Wood Walker - Uncommon

Requirements - Level 15

A sapient plant-based life form, normally only found on densely forested worlds. Generally peaceful by nature, these tall genderless beings often stay clear of more built up civilizations, choosing to remain in the wild, leading them to be regarded as a more savage race despite a lack of aggression.

Racial stat gains per level: 4 Body, 2 Spirit, 4 free points.

“I kind of assumed there’d be a little more change. This looks almost the same as what I already am. Should there be more to it than this?” Marcus asked, sharing the information.

“You’ll always be offered the straight upgrade or next step. In your case it’s just going from the lesser to the normal version. So it shouldn’t be that surprising that it’s just more of the same, it’s the others that should be a bit more interesting.”

Wood Walker (Empty Ebony) - Rare

Requirements - Level 15, Mana Immunity

One of the most resistant materials within the System, as an Empty Ebony you are the natural enemy of magic and its users. Your immunity spreads all but the most specialized magic’s and effects, at the cost of being unable to wield it yourself. While immunity to your enemies allows you to settle all conflicts with physical force, you are unable to receive magical aid from allies either.

Racial stat gains per level: 6 Body, 4 Grace, 5 free points.

“Now this I've heard of,” Tobin said, reaching into his pack and pulling out a sealed jar containing what looked like black powder. “Empty Ebony, the non-living version anyway, is probably the best magic suppressor out there. Put a pinch of ground bark in a mage’s wine and they won’t be able to so much as look at mana for days.”

“Sounds potent. I take it that it’s not that easy to get a hold of?” Marcus said, studying the powder.

“Rare, trade restricted and illegal in most empires. It’s also fairly limited in quantity since you can’t grow it with any kind of ability which makes it worth a fortune. I know someone who had a meeting table made of the stuff, no one could influence anyone else sitting at it, kept things honest.”

“Really?”

“Well, he still got betrayed and stabbed, but honestly, you know?”

“Suuure.” He said, scratching his head with a frown. “So that’s the upside, but that downside...”

“Worried that you’ll be hunted as a resource?” Tobin asked.

“Well I am now, but I was more concerned if it would block my communication with Datov. Think it would?”

“No block!” Datov interjected loudly, causing Marcus to wince as a tremor ran through the ground.

“So that’s a no from Datov then?” Tobin asked nervously as things settled.

Marcus nodded. “That’s a no, so let’s move on.”

Wood Walker (Peace Lily) - Rare

Requirements - Level 15, Bloodless title, Mental resistance Level 10

Violence is avoided by the innocent, and prevented by the noble. But in the presence of a Peace Lily, violence isn’t even an option. Those touched by its aura find themselves unable to take offensive actions unless strong enough to resist its sway. With a will of your own you can also exert your influence over them, leading them down the noble path you choose.

Racial stat gains per level: 8 Presence, 4 Thought, 3 free points.

“Well that’s a little more you. You seem to be pretty anti violence.” Tobin said after they read it.

“I'm not exactly anti violence; I just don't want to be the one doing it..? It’s complicated.” He replied, concerned with what he read. Exerting your influence...

“Am I right in thinking this is mind control stuff?” he asked.

The gnome scratched their chin. “Could be, the System purposefully tries to hide as much as it can with decisions like this to encourage people to go more by feel.”

“I don't think I want to get involved with that.” Marcus said, looking at the option like it might try and bite him.

“Your call obviously, but are you sure? I get that it’s a little shady, but a benevolent dictator can do a lot of good.”

“It’s still got the word dictator in it. Moving on.”

Wood Walker (Lichwood) - Epic

Requirements - Level 15, Death affinity, Die more than five times, Resurrection based title, no holy affinity

Where most plants grow life from death, continuing the cycle, the Lichwood seeks only more death, even its own. Thought to have gone extinct many times over the ages, these twisted trees appear randomly over the sites of great bloodshed. Pulling the vital energies out of their surroundings, if left unchecked they can reduce entire countries and continents to barren wastes. As a sapient version, your goal is the same to rob the world of life to fuel your own growth. You will no longer gain stats for levelling, instead gaining them based on the deaths you cause.

He felt the pull of it, the whispered promise of power and strength. But even so…

“No.” Marcus said without hesitation.

“Really, you’re not even going to consider it? Not everyone can claim to be an epic ranked species, and a powerful one at that.” Tobin asked, his tone off.

“The Peace Lily was questionable, it wasn't something I could stand but I get that it might have a place. But this? This is the closest thing to evil personified that I've seen. I'm not touching it with a ten foot pole”

“Good.”

“Good? I thought you were trying to sell me on it.” He asked, confused.

“Lichwood’s are nasty, and have a standing bounty with every empire I can think of. That said they’re potent, and can be used in some massive rituals that can best be described as war crimes. That power can be tempting, and if you’d gone for it, I probably would've tried to put you down. Even with Datov watching over you.”

“No kill!” Datov shouted in Marcus’s mind.

“There are times, Datov, when bad things have to be done. And if I became one of those, I’d probably even try to hurt you. I don't think I actually could hurt you, but I wouldn’t want to let myself get to that point in the first place.”

“...Don’t want.” Datov whimpered.

“Me neither buddy, so I’ll stay away from that one. Which leaves us with...”

Splinter of Yggdrasil - Epic

Requirements - Level 15, Mundus affinity, Make contact with a worlds core, Resurrection based title

A Wood Walker may guide and nurture a forest, but as even a tiny piece of the world tree, you are tasked with taking whole planets under your charge. Able to forge permanent connections to the planets under your care, you substitute your own strength by tapping into the might of these worlds.

Racial stat gains per level: 1 free point.

“Well this seems... understated.” Marcus said.

“Yggdrasil... I know I've heard of that somewhere...” Tobin muttered.

“I think, and don't quote me on this, that it’s a world tree, like the centre of everything and planets grow on it? Or attached to it? It was something from mythology from my world. You recognize it?”

“You’d be amazed at how much mythology is real somewhere in the system. I’d need to look into it, but I swear I've heard it mentioned somewhere. Maybe I stole something by the same name?”

“Stats are kind of low though. Only one? The rare ones had fifteen.”

“It’s an Epic rarity race, which is rare enough that it actually bothers me a little seeing you getting offered two of them. That means the System is putting it at the same potential as the Lichwood, which is a known continent devouring doom, so it probably has a few things up its sleeve.”

Marcus nodded, rereading the listing. “Right, ‘substituting your own strength’. So it probably has something to do with that. Any evil horror about this one?”

Tobin shrugged and let out a sigh. “Again, I swear I've seen something about that name, and it’ll bother me until I can figure out what it was, but I'm pretty sure it wasn’t anything bad.”

“What about you Datov? What do you think about me sticking with you?” Marcus asked the world with a grin, already knowing the answer.

“Want! Be that!” They yelled gleefully.

“Then the choice is made. Tobin, should I sit down for this or..?” he asked.

“Wouldn’t hurt, you never know with these things. If you pass out I’ll just keep working on the bear so you do what you need to.”

“Here we go then.” He said mostly to himself, accepting the option.

-Evolution in progress. Because of degree of changes being implemented, host will be rendered unconscious until completion-

-Time until completion: 6 hours-

“Called it.” Marcus slurred, before toppling forwards unconscious.

~

“What do you mean we can’t use the gate?” Sarah demanded of the Kurtzian guard in front of her.

“No people of newly added realities can travel to another race’s world until they’ve become strong enough.” They repeated calmly.

Sarah’s forces were growing quickly, both in number and in level. Already she was getting calls from other groups of fighters looking to unite as well as politicians looking to latch on to her success. There were also plenty of businesses trying to organise sales and branding deals, but fortunately she was able to hand all of that off to Luke who had a proper head for numbers.

But now they faced a new problem, that of the Kurtza empire itself. Ever since people had worked out that the empire didn’t have humanity’s best interest at heart, they’d begun distancing themselves from their supposed teachers. In turn, the empire had begun dropping their front of offering real aid and instead doing little more than standing around occasionally transporting things through their warp gates. It was one of these gates Sarah was trying to use now, to meet with some connections others had made with their abilities.

“And what will define us as being ‘strong enough’?” she asked, trying to control her growing frustration.

“The empire believes your people will achieve this by the end of the grace period.”

“Oh please, we both know that's bullshit, we’ve spoken to some people and I know for a fact that other than actual fighters and adventurers, the average person in the system isn't even level one hundred. They've even agreed to discuss trade with us.”

Their grip tightened on their spear as their eyes narrowed. “Contacting other organizations and nations is forbidden during the grace period.”

Sarah crossed her arms. “Really? Because we did it using the Systems abilities and gifts, so it seems like it's perfectly ok with us reaching out. Instead, it sounds a lot like it's you and your empire that wants us to sit and stay quiet.”

The guard shifted slightly, going from a relaxed stance to one ready for combat. Sarah's followers became nervous and stepped back but she herself remained unperturbed.

“You would do well to not question the grace of the empire.” They said firmly, warning in their voice.

She laughed. “We’re not here by ‘the grace of the empire’, we’re here by the power of the system. The same system that gave your empire a quest to help raise and support us for six months. I have to wonder if it thinks that trapping us and actively hobbling our growth counts as succeeding in that, or whether there'll be some failure conditions coming.”

“You know nothing of which you speak!” the guard yelled, a bead of sweat forming on their brow.

“Don't I? I know that your empire doesn't have even a drop the power needed to pull humanity into the system, all your people did there was make the message so we’d have a name to look for. From what we’ve heard from some of the far more helpful nations we’ve spoken to, we have a few more distant empires to thank, the ones that serve as administrators. Not a dying relic of an empire clinging to power by sacrificing us for their own gain.”

The guard snarled at her. “Pathetic girl, so what if we have? Our empire's glory has existed for millennia, who cares if we sacrifice an upstart race that has been present for mere months to spread our righteous name once more you little- what are you doing.” they said, stopping in confusion as they watched Sarah laugh and fist pump in celebration.

“We’ve been trying to pry an admission of guilt out of your people for days now, but you’ve all been holding firm, but it seems all it took in the end was being challenged by a ‘pathetic girl’.” she said, gloating. “We finally have enough evidence to put forth a claim. And it's all thanks to you! You should be so proud.”

“Y-you dare!?” the guard said in a panic, raising their weapon and stepping forwards.

“Oh I dare a lot more than that.” She said, quickly pulling out a piece of paper and reading from it, shouting the words aloud. “I, Sarah Gillian of New Earth, formerly of planet 13847J-2, call for the aid of the System in finding the Kurtza Empire in contempt of their System given duty and quest!”

In response to her words and before the Guard could reach her, a ray of white light hammered down from the sky, knocking people over and forming a dome around her. Outside of this shield a figure now stood, one that hurt to look at. Dressed in a bright blue hoodie, sweat pants and sandals they seemed like they’d just been lying on a couch. But where the figure’s body should have been there was nothing but a void, as if a hole in the universe had lazily put on clothes.

“Man, your family really loves yelling at the sky. Ok then, Miss Gillian of New Earth, I’m here to listen to your claim, but be aware that we take this sort of thing very seriously, and there will be severe repercussions if you’re wasting my time.” They said, their voice seeming to come from all directions at once.

“R-right.” Sarah began nervously, taking a breath to calm herself. “We of New Earth were to be given aid by the Kurtza Empire, but instead they’ve been taking those advantages for themselves.”

The administrator scratched their chin. “That’s definitely an offense if true, do you have any proof?”

“Proof?” she repeated, quickly flicking through the pages in her hands. “Right, in accordance with order 3218954, section J-42, we were supposed to have received weekly shipments of mana crystals, none of which have been received.”

“That’s not right.” They said, shaking their head.

“What? But-”

“That particular order, 3218954, section J-42, is in regards to the minimum quality of fruit sold by the system. I think you might have some numbers wrong there.” They chuckled.

The guard laughed at her, “Ha, the whelp knows nothing, she should be punished for-”

-I am talking, and I will decide who is punished. Now silence-

Beyond words or sound, the message went straight into the soul, and for a moment even the wind went quiet. As they reached out a hand, Sarah found her notes being pulled from her hand by a gentle, unseen but undeniable force. The figure spent a few moments looking over them flipping through the various points of data that humanity and painstakingly collected. With a subtle twisting motion the notes were pulled into two identical versions, one of which was handed back.

“Well, from all of this I've learned two things. One is that your people need some proper text books of system laws, something that definitely should have been handed to you. Seriously, I only saw about two rulings you had the right codes for.”

“...Some of that might have been me. I was never the best note taker in school.” Sarah admitted. “What’s the second?”

“The second is that you have legitimate grounds for having the empire’s actions investigated, which is unfortunately above my pay grade. I’m organising a taskforce for it at the moment but it’ll take a few days to sort out however things pan out. Hopefully we can- you in the back there stop trying to identify me! Someone like you will have your head explode well before you succeed and that’s not an insult, its physics!” They shouted, looking at a now sheepish man. “Anyway as I was saying, hopefully we can reach an understanding that all parties will find acceptable.”

The guard recovered and rallied for a moment. “The empire has done nothing wrong and will fight against this injustice!” they yelled before vanishing suddenly as the administrator waved their hand.

“All innocent parties will find acceptable.” They corrected themselves.

“Umm, one last thing...” Sarah began hesitating.

“Yes?”

“Before, you mentioned something about my family. Do you..?”

“You’re talking about your brother? Yeah I'm the one who fielded his request to swap with you. Good egg that one, you should be proud. Actually that’s the main reason I volunteered to field your call, figured you wouldn’t be the kind to try and pull something.”

“Do you know where he is? Can you bring him here?” she asked eagerly, full of hope.

“Ah, sorry, no. I only have jurisdiction over this zone, and he ended up outside it somewhere so I don't have any access to his information. And even if I did, we who work as administrators have taken oaths of non-interference. So I couldn’t help you anyway.”

“But aren’t you helping us right now?” She begged, a trace of desperation in her voice.

They shook their head. “We follow the System’s rule, and it doesn’t play favourites. It gives everyone the tools and potential to survive and succeed and leaves the rest up to you. When your universe was pulled in you were left below everyone else so it gave you gifts and aid in order to bring you in line with everyone else. That’s the limits of the System’s help. But if the empire has dared to interfere with one of the System’s direct actions...”

-It will not remain silent-