Knights of Tezoth

Fixed it.

Yes

So, what does this mean — if you give a template learnability, will it have to be reworked? Or can you add the skill "for free"?

While Manka and Rgoktex were bringing the battered redskins back to life, Stefania gave a brief report:

Ikazkan Expedition. Reconnaissance mission. Day ???

Participants: Stefania Valentine, Knight of the Wind, Eugene Grimm, Knight of the Rusting Soul, Odlid, Rgoktex, Manka

Heading back to test some theories, we deliberately provoked a battle with the redskins. Some were taken down by my arrows, but for the most part Eugene did all the work thanks to his magnificent armor and mighty artifact. His reputation as one of Guildaria's best generals is well deserved.

Note 1: after the battle, four redskins were brought back to life thanks to Manka's and Rgoktex's abilities and tied up so they couldn't attack any of us. This was done to test one, or perhaps two, of our theories at once.

— So, we have four freaks and several of their corpses, — Stefania looked around. — To start, I suggest we try cooking one of those we didn't revive. We need to butcher and cook it. Then someone will have to taste it.

Stefania carefully studied the remains and analyzed what the meat of these freaks resembled. Certainly better than human flesh. But if their flesh is lethally dangerous to humans, then the question takes on a completely different character.

— Eugene, how long do you think it will take to assess the result?

No rework needed.

That requires sitting down and thinking over a build for imba-terminator alts.

Do materializers count as having human lineage?

The flesh of these creatures was sinewy, tough, and almost devoid of fat. Determining whether it was safe to consume without a taste test was impossible.

- Not long enough for us to starve to death.
It seemed that this time the Knight was in no hurry to take the initiative and decided to leave the kitchen matters to the women.

This sword is lich-ural against the likes of you.

— Well... Nothing ventured, nothing gained, — Stephania summarized, after which she took out her camping knife and began carefully carving up the corpse, sniffing its aromas along the way, comparing what it might resemble.

She asked Manka to light a fire and prepare everything needed for the upcoming culinary magic. The men, in turn, were to keep an eye on the prisoners and determine which of them would volunteer as a taster. Obviously, that fate could only fall to Rgortex and Odlid, since Eugene would sooner blow them all up than agree to be a volunteer. Besides, it was beneath his station.

— Are you sure you won't let us rest on your supplies so our healers can recover their strength? — Stephania asked Eugene along the way. — A well-rested Manka could save the taster's life if anything went wrong.

Yes, but what if we are still considered humans!

The foul smell that greeted Stephanie's senses was unlike any animal that lived on the surface, as if her body was giving her a hint of the incompatibility of the food she was preparing with herself.
While the women were busy with culinary magic, and the two men argued over who would get the role of taster, Eugene allowed himself to relax and recover his strength - unfortunately, due to the fact that full rest was only possible in camp and other specially designated locations, it did not allow him to restore his OD and health.

- My provisions will be distributed as needed.

In the end, Odlid and Rgoktes had to play rock-paper-scissors:
Round 1:
Odlid - Paper
Rgoktes - Scissors
- What bad luuuuuck. Luck has turned its back on me!

Maybe she and Manka just don't know how to cook. Stefania is a noble lady, after all — servants surely did that for her.

Don't remind me about "noble ladies" who "can't cook," please...

- Would I want to? Not in a million years! But you know, if I found myself there, perhaps I would defeat all the demons. You see, what sets us apart from them is the possession of a soul, which they can never truly comprehend. And it is precisely that soul that gives us the chance to claim the power they would love to devour, while preserving our own nature in the process. But we are not so simple either: our soul is a resource we must not squander carelessly. And certainly not use it to feed those creatures. Filthy, aggressive... - Vargas's hand tightened around his dagger, his eyes locking onto the apprentice's. - You fight demons every day - mental ones. When you try to get out of bed, when you head to training, when you simply do your sit-ups against your own reluctance. These are entities that strive to harden themselves within your mind, but once you cast them off - you feel true freedom. They poison your mind, and that is their strength. Strip them of it, and you're on top.

He reflected for a while on memories from another world.
- But give in to a momentary temptation - and you're a dead man, and dead men tell no tales. I intend to hear your story in all its glory: with both its failures and its successes. And I believe you intend to hear mine as well. It's entirely possible that your Lady has been possessed by a demon, and we would need an exorcism - his gaze lingers. - And who but us could provide it? But for that, we need to work. I am very glad that my lord of the Scorching Ordeal has managed to grasp the nature of our life. That means we shall have to try to bring him back to the righteous path. He is no longer in hell; apart from serving your Lady, there are other facets of life he is missing out on - we just need to remind him of them. It may not work, but it's worth a try. I do my best not to give up in front of others.