NeoRealm - Staring back into the Future

After a few minutes of walking, Jason and the calico catkin make it to the army's treasure vault. Sure, it probably had some official name that isn't so blatant, but when you have a place under so many enchantments, rituals, and so on, there are only so many things it could be.

Guarding the door to the vault is an older lady wearing a crisp military uniform and not at all shy about letting people feel how powerful she is. Because while most people can understand the meme of having some old dude look powerless while actually defending an important location, it just wouldn't make sense for the vault.

So the calico catkin captain approaches the gray furred wolfkin and announces their purpose for being there, which leads to said wolfkin lady guiding the two of them to a side room where a decent selection of items have been laid out. Another trope being actively diverted, because no, they aren't going to let Jason just wander around their treasure vault to pick out his reward.

Still, they aren't being unkind to him, either. Though if he actually does take them up on the massive pile of gold coins, that is his own fault. Sure, it does represent hundreds of gold coins, but the gear up for offer is worth more if only because of how rare it is to find. After all, the army isn't fools and the people back in the meeting room could tell that Jason was an Energy user.

Though the gold pile isn't completely useless. As the old wolfkin explains it, if Jason decides to pick up one of the more common items, she is authorized to use some of the coins to make up for it. Not that Jason figures there will be much left over at all as he also has some miscellaneous items to pull from. In fact, one of the first rewards he picks comes from exactly that category.

A simple enough thing and relatively cheap if you're allowed to get your hands on it. All it was, was a manual on how to carve a small scale alarm ritual. While the carvings are relatively loose in how detailed you have to be, it isn't lying about small scale as Jason is going to have to either shrink his usual camp size or only ward the sleeping area. Still, having an actual powered alarm system for camping outside is worth it. Plus, it only requires ten Energy to power. That would have been a bit out of range in the past, but Jason now has three times that kicking around so it won't be a problem.

After that, Jason is tempted by a few other ritual manuals but after a warning by the elder wolfkin controls himself. It would be a waste to use all of his reward on rituals when there is equipment specifically made for Energy users up for grabs. So with that in mind, he only grabs one more, a manual of light. Sounds cool, but is basically just the Energy version of the common light spell. Useful in the dark and super cheap. The only reason Jason didn't have it yet is because while in theory a common enough ritual, this is the first time he has had access to a large organization's selection of manuals as most stores wouldn't just be selling stuff like this.

From there, he turns towards his main reward, a piece of equipment. Of course, since he just recently replaced his pants, arm guards, and belt he only gives those pieces a cursory look. Sure, there are some more fitting pieces there than what he is wearing, but on the other hand the rest of his gear is still beginner set equipment which has lost all value to him.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Among all the gear laid out, a few things caught his eyes. A helm of the crystal dragon and a circlet of crystal resilience both rate up there for headgear. There was a buckler made from a single hexagonal crystal. Even a nice chest piece that could strap on over his leather armor that was also crystal themed. Suffice it to say, Energy, at least in this area, is heavily connected to crystals. In the end, though, Jason decides to go with some nice footwear.

{Deep Earth Scaled Moccasins

Description:

A pair of moccasins crafted from the hide of a deep earth two-armed snake. Despite the snake's size being many meters wide and hundreds long, the scales, especially on the belly, are all extremely small to the point that their young appear to not have scales at all except on the closest of inspections. These moccasins have been made from leather harvested from the area around the heart, which along with the normal toughness includes a crystalline structure that the snake's Energy would naturally toughen. This natural tendency has been strengthened by careful carving of various rituals allowing for the toughness to not get in the way of flexibility as well as some minor automatic repair functionality.

Grade: High Normal lv53

Effects:

Auto-Repair - As long as one of the repair runes stays unbroken, the moccasins will be able to return to full working order with time and Energy

Flexibly Tough - Increased defense against piercing with minimal loss to defense against cutting and blunt trauma

Form Fitting - With time and Energy these moccasins will shape themselves to perfectly fit the wearer to within 10% plus or minus the original dimensions

Energy Conductive - Energy based skill used through the moccasins are slightly boosted

Ritual of Toughness - Energy based defenses are improved by 10% around the feet

Natural Minor Geokinesis - Any unworked stone and dirt that is stepped on will shape itself around the foot as long as Energy is flowing through the moccasin and then reform when you step away

Bonuses:

+10 Agility

+3 Toughness

+30 Defense}

There was other more powerful gear, but some of the effects and the fact it was made to the quality of the fourth break made the moccasins real standouts. Sure, the effects directly benefiting his abilities is nice, but that last effect separated it from the rest. To most the geokinesis might sound relatively minor and more of a thing so you don't end up hurting yourself on a sharp rock. Jason, however read between the lines and saw it for what it is. A traceless step effect while moving on bare rock, dirt, sand, and other similar terrains. As long as it wasn't covered in plants or crafted by hand, his steps will erase themselves.