NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13: So Many Charts
They all lowered their hands, and Lily gave them a tremulous smile. "Well, after all that, I need to use the privy. If you don't mind, I'm going to step into the trees for a bit."
Leo nodded. Then Lily awkwardly climbed up the riverbank. Even though her legs were obviously paining her—she walked like an old woman—she said nary a word of complaint.
"So, while Princess Pride is out watering the bushes, can you help me with my leveling up?" Leo asked, turning to Hugh.
Hugh grimaced. "That's usually a long-term process, carefully thought out and plotted by people to guide their lives. And I don't really know much about abilities and magics, especially the ones elves get."
"Can I afford to wait? I mean, what does leveling do, exactly? Because your description of everyone heading for this hoard—as well as the goblins we just fought—convinces me I need something besides a rock in my arsenal."
"Ugh, it's so annoying that you don't even know the basics." Hugh huffed as he lay down and then rolled onto his side.
Leo circled his hand, motioning for Hugh to get on with it.
Hugh moved his head so that his draconic gaze met Leo's. "Well, at its most basic, leveling is just getting a lot of magical energy—usually, but not always, energy from dead people's souls—until you become more powerful. I guess a 'level' is just a way to express what happens when the magic within you reaches a point it permanently improves you. For most of us, it gives us magical abilities, one new ability per level. Some races get more, as a result of being highly magical. Like dragons. 'Cuz we're better than you."
Leo rolled his eyes.
Hugh continued. "Abilities have two basic types, at least at the low levels. You can get other types, like auras, when you're stronger. But at these levels, the two types are either static boosts or powers you can activate with essence."
Again, so much to unpack there. Just get the basics down.
"Static boosts?"
"Yeah, like more strength so that you're always stronger. In your case, to help you dirt farm better."
Leo glared for a moment where he lounged near the river, then laughed. "Sure, plus two dirt farming. But really, I could actually become permanently stronger? Because this body feels like it gets hives whenever a gym is nearby."
"Well, that body looks like every other elf I've ever seen. Maybe you're using it wrong?"
"Maybe. But my other body, the human one, could have beaten this one within an inch of its life. I was a touch less agile, but far stronger and tougher."
"Huh," Hugh replied goofily, his eyes crossed.
Leo laughed again. "I can't even with you."
"Can't even what?"
"Just a dumb expression from back when I was a teenager," Leo said, waving Hugh off from further explanation before wincing and lowering his arm. "Okay, wisest of dragons, how do I level?"
"Just pull your status sheet up, and there'll be a prompt," Hugh said, turning to gaze back out over the river in obvious boredom. "Then find and pick your coolest ability."
Ask stupid questions, win stupid prizes. I probably should have just tried that. It's like every video game I've ever played.
Leo pulled his status sheet up, and overlaying it was a prompt.
You have gained enough experience to level. Do you wish to level and pick your ability(ies) and stats now?
Leo picked "yes" and a huge list appeared.
Leveling Options, Level Two [pick three]
Body
Improved Strength, Rank I
+4 Strength
Improved Agility, Rank I
+4 Agility
Improved Dexterity, Rank I
+4 Dexterity
Bestial Endurance, Rank I
+4 Endurance
Bestial Toughness, Rank I
+4 Toughness
Bestial Senses, Rank I
+4 Perception
Improved Appearance, Rank I
+4 Appearance
Improved Health, Rank I
+8 base Health
Improved Stamina, Rank I
+8 base Stamina
Play Dead
Spend 1 essence and life functions will drop to the point that they are not detectable to the naked eye for up to 10 minutes.
Heal
Spend 1 essence and heal 4 Health to self or others by touch.
Brutal Reaction
Spend 2 essence. Gain brief speed, doubling physical movement rates, including attack, for 6 seconds.
Regeneration, Rank I
Spend 2 essence. Gain 1 health till max per 6 seconds for 1 minute.
Second Wind
Spend 1 essence. Gain 8 stamina.
Subtle Shift
Spend 2 essence and maintain for 1 essence per minute. Features subtly shift to look like a different person—only cosmetic features (skin tone, wrinkles, etc.)
Sleepless, rank I
Require only 4 hours of sleep per night.
Body Affinity, Rank I
+1 Body affinity.
*Kinesthetic Learner
Gain 1 additional Body ability at Level 10, and every 10 levels thereafter. May only be taken at Level 2, 11, 21, 31, or 41, and it only applies to the 10th level thereafter. Rare ability—result of Natural talent and at least 1 perk that adds to Strength, Agility, Dexterity, Toughness, or Endurance. +25% to occult skill gain rate.
Mind
Improved Intelligence, Rank I
+2 Intelligence
Illusionist, Rank I
Spend 1 essence. May hold for 1 drawdown (1 less maximum mana so long as power is utilized.) Create a cat-sized image with only visual components.
Audible illusions
All illusions may have audible components as well.
Conceal Self
May radically change your own appearance and clothing at will. This also provides +2 appearance. This is a mind-affecting ability and may be resisted by anyone with bonuses against mind-affecting abilities.
Mind Blast, Rank I
Spend 1 essence and do 2 (modified by all magic and mind altering effects) psi damage to any visible target that has a mind within 100 feet per point of occult.
Telekinesis, Rank I
Spend 1 essence and move a single object up to 10 feet away per occult at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. If attacking, does 1 base damage. Damage, speed, and weight modified by magical and telekinesis altering abilities.
Analyze
Spend 1 essence and gain a basic readout of any creature or item that does not possess anti-divination magic. Gain knowledge of basic Health, Stamina, Essence, and rough capabilities and weaknesses.
Telepathy, Rank I
Spend 1 essence, and 1 essence per 10 minutes, to use telepathy with any one person within 10 feet per point of occult.
Tongues
Spend 1 essence, and 1 essence per 10 minutes, to speak any natural language. This is a mind-affecting power and will not work if the target can't receive telepathy.
Mind Affinity, Rank I
Gain +1 Mind affinity
*Cognitive Learner
Gain 1 additional Mind ability at Level 10, and every 10 levels thereafter. May only be taken at Level 2, 11, 21, 31, or 41, and it only applies to the 10th level thereafter. Rare ability—result of Natural talent and at least 1 perk that adds to Intelligence or Perception. +25% to occult skill gain rate.
Soul
Soul of Magic, Rank I
+2 Magic
Natural Leader, Rank I
+2 Charisma
Improved Connection, Rank I
+4 connection
Improved Capacity, Rank I
+4 capacity
Shield, Rank I
May spend 1 essence and gain a 4 hit point shield that lasts for 6 seconds.
Barrier, Rank I
May spend 1 essence and gain a 2 hit point shield that lasts for 1 minute.
Talk Down
The wielder may spend 2 essence and make a contested Charisma check against the target's highest Intelligence, Magic, or Charisma score, with the defender getting any bonuses against mind-affecting powers. Success will calm the target so that they won't initiate or continue aggression, unless harmed or witnessing others they care for being harmed.
Soul Affinity, Rank I
+1 Soul affinity
*Empathetic Learner
Gain 1 additional Soul ability at Level 10, and every 10 levels thereafter. May only be taken at Level 2, 11, 21, 31, or 41, and it only applies to the 10th level thereafter. Rare ability—result of Natural talent and at least one perk that adds to Charisma or Magic. +25% occult skill gain rate.
Wyld
Bestial Strength, Rank I
+4 Strength
Bestial Agility, Rank I
+4 Agility
Bestial Endurance, Rank I
+4 Endurance
Bestial Toughness, Rank I
+4 Toughness
Bestial Senses, Rank I
+4 Perception
Were Form, Rank I
May spend 1 essence, and 1 essence per every 6 seconds, to assume a partial were form. Gain +4 to Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Toughness for the duration of the ability.
Resilient, Rank I
Gain back 1 Health per ten minutes at no cost.
True Grit
Wound penalties to accuracy, dodge, and Stamina recovery are halved
Wyld Affinity, Rank I
+1 Wyld affinity
Animal Companion, Rank I
Gain an animal companion. That animal gains +2 to all physical stats. "Animals" includes any magical beast less than Level 6 for this power.
Metal
Armored Skin, Rank I
+2 armor score for natural skin. Your skin has a slight metallic sheen.
Light, Rank I
Spend 1 essence, and do 4 (modified by all magic, Metal, and light altering effects) light damage to any target hit with a ranged accuracy roll at +60% accuracy.
Coordinator's Boost
Spend 1 essence. Target ally within 10 feet per occult gains +60% accuracy and +20% Critical Chance against any target hit by an ally for the next 12 seconds.
Natural Merchant, Rank I
Gain +20% more from selling goods than normal based on Charisma and business score.
Natural Organizer, Rank I
Gain +20% more productivity from any business with less than 100 (+10% per Business and Leadership skill level) people.
Skilled fighter, Rank I
+20% bonuses from all weapon, armor, and shield skills
Item Mastery, Rank I
Gain 1 additional non-artifact item use maximum
Soul/Wyld
Familiar, Rank I
May bond a single familiar. This familiar has half the level of its master and is a sentient magical beast.
By Jove that's a huge number of abilities!
Leo examined the top of the list and then scanned down. As he did so, his head dipped about forty-five degrees.
"A lot of magical options?" Hugh asked after a few minutes of silence. He had gotten bored and gone to splash at the edge of the river.
"A ton," Leo muttered. "I'm a bit overwhelmed. This is all real?"
"Of course it's real…" Then he stared at Leo. "How many magics do you have?"
"Five," Leo said. "Bod—"
"Five!" Hugh exclaimed. "By Merdrek's Teeth, five magics?"
"Yeah…"
"Figures," Hugh said, his eyes wide. "Of course you do. And you don't even know how rare that is, or how powerful that makes you, you pissant dirt grubber. Everybody gets amazing magic except poor Hugh, who didn't even get normal Storm dragon magic."
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself and just tell me," Leo said, exasperated. "That's the easiest way. How rare is it?"
Hugh settled back down, one eye ridge furrowed. "Well, most mortal races have one magic each. Like ninety percent of everyone."
"Okay…?"
"Almost the entire remaining tenth has two. So, like, ten percent. And then a tenth of that have three, so, like, one in a hundred."