As it turned out, it was only a few more days, rather than years before my Fae heritage began to manifest itself. I was sighting on a deer I had been stalking for the last hour or so, intending to bring it down to add to the encampment’s larder, when suddenly my vision became extremely acute and appeared to zoom in on the deer. I was able to pick exactly the right spot and I released my arrow. It struck the deer exactly where I shot it, and the deer fell over, dead. I had never taken a deer with one shot before.

[STR = 12]

[INT = 11]

[DEX = 12]

[WIS = 10]

[CON = 10]

[CHA = 10]

[Health = 12/12]

[Chi = 12/12]

[Mana = 12/12]

[Class option: Sorcerer apprenticeship]

[Sorcerer Apprentice path]

[Spellskill: Lv 1 - Elven Sight]

“Guide.” I whispered harshly.

“Hello.” My guide said from beside me. I wasn't sure if its harsh whisper was mocking me, or if it was just annoying me.

“What just happened?”

“It appears your Fae Heritage abilities are starting to manifest, and they have initiated a new apprentice path. Since you have chosen the path of the Ranger and spent so much time in the Sylvan lands, your heritage is manifesting to support your path.”

“Is that possible? Can I be two apprentices at once?” I stared into trees in the direction of the deer, “What is a ‘Spellskill’? Is there any way to control it?”

“How far you advance in either of your apprentice paths remains to be seen. The Sorcerer path is one that is internal. It is a self-guided path along which you explore the world of the Arcane.

Spellskills are skills that have Arcane or Divine aspects. They can be practiced, like any other skill, but they have additional aspects that are not available to everyone. They must be powered somehow, either from your Chi within you or from Mana without. Once you have tapped into that power, they can be enhanced and refined, like any other skill. Your selection of a Fae heritage means your Spellskills are powered both from within you and from the sylvan environment that surrounds you. This means that when you are in a Sylvan environment you have greater potential than if it were entirely inborn, however away from the Sylvan environment your abilities may diminish over time.”

I stood there slack jawed, reeling under the bombardment of information. How was I going to retain it?

“As far as controlling it directly? No.” my guide continued, undaunted by my glazed over eyes, “Heritage abilities manifest in their own time, however they always manifest to support your path. Sometimes how they do so can be vague or tenuous, but it always relates to where you are going and what you are doing. Usually they do so during times of great stress or great concentration. If you wish to guide it, meditation is one path that has been known to work, but control it? No.”

I pondered all this new information, “Will this interfere with my Ranger apprenticeship?”

“That will be between you and your teachers. Some teachers are uncomfortable with spontaneous or heritage abilities, while others are more accepting. I suspect Rangers to be more comfortable than most with this turn of events.”

***

As it turned out my Fae heritage was seen more as a blessing than an impediment. I was brought before a gathering of the Druids who had taken to using our encampment as a sort of local stopping off point. Rangers and Druids shared the common bond of nature, and each was able to benefit the other in many ways.

They explained that it was unusual for a Ranger to have spell casting abilities before advancing through several levels. It was not unheard of however, and some players split their time between the Ranger and Druid paths. But I was neither of these, and it unsettled some, while intriguing others. It was decided that some of my time would be spent with the Druids going forwards.

Even though the source of our powers seemed to be different, there were still things we could share, and many things I could learn.

[Skill: Lv 1 - Spellcraft]

[Skill: Lv 1 - Arcana]

[Skill: Lv 1 - Concentration]

[Skill: Lv 1 - Nature]

[Skill: Lv 1 - Geography - Sylvan]

Even better, that was where I met Saelyn.