“Fair enough,” I said. Cindra looked worried, but playing along might be our only way out of this unscathed.
When I opened his menu, I saw why he called himself Blade. It wasn’t an original name in the least, but it was a million times better than his real name.
Δ
Skillmeister View of:
Percival Pimpleton
Base Attribute / XP to Next / Intended Change / Total XP Cost
-
11 Constitution / 275 XP to Next / none / Total XP Cost: 0
-
7 Vivacity / 175 XP to Next / none / Total XP Cost: 0
-
16 Strength / 400 XP to Next / 16 –> 25 / Total XP Cost: 4,500
-
16 Hardiness / 400 XP to Next / 16 –> 18 / Total XP Cost: 825
-
10 Focus / 250 XP to Next / none / Total XP Cost: 0
-
12 Resolve / 300 XP to Next / none / Total XP Cost: 0
-
TOTAL BASE ATTRIBUTE XP COST: 5,325
Stats Affected by Change
-
[Constitution] Health Points (HP): 1100/1100
-
[Vivacity] Action Points (AP): 140/140
-
[Strength] Phys. Damage Inflict Range: 160-195 –> 250-305
-
[Hardiness] Phys. Damage Block Range: 86-122 –> 97-137
-
[Focus] Mag. Damage Inflict Range: 100-122
-
[Resolve] Mag. Damage Block Range: 65-91
-
Skills For Weapon Class: Knife
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Throatcut 14.
Increase knife damage dealt to throat region by 3.8 times.
[14 AP to cast] [Requires: Strength 16, Hardiness 16].
-
Improve to Throatcut 15 to increase damage multiplier to 4.2. [15 AP to cast] [Requires: Strength 17, Hardiness 17] [1,875 XP to improve].
-
Improve to Throatcut 16 to increase damage multiplier to 4.6. [16 AP to cast] [Requires: Strength 18, Hardiness 18] [2,000 XP to improve].
…
Intended Change: 14 –> 16
Cost Subtotaclass="underline" 3,875
TOTAL KNIFE SKILL XP COST: 3,875
Skills for Special Class: Rogue
-
Skulk 12.
Reduce odds of being noticed when sneaking up on targets by 24%.
[Passive] [Requires: Hardiness 12, Resolve 12].
-
Improve to Skulk 13 to improve evasion to 26%. [Passive] [Requires: Hardiness 13, Resolve 13] [4875 XP to improve].
…
Intended Change: None
Cost Subtotaclass="underline" 0
-
Locked.
Assassinate 1.
Increase damage dealt to torso region by 10.0 times.
[100 AP to cast] [Requires: Strength 30, Hardiness 30, Constitution 30] [375 XP to unlock].
-
Improve to Assassinate 2 to increase damage multiplier to 10.5. [110 AP to cast] [Requires: Strength 33, Hardiness 32, Constitution 31] [750 XP to improve].
…
Intended Change: None
Cost Subtotaclass="underline" 0
TOTAL ROGUE SKILL XP COST: 0
Summary
-
Available XP: 9,120
Cost of Intended Changes: 9,200
Precision Training Discount (1%): 92
Total Adjusted Cost: 9,108
Total Projected Remaining: 12
Confirm?: Yes / No
∇
In the end, I upped his Strength by nine levels to a cool 25, his Hardiness two points to meet Throatcut’s prerequisites, and then his Throatcut skill by two levels bringing it to 16. Unlike the other folks I had trained so far, he had clearly been to his share of skillmeisters before. I wondered why he didn’t just hand his gold over at the temple instead of waiting for back alley deals in shady taverns like the Grippersnout, especially since he had a ton of XP built up. He seemed like someone with an interest in keeping his attributes high so he could continue to be the biggest, baddest rogue of the bunch.
He did have an ability he hadn’t unlocked yet, but far be it for me to tell him that. He didn’t seem like someone Valleyvale needed running around with an Assassinate skill.
“It’s done,” I said. “I doubt anyone in town is stronger than you now.”
“Good,” he said, pushing the sack of coins toward me. “From now on, I’m the only rogue you train. Break that rule and I’ll break your neck next time you’re in town.”
“It’s been a pleasure,” I said, hoping my sarcasm wasn’t too thick. I took the bag and left the bar with Cindra.
“I want to make something clear,” I said the second the door closed behind us. “I’m happy for your help, but I never expect you to put yourself in that position.”
“I learned a few things,” Cindra said, “when I stared into his eyes long enough. First, he believed the jewels were worthless, so I couldn’t catch him in a lie about their value. Second, he believed a contract for sex was unenforceable. The laws here must not allow contracts like that. I figured we’d trade me and the jewels in exchange for money, then remind him it would be illegal to follow through once we had the gold in hand.”
“A great plan,” I said, “if Blade were the type to care about the law. I think he would have forced you to make good on that contract, even if a court of law wouldn’t.”
“Oh,” she said. “I was so focused on bargaining against Blade that I forgot the larger circumstance.”
“Well, it’s okay this time,” I said. “We made it out of there in one piece. But we’ll need to sleep somewhere now and buy our goods in the morning. None of the shops will still be open.”
We wandered toward a building with a sign that simply said “Inn.” It must be a real budget type of place if they couldn’t afford a proper name.
“Excuse me,” I said to the woman working the front desk. “I know it’s late, but do you have rooms available?”
She stared at Cindra for a moment, then looked back at me. “That thing can’t have its own room,” she said. “Pets stay with their owners, and if anything gets ruined you’re paying for it.”
“Cindra is not a pet,” I said. “She’s a woman and you’ll treat her like one.”
“She sleeps in your room or not at all,” the innkeeper said. “My business, my rules.”
“It’s alright, Arden,” Cindra said. “I’ll sleep on the floor. It’s just one night.”
I passed the woman a gold coin and she bit into it, testing the metal. She dropped it in the register and passed me back a few silvers as change. Maybe she thought I’d leave those on the nightstand as a tip, but she should keep dreaming.
When we made it to our room, I said, “I’m taking the floor, not you.”
“Nonsense,” she said. “My body will adapt regardless of the surface. You’re made of bones. The floor will be painful, and cold.”
“I’ll take a blanket,” I said. “I’ll be fine.”
“The bed is big enough for the both of us,” she said. “I could keep you warm instead.”
“Don’t tell me you’re in heat too,” I said.
“Forget it,” she said. “I’m not your type anyway. I saw how you looked at that half-elf in the forest, the one covered in snakes. Your eyes lingered a while on her breasts. Mine are too big, it’s alright.”
I laughed. Yes, Mamba had a nice rack, and yes they were smaller than Cindra’s, but Cindra had me all wrong. “I assure you, yours are the perfect size. You’re a very attractive woman, Cindra. I just don’t want to take advantage. You pledged fealty to me after all. How do I know you don’t just feel… pressured.”