% of a creature''s top stat from all tamed creatures</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Class Skill Wild Intuition


    Learn the skills native to your pack. Tame similar animals to learn their ability</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="border-color: #09d909; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Rat (lv 1) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+0.7 vitality</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    That was very unexpected. I have a class now? I remember unlocking this class by leaving town so quickly, but I never made a decision about my class. I am a little uncertain about it telling me I get no bonus stats for leveling while I am this class, but that Herd skill seems to cover that weakness? Well, having a rat in my pack increased my health by 10 points. This is one of those "hidden classes" that enable stronger characters? Some quick math follows. I am level 5, at two creatures per level, ten rats would be 7 vitality ... I could almost double my vitality. I can seriously tank with this! Dustin is going to be jealous.


    Werlkhan: Stats<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><colgroup><col width="100"><col width="100"><col width="100"><col width="100"></colgroup>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>Animalist</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>610.7</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>9.7</td>


    <td>hp</td>


    <td>186</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>7</td>


    <td>mp</td>


    <td>52.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>8</td>


    <td>sp</td>


    <td>101</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>4</td>


    <td>h regen</td>


    <td>1.56 (113s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>m regen</td>


    <td>1.56 (34s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>carry</td>


    <td>80</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>2</td>


    <td>coins</td>


    <td>0g 0s 54c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 06 - the Rat Pack

    Dialog in this story has the speaker''s initial in front of it, unless it is bleeding obvious who is talking. NPCs will have some name or descriptor, leaving initials to be used by the player characters.


    W: Werlkhan - main character, first person naration is from this perspective


    <hr>


    Dustin and Eric are not online yet. They both know my handle, and will make a friend request as soon as they are in. I am expecting them any minute, but my readership at the least will want details about this class. Since this game allows class switches, I have no worries about keeping this one for awhile and I should at least see what that third class skill means. First, it''s time to check my status.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>Animalist</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>5 (0%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>611</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>9+0.7</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>186.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>7</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>52.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>8</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>102.8</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>4</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>1.7 (109s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>1.56 (34s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: right">unspent</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">2</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>80</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>54c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Classes usually come with certain skills that unlock at specific levels. I wonder what level I need before I can give my tamed beasts commands. Previous goal, get a class before my firends sign in: complete!


    New goal, experiment with this class until they get here. Since I am between the farm fields and the town wall, I might as well collect a few more rats. Continuing on my path along the farm field it does not take long for another squeak to sound out from among the squash plants. The rat that has joined me was following along behind me like a puppy, happy to stay at my heels. I already know what to expect and hold my knife at the ready. Some leaves rustle, followed by a rat jumping out from cover into the open air. I swipe down with my knife and knock it to the ground.


    -14


    The rat that was following me squeaks and attacks the one I just engaged.


    -5 from rat


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Rat (lv 1) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+0.7 vitality</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The rats untangle, and the one that was on bottom straightens up and gives me a bow.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!


    Pathfinder</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Identify the best path to take to the intended destination</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">This skill learned from the monsters in your pack by reaching a majority of one kind.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    That was easy. I turn and head into the middle of the field, two rats now hopping at my heels. I hear a squeak followed by leaves rustling and turn to face the next pack member. It jumps, I swing.


    -14


    And my rats attack it right away.


    -5 from rat


    -5 from rat


    25exp


    How was that one different? Maybe the rat takes a moment at very low health to decide to join me. To test the theory I put the Kris in inventory and pull out the wooden weapons, and then continue across the field. Oh, the copper coins, don''t want to forget money just lying around. There are no more rats in this field so moving to the next one.  I am greeted by two squeaks and the rustle of leaves.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    The rats appear at almost the same time, and I let them bite me.


    (5 damage received)


    (5 damage received)


    It still hurts, but I knew it was coming so I can manage. The two rats following me squeak and attack. This squeaking is beginning to irritate me. I attack the rat on my right with the wooden weapons.


    -5 from rat on rat1


    -6 on rat2


    -4 on rat2


    -5 from rat on rat2


    Close to where it was the first time, so I stab my sword into the ground between the rats as a delay and use the dagger.


    -4 on rat2


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Rat (lv 1) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+0.7 vitality</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    That worked. I see the rat doing its little ceremony of a bow but there is still a fight so I don''t watch. My attention is on the other rat fight just as my team delivers a third hit. I see the fading notices of this fight and stab in with the dagger.


    -5 from rat on rat1


    -5 from rat on rat1


    -5 from rat on rat1


    -4 on rat1


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Rat (lv 1) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+0.7 vitality</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I now have 4 of my 10 creature limit, and this field looks empty. I return to the gate road between the farms and step into a field on the south side. I hear a squeak and feel a bite on my foot, followed by four squeaks behind me. I don''t even raise a weapon.


    (5 damage received)


    -5 from rat


    -5 from rat


    -5 from rat


    -5 from rat


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Rat (lv 1) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+0.7 vitality</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Peer pressure is a real thing, and this class is easy. Two of my rats are in tatters, but they seem to be healing fast enough. Staying to the edge of this field I stroll forward. Soon I hear the usual squeak and I stop. The rat attacks.


    (5 damage received)


    My rats squeak and swarm around me. I bend over to grab the rat that is limping behind the others. 4 is just the right number for this fight.


    -5 from rat


    -5 from rat


    -5 from rat


    -5 from rat


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Rat (lv 1) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+0.7 vitality</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    This feels too easy to bulk up like this. Hidden classes really are a cut above the others.


    W: "Skill list."


    Werlkhan: Skills<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Taming</td>


    <td>passive</td>


    <td>Force a creature to accept defeat at your hands, and it will join you.


    Limit 2/lvl</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Herd Enhancement</td>


    <td>passive</td>


    <td>Receive a buff of 10% of a creature''s top stat from all tamed creatures</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wild Intuition</td>


    <td>passive</td>


    <td>Learn the skills native to your pack. Tame similar animals to learn their ability</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Parry (dagger)</td>


    <td>cost: 10 stamina


    cooldown: 0</td>


    <td>Using a dagger or short weapon, receive and redirect attacks without taking damage.


    This is a contest of dexterity with your enemy.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Inspect</td>


    <td>cost: 0 mana


    cooldown: 0</td>


    <td>See uses and metrics of some objects</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Pathfinder</td>


    <td>cost: 0 mana


    cooldown: 1 min</td>


    <td>Identify the best path to take to the intended destination</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Werlkhan: Status<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>Animalist</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>5 (8%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>611</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>9+4.2</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>239</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>7</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>72.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>8</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>111.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>4</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>4.23(56s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>2.01 (36s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: right">unspent</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">2</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>80</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>54c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 07 - The More the Merrier

    Dialog in this story has the speaker''s initial in front of it, unless it is bleeding obvious who is talking. NPCs will have some name or descriptor, leaving initials to be used by the player characters.


    A: Ashcroft - mage with biased to fire


    J: Jorlund - as close to a dwarf as a human can get


    W: Werlkhan - title character, first person naration is from this perspective


    <hr>


    Now that I have my rat buffs, I want to see what a stronger monster will do for me. I walk directly back to the path, turn and head for the grasses.


    "Here snaky snaky. I want you to meet my firends." The rats are running and hopping along behind me, fanned out like a common street gang trying to look imposing. I equip my strongest weapons. With the serious health buff they are granting me, I amunstoppable in this low level monster area.


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Rat (lv 1) from your pack has died.


    0.7 vitality removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I turn around in time to see one of my rats disappearing into themouth of a snake. The five remaining rats squeak and attack, and I lunge forward with my weapons.


    -4 from rat


    -4 from rat


    -6


    -4 from rat


    -13


    -4 from rat


    9 damage to rat


    -4 from rat


    The snake is struggling under so many attacks. This is far different from my first encounter with snake. The difference that a class makes is expected, but gang stopping this snake is cathartic.


    -4 from rat


    -13


    85exp


    Oh, I wonder what kind of buff I would get from a snake.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Player Jorlund is requesting to be your friend.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Accept / Ignore</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Accept.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Player Ashcroftis requesting to be your friend.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Accept / Ignore</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Accept.


    It looks like Dustin and Eric are both here. Eric likes to play a mage, and usually has some "Flame", "Ash" or "Blaze" in his name. Dustin is the typical tank player, takes a beating and keeps laughing, and I like to go rogue or try something unusual. Altogether we make a good enough party. Regardless, it is evident that they are here. I activate my Pathfinder skill as a test, and think "friend Jorlund". I feel a tug back towards town, and facing that way reveals a little glowing spot on my overhead transparent compass. Rats are supposedly good with mazes, but this skill has little use in a fight. I start running for town, with my five rodent minions scurrying behind me.


    As I run through the gate into town, that little glowing spot on my compass slides sideways to point straight down the center of the road. Running along the street I pass the chapel and adventurer guild and approach the training field where I started. Getting close to the street that little light slides along the compass again to tell me to turn. So, either Dustin (Jorlund) is moving awfully fast, or this does not point straight to him but rather points out which turns to make. That will be very helpful in a cave or dungeon, or in a town or sewer or other places that rats tend to be. Funny how conveniently that works out. I enter the training field and easily find my friends.


    Just how I expected. Ashcroftis tall and thin and holding a quarterstaff. Jorlund is shorter, twice as wide in the shoulders, and holding a wooden shield and wooden mallet. If they would let him be a dwarf I know he would''ve picked it. I get their attention.


    W: "So, you two here for the couples cupcake cook-off?"This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    J: "Werl-kun! There you are. I thought you would have been here waiting for us like a homeless kitten."


    W: "It''s Werl-KHan! Your otaku side is showing when you talk like that."


    A: "Khaaaaaan!" in his best Captain Kirk expression.


    Then they see the rats behind me.


    A: "You can pull monsters into town?"


    W: "I can. You can''t. These are my rodent friends. Each one is giving me avitality bonus. It''s a class skill."


    J: "What weird class did you find this time, Sewer King? Ratman? Are you going to release a plague on the NPCs for some quick level gains?" He grins.


    "Is there going to be a quest to suppress you?"


    W: "No. This is some beast tamer / monster master class, and right now I''m as buff''d as any tank you''ve built. These five rats are increasing my vitality by 40%, and this is only half my monster limit; and level 1 montsters."


    J: "Alright, that does sound rather handy. So to business then. You''ve already got a class, so tell us which way to go sensei."


    Respect feels nice, even when it is buried in sarcasm.


    W: "I have not found an easy source of money yet. Not all monsters drop money, and these rats only drop three coppers a piece. You are able to take a class at level five, and much like a lawyer at your last arrest one will be assigned to you if you dont provide your own. I got this one by accident, because I did all my leveling outside of town and didnt pick a class. Ashcroft will want to ask at the chapel, because they have some class information and could point him to a mage trainer, I suspect. Also, the monsters hurt."


    J: "You should have known that already. This isnt your first dive after all."


    W: "Yes, Bore-lund, I knew it would hurt. How about you take your nice hammer there and walk straight out of the east gate. After you pass some farm fields you will enter tall grass, and then I will meet you at the chapel when you resurrect. By the way, how much health do you have?"


    They both check their status sheets.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Jorlund</td>


    <td>Class:</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>1(0%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>98.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>8</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>65</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>9</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>7.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexerity</td>


    <td>4</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>51.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>1.11 (58s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>0.15 (50s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>2</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>92</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>4c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Ashcroft</td>


    <td>Class:</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>1(0%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>97.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>50</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>20</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexerity</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>45.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>8</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>0.56 (90s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>8</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>0.40 (50s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>32</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>4c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    They asnwer at the same time.


    A: "50"


    J: "65"


    W: "Okay. So Ashcroft would be dead before he knew what bit him and you would at least get to see the thing, though I doubt you could hit it, before it kills you."


    A: "What lives in the grass to the east?"


    W: "Just some level 3 snakes, not even poisonous. Speaking of, you might find a use for these before I do." I hand Ashcroftthe 3 snake eyes I have.


    "They are supposedly potion ingredients, but potioneering is not one of my pursuits right now."


    J: "So, you are not aspiring to be the Lord of Fluffies? Perhaps my doubts are unfounded..."


    W: "Doubts?"


    J: "Doubts of your manhood! Hahahaha"


    Grooooan.


    A: "You walked into that one. Now, which way to magicso I can start burning things?"


    How did I become friends with these clowns? I am about to brag about my skill, but selecting Pathfinder and thinking of "mage" gives me a system prompt.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Destination unclear. Try going to somewhere you have already been or to something that is familiar.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Not going to give Jorlundmore ammo. I turn to the training ground entranceand say over my shoulder


    W: "We can ask a guard as one would be closer than the chapel. After I drop you at day care I will take the beardless dwarf for a little excursion."


    J: "I''m not that easy. You have to buy mea drink first."


    W: "A little excursion, and then leave him there. I hear short and talkative is trending as a menu item."


    The city guard was a helpful NPC. It seems they have extra patrols around the mage''s house because of the dangerous things that mages are known for getting into. He knew right where to send us. Just as we walk in the door


    NPCmage: "Ah good. Perfect timing, I need some help."

 08 - Ethereal Silk

    Hermit mage: "I have a small collection of Soulsilk worms in the basement. Their silk is essential for making enchanted armor. Unfortunately, the adult version is the Dreameater Moth, and several of my worms have reached that stage. They should be done laying eggs now, and I just need some one to go kill them so that I can continue harvesting silk safely."


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Quest!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Arknatbo needs help clearing his silk farm of Dreameater Moths.


    Moths remaining: 20


    Accept / Ignore


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    A: "Ark-nat-bo?"


    "Please, just call me Mage. No one can pronounce my name properly, and the townsfolk have stopped trying. Thank the gods. So, will you help me?"


    W: "This looks like a good way to avoid the trouble I got in of taking all my experience outside of the town. Should we party up?"


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    You are invited to join Jorlund''s party


    Accept / Ignore


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Accept.


    A: "I''m not looking forward to the amount of experience you will be sucking out of the party, but why not."


    Ashcroft joins the party.


    J: "Alright mage, we accept your quest. Show us the seedy underbelly of your dwelling."


    Quest accepted.


    Mage: "They''re not seeds, they''re pupa! Follow me."


    W: "You cant argue with that, Jorlund."


    A: "Companions, please. I know you prefer ignorance and a big stick, but ''Knowing is half the battle.''"


    J: "The G.I. Joes would never let you join, Ash. Your jaw is not square enough."


    W: "Moving on, I think I should be first in this fight. I have almost 230 health."


    A: "I accept your brave offer of being the first to be smacked in the face by moths."


    Jorlund snickers, but doesnt reject the proposal. I draw my kris and my wooden sword. I was not expecting a fight so soon, and was planning on taking Jorlund through the market side of town first. He could find some fetch and carry quest and I could shop for a sword, or maybe a piece of armor. The mageArknatbo leads us to the back of his house, to a tiny room with a trap door in the floor. Beneath the trap door is a wooden ladder. I can''t climb down a ladder with my hands full.


    Mage: "Remember, don''t hurt my worms. I need them to keep producing. Let me know when you are done with those moths." The mage promptly turns and heads back to the front of the house.


    W: "Alright, lets see what kind of fight they make a lv 1 aspiring mage take on."


    I stow my weapons and step onto the ladder. The basement is lit by mage lanterns, the blue tinted white light seeming to make higher contrast with the shadows in the corners and under the tables. Lots of tables. This basement is large, and I see ten full sized dinner tables that would make any tavern proud. On each table is row after row of what look like miniature gallows, a worm on each one. I am distracted from the sight by the 5 rats that are still following me crawling down the ladder and over my hands.


    J: "Shout out if you are dead yet, and we will know not to come in!"


    W: "You''re going to have trouble climbing this ladder after I relocate that hammer of yours up..."


    A moth flutters up on the other side of the ladder, level with my face, and I see a phantasmal shimmer come from its eye spots.


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">You are stunned</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    My hands come off the ladder and I fall the last two feet. I land in a sitting position, and the five rats around me all make their battle squeak. I can''t grab my weapons, and I cant stand up. One of the moths lands on my head. I would be mad if it wasnt so pretty.


    (1 damage received)


    Okay, it''s not that pretty.


    (1 damage received)


    W: "Be careful, these moths are stunning. Try not to look at them."


    J: "Down ladder, make a hole."


    A second moth lands on me.


    (1 damage received)


    (1 damage received)


    Jorlund makes it about as far down the ladder as I did before another moth appears in front of him and does the same trick. He falls the same way, right on top of me.


    (3 damage received from party member)


    (1 damage received)


    (1 damage received)


    J: "Oh, stunning."


    W: "I know, right?"


    (1 damage received)


    (1 damage received)


    The effect finally wears off and I squirm out from under Jorlund and shake off the moths. Glancing around the room four of my five rats are stunned, with a moth sitting on their heads, the last one hopping about trying to reach an enemy. Ashcroft starts coming down the ladder.


    W: "Ashcroft, close your eyes as you come down. The moths have some 5 second stun ability that happens when you look at them. You will land on top of Jorlund if you get stunned while on the ladder."


    I take out my kris and swipe at the moth sitting on Jorlund''s head, finally getting a look at it.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="132">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Dreameater Moth - 3</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    -14


    It takes off, and I swing at it once more.


    -14


    25exp


    That was pitiful. "Did you guys get some experience?"


    A: "Yes. 25 points, which is a quarter of what I need for a level."


    W: "Okay, so party experience is a straight split. The moths have less than 28 health and no armor."


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Rat (lv 1) from your pack has died.


    0.7 vitality removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I look over to see four moths lifting off from a small pile of dust.


    W: "And they are picking off my health buffs."


    Jorlund stands up and takes out his hammer and shield, and Ashcroft reaches the floor and draws his quarterstaff.


    J: "The stun effect lasts 5 seconds, and they feed on you while you are stunned, one point a second."


    Ashcroft makes a swing at one and misses.


    A: "Anybody have a bug catching net handy?"


    The moth does a pirouette and turns flat to his face. I see it shimmer and then right itself, but Ashcroft doesn''t fall to the floor.


    A: "I can see why this is a task for aspiring mages. The stun is a mental thing, and you brutes probably didnt put anything in Intelligence."


    W: "If I can capture six of them, I can learn how it works."


    J: "Is that aclass skill?"


    W: "Exactly."


    J: "What did you learn from the rats?"


    W: "Killer martial arts. Now I roam the streets at night fighting crime and eating pizza."


    A: "Good effort, but ninja turtles are not in vogue this year."


    J: "And why would we men read your girly magazines?"


    W: "I think he ..."


    A moth flips into sight from behind, and flashes me. I drop to the ground.


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">You are stunned</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    W: "They keep interrupting."This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    (2 damage received from party member)


    Ashcroft just knocked me in the head with his staff.


    W: "Ouch. That hurt my feelings."


    A: "I was testing to see if I could dispel your stun. Looks like the answer is no, but I could keep trying."


    W: "Just do the quest, I''m fine here."


    A moth lands on my head.


    (1 damage received)


    A: "Suit yourself."


    He goes over to stand back to back with Jorlund, swinging at the fluttering targets.


    (1 damage received)


    (1 damage received)


    (1 damage received)


    (1 damage received)


    As the stun wears off I reach up and grab the moth. Holding it against the floor, I pull out my wooden dagger and slowly stab it.


    -5


    W: "5"


    -5


    W: "10"


    -5


    W: "15"


    -5


    W: "20"


    -5


    W: "25"


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Dreameater Moth(lv 3) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+1 charisma</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    W: "They have between 26 and 28 health, and their highest stat is 10 charisma."


    J: "Pretty boys shouldnt try to fight, they will lose their good looks."


    A: "How do you know about the stats?"


    W: "I just tamed one, and got the buff from it."


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Rat (lv 1) from your pack has died.


    0.7 vitality removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    W: "And I just lost another rat. But my health regen is still above their damage rate, so I can do this all day."


    A: "Only because you are not alone down here. If all 20 swarmed you, taking turns stunning you and feeding on you in mass, you would be dead in a minute."


    W: "Good point. See what I was saying about level 3 monsters being scary?"


    J: "There''s one less to worry about."


    25exp


    W: "I''m going to try taming more."


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Rat (lv 1) from your pack has died.


    0.7 vitality removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    W: "And they are getting more concentrated. I just lost another rat."


    Another tries the over-the-head approach to stun me, and I snatch it and lay in with my wooden dagger.


    -5


    -5


    25exp


    Somebody just killed one, but I dont look around.


    -5


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Dreameater Moth(lv 3) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+1 charisma</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    That one must have been damaged already.


    25exp


    J: "Moths dont hold up well under hammers."


    A: "When you can actually hit them, that is."


    I scan the room for my last two rats, and run over to clear the moths from on top of them. They are clearly stunned and very low on health.


    25exp


    Since they are stunned, they are perfect bait. I equip both my daggers and stare at the rats. If I look up some moth will stun me and I will lose my chance. A moth comes down on each rat.


    I attack left.


    -14


    25exp


    I attack right.


    -5


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Dreameater Moth(lv 3) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+1 charisma</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    That one does a pirouette and flies off behind me.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Stun Gaze


    Throw your spirit through your eyes at your enemy, to stun them for 5 seconds. This is a contest of intelligence and charisma


    30 mana  3 minute cooldown</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Yes!


    A: "Werlkhan, are you doing alright over there? You''re not standing and there is a small swarm above you."


    W: "I''m fine. I have tamed a few and I am using my rats as bait. If I look up I will get stunned but I just learned their skill. Their stun has a 3 minute cooldown, and it uses both intelligence and charisma."


    J: "Because they are pansies!"


    A: "Quest says there are 11 remaining."


    J: "These things would be really annoyingif Ashcroft wasnt immune to their stun and keeping them off of me."


    W: "Good job Ashcroft, you were smart enough to put points in smarts."


    My rats shake themselves and stand up. A moth flutters down and stuns one right away. The other rat leaps over his comrade and tackles the moth, showing how the ones on this side of the room are already injured. I lean in with my kris knife to help.


    -5 from rat


    -14


    -5 from rat


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Dreameater Moth(lv 3) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+1 charisma</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    J: "Come at me you fluttery pansies! Your mother was a hampster and your father was an earthworm! Oooo, new skill!"


    And he gets stunned and ungracefully sits down. But the taunt seems to work, as the moths take on a red tint instead of their shimmery blues and browns that work so well in this queer magelight.


    A: "Looks like you made them angry."


    J: "They can suck on a wet napkin for all I care. Aw, taunt doesnt stack."


    W: "You can taunt while stunned?"


    J: "Perhaps not. Ask me when the room stops being fuzzy."


    25exp


    W: "Nice, Ashcroft."


    A: "A lot fewer of them are trying that stun move. It must be the cooldown."


    Another moth comes in for my stunned rat.


    -14


    -5 from rat


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Dreameater Moth(lv 3) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+1 charisma</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The rat then jumps on another that just entered my peripheral vision.


    -5 from rat


    25exp


    25exp


    My stunned rat straightens up and looks for an enemy.


    A: "Quest says there are 6 left, but I see almost that many above you."


    W: "I have 5 tamed now. I already learned the skill they use, so kill any that come at you."


    J: "I''m up."


    25exp


    I stand up, as my bait is not pulling any more now, and look over to my friends. As I focus on them flood of battle messages appear, and I mentally shove them aside. I need to adjust that setting. It is nice that I don''t get the combat log of the room as a whole, it would be too distracting. But I need to be able to check on my party without being blinded by updates once my attention gets to them. With my vision cleared, I can see three tattered looking moths circling them. I run over to grab one, miss, but get ahold of the next one.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Dreameater Moth(lv 3) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+1 charisma</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The red aura on the 4 remaining moths refreshed, and they gofor Jorlund.


    J: "I blow my nose at you!"


    A: "Go Jorlund, give ''em the full Monty treatment."


    W: "If I tame a python in this game, I am naming him Monty in honor of this moment."


    J: "You don''t frighten us, pig moths. Go and boil your bottoms, you sons of a silly monster!"


    A: "I think that one is a lady moth, actually."


    J: "It makes no dif-fer-rence! They shall die now or I will taunt them a se-cond time."


    My two rats climbed a table and jumped into the air.


    25exp


    A: "3 remaining!"


    And those three were outlined in red, right above Jorlund. We all got to swinging and flailing, the difference in dexterity showing. When Jorlund had more around him, it was easier for him to hit one with that hammer; law of averages. We finally ended these three, and my 6 tamed moths went and settled on the ladder, folding their wings and almost disappearing against the brown wood.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Quest Update</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Return to Arknatbo.


    Moths remaining: 0


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    There were a half dozen items around on the floor, I pick one up to examine it.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Dreameater eyespot


    <hr>


    Potion ingredient


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    W: "Ashcroft, these moth parts are also a potion ingredient. Compare two side by side looking for differences and you will unlock the indentify skill. That''s how I did it anyway."


    A: "Always a good skill to have."


    J: "I''m going to sit and rest for a bit, unless Werlly Bird has a restoringskill? My health is alright because those things dont hit hard at all, but I am out of stamina"


    A: "It looks like stamina does not recharge while you are actively doing things. I have two level ups from that fight, so I have things to ponder while we recharge."


    I check my own status.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Animalist</td>


    <td></td>


    <td>pack:</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>5 (82%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>592.1</td>


    <td>2 Rats</td>


    <td>+1.4 vit</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>10.4</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>197</td>


    <td>6 Dreameater Moths</td>


    <td>+6 cha</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>7</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>52.5</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>8</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>104</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>4</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>1.87 (105s)</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>1.56 (34s)</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>9</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>2</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>80</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>57c</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    W:"That''s odd."


    A: "Something not right with your status?"


    W: "Not bad, just odd. I used to need 611 experience to level up, but now I only need 592"


    A: "And what''s changed?"


    W: "It doesnt make sense that losing my monster minions would lower the price for the next level, so it must be the charisma bonus from the moths."


    I look over at one of the moths on the ladder.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Dreameater Moth(lv 3)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    pack member


    Animalist bonus: +1 charisma


    Release? Yes / No


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Easy enough to test my theory.


    Release.


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Dreameater Moth(lv 3) is released from your pack.


    1 charisma removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Yep. 595 exp needed now. The released moth left the ladder and flew up to the ceiling beams. Looking at it fold its wings and settle into that brown camoflauge state, I realize the ceiling in here is not rough cut wood. It is blanketed with sleeping moths. The quest only said kill 20, so those must be for the next quest taker? It certainly covers the question of where the moths come from for consecutive quests.


    W: "One charisma point makes a difference of3 experience."


    J: "The world is just easier on pretty boys. It makes sense. Even the gods must have a soft spot for big eyes and clean face lines."


    W: "And your just jealous; it makes sense."

 Note from author

    Hello peoples.


    Here is part of why I say in the story description this will not be on a regular release, I have to invent the monsters before the characters can fight them. The game is an integral part of the story building process for me. I cant write a story where the characters take a few random swings, that feels like a long enough fight, and the monster dies. I have to have the numbers behind it. In Sword Art Online, when Kirito is facing down the group of pk thugs and says "High enough numbers will make you invincible", it was a serious plot device. But it hinged on the mechanics of the game behind the story being stable enough to support it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J3vRAeSlNU


    Ergo, I am stuck expanding the bestiary, inventing the monsters that Werlkhan must gather to get him the skills to get to the epic battles. If you want a peek at the battles, here is one that I am working towards.


    Spoiler: Level 15 or so battle<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Preomition, Jorlund is about to die. Werlkhan vaulted over Jorlund to land in front of the kobald Lord.


    Shielded!


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.Sturdy stance!


    The giant sword smashes into his dagger held flat against his upright forearm. The force pushes him sideways, leaving furrows in the ground from his feet.


    (320 damage received)


    Right in the monster''s face, steaming breath swirling around him, Werlkhan usesStun Glare. The boss monster staggers a little. Flash Step, forcing it to cover its eyes as he gets beside one leg.


    Dervish Dance! Ambush bonus!


    Kobald Lord drops down on the knee as the leg stops supporting his weight. Still glowing with the armor buff, Werlkhan crouches into a ready stance.


    W: "Jorlund needs a heal and I can''t take another hit!"


    J:" Focal Point! Here I am you Gojira wannabe!"


    Energy ripples shimmer in the air and condense onto Jorlund, like a video of a pebble thrown in a pond played in reverse. A red aura appears on the boss monster, and he roars his fury at the ceiling, shaking the whole cavern.


    The two second delay finishes. Leaping Strike! Werlkhan explodes of the ground to stab the Kobald Lord in the ear. But it is locked into Jorlund, and still stunned, and can only roar again with rage. Stag Point! x2 x4 x6 x8 x10! Each attack framed by the phantom image of antlers, all of them pounding against the side of the Kobald''s head. Then the stun wore offand Werlkhan jumps from his shoulder.


    At the same time Ashcroft unleashes his attack. "Fire is an agent of change, and I am its harbinger. I declare the fire comes and you will change to ash! Blazing Pillar!" Shadows evaporated as the room fills with red light. The flames streaming up from the floor meet the flames pouring from the ceiling, enclosing the monster in conflagration.


    J: "Showoffs."


    M: "Crazies."

 Beastiary Extended

    A list of monsters encountered sofar, and their relevence to the main character. With each monster is their Wild Intuition skill and Herd Enhancement bonus. This will be expanded later, but I don''t want to spoil some developments.


    Rat - Level 1


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 0.7 vit


    Skill: Pathfinder - Identify the best path to take to the intended destination.


    0 mana 1 minute cooldown


    <hr>


    Soulsilk Worm - Level 1


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus:1cha


    Skill: Mana Thread- Produce a tangible thread with your mana


    1 mana for 3 inches


    <hr>


    Lumisancti - Level 1


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus:0.4wis


    Skill: Sanctinesence- Removes 1 curse on touch, every 5 minutes


    Passive


    <hr>


    Feisty Fish - Level 1


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus:1cha


    Skill: Waterbreathing -Ability to stay underwater without suffocating.


    Passive


    <hr>


    Ivory Spike Turtle- Level2


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 1.5 vit


    Skill: Shielded-Quadruple armor ratingfor 30 seconds.


    20 mana  5 minute cooldown


    <hr>


    Mire Newt - Level 2


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 0.5 int


    Skill: Mud Pit -Turn earth to mud at target location within 15 ft of caster. Affects a 2 foot radius of the target.


    30 mana 2 minute cooldown


    <hr>


    KizunaSnail - Level 2


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 0.7 wis


    Skill: Spirit Connection - Establish understand without needing words. Sharing pain is part of the deepest understanding. You and your target are connected for 1 minute.


    5 mana


    <hr>


    Marsh Slime - Level 2


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 0.6 wisIf you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Skill: Slime Consumption -Drain enemy with a touch. Drains mana first. Drains stamina if target is out of mana. Drains health if target is out of stamina. Drain rate based on Intelligence. A Marsh Slime drains 5 points / second


    5 mana/s 10 second cooldown


    <hr>


    Plains Snake- Level3


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 0.9str


    Skill: Ambush-If undetected, deliver 6x damage


    Passive


    <hr>


    DreameaterMoth - Level3


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus:1cha


    Skill: Stun Gaze- Throw your spirit through your eyes at your enemy, to stun them for 5 seconds. This is a contest of intelligence and charisma


    30mana  3 minute cooldown


    <hr>


    Blade Mantis - Level 4


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus:1 dex


    Skill: Leaping Strike- Rapidly cross the distance to your target and deliver a strike


    15stamina 2 second charge time


    <hr>


    Timber Spider - Level 5


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 1 int


    Skill: Camouflaging - Using silk or other strings attach pieces of your surroundings to yourself. Trees dont bite, so who fears a mound of bark?


    100 mana


    <hr>


    Young Wolf - Level 5


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 1.4 dex


    Skill: Scent Tracking -Know who has been here, how long ago, and which direction they went. Can also be used to detect if a previous scent is now in the area.


    25 Stamina


    <hr>


    Raven - Level 6


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus:1 wis


    Skill: Premonition -Sense imminent death of self and nearby friendly units.


    passive


    <hr>


    Daisey Dervish - Level 6


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 0.8 dex


    Skill: Dervish Dance -16 hits of half damage spread among targets around user.


    25 mana  5 second cooldown


    <hr>


    Triffid - Level 7


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 1.5 int


    Skill: Entangle -Rapid growing roots errupt from the ground and wrap around everything in a 5 foot radius of target.


    100 mana 5 minute cooldown


    <hr>


    Brown Bear - Level 8


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 1.5 str


    Skill: Sturdy Frame -While active, cannot be staggered or stunned.


    1 stamina/s


    <hr>


    Tusked Razorback - Level 9


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus:


    Skill: Keen Edge -Increase target weapon¡¯s attack power by 30% for 2 hours.


    150 mana  1 minute cooldown


    <hr>


    Stag - Level 9


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 0.7 vit


    Skill: Stag Point -Stab with the simultaneous points of antlers. Consecutive hits increase the number of points.


    30 mana


    <hr>


    Hooded Asp - Level 10


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 1 dex


    Skill: Poison Spit -Propel a wad of caustic poison at your emeny. Eats through armor, weakens target by half, and does 15 seconds of damage based on your vitality.


    100 mana 5 minute cooldown


    <hr>


    Troll - Level 12


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 2 vit


    Skill: Battle Regeneration -When in combat, health regeneration is 10x normal, mana and stamina do not regenerate. Can be stopped by fire.


    passive


    <hr>


    Wyrven - Level 19


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 1.5 vit


    Skill: Ice Breath -Your breath is winter. Release a torrent of ice and snow from your mouth. Chance to slow all who are hit. Damage based on intelligence (ice) and strength (wind).


    200 mana 15 seconds cooldown


    <hr>


    Night Lynx - Level 15


    <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Animalist bonus: 2 str


    Skill: Resizing -Reach that enemy that you couldn''t before. This ability is designed to be used for both physical and psycological battle.


    50 mana  n/a cooldown


    <hr>

 09 - South Gate

    Dialog in this story has the speaker''s initial in front of it, unless it is bleeding obvious who is talking. NPCs will have some


    A: Ashcroft - aspiring mage


    J: Jorlund - as close to a dwarf as a human can get


    W: Werlkhan - main character, first person naration is from this perspective


    <hr>


    Ashcroft did not take too long pondering his stat assignments. He was going mage, and was already skewed in that direction. Since Jorlund was there as a meat shield, he put two in Intelligence and two in Wisdom. Jorlund was going the opposite route. He put two in Vitality and one in Strength, bringing both of those up to 10, and then the remaining point in dexterity. They were like mirror opposites, one with 10 Int / 10 Wis and the other with 10 Vit / 10 Str.


    Before we leave the basement, I walk over to one of the tables and pick up a silk worm to inspect it.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a SoulslikWorm (lv 1) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+1 charisma</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Alv 1 has 10 whole points in charisma? It must be flat 1s in its other stats. Could there be another skill here? I start picking up worms. I get interrupted by a system notice.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Pack Summary</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    10/10 creatures


    +1.4 vitality


    +8 charisma


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I have reach my 2 per level limit. I release twomoths and pick up three worms and see what I was hoping for.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Mana Thread


    Produce a tangible thread with your mana


    1 mana for 3 inches</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I wonder what this could be used for. So as not to gain the ire of the mage upstairs, I release his worms. Then the three of us climb back up the ladder. My rats are healing nicely. It seems the monsters only regenerate health when they are not in combat, much like the restriction on players regenerating stamina. The mage was waiting just outside of the small room.


    Mage: "Thank you lads. Here''s some coin for your trouble. As I have said earlier, my silk production is vital for enchanted armor. It is important to me. Now, what brings you here today?"


    2 silver received


    Ashcroft steps forward. "I am here to take on the class of mage. Please instruct me in the paths of the arcane."


    Mage: "You survived the moths, perhaps you have enough intellect for what I can teach. "


    J: "Ha. A stat joke."


    Mage: "However you are not yet at the strength where you can step onto this path. I will make you an offer. I need ingredients and resources. You can go out of the south gate and find many things I use. I will pay you for what you bring back. But specifically I need crystallized slime bodies. Here is a bag of catalyst. Sprinkle some of this on a slime to make it crystallize and bring that back. Do this, and when you are strong enough I will show you how to become a mage."


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Quest!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Gather ingredients for the local mage Arknatbo. He will pay you for everything you bring in.


    Accept / Ignore


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Accept.


    W: "So we go kill things until you get to level 5. That is straight forward enough."


    A: "And we should look at what is out the south gate while we are doing it."


    The three friends leave together and head to the south gate, which is close by. Out of the south gate the ground gently rolls away towards a large lake. The lake is fed by a rivver coming in from the west, curving a little around town. Where the river meets the lake is a small swamp, teaming with monsters.


    A: "That looks like a great place for potion ingredients. Shall we go see what grows close to town?"


    J: "It''s so hard to think of one liners when you guys just talk business."


    W: "That''s what she said."


    J: "Weak, but I appreciate the effort."


    A: "Do you guys want to flip a copper for who takes point?"


    W: "How about I tell you what I expect, and then Jorlund can get in a bit of tank practice?"


    J: "That sounds agreeable to me."


    A: "By all means, please do."


    W: "Alright. I expect there will be a level 1 something here at the gate. Down in that little marshy area we should find level 2 to 4 monsters. Then as you walk along the edge of the lake or head upstream on the river you will start to see the monsters that are built to fight people with classes."


    J: "That sounds right up my alley. Follow me boys, and let''s go collect ingredients for the recluse mage."


    A couple yards out of the gate and we met our first monster. It was perched on the thickest branch close to the top of a bush, and only caught our attention when it did ... something. Whatever it was, I felt content to just sit in the sun like it was doing, but at the same time I knew this feeling was coming from that monster.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="132">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Kizuna Snail-2</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Yep, a snail. And it had a fuzy spiral shell. We each must have been affected by it, because we all stopped at almost the same time and turned to look at it. If I had to guess, the skill will be an area of effect calming one. That sounds like I would rarely use it, and dont really care for it.


    J: "Stand back! I shall vanquish this fearsome beast which fills us all with dread and trembling!"


    A: "Dude, you''re really harshing my mellow. Now I have the munchies."


    W: "I think it''s pretty clear what kind of ingredient the mage would get from this."


    Jorlund hefts his hammer, gives it a test twirl to make sure he is holding it in the balance point, and brings it down full force on the snail.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    -11


    (11 damage received)


    (11 damage on Ashcroft)


    (11 damage on Jorlund)


    I feel the weight of Jorlund''s hammer, but mentally instead of physically. Ashcroft falls over like he was struck, and Jorlund is outright startled. My two rats squeak their battle cry, but dont go charging forward. The snail is still on the bush, which is swaying from the hit.


    J: "You little punk. No one hits me with my own hammer!"


    Before Ashcroft or I can stop him Jorlund takes another swing.


    -11


    (11 damage received)


    (11 damage on Ashcroft)


    (11 damage on Jorlund)


    A: "Stop! I don''t have your kind of health you hammer fiend! That snail has made some kind of soul binding, so we all get the same damage that it does. Let me get out of range before you do that again."


    W: "Me too. That is uncomfortable."


    We back up until we are outside of the area where we first felt the affects. And then give him the go-ahead.


    -11


    (11 damage received)


    (11 damage on Ashcroft)


    (11 damage on Jorlund)


    15 exp


    A: "No more snails! That took off near half of my health. It''s going to take me at least 20 seconds to heal back up."


    J: "I agree it isnt worth it, unless that mage pays a whole gold piece to get his snail fix. It only dropped its shell."


    W: "New strategy. Jorlund and I will spread out in front, and scan a larger area for monsters. Ashcroft walks a little further behind while he is healing. If there are other area of effect monsters in this direction, we should be spread out a bit."


    We passed eightmore snails on the way to the marsh, each one giving at least one of us the happy sensation of sitting in the sun and cool breeze. Finally we get to the marshes, and the ground under Jorlund turns to mud instantly. He stumbles a little before catching his balance, and then yells.


    J: "I found something, and it doesnt make me feel fuzy so it should be safe to hit it. Right?"


    Ashcroft and I come up behind him and look where he is pointing. An orange and brown banded newt was glaring at Jorlund. If it had teeth, they would be bared.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="132">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">MireNewt -2</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    My rats squeak and charge while one of my moths flies down and stuns it.


    -5 from rat


    -5 from rat


    W: "Get in there Jorlund before there is nothing left to fight."


    -13 from Jorlund


    13 exp


    A: "I hope there are lots of them. These low levels are going to take awhile. Also, we still need to find at least one slime."


    W: "How about we break the party. You guys beat on newts for awhile and I will go find something to tame for another skill. Sound like a plan?"


    J: "Good enough for me. I dont need your minions getting between my hammer and my enemy."


    A: "That sounds like it would speed things up a bit. Thanks Werlkhan."


    You have left the party


    We head in opposite directions along the edge of the marsh. The next monster I encounter is a slime, jiggling its way out of a taller patch of marsh plants.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="132">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">MarshSlime -2</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I am forced to conclude the monsters here are consistently low. It wiggles itself in a threatening manner, if that is possible, and my pack responds in kind. The other moth swoops down and stuns the slime, giving us 5 seconds of no resistence. Then the rats pile on the slime.


    -1 from rat


    -1 from rat


    -1 from moth


    Of course, the slime will have a lot of physical resistance and should be attacked magically. I dont have a magic attack yet, but we have 4 more seconds to see how much damage we can give it. I start hackingat it with my kris.


    -4


    -1 from rat


    -1 from rat


    -1 from moth


    -1 from moth


    -1 from moth


    Rinse and repeat, doing 9damage per second.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Marsh Slime (lv 2) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+0.6 Wisdom</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    It will be hard to kill these things since we damage them so slowly. I guess I am learning the slime skill next. Then I can take the group of them over for Ashcroft to sprinkle them with powder. Working through the marsh Itamed two more slimes, and killed threenewts, and gained a level. My slime fights are pretty much the same. Either a moth is done with their skill cooldown or I am, so the slimes can do nothing. The newts typically announce their pressence by turning the ground beneath me into mud, and drop their toes as an alchemy ingredient when they die. I want to do more damage, so I assigned the two points to strength.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Animalist</td>


    <td></td>


    <td>pack:</td>


    <td>7 / 12</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>6 (0%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>816</td>


    <td>2 Rats</td>


    <td>+1.4 vit</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>11.4</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>246</td>


    <td>3 Dreameater Moths</td>


    <td>+3 cha</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>9</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>80</td>


    <td>3 Marsh Slimes</td>


    <td>+1.8 wis</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>8</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>126</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>2.29 (107s)</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>6.8</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>2.77 (29s)</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>102</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>2s 57c</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Level 6 grants me 5 skill points, but nothing has mentioned them before, and there is no way to access them or any information on what I do with them. A question for later. I start circling back to the others, going deeper into the marsh and continuing my fight pattern. Only now I can kill a newt in one hit with my kris (18dmg) and occasionally do 5 damage instead of 4 against a slime. The next slime I tame brings with it the expected window.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Slime Consumption


    Drain enemy with a touch. Drains mana first, stamina if target is out of mana, and health if target is out of stamina. Drain rate based on Intelligence.


    5 mana/s  10 second cooldown</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Shortly before I reach them I capture my 7th slime. Maybe the mud pit skill of the newt would be worth learning, after these slimes are turned to crystals for the mage.


    W: "Hey guys, do you have any of that slime powder left? I have sevenvolunteers."


    J: "Volunteers? Oh. Oooooh. That''s cold, man. Those slimes trust you."


    A: "How about we move back into the grass, and then you can kick them out of your pack. I dont want to be gang stomped by your monsters."


    W: "That sounds safe. Though Jorlund would have picked the exciting route instead."

 10 - Mage unlocked

    Dialog in this story has the speaker''s initial in front of it, unless it is bleeding obvious who is talking. NPCs will have some name or descriptor, leaving initials to be used by the player characters.


    A: Ashcroft - aspiring mage


    J: Jorlund - as close to a dwarf as a human can get


    W: Werlkhan - main character, first person naration is from this perspective


    <hr>


    These varied monster skills are not like a normal class skill tree, where one stat clearly becomes dominant and most of your class skills are enhanced by it. I suppose I could focus on magical beasts, like the Dreameater Moth and Marsh Slime, and become FoH''s equivalent of a blue mage. But that is not my play style. Ashcroft is our mage. Whatever. Having a collection of small skills makes me more versitile, and I can switch to some kind of hulking damage dealer at level 10. With a goal of a front line build, I start to reconsider those snails and their damage reflection. I will pick that skill up on my way back to town. We make it out of the marsh and back to the short grass and small bushes closer to the city. Other players are running around in basic gear looking for easy monsters too. Several seem to be heading back to town for a heal after finding snails.


    W: "How much of that slime powder do you have left?"


    A: "The bag feels endless and there is no use count on the description, just ''Slime Crystal Catalyst''."


    J: "I''m a third of the way to level 5, and if those slimes are the same experience reward then they will get me another third of the way there. Same with you?"


    A: "Yes, same here. I guess we will need just a few more targets after these easy ones. Alright Werlkhan, release the slimes."


    W: "Starting with the one closest to you."


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Marsh Slime (lv 2)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    pack member


    Animalist bonus: +0.6 wisdom


    Release? Yes / No


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Yes.


    The gelatinous mound quivered, and then started pouring itself towards Ashcroft at full attack speed. It was amusingly slow. Ashcroft opened the little bag of powder and brought out a pinch of something that looked like dried clay pieces. Just as the slime was in reach of his boot he dropped the substance on the blob, and took a step back. The slime stiffened, pulled back the part that was trying to latch on to the mage, and started turning itself inside out to repel the chunky powder. It didnt work, and green crystal shards started growing on the flecks as the slime seemed to reduce in volume. Very soon, the slime was gone and where it had been stood a little pile of green crystals.


    J: "Much faster than putting salt on a slug, and it leaves something useful behind too."


    W: "Okay then. I am not sure how to feel about your real life experience having found correlation in this game."


    J: "If you had known me when I was 4, you would have been right next to me seeing what other condiments did to the things."


    A: "And posting the results for your readership."


    W: "Fair point. I do get analytical when it is for the readers. That is part of why I still have this hidden Animalist class instead of reseting it at a chapel."


    J: "Wait, you have to go to a chapel to reset your class?"


    W: "Not like you were going to try a few out anyway. Yes, the wiki says you can go to a chapel and offer up your levels to the gods and they pay you for the experience. If you reset back to the level where you gained a class, the class is removed."


    A: "That is good to know. Now, can you release the next slime?"


    W: "Actually, have you tested the powder yet? We know it works on contact with a slime, but does it have to be applied directly?"


    J: "And the experiments begin. I am going to find another few newts to bash while you guys play with your jellies."


    Jorlund hefted his axe and walked back to the marsh.


    W: "Sprinkle a line on the ground, and I will release two slimes to see if it still gets them."


    A: "Sure, just dont release them all at once."


    The two slimes did the same quiver when released, and then started their attack wobble at Ashcroft. I suspect they picked him instead of me because he was still closer. These mobs had very simple battle directives, and if it weren''t for the high physical defense would be much easier than the rats. When they got to the line of sprinkled powder on the ground they paused. They must have been able to sense it. Then each one stretched out its top part to make a bridge over the powder and flowed across without stepping on the trap.


    W: "That answers that question. It would be an okay defense if the powder was sprinkled wide enough they couldn''t cross it."


    Ashcroft didnt answer, as he was busy sprinkling the two threats with the powder from above.


    W: "When you are done crystlizing my slimes, I want to go catch some of those snails we found earlier."


    A: "I''m not going to go with you for that. I am still in Jorlund''s party and we will reach level 5 and then head back to town."


    W: "That''s fine. I am just thinking... if I can get that damage reflection skill, it might prove handy when I am in a melee. Especially since it can have multiple targets at the same time."


    Ashcroft collects the crystals from the two slimes that just finished converting.


    A: "Two at a time works. I am ready for the next pair."


    I release two more slimes, but one of them heads for me instead of for him. My rats recognize the hostile intent and squeak their battle cry. One of my moths swoops down and stuns it, starting its3 minute cooldown again. I sigh as Ashcroft steps over and sprinkles the slime before it gets low in health enough to rejoin my party. The clumpy powder has no effect on my rats, and they scamper back to my heels as the slime dies. Then the final two slimes go, and my pack is back down to a pair of rats and threemoths.


    W: "Okay, thats it. I am off to get another skill. You might consider heading back now, and getting the last experience for your fifth level in the mage''s basement. Unexpected things can happen on that transition."


    A: "Those moths gave more experience anyway. Hey Jorlund! Let''s head back to the mage and finish leveling in his basement."


    From a few strides away Jorlund replies.


    J: "I hate those cowardly flutterbugs!"


    A: "But they give twice the experience. Also, as Werlkhan has demonstrated, you might not get to pick a class if you arrive at 5 out here."


    Jorlund came plodding over, shoulders slumped, yielding to the logic of the argument.


    J: "I have three more newt toes, let''s go see what the mage pays for these things."


    W: "I''ll catch up soon. Message me when you have the class."


    <hr>


    -~= POV Ashcroft =~-


    We head back to town, ignoring the scattered snails which continue to make those connections reminding us how happy they are to be left alone. And I am just as happy to leave them alone too, remembering the feel of Jorlund''s hammer transmitted through that soul binding or whatever these snails do. We quickly make it back to town and down the side street to the mage''s house, and in the front door.


    A: "Mage, we''re back."


    The mage was just sending some other player down the ladder to his cellar farm, and did not reply right away.


    Mage: "Welcome back. Did you find some ingredients for me?"


    A: "We found several things, I hope you will buy them all."


    Jorlund and I pile our monster drops together on a small table. Together we have one Kizuna snail shell, 11 newt toes, 15 crystalized slimes, 6 dreameater moth eyespots, and 3 snake eyes. The mage looks over the pile, humming to himself. Werlkhan had said the other things that we did not get from the marshes were also potion ingredients, so the mage should also be interested in buying them.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Mage: "I see you did get some slime crystals like I asked. For this pile of ingredients I will give you 4 silver and 85 copper."


    J: "Agreed."


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Quest Complete</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    You have gathered ingredients for the local mage Arknatbo. He has bought what you brought back.


    2 silver 43 copper


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    J: "Always nice to be appreciated."


    Mage: "Was there something more you were after?"


    A: "I want to become a mage, but I still need a little more power. Can I kill some more moths in your basement?"


    Mage: "You already helped me with my silk farm, and the problem has not returned yet. Perhaps you could help me process these ingredients for use in my experiments. I often feel invigorated by the grinding of powders and preparations of pastes."


    J: "And that''s my que to leave. I am going to go find who grants the warrior class and get some final experience from them."


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Jorlund disbands the party.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    He heads out as another player comes in. I look at the new window in front of me.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Quest!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Arknatbo has offered to let you grind his ingredients.


    Accept / Ignore


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    A: "Alright. Show me where to go grind."


    Accept.


    Mage: "Just take these into the room with the red door. My mortar is already setup there, just get to grinding."


    Mage Arknatbo hands me twenty crystalized slimes and turns to the player that just walked in the door. "Ah good. Perfect timing, I need some help."


    Looking around the small house I see that the door to the moth cellar / silk farm has no paint on it, simply wood. At the other end of the back wall is a dark door, possibly painted black but faded. There is a door in one side wall with green paint, vertical striations giving the impression of plants, and on the opposite wall a faded red door. Walking in, I see the expected alchemy lab with a large cauldron in the corner, but right next to the door is a small table with only a mortar and pestle. Clearly, that is what he wants me to use and the rest is not to be touched. I go over to the table and put one crystalized slime in the large stone mortar. I grind it with the pestle until it disappears and a small, familiar leather pouch appears on the table next to me.


    10exp


    Peaking inside I see that same powder used to start the process on the slimes out in the marshes. I wonder what other uses it has... but it doesnt matter much to me. 10 more slimes go into the mortar and make 10 more bags and I finally get the level up notice.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Level up!


    <hr>You have 2 unassigned points</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I grab up the powders and return to the mage back in the main room.


    A: "Mage. I am now strong enough to step on the path of arcane knowledge. Will you teach me?"


    The mage looks me up and down, and then agrees. "Yes, you look ready to learn. Listen carefully. A mage may at times be frail of body, but never frail of mind. Ours is the knowledge of what binds the world together, and the power to strengthen or loosen those bindings. Choose wisely the steps you take as you walk on this path."


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Class unlock!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Mage (unspecified)


    <hr>


    You know the secrets that underpin the world. Your voice, fingers, and mind can bring forth power beyond the understanding of your adversaries. Many are the choices before you, and vast is your potential. You must choose which field(s) of knowledge to persue.


    Statbonus per level:  1 Intelligence 1 Wisdom 2 unassigned


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Class Skill Choice!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    A mage is one who persues the ends of knowledge. Choose what your focus will be.


    For a blood price (2 vitality) you may choose a second focus.


    Elemental (will set one of your stat bonus points into intelligence)


    Fire  Earth Water Air Shadow Light


    Arcane (will set one of your stat bonus points into wisdom)


    Summons Enchantments Souls


    Tangible (will set one of you stat bonus points into dexterity)


    Alchemy Mechanician  Botany


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    This is not what I expected. I am so used to playing fire, it is my trademark. But I get a second choice? Alchemy could let me throw moltovs, and there are sure to be fire enchantments and fire summons. Or I could go Fire and Air, to get a complementary set of skills. What to choose....


    <hr>


    -~= POV Werlkhan =~-


    I head off at an angle from the path that Ashcroft and Jorlund take, aiming for an area with denser bushes. Since all the snails so far have been on bushes, that seems like a good hunting ground. As I approach I am proved right. I feel the connection happen, and I am innundated with the feeling of contentment at sitting on a bush. Getting closer, I feel two more connections. Each one is content, working like an echo on my consciousness and almost making me sit down right there to enjoy the day. This makes me mad, and they feel that. Slowly, each of the three snails loses its contentment and becomes determined to scare me off. Being connected in this way, I know exactly where each one is so I head over to the closest one.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="132">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Kizuna Snail-2</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I am going to take this skill. Jorlund killed that first snail with 33 damage, so doing that much would get me experience instead of a skill. First I hit this snail with my kris knife.


    -16


    (16 damage received)


    Too much, I am not here to kill it. I draw my wooden sword, and bash the fur snail again.


    -7


    (7 damage received)


    The bush is bobing and waving, and I start to sense some disorientation from the snail hanging on the end of the branch. I suppose gastropods don''t get motion sickness, but can still get dizzy. I grab hold of the branch to steady it, again thinking on how I am here to collect the skill. The damage reflection is limited by the snail''s life, which I can straight ignore. My thoughts are interrupted by a system message.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Kizuna Snail (lv 2) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+0.7 wisdom</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Oh? Did the snail understand something? I grab hold of its shell and stick it to my roughspun shirt. Snails are notoriously slow and I dont want to wait for it to catch up as I hunt more. I turn to the next snail that has connected with me, and start thinking about how easy they are to kill. I also throw in some thoughts about how it is better to have a pack member than a kill. Then attack with my kris knife.


    -16


    (16 damage received)


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Kizuna Snail (lv 2) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+0.7 wisdom</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Looks like this connection is a two directional thing, and it is getting easier. I turn to the last snail in this group of bushes, and repeat the mental process in preparation for the attack. It works this time too. I happily approach the town gate, meandering to nearby bushes on my way as I collect snails. At four I unlockthe skill.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Spirit Connection


    Establish understand without needing words. Sharing pain is part of the deepest of understandings.


    You and your target are connected for 1 minute.


    5 mana</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I now look like a pest-ridden mess, with snails and moths and rats clinging to me or following my every step. But I finally have something essential for a class like mine, a means to communicate with my pack.

 Mage Skill Trees

    Ashcroft comtemplates his choices. Focusing on each skill tree in the window gives a little description.


    Elemental


    First skill: [Type] Bullet - condense a mass of your element and hurl it at your target for (15 + Intelligence) damage.


    Cost: 30 mana 1 second cooldown


    Fire


    Burning. Power. Change. Burn to ash all that stands in your way.


    Fire Mage Skills


    In My Element 9             Fire Bullet 0


    /           \


    Heated Weapon 2           Fire Bolt 2


    /        |               /            \


    Blazing Echo 3  Fire Lance 4  Heated Seekers 3   Fireball 4


    |             |           /                /           \


    Superheated 6  Fire Trail 5   Fire Bolas 4  Blazing Pillar 5 Lava Eruption 5


    /           \                     /                     |


    Fire Wall 6    Fire Rune 6         Nova Pulse 7          Meteor 7


    /               \            /           \


    Immolation 7        Champion Conflagration 7      Burning Soul 8


    # - skill point cost</pre>


    Earth


    Massive. Rigid. Imposing. Surround yourself and crush your foes with might.


    Water


    Lithe. Sustaining. Deep. Seep through cracks, burst with ice, sustain your friends.


    Air


    Formless. Shaping. Unbound. The wind cuts the rock and moves on untouched.


    Shadow


    Concealing. Connected. Terrorizing. Be the cause for others to fear the dark.


    Shadow Mage Skills


    In My Element 9                   Shadow Bullet 0


    |           |


    Shadow Cloak 2         Shadow Spike 2


    |                              |


    Muffle 3                         Shadow Perferation 4


    |      |                              |               |


    Fear 4    Detect Concealment 4    Foreshadowing 5   Shadow Bind 3


    |                                          |               |


    Shadow Deception 6                          Enshroud 5          Shadow Grapple 5


    |                                  |         |                     |


    Shadow Domain 7                 Shadow Clone 6    Shadow Tribuli 6    Sticky Shadow Web 6


    |        \                /           |


    Shadow Step 7       Transference 8          Night Child 7


    # - skill point cost


    </pre>


    Light


    Revealing. Piercing. Uplifting. Shine through all around you.


    Arcane


    Summons


    Bring beings from other planes as your servants in this one.


    First Skill: Vampire Bat - summon a bat for 5 minutes to attack your foes or scout your surroundings. Bat minion is level (4 + Wisdom/10)


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Cost: 30 mana 30 second cooldown


    Enchantment


    Imbune your power into objects.


    First Skill: Enhanced Defense - Add (Wisdom/3) armor to target for 1 hour. Or permemantly enchant target with (Wisdom/10) armor. Does not stack.


    Cost: 30 mana 1 minute cooldown


    Souls


    Touch the common thread inside all living things.


    First Skill: Withering Touch - Reach through a being and grasp their soul. 30 damage and ignores armor.


    Cost: 30 mana  5 second cooldown


    Soul Mage Skills


    Impregnable Soul 9               Withering Touch 0              Soul Bound Spell 9


    /             \


    Life Leech 2         Detect Life 2


    /           \                    \


    Soul Siphon 3     Absorb Stat 4        Silence 3


    /         |          |        |              \


    Soul Harvest 5  Weakened Res. 4  Frenzy 4  Fear 4       Debilitate 4


    \                      /          \                \


    Frayed Soul 6        Fanaticism 5    Paralyzing Fear 6   Soul Sever 7


    \                                                 /


    Soul Implant 7                               Soul Puppet 8


    \


    Soul Stitching 8


    # - skill point costA


    </pre>


    Tangible


    Alchemy


    Take and blend the aspects of many to match your will.


    First Skill: Mix Two - Make a consumable with the effect that two ingredients have in common. "Consumable" is not to be confused with ingestation, products may be thrown weapons also.


    Cost: 30 mana


    Mechanician


    Humans are frail; improve your prowess.


    First Skill: Graft - Attach metal plating to yourself for innate armor. Armor rating determined by dexterity and level of caster.


    Cost: 30 mana


    Mechanician Mage Skills


    Armorer Hexaped 8


    /


    Autonomous Hexaped 6


    /              \


    Spring Loaded 3            Weaponized Hexaped 8


    /            \              /


    /              Spring Powered 4


    Mechanician Cord 2


    /       \                    Polybolos 7              Extra Limb 9


    /         \                   /                         /


    /           Biomechanical Winch 3              Shoulder Mount 8


    Graft 0                               \                /


    \           Enhanced Senses 3   Strengthened Frame 5


    \         /            \


    \       /             Deconstructed Enemy 4


    Claws and Talons 2


    \             Enhanced Resistances 4


    \            /               \


    Install Poison 3           Overclocked Organs 7


    \                                   \


    Pressurized Reservoir 5           Combat Metabolism 9


    # - skill point cost


    skill names were too long to list this one vertically</pre>


    Botany


    Make mighty what once was trodden on.


    First Skill: Strengthen - Increase target''s strength by (level / 2) for 1 hour.


    Cost: 30 mana


    Botany Mage Skills


    Poison Immunity 9


    Corpse Flower 5  --  Devil''s Claw Fruit 6  --  Mutate 8


    /


    Snapping Thistle Star 3   Status Spores 3


    /       \                /


    /          Sundew Enzyme 4                     Time Lapse Garden 6


    /                                                /         \


    Strengthen 0  --  Layered Bark Armor 2    Garden Inventory 4       Mana Succulent 6


    \                        \         /             \         /


    \                     Floral Imitation 2        Symbiosis 4


    Enlarge 4


    \                            Nature''s Pharmacy 8


    \                            /


    Mycorrhizae 5      Nature''s Will 7


    \          /           \


    Nature''s Domain 6     Nature''s Equip 8


    # - skill point cost</pre>


    Considerations and limitations.


    Because it is a tree, the later skills depend on the former. With the option of the "blood price" to have two trees at once, you essentially lose a level (2 stat points) in exchange for earlier skill choices. However, as skill point accumulation is fixed, with two or more skill trees at the same time you take longer to reachthe later skills unless you specifically favor one tree.

 Side Story - Majsassin

    This story is a natural byproduct of thinking up the fusion skill revealed in here.


    <hr>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Majsassin</td>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>Mage (Shadow/Soul)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>25</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>11680.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>13</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>1016</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>10</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>4538</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>25</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>641</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>52</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>11.8 (86s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>51</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>98.9 (46s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>150</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The room is a large hall, with fireplaces burning at both ends to keep it warmed. The wealthy merchant baron is at a small table at the other end of the room, counting his mound of coins. Six men stand between the door and the merchant, thugs hired as body guards.


    "Merchant Jibble. Your competitors think it is time you retire. I am here to convince you of the wisdom in that choice. The shadows lengthen and the shadows grasp." Shadow Grapple. Majsassin''s shadow elongated, and then shot across the floor and under the table where it wrapped around Jibble''s ankle. Then it started retracting. The flailing merchant upset the chair and table, scattering coins everywhere while he screamed "Help me! Stop him! Somebody kill him!"


    The thugs were quicker than they appeared. Two jumped on the merchant and stopped the shadow from dragging him all the way to the door. The other four drew their assorted weapons, which were of nice quality. "Oh Jibble, it looks like you spent a fair amount on your guards here. It is a shame that wont help. Now I have to do this the messy way." Majsassin was interrupted when one of the thugs put a throwing knife into his shoulder.


    50 damage received


    The thug was bringing his arm back for another throw, but wouldn''t get to finish. "From the shadows they come. Where there is one there are many." Shadow Perferation. The shadow that was stretched down the center of the room sprouted a branch which leapt off the ground and divided into 10 points that plunged into the man.


    -100??-100??-100??-100


    -100??-100??-100


    -100??-100??-100This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    850exp


    That one must have been around level 13 or so. The two closest men had longswords and were charging, but this battle was already decided. "The light fades and all is darkness, and in this shadow I find my home." Shadow Domain. All the shadows in the room cast by the two fireplaces grew instantly, joining together and plunging the room into darkness. The fireplaces could not illuminate it. Majsassin took several quick and silent steps to the side, so the swordsmen could not guess where he was. This skill granted him the simultaneous benefits of the ones that come before it, letting him hide in these all encompassing shadows and move through them silently. Passing around the two swordsmen, Majsassin approached another likely ranged attacker who had stayed back when the encounter turned hostile.


    "Quench my thirst." Soul Siphon. "I hunger." Leech. Majsassin grabbed his targets wrists, one hand draining mana and the other draining health. The man screamed in fear as he felt his essentials being drained, but still couldn''t see anything. He trashed and tried to free his hands, but even if he could it would have done nothing for him.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Reaper''s Domain


    "Death comes, silent, surrounding. He persists as you wither in his presence."


    Fill the room with shadows for 30 seconds, hiding your presence. At the same time, the shadows siphon from all the targets in the room.


    2000 mana


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Hidden fusion skill using Shadow and Soul


    This skill is gained by performing the separate skills in combination.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    "How nice, I should try it." Majsassin let go of the thrashing man and moved through the shadows to the center of the room. "Death comes, silent, surrounding. He persists as you wither in his presence." Reaper''s Domain. The shadows filling the room stirred, and then started rippling slightly with ghastly greys. The mana and health from the six surviving enemies in the room came pouring into Majsassin, and he could not hold back a laugh as their pain filled cries came from all around.


    850exp


    850exp


    None of them were mages, so each victim only had around 250 mana to begin with. It wasnt enough to refill him, but his mana regeneration recovered more than the spell cost in the 30 seconds it lasted. There was enough mana to finish the fight with multiple Shadow Spikes as the skill ended and the room was revealed again.


    850exp


    970exp


    850exp


    850exp


    Majsassin then cleared the room of evidence with Soul Harvest, converting each corpse into mana, and walked over to the overturned money table. There were a dozen gold coins and even a pair of gold marks on the floor, the silver and copper being too insignificant to bother with. Then he walked out the way he had come, back to his alley behind his favorite pub to collect his fee for a job complete.

 Side Story - C0nqu1stad0r

    Clanks, tinks and hisses filled the air as he walked down the street. Merchants and NPCs got out of his way, hunching their sholders to better shield themselves from the unnatural sight. Two more blocks and he arrived at a shop with a wide open front, a crossed hammer and tongs image board hanging overhead. He stepped inside, and there was a slight tick as his eyes changed color to better see in the smoke filled room. The smith walks over and greets him.


    "C0nqu1stad0r, my favorite customer. What can I do for you today?"


    "I''m here for typical upgrades, Brodden. Do you have any new ores in stock?"


    "As a matter of fact, I do. Perfect for a mage like yourself. Some prospector brought this tin ore in; chock-full of black quartz it is. I cant get the stuff to alloy with copper, but it sure responds well to mana. Maybe you could use it in one of your contraptions?"


    "That does sound interesting. I will give that a try, and also I need six ingots of steel, one of copper and one of iron. And if I can use your forge in the corner again I will pay you double for the metals."


    "Nothing like a paying customer to warm my heart. You are welcome to it, and I''ll even have an apprentice work the bellows for you. That will be 13 silver 50 coppers. I am only charging you ten coppers each for the tin ores since I cant find a way to process them."


    C0nqu1stad0r payed for the metal and went to the indicated workspace. A shirtless young man with toned body and a few small scars from flying embers walked over to the large bellows and started pumping them. The forge glowed. C0nqu1stad0r removed his shin grafts and stored them in inventory. Those can be worked into plated boots later once he gets the leather for it. Taking two ingots of steel, he heated them in the forge and started drawing them out on an anvil. Longer, more heat. Wider, more heat. Thinner, a little more heat. Then he used the anvil horn to curve them to approximate shin guards, quenched them in oil, and set them asside.


    Next the iron and copper ingots were melted down side by side. Once molten, they were woven together with the skill Mechanician Cord to produce a metal cord with both strength and flexibility. C0nqu1stad0r then opened his left forearm and replaced the spool of frayed and battle worn cord with this new cord. As the blacksmith had no use for this alloy, the system did not recognize it as a craftable material, and C0nqu1stad0r had not found a repair skill for it yet, it was now trash. He stashed it in inventory anyway.


    The shin guards were cool enough to work with now. C0nqu1stad0r placed permenant Enhance Defence and Enhance Speed enchantments on the inside of each, and then attached them on his legs with Graft. Two enchantments was the limit with this material and size. He could wear greaves or studded leather on top for additional defense, but this is expensive enough already.


    Three steel ingots went into the forge, slowly melting together. These were hammer welded and folded and flattened into a breastplate shape. This large piece of armor was big enough to hold his newest enchantment, Enhance Regeneration. The shin plates would have needed a jewel to hold this enchantment. Then the new chest armor was Grafted in place.


    Finally, the new tin ore was placed in the forge. It melted like tin, but the quartz did not float out with the rest of the slag. The metal could not be spread out to form plates, but it could be fashioned into jagged quartz-tipped shapes. C0nqu1stad0r fashioned a new claw for his left hand with the material, and it worked nicely. Several sharp spikes that come together in a smooth knot, with a shank extending the opposite direction.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="168">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Smithing Level increased</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    This ore would also work for capping mage staffs or making wands, come to think of it. And there was plenty of time for thinking while he waited for his mana to recharge. Only the one point from his base mage class still went into intelligence. Both enchanting and mechanician skills are high cost but focus on battle preparation instead of use in battle. Once his pool was full again C0nqu1stad0r detached the steel claw from his left hand and connected the quartz tin claw to the spool. It looked fragile. The steel claw went into inventory in case the new one breaks in the middle of a dungeon dive.


    Now C0nqu1stad0r concentrated on the structure of the claw and forearm, and used Spring Loaded. The shank of the claw aligned with rails that grew flanges to protect the moving parts, and the claw then retracted along the arm until it clicked. Last step is to enchant this experimental weapon. The smith said it responds well to mana, so let''s see.


    Enchant Stunning. The quartz tips started glowing with silver light and yellow accent hues. C0nqu1stad0r received the feedback from the skill which let him know the claw could take two more enchantments of the same level. Very nice indeed. Enchant Corrode Armor. A malicious purple light started alternating with the silver. He could probably fit a freeze effect on too, but decided to leave it open. There is a chance the next enchanting skill will be better. The quartz really adds a lot to the mana capability of the material.


    C0nqu1stad0r put the last steel ingot in the forge. His mana was recovering again, as affixing the claw and enchanting it had drained him. This last item was a blade for his dominant arm. He stretched the metal out as long as his wrist to elbow, part of the length being used for the extra thick tang. He folded the metal and hammered out one side, leaving the other side thick and giving the whole thing a teardrop crossection shape. When looking straight on from the thick side it looked like a simple spike with devastating piercing power.


    When it cooled, he added the usual Enhanced Damage enchant and attached to his right arm. This blade rests along the arm adding a couple inch spike to the elbow when it is not locked forward. In its forward position it sits directly in front of the venom gland that C0nqu1stad0r added before the last boss fight. Now, he can either smear venom on his weapons or engage this blade which almost works as a hyperdermic.


    Now C0nqu1stad0r felt confident in his ability to deal with anything 8 levels above his own. This combination of stun, corrode, and poison in quick succession should decimate anything.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Level up!


    <hr>You have 2 unassigned points


    You receive 1 Int 2 Wis 1 Dex


    You receive 3 skill points</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    These skills are more craft-like than other mage skills, which leads to non-combat levels like this one. Let''s see what the next choices are.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Skill Trees


    5 points remaining</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Autonomous Hexaped - your mechanical skills have increased to the point where you can build a six legged contraption that moves under its own power.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Requires Biomechanical Winch and Spring Loaded


    5 points to unlock


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Spring Powered - increase jump height and movement speed with a high tension spring assembly in your legs.


    Requires Spring Loaded


    2 points to unlock


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Shoulder Mount - this space appears under utilized. You can fix that.


    Requires Strengthened Frame


    3 points to unlock


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Enchant Replenishing - increase mana recovery rate


    Requires Enchant Regeneration


    3 points to unlock


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    ElectroNeurosis- weapon enchantment. 10% chance of paralysis 20% chance of disabling a limb


    Requires Corrode Armor  and Stunning


    7 points to unlock


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    C0nqu1stad0r decides that waiting one more level to get the weapon enchantment is the best choice. With his smithing done, he says goodbye to the NPCs and heads to a tailors shop. There he purchases leather and works his old enchanted shin grafts into knee-high plated boots.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Plated Riding Boots</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    4 armor


    Enchanted


    +4 armor


    +2 speed


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Value: 15 silver</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    He sold them to the leather shop for 13 silver and checked his status.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>C0nqu1stad0r</td>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>Mage (Mech/Ench)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>18 (0%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>6184.7</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>15</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>851</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>15</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>1566</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>20</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>491</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>23</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>10 (85s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>36</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>54.5 (29s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>49</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>135 / 186</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>5g 22s 42c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Time to go kill more things.


    . . . .


    Four Trolls lumber towards him in the large cavern. The glowing mushrooms in clusters on the walls and ceilings help little with their eerie light. The trolls have a thick hide and renown health regeneration, and now finding four of them together puts C0nqu1stad0r in a tight spot.


    He starts running along the wall to the right, forcing the trolls to work around each other to get to him. Then he shoots his claw at the first one. It works just liked he hoped.


    -35


    The claw sticks to the troll a little off center and the enchantments get to work. The troll staggers and sits down, a hole slowly growing in his thick hide around the claw. The corrosion loosened the claw and it falls free. C0nqu1stad0r activated the winch to reel it back in just as the next troll came around the left of the stunned one.


    The trolls were grunting and hooting as they swarmed towards him. He pulled out an expensive jar of Binary Tar and threw it between the stunned troll and the new closest one. It shattered, flinging tar onto both before the binary reagents mixed and exploded into flames. Rearm the claw. Spring Loaded. C0nqu1stad0r draws twin swords from inventory, smears them with poison, and runs at the tolls thrashing about in the fire.


    One sword into each troll to start it off, making sure the damage over time from the poison and burning tar is maximized. Then the dance begins. Duck under the burning arm swinging his way, stab twice into the corroded chest of the troll, and hop back to avoid the overhead swing coming down like a hammer. Thinking again how this is a crazy way for a mage to fight, he tries to hamstring the troll on his left to prevent it from flanking him. Just then, the third troll makes it around the burning tar puddles and closes in from his right. Pointing his arm high up a wall C0nqu1stad0r launches his claw. The claw sticks and he starts reeling himself away from the danger, but the impact with the wall cracked the quartz tin claw and it lets go when he is halfway there. Cursing the experimental usage of the metal for such a critical device, he continues his retreat. The two uninjured trolls are still closing in on him. He swaps the swords for throwing knives as he continues to lead them around the cavern. They will do little damage, but he has quite a lot of them from his early blacksmitthing. Working methodically, he walks backwards while throwing poison-smeared knives at the trolls coming at him. 10 yards, and a third of the knives miss. The trolls are running like gorillas, their long muscular arms swinging just like front legs, making an awkward loping pace that brings them closer at a frightening speed. 5 yards, and the DoT poison is struggling against the trolls'' combat regeneration skill. C0nqu1stad0r runs out of poison, but is still throwing knives. 2 yards. The drool pooring down their chins matches the crazed hungry look in their beady eyes. The yellow eye orb shows all the way around their dark irises. C0nqu1stad0r draws his swords again. The lead troll raises an arm and swings powerfully, some of the small knifes falling from its thick hide. C0nqu1stad0r dodges, glad he has twice the dexterity of these monsters. The second troll staggers a little, trying to make its way around the swinging limbs of the fight.


    It is out of stamina. The weak point of the troll''s regeneration ability is while they are in combat they cannot recover their stamina. Now it is as easy as killing kittens. 8 foot tall kittens with long arms that do 180 damage with a single hit ... but still kittens. He side steps another hammerfist swing, and runs the sword in his left hand into the troll''s armpit. Then immediately he hops backward, leaving the sword in place. Every movement of the troll''s arm now enlarges the wound, blood squirting out in sickening little jets. The other troll staggers closer, and C0nqu1stad0r punches it with the fragmented claw bound on the back of his arm. No damage, and the stunning effect fails but the corrosion starts to eat away at the thick hide. The troll falls over, but a wild flailing arm still connects and sends C0nqu1stad0r flying backwards.


    131 damage received


    Standing back up, C0nqu1stad0r realizes the trolls have chased him most of the way around the cavern, and the two previously lit on fire are nearby. A few thicker puddles of tar still burn on the ground around them. Running again, he scoops up a glob on the tip of his remaining sword. Still running, he goes straight to the first troll and rams this burning sword right into the unprotected part of its chest. The troll howls in pain, falling over backwards with all limbs flailing. And then the struggles stop.


    725exp


    The other burnt troll and both of the ones that chased him around the cavern close in. They are walking now, unable to run until they get out of combat and recover some stamina. The one in the back falls on its face, and bleeds out from the sword still lodged under its arm. Then there were two.


    725exp


    C0nqu1stad0r''s own stamina is running low, so he walks backward matching the pace of the trolls. While he strings them along, he detaches the broken claw and reattachs the steel one. One more Spring Loaded and he is ready to end this. C0nqu1stad0r aims carefully and launches the claw. It ricochet''s off the stone floor between the legs of the crispy troll and sinks into the shin of the straggler.  He starts running again, heading back towards the trolls but off to the side. He makes it part way before starting the winch, and it proves enough to pull one troll off its feet as he and the other troll are both dragged across the floor to each other. Stopping the winch he jumps on top of the troll with the burnt patches. The new blade on his right arm swings forward and locks. He drives the single edged blade right into its neck, through vein and windpipe alike.


    725exp


    The last troll grabs the chord connected to its shin and pulls hard. C0nqu1stad0r is yanked towards it, but managed to roll to the side when it tries to crush him. He cannot contend with it''s strength, but the battered and poisoned troll cannot land a hit. The wearied combattants go through the slow dance of death, until the troll has been perferated enough to put an end to it.


    725exp


    C0nqu1stad0r picks up the drops and also his various weapons from around the room. If only he could find a metal that alloys with that quartz tin, he could double or triple the enchantments on everything.

 11 - Defender Trial

    Dialog in this story has the speaker''s initial in front of it, unless it is bleeding obvious who is talking. NPCs will have some name or descriptor, leaving initials to be used by the player characters.


    A: Ashcroft - aspiring mage


    J: Jorlund - as close to a dwarf as a human can get


    M: introduced this chapter


    W: Werlkhan - main character, first person naration is from this perspective


    <hr>


    -~= Jorlund =~-


    "So far, this game is about what I expected. Normal weapons. Rats and slimes and mud lizards. They were named newts, but that just means slimy lizard. I can''t tell if werlkhan is enjoying himself yet, but soon Ashcroft will be throwing fire around and we will be back to the normal dungeon crawls. What challenges will this game give us? It has already denied me the dwarf race; that is a trial to overcome in itself."


    Jorlund stomped through the town heading for the middle. He kept an eye out for anyone that looked like they had a good tank class. He didnt want to become a smith just yet, though a dwarf in spirit would certainly need smithing skills later. Other players continued to run up and down the streets, each having a general idea of where they want to be and an urgency to not waste time in town. He stopped at a street crossing, more or less in the center of town, and looked around. The tall spire of the chapel in the east was easy enough to spot. The training field that everyone seemed to start at was a little northward on the left. Further north he could see a tall structure that rivaled the chapel, though lacking most any form of architectural decoration. He headed towards it.


    The high fronts of nearby buildings shielded it from view as he passed the starting field, showing why he hadnt seen it before. Passing another street he found a small palisade surrounding what could be a whole city block, with the tall structure in the middle. It was a keep, the precursor to castles, in the oldest fashion. The only openning in the first story were the archer slits. There was a door in the second story, allowing a ladder to be dragged inside and the doorway barred in the event of an attack. However, now that there was a town and town walls surrounding the keep and its palisade, the ladder had been replaced with a wooden ramp.


    A pair of guards with spears stood at the entrance to the palisade, but they did nothing as he walked in. A few town guards were sparring in the open space in front of the keep. Unlike the training field nearby, there were no straw dummies or wooden weapons here. A small upright forge and anvil stood nearby the keep for repairs on guard equipment, and a powerfully built man stood by it looking at the few bouts going on. Then he saw Jorlund with his hammer and shield, and came over. He had a thick beard with a few holes burnt through, and an intimidating hammer hung from a long belt that went over one shoulder, a bandolier. The hammer was too heavy for a belt that was mearly around one''s waist.


    NPC: "Hello there Elect, you have an interesting taste in armaments."


    J: "The hammer is all I ever use; sufficient for my needs and hefty like my pride."


    The man broke into a wide grin. "I have found a kindred spirit, it seems. Come, show me your pride in a simple spar." He then unhooked his considerable hammer and held it foward, pointed at Jorlund. Jorlund prepared himself, and then touched the head of his wooden hammer against the hammer head before him. Immediately the NPC sprung back and took a defensive posture. Jorlund centered his shield in front of him, cocked back his hammer and charged. As he closed, he deliberately swung a little early, swinging sideways and extending the hammer infront of his own shield. His opponent stepped to the outside and readied his own swing, but this is what Jorlund expected. Using the momentum of his hammer swing to pivot he exposed his back for a moment before his shield came around, close to his body and wicked fast. It caught the incoming attack perfectly and the twisting motion was continued as the hammer arm came back around for a low swing at the legs. His opponent lept backwards again, and reformed his ready stance. Jorlund stopped his swing, centered hims stance once more, and charged again. Again he swung early. This time, his opponent pressed forward to trap the hammer against the front of his shield, but this was the second most obvious choice, and Jorlund was ready. With a thrust of his shield he stopped his own hammer and reversed it''s direction of travel with explosive force. This sudden change was sufficient to stop the other''s advance and he even managed to catch the haft of the other''s hammer with the head of his own. Instantly his wooden hammer was slammed downward with the force behind the monstrous hammer used by the NPC. Had the weapons been equal, Jorlund might have snapped the head off of the other hammer and disarmed his opponent. But Jorlund had the simple wooden weapon of a newly arrived player, and this man had the hammer of a forge master.


    The sudden momentum change dragged Jorlund down, and a little forward as his arm completely extended and his wooden hammer sunk into the ground. He brought his shield between his head and the hammer that loomed above him, but it was not needed. The NPC had stopped his own hammer in mid air, and took a small step back. Jorlund pulled his wooden hammer free of the ground, and chalked the lack of dents and damage to this being a spar in a game, and not a real fight.


    NPC: "Impressive. Your pride is well founded. I can tell that you do indeed pocess deep understanding of the hammer as a weapon, with both its limitations and advantages."


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Aspect Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Blunt Mastery 1


    This weapon is as your own limb, and your knowledge encompasses many of its uses.


    1% damage increase when using blunt weapons</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    100exp


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Level up!


    <hr>You have 2 unassigned points</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    NPC: "I am the quartermaster here at the keep, and you can call me Roland. I see you have no class yet, though you have clearly chosen a means of resolving situations. If I were to offer you a soldier''s path, you would be limited by your choices. The hammer can neither slash nor pierce. Your use of the shield is good, and your choice to immobilize me with a blow to the legs instead of always going for the kill shows you can prioritize well. I think I know a class for you that few are qualified for, though it will be limiting as well if you are on your own."


    J: "One of my companions is receiving training as a mage as we speak, and another has already become a class that thrives in the wild. What class do you have?"


    Roland: "I started as a smith, and my role of Quartermaster grew from that. I spent years at the forge gaining precision and timing with the hammer. For you, I have a better idea."


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Class unlock!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Defender


    <hr>


    You hold the line; you are the line. You are unwavering in the face of danger, while others cower behind you. A bastion of strength, a fortified tower, you stand in front and declare to your foes "You shall not pass".


    Statbonus per level:  2 Vitality 1 Strength 1 Dexterity


    Choose this class? Yes / NoUnauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    This was much of what he was searching for. Yes.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    Class Skill Memorable


    Any enemy you strike becomes fixated on you, and cannot target your party members.


    Passive [toggle off]


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    J: "This does look fitting. Thank you Quartermaster Roland."


    Roland: "Protect your friends, and come back here any time. I want to see what you and your pride can accomplish with this class."


    J: "Speaking of, would you have a better hammer I could buy? This wooden one will only take me so far through a fight."


    Roland: "My equipment is for the town guards. If you would join them, then I could outfit you with weapon and armor. Unfortunately, it is not for sale. This town could make some revenue that way, but the metal supplies are low enough that we keep our guards'' stock for the guards."


    J: "That is understandable. I can see the wisdom in that decision. Well then, Quartermaster Roland, thank you and goodbye."


    Roland: "Fare well, elect of the gods."


    Jorlund turned around and went back towards the training grounds. There he asked some directions and then went west towards the market green. There was no imagination used when naming the market green, it was the mostly flat and grass covered town''s green originally. Then, as it was the place for having gatherings, more and more shops took over the surrounding buildings and faced their displays towards the green. Today, there were a few wagons in the green that had merchants selling out of the back of them as well as the buildings around the edges. Jorlund did not know how long until his friends would message him for a meetup, but he did want a better hammer.


    With that goal in mind he went from shop to wagon, stall to storefront, seeing what he could get with his 4 silvers. The crafter players had not gotten far yet, and only some were selling knives and simple swords. The general stores had hammers, but also higher prices. Finally, one of the wagons parked on the green had what he wanted. It was a merchant focused on weaponry, and he had a few blunt weapons to choose from. One was very stylized; steel shaped to be a dragon''s claw holding a bolder that had been cut in half to make the flat impact surface. The wrist of the claw was thick, and was where the hammer connected to the haft. And out from the back of the hammer head the dragon''s wrist flowed into a slightly curved horn, much like one would expect from the head of a dragon. Leather straps crisscrossed down the handle, forming both style and grip. It was too expensive. So, he selected a plain looking hammer, the head some geometric prism flat on both ends. It fit well in his hand, was a good weight, and was inside his budget so he bought it.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Rock Mallet</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    dmg 7


    1-hand


    cost: 2 silver


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Right behind Jorlund was a player in a white nightshirt looking garment who had just purchased a mace, and then stayed around waiting. As soon as Jorlund finished his transaction with the merchant and turned around, the player stepped forward.


    M: "Hello, I''m looking to join a party. Do you need a healer?"


    J: "I dont think we have a healer yet. Do you have a belt to hold that nightshirt together?"


    M: ".... So that is a yes?"


    J: "As long as you keep your sanctified bits covered, it''s a yes."


    M: "Excellent. I''m Maledictive."


    J: "I''m Jorlund. I can see why you did not offer your name at the same time as your services. Benedictive healings from a Maledictive priest... I approve."


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Maledictive accepted party invite.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    M: "How many are in your party?"


    J: "You make 4, and none of our classes overlap. I assume you have yours, priest Maledictive?"


    M: "I do, only it''s Devout until I reach level 30. At level 30 the next tier of classes unlock and I can become a Priest. What class are you?"


    J: "I think it''s a rare one. It''s called Defender and I did not get it from an advertised source."


    M: "Interesting. That clearly makes you a tank player. When does the party head out?"


    J: "Our mage is getting his class right now, should be done and I expect a message from him soon. The other, I''m not sure what his role will be, some kind of beast tamer class, but he is collectiong skills at the moment. We should head out as soon as the mage is ready."


    As he was saying that, Welkhan entered the market green and started heading right for him. When they were a few yards apart Jorlund spotted him, and started laughing.


    J: "I''ve seen Warlock Werlkhan, Assassin Werlkhan, Paladin Werlkhan, Barbarian Werlkan ... but this is my first time seeing Hobo Werlkhan."


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Jorlund</td>


    <td>Class:</td>


    <td>Defender</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>5 (0%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>611</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>10</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>191</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>14</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>37.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>113.5</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>1.56 (123s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>0.75 (50s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>2</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>150</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>2s 47c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <hr>


    -~= POV Werlkhan =~-


    I now look like a pest-ridden mess, with snails and moths and rats clinging to me or following my every step. But I finally have something essential for a class like mine, a means to communicate with my pack. The Pathfinder skill works when I am familiar with my target, so it was able to find Jorlund for me even when he was in a part of town I have not visited yet.


    W: "Ha ha ha. Such funny. Very laugh. Can we party up again now, and where is Ashcroft?"


    J: "I left Ashcroft with the mage tutor. He was starting to grind potion ingredients for the last of his experience. I have my class now, in case you were wondering."


    W: "Good. What did you get?"


    J: "It''s called Defender, and it''s first skill is an absolute agro."


    W: "Awesome! I was expecting you to just grab a warrior or soldier something, but what you have sounds much better. That sounds perfect for you, and agro control is nice to have so early. Should we head back and collect our mage?"


    J: "Sounds good. Also, Maledictive here is joining us as healer."


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    You are invited to join Jorlund''s party


    Accept / Ignore


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Accept.


    W: "A mal-dictive healer? My Latin is more than rusty, but that sounds painful."


    M: "You shouldnt worry about the pain, the mobs should."


    J: "Content was good, delivery could use some work, but I think you will fit in here."


    W: "Are you sure Jorlund? Another wisecracker might steal your thunder."


    Jorlund and Maledictive reply at the same moment


    J: "He''s not a rogue."


    M: "Thieving''s not one of my skill trees."


    W: "Perfect. Off we go then."


    Pathfinder Ashcroft. The tug on the top of my head starts again, and facing towards it I see the glow on my compass. My pack follows me, now joined by my party. During the walk back south and east I check my status.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>Animalist<sub>0.1</sub></td>


    <td>pack:</td>


    <td>12 / 12</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>6 (5%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>816</td>


    <td>2 Rats</td>


    <td>+1.4 vit</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>11.4</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>246</td>


    <td>3 Dreameater Moths</td>


    <td>+3 cha</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>9</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>90</td>


    <td>6 Kizuna Snails</td>


    <td>+4.2 wis</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>8</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>126</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>2.63 (93s)</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>9.9</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>5.88 (15s)</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>102</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>2s 57c</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I am eager to trade some of these monsters out for the wolves in the forest, and get more skills from the east side of town.

 12 - Get the Party Started

    Dialog in this story has the speaker''s initial in front of it, unless it is bleeding obvious who is talking. NPCs will have some name or descriptor, leaving initials to be used by the player characters.


    A: Ashcroft - aspiring mage


    J: Jorlund - as close to a dwarf as a human can get


    M: Maledictive - the party healer


    W: Werlkhan - main character, first person naration is from this perspective


    <hr>


    Our motly band returns to the South end of town, running as all players do. Town is a safe zone so no need to worry about your stamina. Also, when you have a time limit on how long you can stay in the world you don''t want to spend minutes walking the same streets over and over.


    We arrive at the mage''s house just as Ashcroft steps outside. Perfect timing.


    W: "Are you ready to fling fires and burn baddies?"


    A: "It was hard to choose. Mages get to pick two out of 12 skill trees, that is a lot of possible combinations."


    M: "I wonder what the choices will be when you get access to the next class tier."


    A & W: "Next tier?!"


    M: "I am not a full priest, that is a title for second tier healers. I am just a Devout until then. Did your class grants not mention it?"


    J: "Mine just said visit again."


    A: "Once the skill choices came up I stopped listening. He''s pretty busy in there."


    W: "I didn''t have a trainer."


    M: "Then how did you pick your class?"


    W: "This class picked me. I ran almost straight out of town, didn''t even wait for the weapon trainer in the starting point. Then I roamed and killed until I reached level 5, all without returning to town. My class just appeared, said something about staying out in the wild in the description."


    Maledictive turned to the side, opening the internet interface.


    M: "I havent heard of that being possible. What is your class called?"


    W: "You can read it on my site when I type it up tonight. Ad revenue is my bread and butter, so exclusive content is important."


    J: "You can afford butter on that budget? I thought you were all ramen and frozen burritos."


    A: "Naw, remember he had us over that one time? He gets the occasional frozen pizza. Strickly non-brand drinks though."


    W: "And I will not be doing it again any time soon. I see how you appreciate me. Next time I get a promotional gift from a company, I''m keeping it secret."


    M: "So, you guys know each other in real?"


    J: "Don''t worry. We''ve had a 4th in the group before, and none of us are good at being a healer. Just stay out of the way of my hammer and all will be well."


    A: "I dont often toast Jorlund, but when I do it''s extra crispy."


    W: "So about this next tier?"


    M: "If you stick with a class for 25 levels you get to see what the next level of classes is for that path of skills. Though, I was told I have to return to my class giver to get it."


    W: "Oh. Well, maybe mine does it naturally. Or maybe I switch to something else before then."


    M: "There is a subscript number on the class indicating how long you have had it."


    I check my status, not having noticed it before.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>Animalist <sub>0.1</sub></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    W: "I have a 0.1 that doesn''t seem encouraging."


    M: "You''re level 8 already?"


    W: "6. So maybe not all classes are the same? Just means I learn the next tidbit for my review faster. Ashcroft, tell us about your mage abilities as we go? I have plans for the monsters out the east gate."


    A: "Jorlund, party?"


    We start moving again. I dont know this guy Maledictive; he seems rather chill for such a venomous name. Since its us three to his one I am guessing he is not a backstabber. He''s not a plant for a targeted PK because the game just started so no one is ready for that level of coordination. He doesnt seem like a company chaperone to guide my game experience for a good review, though maybe this company just got a skilled gamer to do it. I''ve torn a new one in companies before for using my registration information to do exactly that. Very rarely have I met a player who isnt trying to rob me or influence my real life opinions. That is why Jorlund and Ashcroft are such good friends, and I party with them as much as possible. They have played a dozen mmo''s with me, never asked for paid advantages or kickbacks from my job. The few that I have gotten I have shared with them precisely because they do not ask, and they still stay trustworthy friends. Other party members come and go but these two are my steadfast companions, closer than brothers. If either needed a kidney I would be the first to volunteer. Maledictive will be treated fairly, but I am not holding much hope for the three amigos to be getting a d''Artagnan.


    A: "When you become a mage you are presented with a choice of skill trees. The class bonus stats gained per level are half deteremined by what tree(s) you pick."


    W: "The number of trees you can choose is optional too?"


    A: "You can pick one tree, and then you can trade 2 vitality stat points for a second tree. They called that the blood price for power. There are 6 Elemental trees, 3 Arcane, and 3 that they called Tangible. Elementals were the expected. Arcane were summons and souls and enchanting. The tangibles were like high school; chemistry, botany and shop class."


    W: "And what choice did you make?"


    Ashcroft just looks at me and smiles, the troll. We reach the east gate, and I see that he is done with the free information, so I give my plan.


    W: "There are lv 3 snakes and turles in the tall grass between here and the woods. The snakes have an ambush skill I want. Then we can go for the level 5 wolves in the woods. Just inside the woods I encountered 3 that looked like a small pack. Since the monsters on this side of town hit hard, I did not want to attempt them alone when I was only a level 5 myself. I think we should try a few packs, work out our combat rhythem, and then go for a dungeon. Questions?"


    M: "You mentioned ad revenue before. Are you a DudeTube persona? Should I recognize your voice or something?"


    A: "When there is mad hype for a production, and you want to know if the game is worth it, where do you go for the real details?"


    M: "Khan of Games, just like everybody else."


    J: "And now you get to see where the magic happens."


    M: "Whoa. You mean you''re a Khan Of Games reviewer?"


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.J: "Close, but wrong. Reviewers just get commission. I''ve submitted a few but the standards to get published and paid were too bothersome for me to keep it up."


    M: "Then ..."


    W: "Founder. Now pick up the pace, I have secrets to unlock."


    Jorlund starts dragging one leg but picks up his tempo to pull ahead so we all see. "Yeesssh mashter." Wheezing heavily for effect, he just enters the grass when a snake ambushes him.


    52 damage on Jorlund


    J: "Ouch! For the love of, you will die!"


    W: "I told you they hit hard."


    Jorlund brings his new hammer down on the body of the snake, aiming for the center of mass because that is the last place on the snake to move. The muffled thump of the force passing through the snake into the ground meets our ears just as the combat log updates with the progress.


    -31 from Jorlund


    M: "My light shines to sooth those around me. Compassion."


    Maledictive started glowing faintly, and a similar glow appeared from the ground underneath Jorlund and stuck with him as he moved about, fighting the snake. A similar glow appears underneath me, and one under Ashcroft too.


    7 damage on Jorlund


    -31 from Jorlund


    21exp


    Maledictive walks over behind him and puts a hand on his shoulder.


    M: "Mend."


    J: "Thanks."


    W: "As I said, I want their ambush ability before we go after a pack of wolves."


    A: "And I see what you meant by ''they hit hard''."


    We form up, Jorlund taking the right so his shield does not block visibility and I take the left with sword and kris ready. Maledictive is in the middle, ready to Mend either of us should we be ambushed, and Ashcroft is trailing behind, staying in the areas we already cleared. That Compassion light is still coming off of Maledictive, and each of us is still underlit by it.


    W: "What does that Compassion skill do?"


    M: "It adds my health regen number on top of yours, so you all should be healing about twice as fast now. It''s the first skill in the Auras tree."


    W: "And Mend is clearly a healing spell, so I am guessing you have two trees just like a mage does?"


    M: "Do I get commission for the details?"


    W: "Only if they are not already on the forums. Did you get some skill trees Jorlund?"


    J: "Nope. I got a passive skill called Memorable when I accepted the class, no trees and no choices other than if I would accept the class."


    W: "At least you got the choice. Mine jumped out and chose me."


    I almost missed the snake in front of me. The irony of talking about being jumped while hunting an ambush predator made me smirk. "I found one, and I am going to tame it." It hisses in recognition that it has been found, and then it brings its head higher to look more threatening. My rats squeak and charge forward into battle and I just have enough time to make eye contact with the snake. Stun Gaze. The snake drops its head to the ground as it momentarily loses control of its body, and the rats jump on it.


    -5 from rat


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    -5 from rat


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    W: "Stupid snails!" When my pack started fighting, the snails all did the same thing they did when I found them. They used their Spirit Connection on the snake, and are now sharing damage. One of my moths descends to join in the fight, but I Spirit Connect with it just in time to keep it out of the way.


    -5 from rat


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    5 damage on snail


    Now all my snails, about 5 points in Wisdom, are half dead. I quickly Spirit Connect with the snake and both rats. If I could convince the snails this way than I should be able to convince the snake. It is very handy that this skill came from such a weak creature, so the cost is equally low. I command the rats off of the snake, and the still-stunned snake is unable to attack while the rats return to my heel. The snake''s mind is groggy from the stun, but I have it''s attention. With the snails sharing their assurances of my strength, we convince the snake that it does not want to fight me.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>a Plains Snake(lv 3) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>+0.8 Strength</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Pack Summary</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    12/12 creatures


    +1.4 vitality


    +3 charisma


    +4.2 wisdom


    +0.8 strength


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The snails are going to be no good in these fights anyway. I start releasing them.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Kizuna Snail(lv 2)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    pack member


    Animalist bonus: +0.7 Wisdom


    Release? Yes / No


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Release.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>A Kizuna Snail(lv 2) is released from your pack.


    0.7 Wisdomremoved</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The injured snail immediately uses it''s skill to connect to the 4 of us.


    A: "Werlkhan, one of your snails is doing something. I have the sensation of hugging you while being scared, and I have to say I do not swing that way. Please make it stop?"


    M: "This is disturbing."


    I pull the snail off of my shoulder and put it on the ground.


    W: "My pack is full, and I need to release a few monsters before I can tame enough snakes to get the ambush skill."


    Jorlund turns around and brings his wooden mallet down on the poor snail seconds after I let it go. We all feel the sensation of that mallet coming down on our backs.


    -17


    17 damage received


    17 damage on Ashcroft


    17 damage on Jorlund


    17 damage on Maledictive


    17 damage on snake


    5 exp


    M: "What the heck?"


    W: "You knew that was going to happen, why did you do it?"


    Jorlund bends down and picks up the fuzy spiral shell left behind by the snail. "That mage NPC pays 20 coppers for this little shell, and that Compassion skill is still active so you all will heal back up in a jiffy. I couldnt just let money go free like that."


    Ashcroft glares at Jorlund, raises his hand towards Jorlund and says "I told you the snails were not worth it." And then he speaks a word of power.

 13 - Grinding

    Dialog in this story has the speaker''s initial in front of it, unless it is bleeding obvious who is talking. NPCs will have some name or descriptor, leaving initials to be used by the player characters.


    A: Ashcroft - aspiring mage


    J: Jorlund - as close to a dwarf as a human can get


    M: Maledictive - the party healer


    W: Werlkhan - main character, first person naration is from this perspective


    <hr>


    A: "Adustio. Fire Bullet" Ashcroft aimed right at Jorlund''s face.


    | Jorlund - 25 |


    J: "Now I''m not sharing the payout from the snail shell."


    A: "If I give you 5 coppers can I shoot you again?"


    J: "50 coppers. Hazards pay and a cost of living raise."


    A: "I could save you that cost, and not leave you living."


    J: "With our Maledictive Devout around, I heal from that amount of damage in 5 seconds."


    M: "Leave me out of this, please."


    A: "Shall we have a little competition? My magic against your vitality?"


    W: "You guys have done that before, remember? Only it was when you had more impressive skills to show off. Jorlund used some battle recovery thing and withstood the damage, but the ground melted so much he ended in a glass-smooth hole and died because of the satiety system. Can we assume this game is balanced enough that it will be a very close competition, and just move on? Here Ashcroft, you kill the snails that are still in my pack. That way, they wont connect to you and we can all get what we want. There are 6 snails left so You, me, and Maledictive each get two shells. Agreed?"


    J: "Hey! We should split it evenly, as per normal party guidelines."


    W: "You already have one, Jorlund. And consider the second to be your recompense for damaging us. There, fair split."


    Jorlund opened his mouth to complain, and then closed it thinking about monetary compensation for taking friendly fire. I got busy pulling the snails off of my body and setting them safe distances away. Naturally, they were still in my pack so they tried to get back to me at their top speed. But they are snails. Ashcroft prepared a spell in each hand.


    A: "Adustio. Sg¨¤ilich. Fire Bullet. Shadow Bullet."


    The first snail burns and the second is obscured and battered. Both are still injured from capturing the snake, and die in one hit.


    | snail -27 |


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Kizuna Snail (lv 3) from your pack has died.


    0.7 wisdom removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    | snail -27 |


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Kizuna Snail (lv 3) from your pack has died.


    0.7 wisdom removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    J: "I dont even get the pitance of experience from these."


    W: "Stop sulking, this is your fault."


    M: "Are you guys related? You fight like brothers."


    The massacre of snails is quick, and we divide the drops as agreed. Jorlund starts scanning the grass around us, remembering the monster we are hunting. He has a small scowl on his face, though I cant tell if it is for losing the argument or for being called out for goading Ashcroft. He is here to play, while I am here to both play and work. Sometimes I feel like a parent, or at least a babysitter, when I have to keep the peace or nag them for something. But they always straighten up when it is important, and I never have to beg them for favors.


    W: "So you picked Fire and Shadow?"


    A: "I didnt want to spend time crafting when I could be adventuring. You already have some pack-based class so it will be too crowded for summons. Souls sounded very interesting, but the elemental trees rely on Intelligence for their damage value, so picking two means I get a bonus of 3 intelligence from my class per level. Fire is a given, and Shadow has some interesting abilities. A little CC, a few nice evasion abilities, it made sense."


    Jorlund started searching in the nearby grass. A few steps in, he drew his stone mallet and brought it down on something. A solid thunk sounded out.


    -17


    M: "What are you fighting over there?


    Thunk.


    -17


    J: "A turtle."


    Thunk.


    -17


    W: "It has a defense buff skill, which wears off in 30 seconds."


    J: "I''ll finish it before then."


    Thunk.


    -17


    A: "It looks like you are driving spikes in a railroad or splitting wood. No strategy or finese at all."


    J: "It feels as it looks. The thing is just sitting here with its head inside, not even trying to fight."


    Thunk.


    -17


    W: "Every monster has its skill. Slow and steady wins the race."


    Dink.


    -17


    13exp


    J: "And there''s the finish line."


    Jorlund reaches down and retrieves the drop from the turtle. It should be comparable to the snail shell he upset the group for earlier, but I dont say anything about it. I dont want more delays from bickering. Getting an idea, I Spirit Connect to my three Dreameater moths and give them the mental image of the snakes I am hunting. They fly off in opposite directions on the hunt. The connection lasts a full minute, so I receive constant impressions from them about the areas they are searching. One finds a snake and I tell them to stun it and start the fight.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    W: "My next snake is this way. If you guys want to spread out and start killing things for the experience, we can all work our way towards the forest edge."


    M: "My aura has limited range, so I will try and stay between Ashcroft and Jorlund as they fight. You look like you can handle the snakes well enough."


    A: "Good thinking."


    | snake -1 -1 -1 |


    I reach the stunned snake and decide to try another skill. The snake can''t fight and my moths are sucking it''s life away. Before the rats join in I pick it up by the neck. The snake is heavy, around 4 feet of muscle. Slime consumption. My mana drops 5 points and refills immediately. My moths land on the snake and continue their slow attack.


    +5 mana | snake -1 -1 | +5 mana | snake -1 -1 | +5 stamina | snake -1 -1 |


    The moth''s stun wears off and the snake starts wriggling, but I use my own stun glare and get another 5 seconds of no resistance. The wisdom bonus from the snails had pushed my mana recovery up to nearly 5 points per second, but the 2.3 mana/s it was now still allowed me to use the slime skill for twice as long as my mana pool itself would do.


    +5 stamina | snake -1 -1 | +5 stamina | snake -1 -1 | +5 stamina | snake -1 -1 | +5 stamina | snake -1 -1 | +5 stamina | snake -1 -1 |


    The snake comes around again, just as I drain the last of it''s stamina and start on its health.


    +5 health  | snake -5 -1 -1 |


    The snake will be dead in 4 seconds, but it yields to our sapping attacks as it realizes the situation.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>a Plains Snake(lv 3) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>+0.8 Strength</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    My growing pack starts working parrallel to the edge of Brambles Forest while the rest of the party takes a straighter line. I get the sporadic experience notices when they kill things, but as I am not involved in their battles I do not get their damage numbers in my combat log. That keeps it from getting too distracting, and was a good choice by the developers. By the numbers coming in I can guess they kill about two snakes for every turtle, and it is still being shared 4 ways. Before I get too far, I turn around and head back at an angle, then turn and head parrallel again. In this way, I zig-zag through the grass while slowly approaching my party. I get my 4 snakes and the skill announcement quickly.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Ambush


    If undetected, a hit does 6x damage


    passive</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    It''s passive? Always nice to have a skill that costs nothing, and I am going to get a lot of use out of this one. I am now moving along on my path to dealing massive damage. I check my status and skill list.


    Werlkhan: Stats<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>Animalist<sub>0.1</sub></td>


    <td>pack:</td>


    <td>9 / 12</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>6 (42%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>816</td>


    <td>2 Rats</td>


    <td>+1.4 vit</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>11.4</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>246</td>


    <td>3 Dreameater Moths</td>


    <td>+3 cha</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>12.2</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>75</td>


    <td>4 Plains Snakes</td>


    <td>+3.2 str</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>8</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>136</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>2.1 (118s)</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>1.5 (50s)</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>134</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>2s 57c</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Werlkhan: Skills<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Skill</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">Cost</td>


    <td>Cooldown</td>


    <td>Description</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Taming</td>


    <td>passive</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    <td>Force a creature to accept defeat at your hands, and it will join you. Class pack limit 2/lvl</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Herd Enhancement</td>


    <td>passive</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    <td>Receive a buff of 10% of a creature''s top stat from all tamed creatures</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wild Intuition</td>


    <td>passive</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    <td>Learn the skills native to your pack. Tame similar animals to learn their ability</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Inspect</td>


    <td>0 mana</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    <td>See uses and metrics of some objects</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Parry (dagger)</td>


    <td>10 stamina</td>


    <td>1s</td>


    <td>Using a dagger or short weapon, receive and redirect attacks without taking damage. This is a contest of dexterity with your enemy.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Pathfinder</td>


    <td>0 mana</td>


    <td>1 min</td>


    <td>Identify the best path to take to the intended destination. Must be familiar with the destination.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Stun Gaze</td>


    <td>30 mana</td>


    <td>3 min</td>


    <td>Throw your spirit through your eyes at your enemy, to stun them for 5 seconds. This is a contest of intelligence and charisma</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Mana Thread</td>


    <td>1 mana per 3 inches</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    <td>Produce a tangible thread with your mana.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Spirit Connection</td>


    <td>5 mana</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    <td>Establish understand without needing words. Sharing pain is part of the deepest understanding. You and your target are connected for 1 minute.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Slime Consumption</td>


    <td>5 mana/s


    10s cooldown</td>


    <td>10s</td>


    <td>Drain enemy with a touch. Drains mana first. Drains stamina if target is out of mana. Drains health if target is out of stamina. Drain rate based on Intelligence.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Ambush</td>


    <td>passive</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    <td>If undetected, deliver 6x damage</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I switch my collection target to turtles, as I have the snake skill and still a bit of distance to go before I reach my party. The turtles cant be stunned because I cant make eye contact with them, but the Spirit Connection persuation method still works. The first turtle I tame reveals a new problem. The turtle moves a little faster than the snails did, but not fast enough to keep up. Also, they are not good at climbing so it can''t ride like the snails did. I pick it up and carry it for now. The 1.5 vitality that it gives me is too good to leave behind. Getting back to the party, I let them know what is ahead of us.


    W: "The woods here are a zone named Brambles Forrest. It debuffs your sight and detection, so the wolves get close before you notice them. There is also a mantis monster that gave me trouble. It jumps from tre to tree while slashing you like a ninja, but it has a delay between jumps so if you see one just pound on it to keep it off the trees."


    J: "Bladed ninja bugs, pack predators that get close before you see them, and a name that implies thorns and tangles. Sounds nice. I have two hours left before I have to log off, so let''s go break things."

 14 - Wolves

    Dialog in this story has the speaker''s initial in front of it, unless it is bleeding obvious who is talking. NPCs will have some name or descriptor, leaving initials to be used by the player characters.


    A: Ashcroft - mage with biased to fire


    J: Jorlund - as close to a dwarf as a human can get


    M: Maledictive - the party healer


    W: Werlkhan - title character, first person naration is from this perspective


    <hr>


    We step into the forest and are greeted with the zone announcement


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Brambles Forest


    <hr>sight range reduced 30¡ë</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Jorlund has point, as none of us have good detection skills yet. The shadows deepen, obscuring visibility in the underbrush. This edge of the forest has several young trees and bushes, and we push through them going deeper into the woods and shadows. It does not take long to hear the growls.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Young Wolf - 5</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Two walk out from behind the trees in front of us. Another appears in the gloom on our right. The wolves eye us, growling, teeth bared. Wolves often prey on herd animals and their tactic is to get the herd to run and then pick off a straggler. We are not normal prey, having come here for them, and we are not running.


    J: Come here poochie, my hammer wants to play.


    One of the wolves starts snarling and charges at Jorlund. It comes in low and then jumps for his throat, but he blocks with his shield. His hammer comes around and smacks the wolf off. It stumbles to the side but quickly regains it footing.


    | wolf1 -31|


    J: "This one is locked on me, keep your eyes on the others!"


    A: "Adustio. Adustio."


    Ashcroft held fire in each hand, ready to unleash on the wolves but waiting for a good openning. He seems focused on the wolf to our right having a staring contest. I refresh my Spirit Connection with my moths and send them to stun the two wolves that are waiting for an opening. My moth reaches the wolf that Ashcroft is focused on, swoops down into it''s face and flares its wings to stun the wolf. Those daziling blue eyespots on its wood brown wings shimmer as the wolf loses its balance and falls over. Ashcroft fires just as the first wolf is crushed by Jorlund again.


    | wolf1 -31 |


    | wolf3 -25-25 |


    The remaining wolf tries to get Jorlund from the side while he is engaged with the first one, but my second moth arrives right at that moment. The wolf, mid stride, falls to the ground and lays there stunned. Moths 2 and 3 settle on it for a quick meal. Ashcroft takes full advantage of the short chant for his skill and is throwing fire bullets rapidly.


    | wolf1 -31 |


    | wolf3 -25-25 |


    | wolf2 -1 -1 |


    I flank the wolf that is fixated on Jorlund. He is showing his battle experience, keeping his weight on his toes and holding the hammer high so it can be brought down quickly when his enemy gets in range. Shield out in front, but low so it does not block his line of sight. I pause for timing, and the wolf attacks again. This time the wolf is biting low, aiming for joints to stop Jorlund from moving about. The hammer falls, smashing down onto the wolf and I stab forward with my knife while the wolf is pressed into the ground.


    | wolf3 -25-25 -25 |


    | wolf1 -31 -22 |


    | wolf2 -1 -1 |


    My pack of vermin is swarming past me to get at the wolf that I have wounded. Ashcroft yells "I''m out of mana!" as he runs forward with his wooden quarterstaff. He swings at the wolf he has been peppering with fire, and then retreats in a hurry when he sees it is ineffective.


    | wolf3 -0 |


    | wolf1 -7 -7 |


    | wolf2 -1 -1 |


    W: "Mal go finish that wolf, it has to be low and the stun is about to wear off."


    Maledictive runs by the retreating Ashcroft and reaches the wolf just as it shakes its head and stands up. The wolf lunges forward just as Maledictive plants his feet and swings his mace in a perfect baseball form. He misses and the wolf bites into his arm, taking them both down with the momentum.


    | Maledictive -15 |


    | wolf1 -31 |


    | wolf2 -1 -1 |


    Jorlund continues to dance with his enemy, poise and block and swing, whittling it down. My snakes and rats biting at it when they can. The remaining wolf shakes off its stun and reassesses targets. My third moth stuns it. Maledictive managed to bring the mace around and smashes it into the rib cage of the wolf that is chewing on his arm.


    |wolf3 -6 |


    44exp


    I turn back to look at the other two wolves just as Jorlund delivers a final strike to his.


    | wolf1 -31 |


    44exp


    That only leaves one, and as I look for it I see it is still on the ground, working through a second stun. My pack is heading there now, even the turtle trying to make its way to mindlessly do damage to my enemy. All my moths are sitting on it, and my rats and snakes arrive.


    | wolf2 -1-1-1-7-7-7-3-7-3-22|


    I get there and find a clear spot to stab my knife in. The wolf starts flailing before I expect it, and I throw my knee onto it, scrambling to keep my weight on top of the wolf''s center of mass. As I can''t pull the dagger out for another stab without losing my hold on the wolf, I start twisting it and driving it deeper.


    | wolf2 -22|


    ! Skill !


    | wolf2 -4 bleeding|


    A blue exclamation point appeared in the corner of my vision, but I could not open the notice and focus on the wolf. My pack is doing 34 damage a second. Maledictive had regained his feet now and was approaching with his mace.


    | wolf2 -4 bleeding-3-7-7-7 -4 -7 |


    Maledictive reaches my beastial game of twister and plants his mace firmly in the face of the thrashing wolf. It is still no better than the low level monsters in my pack but I can see it has emotional value. He really is the only one who was chewed on in this encounter and he is working that frustration out on the wolf''s head. The bleeding and the mob of animals drain the wolf fast. I am not sure if it tried to submit in defeat or if something like a bleeding status prevents that. One round of all these damage sources took the wolf from above the health threshold where it would admit defeat to dead.


    44exp


    I had not seen any of the wolves use a skill, so I still only have guesses about what I would learn from taming them, but I think it would be better to have fast beasts like wolves instead of my tanky turtle that I have to carry around.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Maledictive used Mend on himself as Jorlund started looting the bodies. I focused on the blue exclimation point and brought up the notification that occured during the last fight.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Open Wounds


    Force and twist your bladed weapon in your opponent to cause lasting damage, opening a wound that will continue to bleed until it is treated. Damage based on strength and dexterity.


    15 stamina</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    That is a nice one. Gruesome. I am happy to have it. Jorlund finishes collecting wolf skins, and I walk back to my turtle as my raggedy pack surrounds me.


    <hr>


    -~= POV Ashcroft =~-


    I open my skill trees again and give them a longing look. The shared experience from the wolves was not enough for me to reach level 6; I''m still a handfull of wolves away. When I chose my skill trees I was informed that the skills can be purchased with skill points. I get 5 skill points per level. This means I can unlock everything in the Fire tree after 20 levels, if I ignore Shadow and whatever skill tree I add at level 10. The fire skills dodamage, wide scale damage, damage over time, and some enhancement and other usefull things in there. Beloved classics are scattered throughout, along with a few new choices.


    Fire Skill Tree: <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Fire Mage Skills


    In My Element 9             Fire Bullet


    /           \


    Heated Weapon 2           Fire Bolt 2


    /        |               /            \


    Blazing Echo[3]  Fire Lance[4]  Heated Seekers[3]   Fireball[4]


    |             |           /                /           \


    Superheated[6]  Fire Trail[5]   Fire Bolas[4]  Blazing Pillar[5] Lava Eruption[5]


    /           \                     /                     |


    Fire Wall[6]    Fire Rune[6]         Nova Pulse[7]          Meteor[7]


    /               \              /            \


    Immolation[7]        Champion Conflagration[7]      Burning Soul[8]


    bold - acquired


    # - skill point cost


    [] - locked


    </pre>


    <table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><colgroup><col width="100"><col width="100"></colgroup>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Element Bullet</td>


    <td>Condense a mass of your element and hurl it at your target for (15 + Intelligence) damage.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>In My Element</td>


    <td>Immunity. Damage of this element is changed into mana for you to absorb, 10 dmg for 1 mana point</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Fire Bolt</td>


    <td>Faster, hotter, better. A thick bolt of fire strikes your target for (3 * intelligence) damage</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Heated Weapon</td>


    <td>Add elemental damage to a weapon. Duration 1 hour.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Blazing Echo</td>


    <td>A firey afterimage is added to weapons, repeating total damage as elemental damage</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Heated Seekers</td>


    <td>Three fire bullets will follow your target, correcting their own paths to stay on target.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Fire Lance</td>


    <td>Piercing flames that sear their way through your target.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Fire Ball</td>


    <td>Classic explosive projectile</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Fire Bolas</td>


    <td>A whirling mass of fire that is thrown at an enemy. It wraps around them and continues to burn.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Lava Erruption</td>


    <td>The ground bursts open, throwing molten rock onto nearby targets</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Blazing Pillar</td>


    <td>Fire decends from above and surges from bellow, engulfing your taget for (intelligence^2/2) damage</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Fire Trail</td>


    <td>Fire follows you as you move, igniting the very ground you walk on. Duration 3 minutes, burning 5 minutes.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Superheated</td>


    <td>The targeted equipment melts, making it unusable as well as burning its user.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Meteor</td>


    <td>A burning mass descends, crushing the targeted area</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Fire Wall</td>


    <td>The ground burns, erecting a wall of fire that damages all who touch it. Duration 5 minutes</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Fire Rune</td>


    <td>Your ability to condense fire elements outside of yourself has progressed to the level of remote detonation. Leave a mark that explodes when a foe gets too close.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Immolation</td>


    <td>set the whole room on fire, or a radius of 50ft from target spot if not in room</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Nova Pulse</td>


    <td>The fire within bursts out, burning and repelling all foes</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Burning Soul</td>


    <td>Ignite your very soul, doubling all damage you do but also burning through your mana. Mana burns away at twice regen. Duration: until mana reaches 0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Champion Conflagration</td>


    <td>Fire takes form as a towering combatant with blazing 2h sword. Duration 15 minutes</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    But the shadow tree has essential mage aides; crowd control, minion, evasion, detection. Although it would take a minimum of 29 points, 6 levels, to unlock the Shadow Step, such a skill could easily save mylife.


    Shadow Skill Tree: <input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Shadow Mage Skills


    In My Element 9                   Shadow Bullet


    |           |


    Shadow Cloak 2         Shadow Spike 2


    |                              |


    Muffle[3]                         Shadow Perferation[4]


    |      |                              |               |


    Fear[4]    Detect Concealment[4]    Foreshadowing[5]   Shadow Bind[3]


    |                                          |               |


    Shadow Deception[6]                          Enshroud[5]          Shadow Grapple[5]


    |                                  |         |                     |


    Shadow Domain[7]                 Shadow Clone[6]    Shadow Tribuli[6]    Sticky Shadow Web[6]


    |        \                /           |


    Shadow Step[7]       Transference[8]          Night Child[7]


    bold - acquired


    # - skill point cost


    [] - locked


    </pre>


    So many choices to make.


    <table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><colgroup><col width="100"><col width="100"></colgroup>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Shadow cloak</td>


    <td>A covering made of shadows so you can hide among them</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Shadow Spike</td>


    <td>Stiffened shadow surges up from the ground, impaling your target</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Muffle</td>


    <td>Encase your feet in shadows, preventing sound as you move</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Shadow Bind</td>


    <td>Solidify shadows to grasp your target and hold it in place</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Detect Concealment</td>


    <td>Darkness seeks those hidden in darkness. Find things around you that are not meant to be found.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Shadow Perferate</td>


    <td>Launch (intelligence / 4) small shadow spikes, can have multiple targets</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Enshroud</td>


    <td>Wrap your self or target in solidified shadow, forming claws and armor</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Foreshadowing</td>


    <td>Your shadow stretches before you, and all who are in it receive increased damage</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Shadow Grapple</td>


    <td>Take hold with solidified shadow and drag target closer</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Shadow Tribuli</td>


    <td>Fill an area with spiky shadow constructions. Cost is based on size, which is determined by caster</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Sticky Shadow Web</td>


    <td>Globs of shadow spread and fly, ensaring foes that are hit or touch it afterwards. Duration 5 minutes.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Shadow Deception</td>


    <td>Every shadow becomes a target for your enemies</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Night Child</td>


    <td>The shadows come to life and take form. Unleash a small and fast denizen of darkness upon your foes.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Shadow Clone</td>


    <td>Solidify shadow into your clone, with your stats, whom you control as well.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Shadow Domain</td>


    <td>Fill the room with your shadows so you can move undetected, hiding your presence while causing fear status effect in all targets.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Shadow Step</td>


    <td>Step into one shadow and out of another. Must have line of sight between the shadows.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Transference</td>


    <td>Damage done to target¡¯s shadow is done to target, but the shadow cannot defend itself.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Fear</td>


    <td>Demoralize and weaken your target</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <hr>


    Werlkhan: Stats<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Werlkhan</td>


    <td>Animalist<sub>0.1</sub></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>pack:</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>6 (64%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>816</td>


    <td>2 Rats</td>


    <td>+1.4 vit</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>12.9</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>273</td>


    <td>3 Dreameater Moths</td>


    <td>+3 cha</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>12.2</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>75</td>


    <td>4 Plains Snakes</td>


    <td>+3.2 str</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>8</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>140</td>


    <td>1 Ivory Spike Turtle</td>


    <td>+1.5 vit</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>4</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>2.4 (113s)</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>1.5 (50s)</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>6</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>134</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>2s 57c</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 just a note

    The story is not abandoned, I am just trying to make an auras skill tree because Maledictive goes up a level. I have 15 of the 20 right now


    <table dir="ltr" style="table-layout: fixed; font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><colgroup><col width="121"><col width="100"></colgroup>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Auras</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">range is in the aura skill itself</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Compassion</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">add Devout''s healing rate to party</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Spite</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Reflect part of damage. I will take a hit out of spite just to hit you back</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Envigorate</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">boosts speed and stamina regeneration rate. It''s virtually impossible to run out of stamina with this skill active, shorter range so will need several Devouts to move an army</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Fortify</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">boost physical defenses</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Stone Heart</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Add elemental, mental and soul resistences</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Encourage</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">boost mana recovery</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Motivate</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">boost damage output</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Oppressive Pressence</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">reduce enemy speed in area, wider range</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Intimidate</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">reduce enemy defences, medium range</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Radience</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Holy damage to enemies in the area</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Healing Pulse</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Big heal, short range, every three seconds</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Battle Spirit</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">boost attack and defense together.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Anointing Armor</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">adds flat armor value</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Sanctify</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Cleans the area of monster influence, and also keeps monsters away. Breaks hostile domains. Useful when your party needs a breather.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">Divine Presence</td>


    <td style="padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom">add 5% to all stats, and 5% off of enemy''s stats, really wide range</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

 15 - The Next Level

    As usual, dialog in this story has the speaker''s initial in front of it unless it is bleeding obvious who is talking. NPCs will have some name or descriptor, leaving initials to be used by the player characters.


    A: Ashcroft - mage with biased to fire


    J: Jorlund - as close to a dwarf as a human can get


    M: Maledictive - the party healer


    W: Werlkhan - title character, first person naration is from this perspective


    <hr>


    Jorlund''s time limit was approaching quickly. Soon he would have to sign off, and then it would be unwise for Ashcroft to continue without our resident tank. This thought put an urgent edge to my activity as we continued our forrest hunt. Fortunately, it only took another pack of three wolves to level the rest of the party to 6. I am 81% of the way to 7, so another 4 wolves will push me past. They are quite simple to deal with while I have Dreameaters in my pack. These moths are annoying, but oh so helpful against anything close to town. Jorlund is still carrying the pelts we have collected, but the silver from the kills is being spread evenly amonst the party. But the party at the moment is just sitting about. They have received their first skill points and have some decisions to make. Well, Ashcroft and Maledictive have decisions to make, while Jorlund is like me and does not have a tree to spend the points on at the moment.


    <hr>


    -= POV Ashcroft =-


    I have to get FireBall, it''s what I am known for. Also, my inner child is a serious pyro. It''s a pity I only get 5 skill points per level, even when I have two skill trees. Fireball will be most of the points from my next level up, and Blazing Pillar will be a level''s expense by itself. Fireball requires File Bolt, so that means I have 3 points this level and 1 next level that are not claimed already.


    Fire Mage Skills


    In My Element 9             Fire Bullet 0


    /           \


    Heated Weapon 2           Fire Bolt 2


    /        |               /            \


    Blazing Echo 3  Fire Lance 4    Heated Seekers 3   Fireball 4


    |             |           /                /          \


    Superheated 6  Fire Trail 5   Fire Bolas 4  Blazing Pillar 5 Lava Eruption 5


    /           \                     /                |


    Fire Wall 6    Fire Rune 6         Nova Pulse 7        Meteor 7


    /               \            /           \


    Immolation 7        Champion Conflagration 7      Burning Soul 8


    # - skill point cost</pre>


    Shadow Mage Skills


    In My Element 9                   Shadow Bullet 0


    |           |


    Shadow Cloak 2         Shadow Spike 2


    |                              |


    Muffle 3                         Shadow Perferation 4


    |      |                              |               |


    Fear 4    Detect Concealment 4    Foreshadowing 5   Shadow Bind 3


    ...         ...                       ...             ...</pre>


    Looking at the early part of the shadow tree, damage is the right side and utility is the left side. So I could get Heated Weapon, Heated Seekers, or Shadow Cloakwith those unclaimed points. I chose Shadow for its utility, might as well get a little of that now. Two points to unlockFire Bolt and two more forShadow Cloak.


    Ashcroft: Stats


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Ashcroft</td>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>Mage<sub>0.05</sub></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>6 (6%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>820</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>2</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>77</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>240</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>65</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>17</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>0.78 (99s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>12</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>2.54 (94s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>42</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>6s 47c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <hr>


    -= POV Maledictive =-


    Those wolves are a pain. Literally. Every time I try to take one on itends up biting me. I dont want to just spectate this game, but I dont know how Jorlund is doing so well. Being the party band-aide dispenser is not my goal. I got this fancy pod to play these immersive games, I''m partied up with some hardcore gamers, and I am going to keep up. So, the healing skill tree will wait. Here is what theAuras tree has for me. Five points do not go very far.


    Aura Skills


    Compassion 0


    /         |         \


    Fortify 3   Envigorate 3      Spite 2


    /       \            |            |       \


    Battle Spirit 5   Stone Heart 4  Sanctify 4  Intimidate 3 Oppression 4


    |            |          |            |           |


    Noble Spirit 6   Clarity 6   Healing Pulse 5 Radience 5 Motivate 5


    |            |          |            |


    Pontificate 7  Guidence 7  Encourage 6   Anointing Armor 6


    \       |              |


    Divine Pressence 9        Aural Marker 9


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.# - skill point cost</pre>


    The description for Spite is just how I feel at the moment,Reflect part of damage. I will take a hit out of spite just to hit you back. This skill sounds like a start. My class has excellent health regen, and putting my new statpoints in Vitality will bring my max up. I acquire both Spite and Intimidate, as I cannot get Oppressionuntil next level anyway. I will make monsters regret chewing on me.


    Maledictive: Stats<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Name:</td>


    <td>Maledictive</td>


    <td>Class</td>


    <td>Devout<sub>0.05</sub></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level</td>


    <td>6 (9%)</td>


    <td>exp to level</td>


    <td>828</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Vitality</td>


    <td>9</td>


    <td>Health</td>


    <td>203</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Strength</td>


    <td>7</td>


    <td>Mana</td>


    <td>150</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Dexterity</td>


    <td>5</td>


    <td>Stamina</td>


    <td>104</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intelligence</td>


    <td>10</td>


    <td>H regen</td>


    <td>2.11 (96s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Wisdom</td>


    <td>10</td>


    <td>M regen</td>


    <td>3 (50s)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Charisma</td>


    <td>3</td>


    <td>Armor</td>


    <td>0</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    <td>Carry limit</td>


    <td>82</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>unspent</td>


    <td>0</td>


    <td>Money</td>


    <td>3s 30c</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Maledictive: Skills<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Skill</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">Cost</td>


    <td>Cooldown</td>


    <td>Description</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Mend</td>


    <td>30 mana</td>


    <td>2s</td>


    <td>Apply healing to a friend, heal amount based on wisdom.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Compassion</td>


    <td>aura</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    <td>Add Devout''s regeneration rate to party members in range. Radius based on level.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Spite</td>


    <td>aura</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    <td>Reflect part of damage. I will take a hit out of spite just to hit you back.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Intimidate</td>


    <td>aura</td>


    <td>n/a</td>


    <td>Reduce the defenses of enemies that come in range, Radius is based on level</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <hr>


    -= POV Werlkhan =-


    My last level up notification mentioned skill points, but I have nothing to spend them on. It must be a quirk of my class, and is a reason to switch to another class soonish. Jorlund seems content to sit and polish his hammer. I know he is the most pressed for time here, and when he leaves the others probably will too. I suppose I should take that opportunity to write my initial game review, and get it up sooner rather than later.


    W: "Are we ready to go? Any changes to our strategy?"


    M: "I''m changing auras. I now have both damage reflection and defense reduction."


    A: "I just have an increased damage output."


    J: "And I am still pressed for time. Let''s move."


    W: "No juicy class tips for me to share with the world later tonight?"


    J: "Maybe next level, but I dont know if we can kill enough to get there tonight."


    A: "Challenge accepted!"


    I pick up my turtle and we head further into the woods. In the next hour we killed another 20 wolves and I captured 1 into my pack. The wolf added 1.2 vitality to me, but I would have to dismiss my whole pack to learn a skill from it. That gave us all enough experience for level 7, as well as 5 silver a piece and a dozen pelts. Mal''s new aura had removed the little armor that the wolves had, allowing Ashcroft to actually deliver miniscule amounts of damage when he ran out of mana.


    Ashcroft unlocked his beloved Fire Ball and used it on a couple of unsuspecting trees before logging off for the night. Jorlund demonstrated a Shield Rush that he acquired, and Maledictive selected Oppression which was very helpful. It had a wider range than any of his other auras and reduced enemy movement and attack speeds. I gained 5 more skill points with nothing to spend them on. Then we all signed off for the night.


    When feeling returned to my body, I slowly undid my helmet straps, the belt, and the other fasteners keeping the VR Frame in position on my body. It was about as old a piece of equipment as one could use and still access this game. I had yet to catch the attention of an executive at Cerebro, the company that recently launched a functional immersion pod, so no freebies in the mail. I threw dinner into the microwave and started my blog update. All the ads on the site were promoting FoH, since it was launch day and that kind of hype still messes with the ad tracking AIs. My post had the usual shout-outs to my supporters, some fanservice, a few great screenshots from my session (including the one of Jorlund getting a Fire Bullet to the face). I ended it with enthusiastic promises of more to come, and a mention of the existence of some hidden classes I had already uncovered. I have to keep my illusion of omniscience up, or my revenue readership drops. Dinner was cold again by the time I posted it, so I restarted the microwave and started reading some competitor''s blogs as well as checking the official forum.


    There was a whole starting event I had missed. Aparantly, the human race was already involved in a war out the Western gate with a race called Molekin. Jorlund would be very upset that the whole internet got to the whack-a-mole joke before he did, because we went East instead of West.


    Aren''t moles nocturnal? I could probably spare another hour or so before sleep.

 16 - Hidden Quest

    W: Werlkhan - title character, first person naration is from this perspective


    The rest of the party is signed out for this chapter


    <hr>


    ?? .... Loading .... Welcome to |Founding of Humanity |


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Brambles Forest


    <hr>sight range reduced 30¡ë</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    It''s dark in the woods. One thing learned, you sign in where you signed out.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Quest!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Cats eat rats. You have attracted the attention of the hunter. Survive!


    * bring live rat into Brambles Forest at night


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Immediately the back of my neck starts to prickle, and I notice the forest soundscape that I was expecting absent, even the crickets are holding their breath. Taking stock, I have my pack around me and I quickly form my spirit connection to my moths. Then I hear the crack of bark on a branch overhead and look up.


    The canopy blocks much of the starlight, and twisting silhouettes take the place of trees and branches. A nearby tree has a patch of night sky visible near the trunk, belying the trees behind it that should make it impossible. I dont see any other patches as big as that one. Looking again, I see a pair of eyes open on that patch of starry sky.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="132">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Twilicat - Lv 15</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Crap. Level parity is a tough fight, and this thing is twice my level. Its black fur with gold spots and specks would blend well with the stary sky, and only the heavy canopy betrayed its camoflague. In one motion, the predator steps from the branch to the ground, impossibly long legs making the movement smooth, graceful, and full of confidence. Then on the ground, it lowers closer to my height, something that would be impossible for the leg length I just saw. Render glitch? It is hard to tell any definitive shape in the night, but those golden flecks stretched and elongated with the silent movement.


    Initiative wins fights, so I send a moth to stun it. The moth swoops in as expected, flares its wings, and is promptly eaten.


    | -27 linked damage |


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Dreameater Moth (lv 3) from your pack has died.


    1 charisma removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I send everything at it, and jump in myself with my kris and wooden sword. The moth stuns do not work, but at least they block the monster''s line of sight. It takes out both of my remaining moths in one impossibly wide swipe with that foreleg that does not stick to one size. But with 2 rats, 3 snakes and a wolf we get in a series of hits in that same moment.


    | linked damage -27 -27 |


    | Twilicat -0 -0 -5 -4 Ambushed! -44 -44 - 6 -14 |


    Dang this thing has the toughest hide I have fought yet, negating a bunch of the damage we could have done. It yowls at the damage we have done, and then the shape that should be its head expands and bites down on my wolf while stepping on one of my rats. I take the opportunity to stab and twist my kris and take another swing with my sword.


    | wolf -98 |


    | rat -21 |


    | Twilicat -0 -0 -4 -4 -4 - 6 -14 Bleeding! -4 |


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Rat (lv 1) from your pack has died.


    0.7 vitality removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    While it struggles with a mouth full of wolf, it is limited in how many of us it can take a swing at. I dont know if running is a possibility, and a peak at the monster''s health shows it is still around three quarters full. This fight is turning desperate. I keep attacking wildly, but in the dark I miss what my pack is doing. My kris connects with one of my rats instead, just as the Twilicat rips an oversized bite out of the wolf.


    | wolf -92 |


    | Twilicat -4 -4 -4 -6 Bleeding! -4 |


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Young Wolf (lv 5) from your pack has died.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.1.2 vitality removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">


    BETRAYAL!


    You have killed your own contracted Rat (lv 1)!


    0.7 vitality removed


    Cursed Ratskin Boots added


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I feel the boots instantly appear on my feet, and at the same time see a haze appear around my health bar. The Twilicat starts rampaging through my snakes, crushing them with paws that grow wide before coming down on my few remaining pack members. It is not a glitch in th render, that must be the skill used by this monster. I''m toast; there is no beating this thing. I turn and run blindly into the night. At the same moment, my turtle engages its shield skill and bites at the large paw now in range.


    | snake -54 |


    | snake -54 |


    | Twilicat -4 -0 Bleeding! -4 |


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Plains Snake (lv 3) from your pack has died.


    0.8 strength removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Plains Snake (lv 3) from your pack has died.


    0.8 strength removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    One snake and one turtle left, keeping the killer occupied while I cowardly run away. Nothing looks familiar in the dark, and I can not even remember the path we took as a party to get here, let alone find it. The game lets me know that the fight is still going.


    | snake -54 |


    | turtle -84 |


    | Twilicat -0 Bleeding! -4 |


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Plains Snake (lv 3) from your pack has died.


    0.8 strength removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Shielded


    Quadruple armor rating for 30 seconds


    20 mana 5 minute cooldown</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    So my turtle is still alive, and the last member of my pack. What''s the name of the starting town? I cant think of what to try my Pathfinder skill on to get me out of this mess! With the damage that cat was putting out the turtle will probably die next round. I push myself faster, stumbling in the dark, trying to get far enough away to break the engagement with the monster. But then, this monster appeared with a quest?


    | turtle -16 |


    | Twilicat Bleeding! -4 |


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">An Ivory Spike Turtle (lv 2) from your pack has died.


    1.5 vitality removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    There goes the last of my pack animals. Is the Twilicat still engaged with me? Chapel! There was a chapel in town. I think hard of the chapel and its tall stone spire, and engage the Pathfinder skill. I''m going the wrong direction. The tug on my compass is back in the direction of the Twilicat, which I do not want to see again for a long time. I try to circle around, in a wide arc if that is possible in my near-blind state.


    | Twilicat Bleeding! -4 |


    Crap. I am still in combat with that monster, and now I have run out of minions to throw at it and am in a weakended state, wearing cursed boots that inhibit my health regeneration. My healthbar, during these last few hits to my pack stats, has not noticably improved, which is very concerning. I try to get around the space where I think the fight was, and head for town as quickly as the deep shadows and uneven surfaces allow.


    | Twilicat Bleeding! -4 |


    The starry night in front of me melts, and drops down to pool into the shape of a large feline blocking my path. It found me. Those cold eyes, slightly shining, pupils very dialated, lock onto mine. It knew I was going this way, and it waited for the right moment to do that tree walking trick and step down in my path again. It knew.


    | Twilicat Bleeding! -4 |


    I hear a faint snarl, and see the star pattern that is its fur stretch and distort as it swipes at me.


    | -100 |


    | Twilicat Bleeding! -4 |


    Half my remaining health disappears in one hit, and I am knocked sprawling in the loam. Its health has hardly moved since I last saw it, the bleeding damage like a pinprick in a 5 gallon bucket. If I could see the monster''s eyes right now I swear it would be smiling at me. Gloating. One final time I see the star pattern of its fur ripple as it swings at me. Then blackness.


    ... you have died. Forced logout initiated.


    First a deep breath. Then, as quickly as I can, I sign on to Khan of Games and start writing. I dont think anyone has reached lv 15 yet, so this hidden monster quest is exactly the kind of exclusive I need.

 17 - Molekin Event!

    Dialog in this story has the speaker''s initial in front of it unless it is bleeding obvious who is talking. NPCs will have some name or descriptor, leaving initials to be used by the player characters.


    A: Ashcroft - mage with biased to fire


    J: Jorlund - as close to a dwarf as a human can get


    M: Maledictive - the party healer


    W: Werlkhan - title character, first person naration is from this perspective


    <hr>


    After a fitful night of nominal sleep, I am not happy about whatever death penalty awaits me. I suit up and turn the game back on.


    .... Loading .... Welcome to |Founding of Humanity |


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


    Sage Albert says "biting off more than you can chew is unhealthy."


    He takes a quarter of your coin as payment for the advice.


    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I am in the chapel, in town.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Chapel</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">all regeneration rates are doubled</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I still have all my equipment, skills and levels, and random inventory bits. That means I dont have to make a corpse run into the woods. Other than the curse on the rat boots, I see no debuffs. Huh. Not very harsh on death for a normal class, but I have lost my whole pack in the process. And I cannot unequip these cursed boots, which are killing my regeneration. I get up from the stone bench and look around the large room. There are many more benchs like the one I find myself on, though they are set in a way that implies practitioners use them to listen to sermons, not for players coming back from mass slaughter. I take the one door out of the room and am met by the NPC in charge of the area.


    Priest: "May the gods bless your way, Elect. I notice you are using a cursed item."


    W: "Yes, I had an unfortunate encounter, and these boots are reminding me of an errant knife strike."


    Priest: "We do not yet have an altar here to cleanse it, but I have heard of a way."


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Quest!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Curses can be removed by the purifying light of the Lily Wisp. Find a blooming water lily by the island in the lake to the south to encounter a Lily Wisp.


    Accept? Y/N


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Yes.


    W: "Thanks for the tip. "


    Exiting the chapel, a spend a moment listening to the chatter around me. I overhear nothing interesting. Well, since my friends are going to arrive inside the forrest it is going to take a little time before we meet up. Time I can use to rebuilt a bit of my pack. Talking to a guard NPC I get the event quest.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Quest!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Molekin are attempting to uproot humanity''s foothold. We need our farmland and cropse to survive the coming winter. Dig them out before our foundation is damaged. Quest ends in 4 days.


    Accept? Y/N


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Special Event: 20% boost in experience and coin from molekin</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Yes.


    Experience and money droprate boost? Yay for opening day. A quick run to the east fields again gets me two snakes and a turtle for a start on pack bonuses. Then, a full run through town carrying my turtle to get to the event fields on the west end of town. Stepping out of the west gate I am greeted with a notification.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">To Arms!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>


    The Molekin are attacking! During event


    * experience gained is boosted by 20%


    * drop rewards are boosted by 20%


    * only molekins will appear in the west farms and hills


    * killing 20 molekin will attract a moleking


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The fields and visible small hills (mole hills?) are covered with players, all swinging at the ground or launching their various attacks. A few parties are wandering around; occassionally they run together to a spot and beat the ground. This does clear up the question of why there were not more players hunting wolves yesterday. However, it also looks like the best spawn points are already being camped by a few teams. I head west by north west to get into the hills on the border of the woods, and finally find an empty spot to whack moles. No, that is not a euphemism.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Molekin - Level 2</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    They are weak. It is good that I am scouting this area, it might not be worth it for the party to come back here even with the exp boost. A single attack with my kris and one bite from a snake is enough to finish it.


    | molekin -23 -9 |


    54exp


    I am happy for a moment, until I realize that the experience is only that high since I am not sharing it 4 ways. Fortunately, the next molekin to appear is lv 4. It yields and joins my pack after two rounds.


    | molekin -23 -9 -9 -4 -23 -9 -9 -4 |Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">a Molekin (lv 4) joins you</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">+1 strength</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The lv 4 molekin are stout little beasties, and do more damage than my snakes when attacking from the front. The next lv 4 to come around also joins my pack before we kill it, and then a lv 3 manages to duck in at the moment before death. The level 3 gives me +0.7 vitality instead of strength. However, it is still a molekin and counts for Wild Intuition to give me a new skill.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">New Skill Learned!</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Tremorsense


    Sense movement through the ground within a certain radius.


    Radius determined by level.


    5 mana/s  10 second cooldown</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    This is exactly the thing that will make this hunting ground worth the time. With my cursed rat boots I cannot keep it active the whole time, but I start to roam back through the hills and between the other players. Around this time I also reach level 8, with the usual fanfare and refilling of my health and mana. Instead of working like the hunting parties I saw earlier where they rush to a point when they see a mole pop out, I can now find the moles underground and "coincidentally" be in the right spot when they pop up. Taming does not count as killing, and another lv 3 and lv 4 molekin join my pack before I reach the 20 kill mark and a Moleking comes for me. I can feel him burrowing straight for me, aimed precisely like I already have aggro. When his little velvety head breaks through the ground, I see that he is bigger and has a ring of grey fur in a crown shape instead of the all black that the other molekin are. Also, instead of just attacking with the large digging claws like the other molekin, this Moleking had a little shiny sceptor. It was rediculous.


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Moleking - Level 8</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    With the event boosts, this is a monster worth hunting. The strength boost from two snakes and three molekin brings my damage from the kris up to 29. Even still, the Moleking gives as good as he gets and has a few points of armor. I have not linked any of my monsters, so the damage I take is only when I cant jump back fast enough. With the ratboots ruining my regen, I can''t be too free in the battle.


    | Moleking -26 -6 -6 -10 -10 -10 -4 -4 -1 |


    | molekin -40 |


    | Moleking -26 -6 -6 -10 -10 -10 -4 -4 -1 |


    | molekin -23 |


    <table style="background-color: #e3e3e3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">A Molekin (lv 3) from your pack has died.


    0.8 vitality removed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Why didn''t I collect a few Dreameaters before coming out here? I quickly use Stun Gaze and the Moleking slumps to the side.


    | Moleking -26 -6 -6 -10 -10 -10 -4 -1-26 -6 -6 -10 -10 -10 -4 -1-26 -6 |


    420 exp


    Level up! It also drops 18 copper and a Moleking Claw. Looking at the claw, the description says it is an event item, and a town guard will give me a bonus for it. Just then


    {Whisper Jorlund: Where are you? I want to join the whack-a-mole }


    {Whisper Werlkhan: Head south to the grass, west to town, and talk to a guard to get the quest}


    {Whisper Jorlund: Of course you are already there. You better save a good spawn point for me}


    By the time they reach me at the west gate, I had killed another 10 molekin of assorted level.


    W: "I assume you all can read the quest windows just fine. The mole-King is level 8 while the regular molekin are levels 2-4. I''ve already picked up a skill for finding them before they pop out, so we might farm faster together weaving between the spawn campers."


    A: "That looks awfully crowded out there."


    W: "It is. I dont know how early they signed in, but the good spots were already gone when I got here. And more players keep coming."


    J: "Then lead us to the moles. I will happily teach the molekings who is king of the hill."


    M: "He has been practicing that delivery the whole way here."


    J: "Liar. Only half the way."


    <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    You are invited to join Jorlund''s party


    Accept / Ignore


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Accept.


    W: "We can do pretty good going after the random spawns, so that is the plan. Mal, what aura do you have on?"


    M: "Oppression. It reduces enemy speed in the area of effect. It works great on the wolves."


    W: "Good to know. If you have something that helps mana recovery, that would be better here. The moles are rather slow, but the skill I am using to find them is outpacing my mana regen. Let''s go murder some velvety rodents."


    I lead them through the crowded fields and to the hills, my pack following after and the molekins therein attracting attention. Everyone is so itchy to kill them in this area that they get a lot of second glances. If they did not have the bonded/familiar icon above them then I would not be able to keep them alive in this crowd. A pulse of tremorsense brings me awareness of an approaching molekin.


    W: "Right there in 3, 2, 1 .."


    A: "Burn bright burn true." Fire Bolt


    | molekin -30 |


    13 exp


    W: "Ouch that exp is pitiful when shared. That was a lv 2 mole."


    J: "Any chance you can share that detection skill, so we can speed this up?"


    W: "Not with you, though, that is not a bad idea."


    I immediately use Spirit Connection on the molekins in my pack, and feel it when they use Tremorsense. That is a good work around.


    W: "And it works. I dont have to use as much mana now."


    J: "I want compensation for the idea."


    W: "Go get the mole that is coming up 3 yards that way."


    And the molekin event occupies the party all day. We go through enough molekins to summon a moleking 4 more times. This rate of farming was only sustainable through the shared tremorsense and the special spawn rates for the event. Each of us collected 1980 exp and 89 copper from the rest of the day. They were sore at me for missing this great exp opportunity yesterday, as they each reached level 9 and I reach level 10 from these exploits. Jorlund could one-shot the littlest molekin by the end, and dual cast fire spells could one-shot all but the kings. It was about then that the return on grind investment noticably shrunk and the tedium set in. When they were looking to call it quits I spoke up.


    W: "I have another quest to do, that I can only finish in moonlight. After dinner I am heading south to the lake. There is supposed to be a glowing water lily that lifts curses and I have some cursed footwear I am eager to cleanse."


    J: "You have a magic item already? What did you do, try to rob a grave for an easy cheat?"


    W: "I got in a tight fight last night, and in the dark killed my own rat. I got some Betrayal notification and these cursed boots that are crushing my regen. I cant remove them until the curse is lifted."


    W: "So that is why you hung back like a pansy and had us do all the hard work."


    A: "Do you get an item for every betrayal?"


    W: "Maybe I will test that out when I am at the goal of the quest. I am not interested in finding an unremovable speed debuff."


    A: "If you do, get me a couple pieces please. I cant go with you tonight so I am sure that I will be falling behind in levels. Magic items would help."


    J: "I want freebies too. But dont give any to Mal, because it might break his priestly vow of poverty or something."


    M: "There is no such thing. But I was not going to beg like some vertically challenged party member starting childish comparisons."


    J: "That sure sounds like some black pot and kettle stuff."


    A: "Pot calling the kettle black; but he has a point about your height."