POV TAD

It was day four. We had thirty six more days until the Ottos’ [Confirmation]. They were all [Provisional Participants]. I no longer needed to add them by name to the System Shop. This was fabulous. I was no longer the personal shopper for an entire species. I was seriously shopped out.

I had flipped the [BS Coin]. And I had called [Swans] again. I had [Advanced Meditated] for three [Gallifreudian] hours. Yet it was still little more than an uneducated guess. Simply based on a hunch. But I felt I was on the verge of unlocking something. That I was peering into the future. Advancing time and taking a peek. For that was surely the next step? I was already slowing down and speeding up my time [Perception]. If I could speed up and sneak a peek, I would never get another toss wrong. And such premontions would be invaluable in battle too. I needed to spend more time [Advanced Meditating] on this.

The successful toss meant my [Sponsorship] rewards were doubled. As a bonus, the [Sponsorship] had also opened up their eligibility for [Citizenship]. I had resigned myself to not having any more [Citizens] until they all returned from their [Uplift]. This was a very happy surprise.

I now had one full [Citizen] and 172,426 [Probationers]. And no Level 0s. I had spent just about my entire wad of EXP. I was poor again. But I had levelled up 68,952 Level 0 kits and pups. They were now all [Clay Tier].

And we needed more EXP. Thankfully as [Provisional Participants] the Ottos were able to accrue EXP. And our levelling loophole hadn’t closed. They still levelled based on XP. We needed to make the most of this. Ideally we would get everyone to Level up enough to unlock all their hidden stats. This required six free stats. So therefore if we could get every Level 0 to Level 3 they would have sufficient free stats to apply to each of their hidden Stats unlocking them and getting the bonus Stats.

This clever plan then hit a slight hiccup. [Male] Ottos only received half their New Level as Free Stats with the balance as Randoms. This meant at Level 1 they received 1 free Stat, same as the [Females]. At Level 2; they got one free Stat and 1 Random Stat, at Level 3, two free and one Random, Level 4 two free and two Random and so on.

It was soon apparent that we would not be able to unlock them all. So we needed to prioritise. The [Males] were seriously unbalanced. The Random Stats were going either to IMA mostly or if not IMA they went to CHA. These were both their Keystone Stats. Despite wanting to play to their strengths it was more important to shore up their weaknesses. The priority was first unlocking INT and then MEM. This would enable the [Males] to maintain significantly better focus and retention. They were markedly less scatterbrained. This was a major step forward for the [Species]. Suddenly they were more equal. There was the possibility of true and reciprocal [Partnerships].

I could see the older [Females] getting to grips with the changes that were happening to their [Males]. And they liked it. No longer did they have to babysit and coddle them. They were more than a bit of fluff and comfort. They were contributing. They were not a dreamy liability any longer. The whole atmosphere was incredibly upbeat. And the presence of upbeat emoters was absolutely contagious. And it was a self perpetuating cycle of positive endorphins.

I loved it.

And they were getting it done. I no longer had to talk through unlocking their Hidden Stats. The Level 3 Ottos could unlock four Stats with just one Level up. They quickly cottoned on and taught each other. Now the cat was out of the bag there was no going back. Hidden Stats were going to be a thing of the past.

It was the Level 5 Ottos which had it toughest. They needed to Level up as most had already spent all their free Stats. Only a very few had dithered about deciding how to allocate them with so much pressure on them as the [Hunters] and [Providers]. The [Matriarch] at Level 7 had only allocated three of her free Stats. This had let her unlock four of her hidden Stats. She had chosen MEM, CHA, SPI, and INT. That was both her keystone Stats, her perception/hunting Stat and then Intelligence as the final choice. I thought she had chosen wisely.

At the end of Day Five three battle groups of fifty [Warriors] and two Level 4 [Males] would set out to each of the other cities. There they would call a [Moot]. At the very least we would hopefully provide a bit of forewarning on our deadline.

Meanwhile there was urgency in farming that XP and EXP. And motivated and dedicated Ottos were machines. They were focused and deadly. The [StormSheep] were decimated. Three battle groups of Fifty took on a [Behemoth Frog] and trounced it. The XP was spread out but the EXP was collated and spent on yet more [Clams]. The Campfires were running nonstop pots and cooked [Clams] were readily available for consumption. All the niceties of buttering them had been dropped. I would need to reintroduce this once the pressure was off.

And [Raids] on the [Clambeds] were taking place.

It was high risk.

The [Patroller Clams] were a Tier higher and nigh on invincible. But there were more [Clam Beds] than [Patroller Clams]. And so there was a scouting screen, to try and keep tabs on the [Patrol]. Then a bait and switch operation was executed with a waiting force ready to pounce once the [Clam] was chasing off attackers at a distant [Bed].

It was not without casualties. But on the whole it was a resounding success. Over 600 Level 5 [Warriors] were able to Ascend to Level 6 and unlock all their Stats. After this they would continue to farm EXP and [Uplift] their juniors while helping those who still needed that extra Level to unlock their Stats.

There was a fantastic community spirit. They were in this together. They were stronger together. The impetus to [Ascend] had been triggered. And the unlocked Stats revitalised and enthused their efforts. Previously the efforts to feed all the deadweight, the [Males] and the Level 0 and Level 1s, had severely hampered their chances to [Ascend].

And of course there were jealousies and rivalries, factions, grudges and disputes. They were by no means a perfect society. Probably just a more honest one. The emotes were much less opaque to a skilled empath, with less wriggle room for evasion when challenged or offended.

Thankfully, a lot of this was lost in the tide of optimism and advancement.

I was building a solid core of [Super Soldiers]. An [Elite Guard]. It was heady stuff. And they loved it. And I was their [Sovereign].

Sometimes I was a [Silly Sovereign]. But most times I was [Beloved Sovereign]. It was in part some of my Perks from the various [Titles] coming through. My [Exemplar] Title doubled my reputation with them and then my [Successful Sponsor] Title both doubled it again under my species relationship and tripled it under my own personal relationship. This was massive. A 1200% boost.

And this was on top of what I had already shown them. I had proved my worthiness. They [Loved] me for it. Best of all I could tell it was unfeigned. And they could read my [Pride] in all they had achieved. This was incredible.

I needed to sit down.

I needed to regroup and consolidate and refresh myself. Things had been happening faster than I could keep up with. Not that I needed to. They were their own [People]. And they were flourishing. It was the start of a [Renaissance].

I wanted to get back to delving into [Magic]. So much had been going on that I hadn’t had a chance to pursue my thoughts and ideas in developing my own [Magic]. It was a real tussle. So many things pulling me every which way. Why couldn’t the System give me a bit of space. Why wasn’t there a nice logical critical pathway which I could follow? I was chasing my tail.

Dozer sleepily perked up. ~[Silly Soveruntie] doesn’t have a tail.~

Scrabble agreed. ~Maybe grow one when she [Advances].~

Meh, I didn’t want a tail. I wanted [Magic].

~[Magic]?~

~What is [Magic]?~

“More what isn’t [Magic] kiddos. Magic is in everything. In levelling, in Stats, in Skills, in life, in Essence.” I was waxing lyrical.

~Waxing sounds bad.~

~Yes, fur is better.~

~Maybe she will get some better fur if she [Advances].~

Both kits turned to give me their full regard.

~Why do you not Advance Auntie?~

~Yes, patchy face fur funny.~

~And teeth very small and blunt.~

Oh no. They were going to go through all my shortcomings.

Thankfully the [Matriarch] and a reasonably large group of Level 5 and 6 Warriors were approaching. I never thought I would be glad to see them.

~[Matriarch BS].~

I blinked. Oh [Beloved Sovereign]. For a second there I was quite confused by the apparent non sequitur.

“[Matriarch Sophrona].” I could be equally formal.

~We invite you on a [Hunt].~

~Clamwars.~ One of the younger Ottos couldn’t refrain. Their excitement was pronounced.

~With other [Matriarchs]. To level and unlock Stats.~ She continued, ignoring the interjection. ~You have defeated one [Giant Clam] already. We would help you do it again.~

Hmmm. I had planned for this already. And we would bait it and pounce like avenging angels.

~Like hungry Ottos.~

Oh Ssrah was there too. I hadn’t picked her straightaway in her Otto form. She was significantly larger than all the others too now that I saw them together and compared sizes. I [Inspected her]. She was Level 12. [Bronze Tier]. That was fantastic. But it probably wasn’t a good idea to group up across Tiers. I frowned. The System had categorised them as [Provisional Participants]. They weren’t [Monsters] anymore. They were [Citizens]. Surely I could [Group] up with them now.

I flicked Ssrah an [Invite].

With a [Ding] she accepted and a new notification appeared. Huzzah!

And I had a screed of other notifications to go through as well. I should stop putting that off. I had learnt my lesson in not looking at them straightway. Well mostly. I had certainly learnt my lesson about making assumptions on what they contained.

“Yes” I answered, “when?”

~Tomorrow morning.~

“Excellent.”

I had time to go through them now.

And refresh my Character Sheet too. I hadn't looked at that for ages.

And I still hadn't managed to do any serious [Dreaming] either. Or [Prospecting] treasure or exploring and [Delving] ruins.

Man. There was so much to do.

~Many helpers too.~

Yes there were. I smiled. We could adventure together.

Me and my small kingdom.

~Bestest Everest.~

Yes and we would scale even the tallest peak.

~Fur not scales!~

~Silly Sovereign.~