Hard Work Pays Off

As the sun peeked over the horizon it revealed a strange sight, two men were fighting as a small menagerie of animals watched on. One of the men was younger, his light brown hair shifting as he ducked under a blow from the other man before grinning as he looked up his opponent with faintly glowing blue eyes. His weight shifted onto his left foot as his right fist swung, seemingly of its own accord at the side of the other man’s head.

Crack!

“Ahh, my hand!”

“Oops sorry son.”

“It’s fine dad,” groaned Kyle as he nursed his injury, “I know your Mentor Skill can only lower your Stats so much.”

Jerome rubbed the back of his head self-consciously as Ai flew over from where she had been watching to heal Kyle’s broken hand.

“Yeah, it’s too bad I only got it after you decided you wanted to be an Adventurer, it would have been a higher level if I hadn’t.”

Kyle flexed his newly healed hand before replying, “You and mum decided to leave all that behind when she got pregnant with me, there was no way you could’ve known that I would decide to become an Adventurer.”

“Well son, you’ve come a long way since you made that decision, your Skill Set is solid for someone without a Class and you’ve trained hard to get to the point where I can say that,” Jerome grinned at his son proudly as he said this. “And today all that hard work will pay off when you get your Class.”

“I still can’t believe that’s today, anyway thanks for the sparring match dad.”

“No problem son, now you’ve been saving your Skill Points for the last month like I asked right?”

“Of course.”

“Good, you should spend them on new skills when you unlock your Class. Shall we take one last look at your Skill Sheet before I head off to work in the fields?”

“Why not, come on Fi,” he called out and Fi launched herself from the nearby tree she had been watching the fight from, coming to rest draped over Kyle’s shoulders having grown to almost twice her original length in the past few years. An expression of concentration covered her face as she brought up the requested screen.

Skills (Expanded)

Class Skills

N/A

Non-Class Skills

Unarmed Combat-Mastery

Level 11-34% to next Proficiency Level

Mastery Skill that provides bonuses to fighting unarmed. Related sub-skills can also be unlocked.

Current Bonuses-One Bonus available for purchase

Increases damage dealt by unarmed attacks by 11%

Increases the damage dealt by punches by 6%

Sub-Skills

· Leg Sweep-Increases damage by 5%. 20% chance to cause Knockdown. Costs 5 SP. Cooldown: 5 seconds.

· Hook- Increases damage by 10%. 10% chance to stun for 2-5seconds. Costs 10 SP

· Living Weapon - Allows unarmed attacks to benefit from the Blunt Weapons Skill. Passive

Blunt Weapons-General

Level 5-78% to next Proficiency Level

Increases the amount of Blunt damage dealt by weapons.

Current Bonus

Increases Blunt damage by 5%

Piercing Weapons-General

Level 4-34% to next Proficiency Level

Increases the amount of Piercing damage dealt by weapons.

Current Bonus

Increases Piercing damage dealt by 4%

Light Armour-Mastery

Level 4-56% to next Proficiency Level

Mastery Skill that provides bonuses to the use of Light Armour. Related Sub-Skills can also be unlocked.

Current Bonuses

Increases Magic Defence provided by Light Armour by 4%

Sub-Skills

None

Medium Armour-Mastery

Level 7-21% to next Proficiency Level

Mastery Skill that provides bonuses to the use of Medium Armour. Related Sub-Skills can also be unlocked.

Current Bonuses

Increases Physical Defence provided by Medium Armour by 7%

Increases Magical Defence provided by Medium Armour by 2%

Sub-Skills

Well worn- Decreases the amount of Durability lost by 10%. Passive

Physical Conditioning-Mastery

Level 6-19% to next Proficiency Level

Provides Bonuses to HP and SP. Related Sub-Skills can also be unlocked.

Current Bonuses-One Bonus available for purchase

Increases HP by 6%

Sub-Skills

· Thick Skin – Increases Physical Defence by 5%.

Racial Skills

Mana Manipulation- Mastery (Trait based Racial Skill)

Level 7-11% to next Proficiency Level

Mastery Skill that unlocks Magic Schools. Related Sub-Skills can also be unlocked

Current Bonuses

Decreases MP cost of spells by 7%

Unlocks Magic Schools Slots-2 Slots available

Unlocks ‘Mana’ School of Magic

Magic School Slots-1/2

· Mana -Basic Magic School Unlocked by the Mana Manipulation Skill

· None-Please Select a School

Sub-Skills

· Meditation- Increases MP regen by 10% when seated. Passive

Jack of All

Level 1- This Skills Proficiency Level can only be upgraded using Skill Points.

A Human Racial Skill provides boosts to gaining Skills.

Current Bonuses

Adds 1 additional Skill Slot

Sub-Skills

None

Skill Slots-0/5(+1)

Skill Points-9

“I’ve got nine points saved up.”

“Nine points isn’t bad, now why don’t you go inside, your mother will be waiting for you.”

“Yeah, and breakfast should be ready now!” she exclaimed licking her lips with her slender tongue.

Kyle chuckled at her words as he wandered back towards the house, “You stopped growing two years ago why do you still eat so much?”

“Because you make me stressed that’s why!” she replied causing Kyle to laugh as he entered the house.

“Shh, your sister is sleeping,” Emma hissed as she glared at the two, a small bundle wrapped in her arms.

“Sorry mum,” Kyle whispered creeping closer to peer down at his sister with a small smile on his face.

Emma’s expression softened as she watched the expressions on Kyle’s and Fi’s faces turn peaceful as they looked at the small bundle of joy she was cradling gently in her arms.

“It’s fine dear,” she replied softly. “Now you must be hungry after training with your father, your breakfast is on the table.”

Upon hearing this Fi, having previously been distracted by Kyle’s baby sister launched herself from Kyle’s shoulders landing in front of a small bowl of scrambled eggs, her favourite breakfast and began to devour her meal, causing both Kyle and Emma to shake as they tried to contain the laughter that was welling up within them.

Once they had finished their breakfast Kyle and Fi waited patiently for Jerald and Digby to finish doing the farm work that needed to be done before they headed out.

“Hey guys, just let us wash up and grab a bite to eat and we can be on the road,” Jerald said quietly as he came in, followed closely by Digby who scraped mud off his paws as best as he could before following Jerald.

Not long afterwards Kyle’s sister awoke and started cooing at everyone and everything she saw.

“What is it Kelly?” Emma asked her daughter in a funny tone of voice causing the others in the room to snigger and Kelly to giggle.

“Are you laughing at mummy?” Emma accused with a huge grin on her face. “Do you think mummy’s funny?”

“We all think you two are funny Emma,” chuckled Jerald earning himself a dirty look from his wife.

“Right, we’d better get on our way, Thomas is expecting us,” he continued as he stood up a massive grin growing on his face as he looked at his son with pride in his eyes.

“Yes, we should,” Emma agreed, her husbands’ earlier comment not forgotten but at least put to one side for now as the look on her face changed to one very similar to the one on Jerald’s.

The look on Kyle’s face could only be described as excitement he had bee waiting for this day for the past seven years he looked at Fi and saw the same excitement gleaming in her eyes, Kyle stood up.

“I’m ready, let’s go.”

A few hours later the family was greeted at the gates by Al and Sam, both of whom were very excited, Sam bouncing up and down on the spot as they approached before running up to Emma and demanding to see the baby. Al laughed at his companion’s behaviour but soon he too was fussing over Kelly causing the rest of the group to laugh, drawing a few glares from a few of the villagers.

After the night of the Barghest attack Emma had been treated with more respect around Farholt, whether this was out of fear or gratitude was unknown but nonetheless it had made life easier for all involved. There were some people who still treated her poorly, but they were mostly those who were close to Denzel.

Ignoring the stares of those who still disliked them was easier today than it had ever been before, and they soon found themselves in front of the familiar church where Fi had been summoned all those years ago.

Walking inside they were greeted with yet another familiar sight, Thomas once again standing on his podium looking back over the heads of the parents of those who were there to receive their own Classes. With a smile Kyle walked up to the front of the church and let Fi down onto the Class Stone with the other Companions who were still small enough to fit on it. More villagers Kyles age continued to file slowly in and take their places and soon they were all present.

Thomas smiled down at the teenagers looking up at him with shining eyes as they waited for him to perform the ceremony that would allow them to access their Classes and take the places in society best suited to their choice.

“Seven years ago, we watched as you greeted your companions for the first time. You have all come a long way since then, growing in both body and knowledge to gain the Class that will best suit you.”

Thomas raised his hands and the symbols that represented the magic he was about to cast appeared before him.

“Unlock Class Selections.”

At his words the Class Stone started to glow, symbols appearing on it as the spell was channelled through it into the companions that were touching it causing them to glow.

“Right, now you can select a Class, you can either go back to your parents now or wait and ask for my advice as I get to you.”

Kyle smiled and nodded at Thomas before turning and walking back towards his family Fi floating up and wrapping around his neck once again.

“Well, are you going to have a look at your choices?” Jerald asked as Kyle sat down next to him.

“Fi bring up the list.”

Fi nodded her body once again starting to glow as she channelled the energy given to her by the Class Stone.

Attention User please select a class from the list below. Please select carefully as this decision cannot be changed.

Mage-Common Ranked Class

A Class that uses magics to defeat its foes. Class Skills: Light Armour, Wands, and Mana Manipulation. Increases number of Magic Schools that can be selected by one.

Stats per Level: +2 Int. +1 Wis. +2 Unassigned Stat Points.

Aspirant-Common ranked class

This class primarily uses basic healing magics. Class Skills: Light Armour, Staves and Mana Manipulation. Allows the selection of one Divine Magic School.

Notice: To further develop this Class one must pick a deity to serve.

Stats per Level: +1 Int, Wis and Will. +2 Unassigned Stat Points

Rogue- Common ranked class

A class that uses stealth and guile to defeat its foes. Class Skills: Medium Armour, Daggers, Sneak.

Stats per Level: +2 Dex. +1 Agi. +2 Unassigned Stat Points.

Brawler-Uncommon ranked class

A class that eschews weapons in favour of unarmed fighting techniques. Class Skills: Light Armour, Medium Armour, Gauntlets, and Unarmed Fighting.

Stats per Level: +2 Str and Agi. +1 Con and End. +3 Unassigned Stat Points.

Bludgeoner-Uncommon ranked Class

A Warrior Class that specialises in the use of Blunt Weapons. Class Skills: Heavy Armour, Shields and may pick one blunt type weapon from list.

Stats per Level: +3 Str. +2 Con. +1 End. +3 Unassigned Stat Points.

Chain Fighter- Unusual ranked Class

A hybrid class that uses the chain-type exotic weapons. Class Skills: Chain Fighting, Light Armour, Medium Armour and Acrobatics.

Stats per Level: +3 Agi. +2 Dex. +1 Str and End. +3 Unassigned Stat Points

User, upon reaching Level 5 you must make your way to the nearest Class Stone to upgrade your Class. All Stat point distributions and learned Skills as well as their associated Skill Levels will be considered, and a new list of Classes will be generated accordingly. Classes can Rank up upon upgrading so development is of utmost importance to achieve the best possible result.

“Alright, I can choose from the Mage Class, the Aspirant Class, the Rogue Class, the Brawler Class, the Bludgeoner Class and the Chain Fighter Class,” Kyle said frowning slightly at the last Class’ rank.

“What’s wrong dear?” Emma asked.

“The Chain Fighter Class has something called an Unusual rank, do you know what that means?”

Emma blinked in surprise, “An Unusual ranked Class?” she muttered.

“What is it mum?”

“I’ve heard of this rank, it means that the System doesn’t quite know how to rank something,” she replied, as a small frown crossed her face.

“Why would I get something like that?” Kyle asked, worried by the look on his mother’s face.

“Well son,” said Jerald. “Your Class choices come from the Skills you currently possess, which explains most of the Classes you can choose from but also from the potential you have, I’m guessing that’s what this is.”

“Should I choose it?”

Jerald smiled at his son, “That’s up to you, some of the other Classes on your list sound like they’d be just as good for you.”

Fi and Emma watched on as Kyle’s brow furrowed as he pondered his options, he managed to narrow it down to the Mage Class, the Bludgeoner Class, the Brawler Class and the Chain Fighter Class by considering his Skill and Spell choices but he was unsure of how to proceed.

He decided to take another look at the Chain Fighter Class and weight the pros and cons of choosing it, he already had the Light and the Medium Armour Skills, and he knew that them becoming Class Skills wouldn’t just leave him with more empty Skill Slots than any other Class but that they would also grow faster than if they remained Non-Class Skills.

He looked down at Fi, who recognizing the look in his eyes nodded, she agreed with his decision.