Item: Raven Mocker's Remnant (Copper, (I)). A respectable attempt from an amateur in creating an item featuring the middle talon and eyeball of a Raven Mocker. The creator's intent was not to create equipment to serve as an article of defensive armor, though it can serve as a mediocre defensive bracer. Its construction is simple but effective, and it will not be worn down by regular use. However, its purpose is to serve as a focus and an item which grants the wearer the strength of the Raven Mocker. In this, the Raven Mocker's Remnant is successful. The wearer of this equipment can activate a Touch-based Skill with a 25% increase in potency with no additional cost. This equipment grants additional attribute points to its wearer. Points granted: +7 Intelligence, +3 Fixation.
TJ chuckled under his breath as soon as he finished reading the item's description. He'd done it. Its base effect was rather unremarkable, if thinking only of its limited bonus to Skills. Yes, it was a 25% increase, but TJ's Wendigo Blade was made using comparatively less of similarly valuable materials and it granted a 10% increase to use of Wind Manipulation, while the other Blades he made served to give the wielder a rudimentary version of Frost Manipulation, or something like it. Then, the Blades were, of course, functional tools and weapons.
Finally, TJ had crossed that divider and created an item that granted additional attributes. They weren't a ton, but ten attribute points in the two attributes most focused on spellcasting and divine workings wasn't nothing. TJ was looking forward to his additional 70 MP, to say nothing of the increase in Wind Manipulation's potency with the extra boost given by the equipment. TJ grinned widely as he set to creating the bracer's twin. The experience he gained from creating the item was nearly enough to take him to the next level of Savage, too, so finishing the pair would give him that level as well.
Now that he knew what he was doing, the process went much more quickly. Less than an hour later, the pair to the Raven Mocker's Remnant laid on the table. As soon as it was complete, TJ noticed the flashing System notification in the corner of his eye.
Occupation: Savage has advanced to level 19.
Attribute points allocated: Strength +1, Agility +1, Endurance +2, Vitality +1, Toughness +2, Wisdom +1, Intelligence +1, Perception +2, Willpower +2, Fixation +1, Free Points +1.
When he Appraised it, it was confirmed that both were considered identical in the eyes of the System, and TJ put one on and checked his Status, excited to see what the difference would be.
Status Sheet
Name: TJ (Thiago Jorge) Harris IV
Race: Human – lvl 17
Class: Neophyte lvl 16
Occupation: Savage lvl 19
Level of Divinity: Dirt (0)
Divine Bloodline: Kukulkan
Health Points (HP): 1100/1100
Mana Points (MP): 810/880
Stamina: 1100/1100
Attributes
Strength: 62
Agility: 45
Endurance: 110
Vitality: 110
Toughness: 86
Wisdom: 59
Intelligence: 81+7
Perception: 76
Willpower: 95
Fixation: 92+3
Free Points: 0
Skill List: Hidden
Titles: Irregular
Elite Hunter
Current total maximum Divine Transformation time: 1:42:30
(End+Vit+Will+Fix)/4 Current cooldown: 0:00
Status Sheet
Name: TJ (Thiago Jorge) Harris IV
Race: Coatl – lvl 17
Class: Neophyte lvl 16
Occupation: Savage lvl 19
Level of Divinity: Dirt (0)
Divine Bloodline: Kukulkan
Health Points (HP): 2200/2200
Mana Points (MP): 810/880
Stamina: 2200/2200
Attributes
Strength x2: 124
Agility x1.5: 68
Endurance x2: 220
Vitality x2: 220
Toughness x2: 172
Wisdom: 59
Intelligence: 81+7
Perception x1.5: 114
Willpower: 95
Fixation: 92+3
Free Points: 0
Skill List: Hidden
Titles: Irregular
Elite Hunter
Divine Trial Records:
2 Minor, 1 Moderate, 0 Bitter, 0 Celestial
The information gained was, mostly, good news. The Intelligence gained also gave additional MP, which was the biggest part. That it didn't fill up the MP that it granted made sense, though he was the slightest bit disappointed with that. With a smile, TJ pulled the other bracer on, keeping his eyes on his Status. As soon as the second settled over his wrist, though, the System flashed a notification in his eyes and over his Status.
Note: A Participant can only equip a single item of the Copper (I) tier or higher in each slot at one time.
"Then is there only a single 'bracer' slot?"
Yes.
TJ sighed. "How many slots are there, and what are they?"
Ten. The slots are boots, leggings, chestpiece, bracers, right hand's ring, left hand's ring, dominant hand, off hand, necklace, and helm.
A thought occurred to TJ. "The Raven Mocker's Remnant was only considered an item once I internally decided it was, right?"
Correct.
"Then, if I'd only considered the Remnant complete once I'd finished the second one, would they have been considered a pair?"
Yes.
"Would the completed Remnant with both bracers have provided twice as many attributes? Would it have given a greater bonus to any touch-based Skill used while wearing them?"
That cannot be divulged at this time, However, a larger item or one that uses more of a valuable material tends to be more valuable and powerful than that of one made with less material.
TJ let his forehead thump to the table he was working at. There was so much he was still learning about this System and how everything worked now, and it was obvious that there'd be problems that occurred as he explored this new world. Even so, he found himself seething over the mistake he'd made. If he'd just thought a little harder, he was sure that he'd have been able to figure that out. Instead, he had two halves of a pair that he couldn't use in unison. That one would be great for the Disciples to have in the siege was the best consolation he could come up with. He moved his mind on to something else, hoping to keep himself from languishing in his self-recrimination.
"Why does that limit only begin happening at the Copper tier?"
The limitation for equipment equipment only begins to apply at the Copper (I) tier of Divinity because it is only at the Copper (I) tier of Divinity that equipment begins to grant additional attributes upon equipment.
The way that the System had explained it used far too many mentions of the word equipment, but it did make a sort of sense. If it was just plates of metal, someone could cover themselves in it and slow themselves to a crawl, but they wouldn't get anything else out of it. With equipment that granted attributes, though… That seemed to be directly contradictory to the intent of the System to forge someone capable of ascending to the Divine Throne.
Then, TJ realized there was something else that he knew, something that he'd never thought was at all important.
"Divine Transformation, as I got it from Neophyte, is at Copper tier. Are the Skills Holy Vestments and Sacred Weapon both also at the Copper tier when granted by the Zealot and Acolyte Classes?"
Ordinarily, this question would not be able to be answered, due to your selected Class not being Zealot or Acolyte. However, as you have provided sufficient related information to the query, you will be granted an answer. Yes, all Skills granted by the acquisition of a Class are granted at the Copper (I) tier.
"Are the tiers of the weapons and armor created by the Holy Vestments and Sacred Weapon Skills the same as the tier of the Skill itself?"
Yes.
"Then the equipment that the Zealots and Acolytes wield grant additional attributes." Though he phrased it more as a statement than a question, the System's answer came nonetheless.
Yes.
TJ shook his head at himself in disbelief. He'd quickly learned that the Zealot and Acolyte Classes granted weapons and equipment, and didn't query further. After all, a weapon was enough of a benefit, compared to turning into a giant snake and getting a massive boost in his attributes, right? As soon as he internally asked himself the question, he immediately understood how he'd just lost himself in ignorance. Again and again, the System had punished a lack of curiosity, and he wasn't learning that lesson either.
After resolving himself to think more and ask someone questions about how many attributes the different Skills granted, TJ refocused on what he was doing. He had plenty of items to create, and extremely limited time. TJ looked at the skull and throat of the raven, unsure of what he would do with the tongue. It was, apparently, the most valuable part of the raven, so he'd need to be more careful with it than he'd been with the talons and eyes. Looking down at the tongue, it seemed like it was the only part of the raven that wasn't actively decaying, so TJ put it to the side for now, instead focusing on the two Tezcatlipoca-blessed mountain lion hides.
The hides were much thinner and finer than those of the javelinas, and TJ had long since decided that he would use these hides for something other than mere armor. His thought had been a cloak of some sort, given how good the creatures had been at hiding, But now, that raised a question of what equipment slot that would fill.
A heavily weighted cloak without a hood is a chestpiece. A hooded cloak is a helm. A heavily weighted cloak with a hood can occupy both the chestpiece and helm slots. A cloak without a hood or substantive weight is a necklace.
TJ threw up his hands. "What makes a cloak heavily weighted?"
A cloak is termed as heavily weighted when it contains metals, multiple layers of leather, or is otherwise heavily modified to serve as an item which can physically block attacks.
If that was the case, then, TJ figured that his best bet with these cloaks would be to try to make them fit into the helm slot. As he decided as much, TJ commanded the System to display the slot for any equipment he Appraised from then on. That this cloak would ideally be considered a helmet was initially strange for TJ, as he only thought of a helm as, you know, a helmet. But if he was hoping for the cloak to help the wearer hide, then he would want it to cover their head. Couldn't make it too heavy though, because TJ suspected that the cloak would be far less impactful to the wearer than wearing a motorcycle helmet and a set of javelina hide armor. But since the hide armor was Dirt tier, couldn't he double up on it?
The constant thinking and planning about what could go where and do what drove TJ crazy, but it didn't take long before he simply made his decision. Helm. As such, he set about preparing the hide as best as he could, to have the fur on the outside and leather inside, with the cowl peaked and covering the majority of his face. The process was particularly easy, given that he didn't really need to do a whole lot other than to cut it to size and affix a clasp, which he used a braided loop of treated intestine paired with a shard of bone to create.
He nearly decreed the cloak as complete at that, a simple, black garment that covered him fully down to just below the knee, but then, TJ thought of a use for the feathers. They'd been the source of the raven's ability to disappear, and that would pair well with the pelt, right? But how would he be able to get the feathers from turning into nothing? They disappeared as soon as they weren't in the jar. Or fell out of the raven.
With that inspiration, TJ poked out a lining of small holes along the edges of the cloak, about an inch between each one. Once that was complete, he prepared a large pile of warmed pine sap, said a quick prayer to Kukulkan for success, and opened the jar. He grabbed three feathers and closed the jar back up before dipping the tip of each feather in the sap and stabbing them into the prepared holes. After preparing all three, TJ watched the faintly smoky feathers, disappointed as they continued to smoke. He was about to call it a failure and rip them out, but then he realized that though they continued to appear to fizzle out of existence, they continued smoking without losing any of their substance. TJ grinned widely and continued on that same path, lining the entirety of the edges of the cloak, including the hood, with the Raven Mocker's feathers.
Now that the feathers had been added on, the cloak constantly smoked, though it seemed more to fade into the background than to seem as if it was on fire or anything like that. Looking down at it, TJ smiled and decided the cloak was complete. He felt a surge of experience taking him halfway to level 20 as he Appraised the final result.
Item: Helm; Tezcatlipoca's Minor Shroud (Copper, (I)). A cleverly constructed cloak of interesting design, using the feathers of a Raven Mocker and the pelt of a mountain lion blessed by Tezcatlipoca. This item was created for the express purpose of obscuring the wearer and has been constructed effectively to suit that purpose. This Shroud grants its wearer the Dirt (0) tier of the Skill Stealth. While wearing this Shroud, the wearer can use the Skill Stealth as if it had been gained by selecting that choice from any Skill selection opportunity.
Though it didn't offer any additional Attributes, TJ grinned widely. This would be much more impactful than a couple mere attribute points, and he could see how he could use it starting tomorrow.
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