Grove Warden Unlocked

  Aspect: Shadow

  Preferred Attributes: Wisdom -> Dexterity -> Constitution

  Core Mechanic: Whisperwood Blessing (Major Action - 1 Stamina)

  The Whisperwood Blessing grants an ally 1 Armor and Enhanced stealth activities. Whenever an attack would damage an ally, make a Constitution Stamina Check.

  Whisperwood Blessing is Wisdom Scaling. Current Maximum Blessings Active: 2

  I’ve basically memorized what the system message said and have barely been able to sleep at all since then. Garvek said he would answer questions in the morning. Apparently he didn’t get a Shadow Aspect on his and told me to wait until morning. Its now morning but he hasn’t gotten up yet. I’m just helping Terili with some stuff around the inn which is apparently called Darkwood Lodgings. She’s been trying to get them to change the name but they keep rejecting her suggestions.

  Considering her current idea is Blankets and Roots I think thats a shame. “She also tried ‘The Napping Root’, ‘Hearth & Bark’, and my personal favorite: ‘Sap & Serenity’. At this point I think they are just rejecting her so they can steal her names for other places. That sounds like something Twitch would do.

  I’m mostly trying to distract myself so I’m not playing with my new class ability. Garvek told me not to mess with it last night… but I kind of figured it out … by accident, totally. I was thinking of the little park in the merchant distinct and how it made a good hiding place to wait for merchants leaving and I started to feel a sense of muted quiet as my body gained a faint aura of dark silvery leaves around it.

  Surprisingly that also gave me my first XP too.

  System Achievement

  Grove Warden I - 1 XP (Common)

  Apply your Blessing for the first time.

  Sadly finding a way to look at my status is probably too much to ask. Back home it cost five gold to have someone with an appraise skill that works on people look at you. So unless this place is even more amazing I’ll probably be stuck guessing about most things.

  Garvek startles me, his voice calling out as he enters the common room. “Good morning, Luna. I assume you already figured out how to use the Ironwood Blessing?”

  “Yes, but mine isn’t called Ironwood? Its called Whisperwood. I have a ton of questions about all of this.” I respond, I really want to know everything I can. Not only is it my class but because of the Shadow Aspect it seems mine is different from the standard right from the beginning. I sort of figured that was the case with the stealth bonuses but its nice to have it confirmed.

  “Not here then, we should speak in your room. Never talk about class mechanics in the open. Someone accustomed to classcraft will be able to estimate your skills and attributes from things you might not even consider.” He says while changing direction and heading back upstairs.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Once the door is closed he takes a breath and seems to be considering how to organize his thoughts. “If your core mechanic is different from mine I assume you have something that is causing the class to be Aspected. Since you don’t have any items and I assume you never had a class of your own that could give you something like my own gave me back when I was still a soldier. I’m not sure how that could happen. Did the system tell you anything? Also feel free to tell me if you would rather keep something secret. There are some things you should keep hidden from others especially if it gives you weaknesses.”

  “Its fine, I already thought about that, the chances of you knowing anything about me causing an issue is very low. You also seem to be against the Houses so the chances of you selling anything I say if it would be valuable is also very low. The system says that Awakened Soul - Shadow would Aspect the class. I have no idea what that is though. I guessed that it would make my class more stealth focused which is how Whisperwood Blessing reads. Though should’t I have gotten more? Its just one ability, and it doesn’t sound like enhanced stealth activities is enough to count as the core mechanic for a class?” Garvek seems confused as I am up until the last comment. He seems shocked for some reason at that point though.

  “Are you sure it says Enhanced? Not Boosted, Augmented, Efficient, or anything like that?” He says as if those words are all important. I am totally sure I remember right and nod to confirm.

  “Then yes, that is worth a core mechanic. Few things Enhance your skills at anything and doing so is always powerful. That blessing can likely make me more stealthy than you are without it despite my lack of training in the skill and lower dexterity. Before you ask yes I can tell you have training in stealth, likely street taught through experience and that you have more dexterity than I do. Though thats not uncommon, I have never been great at precise control and such. Enhanced skills are always far better than their base skill rating. I’m not a class scholar though so I’m not sure on the exact math on how but its by far the most rare benefit the system gives out. Can you remember exactly what it said?”

  “Not the word for word but I know it said Grove Warden had a Shadow Aspect. The primary attributes were wisdom, dexterity, and then constitution.The ability cost stamina and gives an ally one armor along with enhanced stealth activities. I can only have two at a time and I have to make a check if someone with the blessing would be damaged.” I know I am missing some stuff but its been hours and alot of the terms weren’t things I have seen much or know alot about.

  “Alright, I can tell you alot from that considering I got the same class and much of your ability is similar to my own. Ironwood Blessing grants an ally three armor instead of one but doesn’t give a skill bonus. Either your ability scales slower than my own or your have a lower wisdom than I do, possibly both considering I have four rather than two maximum. That check is constitution based which means you will likely run out of energy faster than I will if you are getting hit.”

  “We will need to test your combat skill and how the loss of stamina will feel from your Blessing’s stamina check. Unexpected stamina loss can cause distractions that lead to mistakes so getting accustomed to the loss is important. Hopefully we can also get most of the easy XP options that will allow us to get to level 1 and see what our ability options are. So today is going to be alot of testing and sparring. “I’ll have to fall back on old drills from my Wolfguard days—no weapons this time.”

  Meanwhile Downstairs

  Talking into a crystalline device, Terili seems more professional than motherly right now.

  “Yes Lady Esme, I directed the Realm Walkers to the Root Warrens. They seem like more grounded people than the last few that came by. I doubt they will even try to fight the Vile Burrowdrake while down there. At least not until they have a bit more experience with the Grove Warden class.”

  …

  “Of course I’ll make sure to give them a claim talisman before they leave just in case they can get to a Landmark. I am pretty sure Twitch will be doing the same, so its unclear which of us they will aid. Either way it will give them a chance to access the court alligence for a Nestroot court before the Patriarch opens the Pulse Caverns. Can’t believe none of the Realm Walkers have proven themselves strong enough to leave Nestroot yet.”

  —

  “Oh? Someone actually got to the Twilight Grove without falling? Perhaps the Patriarch will actually raise the ban on travel sometime soon. Its been ages since I saw my sister up there.

  Bonus points for anyone that can figure out what Enhanced is actually doing (Its not just a flat +4 to a skill)