I forgot to adjust it for the damage to your hands, but Veekie is right that it doesn't take into account damage you don't know about. health should be adjusted and status effects added now. Sorry D:
[X] Head to the Guild and see if they can treat you at the infirmary.
The scroll worries me, but doing anything with the scroll also worries me. SOMETHING detected when John realized that he was reading a classified scroll. How and what else can it detect? Can it detect someone copying classified information? What about burning classified information? I'm wondering why the Cult didn't just burn the whole scroll to begin with since it seems like a lot of it was censored.
Sorry for the double-post, but it's been nearly a day without anyone else posting. I just want to point out that I don't think Dominate Writing increased when John used it for Haggling. Maybe we have to use it to temporarily get a skill from Beginner to Novice?
Also, any ideas on how to get more Heroic Legacy points outside of leveling up? We got one for having a code of ethics, 4 for getting a blessing from a greater being, and 1 for getting our first underling. Maybe we'd get 1 for our first combat victory? I don't think John is ready for a fight yet though.
Sorry for the double-post, but it's been nearly a day without anyone else posting. I just want to point out that I don't think Dominate Writing increased when John used it for Haggling. Maybe we have to use it to temporarily get a skill from Beginner to Novice?
I'm pretty sure that we currently get a couple EXP every time we actually Dominate a writing and get a buff for the day. So it's going to be a slow grind unless we're willing to switch between buffs multiple times a day by Dominating multiple writings, since there doesn't seem to be a limit to the number of Dominations we do, just what we can maintain. It's also possible that more significant Writings provide bigger/longer bonuses and more EXP for the skill, and the reason we're getting so little so far is because we're only Dominating valueless self-made single page copies.
Sorry for the double-post, but it's been nearly a day without anyone else posting. I just want to point out that I don't think Dominate Writing increased when John used it for Haggling. Maybe we have to use it to temporarily get a skill from Beginner to Novice?
Also, any ideas on how to get more Heroic Legacy points outside of leveling up? We got one for having a code of ethics, 4 for getting a blessing from a greater being, and 1 for getting our first underling. Maybe we'd get 1 for our first combat victory? I don't think John is ready for a fight yet though.
We were given one for dominating our first vassal in the beginning of that last dream, so presumably we can get more of them by reaching personal milestones. Heck, that even plays into the whole "receive on every level up" too, because every time we level up we are reaching a new personal milestone.
Following that logic, we'd probably get some stuff like:
Teach a class for the first time. +1 Heroic Legacy Point
Publish your first book. +1 Heroic Legacy Point
Move up to the next rank of adventurers. +1 Heroic Legacy Point
Made a discovery in ______ field. +1 Heroic Legacy Point
I'm pretty sure that we currently get a couple EXP every time we actually Dominate a writing and get a buff for the day. So it's going to be a slow grind unless we're willing to switch between buffs multiple times a day by Dominating multiple writings, since there doesn't seem to be a limit to the number of Dominations we do, just what we can maintain. It's also possible that more significant Writings provide bigger/longer bonuses and more EXP for the skill, and the reason we're getting so little so far is because we're only Dominating valueless self-made single page copies.
The first time we used the skill, we got 2 XP for Dominate Writing. After the second time, there was no increase in the XP at all, and I'm trying to figure out how we can train it in the future. Using Dominate Writing on longer copies sound good, especially since the Advanced Copy Writing skill has increased to Adept so it shouldn't take too long.
We were given one for dominating our first vassal in the beginning of that last dream, so presumably we can get more of them by reaching personal milestones. Heck, that even plays into the whole "receive on every level up" too, because every time we level up we are reaching a new personal milestone.
Following that logic, we'd probably get some stuff like:
Teach a class for the first time. +1 Heroic Legacy Point
Publish your first book. +1 Heroic Legacy Point
Move up to the next rank of adventurers. +1 Heroic Legacy Point
Made a discovery in ______ field. +1 Heroic Legacy Point
We're not too far from becoming a Porcelain Adventurer. Hopefully, we'll get another Heroic Legacy point then. I'm trying to think of stuff that we can do to get more points because I like planning ahead where we can. It's going to take a while to get 10 HL points if we solely depend on level-ups.
[X] Head to the Guild and see if they can treat you at the infirmary.
After taking a moment's rest to compose yourself, you quickly gather up what few belongings remain in the room before heading for the Guild. You have yet to see the quality of care care the Infirmary there can provide, but considering all you have witnessed there it should at the very least be able to deal with your current injuries. Of course, it's the cost you're worried about causing a forlorn sigh to escape you.
You swiftly choose to avoid explanations when the innkeeper looks over at your current appearance in shock, only choosing to work out the compensation for the blood stained sheets before leaving. A bit of haggling managed to get you out of the situation with only fifteen coppers and leaving you plenty of time to arrive at the Guild just as the morning's adventurers flood in.
Ignoring the droves of adventurers you head directly towards the location of the Infirmary, never happier about the convenient signs posted throughout the Guild then now. A rather plain door with a simple mortar and pestle painted on its surface separates the Infirmary from the rest of the Guild,
"I have never despised the creator of doorknobs before, but today... I do vaguely wish to strangle them."
You mutter before reaching out to open the door only to stop as a soft, feminine voice seems to drift over from the other side.
"Oh, forgive my failure, sir. To make a wounded patient open the door themselves, my master would chastise me for sure if you did that. Come inside, let's see how we can help."
Perfectly in sync with the voice, the door opens to reveal a clean and pure white tiled room with a few dozen beds set in orderly rows on each side, but what truly attracts your attention is the woman sitting at the desk in the center. A truly stunning beauty sits behind the desk strewn with papers, her shoulder length blonde hair framing a perfectly symmetrical face with eyes that seem to shine in a golden color. Her skin is a flawless white, and her clothes are simple light green robes.
However, none of that is what draws your attention. No, it's the pointed ears that peak out from her hair that cause you to take a step back with a feeling of immense fear welling up within you. Her smile quickly fades and you can quite clearly notice her expression turn sad, a part of you screaming about how cruel it is to make such a beauty frown.
"Ah, you are new to the Guild then. I am truly sorry for startling you, but I am not one of the Wood Elf lineage that you are fearing I am. Let me introduce myself, I am Valencia of the Dawn Tree, one of the Dawn Elven Lineage. You need not be scared, my people are not part of those who have turned against the light from the Mortal Realm."
With those words she raises her hand, your body instinctively flinching away, to push apart the hair above her brow and reveal the pale yellow, star shaped crystal on her brow. You exhale and visibly relax the moment you see it, before hurrying to apologize. She gives you a faint smile before waving her hand to bring a stop to it,
"No need to worry Adventurer-sir. I have dealt with far worse responses in my century living alongside humans. Now, why not let me inspect your injuries to determine treatment. It is of course entirely free, Guild policy states that only the treatment we administer is to be charged for.
Come closer, I need direct contact to understand the extent of the damage."
You agree and quickly cross over to sit in the empty chair placed across from her, raising both arms to place on the recently cleared desk. Valencia stretches out her hands to touch yours, yellow light encompassing her hands as she closes her eyes and focuses on whatever magic or power she's using. Your sight focuses entirely on the light flowing from her hands, wisps of it disappearing into the myriad of cuts and splits on your palm while others drift up before disappearing into your confused, slightly gaping mouth.
It takes a great amount of effort to keep yourself from recoiling from the invading lights, but you easily notice that the comfortable feeling from the entering wisps. Only a few moments pass before she withdraws her hands, the light fading and her brow furrowing as she looks you in the eye.
"It will be relatively easy to heal the damage to your hands, we can use magic to restore them immediately at a higher cost or if you would prefer the medicines we have on hand will do for a slower recovery. Cheaper of course, but..."
At that she pauses, her golden eyes seemingly shimmering as she stares intensely into your own causing no small amount of discomfort.
"You have somehow managed to obtain an injury to your soul and as far as the Guild is aware no creature in this region should be capable of inflicting damage upon the soul. You also have not a trace of Mana within you, so it is impossible you were harmed by an experiment or any meditation mishaps.
So, do you care to explain how you have come to incur such damage, Sir Adventurer? I must state that if you have encountered a monster capable of attacking the soul then you are required to inform the Guild, or you will face persecution as is the Guild's right."
It is at this moment that you realize you weren't just imaging that shimmer in her eyes, they were literally beginning to glow... How do you even answer this, you aren't even sure how you got wounded that way either!?
What do you do? [] Tell her what happened in your dream. It seems risky though, you're not sure you want everyone around knowing you are some kind of chosen being meant to perform heroic deeds and that gives away a lot. Maybe they aren't even related?
[] Tell her you have no clue how your soul was injured, but it may have to do with a secret of yours you can't freely explain.
[] Simply tell her you don't know how it happened.
[] Write-in.
Gained 8 experience from conversations and speculations!
As we progress there may be several times where John has responses to things the players are unaware of, but he as the character is. In those cases I'll add a spoiler in the post with information explaining the knowledge he has that led to the action, but remember. It's only based on what he knows, perhaps the information is wrong and our character is simply misinformed, or perhaps he is unaware of something. John is a regular person, even though he is a scholar it is simply one at the lowest ranks of society.
The Elven Race, and the Betrayal of the Forest Elven Lineage
In total the Elven Race has three major lineages, all of which greatly define their members in certain ways, but they all share a similar appearance in that they are all exceedingly beautiful. Perfectly symmetrical facial features, vibrant eyes, flawless white skin, pointed ears, and a Lineage mark on their forehead.
Most numerous among the Elven Race are the Forest Elf Lineage, their Lineage hails from the Ruler of the Forest. It is the first tree to have ever existed, or so the tales say, and it lived for countless years growing to such size to put many mountains to shame. With its growth and its age it became a God with time, the deity of all trees and the Ancestor of every forest across the world. It is said it created the Forest Elf Lineage to care for it's uncountable children, to protect them from those who would cause untold harm to the existence of the woodlands.
Scholars are divided on the truth here, but it is clear that the Forest Elf Lineage is the oldest of the three Elven lines, and once they were one of humanity's greatest allies in the founding of the Kingdom of Eldast and the surviving Mortal Realm. No one is quite sure what brought about the change, but some say the death of the Ruler of the Forest drove the Forest Elf Lineage to insanity. Others claim the King Under the Leaves made a pact with the Demons to protect their creator. Yet more claim the Forest Elves have simply always hated the other races.
Whatever the truth may be, during the wars surrounding the founding of the Kingdom of Eldast and the securing of the remaining Mortal Realm the Forest Elven Lineage turned on the Mortal Realm. They turned their weapons on all other Mortal Races and laid waste to the Kingdom before retreating to the woods they called home that remain within the Mortal Realm. Since then the stories have only turned darker for the Forest Elves have become man-eaters and turned the other races into nothing more than food to be slaughtered. They defend the forests they call home zealously and take to raiding the Realm for captives, wealth, and sport.
With their fall and betrayal the races, in particular the humans of the Kingdom of Eldast, have grown to fear and despise the Forest Elves for the countless horrors they've committed upon them.
Now, only two Lineages remain allied with the Kingdom and the Mortal Realm, and both have largely disappeared as they hid themselves away in their own lands away from the hatred their siblings have brought.
They are the holy Dawn Elf Lineage and the strange Elves of the Lineage of the Lost as it's called. Among them only the Dawn Elf Lineage are known to those more well read while the Lineage of the Lost seem fit to hide themselves entirely from the world at large.
Not much is known about the Dawn Elven Lineage, but stories and questionable records claim them to be descendants of something called the Dawn Tree. They can be identified by the star shaped, yellow stars upon their heads and are said to hold mastery over Light Magic. Of records that could be found in the Academy their Lineage holds ties with the royal family of Eldast as several of their race have married into the royal family. Outside of that, little is known aside from the fact that the land they call home lies to the south of the Kingdom.
Health: Moderately Injured
Status Effects: Wounded Hands (-10 to any rolls involving your hands), Severe Headache (-5 to all rolls)
Heroic Legacy Points: 7
Level: 2 Experience: 135/200
Titles: They Who Seek the Crown (Level One, 12/25) - A title earned by gaining the blessing of the God of War in a chance encounter with his will. It is a boon granted to those who seek to become like Lords, towering above the world with every action and word capable of bringing great waves of change. Currently it is weak and only grants you the power of Domination, but if you grow stronger and perform in a way that meshes with this Boon then perhaps its strength can grow. Heroes can be Thieves Right? - In the name of Heroism you stole classified information from the Church of War without being caught. Now no innocent souls shall be ended with this dangerous knife, but ... yours might be if you mess up? Slightly increased chance of learning stealth and thievery related skills until discovered, lost if the Sealed Scroll is destroyed.
Ethical Scholar - A scholar's duty is that of facts, numbers, honesty, and boundaries. You have a devotion to the work of the written word that few would follow in the face of potential benefits. You seek simply to perform your work to the best of your ability and stand within the morals of your scholar code, even find yourself compelled to do so. Established personal Scholarly Code, sticking to it makes your work easier and better while going against it more difficult and with worse results.
Scholar Code I - No work is better than hasty work. {Provides +2 to scholarly rolls when followed, take -2 to scholarly rolls when ignored.}
Scholar Code II - Provide the facts to those that hire you, nothing more and nothing less. {Provides 2 bonus experience when followed, lose 2 experience when ignored.}
Scholar Code III - Judgement is the employer's job. {Provides 2 bonus experience when followed, lose 2 experience when ignored.}
Scholar Code IV - There is satisfaction in learning that which is known and that which is not. {Provides 2 bonus experience when learning new knowledge skills and advancing skill ranks.}
Guild Rank:Wood (8/10) Hidden Features: Unlocked Instructors in the Guild Store G.P.: 155 Money: 1 Silver, 48 Copper
Current Booked Courses: Stealth, Beginner (1 Day)
Skills:
Mathematics (Beginner, 15%) - +4 to rolls requiring use of mathematics. Local Administration (Beginner, 10%) - +4 to rolls involving administration of businesses and small land holdings. Geography of Relgar Township Region (Beginner) - Capable of recalling information related to areas in the Relgar area that could be of use. Such as the size of a specific forest, important landmarks, etc. Monster Knowledge (Relgar Township, Beginner, 45%) - You've memorized basic information provided on Vicious Rabbits, Giant Rats, Slimes, Monstrous Corn, Green-pelt Wolves, and Forest Bears. Copying Writing (Adept) - You've experienced copying countless documents, books, and records to such an extent that it's almost an ingrained instinct in you. Time required to copy any form of writing is reduced and chance of wrongly copying something is greatly decreased. Harvesting (Learning Beginner, 45%) - You are slowly obtaining experience in the act of harvesting plants and herbs. With some more work experience you are certain you'd be at least somewhat skilled in the act. Evasion (Learning Beginner, 90%) - You are rapidly adjusting to utilizing your body to dodge incoming attacks, it still needs some work, but you're fairly certain you can at least slightly lower the chances of getting hit soon. Haggling (Learning Beginner, 75%) - You have obtained a lot of insight into the act of haggling varying from the dos to the don'ts and you are certain with a bit more knowledge and actual practice you can put it to work helping you. Identification (Learning Beginner, 10%) - After reading the book on Identification you have a vague idea of how the power works, but without a teacher to guide you in the absolute specifics you are unsure if you can learn to utilize this power.
Abilities: Domination (Level One, 2/25) - Allows you to bind creatures/monsters that are one level below you (to a minimum of level 1) to your will permanently. Unless the creature in question has a particularly strong will then the power is bound to succeed. Does not work on humans. [Dominated Beings: 1/2] + Dominate Writing (Level One, 2/25) - You've obtained a new power derived from your blessing from the God of War. It grants you the ability to draw strength from the written word though... You are utterly uncertain what that actually means. [Dominated Writings: 0/1]
Traits:
Forbidden Scholar - You are more likely to notice lore and knowledge regarding those topics considered forbidden to the general populace. Of course, your affinity for these subjects does not create that knowledge where none exists.
Possessions:
Iron Kite Shield [???]
Iron Hand-Axe [???]
Simple Iron Dagger [???]
Simple Wooden Club [Damage: 3, Blunt]
Scholar's Writing Instruments
Plain Scholar's Robes [???]
Canvas Backpack [4/10]
- Ten Foot Rope
- Bundle of Clean Rags [10/10]
- Archbishop Julian Vandamule's Sealed Scroll
- Wooden Storage Box [Can hold up to twenty herbs (varies based on size) | 0/20]
- Paper Package of Vicious Rabbit Meat [5 pounds, goes bad in two days]
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-
-
-
-
Belt Pouch [3/4]
- Flask of Oil [3 Units of Oil Remaining]
- Container with Six Vials [0/6 Filled]
- Flint & Steel
-
Health: 6/6
Status Effects: None
Level: 1
Experience: 15/20
Attacks:
Bite - [Damage: 3, Slashing]
Traits:
Sensitive Nose - +5 to finding herbs Natural Gatherer - +5 to harvesting herbs
Skills:
Evasion (Beginner) - -4 to enemy attack rolls made against her.
Payment: 50 Coppers, 25 GP, 1 Rank Advancement Point, 10 Experience Description: Due to the recent influx of trade and people plying the many businesses of the Lord the request has been made to recruit more able scribes to help record all the financial records made in this time. Work would be long and tedious, but those with experience please accept.
GM Note: Well, took me a while, but I'm back. I'll probably only be running this for the time being. Life kinda kicked me a few times in the past months, but there isn't much point getting into that. Hopefully some of you are still interested in continuing this quest, I've had a lot of fun writing it and would like to continue doing it for a while. So, let's get back into this!
Adhoc vote count started by adwarf on May 15, 2019 at 6:41 PM, finished with 17 posts and 15 votes.
[X] Tell her that you think it's because you had a dream about another person's life last night, and it somehow imprinted some of their skill onto you. You're just speculating though, and you're not sure how it happened, it's all very confusing. (Make no mention of Heroic Spirits.)
Adhoc vote count started by adwarf on May 16, 2019 at 12:54 AM, finished with 20 posts and 15 votes.
[X] Tell her that you think it's because you had a dream about another person's life last night, and it somehow imprinted some of their skill onto you. You're just speculating though, and you're not sure how it happened, it's all very confusing. (Make no mention of Heroic Spirits.)
Adhoc vote count started by adwarf on May 16, 2019 at 9:26 AM, finished with 21 posts and 15 votes.
[X] Tell her that you think it's because you had a dream about another person's life last night, and it somehow imprinted some of their skill onto you. You're just speculating though, and you're not sure how it happened, it's all very confusing. (Make no mention of Heroic Spirits.)
Adhoc vote count started by adwarf on May 16, 2019 at 10:08 AM, finished with 22 posts and 16 votes.
[X] Tell her that you think it's because you had a dream about another person's life last night, and it somehow imprinted some of their skill onto you. You're just speculating though, and you're not sure how it happened, it's all very confusing. (Make no mention of Heroic Spirits.)
Wow, I didn't expect to see this again, welcome back!
Let me try to remember, we got these injuries due to downloading the experiences of a scholar who was sentenced to spend their whole life copying a royal library, right? As a result of a Heroic Spirit Dream.
[X] Tell her that you think it's because you had a dream about another person's life last night, and it somehow imprinted some of their skill onto you. You're just speculating though, and you're not sure how it happened, it's all very confusing. (Make no mention of Heroic Spirits.)
You have somehow managed to obtain an injury to your soul and as far as the Guild is aware no creature in this region should be incapable of inflicting damage upon the soul.
[X] Tell her that you think it's because you had a dream about another person's life last night, and it somehow imprinted some of their skill onto you. You're just speculating though, and you're not sure how it happened, it's all very confusing. (Make no mention of Heroic Spirits.)
I'm not sure she'd be willing to accept that the MC has a secret he can't freely explain.
[X] Tell her that you think it's because you had a dream about another person's life last night, and it somehow imprinted some of their skill onto you. You're just speculating though, and you're not sure how it happened, it's all very confusing. (Make no mention of Heroic Spirits.)
I'm not sure she'd be willing to accept that the MC has a secret he can't freely explain.
[X] Tell her that you think it's because you had a dream about another person's life last night, and it somehow imprinted some of their skill onto you. You're just speculating though, and you're not sure how it happened, it's all very confusing. (Make no mention of Heroic Spirits.)
[X] Tell her that you think it's because you had a dream about another person's life last night, and it somehow imprinted some of their skill onto you. You're just speculating though, and you're not sure how it happened, it's all very confusing. (Make no mention of Heroic Spirits.)
Tells the Guild that no, we aren't keeping some kinda soul-destroying monster hidden or whatever so they can't jail us, and doesn't hint at our Heroic Spirit nature. Because the first thing they're probably gonna think is that we were trying to tame something we shouldn't have been, considering how our hands and soul are damaged and we don't want to tell why. Better to tell a little of the truth and try to allay suspicions than lie and have the guild start hounding us for maybe bringing in some kinda soul eating creature.
