Ding!
[You've broken your artifact. You have gained the {Create} ability] ~ (You can now connect this configuring tool to your magic, cursed energy, Hatsu, and any other future powers. This can be done once per technique you fully complete. You can learn or create more than one technique as long as you have five or more distinct methods for utilizing it. This will halve the time needed for creating your first technique and only applies to that one technique.)
"Now that's more like it." Edward grinned with satisfaction. "I could probably use my Ring of Honor to speed up the process of creating that first technique," he added thoughtfully.
"Good thinking," NEXUS replied. "That would definitely give you an edge."
Edward rummaged through his Bag of Holding and pulled out the gleaming ring. He slid it onto his finger with a confident smile. "I've got an idea," he said, his eyes lighting up with a plan. "Watch this."
"What's the plan?" NEXUS asked, curious.
Edward's intellectual focus kicked in, the gears of his mind spinning with possibilities.
"I think I can impose a twofold oath and get twice the reward... well, in theory," he mused aloud. "If I swear to free the people of Barovia and ensure its freedom from undead and senseless conflict, the Ring of Honor should amplify that oath. If I tie it into Nen, I could possibly get more than just the usual boosts. Plus, I'd get a bunch of perks for both my Nen techniques and my D&D classes."
NEXUS paused, intrigued. "Alright, let's hear it."
Edward took a deep breath and declared, holding the ring in front of him as if to seal the promise. "I, Edward Nathan Kent, swear to honor my oath: I will free the inhabitants of Barovia from their cursed plane and protect the innocent from the undead and any who threaten peace. In doing so, I will elevate the honor of Barovia to an image of freedom, ensuring that it remains a reality, both in spirit and in action. In exchange for this oath, I will grow stronger in Nen, gaining access to greater techniques and powers, and I will be blessed with easier progress in my adventuring and combat skills."
Ding!
[Your hypothesis has borne fruit. You now have the feature Double Promise: Allows for secondhand components connected to the first half of your oath.] ~ (You've gained a reward for your wit.)
{Rogue: lvl 1 (+2)} ~ [You've met the criteria for a rogue subclass, or another martial subclass. Choose wisely.]
Barbarian
Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields Talents: Rage, Brutish Strength, Simple weapons, and martial weapons Saves: Strength and Constitution
Skill Proficiencies: Athletics and Intimidation
Fighter
Armor: All armor, shields, and weapons Talents: Weapon proficiency, hand-to-hand combat, light magic Saves: Strength and Constitution Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Insight, and Perception
Monk
Armor: All light armors
Skill Proficiencies: Unarmed attacks, Acrobatics, and History
Saves: Strength and Dexterity Talents: Martial prowess, Kiken manipulation, Attack deflection, and Kiken-fueled attacks
Paladin
Armor: All armors and shieldsSkill Proficiencies: All swords, holy weapons, and holy magic Saves: Wisdom and Charisma Talents: Medicine expertise, holy rituals, Blessed Warrior fighting style, and Heaven's Sight
Ranger
Armor: Light armors, medium armors, and shields Skill Proficiencies: All bow types, hand-held crossbows, and hunting daggers Saves: Strength and Dexterity Talents: Animal Handling, Survival, Archery, Nature spells, and Hunter's Mark
"Alright, I'm going with Arcane Trickster for my rogue subclass," Edward said with a nod, pulling up his menu. "I'll pick another one later, maybe after I level up some more. For now, I'm going Monk. It'll be good to start building up those martial techniques."
"You know, you could use your fate point to grab another subclass," NEXUS pointed out. "If you're looking for versatility, you might want to consider it."
Edward raised an eyebrow, considering. "Wait, is that actually possible?"
"Yep. You've got a range of points that might be useful in other ways," NEXUS explained with a shrug. "Couldn't hurt to ask yourself what else they can do. Maybe the real power lies in diversifying your options."
Edward exhaled, unimpressed. "Yeah, yeah. But for now, I'll stick with this." He scanned the options before continuing. "First, I'll choose the Shadar-Kai lineage for my Elf side. Teleportation and resistance to all damage by level 3? That's a sweet deal." He glanced at the options again. "I'll go Fighter for now, so I can multiclass into something like Eldritch Knight or Battle Master later on. It's all about building flexibility."
"Isn't that a lot of decisions to make at once?" NEXUS inquired, clearly amused. "What's your endgame with that Fighter class, anyway?"
Edward shrugged. "Not entirely sure yet. Might just take it to level 6 before multiclassing. If I change my mind, I'll switch it up. The point is, I'm covering all my bases."
"Fair enough." NEXUS paused, then added, "Anything else you need to finalize?"
Edward turned back to his decision screen. "Oh, right. The Aasimar race. They're not the best in standard D&D, but we're not in a standard D&D world, are we?" he said with a smirk. "Customizable wings and a halo? That's a hard pass for me. I'll take the Aasimar. I want that healing aura and celestial energy, even if it's not the best min-max choice."
"I'll take your word for it," NEXUS said with a slight chuckle. "Your call."
Edward paused to finalize his choices before something caught his eye—a shadow flitting just out of the corner of his vision. His Sharingan flared to life, its crimson light blazing with intensity. The shadow moved again, circling him like a hungry predator, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
He gripped his cleaver in a reverse stance, every muscle coiled and ready for action. "I knew it. A phantom. Let's dance," Edward muttered under his breath, his mind immediately shifting into combat mode.
Alert!
[Aggroed opponent inbound: 10 minutes. Be ready, user.]
"Alright, this isn't a drill," NEXUS urged, as alarm bells blared within Edward's system. "Calm down, Edward. Time to focus."
Edward winced at the blaring notifications. "Ugh, seriously, Nexus? Can you turn off those alarms? I don't need the headache."
The clock was ticking, but his mind was already racing through his options. Nine minutes... maybe an extra three? he thought, focusing intently. His eyes narrowed as the shadow crept closer.
A prompt appeared before him, offering him an important choice:
[Would you like to choose two cantrips from the level one through three list?]
Y/N (If no, you'll have a chance to choose later.)
Edward took a deep breath, his mind spinning with options. "Okay, time to think this through," he muttered, weighing his decisions carefully.
Chapter End