Callie's Heroes

PART VI - MODULAR CHOICES

“Callie?” Jesca said, a worried tone in her voice. “What is it?”

“This is really …“ Callie began, her voice trailing off as she reviewed the information again.

“Really what?” Reynard added, a hint of concern likewise in his voice.

“Let … let me try something before I explain,” Callie said, face still confused as she held up a finger.

“Watch your mana,” Thorn warned.

“No, it should be fine,” Callie said, waving the worry away absently as she continued to look inward. “How much is needed depends on …” She took a deep breath, hoping she understood how the skill worked.

SUMMON MODULAR TURRET - STANDARD BASE/STANDARD BODY/STANDARD HEART/ONE HEAD

Like with the old version of the skill, the clockwork turret built itself from magical light, a little faster this time than at Bronze. Once completed, it looked virtually identical, and started shooting when mentally directed, the rate of fire now faster than before. Confirming that still worked, Callie halted the action.

“Okay, so that one is exactly the same as the old one, then,” Callie mumbled, mostly to herself. “I’ll try now with just two simple changes …”

SUMMON MODULAR TURRET - WALKING BASE/STANDARD BODY/STANDARD HEART/TWO HEADS

This time, a second turret built itself, the first not dissolving as it would have at Bronze, and it was immediately apparent this one was a little different. Instead of resting on a base of four stationary supports, everything was placed on a square platform about three-quarters of a meter off the ground, with what appeared to be jointed legs under each corner. The rest of the turret was the same as the first until you got to the top, where instead of one there were now two shooting mechanisms, one stacked on top of the other. The ground was slightly irregular, and the legs twitched a bit, finding better positions and making the platform level.

“Interesting …” Thorn said carefully, not sure what to make of the odd, new construct.

“Shoot that and that as you go over there,” Callie mentally ordered, also saying it aloud for the benefit of everyone, pointing first at two separate targets, and then where she wanted the turret to end up.

Without hesitation, the legged turret started walking to the left. At the same time, it started to loose its summoned bolts both at the hay bale partially wrecked by the grappling hook a bit ago using one head, while the second shot downrange towards one of the targets. As it moved, Callie was reminded a little of those robot security dogs she’d seen on the internet dancing to music, the construct stepping high over small items on the ground and working to keep the turret level. Once it reached its destination it stopped, the accuracy significantly improved as the shooting continued.

“It can move now,” Thucax gasped, “and shoot two things at once?”

“Callie, please explain,” Reynard asked.

Nodding her head a few times as she finished internalizing how the skill functioned, Callie mentally ordered the walking turret to stop shooting before she turned towards everyone. “Okay, I think I understand how this is going to work. It’s a little complex and requires some math, and there’s a lot of options, so stick with me until I get to the end." Taking a deep breath, she pulled up the skill’s description again and recited it for everyone.

Tell me about Summon Modular Turret

SKILL: SUMMON MODULAR TURRET (SILVER TIER)

MANA USAGE: VARIES

CASTING TIME: VARIES

RECHARGE TIME: 20 SECONDS

CHARGES: 12

DESCRIPTION: Summons a mechanized construct that can fire summoned arrows at mentally designated targets once every 2.5 seconds. The caster can designate a new target at any time. Turrets are assembled at time of casting from various component options, with the number of charges, amount of mana and casting time required varying based on those components. The construct must be summoned within a range of 4 meters from the caster. Turrets are summoned constructs and will dissipate after approximately 10 minutes, but can be dismissed at any time. Only 2 turrets can be deployed at a time. Summoning an additional turret will cause the oldest active turret to dissolve. Higher tiers of this skill will increase the maximum active turret count, number of charges, and improve other elements. This perk synergizes with the TINKER trait in the exploration of perk-related projects.

This is a melded skill of TINKER + SUMMON COMPONENTS + BOWYER/FLETCHER.

A Turret is assembled from up to five components: base, body, heart, head and optional enhancements.

CONSTRUCT BASE - Choose One

Immobile Base - 1 Charge

The construct must be affixed to a reasonably flat surface measuring at least thirty centimeters in length and width, or be able to clasp to a narrow supporting structure that is at least thirty centimeters in length. The attach point must be stable for maximum accuracy.

Walking Base - 2 Charges

A construct with this base is able to move at a walking speed as directed by the caster. It will not be able to traverse overly rugged terrain or steep inclines. Accuracy improves if not moving.

Levitating Base - 3 Charges

The construct floats approximately one meter off the ground, and is able to move at a rate slower than the walking base. Maximum height is 5 meters. Accuracy improves if not moving.

CONSTRUCT BODY - Choose One

Standard - 1 Charge

The construct is crafted from standard, light-weight materials that may be easily damaged or destroyed.

Reinforced - 2 Charges

The construct is crafted from heavy-duty materials able to absorb a bit of mistreatment

Armored - 3 Charges

The construct is both Reinforced as well as covered with heavy armored plates, able to handle extreme punishment and damage. Construct is also immune to fire and acid.

CONSTRUCT HEART - Choose One

Standard - 1 Charge

Standard Turret Heart with No Effects

Quickened- 2 Charges

Decrease Attack Interval by 0.5 seconds.

Overcharged - 2 Charges

Increase Summoned Duration by 5 minutes

NUMBER OF SHOOTING HEADS - Choose One

Note: Only the top head is able to fire fully vertical

One Head - 1 Charge

Two Heads - 3 Charges

Three Heads - 5 Charges

Four Heads - 7 Charges

ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCT EFFECTS - Optional.

NOTE: May apply only one effect to each head.

Rapid Fire - 2 Charges per Head

This head can hold up to 2 charges of Rapid Fire, with a recharge time of 20 seconds. It can either be used when ordered by the caster or set to be automatic on each cooldown.

Multishot - 2 Charges per Head

This head can hold up to 2 charges of Multishot, with a recharge time of 20 seconds. The caster is able to select a different target for each arrow within a 30-degree cone. It can either be used when ordered by the caster or set to be automatic on each cooldown. If set to automatic, all shots will aim for the same target in a 10-degree spread pattern.

Burst Shot - 1 Charge per Head

This head can hold up to 2 charges of Burst Shot, with a recharge time of 20 seconds. It can either be used when ordered by the caster or set to be automatic on each cooldown.

Piercing - 2 Charges per Head

All shots from this head have the Piercing effect.

Self-Destruct - 2 Charges

The Construct will explode if destroyed or when commanded to by the caster, but not when it expires naturally or is replaced by a new turret.

Feeling a little numerically giddy, Callie kept quiet while she watched the others process what she had just relayed. Her mind raced, though, running various potential permutations through her head. She imagined everything from a reinforced walker with four separately shooting heads, to a heavily armored tower putting out occasional Rapid Fire blasts. She even envisioned a floating armored version with a single head spitting out Multishot shotgun attacks. For some reason, in her head it resembled the floating robots on that weird show with the flying blue telephone booth, and she then wondered if it could be made to talk and maybe keep repeating ‘EXTERMINATE’.

Ultimately, the only limitation on design would be the maximum twelve charges, as well as mana. Interestingly, the mana usage wasn’t that great, the base standard turret seeming in line with what it had been at Bronze, and a little higher for the walking version. It wasn’t artificially inflated like most new skills, likely because it was derived from the old one she had mastered. That meant it used many of the same pathways in her head, right? That must be why it was considered ‘evolved’, rather than being new.

Surprisingly, it was Thucax who was the first to seemingly fully comprehend the skill’s design and potential. “My stars!” the Gnoll exclaimed. “You have so many possibilities!” You could see him working things through his head like Callie had, his background with numbers and logistics from the family business likely assisting.

Vonn was next to appreciate the potential, followed quickly by Thorn and the others.

“I see what you meant about it being complex,” Reynard said, obviously still rolling the infodump through his head. “You’ve said you enjoy math and numbers, though.”

“So this one used four charges, right?” Thorn asked, pointing to the basic, immobile turret.

“That’s right,” Callie replied with a nod. “That would be the same turret that I used to summon at Bronze with the old skill, although it shoots a little faster now and lasts longer.”

“Then this one cost …” Thorn continued, making a thinking face. “Blast, I can’t remember all the parts now.”

“That one used seven charges. One extra for the legs and two more for the second head. So between the two, I’ve used eleven charges, and am down to one charge left, plus whatever I’ve recharged every twenty seconds.”

“I think this is hurting my brain,” Jesca said, her face still locked in a perplexed look. “So many choices. How could you possibly keep it all straight? This is worse than your Layering perk!”

Jesca was right, there was a lot to keep track of. Callie could probably calculate the number of actual possibilities with a little bit of work, although the maximum number of charges limitation and optional extras added a bit of complexity. She didn’t have to do any calculations to know that the answer was ‘a lot’, though.

“How are you for mana?” Thorn asked, a growing excitement in his voice. “I’d like to try some variations.” Before Callie could even answer, he sent out a shrill whistle, calling down a Sprite and sending him off to find another Sprite to help and fetch mana potions. Callie groaned, remembering how bad they tasted as the creatures' ‘goodbye’ faded into the distance.

For the next half-hour or so, maybe a bit longer, everyone rattled off various combinations which Callie dutifully summoned up. She had been a little worried about mana usage if she used most or all of the charges at once, and there was a noticeable increase when she got above nine or ten. Thankfully, the four minutes needed to recharge from zero back to twelve helped keep the pace from getting out of hand, and the perfect timekeeping of both Thorn and Jesca would alert when it was safe to drink another mana potion. Come the end, when the five or six potions had been exhausted, Callie was ready to be done. Her head, already reeling with all the modular combinations she had mentally considered and summoned, was frankly getting mushy from all the constant casting.

One interesting thing Callie discovered was that the Talisman on her bow was actually able to store eight charges of the new skill if she stored them all at the same time. She still couldn’t exceed the total of twelve in her body, but if she deployed a complex turret, she could immediately get a good portion back for casting a second one, or completely if she used both Talismans. It was strategically interesting, for sure, and offered Callie yet another option on how to use her powers.

“Hey, Trainer Reynard?” Callie called out, racing to catch up with the Foxkin, who was being pushed back towards the rest of camp by Thorn. Vonn had called an end for the day’s training a little early for everyone, save Thucax who wanted a little one-on-one help on a couple things he felt he was lagging on, eager to get to Silver like Callie and Jesca had.

“What now, Callie,” Reynard groaned as she approached. “Congratulations on reaching Silver, but it’s been a long day.”

“Be nice, my friend,” Thorn said quietly, trying to calm any tension before it built up.

Callie sighed. She didn’t want to fight right now. Reynard was right, it had been a long afternoon for her, too, and quite honestly, her brain was still feeling a little like jelly. “I just wanted to say that it was nice to see you back in training today,” Callie said. She was being sincere in that statement. After the time she and Jesca had spent with Reynard on Homeday, she wasn’t afraid to admit she was a little worried about him. They may snap at each other often, but she really did care.

“Oh. Apologies,” Reynard said, looking a little sullen. “I was … expecting … more foolishness from you. Thank you.”

Callie caught a smile from Thorn. “Yeah, I get that,” she said, trying to put on a smile of her own. “I know things are … complicated for you this week, so I just wanted to offer what support I could. Sir, if you need anything, just …”

“Yes, yes. ‘Just let you know’. I remember. Thank you for that as well,” Reynard snapped, being a little more short with the Gnome than he really wanted to be. He didn’t like that she knew so much about his personal life, despite the fact he had freely shared it with her and Jesca. He shouldn’t have done that, and now bristled whenever she came close to the topic. It wasn’t fair to her, he knew, but he couldn’t help it. That wall between trainer and recruit had somehow unexpectedly broken down between them, and it chiseled away the dynamic that should be in place.

“I heard about your cabinmate,” Thorn said, forcing a change of topic. “Firelice is dreadful! How is she?”

“I haven’t seen her since this morning, but I think she was going to hide away today. Her head needs some more healing work this evening to address the damage, so I don’t think she wants to be seen. All her hair is probably gone permanently, though.”

“Cheena is masterful,” Reynard said. “If anyone can address the skin damage it would be her.”

Callie looked generally towards the hill where Ogre House lay beyond. “It’s still going to be an adjustment for her.” So far, the rumor mill regarding Lena had been mostly speculative, but also mostly-accurate, at least from what she had overheard. It was known she’d been attacked by firelice, and that she’d been injured, but the full extent of that injury hadn’t yet made the rounds. Instead, there were a lot of wild theories, but nothing completely right. At least Fullo and Zyxengrisc had agreed to make the hat Callie wanted, actually eagerly agreeing once told why. They said they would deliver it by dinner, so it might already be waiting back at the house, wrapped up so Callie could gift it.

Callie took her leave, wishing both trainers an early good evening. As Thorn wheeled Reynard away, she overheard a snippet of conversation between the two of them regarding Jesca. The words were largely lost in the din of everything going on around her, and Callie thought momentarily about sneaking after them to see if she could overhear anything more. Only for a moment, though. Maybe for two moments.