“It’s a big ask, I know,” Natalie said. “But sider this … I’ll pay you back?”
“I will take you up on that, frosh. I’ll put that mouth to work.”
“Tonight?”
“I could be vinced,” Sammy said, grinning. “So. I spare an hour. And did you know Te logs ‘ment’ as unity work? So I’m not being wholly selfless.”
“How does that work?”
“Just gotta have you firm it. It’s easy.”
“How much?”
“Oh, I don’t know. One and a half thousand an hour, or something like that.”
“Thousand?!”
“That’s not much, frosh. Not for a third-year. A single sed-tier monster core and ge.”
Sed-tier. Natalie had half-way fotten that Sammy was a mid-ranker. By the standards of the typical delver, she was bzing through her progression. Most delvers, by a rge majority, never made it to the upper ranks; their career ended in mid-rank. One way or another—often times the violent one.
Her quick adva was expected from a woman with two years experien one of the most prestigious academies on the p. She obviously made faster pace than ‘the average delver’. She approached what most people’s careers would peak at in a tenth the time. Years instead of decades.
“Well,” Natalie said. “I’m gd you turn a profit off me, then.”
“Thanks. But don’t think that’ll get you out of tonight. Like I said, I’m putting that mouth to work.”
“Like I said,” Natalie returned, “I’d be upset if you didn’t.”
Sammy ughed. “Okay. Break it down for me, then. What do you have, what’s your situation in your party, and any importaails to your css.”
“Personal questions, don’t you think?”
Sammy poked Natalie’s shoulder. “ hardly advise you on how to gear up without them. Besides,” she said, smirking, “we’ve done a lot more personal, haven’t we?”
“You have ravished me and stolen my innoce,” Natalie said thoughtfully.
“The other way around!”
“So I guess I trust you. What I have. Let’s see…”
***
Natalie / Level 1
Padin of Lust
Stats
Furor: F
Tenacity: F+
Prowess: F-
Gear
on Slot 1:
on Slot 2:
Equipment Slot 1:
Equipment Slot 2:
Equipment Slot 3:
Equipment Slot 4:
***
***
Ironstrike Hammer
on
Lv. 1
Effects
- Solid Grip. Reduced likelihood of losing on during bat.
- Minor increase to physical Tenacity.
Description
A simple and reliable one-handed hammer.
***
***
Wooden Shield
on
Lv. 1
Effects
- Sturdy.
- Lightweight.
- Minor increase to magical Tenacity.
Description
A basic, durable wooden shield with a rusty metal band running along the e.
***
“Just two pieces,” Natalie admitted. “Ten monster cores doesn’t buy you much of anything.” ons teo be more expehan gear, too, so it had only stretched to two items.
She expio Sammy the hammer and shield she’d gotten. She had also geared up with mundane pieces of armor, using the monster cores provided by Te, but the magical pieces were the meaningful ones. Especially as she progressed, mundane armor would be practically worthless.
“So you opted for both on slots,” Sammy ented.
“Not a good idea?”
“Didn’t say that.” Sammy pursed her lips as she sidered, then she shrugged. “It’s fine. Like you said, ten cores doesn’t go far. Two minor boo tenacity. Going heavy on defehen?”
“To start with.”
“Obviously, a safe choice for a tank.”
“But not ideal?”
“It depends,” Sammy said, “on the rest of what I asked. So spill it.”
Natalie briefly described her css—the practical parts of it—and the role she inteo fill ieam. Without a sistent squad formalized, she couldn’t say for sure, but since Sofia and Jordan were anchors, she knew she would serve as a support tank more than an aggressive ohey had physical offeo spare.
“Yeah,” Sammy said. “Heavy defense is fihen. Maybe I would’ve gone even heavier, instead of a hammer. But like I said, it’s fine. Not like it matters in the long run.”
And the long run was the reason she’d e to Sammy. “Fear slots to fill. What should I look for first?”
“Some kind of breastpte is the obvious one,” Sammy said. “Or any torso armor. mail, whatever. You want that big tenacity boost. But finding oh a nice side bonus is important. For you, some kind of magic boost would be nice. Magical furor? Casting haste? Even bonus mana. Lots of good choices. Really, finding something good for the price is the important part, at your level.”
“Higher up, that ges?”
“More about finding the perfect pieces,” Sammy agreed, “not the budget ones.” She blushed. “Not that I’m that high through the levels, or rich, so price definitely still matters. But baby-delvers o get kitted out as soon as possible, not worry about the exact details.”
Natalie nodded along. “And where does fashion fit into all of this?”
Sammy gave her an amused look. “You’re one of those?”
“What’s the point in winning if you ’t look stylish?”
“You’re messing with me.”
“Me? I’m all about fashion.”
“Holy, it’s kind of sad how many delvers do have matg armor sets. Had to have sacrificed efficy.” She shrugged. “At the same time, having good gear matters—a lot—but nitpig minor boosts and effects isn’t what makes a delver. Bad with perfect gear, still bad with great gear.”
“So that’s permission to prioritize style?”
“You’re insufferable.”
Natalie ughed. “Okay. So, chest armor first. Then what?”
“For you? Some kind of heavy mage gear. Whatever’s applicable.”
“Wizard hat?”
“It’d be an iing look.”
“And the st two?”
“I’d reend boots, actually,” Sammy said. “Footwork is important for a tank, same as a fighter and rogue. Maybe more. Since you’re always being focused, it’s important to have solidity. Not be knocked down. Like that grip effect you have with your hammer—simir ones are on boots to help stay on your feet.”
Natalie bobbed her head. “Chestpte, boots, wizard hat. And the st one?”
“Those are just suggestions,” Sammy said pointedly. “And please, no wizard hat. I don’t advocate for style, but only to aent. Some outfits are too criminal to take into public. Plus, the goal for your level is to find whatever’s good for the price. As your css develops, what you need’ll ge, anylus this is just my opinion. So don’t take it as gospel, or anything.”
“Noted.”
“But st piece … hm. Going for full defense, obviously a big piece of lower armor. Fog more on yecraft, then ari—neckce, bracelet, whatever suits you. Some utility items are nice.” Sammy shrugged. “There’s really so many choices. When you actually have a budget, we talk details. Check out the Exge together.”
“You’d do that?”
“Like I said, I bill it under ‘ment’. Get some credits out of it.” A grin. “And, of course, you’ll have to show thanks yourself.”
Natalie smiled back. Obviously, she was more than happy to.
She hesitated.
“You know,” Natalie said. “We haven’t really talked about us.”
Sammy blinked.
“I feel like what we have going on is obvious,” Natalie said, “but maybe letting it be implied isn’t the smartest?”
Sammy looked at Natalie, ed. “Oh … I, um. We’re just having fun, right?”
Natalie rexed. She’d beey sure she had read their iions correctly, but they were being somewhat involved with each other, their dalliances happening every other day or so. And while Natalie liked Sammy a lot, she didn’t sider them girlfriends, or even w toward it, really. Sammy was sweet and straightforward, and more than that, their retionship wasn’t plicated. But they were just having fun.
“Friends with bes?” Natalie suggested.
“Mentor and student with bes,” Sammy corrected. “Remember your pce, frosh.”
“So you’re my sex teacher.”
“W-Well, that’s a bit much.”
Natalie ughed, bumping shoulders with Sammy, and the blonde girl smiled back.