ASTURES
Dakkon opened his character information to weigh the capabilities of his first class:
|————
|Statistics ( ][][ ) ( ][][][ )
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|Strength: 10 ( ? )
|Stamina: 10
|Agility: 10
|Dexterity: 10
|Intellect: 10
|Luck: 0 ( X )
|Free Stat Points: 0
|
|Hit Points: 50/50
|Endurance: 50/50
|Mana Points: 50/50
|Leveclass="underline" 1
|EXP Until Next Leveclass="underline" [
Noticing a new button available next to statistics, he clicked on it.
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|Classes
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|Primary Class: Thermomancer
|Class Leveclass="underline" 1
|EXP Until Next Leveclass="underline" [
|Skills:
|+Thermoregulate – 1— 0% [
Selecting the skill brought up the following information:
|+Thermoregulate: This skill allows its user to change their temperature at will. Higher ranks in this skill will improve the ease with which a character can alter temperature.
That was it. There was only one skill available to him for now. Since Dakkon had witnessed the thermomancer master heat the air around him to oven-level temperatures without burning himself up, he knew that there must be more abilities to come. Thermoregulate didn’t appear to have any combat applications, but at least he could level it up while he walked around.
At a whim, Dakkon opened the window displaying his traits:
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|Traits ( ][ )
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|Appearance – 8 (Equipped)
|Heroic – 1— 0% [
|Hunter – 1— 0% [
|Steadfast – 1— 0% [
|Thick – 1— 20% [
“Grand,” Dakkon sighed. He was becoming ‘thick.’
In addition to his new class and skill, he also acquired a new Trait:
|-Steadfast: Gained through enduring a harsh experience. Every rank in Steadfast increases non-physical resistance to harmful effects by 1%. Current effect: +1%.
Dakkon had not realized the ‘Appearance’ component of his recently acquired armor would show up in his traits. Now that he knew, he was eager to see what the ability did:
|-Appearance: Provided by equipped items: Gentry Traveler’s Tunic, Gentry Traveler’s Pantaloons. Ranks in Appearance affect how NPCs judge a character’s station at a glance. Current score: 8.
“So, it’s some sort of…” Dakkon paused and pondered the effect of the trait, “way to pass one’s self off as a gentleman?” Perhaps he could use it to infiltrate a royal court, or take command of a regiment of troops… but Dakkon doubted he’d get any real use out of a few points.
Putting appearances aside, Dakkon already had his plan of action. He needed to stock up on food, refill his canteens, and head towards the village called Greenburne where there was bound to be a quest waiting for him. And so, he made his way towards Correndin’s west gate, making sure to stop by the ‘Everything on a stick!’ stand to pay his respects and buy one taquito on a stick and one cake on a stick—the combination of which proved to be abominable, but Dakkon was pleased all the same.
Once at the west gate, Dakkon bartered with nearby traders—the result of which fully refilled his canteens and gained him 30 servings of dried meat which he was assured could stand up to the hardships of the road. Dakkon checked with the guards by the edge of the city to make sure heading due west down the road would take him straight to Greenburne and learned that, despite a well-labeled turn, it would do exactly that.
Dakkon set off down the road by foot, mostly unaware of his surroundings due to his constant, strained exercises of imagining himself standing naked in a frozen tundra, then bundled up in layers of fur amidst hot dunes of sand. Dakkon continued alternating his thoughts between the contrasting environments until after only a few moments he found himself completely drained of mana, at which point his image training had no effect on his temperature. Dakkon moved to the side of the road, pulled up his overlay, and sat while waiting for his mana to regen.
It is a common feature in games of this nature that sitting down increases the rate at which a player regenerates, and Chronicle was no exception. At his current strength, however, Dakkon only had enough mana to train for a few minutes before he would need to stop and rest. There was wildlife about and, as a compromise, Dakkon decided he’d fully expend his mana then would continue to walk until he encountered a monster or animal he could slay for experience. To keep himself moving, he’d only take his rest after a skirmish. As soon as he had recovered his mana, he stood up, brushed himself off, and then continued down the road, switching between hot and cold like a mantra.
Just as Dakkon’s pool of mana had run dry, he saw a lone fawn grazing just off the main road. He had no misgivings hunting the young, virtual deer, and so chased after it. The fawn’s natural instincts proved more than a match for Dakkon at his current abilities and the deer darted away at a pace which, despite his best efforts, Dakkon was unable to match. Realizing he’d need to find a better way, he walked back toward the road. Before he had a chance to sheathe his dagger, a hungry wolf—which had likely been stalking the fawn—leapt toward him. Dakkon managed to jump aside while readying his weapon, but was too slow for the predator.
[You have been clawed for 9 damage. Remaining HP 41/50]
Dakkon now lay on the ground attempting to set up for the wolf’s next lunge. The wolf jumped onto him, intending to bite at the vulnerable flesh of his neck but only finding Dakkon’s shoulder. During the strike, the dagger in his hands found its way into the chest of the lupine assailant.
[You have been bitten for 16 damage. Remaining HP 25/50]
[You have stabbed a wolf for 258 damage. Wolf has been slain.]
[You have gained 60 experience! EXP until next level 260/300]
“Ah. Damn!” Dakkon cried. The pain was greater than he had expected it to be. Before Dakkon could process the information filling the bottom of his vision, two other wolves emerged from the trees and lunged toward him. Dakkon managed to get to his knees and swiped at the first wolf’s face as it clawed him.