The Empires Rise

With all the different boxes to open and a new token to use on the outpost I let everyone know that they can go and open their own boxes. During the time that we were discussing all of the options I received a prompt.

"Settlement buildings have been completed.

1 X Basic Hut Level 1"

"Also could we help get Uxa over to his new home for the time being. It has just finished building and I would like to have some space as I open these boxes."

Noticing it is getting late as well I add. "I would also like to go to sleep as soon as possible since it is getting late."

I look to Zul'Zara and let her know that her hut will be completed in the next hour so she shouldn't have to sleep outside.

Having as respectfully as I could, kicked everyone out of my home and help to bring Uxa to his hut, I start to inspect the boxes that are in front of me.

- Large Settlement Token Box: Contains 13 - 20 Settlement Tokens of varied use. -

- Specific Defensive Equipment Box: Contains one piece of armor/defensive gear based on type chosen. -

- Specific Consumables Box: Contains specific consumables based on the type chosen. -

- Extra Large Wooden Resource Box: Contains 160 of each Tier 1 resource, and 55 food -

- Medium Wooden Building Blueprint Box: Contains 7 - 12 Building Blueprints. -

I do notice that the resource box is different from the ones that I opened before. Asking Ritotorous he explains, "As you were just starting out, what was given to you could be considered a starter package, though the packages vary depending on how well you did with your first quest. Now they will be more standardized and might not be the same on the resource allotment you receive."

Looking at each of the boxes and unable to figure out which one to open first. I shrug my shoulders, I close my eyes, spin and point. When I open my eyes I see I am pointing at the Extra Large Wooden Resource Box.

Seeing that it is the easiest one to deal with getting out of the way first I open in and receive the resources.

I select the defense equipment box next on my list and open it. A prompt fills my vision asking me what type of defensive gear I want to get. I selected boots since my current boots aren't doing anything for me and I figured I could give them to Uxa as a consolation since he didn't get anything earlier.

- Initiate Mages Sandals: +1 to Intelligence, +1 to Wisdom -

Equipping them instead of my current boots I continue on with opening the boxes next with the specific consumables.

Since I have such low health I go for healing potions as my consumable item. I can regen mana whenever but if I die then no more regeneration for me.

- Basic Health Potion: Upon Consumption heals for 4 points of damage. -

I receive 4 potions which isn't that many all things considered but I will take that over none.

Having only 2 boxes left to open I start with the largest of the two, the Large Settlement Token Box and receive.

- 1 X Wood Instant Completion Token: Can instantly complete any building that is Level 1. -

- 3 X Wood Time Reduction Token: Reduces construction time by 1 hour. -

- 2 X Iron Time Reduction Token: Reduces construction time by 2 hours. -

- 3 X Bronze Time Reduction Token: Reduces construction time by 4 hours. -

- 1 X Silver Time Reduction Token: Reduces construction time by 8 hours. -

- 2 X Wood Resource Reduction Token: Reduces construction cost by 5%. -

- 4 X Iron Resource Reduction Token: Reduces construction cost by 10%. -

- 1 X Bronze Resource Reduction Token: Reduces construction cost by 15%. -

- 2 X Silver Resource Reduction Token: Reduces construction cost by 20%. -

- 1 X Iron Instant Level Up Token: Select one building to instantly level it up level 2. -

Looking at all of the tokens that are now scattered all over the floor I begin to pick them up and place them in the Lord's Chest so that way I can use them later.

Finally I open the last of the boxes that are in front of me.

- 1 X Wood Arrow Tower Level 1: Automatically attacks individual monsters that get within range. -

- 1 X Wood Flame Tower Level 1: Automatically attacks groups of monsters that get within range. -

- 1 X Simple Garden Level 1: Able to plant small to medium seeds to start a garden will increase fertility by 10% decreasing time to harvest by 20%. Size is 4m X 4m

- 1 X Simple Hut Level 1: Houses 2 to 4 people at a time, provides an increased rate of regeneration for Health, Stamina, and Mana. Rate per hour 1. Size is 5m X 5m

- 1 X Fog Disbursement Tower Level 2: Disperses the fog in the area of 100 meters X 100 meters. Can claim territory if the Control Point Guardian is dead.

- 1 X Combat Support Tower Level 2: Increases chance to hit by 10% and increases damage by 2 while in area of influence. AoI: 100 Meters X 100 Meters.

- 1 X Observation Tower Level 2: Can be used 2 times per day to get the direction of a control point nearby. Can be used to see if there are any monsters in the area. Control Point distance: 10 KM X 10 KM. -

- 1 X Basic House Level 2: Houses 3 - 6 people at a time, provides an increased rate of regeneration for Health, Stamina, and Mana. Rate per hour 1.1 Size is 8m X 6m. -

I put the blueprints into the Lord's Chest as well since I don't know what I will be able to do with them for the time being and am too tired to figure it out at the moment.

I look at the last 3 items that I have in front of me.

- Outpost Upgrade Token: Can increase the size of an outpost by 1 size instantly. -

- Settlement Experience Bag: Contains 50 Experience points for the settlement. -

- Class Experience Bag: Contains 70 Experience points for the user's class. -

Using the Class Experience Bag gets me closer to leveling up. Then I use the Outpost Upgrade Token when a prompt stops me.

"You are not within range of an outpost to upgrade it. Please go to the location of the outpost and upgrade it from there."

Knowing I am not going out again to upgrade the outpost I put it into the Lord's Chest for later.

With all the things that have happened today I look through my full stat sheet.

Name: Drake Taldrit

Race: Human (F)

Gender: Male

Planet of Origin: Culhara

Health: 5/5

Mana: 10/20

Class: Mage

Class Level: 1

Class Experience : 86/100

Profession: Enchanter

Profession Level: 1

Profession Experience: 0/25

Attributes:

Strength: 1

Constitution: 1

Intelligence: 3 + 2 from equipment

Wisdom: 2 + 2 from equipment

Dexterity: 1

Charisma: 1

Free Points: 0

Skills:

Analyze Level 2

Arcane Shot Level 2

Seeing that my stats have progressed nicely being only my third day here I head to my bed and lay down for the night. I will gather everyone when the morning comes and talk about what our next steps should be. I quickly fall asleep after the stress and don't see one final prompt before my head hits the pillow.

----------

"Mana Heart progress 35% complete. Mana Vein progress is 25% complete."

"Skill acquired: Mana Circulation Level 1"

"Stat Changed. Ratio for mana increase per point in Wisdom to 6 instead of 5"

----------

Waking up I am a bit groggy when I see a flash on the side. It is different from what I am used to with the prompts. It is flashing in very opaque white, I look at it and find that there are three prompts.

And I am shocked further awake at the realization of what it implies. All the time I have been getting surgeries and the pain of it coming back was all because my body was creating a Mana Heart. No wonder no one knew what it was back on my planet.

I sprint outside and look to see if anyone is awake, not seeing anyone right away. I continue to run around my hut with unknown energy till I collapse shortly afterwards. Running is definitely not my strong suite.

Feeling a strong set of hands on my shoulders I look up to see Zul'Zara trying to help me up with some concern in her eyes, and not far behind her is Laxreal and Strauvana.

"What be you all uppity about this morning Drake?" She asks me.

"I finally figured out the reason for all of my surgeries back home and all the pain that was caused without any knowledge!" Gasping out I respond in as much relief as glee that I have something that might help me in the future.

"Oh, and pray tell what it is you have found?" Laxreal joins in.”

"I have been developing a Mana Heart and Mana Veins through my body.

"I have heard of Mana Veins before, but what is a Mana Heart?" Laxreal asks.

"Honestly, I don't know, just this morning I woke up and there was a prompt telling me that my Mana heart is 35% complete and the Mana Veins are 25% complete." Still cheerful about the situation.

"Drake," Laxreal looks at me with worry in his eyes. "You are telling me that you have been able to cast magic without having a full set of Mana Veins?"

"Well from what I can tell it was quite a bit lower than before." Seeing the worry in the depths of those flames I start to get worried myself.

"How stupid could you be!" He shouts at me. "That could have killed you by poisoning your body with mana that you couldn't control! I am shocked you haven't died since I figured that you would have a full set considering that you have been casting arcane shots with a higher accuracy than myself and I have been taught how to channel mana hundreds of years ago."

"Not that it came to any fruition." Strauvana digs at him.

He glares back at her. "While that may be the case I at least had my veins so I could learn to cast on Thelatera, and since I can cast here I don't see any problems since I can now follow the same paths that I am learning from casting repeatedly."

"But that is besides the point." Pointing at me again. "How did you even channel in the first place cause having the Mana Veins is a necessity."

"I just focused my thoughts onto my staff whenever I cast my magic after the first couple of times trying to channel it through my hands." Now realizing my mistake. "Does this mean I shouldn't cast anymore until I have my full set of veins?"

"I would say yes, but having a Mana Heart causes a different situation as no one that I know has heard of one of those on Thelatera. Can you tell me if it has done anything else to your body?"

"Well, it gave me the skill Mana Circulation, and it also changed the ratio of how much mana per point of wisdom I add." I inform them.

"Any details on that Mana Circulation skill?" Furthering his interest in the whole situation Laxreal asks.

I analyze the skill.

- Mana Circulation Level 1: Can either passively or actively use this skill. During passive use your mana regeneration increases from 1 mana per 2 hours to 1 mana per 1.5 hours. During active use of this skill mana regeneration rate is further increased to 1 mana per 1 hour. -

Letting them know the exact nature of the skill I see Laxreal smack his own forehead. "How could I have forgotten to circulation my mana, let me see if I can get this skill."

Rushing back to his home he is gone. Zul'Zara bids goodbye and also goes to circulate her own mana with what I think is her own people's way. Seeing that it is Strauvana and myself left I look at her and ask. "Think we should get them and we can discuss the rest of the day?"

Shaking her head she responds. "No, I know Laxreal, he won't stop until he gets that skill and Zul'Zara might be in the same boat. Let's give them a couple of hours to figure it out and while we wait lets get something to eat. With all the excitement of yesterday I haven't had anything to eat."

Nodding along we head into my hut and grab some food from the Lord's Chest.