"Alright." Doyle slapped his clipboard down and turned halfway to the center of his annex with an excited grin. "The agenda for today is to test your power levels and give you all an understanding of the party's capabilities. To do that, we'll use this."
With a wave, he guided us to the right side of the compound. Where a larger walled off-court sat as if to block anyone's view from the massive construct at the center. If that was even the right word. Statue would've been more apt. A sculpture of a hand with a crystal embedded in the inner wrist.
"I'm sure Zeff has told you about his power scale." Doyle scoffed. "While it gives you a good idea of Well Depth, it doesn't give you an idea about Well Density. That's what this is for." He threw his chin to the construct. "The crystal will pull a certain amount of mana from whoever touches it to light the brazier." He gestured to the hand above.
"The majority of you have Ice Wells." He said, turning back to us. "However, there are a few with Slush and Diamond wells. And even one with Arcana." He smiled knowingly at me before waving the matter off for the others. "I know you're curious about the difference, and Zeff will explain it in class tomorrow. So go ahead and divide yourselves into your teams and we'll go ahead and start."
While the construct was indeed interesting, I quickly grew annoyed at the round-the-room style introductions as each student touched the console and went on to give a short demonstration of their primary or racial abilities.
It wasn't all bad, however. As I was able to get a good understanding of the party's names and abilities.
First was Winston. Whose Diamond Well produced a fireball five meters in diameter before he went on to form a glass-like skin of transparent blue energy around his fist.
The others in his team were a Nonusian girl named Toni, who had Mud and Snow Magic along with an Ice Well. Along with Rhody, another Nonusian and the only other human in their group. Possessing Clay and Water Magic with an Ice Well also. Producing a bonfire four meters in diameter.
Curious Twig, the Tabaxi, had an Ice Well but was unable to use any magic. Having no Cores, he could only use his mana to bolster his strength, agility, or defense. As could the Aarakocra. The avian male whose name sounded more like a bird song than actual words. So, like many others, I elected to call him Duke.
I was the first member of team two and thus elected to summon my Doppelganger and explain my affinity for darkness before I placed my hand upon the crystal. Resulting in an event that surprised even me. A concentration of fire that was so dense and intensely hot that I could only be described as a miniature sun. Held in the hand of god.
A sight that made Peter's Slush Well seem like an ember in comparison.
Zakira also had an Ice Well. But her display wound up being the object of many people's interest. Or disgust.
She pulled a sack of blood from her bag and held it overhead to smack it with her palm. Sending blood all over the ground and herself.
In the following seconds, however, it began rippling. Coalescing. Ascending into thin wires that reached back to her fingers to loop around them like rags on a boxer's hands. And with but a swing of her hand, the strings trailed out to lash at the surrounding environment. Shredding leaves and bark into neat blocks only centimeter to a side.
"Blood Strings!" She cheerfully stated after her display.
Slate was like many of the other non-humans. Only, he had no control over his magic yet. And thus relied on his natural strength. Like Els, who could mold and pull on metal if it were present around him. Though, the better refined the harder it was for him.
Team three consisted of Samson. A brutish-looking boy from Nonus with a Slush Well, who was given Rain Magic. A combination affinity between air and water. Followed by Scarlett, a petite girl with Web Magic, Poison Magic, and a Diamond Well. Her polar opposite was Rebecca, a tall and somewhat muscular girl with Blaze Magic and an Ice Well.
Their non-humans consisted of Kao, Slates 'brother,' who also possessed an Ice Well. And Urshure, the dragonborne who breathed a wide cone of intense fire in favor of touching the crystal. Though he eyed it longingly.
"Very good." He finalized the exercise with a clap. Bringing our attention back to him. "Now that you have a general idea of what your peers can do, I behoove you to get together on your own time to figure out how you'll aid each other in battle. Which you'll be doing in the coming weeks.
"Now." He gestured again to get us to follow him back to the seats. Where he brought our attention to the different Classes written out across the board. Each with renderings of a few humans toting the weapons and armor sets privy to that Class.
"Alright." He began after a few moments. "I'm sure Zeff told you all about Perks. What I'm here to tell you is how they relate to tools, weapons, and equipment. To put it simply, Perks will be locked depending on what tools you're using. An example of this would be a Rogue wearing heavy armor and carrying a great axe. In which case, they wouldn't be able to use the Perks granted by their class.
"Now, don't worry if we haven't decided on a Class yet." He smiled at the two embarrassed faces in the crowd. "Focus on picking a fighting style and weapon that works for you. It can always be adapted to fit your Class later. Or, in some cases, you may gain inspiration for choosing another Class.
"We'll start from the top." He said, pointing to the first set of Classes. "The Classes of Might. Barbarian, Fighter, Paladin, Ranger, and Monk. Each of them has a distinct fighting style that separates them from the others. A Barbarian thrives in chaos. Operating in the thick of battle. Whether it be in a tavern or the thick of the wilds. They are famous for wielding rage like a weapon. So, if you like to fight angry but don't quite like to wear armor, this Class is for you.
"A Fighter is the most well-rounded of the Classes." Doyle continued. Much to the apparent interest of Winston, Slate, Kao, and Samson. "Akin to a well-trained soldier, they use a variety of weapons. From sword and shield to dual-wielded axes. For those seeking mastery of the art of combat, the Fighter Class is for you. And." He pointed. "Let it be known that I and Zeff are both Fighters. So we can provide professional input for anyone curious about the Class.
"Moving on, we have Paladins." He continued. "It's a common misconception that Paladins are holy knights. While this can be true, their power comes from an oath that can be dedicated to anything. Like knights, they use martial weapons like swords or battle-axes and don themselves in plated armor. For any young knights in the crowd, let it be known that your Perks will be locked when not in your armor. But they are among the most powerful Perks of all.
"Rangers are the warriors of the frontier," Doyle explained, pointing to the leathered man drawn on the board. Meanwhile, Twig and Duke leaned to the edge of their desks while Rebecca pulled out her notepad and quill with a bright smile. "Hunters. Beast Tamers. Trackers. This Class is for those who want to skirt the line between civilization and nature. Having a connection to both, they protect both sides from forces that could do them harm. These are most famously archers, but Rangers also favor short swords and light armor or scale mail.
"The last and most complicated Class of Might is the Monk." He explained. Much to my unbridled interest and mine alone. "Monks are famous for their use of Ki. Which is, at heart, mana that has been transformed into physical energy. Permitting the use of superhuman feats. These feats, however, are locked if the Monk is wearing any armor at all. But in exchange, they can use the widest variety of weapons amongst their kind. They specialize in all simple weapons in addition to fighting unarmed. But the requirement to become one is a strong mental fortitude.
"Next we have the Classes of Skill," Doyle said, pointing to the next section. "Starting with Rogue. As the stereotypes dictate, Rogues favor stealth. Which means they wear light armor if any at all, and they favor crossbows, rapiers, and daggers over bows, swords, or shields. The Rogue is for the swift and deadly types who don't care to be revered by the eyes of society.
"Unlike the Bard." He grinned. "Who uses music in favor of weapons to fight. Their Perks involve channeling power into their music rather than into spells or themselves. Providing buffs and auras for their allies. That isn't to say they don't use weapons though." He added. "They can use finesse weapons like rapiers, as well as hand crossbows and short swords."
While the sleazy-looking Nonusian Rhody seemed to be the only one interested in becoming a Rogue, no one in the class seemed to take an interest in becoming a Bard. Nor a Barbarian, it seemed.
Not that I blamed them.
"The last of the Classes of Skill is the Artificer." He said. Again causing me to lean forward in anticipation alongside Els. "They too can use simple weapons and like armor. Even shields. But their prowess comes from the tools they make. Not just enchantments, but potions and invented tools as well. And while they're rarely known to fight, they can prove to be quite the meddlesome adversary.
"Moving on, we have the Classes of Magic. Starting with the Warlock." He explained. "They are the polar opposite of Clerics. Wherein they gain power from an otherworldly and often nefarious entity in exchange for various things. Because of that, many of them carry unique weapons or items. And the restrictions of their Perks can vary. But we know that the majority of them wear light armor if any.
"Clerics, on the other hand, draw power from the gods." He said to no one's interest just like the last. "While the number of deities a Cleric can gain power from is immense, they are all seen wielding maces, shields, or warhammers and cover themselves in light plates.
"Before I move on." He added with a remorseful tone. "Let it be known that due to their natures, the Bodhi Tree has no courses for the Cleric and Warlock Classes. It is said there were petitions over the school's history to bring the former in, but the Headmaster wouldn't comply unless he could bring the latter in as well.
"But enough tea for now." He chuckled to himself. Again to no one's amusement. "Druids." He sighed heavily; meanwhile, Scarlett and Toni pulled out their notes just like Rebecca did earlier. Eager smiles and all. "The keepers of nature. Druids are known to revere nature above all other things. Their power allows them to connect with wildlife. Allowing them to polymorph into animals and even talk to plants. They use a variety of tools. But the caveat is that they cannot be made from metal. They must come from the natural world. Untainted by the refinement process."
As before, Scarlett took up her quill once Doyle pointed to the next section and began to speak. What was interesting to me, however, was the fact that she was the only one who cared to hear what Doyle had to say. Ironically so.
"Witches are the healers of the magical world," Doyle explained. "Each of you will learn and practice the basics come later this year. But I'll tell you that any magical affinity is capable of healing. Albeit in different ways. Now, it's commonly believed that those who practice medicine shan't take a life. But those in our world are different. Keeping a party alive means fighting as much as healing. So Witches are known to use staffs, wands, daggers, slings, and sometimes even hand crossbows to keep foes at bay.
"Similarly, the Wizard uses much the same arsenal." He said. "Albeit with no armor, rather than the light or medium armor worn by Witches. The school of Wizardry involves adopting one of many practices to refine your magical techniques. But they also involve many lessons in memorizing rituals that allow for additional abilities.
"Lastly." He let out a closing sigh before turning to me. "We have the Sorcerer. Like Warlocks and Clerics, each Sorcerer is different. As such, the Bodhi Tree has no course for the Class. Nor do we know what tools can or cannot be used with their Perks.
"Think this over during lunch." He beamed. "When we come back, you'll pick weapons if you haven't already and practice in the basics for the rest of the day. Class dismissed.