Posts from Nowaru

So, I entered the city, walked around the streets, and found out that 10% of the population are homosexuals, 40% practice Munchkinism, 25% of women are involved in prostitution, 95% of food establishments sell ale and meat, certain gangs control specific districts, which guards can be bribed, where to buy drugs, and who to bribe in case of trouble.

So, I went on an expedition, and they started using poisons. I left.

Meltaret

Southern Ertenia, wild lands.

The silence hanging over the lifeless desert canyon was broken only by the soft sound of footsteps on cracked sandstone. The uneven light of two torches carved the tired faces of two men from the slowly thickening darkness. By their tanned skin and fair hair, it was easy to tell that they were far from their homeland.
- Maybe we shouldn't have strayed so far from the road? - one of them muttered. - It leads to the bridge. It's the only crossing over the Kenrit Abyss for many miles around. We'll have to trudge toward it in the morning anyway, and this way we're just wasting time and strength.
- We were out in the open there. - the other replied. - Don't forget, we've already crossed the border. These are wild lands. Considering how much scum has been rushing into Teios for secret knowledge lately, it's better to remain cautious and stop for the night somewhere secluded.
- Perhaps. But the matter is important and, seemingly, urgent. If we keep beating around the bush, heaven knows when we'll reach Covellia.
Trying not to stumble over stones, the travelers walked in silence for a long time, vainly trying to spot something resembling shelter.
- A cave would be useful right now. - grumbled the one leading the way. - Fine. It's already dark. We'll stop here.
He pointed to several giant rocks scattered whimsically nearby, as if dropped by some giant. The Melhorians squeezed into a gap between them and, lighting up the area behind the rocks, discovered that ten paces away the ground dropped off sharply, turning into an almost vertical rocky slope.
- Convenient. - the second one assessed. - We can't be seen from that side, and it's unlikely anyone will approach from this one.
Sticking their torches into cracks in the ground, the travelers began to set up a place for camp.
- By the way, Meltaret... Do you think we ourselves could be counted among that scum you mentioned?
Not waiting for an answer, his companion continued.
- To be honest, I can't say I like the teachings of Elulu-Suen all that much. Remember how it was back in Melhoria? There were very few of them; everyone believed in our gods. I never thought I'd find myself among their ranks... And you?
Meltaret remained silent for a moment, watching his friend stretch the tent between the rocks.
- Look at current Teios, Garenim. Do you think Melhoria can reach that same level? No. Our gods are weak. Their teachings will lead to nothing in the end. Soon others will realize this too.
- Everyone was free with us. And now—look at us! We have to drag ourselves to the ends of the earth just because someone told us to. Just don't tell me you enjoy following orders.
Many miles had been traveled that day, and Meltaret had absolutely no desire to argue. He sat down wearily by a torch sticking out of the ground, watching the fire. At least five minutes passed before he finally answered.
- Weren't you the one who said you were sick of running through forests and shooting goblins? That was all we did at home our whole lives. What was the point of that?
- The point was that we decided for ourselves what to do. We made the choice ourselves.
- The choice isn't what matters, but why you make it. The goal is what matters. Freedom itself doesn't provide that. And now we have a goal.
- Your goal is to run errands for these newly-minted holy men, guided by their murky teachings? Is this what your father meant when he said you must preserve the family faith?
A fierce spark flashed in Meltaret's eyes. He slowly rose to his feet and looked into his companion's eyes. It was obvious they did not understand each other.
- Do not test my patience, Garenim. Now is not the time to talk about this. Tomorrow is a difficult day.
His companion, who had tensed up, relaxed noticeably, but it was clear from the stubborn expression on his face that he would not back down.
- We haven't finished this conversation. Anyway, fine. Go get some rest; I'll sit here a while longer.
Meltaret turned away, entered the tent and lay down in his spot. His eyes closed of their own accord.

It seemed he had fallen into a slumber from which he was awakened by some voices outside.
- You've wandered quite far from your forests, Melhorian. - said some stranger, sounding like a Kalevrit by his dialect. - A heretic, I bet? That's exactly who we're looking for...
- This is not your country. And many travel to Teios now. Even you, I see, which is suspicious. What makes you think that I am the traitor to the faith and not you?
- The fact that - the stranger hissed, with a lightning-fast movement driving a dagger into Garenim's heart. - our clever boss knows how to recognize you infidels...
The sound of a falling body was heard. Meltaret cursed mentally and caught a strange glint out of the corner of his eye. The ring with the emblem of Elulu-Suen on his finger, received for combat merit, was glowing with a suspicious reddish light. He had never noticed this before.
- Wait a minute... - an old man's voice rang out. - The signal isn't disappearing. There is someone else here!
There was no time to think. Meltaret raised his bow, aimed at the sound and fired through the tent. A scream rang out, and in the next moment the tent flared up in blue flames. The Melhorian leaped outside, simultaneously nocking an arrow.
There were three of them. However, a moment later there were two. The Kalevrit with the bloody dagger, standing over Garenim's body, collapsed to the ground, blood spraying from his throat pierced by the arrow. Nearby, an old man in a blue and silver robe writhed in pain, clutching his stomach. And before him, the last of the three was already raising his bow. Realizing he wouldn't be able to fire first, Meltaret lunged sharply toward his dying torch and, ripping it from the ground, threw it into the archer's face. The maneuver paid off—the shot went wide. To prevent the opponent from taking another shot, the Melhorian tried to snatch the bow away, but this attempt was unsuccessful. Noticing just in time that the enemy intended to manually drive an arrow into his neck with his free hand, Meltaret leaned back and kicked the enemy's bow, causing its end to jab the Kalevrit in the nose. A second of confusion cost him his life—a slash wound from Meltaret's hunting knife opened on his throat. Ending the battle, the Melhorian sent an arrow straight into the skull of the mage attempting to heal himself.
- Looking for traitors to the faith, are you? Well, look all you want...
Taking a similar fading ring from Garenim's finger, the avenger shoved it along with his own into the old man's eye socket, which had been pierced by an arrow.
Most likely they were just some advanced bandits. Strangely, the death of his friend left only a shadow of regret in Meltaret's soul. Although he was glad that he died quickly and without suffering. Examining the bodies, the Melhorian picked up the silver dagger with which his companion had been killed. Wiping it on his trousers, he tucked it into his belt, not even knowing if as a trophy or simply for memory...

What happened left no thought of sleep. Gripping the bow in his hand, Meltaret approached the edge of the steep slope. The moon emerged from behind the clouds, and now the deserted landscape was bathed in pale light. In the distance, the faint outlines of the bridge they were heading toward were visible. It seemed that the road actually made a detour around the slope, and they, without knowing it, had gone straight across. And not only them.
Carefully, ledge by ledge, the Melhorian descended.
A long journey lay ahead...


Race: Melhorian
*OS: shooting, OT: archer, RACC +30%

Religion: Elulu-Suen
Passive
* +3 to all characteristics.
* +4 OT
* +1 SP
* +1 OO

Domain: Suentan (land of warriors)
Origin Bonus: +2 OT for combat specializations, +30% fire resistance.

Characteristics:

Strength - 10
Endurance - 20
Agility - 40
Perception - 50
Consciousness - 15
Magic - 3


Skills:

Military Craft

Quick Mind
The character gains the ability to move before shooting as well as moving after using spells. (2)
Scout
Initiative +1
MOV +2
Ability to quickly gather information about the nearby territory.(1) (1)
Muscle Memory
AGI +40%. (2)

Assassin

Killing
Target penalties in the gray vision zone increase to 60%, in red to 100%.
Melee: attacks delivered directly from behind deal fourfold damage, ignore resists and armor. Applicable only with one-handed weapons.
REQ: activated stealth or opponent's inability to react - they are immobilized or surrounded.
Ranged combat: attacks delivered from the red vision zone deal two and a half times more damage. Damage does not stack with stealth. (2)
Knowledge of Vital Points
Each attack deals (perception/8)% damage to max hp and target's evasion/accuracy. When used together with onslaught, efficiency is four times lower. (1)
Poisoner
During character creation, the player can create 2(S:10)/3(S:20)/4(S:30)/5(S:40)/6(S:50) poison recipes that they will use in further gameplay. (1) (1)
- Entropy Poison (target mana depletion)
- Paralysis Poison (depriving the target of the ability to perform actions)
Designed for combat use.

Shooting

Archer
The character is trained to use bows. (1)
Accurate Shooting
Perception-15=chance to paralyze the opponent with each shot. -10 for medium armor and -20 for heavy. (1)
Bullseye
Perception-20=chance to instantly kill the opponent.
Cooldown: 5 turns (Consciousness=10), 4 turns (Consciousness=20), 3 turns (Consciousness=30), 2 turns (Consciousness=40), 1 turn (Consciousness=50) (1)
Rate of Fire
Additional attack (1)
REQ: Archer ✓[/B]
Expert
Shooting range doubled
REQ: Archer ✓[/B] (2)

Inventory: leather jacket (not armor), Melhorian bow, a couple of quivers of arrows, silver Kalevrit dagger, hunting knife, supply of poisons, savings and provisions.

Sorry I didn't have time to give you advice on skill choices. However, I was going to suggest something similar to what you ended up choosing.

Well, you did influence my choice with some of your answers. So, I'm still grateful to you and to everyone else who answered my questions.

A good party is being assembled.

A group of bandits and thieves.

Not a single positive character.

Yes, they are all thieves, psychopaths, and murderers. And the leader is just a desk jockey.

Alexa and his Paladins are not a threat to you.

Yes, we should definitely get Alexa. Otherwise, Aretz, even though he complains, isn't any better than us – he's the one who's training the thief.

The thief leader probably decided to take these skills in the end.

So they can loot more effectively.

:smile20:

By the way, the Fragment, a leather jacket, shouldn't be taken if it's light armor. It will reduce your speed to six if you wear it without the skill (up to twelve with the skill).