Name: Thomas
Age: 15
Level 6: 305/800
Health: 50/50
Mana: 100/100
Stage: 1st Circle Mage
Mana absorption rate: 5 mana/min
Breathing technique: Lazy Dragon Monarch
Bloodline: Gold Dragon Monarch
Strength: 7
Agility: 6
INT: 9
Charisma: 3
Wisdom: 5
SP:1
Free attributes: 3 (unlocked following the formation of his mana core)
Abilities: Appraisal
Description: Ability to analyze any person or thing within 2 levels of your power band. ex: you can view up to 3rd circle mages but are unable to view 3rd circle and beyond.
Store: Unlocked
Mission List Updated:
1. Generate your own wealth, start a business.
Select a business you would like to start and secure the necessary resources.
Reward: 1000exp
2. Select one of the betrothals incoming
Reward: 50 exp
3. Establish yourself in your barony and improve your standing in the eyes of your residents.
Reward: 100 exp, 10sp
4. Begin the hunt- start clearing some of the forest of monsters
Reward: Exp provided on kill, higher tier kills may also provide additional rewards (this mission will remain until the forest is cleared of monsters)
***Host so as to not overload you, these are the top missions for you so far. Now what the mage told you before with core creation was mostly correct though I have felt slight imperfections in her teachings. I told you to continue gathering mana for that reason. What she didn't get to was how to breakthrough to the 2nd circle. In order to do this, you will need your mana core full but you will also need a mana stone from a slain beast. Absorbing the mana from the slain beast while having a full mana reserve is necessary to push your core slightly beyond its limits without causing the core to rupture. So please kill a monster or purchase a mana stone as quickly as possible to breakthrough.***
Thomas listened attentively as they continued along their journey. It had already been several days since they left the Duchy and he had been absorbing mana until he felt like a waterskin that had finally filled to the brim. Hearing the new missions provided him something else to focus on besides the shambles of his home life or what it used to be.
Looking to the system, his next question regarded the system store which had populated unexpectedly. He only had one point so he wasn't sure what could possibly be in the store that he could buy but he was determined to see. System, open the store. If possible, filter to only show things that I can buy first and then display the full list of items.
*** Host, opening the system store***
A translucent blue screen popped up in front of him. The items were separated into categories of: Bloodlines, Elixirs, Ingredients, Materials, Weapons, Skill books, and finally Blueprints. Looking at the bloodlines, they started off at 100 points and continued until one reached 1,000,000 system points. System, is it possible to have more than one bloodline? ***Host, no that is not possible. However, if you purchase it while maintaining contact with a desired individual, you could theoretically pass that bloodline on to another person. Be careful with who you share this side of the system with as should that person turn against you then you've effectively just created your own villain.***
Thomas spent the next several days agonizing over which purchase to make as everything seemed to be outside of his price range in multiple categories except for two: the Flare skill book and the Spark skill book. Both were low tier magic skill books one that caused fire to be created above the users finger and the other that created a low level lightning spark. Both didn't seem that useful right now but he was feeling defenseless as they traveled.
System, let's prioritize raising our impression amongst the villagers first thing. We need more system points for the things I want to do.
Thankfully the trip to the barony went without incident, the travelers filled with an odd sense of satisfaction to see the palisade walls of the new town they were to inherit. To call it a city would be a gross overstatement but it was slightly larger in area than a town. Pairs on men with spears walked in shift rotations around the wall, vigilant to keep out any incoming monsters thought by the damage evident to the outside this was not always the case. Claw marks could be seen gouged into the timber planks making up the palisade. Two sides of the city, north and west, had maybe 200 yards from the wall to the forest while the eastern part of the city was nestled again a mountain side.
Defense has to be a primary concern for the city. I can only imagine that the townspeople are not thrilled with the threat of monster attacks given what the walls look like.
Two guards stopped the duo of carriages prior to entry to the village, clad in leather armors with iron vambraces and greaves strapped to them. A functional but crude armor set, perfect for a village this far out of the way for established armorers.
"Halt, state your business." barked the first guard.
"We are travelers from the Plantagenet Duchy, here to meet with the village chief. Please let us pass so that we can conduct our business." Thomas spoke up, brandishing but not providing the letter provided to him by the Duke.
"Very well, wait here. We shall fetch the village chief, please wait in your carriages."
10 minutes had passed before a shuffling of feet could be heard coming toward their carriages. Thomas, who had reclined back to enjoy some additional rest, stretched lazily as he stared at a wizened face of an old man who stared at him wide eyed. "Young Master Thomas, is that really you? Oh it's been 15 years, thank the stars you're okay. After your mother sent us away, we feared the worst for you both. Please, come inside. We have much to talk about."
Here we go again, Mother making a mysterious appearance all the way out here. The more questions answered, the more than come up as a result.
As Thomas and the entourage made their way into the town, Thomas couldn't help but notice the state of disrepair on many of the buildings. Stone exteriors with slanted wooden roofs, many had holes dotting them. A glimpse of what they once looked like flashed through his mind quickly replaced by the state of decline evident in the city. The sporadic adult lounging against one of these stone buildings, bottle in hand could be found as well.
As they neared the portion of the city that nestled closest to the mountain side, a larger house than most could be found. Composed entirely out of the stone from the mountain, this house showed no signs of disrepair but something seemed cold about the place. Being led by the village chief inside, candles were lit to provide additional light.
Being directed to take their seats by the village chief, Thomas produced the letter his father had given him and handed it over to the village chief. "Oh thank heavens." he started after reading on through the letter. "It says here that you are the newly appointed Baron of this city. Once you name it, that shall be your last name as well. It says for you to choose wisely and to report back to the Capitol with this news as soon as you find prudent."
"Village chief--"
"Please call me Marcus."
"Alright, Marcus. You mentioned that my mother sent all of you here. Who are you to my mother?"
"Dear Thomas, you don't remember me because you were so young, barely born. I was a chief attendant to your mother. Of those assigned to her 10 could be considered her confidants. She sent us out here to be out of the prying eyes that continue to fill the Duchy. Court politics had gotten messy as some wanted war with the neighboring Valois and others wanted concessions. Your mother, originally being from Valois, was already looked upon with suspicion just because of where she was born. It is my belief that the Emperor or someone in his circle orchestrated for her arrest and execution to try and provoke the Valois, though obviously that did not have the desired effect. Seeing you again, I am sure the others will be overjoyed."
"And where are these others you mentioned?" Thomas inquired, the situation getting murkier and yet more clear the deeper the conspiracy went.
"Well, 5 of them were your mother's personal escort. They are currently off into the forest hunting for food and supplies. 3 are maids who happen to be out at the moment and another one has taken up blacksmithing. Turns out they had a bit of a knack for it and just kept at it. That iron armor on the guards? Recent creations and boy has it helped."
"Okay, give me an overview of the city. What are we dealing with here?" Thomas knew now that his primary concern revolved around a lack of knowledge. In order to find a best path forward, he needed a clear understanding of where specifically he stood.
"Well, my lord we currently have the left side of the city dedicated to farmland. Unconventional I know but farming outside of the city has become too dangerous. Crop yields are increasingly diminishing and we're supplementing that with hunting wild game outside the wall using the chief guards. The last headcount had the city population around 1,000 so this is not sustainable for long. That leads to the 2nd problem, increased public unrest. Crime has taken route, specifically in the northern section of the city. You couldn't have seen the worst of it entering from the southern section but the state of the city is even worse. I would say those are chief among our problems right now."
"I understand, thank you Marcus. Tomorrow, we'll start taking steps to move everyone in the right direction. For right now, we'll have to leave the crime ridden section alone for now. Hopefully that changes. If any of the hunters return with a mana stone from a monster they've slain, please have it sent to me directly. Now I hate to be rude but would you mind showing me and my companions to our rooms? It was a long trip and I think they would love to sleep in a bed for once."
"Certainly sir, please follow me." Marcus ushered everyone up to the 2nd floor where they were each provided a room, the one at the end of the hall being reserved for Thomas. While not comparing to his previous life, the bed he fell into was leagues above sleeping in the carriage. Slumber found Thomas not long after.