Sharp

“This should be straightforward,” said Farrah, “as long as it acts like a normal awakening stone.” She looked at Nia.

“It should,” Nia said.

“I want to see if it gives a Reaper Skill,” said Rufus.

“Stand in this simple circle here and hold the stone,” Farrah instructed.

Farrah performed the simple ritual, and the stone sank smoothly into my hand. There was no pain or discomfort.

I felt for the skill, “Oh, wow,” I said.

“And?” Rufus asked.

“I need to get some plants,” I said.

“What?” Rufu was confused.

“Be patient,” Farrah said. “It is a divine stone; he may need some time to understand it.”

I activated the skill, and a leafy, vine-covered arch rose out of the ground. Leaves extended over the gap, obscuring what was behind it. I walked past the leaves and inside. I turned to look back, and I could only see the leaves. Inside was an area the size of a medium garden, and I knew the soil was fertile. Ardisia manivested. She was the only plant there, and I saw her roots dig into the soil and felt her happiness. Nobody followed me through the arch, so I assumed they could not enter. I went back out.

“It is a Plant Skill,” I said. “It is called Tranquil Garden, and it is a small garden in a dimensional space. It is empty now, so I need some plants.”

“I am sure the Goddess wouldn’t mind if you took some cuttings from the temple garden,” Nia said.

“Are there any restrictions on what you can grow?” Rufus asked.

“I… ah no, I don’t think so. Growth is sped up.”

“So you could grow some food?”

“I suppose I could. I prefer edible plants, maybe some herbs. ”Ardisia can go into it; it helps her heal.”

“Your plant is female?” Gary asked.

“I don’t know, it doesn’t matter. It is good for her.”

“That is an incredible skill and unique as far as I know,” Farrah said.

I turned to Nia, “Thank your goddess for me.”

“Thank her yourself,” Nia said, “but this was her saying thank you to you.”

I nodded to her in agreement. I made the arch sink into the ground and disappear.

“Let's take a break for lunch,” Rufus said. Then we can see what other stones you can afford.”

I agreed, thankfully. I needed some time for this to settle.

When we came back, Farah said, “I sold three uncommon stones at a premium. The summoning materials cost about half of one of the stones. Here is the list of stones.

I looked down the list not sure. “The Feast stones are cheap,” I said.

“That could be good,” Rufus said. “They can give a wide variety of skills and you do have a garden.”

I nodded, “Let's start with them then and see what we get.”

“Them?” Farrah asked.

“They are really cheap, and there are two available.”

“Ok,” she said. “I will be back soon. In the meantime, get writing,” she tapped her still empty piece of paper.

We did the first ritual.

“The Hunters Feast,” I announced. “Consume what you kill or harvest and restore health, stamina and mana.”

“ A self-heal skill, that is really good,” Rufus said. “It will save you a lot in potions, and you can harvest from your Tranquil Garden. Are there any restrictions on cooking what you kill or harvest?”

“I don’t think so, but it is easily tested.”

“Great, let's try the second Feast Stone,” Farrah said.

Farrah once again performed the ritual. Afterwards, I was hesitant but also excited. “It is a Reaper Skill,” that got everyone's attention, “It is a summons, Devourer Rats.”

“Is that a swarm-type summons?” Rufus asked.

“I don’t know,” Farrah said, “but we can look it up.” She went to her book again, “Not Stone Cutter Rats?” I shook my head. “Bloodsucker Rats, Swamp Rats, ah, here we are. Devourer Rats. It says there will be between two and five rats at Iron Rank, which is not technically a swarm type, but close. It says they will be able to chew and claw through any material up to one rank higher than they are, but it may take time. They are absorbed into your claws and teeth, enabling them to cut up a level.”

“A level jumping ability, that is really good,” Rufus said.

“It says they will breed and replenish their numbers as long as one is still alive. It takes about a week.” Farrah looked up at me. “I bet that will be faster in your Garden.”

“I bet they eat all your plants,” Gary said.

“So I need to keep one absorbed at all times, and I won’t have to resummon them,” I said.

“I bet they will make good scouts for you,” Rufus said.

“I need Rat, Claw and Teeth Quintessence,” I said.

“All still common,” Farrah said. “I will be back soon.”

“I could go,” I said, feeling guilty at all the running around she was doing.

“You could,” Farrah said, “but you wouldn’t get the members discount.”

“Oh, thanks.”

She just waved as she went.

“In shadows' shroud, where nightmares breed,

I call upon the rats to heed.

With claws that rend and teeth that gnash,

Devouring hunger, in darkness clash!”

Four rats crawled out of the pile of melted Quintessence. I immediately absorbed one into my claws, and the others spread out and explored the room. I could vaguely sense where they were, and I derived some basic emotions from them. There was excitement at finding Gary's snack, and it was soon devoured.

“I don’t like this summons,” he complained.

“I am pretty sure they are going to like you,” I said.

I called them to me and absorbed all but one who sat in my arms, and I stroked it. I would have to think about names. They were connected to each other as well as to me, but they were not a hive mind. If I get more when they rank up, they could swarm and attack the right creature. Ardisia could trap the prey and my rats chew through them.

“How much do I have left?” I asked Farrah.

“The equivalent of one Uncommon, which would make two or three common, depending on what you choose.”

“You don’t have any personal attack skills,” Rufus said, “and,” he continued before I could say anything, “every adventurer needs a rounded set of skills. You have Perception, Aura, movement and self-heal. You have a defensive Skill in your fur, but the only attack skills are your familiars, and they are not definitive.”

“He did fine in the village,” Gary said.

“I recommend you head in that direction, now, although there are no guarantees,” Rufus finished.

“Yes,” said Farrah, “I agree, but the Feast stone did give both a self-heal and a summons, so the options are large with common stones.”

“That one is cheap,” I said.

Rufus looked over my shoulder, “The Awakening Stone of the Claw. It is not popular as only Leonids have claws, but I think that is because of a lack of imagination. It could grant claws or many other skills, probably trending toward melee attack skills.”

“My claws are boosted a level by the Devourer Rats already, though.”

“Yes,” said Rufus, “and this is what I mean by synergy. A Claw attack could make use of that boost in a new way.”

“But using your claws is so barbaric,” said Gary. Then he grinned, “But if anyone says that to you, claw them apart!”

“If you get that, you will be able to get two other common stones,” Farrah said.

“I would recommend the Awakening Stone of the Hand,” Rufas said, “It gives many abilities, from attack skills to manipulation of the elements, in your case, plants.”

“What about an elemental stone, like fire or ice?” Farah suggested.

“Getting something water-based might synergise well with your Plant Essence,” Rufus said. “Is there anything there that grabs your attention?”

“You could get a weapon stone,” Gary suggested, “I saw those tiny little axes you had. The axe stone could get you a better weapon. I could make you a better weapon if I had time.”

Nia was looking over my shoulder, “The wood stone might go well with your Plant essence.”

I looked at her, “Is that you or the goddess?”

She backed off, “Just me. I have the Staff Essence, and so use wooden weapons.”

“It might also provide armour, which you don’t really need,” Rufus said, “but it is your choice.”

“OK,” I said, “Let's go with the Claw, Hand and Wood.” I like the idea of wood with my plant essence, and I have created a lot of semi-spears.

Farrah nodded and left. I realised I had changed over the day. I had been quite passive at the start, but I was becoming more active and decisive now. I think the change centred around summoning Ardisia.

I brought up my hand and created a spike. The rat ran along my arm to investigate and sniffed it. Yes these would work out well.

“Kai. Team Kai.” I looked up, “They are not rats. They are team Kai. I will differentiate individuals as necessary, but that can be an outsider name for others to call them.”

“Ardisia and Kai,” Nai said. “Good.”

Farrah came back, and we did the Claw first. It was A Reaper special attack called Rend to rip things open, including the incorporeal.

The hand stone also gave me a Sharpen special attack called Pierce, which used melee weapons to penetrate deeply, especially to penetrate armour.

“You will need to change your axes,” Gary said. “Get ones with a spike on the end or back so you can jab and use the Pierce Skill.” That was good advice, not that I had the coin to buy weapons. I would need to start earning coins. I might move more to using the spear.

“Oh, that is not what I expected,” I said after using the Wood Stone. I used the skill, and a medium-sized kite shield appeared on my arm. It was rounded at the top to protect my body and narrowed to a point down by my ankles. “I have never used a shield before.” I dismissed the shield and created a small, rounded shield instead.

“That is useful,” Rufus said. I can give you some pointers, but shields are not my thing either. What I do know is that they are not just a defensive tool but can also be effective in attacking.

“Finish recording everything,” Farrah demanded. She had done all these rituals for free for me and used her member discount, so I felt I owed her.

Theo

Racial Evolutions

Speed - Use Skill Books.

Recovery - Hunters Pack Spatial Storage

Power - Bonus to the Spirit Attribute

Sharpen [Speed attribute] (3/5)

Razor Sharp. Level 4

Iron rank: Sharpens any cutting or piercing object to a razor edge. Bonus penetration and cutting through material up to Iron Rank. Cost mana, Varies.

Resistant Fur {Hair Stone} Level 3

Iron Rank: Fur becomes resistant to cutting and piercing.

Pierce {Hand stone} Special Attack Level 1

Iron Rank: Use melee weapons in a piercing strike to penetrate, especially through armour.

Hunt [Spirit attribute] (3/5)

Senses of the Hunter [Perception]. Level 2

Iron Rank: Improves Sight, xxxxxx senses.

Hunter’s Step {Foot stone} Level 2

Iron Rank: Move swiftly, lightly and quietly through the terrain. Muffles movement noise. Cost low mana/sec.

Hunters Feast {Feast Stone} Level 1

Iron Rank: Consume what you kill or harvest to replenish health, mana and Stamina.

Plant [Recovery] (3/5)

Blood Root Vine Summons - Ardisia Level 1

Iron Rank: Summon a Blood Root Vine. Resides in the skin may produce thorns from the skin. When it manifests, it entraps with piercing and bleeding effects. Feeds on blood to heal. Can move through the ground as roots emerge and entrap. Can’t move through non-earth or non-plant material.

Tranquil Garden {Divine Stone of Peace} Level 1

Iron Rank: A small garden in a dimensional pocket. It has an increased growth rate, and summons can enter and heal.

Shield {wood stone} Level 1

Iron Rank: Create solid wooden shields of various sizes at the current Rank.

Reaper [Power] (3/5)

Reapers Aura Level 1

Iron Rank: Increases allies' Spirit attribute in aura range, Increasing perception and judgment. Helps keep a calm mind.

Devourer Rat Summons (Kai) {feast stone} Level 1

Iron Rank: Summon four devourer rats. Chew and claw through any material of the same rank or less given time. Absorbed in summoners' claws and teeth, strengthening them. And enabling them to boost them up a level. Can breed to replenish numbers over a week.

Rend {Claw Stone} Special Attack Level 1

Iron Rank: Use claws to rip open things. Claws reach beyond the physical to rend the incorporeal.

Rufus looked over the summary. “You are tending strongly towards a melee fighter. I thought you would go more toward a scout and ranged fighting, but not so far.”

“Scouting is still something, especially with Kai and your quiet movement skill,” Farrah said.