Chapter 80: The Butcher of Sedgewick

Chapter 80: The Butcher of Sedgewick

Ozzy always enjoyed his morning walk to his butcher shop. It was always nice to see the town waking up. Betty was out back cutting the heads off of chickens, which meant there would be chicken and dumplings for dinner, one of his favorites! Colored smoke was coming from the alchemist's chimney. Aliester would be brewing up potions that his daughter Zephyr would peddle at her little shop in the village market.

He stepped to the side as the courier rode by on his donkey. Ben was always in a hurry, but he paused to tip his hat and wish Ozzy a good morning. They'd share a flagon of beer at the tavern tonight when Ben had some time. Widow Jenny smiled at him as he went by. He paused to talk and she handed him some fresh baked cookies. Jenny made the best cookies in town! She gave him her shopping list. Pork chops and rabbit again? She must be having folks over for dinner. He'd get right to work chopping up some animals to fill her order first thing he got to his shop.

Old Joe was already up. Joe had worked for Ozzy for years, helping him to cure the ham and bacon in the smokehouse. Ozzy was always happy to turn the latch, and walk into the butcher shop. Ah, the smell of fresh meat, nothing like it. It was cold inside. His friend Delbert, the ice wizard, kept up the enchantment on the shop that kept the meat cold.

Oh no! Ozzy saw that he was out of porkchops and rabbit! He slapped his forehead, forgetting that he'd delivered all his meat last night to the Shepherd to feed his pets. He needed more rabbit and pork chops for the widow!

Luckily there were always helpful adventurers around. He'd put some quests up again. He needed 10 rabbits and 10 pigs. That would do it. As soon as he was done offering the quests, someone was at the door. A customer? No, it was his friend Rolly, the shepherd.

Rolly came rushing in. "Ozzy! You have to help! Squirmie fell in the well!

"Again? You have to keep that pet on a leash Rolly, he's always falling in the well."

"I promise I will Ozzy, but what will we do now? That's the secret well that leads to the dungeon! We can't go in there!

"Don't worry Rolly, I know just what to do. I'll put up a quest and adventurers will go find Squirmie. They're always so helpful. Do you want to offer a reward?"

"Sure Ozzy. Tell them I'll pay 10 shiny copper pennies, and help them start a quest to get their own pet! Thanks Ozzy, you always know what to do when Squirmie falls in the well." Rolly ran out again, heading to the pasture and his cows.

"Boy, it's a busy day already. Guess I'll get to work, no telling what might happen on a busy day."

Congratulations on reaching Tier 2!

Your characteristics, skills, and core skills become the base upon which to build your character in Tier 2.

-You have received a bonus to your stats based on which class you selected for Tier 2.

-You will possibly receive a one time bonus if you have managed to raise more than one stat to 10 or higher.

(This is calculated after increases for class have been added.

-Skills may advance to Rank 10. Current rank and EP total is kept and you will build upon that.

-Characteristic skills are reset to 0. You may earn 5 ranks in each stat similar to Tier 1. The EP cost to gain those points is of course increased. The caps on your rank may be raised to 10 through the expenditure of Core Skill Points earned in Tier 2, similar to how you increase skill caps in Tier 1.

-When fighting creatures of Tier 1 you increase your avoidance by +20%.

-When fighting creatures of Tier 1 you increase your chance to hit with an attack by +20%.

-You will not receive EP for Tier 1 creatures except in special cases such as massive hordes, or specific events. They can still kill you, and won't that be embarassing.

-Points of INT, CHR, or WIS added in Tier 2 will add 30 mana.

-Points of STR will add 30 stamina and 15 health.

-Points of CON will add 30 health and 15 stamina.

-The cost of T1 Core Skills you did not take are increased to reflect the increased amount of CSP you will receive in Tier 2.

You have assumed the role: Butcher of Sedgewick

Well Done! Because you have raised both your STR and your COR to 10 or higher, you recieve the Perk: Might

All of your physical attacks with weapons or natural weapons cause +10 damage. Increased chance weaker creatures wish to server you as a minion.

Well Done! Because you have raised both your CON and your CHR to 10 or higher, you recieve the Perk:Sculpted

Lean muscles and hardened abs show your strength and flexibility. You move confidently and with grace. You are much less likely to suffer sprains, pulled muscles or other minor injuries from exerting yourself. Besides increasing your over all popularity, you may have sculptors wanting you to pose for them.

Well Done! Because you have raised both your CON and your COR to 10 or higher, you recieve the Perk: Vigor

Your body is strengthened by hard work and dark magic: +200 health

Well Done! Because you have raised both your COR and your CHR to 10 or higher, you recieve the Perk: Dark Glory

-Good girls like bad guys. So do bad girls.Women (or men, your choice) find something attractive about you. It's those white teeth and that naughty grin. You're also popular with kobolds, rat-kin, politicians and ambulance chasers. There's something evil about you, but it's the good kind of evil.

Tri-fecta! Raising two stats to 10 is difficult, but raising three is simply amazing!

Add +50 to Health, Mana, and Stamina.

Quadratic! You just don't know when to quit climbing the mountain.

For raising 4 stats to 10 or higher recieve one of the following of your choice:

- A simple aspect of magic

- Minor resistance to any one element

- 100 Gold Coins

- +150 to either Health, Mana, or Stamina

Monstrous! You have raised both STR and CON to 15 or higher in Tier 1.

You have stepped upon the path that leads to great things for you, and horrible things for your enemies.

Tough is upgraded to VERY Tough. Your universal mitigation against physical and elemental attacks is increased to an amount equal to your STR + CON. (30).

NameClassRaceLevelSkill EPBoss EPTotal Ozzy Pitmaster H:80% 6 7000 7000 Heritage: Tough, Fire, Shadowed, Sculpted Tier 1 Base Per Level over 5 From Stats From CSP Total Health 2400 200 2600 Stamina (x3) 5100 200 5700 Mana 1510 200 1710 Characteristics Stat: T1 Base Rank Cap EP Bonus Total STR 15 0 5 0 15 DEX 2 0 5 0 2 AGI 0 0 5 0 0 CON 15 0 5 0 15 INT 3 0 5 0 3 WIS 0 0 5 0 0 CHR 10 0 5 0 10 PER 0 0 5 0 0 COR 10 0 5 0 10 RAD 1 0 5 0 1 T2 Core Skill Points

SourcePoints Total Core Skills: Tier 1Rank One Fist of Iron3: Unarmed Combat with fists, based on STR.

Base 30%+5xSTR+10xLevel to hit. (165%)

Base 40 damage + 5xSTR (125 damage) 3 One Fist of Steel: You have a chance to stun T1 creatures. This is half as effective on T2 creatures and less effective on Bosses. You may use fists for weapon blocks. 1 If One doesn't get you, the other one will: Multiple attacks. Number is = Level. Stamina drain of 50xLevel. Usuable once every three combat rounds. 1 Mitigation: You ignore 20 points of physical damage per blow. 2/3 Dark Vision: You have normal vision in normal darkness (some light) out to 20'. 1/3 Taunting Voice3: Tier 1, and many Tier 2 creatures will focus all of their attacks upon you, even when this is a poor strategy. 3/3 Don't Mess around with Jim3: You have an intimidating aura (active). Tier 1 monsters will not attack you unless in a group. You can easily intimidate those weaker than you. Effects vary on the individual, and your actions 3/3 Eyes of Magic1: You can see magical auras on T1 creatures and objects within 10'. 1/2 Core Skills Tier 2: Rank Cost Cost Saved Total 0

Skills NameStatLevelEPP/S/T Pit Alchemy CHA 5 1000 Primary Butchering STR 5 1000 Tertiary Slaughter STR 5 1000 Tertiary Hack Undead STR 3 350 Tertiary Active Fire Resistance INT 3 350 Primary Poison Resistance CON 3 350 Tertiary Cabrer STR 3 400 Primary Billhook STR 2 250 Primary Demon Slaying RAD 0 0 Primary Fire Eating CON 1 50 Primary Sleepless In Seatle ************ 1 Push Onward ************ 1 Endure ************ 4 Tastes Like Chicken ************ 1 Dig ************ 2 Haul ************ 3

Item Name Description Ancient Billhook of Entwined Fates Large and over-engineered dwarven made polearm. Caber of Olgerd the Strong Lightning Rod pretending to be a caber. Dwarven Work Boots Well made, tough boots. Ring of Acid Resistance 25% resistance to caustic substances Fathoming Orb of the Nine Hells Snowglobe?