Book 3. Chapter 9: Initiation and Recruitment

Book 3. Chapter 9: Initiation and Recruitment

Jake strode forward, and activated the [Alliance Node]. It lit up the mysterious runes on it, and Jake was presented with a Menu. He claimed the node and placed it down, opening up the features to all that could use it. Jake didnt have to claim the node, but since Rookard had stated he would join his guild, he figured he might as well. Lines were drawn on the ground, forming a large octagonal shape like he had seen at the Alliance HQs market plaza.

Rookard, go ahead. You should be able to initiate yourself into the framework. Im not sure what will happen to you, exactly. When I was initiated by a god, I was knocked out; though I think that was because it activated my mana. Your people dont seem to be affected, but youre the first Auril Hero I will have seen.

Rookard nodded. He interacted with the prism, and Jake saw his eyes glazed over, reading something on his end. It says theres a cost to initiate.

Jake tried to interact too, and he saw that there was a cost. The cost was significant, at over 100,000 T1 Credits. He interacted with the Menu that was available to learn more from the Wiki, and learned that this was normal. Initiating a more powerful body and soul like his had a higher cost, and thus it must be paid in advance, by a sponsor. Jake learned that a significant portion of the cost was actually restoring Rookards health, as immortalizing him would eventually bring him back to a younger, stronger self.

Digging further, he realized that this would not be an instant thing for him; the Framework would restore him over time, likely taking a little over a month. But Jake found that he could sort of reduce the cost: by buying enhancements for his guild. They cost CP, and Jake realized that they would quickly repay themselves from the tax, not just from Rookard, but from any of the older beastkins that joined, who would have similar costs but more appropriate for their Tier. To keep them from owing the framework, it would help if Jake got this addition.

He and his girls had not spent a majority of their CP from the [Fortress Assault], along with the rifts they had cleared today. So, he was able to add these fixtures into his guild, which enabled those features to his [Guild Node], as well.

That left one more thing. Berri, hit em with your best heal.

Okay!

Bloodberri was then enveloped in holy light, causing the surrounding people to gasp. The light then enveloped Rookard, and he gasped as well.

Your warrior can heal? Thats surprising. It felt interestingwhile our Auril healers had already healed me, that went a bit further, I feel.

Try now, Rookard.

Its much lower now, but it still has a cost.

Jake nodded, and he accepted the cost of 25,000 T1 Credits to initiate Rookard as his sponsor. Jake was lucky that the Framework only saw him as Level 11, or the cost could have been much higher. Perhaps, his old age had reduced his overall strength that the framework could even return him to. He would get strong once again, with effort.

Dont we need to fight now for you to join my Tribe now, or something, Rookard?

Rookard shook his head. Im just an old man now, and I can feel your life force from here. Only Timon or Dahlia would be your match, I can tell. And I heard they Well, I know for sure that Ravenwolf Chieftess will be something. I met him and his wife when they were younger, and she is just like them. A young prodigy, her heart beating in tune with the world, for the balance.

Jake thought he understood. So, youre level 11 already. Fhesiah has already found that your peoples focus should be on incursions and eating auril beast meat. You should level most rapidly that way. Shes working on other supplements to aid you.

Ill make sure to hunt extra, even if I have to hunt far to maintain the balance. Level 11 huh? What is this, I feel a bit stronger somehow already?

Youve started to get younger. Within a month, youll be back in your prime, though you can sort of tune it if you would like your appearance to be a little older like you might feel.

Rookard frowned. Im not sure if I like that, its against the natural order of things.

The outsiders are against the natural order. They consume souls, taking them from the cycle of reincarnation and rebirth, or whatever system is in place by the gods in their universe. The good news is that your soul is now protected from them, and yet you can choose when your fight is done. You can take your pound of flesh, and keep taking it until you are satisfied.

Rookard now showed a predatory smile, and he addressed his people. I do like that. Alright! Line up and lets get initiated. Champion Jake, tell them more about your Tribe!

Jake then repeated most of what he had said to Rookard at the gate. He also added information about his fund for children buyback, and some other advantages, as well as some of his plans about how they would operate. The big thing that would keep people from joining, is his guild may require them to relocate, or join on certain events if they were called upon. If they didnt, then what would be the difference from just initiating? Jake needed a guild that worked for him and the Goddess, to accomplish their goals.

That didnt mean that he wouldnt have some flexibility with allowing guild members to do their own thing from time to time, but Jake would expect four things from his people. They trained his guilds doctrine, which would include a skill or build preference, though Jake would be flexible as long as they were, as well as preparations such as consumables and filling in holes such as missing ranged attacks. Next, they would do their best when called upon to be a part of both fights and aid alike. Third, that they would take on their Trial with everything they had, once they were fully prepared by the guild doctrine. Finally, they would take up a trade skill.

Jake believed that one of their most powerful weapons that was underutilized by the Alliance was this. When he talked to Antonius, he found that a majority of those that fought did not have one, nor were they interested in one. But this was a tool that could earn credits, and most importantly: it bypassed the issues with the law of balance. Because the items were both obtained and created by themselves, they could potentially craft an item beyond their Tier using what they gained from the dungeon. That would then be a huge thing that would improve their chance at success. Not only that, but picking synergistic trade skills helped with their personal progression. Jake would not be half as good at runic magic right now if not for practicing and studying runic enchantment. This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Jake had no illusions that these things would always be the case, but having the trade skills had other benefits as well. They could produce lower tier items that were masterworks for their newly joined members for them to buy with credits that they earned, preparing them as much as possible for their Trials. Jake had a hard time obtaining proper masterwork items when he was Tier 0, even if he saved up tons of credits.

What Odin said to him rang true in his mind, about just what Tier 1 enchanter would waste their time enchanting Tier 0 items? Jakes plan was for his guild to be ones that would.

If people had around a fifty percent chance of success with their trial with steel unenchanted items, then Jake wondered how high they would be with a fully enchanted set. The idea that most Alliance guilds fought like mercenaries seemed to be an incorrect approach in Jakes mind. While earning credits was and CP was important for moving conquest forward, there needed to be a holistic approach to doing what you could to have all tiers be successful. All life was precious to Jake, and just because saving a person individually might not earn him a CP, that person was significant to him.

Jake frowned, and he took out the other [Alliance Node] that he brought, but intended for the other village. I do. I had planned to bring it to the other village. Oh, and here.

Jake emptied his storage bracelet of the wolf meat they had looted. There were over fifty wolves from the kobold skirmishers, and as far as Jake could tell they were not diseased, spawned by the [Challenge] as they were.

This is great! Combined with the food I purchased, this should get us squared away for now. Alright, give me that, and Ill take it to the village you cleared to the southwest. I know they arent as bad off as us, but I think I can convince them.

Jake frowned. You sure youll be good to travel? Its not quite safe in your wilds, I heard.

He gave a wolfish grin, and his tail was now wagging. There must be blood! I feel young again, my heart is beating stronger than it has in years! Ive no illusions that Im indestructible, but along with being able to call my pack, it should be enough for safe travels. It was great meeting you, Champion Jake of Hestia. I see that we can converse using this [Guild Menu] when Im near a node, so if you need me, call, and Ill be there!

The man howled and was covered in his currently purple Auril, and he ran off on all fours at an impressive pace. The crowd cheered, and people continued to use the [Guild Node]. Up to eight people could interact with it at a time, so the lines were moving quite rapidly, even with people checking out many of the features.

Jake realized that he now had a second Envoy, and wondered how well Rookard would do at the other village. Still, if he was comparing Tanda to Rookard, he would bet on Rookards success in getting people both to join his guild and be initiated into the Framework, especially if the village or town was experiencing troubled times.

Jake decided to check in on her. While he could use the [Guild Menu], this only worked in his Refuge, within a certain range of an Alliance HQ or Node. Just because he could use it, didnt mean Tanda could. He used their communicator.

Tanda, can you hear me? Weve reached Rookards village, are you familiar with it?

I can hear you, Jake. I forgot to bring it up last night, but Im quite surprised at how much stronger our flock had gotten by the end of the fights. Several had gained in level, and while some died, knowing they will return in a few weeks helps morale significantly. Many received these Contribution Points and Credits, and while many cant purchase much yet due to the reduced reward thanks to our numbers, it should be a big help.

I can already see that you were right in your words, that I would see my loss as a win, in time, and its only been one day. The only reason we were able to rally out yesterday was thanks to the Goddesses healing, as well. There are some things I still dont like about the Framework, but it is certainly a tool that I can use to accomplish my goals.

Jake was surprised that she had this big of a turnaround in her attitude in a single day. He wondered how whomever came to meet with these people on the Alliances behalf mucked everything up with the beastkin. Jake really wanted to learn more about whatever protocols the Alliance used with Fringe Worlds, but he certainly had too much on his plate already. Tanda continued,

As for Rookard, hes a stubborn old wolf thats set in his ways. Also, he tried to set me up with his son on more than one occasion. Hes quite pushy. But his son couldnt beat me in a courtship duel, so that was that.

Well, Rookard lost his son, so hes a bit of a changed man. Well, hes still stubborn, but I might have started something unexpected here.

What happened?

Well, the undead spread their blight on their crops and stored food, and many of his people got sick. His son had died facing off the rift, and this made him somewhat open towell, he called it changing tradition. He started this, there must be blood speech, and he got his people really into it. They are very driven to fight against Tartarus now.

Thats preposterous. There must be blood is for banding together to clean the taint of a Tyrant from our hearts, to preserve balance and harmony for the world itself. Only when the world and the beastkin are in harmony, can it begin to heal. You started to see the beginning of that in the play last night, the curse of the First Tyrant. Tartarus, while evil, is not a tainted beastkin.

Well, it was his idea. Something I said to him about the struggle your people faced has changed now, so he used that to change the tradition. That your traditions are serving your enemy instead, as it caused his sons death, so you should change the tradition to serve you.

Well, hes a wily old wolf, thats for sure. It got these people really worked up, Tanda. I have no doubt that even if I told them not to do incursions until they were ready, they would still queue up. I hear these wolf beastkin talking, and they are looking to form up a pack and take on incursions together soon, the awakened ones among them. At least two awakened while Rookard was giving his speech, and they were chanting. So even if its twisted, it works, Tanda.

Tanda sighed over the communicator. I will think on it, Jake. We have already started to adapt, as youve seen. There must be blood might be a powerful rallying cry for my people, but it could have the opposite effect of what you want. If people become almost suicidal throwing themselves against rifts, even if they will be revived, they could end up helping the invaders.

That aside, I see that your defeating the Necromancer, along with closing those few rifts has finally seen an uptick on the Conquest Progress, but weve a long ways to go. Even the few initiated taking on their tutorial incursions are having a slight impact, but its minimal. More of the initiated people that died at the beginning of the collapse should be revived soon, and some Adventurers should appear soon if you get that number up. I will take some more [Alliance Nodes] to villages if you give me permission, and Ill do my best to recruit and add nodes.

Jake smiled, things were already starting to look a little better, but he knew they had a long way to go. He was relieved that he had truly gotten Tanda on board. That on her own volition, she was willing to go even further to continue adding villages with Nodes.

He would have to close at least as many as he did yesterday, if they were going to have any chance at getting the conquest progress out of what Jake considered the danger zone. All it would take is losing some villages, or their HQ, and they would be hit with a [Raid]. While Jake and his girls were strong, he doubted that they could pull what should be over a one hundred man instance where Tartarus has a strict advantage by themselves. Jake gave Tanda the right to set up [Alliance Nodes] from a template. He gave her one for Guild owned and one where the village Chief or someone could take ownership.

Thank you, Tanda, its done, and you should now be able to withdraw them from the Alliance HQ as you need them, or even from nodes as you place them. This way, you dont have to carry more than one or two. Right now, getting the word out and scouting are paramount, so your flock are once again critical to your peoples success. I would definitely increase scouting around your home, Chieftess, as I bet Tartarus knows this as well. Remember, the conquest map doesnt update with things unless theyve been scouted by initiated. Tartarus defeated most of your peoples Auril Heroes, they tried cutting off the Alliance HQ, and that means your people are next, in my mind.

Ithank you for your concern, Jake. I have long since realized that my people are important for Highlands success in this war, and that this makes us an important target for the invaders. That has at least somewhat already come to pass, but I will leave it at that. This was part of my plan for your communicators: to improve my scouts safety and effectiveness. Some of those in the flock that headed home did in fact initiate, so the conquest map should be updated with any rifts discovered near there. Ill make sure to use messages to hammer home the importance. There was in fact a node in a town nearby our home, just not at Harmony Peaks itself.

Jake and Tanda hammered out a few more details for the coming week, and ended the call. Throughout the end of it, Jake could feel Ophelia and Bloodberri really pulling on [Energy Sharing]. He did feel Bloodberri getting sad and distraught, and Ophelia to match. It was not long after he ended the call that he heard Ophelias voice in his mind.

[Jake, I think you should come quick. Berri well, Blood too, theyre both inconsolable.]