Skill Aptitudes are strange things. You wont ever see the system acknowledge them even if you hire a [Diviner] and have them use a Perfect Appraisal spell. However, they most certainly exist.
A Skill which you have an Aptitude for will level far faster than your other Skills. It will level from even the most minimal effort and continue to level far into your life. Finding these Aptitudes are important, because everyone and everything has so.
Yes, that includes monsters as well. Ever wonder why Blink Toads are so good at jumping even though they teleport more than they hop? Every species has its Aptitudes and their Skills in those areas will be high even if they were born the day before.
-an excerpt from, How to Survive: a companion to the Adventurer Training Guide by S-rank adventurer Dre the Massacre
Aside from the fact that I was an inch from death, I found it was rather easy to survive as a toad now that I didnt have my instincts driving to attack monster lizards. Food? There are bugs everywhere. Water? I dont need clean water like a human would. Shelter? Ha! I built my house in a few hours because I am so tiny that I can use a shrub for a roof and so muddy sticks for walls! Plus, I was able to dig out a bedroom in a few minutes!
Admittedly, my easy survival involves eating bugs, drinking dirty water, and living in a hole in the ground under a bush.
Those sa instincts that had driven to fight were also the sa ones that had allowed to feel relatively ok about my current situation, and now they were mostly silent. Sitting in my little den, I was finally hit by a wave of horror and disgust. Every ti I had to eat an insect I very nearly threw up and I had beco paranoid about parasites in the water.
I did start trying to ditate in the hopes of maybe gaining so more self control in the future, and I even got a Skill out of it! However, it was very difficult to keep my focus on my ditation. I wanted to use ditation to improve my focus, but I couldnt focus enough on my ditation to improve my focus
It was maddening!
Each day, I recovered a single point of health and gained a single point of experience. Each day, my instincts ca back a little more. By the ti ten days had passed, I was struggling not to try and wander and explore. After fourteen days, I was hopping around my ho in laps while trying to ditate at the sa ti. At sixteen days, I only managed to hold myself back because I was so close to Level five, and eighteen days later, my experience ticked up from forty nine to fifty.
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 5!]
[You have gained 1 Strength, 1 Endurance, and 1 Vitality!]
[You have reached the limit for your current Species and Growth stage! You may Evolve!]
[Would you like to see your available Evolutions now? Warning: deciding not to choose an Evolution will result in the System choosing for you.]
Well I definitely wanted to choose for myself rather than let the System choose for , so I acknowledged that I wanted to see the possibilities. I was sowhat excited, actually, I wondered what kind of options I would get?
A new screen popped up, one that looked more like my Character nu and less like the general notifications.
Evolution Species:
Young Boreal Toad:(Common) The Young Boreal Toad has survived the difficult competition of a Boreal Spawning and is stronger for it. These large toad monsters are highly aggressive and known for actively seeking prey even when their hunger is sated. 15 to all Stats, 1.2 to Str, End, Vit, Agi, and Dex per level, [Torpor](racial), [Salutivore](racial).
Unlocked by: Being a Hatchling Boreal Toad.
Young Horned Toad:(Common) Aggressive, poisonous, and generally unpleasant, the Young Horned Toad does not actually have horns. Instead, it is covered with sharp spines that secrete toxins and it has a penchant for ramming itself into its enemies to impale them. 25 to End, 5 to all other Stats, 2 Str, End, and Vit per level, 1 Agi and Dex per level.
Unlocked by: Killing an enemy with repeated slams by your body, having the Skill Charge, purposely trying to use your skins poison in a fight.
Young Kalif Toad:(Common) A slightly less aggressive cousin of the Boreal Toad, the Young Kalif Toad is better suited to dry environnts. The Kalif Toad is more agile than the Boreal Toad, but correspondingly less durable. 15 to all Stats, 2 to Agi and Dex per level, .8 to Str, End and Vit per level, [Torpor](racial), [Water Retention](racial).
Unlocked by: Have the Skill Jumping above Level 3
Young Toxic Frog:(Uncommon) Young Toxic Frogs can be just as dangerous as the Adults of their Species. While their toxin is not yet fully developed, it is more than enough to kill anyone without a high amount of Endurance and Vitality or access to healing magic or alchemy. While not particularly aggressive, they are extrely territorial and will often attempt to Ambush any creature that trespasses. 40 Agi and Dex, 3 Agi and Dex per level, .4 to all other Stats per level, [Intense Toxin: Toxic Frog](racial)
Unlocked by: Having the Skill Stealth above level 1, having the Skill Ambush, purposely trying to use your skins poison in a fight.
Young Burrowing Frog:(Rare)Burrowing frogs are ambush predators and are known for digging holes and then waiting at the bottom of the pit for prey to fall in, whereupon they eat them. They rarely move, preferring to spend their days in [Torpor] as they wait for their next al. 20 to all Stats except Agi, 1.4 to all Stats except Agi and Per per level, .2 to Agi and Per per level, [Torpor](racial), [Fast Riser](racial), [Salutivore](racial).
Unlocked by:Having the Skill Trap Making and using traps multiple tis, having the Skill Ambush, having the Skill Stealth, staying within a 1m square area for at least two weeks.
Hatchling Kalif Newt:(Uncommon) The bright orange Hatchling Kalif Newt is considered quite pretty to look at, but the color is a warning that any monster or adventurer would be wise to heed. Although not particularly aggressive, rely touching a Kalif Newt is enough to paralyze a mans hand. Prolonged exposure quickly leads to death if the adventurer does not have [Poison Resistance] or a very high Endurance and Vitality. 3 to all Stats, 1 Agi, Dex, and Mgc per level, [Intense Toxin: Kalif Newt](racial), [Regeneration: Minor](lesser)(racial).
Unlocked by: Having the Skill Taunt, purposely trying to use your skins poison in a fight.
Hatchling Witchs Newt:(Rare) The Witchs Newt is a rare, but highly prized, magical monster. While useful for its alchemical components, the Witchs Newt is often preferred as a young magic users first familiar. Relatively docile, they are known for their many toxins that have multiple effects. 3 to all Stats, 1 to Wil and Mgc per level, .4 to Cha and Agi per level, .2 Dex per level, [Toxin Control: Minor](racial), [Regeneration: Minor](lesser)(racial).
Unlocked by:Having a magic Skill.
Hatchling Hunter Newt:(Very Rare) Hunter Newts are extrely aggressive predators that are more than capable of killing new adventurers with ease. They are known for their tendency to prefer eating human children and have been hunted to near extinction as a result. Very few are born naturally with most resulting from evolution. 1 to all Stats, 8 to Str, End, and Vit per level, 1 to all other Stats per level, [Regeneration: Minor](lesser)(racial), [Salutivore](racial).
Unlocked by: Killing an opponent at least one evolution stage higher than you, killing more than you can eat, killing without the intention of eating.
Note: Horizontal Evolution (Evolution into a new species but not into a higher Evolution stage) will not reset level experience costs. You will retain all Racial Abilities you currently have after Evolution.
Huh, well those are so choices. Considering that so of the unlocks are from Skills, it is probably likely that I missed a lot of them, but then how was I supposed to know that? It isnt like I have ever been given a tutorial for any of the worlds I have landed in. My complaints can wait though, for now I have to think this through. The question is, what do I need?
I would love to be more durable, and a few of the toad and frog Evolutions seed to be head and shoulders above the others in that regard. The Horned Toad and the Burrowing Frog would make strong, but the Horned Toad was described as aggressive and the Burrowing Frog as basically a lazy jack in the box murderer.
Considering how I was and am being dragged around by the nature of the Boreal Toad body I am inhabiting, I take the statents about their behaviour seriously. What I would really like is Willpower, but only a few Evolutions gained Willpower per level - or even have it as a bonus.
But do I actually need to worry about Willpower and durability if I dont ever need to fight directly?
The Toxic Frog and the Witchs Newt both seed to be able to use their poisons to do their fighting for them. However, neither were particularly durable and the newt was a Hatchling stage evolution, so I wouldnt get a large imdiate bonus for evolving into it. Although the newt does have a [Regeneration] Ability.
What the hell does [Regeneration: Minor](lesser) even an? Analysis isnt working on this nu, so all I have to go on is the words. So it is a lesser version of minor regeneration? Would a greater [Regeneration: Minor] be equal or beneath just plain regular [Regeneration]?
For that matter what is [Salutivore]? I hadnt even thought about the fact that my nu is in English, but it is. My opinion is that if there is going to be bullshit magical fuckery it should keep itself consistent, why have so random latin in my options? I havent thought about latin for decades.
The vore suffix ans eating, so if I can figure out what saluti ans I can probably guess what the word is supposed to an. It is probably the origin of the word salute, but while I know what a salute is, I am not sure what the word ans. Language is a pain, especially when I havent used it for so long! Wait, it is probably the root word for salutation, which is essentially a positive greeting, hoping so is well? So Health? Maybe?
Health Eating does seem to make sense in the context of this world, but I have no real idea what it would an to be Health Eating. Perhaps it ans to regain health by eating, which would be damn useful.
No, no, this is my low Willpower fucking over again. I need to focus, what do I definitely not want? I dont want anything aggressive, so that takes out the Boreal Toad, the Horned Toad, and the Hunting Salamander. Aggression isnt my only danger though, I dont want any Species with any kind of extre behavior. So that takes out the Toxic Frog for its territoriality and the Burrowing Frog because I dont want to sleep all day and do nothing.
This leaves with three choices: the Young Kalif Toad, the Hatchling Kalif Newt, and the Hatchling Witchs Newt.
The Kalif Toad is not very interesting, but it isnt a bad choice. The fifteen bonus Stats exceed the total value of the Stats I would get from leveling either of the newts. However, both newts have [Regeneration] and enhanced poison, which makes them very attractive. It would be hard to choose, but there is one deciding factor between the Kalif Toad and the newts: I dont want to be a fucking toad!
A newt isnt much better, but it is better! So should I choose the Kalif or Witchs Newt? There really isnt a question, is there? The Witchs Newt can gain Willpower, so choosing that one is a no brainer. Plus, it probably has so interesting Evolutions I would think.
With the decision made, I chose to Evolve into the Hatchling Witchs Newt and I began to feel very sleepy. A wave of the purest exhaustion hit and before I knew it, I had settled down to sleep in my little hole.
I woke up at night and stretched. I imdiately felt the difference in my body and tried to get a good look at myself. I wasnt able to, so I would have to wait until morning to see my reflection, but more importantly I felt healthy!
Character nu:
Na: - Species: Hatchling Witchs Newt Level: 0/5 Experience: 00/60
Class: -locked- Health: 57/57 Mana: 2/2 Stamina: 100/100
Statistics:
Str: 20 End: 19 Vit: 19 Agi: 12 Dex: 8
Per: 18Acy: 23 Wil: 6 Cha: 15 Mgc: 4
Lck: 163
Abilities:
[Breathes through her Skin](racial) [Toxic Skin](racial) [Toxin Control: Minor](racial)
[Regeneration: Minor](lesser)(racial) [Better First Impression] [Healthy Thoughts] [First Words] [Killing Blow]
Skills:
Ambush: 1 Analysis: 1 Charge: 2 Crafting: 1 Digging: 5 Dodge: 2
Jumping: 4 ditation: 1 Swimming: 2 Stealth: 2 Taunt: 1 Throwing: 1
Trap Making: 1
I had healed! Was it from Evolving or from my [Regeneration]? Probably from Evolving, I wouldnt think my [Regeneration] would have been working until I had finished. I feel great! My head is clearer, my senses are sharper, I am stronger, and I am faster and that was only with a re plus three to all my Stats!
Presumably I feel so much better because - compared to my forr Stats - even an increase of as small as three is a large amount. Plus, my health is full for the first ti in a long ti. I have spent more of this life hurt than whole, so this is just excellent!
I moved out of my little burrow, noting that I was larger now than I was and that I would have to expand Toadho. Newtho? No, I will keep calling it Toadho. Wait, why the hell did my pool look like it was boiling!?
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