You have learned Waylay: Opponents unaware of your presence will be stunned for 0.1 seconds if you engage them. If this is done by attacking there is a +4% chance that attack will deal critical damage.
You have learned Plunder: The item drop rate of all lootings and abilities is improved by 5.
You have learned Mercenary: Your rewards for quests and missions are changed based upon your fame and esteem ratings, and the level of this skill.
Due to the terms of EXPERT ARRIVAL you have been automatically awarded your chosen class gear.
You have gained 1x Salt-edged Sword > 11-19 damage. A weapon that carries the bite of the sea, those injured will feel great pain.
You have gained Malignant Compass > An apparently broken compass. It occasionally shakes in your hand.
Lyndsay looked down at the dispersing shards of the gem in her hand, ocean green and dark. The smoke it was changing into appeared when she had broken the stone. Grey, rising like storm clouds above a wave and encircling her, she could feel it being absorbed into her being. Well. That's new. It's a bit like a body scrub. Anguine seems to be squinting as if appraising her.
"An interesting choice. You don't immediately snatch at the choicest fruit offered you. You seek to take the long road to the material rather than to explore or kill? Most curious." He leaned back in his chair smiling broadly, keeping his eyes upon her face.
"No! No no." Lyndsay flustered, shaking her head and hands. "This just seemed to be what would ... let me get better gear ..."
Anguine's grin grew wider as he watched her tail off. "There's no shame in wanting to have the best, and in taking it from those who no longer need it. Even if you do have to kill them to make that so." He winked with a chuckle. "On the subject of killing to improve our situation ... the development of this fine town has been cut short. Each time we step out to gather resources or suppress any of the native settlements who continue to harry us, there is an established and very well equipped contingent of those eager to see us harmed and halted. I would like you to find out just why this is the case." He stroked his chin again. "And as I have taken quite the shine to you, take this." He clicked his fingers and a stone appeared hovering in front of Lyndsay's face. Her leaning back hurriedly evinced a dry snicker from Anguine. Cheeks colouring she reached out and squeezed as she had done for the class-change stone.
You have learned Stealth: Your body and any equipment you carry will become transparent for 3 minutes. Cooldown: 30 minutes.
Neat. She closed her eyes and willed herself invisible. Nothing seemed to change. She searched the menu but found only a repeat of the data. Looking back to Anguine, seeing his smirk, she flushed, curled her tongue to snap at him then smiled instead, remembering how important her perceived geniality was. "Is there any chance you can help explain how to trigger this?"
"Oh it's very simple." He had returned to fingering his goatee, relishing the pause, probing her patience. Satisfied with her apparent ease, he again smiled at her. "Simply focus on the name of the skill, envisioning how you wish for it to be actualised. For instance." The counter turned invisible revealing his robe, slightly raised above his feet as he sat, baring the naked tips of his toes and sandals. A cloth bag was sat beside a bin overflowing with paper. Squinting to read, Lyndsay saw a list of names labeled Potential Vic-, the rest of the word obscured by a hand-drawn map of the coast, Beachhead and the surrounding area laid out, a path along the beach marked in thick black ink.
A snap of Anguine's fingers brought the desk and Lyndsay back into focus.
"Ah! Was that the same skill? Can I turn other stuff invisible to?" She reached out to pick up a book from the table, willing it invisible.
"No, no. It's a different skill." Anguine leaned forward and plucked the book from her grasp with a small grimace of disdain. "Most skills do change as they're used and developed. so be sure to keep practicing and activating them. Even your passive skills will be boosted, the more you trigger their abilities or use the boosts they give you. Explore your new capabilities, And to that," Anguine sighed slightly, drumming his fingers on the book that he had placed back onto the desk as he rested his cheek against his palm, elbow on the table as he leaned forward, "I suppose you had best head to Beach Farm. You know where that is yes?" Lyndsay looked back up from where he had placed the book to meet his eyes.
"Oh, yes. The farm directly opposite the port. I thought that it was abandoned though."
"How shocking for you to be uninformed of the movements of your betters. The farm has recently received the residence of its owner. A charming man by the accounts of many, although I personally consider him something of a dullard. I suppose he is somewhat talented in the more banal arts of battle however." He rubbed his jawline absent-mindedly. "I wish for you to go see the ... farmer there. Tell him that I have sent you, that it is in regard to the potential leak in the town council. I can honestly say that I look forward to hearing of what transpires." His smirk returned as he gestured towards the door
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"I'm not even willing to hazard a guess as to how you'll fare."
Lyndsay looked at him. Bit her lip. Smiled, thanked him and stepped outside, leaning back against the door and taking a deep breath. Why are things so weird now that it's released? I get that the story is happening but ... people were so much more ... generic before. Having real people instead of computer characters just makes this so much more unsettling. She thought back to Dr. Mary. Which I guess is good. It helps me work on things. Her eyes moved to the store across from her. From what he said, the farm owner is someone pretty high-up. Will I give a better impression if I'm better equipped? It wouldn't hurt to look at the store, see how expensive things are now. Maybe see if there's a way to stealth a few things out of there later. A roguish smile flitted across her lips. I need to kill things and do quests to make use of my skills. I wonder if there'll be a slime hunt.
She hurried across the square and opened the door to the general store. Let's just get a baseline, check for quests, then go see what's on at the markets. Inside shelves and tables were covered with coils of rope, heavy waterproof cloths, weapons, bags, and the varied trinkets and doo-dads of adventuring. A young girl behind the counter brightened up on seeing her.
"Hello! Welcome to Astrid's Stellar Adventuring Store! If we've got it, you need it!" She tilted her head and rubbed her nose. "Wait. If you need it we've got it? We'll get it?" She stepped out from behind the counter. Lyndsay looked across at her blankly, eyes spread open, lips curled in, biting down to control the giggle inside. A few years younger than her, the girl was dressed in a lime-green outfit somewhere between dungarees and a playsuit. A dark plait fell down her back and swung as she turned her head. Knee length bright yellow boots knocked over a barrel of swords near the counter. "Oh, sorry!"
Wincing at the clatter, Lyndsay knelt to help gather the swords and right the container. "It's fine. Are you Astrid?" She brushed her hands together to knock off the dirt, pausing self-consciously when she remembered she was in a game.
"No, I'm Aphid. Her daughter." Lyndsay gulped, sure that the swallowed snort of laughter would be heard. Aphid carried on apparently unaware. "My parents have gone out to collect our shipment from the docks. I'm in charge! Until they're back anyway ... So, can I help you? What are you looking for?"
"Ideally a backpack. Basic adventuring gear. Just enough to go travelling with."
"Well, we can give you all the gear. Rations you can get from the barracks for free if you're here as part of Camorra's forces. Or you can buy actual food that don't taste like dirt from the inn. The cook there is amazing." Aphid had began sorting through a pile of bags and carriers whilst talking, pulling some out to one side. "Okay, based on your height I'd say these are best for you. We've a few full-sized backpacks like explorers and expeditions would use. A more standard rucksack for carrying all that precious monster loot, with clips for a bedroll and canteen. Or my personal favourite these over the shoulder bags. They're not as stable and secure as a backpack, but access is a lot easier. If you want something a bit more custom, there's a vendor at the dockside market who does alterations to our items. It'll cost a little extra, but if you say we sent you they'll get it done for you quickly." Lyndsay looked at her, curious if the assumedly employed gamers would be allowed to scam players. Aphid seemed to catch the suspicion in her look. "If you'd prefer, you can pay them the difference yourself."
"Oh no, it's fine I trust you," Lyndsay gave a wide smile. "I was just thinking about your outfit." It's going to be hard to forget. "I was wondering where the colours came from. They're so bright! Eye-watering almost." Aphid looked down at herself. Back up at Lyndsay. Broke out into a brilliant smile.
"Thank you! Normally everyone tells me it's stupid and a waste of sterling but I really want to be a designer. To make things. Do you, do you really like them?" Her eyes and voice wavered slightly as she looked hopefully towards Lyndsay.
"Yes. I mean, they're not quite the colours I'd go for, but if you made them yourself ... that's incredible!" She rolled her eyes inside her head, but sensed the upcoming quest. "If you want to be a seamstress, and you're already this good, then why don't you do the custom sewing?"
Aphid's face fell a little. "My parents don't trust me to do it. A lot of the adventurers coming through here want to have personalised work. It generates a lot of sterling for us. And the materials cost a lot. We can't really afford to waste any. As a shop. and as Camorrans. Everything we do is to support the king after all." She cheered up, seemingly reassured by the thought of serving her monarch.
"How about if I specifically request you? How much would it cost you to make me a backpack like this," she held up the smaller of the two with the clips attached, "one like this, with straps of pouches across the front, and maybe a little skirt pocket, like a workman's belt?" Aphid had picked up a pen and had been sketching on the back of the sign advertising the backpacks whilst Lyndsay spoke, the tip of her tongue poking out from between her teeth. Shocked, Lyndsay saw three different designs, already laid out in great detail. "Wow. You really are good!"
"Well yes, didn't you just say that?" She sounded slightly annoyed as if irritated at being disturbed as she worked. "So ... are any of these similar to what you're looking for?"
After a few minutes of discussion and drawing they settled on a design. Bandolier straps crossing her chest to a belt, each strap supporting the large partitioned main backpack, with a bedroll secured to the underside and the rear of the belt which held various clips and pockets, and two broad, flat pouches covering her thighs.
"I can't do it myself with what I have here, but it would be easy for the smith behind us to add some armour plating to those, maybe a few other places as well, although he might charge you a bit."
Lyndsay shifted on the spot, remembering she still had no basis for the cost of something this involved. "How much would this be Aphid?" Over two thousand gold should be enough for a bag, surely.
"Well, if we're including the canteen and the bedroll, it'd be about eight thousand."