Blood Price — Your arrow inflicts a damage-over-time bleed effect. Cost – 30 Aura.
Your choice is final and must be made now.
Blood Price was simply too good to ignore. If its effect stacked, and I could think of no reason why it wouldn’t, I could easily drain a significant amount of health from even the most resilient enemy. When I selected it, the level-up screen disappeared, and I was brought back to the seemingly endless scroll of XP notifications.
Experience gained – You have gained 530 XP.
. . .
Experience gained – You have gained 742 XP.
You have reached 20% proficiency in the Blades sub-skill, Critical Hit. Proficiency gains slow after achieving 20% proficiency. Note that combat skills cannot be self-trained beyond 20% proficiency. Any proficiency gains beyond 20% can only be obtained via actual combat, through training with a mentor possessing sufficient mastery, or by certain magical means.
You have reached 20% proficiency in the Two-Handed skill. Proficiency gains slow after achieving 20% proficiency. Note that combat skills cannot be self-trained beyond 20% proficiency. Any proficiency gains beyond 20% can only be obtained via actual combat, through training with a mentor possessing sufficient mastery, or by certain magical means.
Quest completed – You have completed the quest Venna’s Little Helper. You have successfully aided Venna in her quest to eliminate the undead threat. You have been rewarded with 2120 XP.
You have gained a level! – You have earned sufficient experience to advance to level 9.
You have gained five Attribute points. Three of your points have been automatically assigned to CON, INT, and CHA. You may assign the remaining points to any two other Attributes as you see fit.
Your choices are final and must be made now.
I have to admit I was in a bit of shock at that moment. I stared at the notification for a moment and tried to decide if it was real—clearing the ruins had brought me a windfall of experience points, and my decision to help Venna in her quest had provided the final boost that put me over the top and brought me yet another level gain. I was simply in awe of the tremendous benefits that joining up with my new companions had bestowed on me in such a short time.
Once I had shaken myself from my near stupor, I placed my Attribute points into Strength and Dexterity and watched as the screen dissolved itself into the next prompt.
You can now choose a new Ability. You must choose one of the following:
Rapid Fire — After firing an arrow, your follow-up shot takes half as long as normal to be fired. Cost — 10 Endurance.
Seeker – Your next single shot has an increased chance to hit. Cost – 10 Endurance.
Body Blow – Your next dagger attack, if it lands, will cause your opponent to suffer an Endurance penalty. Cost — 20 Aura.
Impale – Your dagger inflicts a damage-over-time bleed effect. Cost — 20 Endurance.
Focused Fire – Your next arrow causes increased damage if it hits. Cost – 20 Endurance.
Long Range Shot – Increase the effective range of your bow. Cost – 30 Aura.
Blind – Your next arrow has a chance to inflict blindness on a successful hit. Cost — 30 Aura.
Your choice is final and must be made now.
I was still a bit overwhelmed by my rapid progress, but even so, the choice seemed obvious to me, so I selected Blind as yet another debilitating condition I could apply, and the next set of options instantly appeared.
Having reached level 9, you can now choose a new Spell. You must choose one of the following:
Muffle – May be cast on self or ally. Dampens sound in a radius around target. Cost – 20 Aura.
Elemental Arrow – Your next arrow is imbued with elemental energy and causes additional elemental damage accordingly. Cost — 30 Aura.
Detect Life – Casting this spell allows you to detect the essence of nearby living creatures. Cost – 20 Aura.
Restore Health — May be cast on self or ally. Heals a small amount of damage. Cost – 30 Aura.
Silence – Surround target with an aura that cancels all sounds. Cost — 40 Aura.
Stone Skin – May be cast on self or ally. Hardens skin, increasing effective armor against attack or certain effects. Cost — 30 Aura
Your choice is final and must be made now.
The Spell options were all too good to ignore. The old ones that I had bypassed before all had decent utility, but both of my new choices also had obvious value as well. I was forced to take a long moment to really think about my decision, since it seemed that no matter what I finally decided to take, I would be leaving behind some very useful magic.
Ultimately, my decision came down to what would provide the greatest benefit to the party. While Muffle would be good for sneaking around, Khorim had been handling most of that for us. Detect Life seemed a bit too much of a niche Spell, and while Restore Health had definite value, I could easily duplicate its effects with health potions or crystals. Eventually, my choice came down to Elemental Arrow as a boost to my offense, Silence as debuff against casters, or Stone Skin, not so much for myself but to aid Stel, Venna, or Broda. Ultimately, I chose offense over all other considerations, and selected Elemental Arrow, and the level up screen vanished from my sight.
Quest completed — You have completed the hidden quest Dungeon Diver. You have successfully cleared your first Dungeon. You have been rewarded with 530 XP.
Quest assigned — You have been given the quest Venna’s Little Helper II. Assist Venna in completing her quest to secure her position as a Curate of Thassa.
Once my new quest had been assigned, the notifications finally ceased. Considering all of the changes that had just occurred, I was quite anxious as I pulled up my updated character sheet.
Dreya Dae
Human Female
Level - 9
22764/27200
Health 180/180 Aura 400/400 Endurance 180/180
Class – Warden – Wardens gain a 10% bonus to skills associated with nature or which have natural effects
Specialization –
Mastery –
STR - 20
CON - 18
DEX - 21
INT - 20
WIS - 15
CHA - 24(+1)
Abilities
Ignore Armor – Your next arrow will ignore a portion of the target’s armor. Cost – 20 Aura. - 23%
Stun – Your next arrow has a chance to stun its target on hit. Cost – 20 Aura. - 23%
Block – You may attempt to use your bow to parry a single melee attack. Cost — 20 Endurance. - 7%
Swarm – Your next arrow duplicates itself in flight. Cost – 20 Endurance and 20 Aura. – 27%
Flurry – Perform three rapid strikes with a bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. — 21%
Parry – Chance for your blades to block next melee attack targeted at you. Cost — 20 Endurance. - 1%
Hamstring – The next arrow fired has a chance to cripple your opponent. Cost — 20 Aura. – 1%
Hilt Bash – Stun your opponent with a successful hilt strike from your bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. – 1%
Blood Price – Your arrow inflicts a damage-over-time bleed effect. Cost – 30 Aura. – 1%
Blind – Your next arrow has a chance to inflict blindness on a successful hit. Cost — 30 Aura. – 1%
Spells
Enhanced Sight – May be cast on self or ally. Improves visual acuity of the recipient in dark or obscured conditions. Cost — 20 Aura. - 26%
Create Trap – Place a magical trap upon an area. Size, type and trigger of traps is determined by your proficiency. Cost — 40 Aura. – 1%
Elemental Arrow – Your next arrow is imbued with elemental energy and causes additional elemental damage accordingly. Cost — 30 Aura. – 1%
Skills
Bow – 29%
Critical Hit – 27%
Blades – 23%
Short Sword – 23%
Dagger – 21%<
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Critical Hit – 20%
Two-Handed – 20%
Armor – 22%
Medium Armor – 23%
Perception – 27%
Environmental – 27%
Identify Enemy – 20%
Identify Person – 4%
Combat Dodge – 11%
Subterfuge – 26%
Stealth – 27%
Find Trap – 5%
Disarm Trap – 4%
Set Trap – 10%
Manipulation – 9%
Persuade – 11%
Barter – 11%
Survival – 23%
Tracking – 24%
Identify Creature (Beasts) – 8%
Skinning – 13%
Field Dress – 12%
Alchemy – 9%
Herbalism – 14%
There was so much progress compared to when I had last looked at my sheet that at first, I thought that there was some mistake—I had gained so many Attribute points and new Abilities that it took me a while to absorb all the information that was in front of me. I noticed that I had reached 20% in the Identify Enemy talent and figured that was the reason that I had been able to see my enemies’ health bars. I also realized that I would have to begin a new training regimen if I wanted to raise all my new talents up to more useful levels, and the thought made me wonder just how much my companions had gained. So, when I finally closed the window and reoriented myself to the world around me, I started to inquire about their progress.
The words died in my mouth before I could speak as I remembered something Zander had told me—Skills and Abilities were closely guarded secrets in this world. He had also said that the natives, he’d actually called them NPCs at the time, were generally weaker than the Deathless, and I wondered if that meant that they also gained levels more slowly. I couldn’t help but think that my rapid advancement might be a source of resentment among my companions.
“What is it, Dreya?” Venna inquired, as she saw the odd expression on my face. “You look like something is troubling you. Did you find something unsettling while you were taking care of your Deathless tasks?”
The genuine note of concern in her voice offered me some assurances that my status as one of the Deathless was not an issue for my companions. They knew enough about the Deathless to have spotted me relatively easily yet had still welcomed me without hesitation. Had there been any ill will among them regarding my kind, I thought that it would have surfaced before that point. The realization comforted me enough to let me answer her query honestly.
“I just finished receiving all the information from clearing the ruins,” I explained to her. “The effort was very rewarding, and I wondered if all of you had received similar boons. To be quite honest, I don’t know how you advance in your professions and skills; I only know how it works for the Deathless.”
“I see,” Venna replied as she considered my words. “Such information is somewhat sensitive, as you may imagine. Not many would be willing to tell you the particulars regarding their various Attributes and Skills, but the general concepts are somewhat well-known.”
As she spoke, the others had gathered around. Their sudden closeness made me a bit uneasy, and I thought that I might have offended them somehow, but then Broda spoke up.
“True enough,” Broda added. “I won’t be telling anyone my particular Abilities, but the rough outline of how one gains strength as an adventurer is not such a closely-guarded secret.”
“Aye, girl,” Khorim added. “For instance, we don’t get any specific information, like you apparently do, when we complete our tasks. There are no floating messages in the air for us to read after we do every little thing.”
He was obviously referring to my notifications and UI. Admittedly, it must have seemed quite strange for anyone looking on to watch someone seemingly staring off into space like I just had.
“I have heard that you gain specific ‘levels’ and these ‘levels’ grant you access to additional Abilities,” Stel chimed in. “We do not have any such delineations, and all our various aptitudes must be learned or taught.”
“So, there’s no real way to compare the relative power of a Deathless with a native adventurer?” I inquired curiously.
“Oh, there’s a way,” Broda smiled, as she smacked her hand against the head of one of her war hammers.
“Yes, there is that, of course,” I smiled back at her. “I meant in a less direct manner.”
“Not that I am aware of,” Venna answered. “But we do know that the Deathless generally do grow stronger somewhat faster than we do.”
“I see,” I replied sincerely. “Thank you. That was very helpful.”
“Aye, if you thought sharing a bit of general information was helpful, you’re going to love this next bit,” Khorim said with a wink.
“Yes,” Stel added, seeing the confused look on my face. “While you were occupied, we tallied up the coin we took from the ruins. We still need to sell the loot, mind you, but we can divide the coin right now. This is your share.”
With that, Stel handed me a small coin purse. It was one of the common coin purses that we had found among the many discarded items piled behind the wraith’s dais, but due to the minor enchantments on the pouch, I couldn’t tell anything about its contents from the outside. So, when I extended my hand inside the little pouch and became aware of its contents, I was pleasantly surprised to discover just how much coin we had managed to recover. In total, my share came to three Talons, four Gold Bits, seventy-five Marks, thirty-four Silver Bits, and one hundred and forty-two Coppers. Considering that I had no immediate needs, the sudden payout was almost a small fortune.
“Before we sell any of the loot, you may wish to have a look through it and see if there are any pieces you might want to claim,” Broda added.
We hadn’t taken any time to truly sort through the various items we had taken from the ruins, we had simply shoved everything that appeared to have any value into packs and hauled it off. But while I had been tending to my notifications, the others had emptied all of their various packs, and sorted the items into piles.
They had put together stacks of both heavy and light armor, in addition to several heaps of weapons and even a pile of miscellaneous goods. My companions had even sorted out the spare pack of loot I had been carrying, leaving only the contents of my personal pack remaining to be catalogued.
So, I pulled out the loot from my pack and quickly sorted through it and added each of the items to their respective piles. When I finally finished the job, I took some time to look through the various piles and searched for anything that might be useful to me.
While there was some decent leather armor among the gear, nothing surpassed the quality of what I wore. But I did find a bow that was better than my spare weapon, so I exchanged the two. I’d learned the value of having a serviceable backup for my primary weapon, and I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity for an upgrade there. Then I turned to the pile of melee weapons, and I found exactly what I was looking for. Suspiciously, there was a matched pair of well-crafted short swords sitting on top of the stack of blades, practically waiting for me, and when I glanced over at Khorim, the dwarf smiled broadly and gave me a wink.
“I thought you might be wanting a bit more blade for your off-hand,” he said to me matter-of-factly.
I smiled back at him, not only grateful that he had anticipated my need so well, but also that he had saved me the trouble of sorting through the pile of weapons myself. When I picked up the swords, I drew one of the blades and admired the clean lines of its flawless steel. Then I took a few experimental swings and was impressed with its perfect balance as it carved graceful arcs through the air. I smiled in satisfaction as left my old short sword atop the loot pile and tucked my new blades under my arm before I made my way over to inspect the final pile of loot.
The assortment of miscellaneous gear that remained was a hodge-podge of random equipment—mostly useful items that we could sell and already p
ossessed ourselves. I did find another spare quiver and decided to take it as an additional reservoir for my ammunition supply. Once I was finished with my scavenging, I loaded my new quiver with arrows and packed it away.
Darkness was approaching fast, and Venna was assigning watch shifts, so I interrupted her before she could leave me out once again.
“Sorry, I was busy looking through the gear. Which shift do I have?” I inquired.
“Oh, well, um… We just went with our usual shifts,” Venna replied. “You can have the night off.”
“Venna,” I responded somewhat irritated. “If I am going to be part of this group, I need to bear my share of the responsibilities.”
After a brief pause, Venna finally relented.
“Very well. We usually assign four shifts of three hours each. I guess we can still do that and just rotate a night off for everyone,” she conceded.
“Thank you,” I replied.
“Don’t thank me yet; you’re on third shift,” Venna smiled at me mischievously.
The second and third shifts were the least desirable watches, as either one meant that your night’s rest would come in two separate stretches. First or fourth were far better.
“Of course,” I replied dryly, as I realized that my assignment was the price I had paid for pushing the issue. In return, I gave Venna a broad, fake smile to let her know that I was fully aware of what she had done.
Since the night air was cool, and the stars shone clearly in the sky, we didn’t bother setting up tents and chose instead to simply lay our bedrolls around the remains of our small campfire. Once I settled in, I quickly fell asleep, fully aware that my rest would be interrupted when Stel woke me for my guard shift.
It felt like I had only just closed my eyes when Stel nudged me awake. I sat up slowly, and Stel waited patiently for a moment while I shook off the sleep and rose from my slumber. I gave him a quick nod when I was ready and took up a position overlooking the camp to begin my shift.
Second Skin: Fractures Page 35