Lucius Cypher

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

The young man seemed moved by your words, at least rendering him speechless. He tapped his fingers together nervously before glancing between you and Toi, and then he spoke quietly. “T-Truth be told... I don’t want to disappoint anyone here either. Iola’s mean sure, but at the same time she at least respects my uh... My strengths, I guess. Ricks is pactient with me too. I just...” He let out a sigh before looking back towards the ocean.

“I guess there’s no real point in hiding it. I used to be part of the Iron Hammer. Used to. They’re bandits now but... They were good people to me. Took me in When goblins destroyed my village as a boy. Helped the survivors flee to the city. I stayed with em, when their leader took me in. He was like a father to me. Taught me how to use a bow. I thought... I thought we were gunna be heroes.” He clasped his hands together tightly until his knuckles turned white. He seemed very frustrated right now.

“I dunno what happened. Hunting goblins, wolves, or even the occasional ogre, I could do with the rest of the clan. But then he started harassing caravans too. I thought we were just warning them about the monsters in the pass. Escorting then to safety. I wanted to believe that. But... But when he started just killing them, taking their stuff, and no one stopped him I...” The young man looses his grip and laid his head into his hands. He struggled some tears and tried to remain composed.

“I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to hate him. Took me in when I was still a baby. Taught me everything I know. Now he’s some mad killer and... I was too weak to do anything. I couldn’t stand up to him. But I couldn’t support him either. We started raising more caravans, even I shot some arrows at the guards but... I had to go. I couldn’t do anything.”

It was subtle, as he was trying to hide it, but the young man was crying. He would refuse to let you see him like this. Even Toi noticed, silently nodding to you as he gives the man some space to vent his feelings. He stands underneath a tree for now. “I’m already sinned. I couldn’t stopped the moment I laid eyes on it but I didn’t. I helped him, because he was family too me. Because that’s the honorable thing to do for the one who took care of you. But I’m a coward at heart. I couldn’t take on anyone, not even peasants. Certainly not my own father. And now I... I’m worried if that’ll happen again. Just beaten and bullied into servitude because... Because I’m too weak to say otherwise.”

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

The thief seemed a bit less nervous now. Even Toi seemed less imposing despite his tough look. The young man’s shoulders slumped as he leaned against a waist high stone wall overlooking the ocean. “Yeah... I guess I just... Just worried if when my best ain’t gunna be enough. I mean I’m good at stealing until I wasn’t. Used to be good at... Hunting, until I wasn’t. I’m fearful of giving my all for them and... It’s still not enough. Don’t wanna get too attached when I know it’ll just end in disappointment like it always does.”

It seemed almost like the young man was referring to someone else aside from the villagers from the way he spoke. And while his head was up and looking towards the ocean you can see that he still wears that iron hammer amulet around his neck, though it’s somewhat hidden by his tunic as well.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Gotta head to bed, but roll me a Persuasion check.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

The young man still seemed guarded. ”Tis hard work, but that’s just due for what I’ve done. Miss Iona is a task master, but fortunately Mister Ricks is a kinder ser. Says he wants me to learn his trade, and I’ll admit it seems a better deal than heavy lifting.”

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

The young thief flinched when he heard your voice, and bashfully he turns to look at you. ”H-Hello there, yes. Just making your rounds I see. Is there something you need of me?” Toi stepped a bit closer, keeping an eye on him.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

You were able to slip out without any issue. The sun stung your eyes when you got out though; while the candles and radiant light from the tinted windows were enough to read your books, the sun itself assaulted your eyes almost as if you had been staring directly at it. Either way though you manage to get over this and head over to the weavers. There was actually quite a line as various village women and even men were here to get things mended. It was mostly clothing, but some fishermen needed sails and nets fixed up as well. Aestella was hard at work at the loom when she noticed you in the corner of her eye. "Ah, hello! Your outfit is done. Nalia, please give her number six."

One of the younger women, presumably, Nalia, went to fetch a wrapped parcel with a small tag labeled six. She went over to you and unwrapped it, revealing the traveling clothes you had scrounged before. However this time they were smaller, better to fit your body, as well as cleaned and mended. Compared to your current outfit it was still fairly drab and boring, but at least now you had some spare clothes if you ever need to do some dirty work. A few strips of cloth were also added to your outfit, though what their immediate use were for, you couldn't say for certain. "Sorry friend, I'm a bit too busy to chat right now!" Aestella calls over the roar of her loom. Nalia too went back to work, fulfilling her duties mending and weaving.

Not all was going to be too boring though. You'd soon see that thief walking by, seemingly lost in thought all alone. Even Iola wasn't nearby to bark orders at him though it seemed that Toi was tasked to keep an eye on him, though he also kept his distance. He had a small cudgel tucked into his waistband, presumably in the event that the thief reverted back to his old ways.

You are the Mon

Fairy is an acceptable Hidden Power option. Hidden Power just can’t be Normal Typr.

Keratia: Blade Maiden’s Exploits

“Oh uh well, I was just tinkin’ wif it, plus ya know, if I kept da ol bowgun strung up all da time, it’ll mess wif da wood ya know? Always tension an all dat. Plus da salt in da air eats at da iron bits even in da ship, so I keep da bow like dis fer easy storage. I uh... Wouldn’t mind yer help though.” Sticky took the crossbow out and handed it to you. Looked like your fairly standard light crossbow, though there was something strange at the front. It appeared to just be some sort of ring right underneath where the bolts would normally come out of. Aside from that you can easily put it together in about twenty seconds.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

It took your quite a bit of time, but in the four hours you stayed to read, you managed to finish four of some of these massive story books. You where here for so long the acolyte was surprised, but he didn’t bother you. If you wished to take a short break, they had some communion wine and shortbread you may snack on, but not in the library.

The first book was actually about a king who managed to claim the title of Arisen. King Harshnag Bear-Wolf, Lord of the North, Hydra Slayer, and Arisen after he slew the Troll King Shagrol Fireblood, a massive troll warlord with dragonblood. Each section of the book detailed a particular conquest of his starting with his northern homelands, then slaying the Hydra who stalked the seas of Gransys, and finally repelling the Troll King. Strangely enough it seemed like it wasn’t until the third act he was even crowned Duke, as he was a mere war chief all the thee times. His tale didn’t go over much about what the Arisen do but it did tell you a considerable amount about trolls, as the book goes into great details about the things Harshnag learned to prepare and battle Shagrol himself.

New Lore

You’ve gain an academic knowledge about trolls. You know they have an amazing regenerative ability that can only be halted by acid or fire, though Shagrol in the story was immune to fire thanks to his dragon blood. You’ve also learned that it’s possible to sever the limbs off a troll and for them to still live, though severely weakened until they reattach their parts.

After you finished that book you decided to pick up a different one. Smaller than the rest, this book was apparently about goblins. Not slaying goblins, but the book was from the perception of a goblin. Her name was Orchid and she awoken in a cave, scarred and confused, but it detailed her rise through the ranks of goblin king as she fought against different types of beasts and monsters, eventually evolving to become an orcish warlord who created a kingdom for herself and her people. And this wasn’t because she was a mighty warrior either, actually it was because she was a very skilled craftsman and survival expert. There were even some weapon designs drawn in the book that you’ve committed to memory; who knows, you may need this knowledge later.

New Lore

You’ve gained survival knowledge to make simple weapons from basic materials. As part of a rest whenever you’re outdoors, you could try and craft a two dagger, three javelins, or a hand axe whenever you do a survival check. These items can only be made of basic materials such as stone, wood, or bones.

Onto the third book. This one didn’t have a specific main character, rather it was about a great cataclysm and how specific people reacted to it. The cataclysmic was one you might be familiar with: a zombie apocalypse. Only without guns and access to modern medicine, the book when into gruesome detail about the difficulties and horrors the common people felt when their lands were swarming with the living dead. Even nobility were affected as whatever turned these people into undead could certainly affect them. It wasn’t until the few focus characters finally managed to band together that they managed to organize the people and stave off the undead hordes, before finally appealing to the gods and creating a means for the people to protect themselves from the undead. Apparently this helped form the church of the Maker.

New Lore

You learn about some low level undead and their notable weaknesses and abilities. Skeletons have a notable weakness towards bludgeoning attacks, though their magically reanimated bodies allow them to act with better grave and dexterity to their fleshy counterparts. Regular zombies are notably slow and sluggish, very vulnerable to radiant energies, however their bloated and stiffen bodies can take quiet a beating. Lastly you learn a commoner’s means to make holy water using purified water, salt, sugar, liquor, and beetles.

The last book you managed to sit through was less adventure and more of a romantic drama. It was about a princess born from the east, who lived a quiet but prosperous life thanks to her father, a king. But soon political intrigue set in motion a chain of events that results in the death of her father while she is unexpectedly elevated to the position of queen, as her younger brother was not old enough to rule. It speaks about the various hardships women of this place struggle with even when they are in positions of considerable power, as her personal life and her political one become u comfortably intertwined but how she eventually overcomes it.

New Lore

You learn more about how to see through the lies of others. Whenever you have to deal with nobility or someone of greater political authority such as the guardsmen, religious leaders, or merchant groups, you’ll have a better sense of what they’re trying to do when they speak their honeyed words to you.

As you finish the last books a loud bell rings. It was very loud, especially considering that you’re right underneath it, and soon you notice some people coming into the temple. It was a mixture of old and young people, mainly young ones. They all gathered inside to sit at the pews, partaking in the communion wine and shortbread as the priest with the fancy hat began with what you would presume to be religious chanting. It certainly wasn’t words you understood.

In any case it was clear that it was roughly noon right now, and many people were leaving work to go eat or otherwise rest. Since you’ve spent most of time recent time reading in relative comfort you’re not tired. If anything you could use a good stretch. A lot of towns people moving out and about. Where are you going?

You are the Mon

@Lugia

Feel free to go ahead and just figure it out, my next post will be assuming everyone has gotten the hang of calling forth and shooting their Hidden power.

@Evanist

Go with what you feel is best. Grass isn't too bad. It's gentle, soft, but occasionally prickly with thorns if you don't see it coming. I could also make a case for Fighting, since that's the "heroic and brave" pokemon element, and you did go 8v1 against those murkrows. If it wasn't for the fact that certain moves act differently in this verse than they do in game, that sing move wouldn't have been nearly as effective.