Runeblade

Porkchop groaned, stretching as he felt the cold stone of the dwarven city disappear from beneath his paws, replaced in an instant with the familiar grit of hard packed dirt. If not for Kaius’s warning of what to expect, the sudden transition would have no doubt startled him. As it was, he took the moment to feel the simple comfort of earth once more.

He breathed in deep, smelling the deep scents of moss, moisture, and… home. Porkchop froze, nose twitching as he sampled the scents on the air. There was no mistaking it, this place reeked of the dens.

Flooded by safe familiarity, he opened his eyes, finding himself in a dense excavated burrow. Every wall was reinforced by skill manipulated stone, patterned in dozens of different whorls and shapes. The mark of the crafters who had shaped this home. The ceiling towered over him, large enough that the warren like network could easily support the size of some of his larger brethren. Considering the growth spurt that came with awakening the bloodline was only the first, that was large indeed.

His ears perked, tail gently swishing back and forth with joy. While he might have left, it had nothing to do with him not liking the dens. Even if the Matriarchs were stuffy, it was still a place of warmth and happy memories in his mind.

Porkchop spun in place, taking in the entirety of the burrow. Half way through his turn he stopped, rooted to the spot. There, across the burrow, stood an immense beast. Over twice his height, with a coat of speckled grey.

A Matriarch.

Their form was familiar, burnt into his mind after many a scolding when he had been young. Brooks-no-argument had been his primary tutor, and they had clashed often over his ‘reckless and impulsive’ pursuit of growth. Even knowing that the Matriarch was merely the system in the guise of his teacher's flesh, he couldn’t help his reaction.

Porkchop lowered himself, baring his throat in the proper gesture of respect.

“Hello, child,” the construct said as she looked down on him in amusement. “There is no need for such honorifics. You already know who I am and why I am here.”

“You may speak freely in my presence, child.” His class guide said, sighing heavily at his obeisance.

Porkchop dropped his chin, rising to his feet. “Hello! It is nice to meet you. I would like to reduce my bloodline choices to Heroics that are focused on persistence in battle, please!” he said hurriedly, the words blurring together as he tried to slam his intent through beast-speak as fast as possible.

Across from him, his guide chuckled, her chest rising and falling with mirth. “A decisive one, aren't you? I must make you aware that this will reduce your options to a paltry two, though if you feel neither are suitable, I would be happy to show you the other three that you have earned.”

Porkchop chuffed, pleased that he had done enough to earn a Heroic. He would have been lying if he said that he had known for certainty that one would be waiting for him. After all, even if Kaius had managed to earn seventeen, most of his brother's honours were Firsts in comparison to his own, and he had the feat of inventing glyph-binding.

All's well that ends well. More than the extra power, he had mostly been worried about the embarrassment. If he had had to settle for a Unique class, Kaius would have never let him hear the end of it.

“Two is plenty! I am sure that either one will fit me nicely,” he said, resolute in his decision. He was a meles, and should be an insurmountable wall in battle. It was getting ridiculous how often Kaius needed to save him.

No, he intended to be the anchor of their pairing, drawing the ire of their enemies with crushing fury and primal might. That would leave Kaius to do what he did best, killing things with excessive prejudice. To do that he needed to be tough, hard. Two options was more than enough.

The Matriarch dipped her head at him. “Then it shall be so.” Rising to her feet, his class guide walked off at a slow comfortable pace, heading into the warren of tunnels that lead away from the burrow he had started in. “Come along.”

Excitement surged through him, his ears perking. It took considerable will to calmly follow the Matriarch instead of shooting off after her like a startled wildcat.

He couldn’t wait for Kaius to see how big he would get.

…

The Matriarch led him through another twisting tunnel, skill compacted earth shot through with carvings of strong prey, and idyllic vistas of the sights of the deep Sea. One in particular stood out to him, the sun rising over a lake. The water had been rendered in glimmering blue crystal, while dark green cultivated moss showed massive lilies drifting on its surface. He knew that spot. One of the few places he had gotten to see outside of the dens when he was just a kit.

He gnawed at his cheek as they walked, looking away from the art of his people as he focused his thoughts on his selection. The first bloodline had been a bad fit. One focused on brutality and mindless rage. It nominally fit his needs, what with its focus on regenerative vitality and defensive abilities, but they were split more fully with direct aggression than he was comfortable with.

Of course, he needed some level of direct combat ability, but he wanted much of his classes focus to be on bolstering his body and his defences. The physical might of his body, bolstered by general and class skills, would be more than enough for him. Especially with Kaius backing him up.

They turned a corner in the tunnel, the passage widening into another cavernous burrow. Much like the last bloodline they had evaluated, the centre of the cavern was coated heavily in the scavenged moss of a sleeping pit.

At its centre lay a truly impressive specimen of a young Forest King. Nearly half his height again, it was bulging with stout muscles that were covered in a fur of such deep green that it bordered on black. It was almost similar to the patterning on his own coat, the youngling sign, but without the stripes. Instead around the ruff of its neck its coat was a deep milky white, contrasting the blackish green..

He knew it to be a potential future, the figure a representation of who he might become when he finally awakened his blood.

They approached, and Porkchop realised with a start that the meles’ digging claws were… crystalline. Deep green, just barely translucent, razor sharp, and wickedly curved - they made his own claws look like the soft digits of a two-legged in comparison.

“And here is your other choice, child. Remember, we can always check options with a different focus, or Unique ones, if you find it an unsuitable fit,” the Matriarch said, coming to a slow stop a few dozen strides from the sleeping figure.

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“Thank you, Matriarch, but I can only wish that this is the one.” Porkchop replied, before approaching.

Waves of potent aggression and stalwart surety rolled off of the beast, washing over him. The air reeked of power, stinging and singing his delicate nose. Suppressing the urge to rub his snout, he continued his advance, only stopping when a system notification flickered into view.

Warden of Sacred Jade:

Bloodline - Tier I

Heroic

Relevant Feats:

Has slain at least 4000 foes of at least level 15 while unclassed. Has slain at least three Champions in single combat while unclassed. Has slain at least nine Champions while cooperating with an ally while unclassed. Has slain a Guardian while unclassed. Has survived multiple highly lethal wounds. Has a complete set of Legacy skills. Has capped all base stats at 20. Has obtained at least 4 Honours. Has obtained at least 1 Major Honour as an Unclassed. Has a defensive mastery skill of at least Unique Rarity. Has a body reinforcement skill of at least Unusual rarity. Has a natural weapon enhancement skill of at least Heroic rarity. Has Crystal Manipulation. Has repeatedly stood in harm's way to occupy enemy attention. Has withstood significant assault in the defence of another on multiple occasions. Is a greater beast.

When subject to the heat of battle, and the pressure of responsibility, most crack. Those blessed by sacred jade do not, instead weathering tribulation to emerge reborn. Implacable and unstoppable, they are garbed in finest green, purity tainted only by the remnant folly of those who would stand in their path.

The Warden of Sacred Jade is an ancient and venerable bloodline. Arising throughout history in those greater beasts who favour implacable fortitude above all else, its wielders are stalwart and persistent combatants as at home under siege as they are at rest. Possessing bodies of primal might and resilience, they call on their element with regularity to disrupt physical and magical assault both. Outlasting all, they always have the last blow.

All Crystal and Primal affinity skills are improved by 30%

All Defensive, Body Enhancement, Body Reinforcement and Natural Attack type skills are improved by 60%

Stats:

+4 Endurance, +3 Vitality, +2 Strength, + 1 Dexterity, +1 free stats per level

Skill Resonance:

Inexorable Vanguard - Strong

Primal Vitality - Moderate

Iron Bodied - Strong

Fortress of Pugilism - Strong

Crystal Manipulation - Strong

Porkchop drank in the description of the bloodline, fur gradually rising as a prickly wave of awe and exhilaration rolled down his spine.

This was it, what he had hoped for. This is who he would be.

…

Porkchop stretched and rose to his feet, staggering slightly as he struggled to contend with the sudden changes in proportion. System notifications dinged away in his mind, tugging at his attention in an attempt to get him to evaluate his newly evolved general skills.

He burned to pull them open immediately, but he knew that it would be rude. Even if his guide was the system, they were still shaped like a Matriarch, and one did not treat them with disrespect. Not if you wanted to keep all your skin, that is.

Looking over to the form of his teacher, Porkchop struggled to reconcile the fact that he now came up comfortably to her chest height, disoriented by the sudden change in his stature.

“Congratulations, young one. You are no longer a child.” She said warmly, her eyes softening.

Porkchop chuffed, shaking himself to work off some of his energy. He’d finally done it! Awakened the ancestral blood, and became truly independent in the eyes of the Dens. If he was back home, he’d be able to join hunts now. Not that that held much interest to him, exploring and more fraught battles was far more fun.

“Check your skills, young one. You look ready to burst.”Brooks-no-argument told him, characteristically firm in her direction.

Porkchop bobbed his head gratefully. He’d gotten four! Two of which became Heroic! He couldn’t wait to tell Kaius, it was as much as his brother had gotten. Attention drifting inwards, he pulled up the skills.

Shattering Storm:

General Skill- Tier I

Affinity: Martial, Crystal

Type: Body Enhancement, Body Reinforcement

Level 20

Heroic

You see that flash of green? That fucking roar? You run. Nothing else, you just run. You run far, you run fast, and you hope that whatever pissed off the Warden satiates its fury before it catches you.

This skill increases the user's resistance to opposing force, making them harder to move, and harder to stop. Crushing force infuses the users attacks, shattering armour and bypassing defences. Movement impeding effects are less effective.

Each level significantly increases inertia when acted upon by an external force.

Each level moderately increases power infused into attacks.

Each level moderately increases armour penetration of attacks.

Each level slightly increases the difficulty of restraining the user's movement.

Evolved from: Inexorable Vanguard

…

Jade Bones, Earthen Blood:

General Skill- Tier I

Affinity: Life, Crystal

Type: Body Reinforcement, Defensive

Level 20

Unique

Sacred purity rises inviolate, untouchable by corruption. Dense and unshakeable, when all else is dust, Jade remains.

This skill reforges the user's body, hardening it like sacred jade and making them capable of bearing the weight of the world.

Each level reasonably increases the user’s capability of persisting through significant injury

Each level reasonably increases the user’s bodily integrity, making them harder to injure.

Each level moderately increases ability to withstand increased weight and pressure.

Each level minutely reduces the time required to remove an affliction

Evolved from: Iron Bodied

…

Landslide of Fang and Talon:

General Skill- Tier I

Affinity: Martial, Primal

Type: Natural Weapon Enhancement, Mastery, Meta Enhancement

Level 20

Heroic

Rock falls, everyone dies.

This skill improves the users mastery of heavy armour and natural weapons, focusing on a style of inexorable assault. Increases the impact of natural weapons, and empowers skills that enhance natural weapons.

Each level significantly increases mastery of natural weapons and heavy armour.

Each level moderately increases the effect of natural weapon enhancements.

Each level moderately increases the force transfer of natural weapons.

Evolved from: Fortress of Pugilism

…

Sacred Empowerment:

General Skill- Tier I

Affinity: Crystal (Sacred Jade)

Type: Meta Enhancement, Manipulation

Level 20

Unique

Above all else, Sacred Jade bolsters all that it touches, purifying them and bringing them into closer alignment.

This skill imbues all crystal affinity skills with the strength of Sacred Jade, empowering them with enhanced toughness and purification of hostile magics. Allows minor control of Crystal aligned mana.

Each level significantly increases the resistance of Sacred Jade manifestations to physical and magical effects.

Each level slightly increases control over Crystal mana.

Evolved from: Crystal Manipulation

Porkchop drank in the changes to his skills, his chest rumbling with deep satisfaction. Each one was a measurable increase to his capabilities, and the fact that his brawling skill had evolved to include armour only heightened his interest in what came next. He’d definitely made the right pick for his bloodline.

“I am gladdened to see you are satisfied with what you have received. Come along, young one, it is time for your final choice.” the Matriarch said, intruding on his thoughts as she turned around and led the way out of the burrow.

Porkchop followed along dutifully, giddy at the thought of what class skills he might be offered.

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