Grand Game 268: Not Nearly Perceptive Enough (Patreon)

“That’s enough talk of criminals for now,” Kesh interjected. “Back to business.” She looked at me. “You’re ready to leave?”

“Almost,” I promised. “I need to replenish some of my supplies first.”

“What do you need?”

I told her, prompting another shake of disapproval from Kesh—it was a long list. “You’re too hard on your gear, Michael.” But in spite of the admonishment, the merchant materialized the requested items.

Your potion bracelet has been refilled with 3 full healing doses.

Your trapper’s wristband has been replenished with 20 traps.

You have acquired 2 x full healing potions, 2 x full mana potions, and 2 x rank 4 cure poison potions.

You have acquired 4 x crystals of rank 6 disease protection and 2 x crystals of rank 5 poison protection.

You have lost 3,500 gold.

Despite my new alchemical resistance trait, I restocked my potions. I would endeavor not to use them, of course, but in an emergency, they could make all the difference.

Acquiring more enchantment crystals was also essential—notwithstanding the cost—and I purchased ones that offered protection against disease and poison.

Poison had nearly proved my undoing on multiple occasions. Despite this, I wasn’t tempted to acquire the poison absorption skill or the disease neutralization one, for that matter. I had to play the long game, which meant filling my last skill slot with the nether absorption skill. And while it was not ideal, I would combat any toxins and contagions I contracted with consumables.

My traps were something else that needed attention. They were due for an upgrade, but before I purchased tier two traps, I had to advance my set trap ability first. I wasn’t ready to expend the Dexterity points necessary to do so, though. Better traps would have to wait.

My gear attended to, I offloaded the unwanted loot I’d collected from the hags onto the merchant’s table. “I need to get rid of this stuff too.”

Kesh eyed the items silently before waving her hand and making them disappear.

You have sold a lot of miscellaneous equipment for 300 gold.

“That’s it?” Kesh asked.

I shook my head. “I need a few ability tomes, too.”

“Which ones?”

I took a moment to gather my thoughts. Since my last visit to Kesh, I had pondered my attributes and player growth more deeply. My Perception abilities were the only ones I’d not upgraded recently—but not by choice. The unhappy truth was that I didn’t have sufficient ability slots for the attribute.

Worse yet, in the foreseeable future, I would be investing my new attribute points in Dexterity, Mind, and Magic. Dexterity and Mind contained my core abilities, and while I had no Magic abilities, raising the attribute was necessary to improve my void armor.

All of which meant my Perception abilities would fall further behind.

At the moment, I had six Perception abilities—far too many to consider upgrading. I will have to forgo advancing at least three of them, I decided.

But which ones?

Turning my attention inwards, I called up the necessary player data.

Michael’s Perception Abilities (22 of 25 slots used)

improved analyze: tier 2, slots used: 5.

improved trap detect: tier 2, slots used: 5.

conceal small weapon: tier 1, slots used: 1.

facial disguise: tier 1, slots used: 1.

superior ventro: tier 2, slots used: 5.

lesser imitate: tier 2, slots used: 5.

Analyze was essential. The ability had, in the past, provided critical information on my foes and would only become more valuable as I upgraded it further. The same applied to trap detect. It allowed me to venture alone—something most players wouldn’t dare do—into dungeons and… other places. Both abilities were keepers.

That makes two.

Conceal weapon had proved less than useful, and I disregarded it from consideration without hesitation. Ventro, on the other hand, had been a lifesaver many a time. Still, I didn’t see value in upgrading the ability further. Projecting my voice up to a distance of twenty yards was sufficient for most purposes.

That left facial disguise and imitate to consider.

Given my increasing notoriety amongst Powers and players, having a disguise of some sort was essential. Both abilities had weaknesses, though.

Facial disguise covered only my face but allowed me to maintain an illusion in combat. Imitate, while wrapping my entire body, took up more Perception slots and fell apart the moment I took damage.

Deciding between the two was no easy matter.

My gaze flickered back to Kesh. The merchant was tapping her fingers impatiently, but I needed more information before making a choice. “Can you show me the available ability tomes for facial disguise and imitate?”

Kesh sniffed. “If it will help you make up your mind quicker, then yes.” Tapping a rapid sequence on one of the emporium’s catalogs, she set it down on the table before me.

Leaning over, I studied the slate’s contents.

Item 10,301: improved facial disguise ability tome. This tier 2 ability enhances the illusion wrapped around the caster’s face, masking not only his features but his voice too.

Item 10,302: superior facial disguise ability tome. This tier 3 ability enhances the illusion’s robustness, allowing it to function within a safe zone.

Item 10,303: master facial disguise ability tome. This tier 4 ability further enhances the illusion’s sturdiness allowing it to falsify the caster’s analyze data.

Item 10,304: mimic ability tome. This tier 5 ability physically transforms the caster’s face, making his disguise impenetrable to nearly all forms of detection.

Item 4,121: improved imitate ability tome. This tier 3 ability expands the spell’s versatility, allowing the caster to disguise not only his voice, apparel, and appearance but also his size and scent.

Item 4,122: superior imitate ability tome. This tier 4 ability improves the spell’s durability, allowing the caster to maintain the illusion around himself for an entire day and even during combat.

Item 4,123: master imitate ability tome. This tier 5 ability enhances the spell’s robustness allowing it to function in a safe zone and falsify the caster’s analyze data.

Item 4,124: doppelganger ability tome. This tier 6 ability physically transforms the caster, making his disguise impenetrable to nearly all forms of detection.

“Wow,” I whispered, studying the upgrade path of the two abilities in fascination. Both imitate and facial disguise eventually became extraordinarily powerful, and while there was no doubt imitate was the better of the pair, it also demanded more ability slots.

I looked up from the catalog. “Out of interest, how many slots does a tier five ability occupy?”

“I told you before, I trade in goods, not information,” Kesh said, sounding exasperated. “Now, I’ve been more than generous in what I’ve shared so far, but if you want to—”

“The attribute cost increases by five from tier two to four,” Cara interjected. “And doubles from tier four to five.”

Kesh threw her subordinate a frosty glare, which Cara ignored but, caught up in what the agent had said, I barely noticed. “That would mean a tier five ability requires… thirty ability slots!” I exclaimed, aghast.

“Correct,” Cara confirmed.

“Well, damn,” I muttered. I’d heard on multiple occasions before that the jump between tier four and five was insurmountable for most players, but the implications of that had never really sunk in.

Until now.

Thirty attribute points were more than I’d planned for, not just for a Perception ability but for any of them. Given the exorbitant attribute cost, it was unlikely I would be able to acquire more than a handful of tier five abilities.

This elevates the importance of my Class abilities and my blood memories, I realized. Neither of the two required attribute slots. A fact that I’m going to have to exploit.

I would have to think more about the matter later, but for now, it was clear that cheaper was better. “I’ll take the tier two facial disguise ability tome.” I paused. “You might as well also include a tier three analyze, tier three trap detect, and tier three facial disguise.”

“Good,” Kesh said, some of her ire disappearing. She materialized the books, and we completed the transaction.

You have acquired a superior facial disguise ability tome. Governing attribute: Perception. Tier: expert. Cost: 50 gold. Requirement: rank 10 insight skill.

You have acquired a greater trap detect ability tome. Governing attribute: Perception. Tier: expert. Cost: 50 gold. Requirement: rank 10 thieving skill.

You have acquired an improved facial disguise ability tome. Governing attribute: Perception. Tier: advanced. Cost: 25 gold. Requirement: rank 5 deception skill.

You have acquired a superior facial disguise ability tome. Governing attribute: Perception. Tier: expert. Cost: 50 gold. Requirement: rank 10 deception skill.

I didn’t have the necessary slots to use any of the tomes yet, nor had I decided which one took priority, but I would keep all four close until then.

“What else?” Kesh asked.

“Nothing,” I said. I’d been intending on upgrading another Dexterity ability but decided to hold off for the time being.

Kesh grunted. “Have you made up your mind about the wayfarer’s gloves?”

I shook my head. “Not yet, but I should have an answer for you when I return from sector 12,560.” I paused. “But there is something else you can do for me in the interim.”

Kesh waited for me to go on.

“I didn’t get a chance to visit the stygian brotherhood yesterday. Can you approach them on my behalf? You know what I need already.”

Kesh pursed her lips. “How much should I tell them?”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“The brotherhood are an inquisitive lot. They will want to know who wants the gear and why.” She looked down her nose at me. “The skillbook, especially, will attract a lot of questions. Unless I satisfy their curiosity, they will not sell the book, and even then, they still might not.”

“Tell them what you deem necessary,” I said, trusting her judgment.

Kesh nodded. “Then I guess it’s time you two got going.” She glanced at Cara. “You clear on your tasks?”

“I am,” the agent replied. Gesturing to me to follow, she glided towards the door.