Over the decades, [Mert Captain] Morris Menfield has gained a knack for finding great profits in unlikely situations. Whether that is finding bulk resources at a cheap price to the trading of expensive information. It was that st one where he profited enough to buy the Imperity. A nice, rge ship with speed, cargo, and ons fit for aerprising [Mert].
It is this ship that glides slowly through the sky towards the Timbergrove and Anadasta. The Imperity dwarfs the Timbergrove in size, and is even slightly rger than the Anadasta even though the ships are in the same size css. With white fg raised, the Imperity s abeam to the opposite side of the Anadasta. It merely moments for his crew to tie the two ships together before throwing donk.
“[Captain], all is ready.” A [Sailer] rushes into his room.
“Good.” Mrins. He stands up off his chair and takes one final gn the mirror. A tall portly man with a belly smiles back. The man wears a heavily engraved coat and tri alongside jewels lining his ned arms. All rare metals except for two runed rings on his right hand. He grabs a b and quickly brushes his goatee so as to make sure all hairs are straightened. It would not do to show any weakness, even in looks.
After one final gnce, Morris exits his quarters, walks up the stairs, aually arrives on the deck. When he does, he finds the crew to be on edge. Keeping up his smile, he walks to the bridge betweewo ships where his [Ship Guards] wait. When he arrives, his eyes move to the fully armored woman. The woman wears aire set of rue armor. A further gnce reveals the armor pieces to all be of exceptional quality.
With a thought, he calls up her job.
Emma: Level 2 [Chief Carpenter]
The problem with Jobs is that they be ged while a person's css level ot. Unless you have a skill to dis a person's css, then figuring out hoable someone is is a fool's errand. It would not surprise Morris that this armored woman is at the very least an Advanced css.
o the woman stand three more individuals. One of them, a rge muscur bear of a man grins widely as a runed hammer rests on his shoulder and a runed Shamshir on his back. Morris also notices the Blizzard Bear Leather Coat- a rather rare piece of equipment you’d expect to see in more arctic regions.
As for the man's job…
Boriss Smirnov: Level 4 [Security Chief]
Also low. Another surprise.
He checks the person- a woman with a Raven Guilds runed cutss and a cloak that is of equivalent or possibly better quality than his own. sidering how she holds herself, Morris experts her to be the [Captain]. But…
Irmgard Von Braun: Level 6 [First Mate]
He hides his surprise and growing unease well as he looks to the final person. A short plump man that somehow matches his own grin. The man has a sheathed cutss on one hip and a gun oher. Morris also notices a runed ring on the man's finger.
He must be the [Captain]
The thought rises at the forefront of his mind. But, that thought is quickly proven false.
Cillian Walce: Level 9 [Quartermaster]
Odd. Very odd. Did the [Captain] give his crew brand new positions so as to level them? I’ve heard it done in military ships to diversify crew responsibility in the event of an emergency, but that's the military.
Regardless of Morris’s thoughts, there is an opportunity for profit so long he is willing to take a risk. He steps in front of his [Ship Guards] with head held high and a grin born of experience.
“I am [Mert Captain] Morris Menfield. I wish to thank your [Captain] for the timely save of both myself and my vessel. Are they around?”
Four pairs of eyes turn to Morris’s left where a puffy cat sits casually on a railing. He’d not noticed the cat before.
“Your thanks are accepted. Now what the fuck do you want?” The cat speaks.
He and his entire crew freeze i the sight of a talking kitten.
The cat stares batirely unimpressed. “Look, I’m a busy kitten. you skip with the amazement ao answering my question?” The cat tinues.
Morris is the first of his crew to recover, though that is more so because he see the job.
Quasi Eludo: Level 11 [Captain]
“Y-yes. Apologies. I was merely distracted by ynifit fur.”
The kitten snorts. “Laying on the pliments early. I guess I be a bit civil too.”
The cat clears its throat. “As you probably already realized via your skill, I am Quasi Eludo, [Captain] of the Timbergrove. It is a pleasure to meet you. Now, what the fuck do you want?”
Uered by Quasi’s vulgar tone, Morris just nods and grins. “You do seem like the type whose time is precious. So, I will be quaint. I would like to take this destroyer off your hands- for a price of course.”
“I’m looting the ship right nonned on blowing it up afterwards… but, I be vio leave the vessel intact.” The cat g one of his crew.
“Cillian, you heard what he wants. Go do your thing.”
“That I .” Cillian steps forward. He extends an arm towards the much rger man. “I’m the Timbergroves [Quartermaster] and [Mert]. I hope you’re up for a bit of haggling.”
Morris nods with his tinued smile and a winkle in his eye. “I very mujoy haggling. I’ve an office for it with many drinks included if you would be willing to join me.”
Cillian perks up. “Drinks you say? Oh, do lead the way.”
Quasi watches as Cillian and Morris leave his preseo start iations. When they are finally out of earshot, the cat looks to his remaining crew.
“Have we loaded up everything from the Anadasta?”
“We did, though there wasn’t much other than drink, ammo, and food.” Irmgard expins. “It seems the Anadasta nning to pirate resources, so their holds are empty.”
“Damn. So the best loot is the [Captain's] sword.”
Emma raises a hand and touches the on on Borris’s back.
Name
Shamshir of Slig
Rarity
Exceptional - 8 Runes.
1(1-Durability)1(1-lightweight)2(3- Enhanced Sharpness)Description
This greatsword is +30% more durable, +30% lighter i, and is +150% sharper.
Sustain
0.10% Mana regeion per minute.
“It has two runes of Enhanced Sharpness, so I think it could probably pee everything but pte armor quite easily.”
Quasi pouts. “You’d think a [Pirate Captain] would have something more impressive than a runed sword that better slice things.”
“It’s the arm.” Myers walks up to them. The old man g the Imperity for a moment before staring back at Quasi. “Runic modification of flesh is powerful, but they also greatly redu individual's mana regeion. I’d wager that shamshir hits the limit in the number of items he have funing.”
“Right, limitations. I never asked, but what happens if you go overboard on the number of items and your mana regeion goes ive. Do you lose mana?”
“No. The items' runic effects cease funing.” Emma adds.
“Correct. That’s why many [Captains] prioritize the vitality trait. That way they wear more equipment and stronger equipment alongside living longer.”
“But you’re weaker physically,” Irmgard says.
“Nothing equipment t fix.”
Quasi grimaces. “Are you tellihat putting all my points intth is going to hamstring me iure?”
Myers scratches his beard. “Yes and no. There are epic quality items that add ten to a person's strength trait. For the average [Warrior], that's the equivalent of seventy to eighty trait points in strength. But for you, since your base strength is very high, putting trait points intth gives you signifitly higher returns.”
“But I still ck the diversity equipment provides. I may o increase my vitality, though how much is a problem. Myers, what do you reend as a good mana regeion rate?”
The old man tinues scratg his beard. A beard he very mueeds to trim. It looks quite scraggy now. “Many high-end powerful epic items cost up to half a pert. legendary items tend to all be in the single digit pert range while mythical items are a css of their own. If you don't mind me asking, what is your base regeion? I imagi differs sidering your main body is a Fenrimorph.”
“My base regeion is 0.54%.”
Myers raises an eyebrow in surprise. “That's exceptional. Other than Phytonids and Gemma, only certain human bloodlines have such a high base.”
Quasi sighs. “Now you’ve got me thinking about where my points should go. I guess I should sleep on it. I’m sure I leveled from that fight.” The kitten yawns. “Irmgard, if Cilliaurns and I’m still sleeping, wake me up. Borris, make sure none of Morris’s crew get on board until Cillian is doiating.”
“iating?” Myers asks.
“rade Cillian is accepting fat man's surrender. Is fine.”
“Surrender? Why are they surrendering?”
“They want the ship and are willing to pay for it. Otherwise we blow the ship up and they get nothing.” Irmgard transtes.
Emma raises a hand like a child that wants to speak but doesn’t know when.
“You’re not five, just ask.” Quasi says.
“What should I do? I take this armor off?”
“Not until we leave. Keep the armor on. Lean on a pole, cross your arms, and look menagly at the Imperity’s crew.”
She frowns at the order, but it goes unnoticed because of the lowered visor.
With the versation over, Quasi hops off his perch to find a fortable pce to nap.
____________________________________________________________________
Three bottles. Three empty tainers of wine doable in front of the short man while Morris is still on his first. Normally, this would be a good thing if the person you are iating with is drunk, but the maipsy at best. What is even worse is that the wine isly inexpensive. Sacrifig a bottle food deal is acceptable. But three bottles? That’s pushing it.
“Twenty-six thousand trist is a ludicrous number for a damaged ship. Very fetains] would even have half as mu hand. I think a more reasonable number is five thousand. With repairs, dog fees, and the risk of transport, five thousand is a reasonable sum.”
Cillian bursts out ughing. “Thas cute. F…ug cute.” He burps. “That ships a military css destroyer. Rare and expensive. Would sell for six figures easy.”
The short man grabs a bottle and frowns at how empty it is. He wiggles it in front of Morris so as to show it is empty.
Morris suppresses a sigh. He gets up and hands the man another bottle, which he opens and takes an immediate gulp.
“I won’t lie that the ship will sell well, but there are risks and costs I o keep track of.”
“I know.” Cillian grins. “I’ve a skill thas tellin me you have twenty-seven thousand trist on hand. I also know yer ships s-s-slowa on at of a full hold of goods.” The man blinks. He shakes his head. Theakes anulp. “Wines good.”
“Mr Cillian,” Morris starts, but stops as Cillian waves him to stop speaking. “No, les me finish.”
The shorter man burps. “Here's the pn. Yer gonna park ya ships for free cause do fees are when yer leavin. Yer gonna sell yer goods and use the trist ta fix the destroyer. If yah need more trist for repairs, put yer ship on colteral for a loan. Easy money.”
For once, Morris allows his smile to fall. “I hope you realize that if I walk away from this deal, you gain nothing.”
Cillian takes anulp.
“Ya came back afta gettin attacked cause ya greedy.”
Cillian leans bad pces his legs oable. “I’m greedier. Twenty-seven thousand trist. Take it or leave.” He grabs the bottle and mounts it vertically to his mouth.
________________________________________________________________
As dreamnd takes me, my mind is swished to the realm of white. A mostly empty realm except for that which I oart of my skill. Floating above me is the Timbergrove in all its majestic glory. Ship is a perfect replica of what I own from the red paint that increases its speed to the oending out of its sides like spider legs, all the way to the rge ballista on the ded bow of the ship.
Alright, it's actually not very majestior is it as impressive as it looks. The ballistae doesn’t have that much range while the ammunition is limited and expehe ons are s that firing more than one would produuch recoil on the ship. It also doesn't help that the ship has metal pting which slows the vessel's speed. The pting doesn’t even fun that well sihe ship's hull isn’t very thick so as to give it a lot of hull iy.
So yea. The Timbergrove cks in speed, firepower, ah.
The modification doo the ship weake, but you wouldn't be able to tell from a distance. All you’d see is a heavily armed and dangerous frigate meant for battle.
From the side of my vision, I watch as a red and green floating eyeball es ience.
I wave my hand. “Red, green, buddies, pals. How have you both been? Got any good news for me?”
Red blinks once as uionally as it usually is. “You have leveled to ten in your [Captain] job. The passive skill Remote Examination has been unlocked.”
Remote Examination
You are able to examiems and people utilizing appropriate skills by your crew.
“My crew? Does that mean I use Cillians [Sense Rarity] and Emma’s [Identify Item] skill?”
“That information is restricted.”
“Of course it is. Fine. Show me my crew information.”
Job: [Ship Captain]
Level: Level 10
Job Skills: 2
Ship Size: Frigate
Primary Jobs Avaible: 8
Support Jobs Avaible:5
Maximum Job Capacity: 15
Primary Jobs
[First Mate] level 6: Irmgard Von Braun level 8 [Sword Officer]
[Quartermaster] level 10: Cillian Walce level 17 [Mert]
[Security Chief] level 4: Boriss Smirnov level 15 [Skirmisher]
[Chief Carpenter] level 2: Emma level 28 [Rune Smith]
[Head Chef]: N/A
[Chief Physi]: N/A
[Artillery Chief]: N/A
[Navigator]: N/A
Support Jobs
[Boatswain]:[Gunner]: [Cook]:
[Carpenter]:
[Rigger]:
[Physi Assistant]:
Is it weird that I want to fill everything out? It would be pretty impressive to see all of the jobs filled. Then again, the Timbergrove doesly have space for that many crew. I would either o get a rger ship et another ohough the sed option is only avaible to [Fleet Captains]- which is unlocked at [Captain] level 25.
“No ges, red. I’m doh you.”
Red blinks ond disappears to wherever he es from. I then turn to Green.
“sidering you’re here, I’m guessing that I leveled. How many levels have I gained?”
Green blinks. “You have gained a single level. You have oribute avaible.”
“Show me my erait sheet.”
“Aowledged.”
Traits.
Human Average
Individual Base Calcutions.
Level modifications
Trait Actual Value
Strength
10
37
+29%
47
Endurance
9
43
+0%
43
Vitality
12
0.27%M/R/M
22
0.54% M/R/M
+0%
22
0.54% M/R/M
Perception
9
27
+0%
27
Intelligence
11
16
+0%
16
Mana
388.8
480
+0%
480
trol
12
9
+0%
8
Attributes Avaible/Attributes total:
1
30
Level:
21
Titles Obtained: 2
Title Name
Leviathan Syer
Title Rank
Legendary
Title Effect
+10 Attribute points
Title Name
Underdog Boarder
Title Rank
Rare
Title Effect
[Captain’s Authority] stat decay is slowed when b enemy vessels.
I scratch my human with my human hand, only to feel a bit of oddo it. I’ve been in the form of a cat long enough that scratg with hands instead of feet doesn’t feel normal.
I should probably start putting points into vitality if I’m to enhance myself with runed equipment. But, the payoff for strength is far more worthwhile because of the base value. Then again, it may be best to maximize strength. With my endurance being 43, I boost my strength up to 86 without running into problems where my body 't hahe strain. This would also ensure I handle as of strength going forward.
“Put the st point intth and that should be it.”
“Aowledged.”
