TJ was saved from the killer headache by the levels gained, but his mind was far from capable of merely moving past what he'd just experienced. He deactivated his Divine Transformation, still surrounded by the massacred bodies of the pukwudgies. Though they asked, TJ disregarded every question that came at him, instead stalking away and running his fingers through his hair in a doomed attempt of calming his mind. It did nothing, and as the gained levels had returned his emptied MP and partially depleted Stamina, he had nervous energy in spades. With a grunt, TJ leaned down and grabbed the javelina he'd dropped once he'd seen Mari's face. Slinging it over his shoulder, he began walking towards the edge of the forest, now barely visible.
"No, you can't pull that shit." Zig shouted, though without approaching him too closely. "Were you about to attack me? Why?"
TJ merely grunted, the sight of Mari's sobbing face filling his mind. Could it really have been her? If it had, would she really have been so bitter? Or was it because the chindi was merely all the anger and disappointment that was left behind by her death? There were too many questions that this monster's existence brought up, and the only person TJ could think to ask wasn't here. Thus, he needed to return to town.
"Stop." Sarah commanded as she stepped in front of TJ and dropped the mountain lion's corpse. "You need to answer some questions. If you're going to act like this, then why would we let you come back to town? You're at least as dangerous as one of the Elite monsters, and if you're going to snap and try to kill people… I don't know if we can let you leave."
Without thinking, TJ shrugged his shoulders. She would dare challenge him like this? After he saved their lives and stuck with them? Then, before he responded in his anger, TJ watched as Rebekkah stared at him. Her entire body trembled with fear and each shuddering breath. Zig stood with her bow in hand, an arrow already conjured on the string. Even Farid had one of his javelins at the ready, and TJ fought to master his immediate reaction to all this. He'd need to see from their point of view, and from what little he'd shown thus far, he was a loose cannon that was looking to get them all killed at their earliest convenience.
"You're right, I'm sorry. To better explain, I would like to know what you all saw, because I'm sure it's different from what she, no, it showed me."
"I didn't see anything until Rebekkah burned it." Farid offered, looking at the three women. "Did you see something?"
Zig and Sarah shook their heads in the negative, but Rebekkah nodded. "It was a… ghost, or something. I couldn't see it very well, but right when you started to talk to it, it got more and more visible until I could kind of see a woman in it. Then, you… got really scary. The way you looked at Zig, it was like she was prey for you. So I tried to burn it, and then you know what happened."
"Yeah, when it started to burn, I could see something. Just like… a face that was in agony and so angry. So… angry." Farid shivered at the memory, and TJ fought to change his perception of the spirit. Maybe it truly wasn't his wife. It could be that it was merely a formless monster.
"Ok. I saw it as my wife. I saw Mari's face, and she knew who I was. She talked about our son, how she died, and the life insurance payout that I got after she was killed. Every word she spoke drew me in more and more. She accused me of forgetting her, of being happy she died. That I was trying to replace her. So she said she could come back if she had Zig's body."
All four of the people who had gone on the hunt with him recoiled at the admission, at the thought that he'd sacrifice her for his wife. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him, and before continuing on his speech, he asked the System aloud, "What afflictions have I been under the influence of in the past ten minutes?"
You have suffered from a minor Fear and a severe Charmed affliction in the past ten minutes.
"What's the effect of a severe Charmed affliction?"
Severe Charmed affliction: While still in the presence of the source of your Charm, you will be 600% more likely to agree with whatever the source of the affliction suggests. You will be 500% more likely to feel positively about the source of the affliction, and you will be 400% more likely to do whatever it is that the source of the affliction requests.
TJ sighed and swore more under his breath. "I'm sorry. I never would have guessed that I was being Charmed. I wouldn't have known that was an affliction. I was wrong. I'm sorry Zig, for being deceived. I'm sorry Rebekkah, for taking it out on you. Farid, Sarah, I'm sorry for losing myself."
The four other hunters obviously checked with the System with what he was saying. Zig was the first to speak, her voice still accusatory. "What level?"
"Severe."
She asked the System again, and getting its answer, asked in disbelief, "Really? That bad?"
"Yeah. I don't know why it was that strong, but I guess it was because it's an Elite? I don't know."
"If it was an Elite, we were lucky. Probably not a creature meant to fight head on, since a wendigo could have done a lot more to us in that case." Zig mused, still keeping her distance from TJ. However, his explanation seemed to be enough for now, as she gestured for the others to gather their assigned monster corpses.
"You walk in front for now please." Sarah demanded as she gestured for TJ to lead the way. He didn't complain, welcoming the opportunity to be back in his own thoughts. Mari wouldn't have ever treated him that way, but, if it was just the most negative parts of her without the tempering of her laughter, her sweetness, her care, and her love, then could she have been so bitter?
"In the future," he asked the System, "how can I resist Fear or Charm?"
Wisdom and Willpower are the primary attributes necessary for any individual to resist any mental affliction. Though there are items and Skills that allow for a Participant to better resist the effects and infliction of afflictions, the primary determiner of whether an individual resists part of or the entirety of an affliction comes from their Wisdom and Willpower.
Though Wisdom was far from his highest attribute, that Willpower was the other determiner and his very high Willpower wasn't enough was a sobering thought for TJ. When the Chindi inevitably returned, TJ couldn't say how they'd be able to deal with it, even if they had the entirety of the town to help.
TJ shook his head, trying to shake the thoughts and fears free while he was at it. After all, he couldn't allow himself to wallow in this. The only reason why he was trying to be the one to ascend to the Throne was because that would allow him to return to life with his wife and son. Immediate goal, complete the Tutorial and see Junior. Secondary goal, somehow win the whole thing. That idea was overwhelming, but the long term goal and end result was what he focused on.
With that in mind, TJ rolled his shoulders, settling the javelina across his shoulders more comfortably before pulling up his Status.
Status Sheet
Name: TJ (Thiago Jorge) Harris IV
Race: Human – lvl 10
Class: Neophyte lvl 10
Occupation: Savage lvl 10
Level of Divinity: Dirt (0)
Divine Bloodline: Kukulkan
Health Points (HP): 610/610
Mana Points (MP): 440/440
Stamina: 600/600
Attributes
Strength: 30
Agility: 29
Endurance: 67
Vitality: 69
Toughness: 57
Wisdom: 37
Intelligence: 47
Perception: 45
Willpower: 58
Fixation: 49
Free Points: 2
Skill List: Hidden
Titles: Irregular
Elite Hunter
Current total maximum Divine Transformation time: 1:00:45
(End+Vit+Will+Fix)/4 Current cooldown: 0:00
Status Sheet
Name: TJ (Thiago Jorge) Harris IV
Race: Coatl – lvl 10
Class: Neophyte lvl 10
Occupation: Savage lvl 10
Level of Divinity: Dirt (0)
Divine Bloodline: Kukulkan
Health Points (HP): 1380/1380
Mana Points (MP): 470/470
Stamina: 1340/1340
Attributes
Strength x2: 60
Agility x1.5: 44
Endurance x2: 134
Vitality x2: 138
Toughness x2: 114
Wisdom: 37
Intelligence: 47
Perception x1.5: 68
Willpower: 58
Fixation: 49
Free Points: 2
Skill List: Hidden
Titles: Irregular
Elite Hunter
Divine Trial Records
2 Minor, 0 Moderate, 0 Bitter, 0 Celestial
He hadn't looked at the Status while in the Chindi's Forest, as he started to think of it, so seeing the changes those three levels he'd gained had on the Status as a whole was heartening. The fear and rage that boiled inside of him threatened to wipe away all rational thought, but TJ fought to focus instead on what was currently in front of his eyes. Level 10 across all three possibilities, though he hadn't gained anything in particular from reaching level 10 as a human like how he'd gained the Appraisal Skill from level 5.
Divine Transformation could now last for over an hour, though only just barely. There were two more Free Points that he nearly decided to throw right into Intelligence but decided against as he was reminded that he had a new Skill to select. He would decide where to place those Free Points after choosing that new Skill. A part of him thought it might be more prudent to wait until he was back in town, but the need to occupy his mind was too great, and TJ pulled up the Skill selection options. He was surprised to see three returning Skill options.
Shredding Bite: Though born a human, you have embraced the savagery of combat that a bestial form lends. As a predator, your teeth are sharp, and as a serpent, your mouth is built to swallow creatures whole while your teeth prohibit their escape. Even so, you have used your mouth to shred and tear, to rip and destroy. This Skill will strengthen and broaden your fangs as a coatl to teeth meant to tear creatures apart. In addition, this Skill will grant an additional +1 Strength attribute per level of Neophyte, to be applied retroactively.
Crushing Body: Though born a human, you have embraced the savagery of combat that a bestial form lends. As a predator, your body is hardened, and as a serpent, your entire body is an instrument of destructive potential. In keeping with your serpentine nature, you have broken body and bone, crushed organ and flesh with the force of your constriction. This Skill will strengthen your musculature as a coatl and human alike to better allow you to destroy the bodies of your enemies, not just through constriction, but through any bludgeoning force. In addition, this Skill will grant an additional +1 Strength attribute per level of Neophyte, to be applied retroactively.
Mindful Mouth: A serpent can taste the world around them, and you have embraced this shift in perception, tasting the air as you move and live. This Skill will better hone your ability to taste and smell the world around you while you are in the form of a coatl or its subsequent evolutions. The bonus to Perception from being in the form of a coatl will change from x1.5 to x2.
Though he'd ultimately chosen not to go with any of these Skills, TJ still felt the allure of Shredding Bite and Crushing Body. An additional 10 Strength, 20 while using Divine Transformation, would be immense. He'd already begun to feel himself lag behind in the physical department and this would serve to close that gap. Mindful Mouth still didn't appeal to him, so instead, TJ looked at the other two Skill options.
Raging Coatl, (Copper (I)): You are a Neophyte of Kukulkan, and you have indulged in the fury of your bloodline. This Skill will allow you to fully lose yourself in the bloodlust and fury of your Divine Transformation. While using the Divine Transformation Skill, you will gain a 50% increase to every one of your attributes. In addition, you will gain the Fearless and Painless conditions while using your Divine Transformation. As a consequence, while using the Divine Transformation Skill, you will be inflicted with severe levels of the Bloodthirsty, Enraged, and Frenzied afflictions.
Wind Scythe, (Copper (I)): You are a Descendant of Kukulkan, and have displayed a familiarity with his rule over the winds. This Skill will better hone your ability to use Wind Manipulation as a weapon. This Skill will strengthen the cutting power of Wind Manipulation while decreasing the MP cost of all usage of the Wind Manipulation Skill with the intent to cut.
TJ supposed he should be grateful to have such varied Skills to choose from, as with so many options placed before him, he could distract himself long past the time it would take to arrive home.