Chapter 3: Arm Yourself

Much like his arrival, the world around him seemed to blur and lose definition, twisting and warping until suddenly it unfolded once more, completely changed. This time, the change to his surroundings was even more profound. Gone were the obelisk and towering tree surrounded by a massive flat sea of green grassy field, and in their place were the shear stone walls and floor of a large square room.

Eerily lit by the blue-white light of several torches, which hung from sconces on the walls, the room appeared to be a cross between a library and an armory. On the far-left wall, ancient oaken shelves packed with books stretched from the floor to the ceiling. Spread across the middle of the room, rows of wooden mannequins and long racks proudly displayed pieces of armor in varying styles and forms, all of which seemed rather threadbare to Erik, providing only rudimentary protection. On the wall opposite the shelves of books, on Erik’s right, more wooden racks stretched across the room, each one holding a multitude of varying weapons. Just from his quick glance alone, Erik recognized a few things like spears, various swords ranging from hand-and-half European-style blades to scimitars and more outlandish blades unfamiliar to him, maces, bows, staves, and several different kinds of daggers and knives. Most of the rest of the weapons were either ones he was unable to recognize or unidentifiable solely from the quick glance he’d given them. The last wall of the room, directly opposite Erik, was mostly taken up by a massive set of wooden doors, banded in iron and firmly closed.

“I guess that’s likely to be where I undergo the Proving,” Erik thought aloud, looking at the doors, “And this room is probably where I’m supposed to pick how and what I want to fight with. If only I knew how to go about that,” he finished with a mutter as he turned his attention back to the racks arrayed around him and the shelves against the walls. Before he could do anything else though, another window popped up, almost as if in response to his comment.

Quest Alert:

The Proving

The Proving is upon you! To face your Proving, you will require a combat Proficiency. Normally, you would acquire a Proficiency based on your training and knowledge of fighting but as a Traveler, you instead are given the opportunity to choose. Your Proficiency will grant you the rudimentary knowledge and skills necessary to face an opponent in combat with the skill-set you have chosen. Once you have chosen your Proficiency, you may then select any two skills or abilities from those provided to complement it. Choose wisely, for this choice will decide your success or failure in facing the foes ahead of you.

Reward: Full Traveler status in the System, Experience.

Failure: Certain death

P.S. – Try not to die too quickly, I do hope for some form of amusement from you.

Erik merely sighed as he finished reading the message. “I suppose I shouldn’t really have expected anything different. The System might play at being impartial but clearly it makes no bones about finding its cheap amusements where it can.” Moments later, the message faded and was replaced by a much shorter one.

Combat Proficiencies

Melee – Ranged – Magic

Erik blinked. “Huh, I expected the list to be longer,” He said, glancing at the multitude of weapons lining the wall to his left.

Maybe the System is narrowing down my options since there seem to be so many. I would love to be a mage, but my stats are skewed strongly against it. If I want to succeed in this world, I need to play to my strengths and since that seems mostly to be strength and endurance, I should go with Melee. Besides, I can probably learn magic later anyway, Erik considered thoughtfully.

Focusing on his intent rather than vocalizing it, Erik attempted to give his answer by thought alone. A moment, later the window disappeared, and another appeared, this time with a more specific, but still rather short, list.

Combat Proficiencies (Melee)

Blades – Polearms – Unarmed – Staves – Axes – Bludgeons – Other

“Ok so I should probably eliminate anything under the ‘Blades’ category, never really been a fan of swords anyway,” Erik thought aloud as he absently stroked his hand through his beard. “No idea what ‘Other’ could be either, so that’s out. I don’t think I really want to use something like a spear or a poleax, though the reach would be nice. Axes are a possibility. Staves…pretty much the same thing as a polearm and my dexterity probably isn’t up to handling one like it should be.”

Erik looked over his remaining options; ignoring the one’s he’d definitively eliminated, he was left with Unarmed, Axes, and Bludgeons. Looking between the three, Erik wanted to discount Unarmed entirely but was hesitant to do so for one significant reason. Since it was included as an over-arching category of ‘Melee Proficiencies’, it was very likely selecting it would allow him to pick from several different styles or schools of unarmed combat. Choosing Unarmed would likely mean his character would be some manner of monk-like character, and the idea very much appealed to Erik. Seeing the amazing martial prowess and skill attributed to monks in RPGs and films, Erik had admired their near-supernatural prowess and abilities. The only thing stopping Erik from selecting it immediately was that he couldn’t be sure his hypothesis was mirrored in the reality of this world and, since this selection would be so critical to his time in the world of Terra, he wasn’t about to let himself make any rash decisions.

As he was deliberating, Erik’s mind shifted to the caution Janus had advised in this choice, alluding that it would be critical to their success and survival to make the right one. And yet, Erik kept slipping back to the moment when he’d looked into Janus’s eyes, and refused to flinch. Caution or not, this choice was his and his alone to make. For once, it would not be a quirk of genetics and the cruelty of others urging him along, but his own desires. “My Fate is what I make of it,” Erik said to himself quietly, the words firming his resolve. Without reservation, Erik projected his desire to the screen and, once more, it shifted to reflect his choice.

Combat Proficiencies (Unarmed)

Many styles of Unarmed combat have been born in Terra, though most of them were used by orders or people who no longer exist. However, few of these styles are suited for a clumsy oaf like you. These four styles represent different focuses determined suitable for you. Choose wisely.

The Thirteen Mercies – Fast and brutally efficient, this style was created for speed, precision, and lethality. Once masters of this style are finished with them, killing their victims truly is mercy.

The Sundering Blow – Made for power, this style focuses on patience and dealing a single, lethal blow to an enemy. Well known for its ability to destroy any defense. The masters of this style were said to be able to shatter stone with a single punch.

The Dance of the Forsaken – Having made a study of the movements of the body when fighting, practitioners of this style know perfectly well how to turn an opponent’s momentum against them. A master of this style can turn your attacks to their advantage and snap your neck without ever landing a blow against you.

The Witch’s Hammer – Originally developed by war mages, this style focuses on a balance between attack and defense, specializing in turning a spellcaster’s magic against them. Versatile and adaptable, masters of this style are experts at hunting down and executing their enemies, with or without magic.

Despite it once more insulting him, Erik found himself thankful the System had actually simplified his choices even further. Especially since it seemed all his options were good ones. The descriptions weren’t necessarily an accurate judge of the styles themselves. However, the System had found a way around that. When Erik focused on each individual description, the words seemed to fade away and left behind the barest impression of the true principles emphasized by each style. Rather than merely reading about what the style was intended for, he felt it, down to his bones, much like he had when it had presented him with the definition of each stat.

“Each of these seems like a good option, for different reasons. If we’re going by what would probably suit me best, I’d probably have to go with the Sundering Blow. But…” Erik hesitated, his eyes moving between his choices and their descriptions and remembering the feeling each of them had instilled in him. All the choices presented to him seemed like a good option. It was clear each of them suited a different approach to combat but only one of them really felt like the right choice. If only all my decisions were so easy to make, Erik thought silently as he made his selection.

The Witch’s Hammer

Unarmed Combat Proficiency

Level - 1

Rank: Novice

Originally developed by war mages, this style focuses on a balance between attack and defense, specializing in turning a spellcaster’s magic against them. Versatile and adaptable, masters of this style are experts at hunting down and executing their enemies, with or without magic

Grants fundamental knowledge of techniques used and taught to novices of The Witch’s Hammer

-15% Stamina / Mana cost for techniques used in this style

-10% damage received from blocked spells and other magic

+10% resistance to all types of magic

Passively increases the impact of your strikes and reduces the impact of weapons when blocking

Leveling this skill will unlock more advanced techniques and increase your aptitude and understanding of this combat style.

Unlocked Techniques:

Executioner’s Mercy – Stamina cost: 45

Erik grimaced in pain as a spike of pain lanced through his skull. As the throbbing lance of pain faded, it left in its wake a new knowledge. With startling and glaring clarity, the novice teachings of the Witch’s Hammer filled his mind, granting him the experience and memory of its most basic fundamental techniques and martial knowledge. The shadows of memories and techniques he had yet to learn filled his mind as well, leaving him distantly aware of precisely how much there was for him to discover still. Searching this newfound martial awareness, Erik found that the basics of unarmed fighting seemed to come easy to him—the necessary movements, stance, and footwork, as well as some of the basic theory for the more unique techniques utilized by the Witch’s Hammer style, all of it felt as if it was merely waiting for him to use it—but only one named technique was currently available to him, referred to as the Executioner’s Mercy. Thanks to his Proficiency, Erik knew this move used considerably more Stamina than regular fighting would in combat but also dealt more damage. It was also meant only for use on weaker opponents or as a finisher. Regardless, not knowing what he would face in his Proving, Erik was grateful there was at least one powerful move he could use.

Confidence in his choice reaffirmed by how it just felt like the right decision to make, Erik turned his attention to the shelves of books, deciding to peruse the selection since the knowledge of his Proficiency had all but ensured that his choice of armor and weapons were decided already.

Stopping in front of the multitude of books, Erik looked at the multitude of titles etched into their spines. Scanning through them, he saw that though there were many and varied different choices, all of them seemed relatively basic. “Well, if these are the System’s version of skill and ability books, then I suppose it makes sense that they’re basic to prevent one of us from getting something that would be completely overpowered later on,” Erik mumbled as he continued to look through the massive collection. Thinking for a moment, Erik realized there was probably a mechanism made by the System to help him sort through the books. And since everything thus far had reacted to his desire and intent, it should only require him to broadcast that desire strongly enough to get the System to respond. A few moments after focusing on that desire, Erik had his answer.

Ability Selection

You may select any two abilities from this list, which has been shortened based on your preference for passive defensive and physical enhancements

Force of Mind – You can empower your physical attacks with magical force by imbuing them with the power of your will, increasing damage dealt at the cost of mana

Mountain’s Breath – Your body is imbued with the endless endurance of the earth, slightly increasing your Stamina and physical resilience to harm

Nimble Tread – You possess the finesse and light steps of one touched by the spirits of Air. Increases your physical agility ad allows you to move both more quickly and more quietly over the ground

Winter’s Blessing – Marked by the favor of Winter, you are resistant to cold and all status effects related to cold. Death may find your enemies in the night.

Iron Will – Your will is a thing of iron and thorns. With sheer force of mind, you can more easily shrug of mental and physical status effects

Mark of the Bear – Increases your physical strength and increases your ability to resist Slow and Fear status effects

Savage Grace – You possess the savage instincts and heart of a killer, allowing you to move with the fluid and lethal grace of a predator. You utilize Stamina more effectively in combat and your reflexes are heightened, allowing you to react more quickly to threats

Stoneskin – Much like trolls, your skin is thicker and tougher than normal, increasing your physical defense against piercing and slashing damage. You also passively recover from Bleed effects slightly faster.

Erik looked back and forth between multitude of books stretching from one wall to another and the screen in front of him. Regardless of the asshole attitude, I’m glad the System saved me the trouble of looking through that mess. I might find some more creative options if I did but why waste the time when all the options it did give me seem like exactly what I need, Erik thought.

“Fortunately,” Erik continued aloud, “this choice is a lot easier than the others.”

Knowing he would need something to help bridge the gap made by his lack of dexterity to properly utilize his Proficiency, Erik knew he would have to take either Nimble Tread or Savage Grace so that left him with only one other choice to make. Deciding to go by process of elimination, Erik weighed the pros and cons of going with a more offensive choice and decided, knowing he wouldn’t be wearing much armor due to the necessity of maintaining a high degree of mobility for his Proficiency, that he needed a more defensive option. And besides that, the only offensive choice would use more of his limited supply of mana which he would need to keep in reserve to use some of the techniques from his Proficiency, which served the same end and were likely more effective. Having eliminated the only offensive option, that left the more defensive options. Much as he would have liked to pick Mountain’s Breath for its increase to both overall Stamina and physical resilience, Stoneskin felt like the better choice for defense. More importantly, at higher levels, it might possibly make his lack of armor meaningless. Iron Will and Winter’s Blessing were discarded for the same reason—they were good defensive utility options he would have loved to pick but he needed Stoneskin more.

Choosing between Nimble Tread and Savage Grace was a more difficult decision but, glancing back and forth between the two, Erik knew which of them appealed to him more. Nimble Tread seemed more like a stealthy option while Savage Grace seemed tailored to his needs for combat. He hesitated though, because something told him this was a decision which might have grave consequences he might not be able to deal with. He’d spent a long time ignoring conflict and outright avoiding social interactions because he was afraid of not only how people might react but also what their reactions might awaken in him. He didn’t want to believe himself capable of such darkness, didn’t want to believe it was a part of who he was. And yet…it was. It was no less a part of who he was than his bottomless hunger and that part of him had never diminished, it had simply become easier to deal with once he’d embraced it as a part of himself.

Maybe, Erik pondered darkly. It’s time I embraced it like I embraced the hunger. Janus alluded that this world is just as dark and vicious as our home world. If I can channel that part of myself in combat, it might give me the edge I need to survive and thrive. I need to learn to embrace ALL that I am, not just specific parts of me.

Knowing he was right but still feeling the fear, Erik pushed his emotions aside and closed his eyes as he broadcasted his intended selections to the System. As he did, a new window appeared, asking him to confirm his choice.

Do you wish to take the abilities Savage Grace and Stoneskin?

Yes – No

Warning: One or both abilities you have selected may cause physical alterations to your body. Not that anything could make you look any uglier but the warning stands.

Eyes narrowing at the end of the message, Erik growled out a “Fuck you,” as he selected yes and finalized his choice. Having braced himself for a sudden rush of knowledge like had come with his combat skill, Erik was entirely unprepared when nothing occurred. After a moment, he allowed himself to relax. The moment he did, a sharp pain lanced through Erik’s jaw and it felt as if someone had driven a burning needle into each of his eyes. Clenching his head with his hands, Erik fell to his knees as the pain seemed to spread like napalm in his veins and throughout the rest of his body. He fought not to scream, every muscle of his body clenching from the burning torment searing his body from the inside out. Though it felt like an eternity, the fiery agony only lasted for a few more moments before it faded.

Gasping for air as he kneeled on the ground, Erik finally took his hands from his head and inhaled sharply as he realized the skin of his hands was thicker and now seemed to possess a light gray undertone. Rather than looking like actual stone, as he’d first thought would happen, it seemed his lightly-tanned skin had taken on a darker, gray-toned olive coloration. It looked mildly unusual, but not entirely strange, oddly enough, though it did make an odd contrast with the copper-red coloration of his hair.

Wondering what else had changed, Erik attempted to perform a personal inspection to see if he could identify any specific changes. Finding nothing of note, Erik impulsively ran his tongue over his teeth and froze. Most of his teeth felt slightly sharper, but it was readily obvious his canines were considerably longer than they should have been. Closing his eyes briefly, Erik breathed in and slowly exhaled, pushing his alarm aside. Without a mirror, it would be hard to identify precisely how extensive the changes the System had warned him about really were and it didn’t matter anyway. The choices he’d made, regardless of the consequences, were his own and he’d learn to grudgingly accept the…quirks…that came with those choices just as he had the ones he’d been born with. Thankfully, despite his fears, the abilities he’d taken didn’t seem to be affecting his thinking as he’d believed they might. Still, Erik resolved himself to be wary for any possible changes which might not have made themselves known yet, physical or otherwise.

A slight golden glow in the corner of his vision brought his attention to the nearly-invisible UI wired into his senses and, upon glancing to the side, the three tabs became visible, the one with an un-filled outline of a man being illuminated by the golden glow. Deciding to ignore it until after he’d selected his non-combat skill, Erik turned his attention back to the matter at hand and stood. Contemplating what kind of non-combat skill, he would prefer, Erik remembered what Janus had said about their appearing alone in a random location. If that was the case, and considering this world was likely to possess far more untamed wilderness, it would probably be a good idea to take a skill focused on survival or forestry. Thankfully, when the next window popped up, the System had made his choice significantly simpler.

Non-Combat Skill Selection

Based on your desired preference for ‘survival’ skills, the following skill is recommended:

Survival – Teaches basic wilderness survival knowledge, including hunting, foraging, finding and establishing shelter, navigation, basic geography, and basic first-aid

Considering it was not just his best option but his only option, Erik didn’t hesitate to select it and then confirm his choice, eager to find out what awaited him in his Proving. A brief ache took up residence behind his eyes as knowledge provided by the skill flooded his mind, but it soon faded to the edges of his awareness as his brain assimilated the font of new information. Erik could still feel that knowledge and was aware of it, but it felt like it had stepped into the background until he needed to consciously call upon it. Feeling satisfied by his choices thus far despite the lingering trepidation inspired by whatever physical changes his abilities had wrought upon him, Erik turned his attention to finishing up his tasks in this room, so he could face whatever trial his Proving entailed.

The only thing left to do was select the armor he was going to wear. He knew from the knowledge granted to him by his Proficiency that there was only one weapon he’d be using though they usually came in varying forms designed for specific bare-handed styles. Deciding to keep the choice for armor until last, Erik moved to the weapon racks and began searching the multitude of weapons present for the ones he needed. Fortunately for his sanity, despite the overwhelming plethora of sharp and deadly instruments it was rather simple to find what he was looking for. Sitting in a neat row on a rack next to spears of varying lengths and designs, Erik found a row of gauntlets crafted from worn leather and reinforced with strips of what appeared to be iron. Running his gaze over them, Erik reached out and removed the pair he felt would suit his purpose best from the racks. Like all the rest of their brethren and the other weapons, the gauntlets were battle-worn and very basic pieces of equipment, but they looked sturdy and in decent repair.

With the ease of long familiarity from his Proficiency, Erik slid the gauntlets over his arms and tightened the straps to keep them in place. Turning his hands over, Erik inspected the gauntlets and how they felt as he flexed his forearms and slowly clenched his hands, forming a fist. The gauntlets fit incredibly well, which Erik found surprising due to the unusual size of his hands and the thickness of his forearms. They covered nearly the entirety of his forearms, a long swathe of leather covered in numerous nicks and small gashes from what Erik assumed to be countless battles, with vertical strips of similarly scratched and worn iron adding an extra layer of protection. Where the armor ended, it joined to a glove of worn leather with the fingertips ending at the second knuckle. Each finger was covered by a strip of metal that thickened at the first knuckle, forming a spiked ridge and then thinned until it reached the second knuckle, where it thickened once more and formed a similar ridge. When Erik formed a fist, the strips of metal ensured the first knuckles of his hand were made into prominent, pointed edges. When he folded his fingers at the second knuckle instead, they made a similar ridge, though it was less prominent and more rounded. Feeling satisfied at their functionality, Erik absently dismissed the pair of notifications that popped up after he’d finished his inspection.

You have acquired the skill Inspect!

Inspect

Level – 1

Rank: Novice

Allows for the identification of objects, creatures and other things of interest. The higher the level of this skill, the more information it will provide

Weapon Selection

Battered Simple Leather War Gauntlets

Quality: Worn

Defense: 2

Rarity: Uncommon

Durability: 15/15

Crafted for use by the novices of the Witch’s Hammer style of unarmed fighting, these gauntlets are designed to allow efficient strike power while also providing minor defense against blades striking the forearms. Though they were once finely made, these gauntlets have been worn down through years of use in combat. The careful maintenance of the previous owner has kept them functional, if a bit ragged

Turning his attention to the task of selecting his armor, Erik again fell back on the knowledge granted to him by his Proficiency as he attempted to search the racks and stands of armor for a set that would suit his need for mobility. He found exactly what he was looking for on a mannequin stand between a set of armor which seemed vaguely akin to a bastard child of a Roman legionnaire’s armor and something which might have been worn by a Viking raider.

The set did not include a helm or boots—the latter, which might have otherwise been a problem, Erik believed would be rendered moot by his Stoneskin ability—and was composed of three main pieces. The first part was a sleeveless waist-length leather gambeson, ribbed strategically with wide strips of iron which were contoured to vaguely align with the wearer’s rib-cage. The second piece looked to Erik like an odd compromise between the kilts his Scottish father had been enamored with and some sort of barbarian loincloth. The garment was composed of an outer layer of furs and tough leather hide as a protective cover with a second layer of cloth underneath, all of it held up by a thick belt of studded leather. The final piece to the set was a short pair of leather thigh-guards meant to protect the arteries in his upper legs and little else. It was obvious this set of armor was meant to help protect from glancing blows and some slashing attacks because Erik doubted it would stand up well against something meant for thrusting like a spear. Much as I’d prefer something offering a little more protection, the whole purpose of taking Stoneskin in the first place was because I knew this was coming. I can’t afford to impede or limit my mobility and range of motion any more than they already will be by my size and lack of dexterity.

Deciding to try out his newly earned skill, Erik thought, Inspect, as he focused on the armor.

Worn Armor of the Wild Inquisition

Quality: Worn

Defense: 10

Durability: 15/15

This armor was worn into battle by novice Inquisitors of the Vrael Wildlands, who eschewed the heavier armor worn by their brethren outside their homeland in favor of the greater mobility and speed allowed by lighter armor. Intended to provide a bare minimum of protection, this armor covers most of the vital areas and is reinforced with strips of iron to protect against slashing attacks. Their lack of armor often led the rogue mages these ‘Wild Inquisitors’ hunted to underestimate them, sealing their fate. This particular set has seen extensive use but is still in decent repair.

Set:

Worn Gambeson of the Wild Inquisition

Worn War-Kilt of the Wild Inquisition

Worn Leather Thigh-Guards of the Wild Inquisition

Dismissing the window, Erik looked down at his sweaty gym clothing and then back at the set of armor. It was probably best to get rid of anything like clothing which would readily identify him as someone not native to Terra. Nervous at the prospect of disrobing, Erik checked the room he was in reflexively for any sign that someone else might have arrived after him or if he had simply missed their presence. Closing his eyes, Erik inhaled deeply and decided he needed to just get it over with instead of continuing to put it off due to his nerves. Completely disrobing, Erik quickly pulled the armor off the wooden mannequin. Thankfully, it seemed his Proficiency carried over to this task as well as Erik’s hands seemed to move on instinct alone as they found the necessary straps and buckles to loosen the armor. When Erik began donning the armor himself, he was pleasantly surprised to find the insides of each individual piece lined with a soft, short layer of fur to prevent chafing. Perhaps the most pleasant discovery he made though was when he belted the ‘war-kilt’ around his hips. Rather than leaving all his bits to swing in the wind, something he imagined would be particularly uncomfortable in the midst of combat, the wrappings of the kilt included an underlayer he hadn’t noticed which resembled a very shot pair of braies. “Well, at least I won’t be randomly flashing anyone during a fight,” Erik said dryly.

Once he’d finished putting the thigh-guards and kilt on, Erik slipped the gambeson over his head and tightened the straps. Frankly, he was surprised it fit so well. It was a bit tight at the waist, of course, but otherwise fit perfectly. Normally it was a struggle for Erik to find something that was large enough to fit his broad frame that wasn’t tight across the shoulders and didn’t hang like a tent on him, but the gambeson seemed almost as if it had been tailored to him. It was also lighter than he’d expected. It still had some weight to it of course, since it was thicker than normal clothing and strategically reinforced with iron, but not nearly as much as he’d been expecting from armor. The knowledge and memory gifted to him by his Proficiency told him this was the reason most unarmed fighters forsook heavier armor in the first place—it was more effective to forgo almost all armor altogether when your style of fighting required a full and unrestricted range of movement. Not to mention their lack of armor allowed them to dance circles around more heavily armored foes, allowing them to strike faster and waste less stamina in combat.

Checking his armor over once more to make sure it was all properly secured and tightened, Erik checked his gauntlets over as well before finally turning his attention to the doors on the far side of the room. “Time to get on with it,” Erik exhaled nervously. As Erik strode up to the iron-bound doors, a final message appeared in his vision.

Quest Update:

The Proving

You have made your choices, now it is time to test them. The Proving lies beyond these doors. Prepare to face your demons or be consumed by them…