Homestead Survival

<15 August 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER , A+>
[Theo]
Theo began to make his selections. He had said he knew what Skill he wanted, but now that he was rereading things again, he had a hesitation.

"I know that Bounty of the Earth is probably the best choice. But the way that Soilsong Requiem is phrased raises questions for me. It says, 'Work speed and yield increased as long as you sing while working. Effects all within hearing.' It makes no mention of if they can actually hear the song. Or if it is in hearing of me, or a group singing with me. If we had a thousand people singing together, would the Skill affect all who could hear the group..." Theo's thoughts trailed off.

He turned to Patriarch Karzun. "I have one final question if you would answer it, Patriarch Karzun."

Patriarch Karzun smiled and nodded. Theo spoke. "What are the chances of getting the things offered another way?"

"Ah," Patriarch Karzun looked as if he had just asked a complex question. "that is more difficult to answer than we have time for here. Suffice it to say that the System may not offer the same things to you again, but there are usually other ways to acquire them. Except for System-recognized titles. Those are only available from offers by the System."

Theo nodded. "Thank you."

With that, Theo decided to take the safe route that lined up with what he really wanted. Quickly, he selected Bounty of the Earth, the Homestead Core, and the Divergence Token. In response, he received a message.

>Private Message: Awaiting Rectification Resolution...

Shrugging, Theo walked over to Julia.

[Julia]
Julia was positive about one thing. She really wanted the Lantern of Guiding Light. The other thing she was sure of was her dislike of the offered title.

"That is a stupid title." Julia thought once again, trying to imagine what the title would do. "So would I be Hearthmistress Julia the Hearthwarden? Or worse, Hearthmistress-Warden Julia?"

Julia shook her head and focused on the other possibilities. Theo asked a question about getting things that are offered later, and she was encouraged by the answer. "Well, let's decide then. Do I want the Hearthbond Perk or the Token? Patriarch Karzun, Lord Darksmasher, and Lady Eg'Valla all seem to be adamant that we take the Token."

"Patriarch Karzun?" Julia asked, and he turned to face her. "I am torn between the Token and the Perk that is offered. Can you give me any more information about why you and the others encouraged us to get it?"

"I can't say too much." Patriarch Karzun said, "The System does not want us to offer any special help. That is why we are answering questions even for the Corrupted. There is no favoritism here. However, I can say that you will have many, many years to obtain whatever Perks you want. Those tokens so early on, they are an incredibly unique opportunity. That is all I can say."

Julia nodded, "Thank you."

She turned back to the blue box that awaited her choices. She quickly selected the Lantern and the Token.

>Private Message: Awaiting Rectification Resolution...

She turned in time to see Theo walk up to her. "Get anything good?"

Theo chuckled, "We can discuss it later, you loot goblin."

Julia smiled, and they walked towards Ordus, who was a few yards away.

[Ordus]
Ordus was still debating when he noticed Theo and Julia walking towards him. He decided to get their input.

"You get anything good?" Julia asked him with a smile.

Ordus nodded, "I have been offered something that is a rarity for my people. I have been offered the ability to rename myself one of two names."

Theo and Julia glanced at each other, then Theo spoke up. "I think we are both confused as to why that is a big deal."

Ordus nodded and quickly explained, "Our names are literally a descriptor. My name, Ban'Go' Ordus, literally means 'The imprisoned royal son, Ordus' The fire woman you killed was Ban'Xe' Flarra, which literally meant 'The Imprisoned Royal Concubine, Flarra.'"

"Wait, you are royalty?" Julia asked, a little shocked

"I am, but in everything else, I am a leftover from a coup on my father." Ordus shook his head, "That is not the point. The point is that I have been offered two names and an item that matches each of them. I can take the Rulers Edict Item and the name Go' Ordus, with that I could reclaim my fathers throne. The other option is a staff of unknown qualities and the name Go'Van' Ordus. This second choice would put me in a position to take on the role of something close to a Majordomo for you both or for anyone. But I would ask, do you want me around? I know that you were offering me the contract as a way to stop me from harming you.

Julia and Theo looked at each other, and Ordus felt a tingle of apprehension. Julia nodded, and Theo smiled, then focused on Ordus. "Ordus, we would love to have you. But I want to make something clear to you. Only pick what you want. Do not feel any kind of obligation or debt to us. I will void the contract we have if I can if you choose to go the route of reclaiming your father's throne."

Ordus thought for a moment and then nodded, making his selections. He locked in the Staff and the Name of Go'Van' Ordus. "I will be at your service then, my Lord. We can discuss adjusting my contract later."

>Private Message: Awaiting Rectification Resolution...

They all waited and turned to a commotion happening at the group of Corrupted.

[Angram Stormborn]
Angram walked up to the other Corrupted, hearing them talk about what offer they were given, if any.

"All I got was a message saying I was undeserving of Rectification." One of the four remaining Elementals said with a shrug. "Not that it matters. After they leave, we kill the humans, take their stuff, and get out of here. Durn is gone, we can do whatever we want. I intend to have fun!"

This sentiment was echoed by the other elementals and two of the three remaining orcs. One of the Ents. The One who had been maintaining the Translation skill looked at Angram. "What is bothering you, Commander?"

Angram sighed and took a black stone from a pouch on his waist. "I have been offered something that I can not pass up. But it requires me to do something."

Angram began to use his class skills to subtly link as many of those near him to the stone. One of the orcs looked curious. "What did you get offered?"

"Three... Four... Five... Six... Seven... Eight... That is my limit. Hope it's enough." Angram thought as he finished linking eight of the ten to his stone. "I was offered a way to remove the Corrupted Tag from two people other than myself."

The group fell silent. Finally, one of the Elementals spoke. "Who are you going to choose?"

Angram Sighed. And raised the stone so they could all see. Those who recognized the rock for what it was lunged for him. Angram crushed the rock. The four Elementals, three Orcs, and one of the Ents dropped to the ground, clutching their chests in death. The Goblin and the remaining Ent looked as if they were thrilled.

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"Thank you for picking us!" The Ent said, and Angram sighed again. Two axes fell into his hands.

"None of us deserve the chance," Angram said and launched himself at the Ent in a rage. In only a moment, the Ent was dead. He had deeply harmed Angram, but Angram had finished him; he turned to the Goblin and caught a dagger to the gut. Angram dropped his axes and wrapped his massive hands around the Goblin's throat, squeezing the life out of the dirty creature.

>Local Message: Universal Translation Deactivated

When it was complete, Angram dropped to one knee. Feeling his blood flowing out of his gut, whatever had been coating the dagger facilitating his blood flow.

>Private Message: Rectification Resolution Achieved, Issuing Rectification

Angram saw two Tokens of shimmering purple crystal appear in front of him. He picked them up and turned to see Lady Eg'Valla standing nearby. She waved her hand through the air, and a wave of power sprung out.

>Local Message: Universal Translation Active

"I have taken over the translation," Eg'Valla said calmly. "If you ask Julia, the female human, she very well may be able to find a way to heal you."

Angram chuckled. "That is not what I want."

He stepped forward and held out a closed hand. Eg'Valla accepted the two tokens. Angram nodded. "Only to those who deserve a second chance. Preferably children who were forced to become Corrupted to survive."

Eg'Valla nodded. "I promise you that Angram Stormborn."

Angram could feel the end approaching. He nodded and turned, walking to the edge of the Overlook. "I'll go out on my own terms, thank you. Won't let some stinking Goblin kill me."

[Theo and Julia]
All around them, the items and other things that had been granted to those present appeared. Theo and Julia quickly stashed their items into their pouches. Ordus now held a tall, elegant-looking staff and followed behind them.

Patriarch Karzun stepped forward. "You will be busy for a while, I suspect, so I will tell you this, then we shall depart. Primordial Flight will take place in the next month. Crypt Keeper was unsure of the exact date. You will receive forty-eight hours of notice when you do. Let me know with Message. Now then, we shall depart."

Aflara stepped over to Eg'Valla and muttered something. The woman nodded, and Aflara stepped up to Julia, handing her something small. "I think that you will get more use out of this than I will. Consider it a gift, and I look forward to meeting you again."

Julia smiled, confused, and then Eg'Valla slashed a hand through the air, and the three divines and the young Dragonoid woman stepped through.

>Local Message: Universal Translation Deactivated
>Local Message: Battle Delay of Notifications disabled.

Theo was about to speak when they each got a flood of messages.

[Theo]
"Congratulations, Theo, you have leveled up to Level 12! Levels 8 through 10 were granted to you as part of Rectification. Levels 11 and 12 were earned by surviving the Horde! As a reward for leveling up, you will be allowed to pick one Skill to upgrade. You have five pending Skill Upgrades. You have been granted Racial Rewards. Congratulations once again."

>Private Message: Level 08 Racial Reward - Title 'Human Curiosity'
>Private Message: Level 10 Racial Reward - +5 to stat of choice, +1 to all other stats
>Private Message: You have been granted the skill 'Measure of the Land' as a reward for reaching Level 10.
>Private Message: Level 12 Racial Reward - Title 'Minor Social Legacy'

Theo was slammed with information as all of the knowledge of these titles and the new Skill flooded into his head. He quickly dumped the +5 stat bonus into his CON.

>Private Message: Please select one Skill to upgrade.

Theo had a bit of a plan and had five upgrades to go. So he selected Penitent Strike.

>Private Message: Skill 'Penitent Strike' has been upgraded to Rank S- from Rank A+. Base Damage modifier increased to 3.5. Increased duration of channeled effect from 20 to 25 seconds. Gain the Inverse scaling effect.
>Private Message: You have received a Title 'Skilled Up'

>Private Message: Please select one Skill to upgrade.

Theo selected Process.

>Private Message: Skill 'Process' Has been upgraded to Rank C- from Rank D+. Minimum allowed Process Time reduced from 20 minutes to 18 minutes.

>Private Message: Please select one Skill to upgrade.

Theo Selected Defender.

>Private Message: Skill 'Defender' Has been upgraded to Rank A from Rank A-. Base Damage reduction increased from -10% to -15%

>Private Message: Please select one Skill to upgrade.

Theo had been thinking about what he would do with the three levels the moment he had learned he was getting them. These last two were unexpected. He agonized for a moment, then decided he would put one into Claim and the other into Dimensional Storage.

>Private Message: Skill 'Claim' Has been upgraded to Rank B+ from Rank B. Increased maximum amount of Territory you can claim. Increased Level cap of beast claim.

>Private Message: Skill 'Dimensional Storage' Has been upgraded to Rank B- from Rank C+. Decrease time to open from 25 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased time allowed to remain open from 2:12 to 2:26. Increased Storage dimension growth from 8" per level per side to 12" per level per side. Total storage now available: 1728 Cubic Feet.

"Damn!" Theo exclaimed.

>Private Message: Level Up Process complete.

[Julia]
"Congratulations, Julia, you have leveled up to Level 12! Levels 8 through 10 were granted to you as part of Rectification. Levels 11 and 12 were earned by surviving the Horde! As a reward for leveling up, you will be allowed to pick one Skill to upgrade. You have seven pending Skill Upgrades. You have been granted Racial Rewards. Congratulations once again."

>Private Message: Level 08 Racial Reward - Title 'Human Curiosity'
>Private Message: Level 10 Racial Reward - +5 to stat of choice, +1 to all other stats
>Private Message: You have been granted the skill 'Hearthwarden's Vigil' as a reward for reaching Level 10.
>Private Message: Level 12 Racial Reward - Title 'Minor Social Legacy'

Julia felt the information flood her brain and quickly selected Meta to put the five points into.

>Private Message: Please select one Skill to upgrade.

Julia pondered for a moment. Then, Selected Ward three times.

>Private Message: Skill 'Ward' Has been upgraded to Rank S- from Rank A-. Ward Array area increased. Basic level of protection improved. Skill bonus effect already acquired.

She thought for a moment more and was torn. "Do I just dump the rest into Warmth of the Hearth."

She pondered this for a moment. Then she tried to upgrade Bond on a Whim.

>Private Message: Upgrade failed. Due to the nature of Bond, Skill will level up with the use of enhanced Skills and Bond effects.

"Well, it was worth a shot. Okay, so we're going to have guests. Maybe I do a couple into Hearthmade, then one each into Runecarvers Touch and Warmth of the Hearth." Julia pondered for a moment and then selected Hearthmade twice, Runecarvers Touch once, and Warmth of the Hearth once.

>Private Message: Skill 'Hearthmade' Has been upgraded to Rank C+ from Rank C-. Increased assistance percentage to 25% from 15%. Increased anti-spoilage bonus multiplier from 0.9 to 1.3.

>Private Message: Skill 'Runecarvers Touch' Has been upgraded to Rank B from Rank B-. Increased Damage Multiplier from 1.15 to 1.30. Increased number of possible permanent Wards from 115 to 130.

>Private Message: Skill 'Warmth of the Hearth' Has been upgraded to Rank B+ from Rank B. Increased radius multiplier to 5.

"Welp guess that is that", Julia said with a smile, happy with her choices.

>Private Message: Level Up Process complete.

[Theo and Julia]
"Okay," Theo said, looking around. "Now what?"

Before anyone could respond, a blue box appeared.

"Welp, it's all over, I guess," Julia said, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. "Can we sleep and deal with life tomorrow?"

"I like that idea," Theo said.

"As do I," Ordus said with a nod.

They were all about to walk back towards the Cabin when a familiar face walked up. Julia smiled, "Harbek! How are you?"

Harbek looked at them and spouted off some Dwarvish. Ordus tilted his head in curiosity. "He says that he does not understand you; he is now mumbling to himself. I get the feeling that I can communicate effectively on your behalf using this new Staff of mine. What would you like me to tell him?"

"Tell him we will start tomorrow. For now, rest." Theo said, a wave of exhaustion hitting him as Ordus used the Staff to translate.

Harbek nodded and trotted off. Julia looked up at Theo, "Now, can we sleep?"

Theo nodded and led the way to what remained of their Cabin, pulling their bedding outside and starting a fire as the sun set before falling deep asleep.