Thomas had finally found it, sitting alone on his cot in the healing house, thinking through words, and trying combinations for what felt like hours. The key phrase, entirely unintuitively, had been “Avatar customization”. He looked eagerly at his status, then his options.

Thomas Bluebrim

Brawler

Legend of Wind

Level 3

0 Misfortunes / 0 Fortunes

0 Curses / 0 Blessings

67/90 Health

0/0 Mana

-1/-1 Stamina

1 Distinctions Available

17 Skill Points Available

17 Customization Points Available

Strength

Constitution****

Intelligence

1 Melee Damage Bonus

0

-3

3 Maximum Worn Armor

90 Maximum Health

10 Additional Skill Points

0 Deflection *

0 Damage Reduction

-2 Maximum Stamina Points

1 Melee Damage Bonus

12 Base Armor

0 Spell Piercing *

Wisdom

Agility

Perception

5

0

-3

5 Lores

0 Bonus Targeting

-3 Reaction Time

5 Arcane Resistance

0 Evasion

-1 Stamina Regeneration

0 Mana *

20 Movement *

0 Missile Range Bonus *

Name

Point Cost

Prerequisite

Description

Bonus: Distinction

5

Take an additional Distinction

Bonus: Class Distinction

20

You may pick either improve a Class Distinction you already have if you meet the level prerequisites (Level 5 for Improved, Level 10 for Greatly Improved, Level 15 for Legendary), or pick a new improvable Class Distinction at its basic level

Emphasis: Aether

5

Have not already taken an Emphasis

Increases damage done with Aether by 100%

Emphasis: Earth

5

Have not already taken an Emphasis

Increases damage done with Earth by 100%

Emphasis: Fire

5

Have not already taken an Emphasis

Increases damage done with Fire by 100%

Emphasis: Ice

5

Have not already taken an Emphasis

Increases damage done with Ice by 100%

Emphasis: Lightning

5

Have not already taken an Emphasis

Increases damage done with Lightning by 100%

Emphasis: Death Energy

5

Have not already taken an Emphasis

Increases damage done with Death Energy by 100%

Emphasis: Life Energy

5

Have not already taken an Emphasis

Increases damage done with Life Energy by 100%

Emphasis: Void

5

Have not already taken an Emphasis

Increases damage done with Void by 100%

Fortune: Blessed

3

Grants 1 Blessing

Fortune: Cursed

-3

Do not currently have a curse

Gives the player 1 Curse

Fortune: Fortune

1

Grants One Fortune

Fortune: Misfortune

-1

Do not currently have a Misfortune

Gives the player one Misfortune

Improvement: Constitution

3

Has not already been taken 5 times

Increases Constitution by 1

Improvement: Agility

3

Has not already been taken 5 times

Increases Agility by 1

Improvement: Intelligence

3

Has not already been taken 5 times

Increases Intelligence by 1

Improvement: Perception

3

Has not already been taken 5 times

Increases Perception by 1

Improvement: Strength

3

Has not already been taken 5 times

Increases Strength by 1

Improvement: Wisdom

3

Has not already been taken 5 times

Increases Wisdom by 1

Martial School: Flowing River

10

Allows use of the Flowing River Martial School

Martial School: Ironwood

10

Allows use of the Ironwood Martial School

Martial School: Mighty Ox

10

Allows use of the Mighty Ox Martial School

Martial School: Mountain

10

Allows use of the Mountain Martial School

Martial School: Snake

10

Allows use of the Snake Martial School

Martial School: Tower

10

Allows use of the Tower Martial School

Resilience: Aether

5

Have not already taken a Resilience

Increases Aether Resistance by 50%

Resilience: Earth

5

Have not already taken a Resilience

Increases Earth Resistance by 50%

Resilience: Fire

5

Have not already taken a Resilience

Increases Fire Resistance by 50%

Resilience: Ice

5

Have not already taken a Resilience

Increases Ice Resistance by 50%

Resilience: Lightning

5

Have not already taken a Resilience

Increases Lightning Resistance by 50%

Resilience: Death Energy

5

Have not already taken a Resilience

Increases Death Energy Resistance by 50%

Resilience: Life Energy

5

Have not already taken a Resilience

Increases Life Energy Resistance by 50%

Resilience: Void

5

Have not already taken a Resilience

Increases Void Resistance by 50%

Vulnerability: Aether

-3

Aether Resistance > -100%

Decreases Aether Resistance by 50%

Vulnerability: Defense

-3

Base AC > 5

Decreases Base AC by 1

Vulnerability: Earth

-3

Earth Resistance > -100%

Decreases Earth Resistance by 50%

Vulnerability: Fire

-3

Fire Resistance > -100%

Decreases Fire Resistance by 50%

Vulnerability: Ice

-3

Ice Resistance > -100%

Decreases Ice Resistance by 50%

Vulnerability: Lightning

-3

Lightning Resistance > -100%

Decreases Lightning Resistance by 50%

Vulnerability: Death Energy

-3

Negative Energy Resistance > -100%

Decreases Death Energy Resistance by 50%

Vulnerability: Life Energy

-3

Positive Energy Resistance > -100%

Decreases Life Energy Resistance by 50%

Vulnerability: Void

-3

Void Resistance > -100%

Decreases Void Resistance by 50%

There were some options, here. Thomas noted that he could get some additional points by making himself weak to certain things, and also for getting – unlucky points and curses? He didn't know what those were, and no thanks to any of that. At least for now.

Right. He had the points to increase his statistics by five. Let's see, what had Leisa recommended? His constitution was his biggest issue. He mentally focused on the section of the screen.

Thomas Bluebrim

Brawler

Legend of Wind

Level 3

0 Misfortunes / 0 Fortunes

0 Curses / 0 Blessings

67/110 Health

0/0 Mana

-1/-1 Stamina

1 Distinctions Available

17 Skill Points Available

11 Customization Points Available

Strength

Constitution****

Intelligence

1 Melee Damage Bonus

2

-3

3 Maximum Worn Armor

110 Maximum Health

10 Additional Skill Points

0 Deflection *

4 Damage Reduction

-2 Maximum Stamina Points

1 Melee Damage Bonus

12 Base Armor

0 Spell Piercing *

Wisdom

Agility

Perception

5

0

-3

5 Lores

0 Bonus Targeting

-3 Reaction Time

5 Arcane Resistance

0 Evasion

-1 Stamina Regeneration

0 Mana *

20 Movement *

0 Missile Range Bonus *

So … with four damage reduction, and his distinction to ignore damage less than four, he ignored any damage less than, what, eight? Thomas paused, eyeing the two screens. He didn't actually know what one damage corresponded to. He was currently missing twenty health, compared to his maximum, and he didn't feel bad at all. That had actually been … kind of underwhelming. He'd expected his base armor to increase, at least, but it just sat the same. What did twelve base armor even mean?

He tried increasing intelligence next, maybe it would help him figure it out. Leisa had indicated, that zero probably meant average.

Fortune Master had just gotten a little bit better. And he had the potential for positive stamina now, even if his regeneration was negative. He still didn't know what stamina was, either, except that he could apparently spend it to knock people back. Thomas examined himself and felt … well, he didn't feel quite as mentally slow, but that might be his imagination. He mostly felt about the same. Disappointing; he definitely didn't feel overwhelmed by the changes to himself, or the stat screen.

A wise decision. You've earned one wisdom!

Thomas blinked as a new screen appeared, then disappeared. Then another screen appeared, again. The Lore list. Thomas took a little bit more time going through it this time, made his selection, and closed it again. Finally, he looked at his statistic screen.

Thomas Bluebrim

Brawler

Legend of Wind

Level 3

0 Misfortunes / 0 Fortunes

0 Curses / 0 Blessings

67/110 Health

0/0 Mana

0/2 Stamina

0 Distinctions Available

23 Skill Points Available

2 Customization Points Available

Strength

Constitution****

Intelligence

1 Melee Damage Bonus

2

0

3 Maximum Worn Armor

110 Maximum Health

16 Additional Skill Points

0 Deflection *

4 Damage Reduction

1 Maximum Stamina Points

1 Melee Damage Bonus

12 Base Armor

0 Spell Piercing *

Wisdom

Agility

Perception

6

0

-3

6 Lores

0 Bonus Targeting

-3 Reaction Time

6 Arcane Resistance

0 Evasion

-1 Stamina Regeneration

0 Mana *

20 Movement *

0 Missile Range Bonus *

His new Lore had been chosen since, if he was going to help out Leisa, he might as well be halfway decent at it. And it might also come in handy if he was going to be fighting.

Lore: First Aid

Your knowledge of simple anatomy and basic emergency care, and how to correctly treat simple conditions, as well as to recognize the limits of your skill and knowledge, and what exactly might otherwise happen if you blundered on.

He checked his scrapes and cuts from the fights with the beetles; as before with the lores, he didn't feel like he knew any more, but he also didn't feel completely ignorant, either. The wounds would, indeed, be fine on their own, although he'd want Leisa to apply poultice to avoid infection. He had the cut on his ankle, as well as the one on his arm; he also had three smaller wounds; a scrape on his knee, a cut on his elbow, and some bruising on his hands from trying to punch a beetle's carapace. He couldn't really tell whether or not he knew anything more about first aid, or not.

Huh. But this did actually gave him something of a baseline; he had five injuries, and had taken … ninety less sixty seven … carry the three … twenty three damage. So three of the wounds had done five damage, and two had done four, right? Huh. So if he went into the exact same fight again right now, he wouldn't take any damage. Or would it still hurt him, just not reduce his health? Thomas didn't really want to test it out, but … well, he would be anyways.

Leisa didn't seem as excited as he was, about fixing his stats up, when he told her that evening over dinner. Anise had joined them, and Leisa was more engaged in a conversation with the matron about preparations for a harvest festival they'd be having in a few days. Thomas' own excitement slipped a bit, having expected her to be happy for him, and he reluctantly digested the idea that he was more of an aggravating patient to her than anything else. He had started to develop a crush on the healer, and the realization made him glad he hadn't let her know that; the humiliation would be unbearable.

Thomas listened to the conversation, which seemed to revolve mostly around food and alcohol – Anise had mentioned a pole once, but only by way of stating that it was already ready. He settled back, thoughts drifting to other topics.

Cenpre looked at him, frowning, as her farming implement ended the beetle he'd been hammering ineffectually with his fists. “You can take a blow, now, but if you can't deal one, you'll always need a babysitter out here in the fields. What's your ascension?”

Thomas hesitated before answering, remembering Leisa's reaction. “Three.” Cenpre was silent for a second, and then two. Then burst out into laughter. Thomas just looked at her, feeling rather numb to people's reactions to his responses to these kinds of questions.

“No, really.”

“Really.” She started laughing harder.

“Thomas, you don't look like you're just growing in the rest of your hair.” It took a moment for him to process that, and he blushed, which made her laugh harder. She took a moment to bring the laughter under control. “Alright, alright. I need to breathe, quit making me laugh.” As if he had been the one doing that. “What are your traits?”

Thomas remembered Leisa's amused pity, and her 'That explains a bit', or however she had phrased it. Leisa was nicer than Cenpre, and he really didn't want to tell her. The silence was prolonged, Cenpre's eyes progressively narrowing, until suddenly widening, her eyebrows shooting up, and her lips parting in a very wide grin. Aw, sheeyit.

“What, really?”

“I didn't say anything!”

“You didn't have to, your expression said it all. Hey, Orbel!” A man who was dragging a beetle carcass looked up. Thomas moved around the twitching beetle, but Cenpre handily fended him off. She gestured at Thomas. “New kid has Lust.” Orbel looked back at them for a moment, gave a wry chuckle, and resumed pulling the beetle towards the pit. Thomas dropped his hands, defeated.

“Not like I wanted it.”

“Hey, everyone's got their traits.”

“Oh, what are yours?”

“Wrath and prudence.” Thomas paused, considering those qualities together, forgetting his embarrassment for a moment. Then she spoke again, “You must be a virgin, then.” Well, it had been nice for a moment.

“What? No I'm … wait, why do you say that?” He was trying very hard to control his reactions, lest they give him away entirely. Cenpre just eyed him.

“Because you're only on your third ascension.” She didn't say 'Duh', if the word – utterance? – even existed here. She didn't say it, but the tone of her voice conveyed the word entirely too well. Thomas considered the customization points he'd gotten for his activity behind the shed. Oh. Oh! Wait, seriously? How did he get anything out of stoicism, then? Cenpre's next words interrupted that line of thinking; “Your traits should get you to the fifth ascension, but not much further. Generally that's when someone is considered to be an adult. So if you're only on your third, you haven't finished with your traits yet.”

“Oh. Well, alright then.” So, what? Did he have a some kind of quest to -

“We'll have to deal with the whole virgin problem for you.”

Right. Right. Of course. Because things weren't already humilitating enough.