The library is enormous, built upwards like a canyon with each side connected by bridges decorated in different styles. The whole thing is divided over four high floors. A man comes to me and asks if I need any help. I inform him that I am looking for information on professions, so he quickly recommends a few books on the subject and informs me that information on professions is listed alphabetically in the P section. I search in the V section, but find nothing on my profession. "Oh well," I think to myself. But since I'm already here, I take advantage and inquire about weapons for this afternoon's class.
I find several useful pieces of information regarding combat weapons, for example, they are classified into categories: melee; ranged, and support. Melee weapons are generally swords, two-handed swords, axes, scythes, spears, maces, daggers, or shields. Basic ranged weapons include bows, pistols, and muskets. Support weapons encompass everything from wands, scepters, tomes, and orbs. With such a wide range of choices, I will have to try them out to see what I like the most, because honestly, I have never used one.
The Basic Combat course is about to begin and the teacher finally arrives. She is tall and muscular, covered in scars, with short hair that falls just above her shoulders. She looks like a real warrior. As she prepares, I observe the course pavilion. Inside, the center of the classroom looks like a large arena dug into the ground. The teacher, who finishes getting ready, calls out to us and begins to introduce herself with enthusiasm:
"Hi everyone! I hope you're all in shape! My name is Tamaële, and I'm your teacher for the Basic Combat course! Happy to have you with me!"
She heads towards the middle of the arena and signals for us to follow her. Everyone complies and she continues:
"The objective of this year's course is very simple: find yourself a weapon and train with it until you're able to defeat golems and win your duels. Nothing too complicated," she says with a smile that could make a child cry, before continuing her explanations.
"Before I let you choose any weapon you want, let me explain each one to you. Then you can choose the one you like, and at the end of the course, we'll have a few random duels. Exciting, isn't it?"
"What, duels already in the first class...this won't be pretty," I think to myself, a little worried.
She asks us to sit in a semicircle in front of her. Seeing our questioning look at the end of her speech, she explains that we're in a semi-military academy, so it goes without saying that we have to learn how to fight. She then continues her explanations:
"Let's start with the one-handed sword. It allows for easier handling than other heavier weapons such as the mace or axe. It's more versatile than other weapons due to its long lethal zone (the blade) and also allows for thrusting movements. The sword remains the weapon of choice for its versatility, ease, and effectiveness. If you wish, it can even be combined with other weapons, but mainly with a shield.
"Next, in the same family, we have the two-handed swords. They provide some advantages such as better accuracy, greater strength, better control, and superior solidity in terms of parrying as well as increased reach. However, what they gain in distance, they lose in maneuverability in close combat.
"As for axes, there are several ways to hold them, offering various effects: solid defense, better reach, and more varied guards. However, the offensive following a defensive move is not as fluid as with the sword.
"Moving on to the lance, it's one of the polearms that offer greater reach but create a vulnerable area in close combat.
"The shield is generally used defensively, accompanied by a primary weapon such as the sword, in both duels and on the battlefield."
The mace is ideal for breaking bones through armor. It is a simple, unsophisticated weapon, but devastating. However, it has a shorter range than other weapons.
As for the dagger, it is a small double-edged weapon that can be used as a throwing weapon, can slip through the joints of armor, or even pierce chain mail. The dagger is one of the favorite weapons of assassins, as it is easy to conceal inside a sleeve, under a cloak, or in a clothing sleeve."
Tamaële takes a breath after this long monologue and signals us to look at the weapons presented. Once we have all satisfied our curiosity, she continues:
"Now, I will explain to you the ranged weapons. Let's start with the bow, a light, fast, and accurate weapon that can hit its target at about two hundred and sixty meters, but leaves you vulnerable in close combat.
Pistols are a bit of the opposite, with a small single barrel. They can be loaded through the muzzle with black powder and a small metal ball. The weapon has a hard pommel that can be used as a bludgeoning weapon after firing its single shot. Pistols can be deadly if the target is hit at close range, but are more vulnerable in close combat once their shot is fired. You will later see how to use and reload them. Despite their advantages, they are not very popular due to their high cost and slow loading.
Musket guns are a mix between a bow and a pistol. They are accurate, have a long range of three hundred meters, and offer very high firepower. Their only flaw is that they are slow to reload, taking between one to two minutes per shot. These weapons are more often used by the aristocracy as decoration and entertainment for the same reasons as the pistol.
Now, let's move on to the support weapons section. They are a bit different from traditional weapons. As the name suggests, these weapons are generally used to enhance the attributes or skills of the user. There are several types of support weapons, but for now, we will only see wands, scepters, and collections.
Wands are generally used to increase skill power or improve mana. Scepters are an upgraded version of wands, but more expensive. While collections are more versatile, people generally use them to store skills and use them retroactively.
Finally, when it comes to weapons, everything is said! Over time, you will discover new or even improved versions, but for today, it's enough, choose your weapons," she ends her long monologue by stretching.
With all this information, I'm not sure what to choose, but since I don't have any useful skills at the moment, I think an indirect style will give me an advantage in combat, and I like the idea of using a musket to assassinate my target from afar and having a dagger to defend myself in close combat if needed. It seems balanced for someone without specialization like me.