Honestly, it probably was with my Constitution score, if it did what it said. It was close to the effective cap on the stats, and I was tempted to use one of my free points on it to push it over. The only thing stopping me was the fact that my class would do it next level. I pulled it up through the Encyclopedia function to double check.
Class: Outdoorsman
Outdoorsmen are comfortable away from cities and towns. They would rather travel the forests and fields than settle down. An Outdoorsman focuses on hunting, gathering, or harvesting to provide for themselves or others.
+1 Endurance per level
+1 Constitution per level
+1 Perception per level
Max Level: 20
Increased Skill Acquisition for: Hunting, Harvesting, and Tracking skills
Backpacking trait acquired
Currently known Outdoorsman Skill:
Cheap Shot
Riding
Small Blades
Throwing
I should probably try and learn some of those skills, actually… I thought as I browsed through the book section. I flicked the screen away as I browsed the books on the shelf, running my finger along them as I read the titles. There were a lot of biographies and anthologies but none of them really sparked my interest. Out of curiosity, I tried to put one into my Personal Library… but it failed.
Huh. Guess that prevents theft that way. I wonder what other protections there are against theft… I didn’t want to actually steal anything to try it out, though. I’ll ask someone later. Maybe Calmar will know.
I wandered over to a wall covered in a glass display case that had more books laid out on small cushions. They each had little labels on them and a price tag. All of them were available for thousands of PEC each.
Perfect Sear 20,000 PEC -Tier 2 Cooking Required
Local Map 7,000 PEC
Dark Manipulation 100,000 PEC - Internal Mana Manipulation Required
Stunning Strike 5,000 PEC - Tier 2 Unarmed Combat Required
Second Wind 5,000 PEC
Farsight 10,000 PEC
“Why do some of them list requirements and others don’t?” I asked out loud, mostly to myself. I was already peeved because the Map skill was cheaper here than it was in the menu. Just to be safe, I double checked the prices in the shop and the values were all over the place. I couldn’t see the cost of things I already had, so I couldn’t look up Second Wind, but Farsight was only 1,000 EXP in my shop. Stunning Strike was 50,000 EXP, though, and Dark Manipulation was 200,000 EXP.
Hm… is it based on the stats I have? As I continued to examine the case, I saw a man step up beside me with a smile. “I couldn’t help but overhear you ask about the books.”
I looked him up and down. Well dressed, nicer than I was at the moment anyway. Taller than me, though who wasn’t in the city at this point. He wore multiple rings on each finger, though they looked plain as opposed to something gaudy. The bracelets and single earring were much more noticeable. He had a broad smile on his soft looking face with a well groomed mustache that curled just a little. Why does he feel fake?
“Miss? Do we know each other?” He asked, eyes raised in question as he smiled. He wiggled them jauntily and I couldn’t help but roll my own eyes at him.
“No. But I was wondering about the books, do you know anything about the additional requirements listed?” I asked, turning back to the display. In the glass, I saw a brief flash of emotion that I couldn’t place on the man before he caught himself.
“Hm?” He looked closer at one of the books I pointed out. “Flaming Tiger Stance 50,000 PEC - Tier 3 Unarmed Combat and Tier 1 Flame Manipulation required.” He snorted a laugh, “Probably what the person who sold it said they needed before learning. Most skill books disappear on use, so you only get one chance to learn them. Though I can’t imagine the kind of mage who’d brawl with someone when they can just light them on fire.”
I considered the book, “It does seem a little unnecessary. If you can throw around fire, why punch someone, right?” I said, though I was mostly just agreeing with him to try and get him to stop talking. I was checking the price and requirements in the shop.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Flaming Tiger Stance
Trait
Through channeling fire mana throughout the body, the user is able to increase the speed at which fat is broken down within the body for energy. Enhances Agility and Strength by 1.5x while active. Extended use can cause loss of muscle mass.
Requirements:
45 Strength
45 Agility
60 Constitution
Tier 3 Unarmed Combat
Tier 1 Fire Manipulation
Cost: 500,000 EXP
He kept talking, though. “No, I think someone such as you would be more interested in a less destructive thing. Have you considered taking up Sewing or Tailoring? We’ve a dozen Perfect Stitch books for sale. Or perhaps you’d like to take a shortcut on learning an instrument? There are a number of-”
“Not a chance in the Core Sea.” I heard Deacon reply from the row of shelves behind us. “If she wants to learn, I’ll teach her the long way. It gives a better understanding of the instrument.” He walked around the shelf and came to stand next to me. “Find something you want?”
“A few things.” I replied. Turning to the man who I assumed was in charge of the store, I smiled. “Can you bring out the books for Farsight, Local Map, Stunning Strike, Second Wind, and…” I checked again, “Is that Detect Traps a skill or a spell?”
The man was surprised, “Uh, let me check the card.” He opened the case and pulled it down, checking the tag. “Looks like a skill. Has a high failure rate even with a high mental stats. Do you have some kind of Rogue or Scout class?”
I shook my head, “I’m considering my options. How much is it?”
“5,000.” He said, gathering the other books. The merchant looked over at Deacon, “Your girlfriend has expensive tastes.”
Deacon faked gagging at the idea. At least, I thought he was faking, knowing what I did he probably would feel like that. “No, she’s got the funds.”
The merchant stared at me, but finished gathering the goods. “Very well…” He brought them all over to the counter where he shooed a younger man to the side. I pulled out a crystal, but Deacon put a hand on my elbow and shook his head, “While you have the funds, I am willing to help you not get taken for a ride.”
I shrugged as the merchant scowled at my bodyguard. If it was going to save me some crystals, I’d let him handle it.
When we walked out, I’d only spent 13,500 PEC instead of the 22,000 PEC it was all listed at. It was going to be 15,000 PEC, but then I pointed out that most Scouts got the Farsight trait pretty reliably, the merchant agreed to Deacon’s last offer before we could go any lower. I honestly felt a little bad, but that was tempered by Deacon whistling a happy tune.
“You enjoyed that.” I said as I stopped on a street corner to store four of my new books into Spatial Closet. I kept Stunning Strike out. “He couldn’t have known you weren’t interested in me.”
“Pffft, that’s not why I did it.” Deacon said, leaning against a wall. “The man had a shitty mystery section and all of the non fiction I saw were debunked back when I was in school twenty years ago. He’s a conman with the Merchant class.”
“Really?” I said, raising my eyebrows. I looked around and Deacon whistled up a sound barrier at the gesture. “The prices for some of it were cheaper than what I’ve got in my system Shop.”
“Wait, seriously?” He said, looking down, “That one?”
“The Tier is right, but it also needs at least a 25 in Dexterity and Perception or a Tier 3 Medical Care skill. It was also 25,000.” I said, looking at the book and opening it. A tiny ‘snap’ could be heard before:
I focused on Yes and the book dissolved into motes of light. I waited for more to happen.
And waited.
And waited.
Deacon cleared his throat and I flushed before opening my character sheet to check.
Stunning Strike
Throw mastery of the martial arts you have successfully learned how to hit in just the right spot to force muscles to seize and freeze your opponent for a matter of seconds. Target marks will appear to assist in hitting your opponent when you are attempting to attack with your body.
“Huh…” I said, reading the description that was brought up when I looked at the trait.
Deacon leaned in close, “What?”
I looked at him and then reached up to put a hand on his shoulder. He looked at me in confusion.
I chopped him in the side of the neck. I didn’t do it very hard, but he still practically fell over as he started twitching. I winced, but he stopped after a couple moments. Not even a full second, which was disappointing, but not by much.
He slowly stood up, wincing a little. “You okay?” I asked, poking him and casting Heal. Nothing happened, and I felt slightly better about my prank when he slapped my hand away.
“It didn’t hurt, but it felt like someone cut my strings for a moment.” He shivered, “What’d you do that for?” The bard asked as he bent over to pick his hat up from where it had fallen.
I put on a stupid grin as I said, “Next time you’re gagging that hard better be when you’ve got dick in there.”
His eyes bulged a little as he stared at me in mild astonishment. Then he shifted as though considering something. I suspected it was whether to get me back later or not, unless I’d judged our relationship incorrectly. I had thought we were getting along alright.
Then he put on a dumb grin of his own, “I’ll have you know I have never gagged on a cock.” Then he burst out laughing as I stared at him with my mouth ajar. I hadn’t expected that. I joined him in laughing.
After a minute we started walking again, waving at a guard who was eyeing us with concern. Well, he waved while I suddenly found the rooftops very interesting. It took until we got to the bar he’d told Elayne and Zaion to meet us at for us to calm down from our silly mood.
We got a table and ordered food and drinks. Well, Deacon ordered drinks. Apparently I was allowed to drink, but not allowed to buy, whatever that meant. I asked Deacon and he shrugged, “Stupid law, I know. I was surprised they did it like that here too. It’s supposed to mean someone knows your drinking, I think.”
“...can’t I just get someone else to buy it and go somewhere else to drink it?” I asked as we sat down. “Do you know what the minimum age is?”
“Uh, if it’s like Octavia then maybe 15? Not something I was too worried about at the time.” He leaned back in his chair.
“What were you worried about?” I asked, leaning forward.
He shrugged, “Passing my tests. I was in an academy since I was five, barely ever saw my parents.”
“Really?” I asked, confused. “You lived there?”
Deacon nodded, “Yup. Parents would visit once or twice a month. When I was nine I got to visit where they lived. They’d needed to make up a guest bedroom.”
I winced, “That’s… not great. So, were they at least nice?”
He noticed the waitress approaching with our food and drinks and paused in his response. When she left, he hesitated before speaking. “I… don’t remember. They just… didn’t matter enough to remember, I guess.”
I grabbed the small tumbler glass and looked at the deep amber liquid inside. I took a sip and tried to think of anything else to talk about.
“What about you? Any of those memories have someone nice in them?” Deacon asked after whistling up the sound barrier again.
I frowned even as I considered it…
Which title sounds better?