Etrian VS: Black Bird Edition

(chirp)

Chirp that means yes

Muan stands up from leaning against the desk, adjusts the arrows in her quiver, and nods.  "Alright, then.  I figured you'd want Yvan, so I went ahead and did her paperwork.  The others will take some time - I suggest you explore the town a bit in the meantime."  She produces a small piece of paper - a map of the town, with a few locations circled.  "Start with these places.  Some of the most important stops for most adventurers."

You look at the map.  It ends at the Explorer's Guild.  And the first stop is... right here, in the mayor's office.  Well, that's convenient.  When you look up again, Muan's gone.  You whirl around just in time to see the door opening.  Wait, how did she do that...?  You don't have time to consider that as Yvan steps in, a wide smile on her face.

"Ha!  I knew you'd want me.  I mean, who could resist this?" she asks, flexing her clawed hand.  "And I'm sure all my natural charm didn't hurt, either."

"Right...  Charm..." you say quietly.

"So, what's our first mission?" Yvan asks you.  "Kill a giant monster?  Recover a lost artifact?  Nothing's too much for me!"

"Your first mission is to explore the town, meet some important people, find a place to sleep..." the mayor says.  "Hello."

"...Oh.  Yeah, that's... that makes sense," Yvan says.  "Um...  Hi."

"So, other than your normal duties as mayor, you handle assigning special missions to adventurer guilds, right?" you ask.

"That is correct," the mayor says.  "I also welcome new adventurer guilds to Zhanton.  So.  Welcome to Zhanton."

"Thank you.  But... you already welcomed us?" you ask.

"Yes, but you weren't a guild then.  I suppose you technically still aren't, until you finish your little tour...  But I'm not welcoming you a third time, consarnit.  Anyway.  Go along.  Come back first thing tomorrow morning for your first official mission.  We'll be choosing our representative for the annual race."

"That's more like it," Yvan says.  "I can't wait!"

"Don't get so excited you don't sleep, dearie, you'll need to be at the top of your game tomorrow," the mayor tells her.  "Now, is there anything else you need?"

"No, I think this map's all we need," you assure him.  "Thanks for your time."

"I'll see you in the morning," the mayor says.  He waves as you leave with your first party member in tow.

Outside, you take a moment to observe the map and orient yourself.  You figure out which way to go and start to head off.  Yvan stops you, grabbing your shoulder.  You hadn't noticed how... intimidating... those claws of hers really are until they were so close to your neck...

"Hold up just a sec.  I forgot to ask, what do you want me to specialize in?  Y'know.  In terms of skills and whatnot."

---

Yvan has 3 skill points to spend.

Note: New stuff (including a skill tree) in the discussion thread. There'll be one for the other characters by the time it's time for them to get skills.

BIG Note: Split skills like Flame/Freeze/Shock Sabre will each get a free skill point once Blade Mastery reaches rank 3, or Vital/Mind Shut at Force Mastery rank 1. But you have to put more points in them to strengthen them.

(A) Blade Mastery
(B) Sonic Raid (requires 1 point in Blade Mastery)
(C) Force Mastery
(D) Vital Shut (requires 1 point in Force Mastery)
(E) Mind Shut (requires 1 point in Force Mastery)
(F) Phys ATK Up
(G) Elem ATK Up
(H) HP Up
(I) TP Up
(J) Mine

What mystical justice said two in blade and one in force

2 points in shield mastery and 1 point in Physical Defense

Ehhh okay.

Two points in spear, one point in physical attack up.

I'm not a good person.

You're going to have Urvan practice attacking, focusing on that spear he likes so much.  He can work with Merrick.  He nods and quietly follows behind you as you head to the bar.

You reach the bar and stop outside.  There's quite a few people coming and going.  You immediately wonder why exactly you're supposed to be here.  This is an important stop for explorers?  You feel a hand on your back pushing you forward.  Urvan pushes you towards the door.  "Come on, let's get it over with..."

"But... why do we need to...  Hey!"  Urvan ignores your protests and forces you inside.

"Welcome," a thickly-accented voice calls from behind the bar.  He's pretty big, looks like he was possibly an adventurer in the past.  He's got a jagged scar across his cheek, and his nose is bent at an odd angle over top a poofy mustache.  "You new here?  Ya, I never forget a face.  Friend of little friend Urvan, hm?  Adventurer?  Another rookie guild, hm?  Mm.  Well, you do not look like you want drink."

"I wouldn't mind a drink," Merrick says.  You give her a glare.  He can come back and drink when he's off the clock.

"No drink.  You want information, then?" the bartender asks.

"Information?" you ask.

"Mm.  This is what many adventurers come in for.  Gossip, yes?  Speak with other adventurers that come around.  They may have useful advice, yes?  I do not mind, so long as they occasionally order something or post a request."

"Request?" you ask.

"What, you are parrot?" the bartender asks.  He guffaws at his own joke, then points to a board.  "Is simple, exactly as it sounds.  People post a request, adventurers come and fulfill request.  You want tutorial?  And do not simply repeat 'tutorial,' little friend."

"Tu- er, sure," you say.

"OK.  Simply walk over to board, read requests, then tell me which you wish to claim.  There are anything from hunt and kill monster to finding ingredients to simple errands.  Lots of people in Zharton, lots that needs doing.  Even town officials post simple missions too simple to be official missions.  When you fulfill request, you come claim reward, I take small cut, you take new request, maybe buy a round of drinks, everyone happy.  Is good system, no?"

"Why... is that done at a bar?" you wonder aloud.

"Is tradition!"

"Tradition?"

"Again with the parrot!  Where do people naturally go to complain about problems, hm?  The bar.  Used to be people would overhear other guilds complaining about problems and agree to help with problem.  We simply formalize and streamline the natural process, no?"  The bartender puffs his chest out proudly.  "Is valuable public service."

"OK.  Well... we'll come back sometime," you promise.  "We still need to finish exploring the town."

"Yes, yes, yes, run along on little sightseeing tour.  But do not be forgetting to come back to the Drunken Lion soon, hm?  You will not go so far alone."

You head out of the bar to find another of your new guild members waiting.  It's Wulf, the older gentleman with the rifle.  He pops a small salute when he sees you.  "Reporting for duty," he says curtly.

"No need to be so formal," you tell him.  "We're almost done with our sightseeing tour.  Next is the entrance to the labyrinth, then we report back to the explorer's guild to pick up our guild card."

Wulf nods.  "I believe the entrance is this way..."

"Just a moment," you say.  "First of all...  Yvan?  Go ahead."

She gives you an odd look.  "Hm?"

"Your question?"

She looks a bit disappointed, somehow.  "Ah, right.  That.  Do you have any problems working with a half-demon?" she asks Wulf.

Wulf looks her up and down.  "Not particularly.  Although, I've got to ask.  Doesn't that put you off-balance?  Looks like it would be pretty disadvantageous."  He motions down at the ground.

"Huh?  Oh.  Yeah...  Boots don't fit that foot so well anymore."  She drums her toes on the ground and produces a series of sharp clacks.  You notice her foot's a bit deformed and ends in pointed claws, just like her hand.  "I found this actually works out better.  Less hassle."

"And that eventually inspired the rest of the outfit?" Wulf asks.

Yvan looks away.  "Maybe it had something to do with it."  Looks like he hit the nail on the head.

Wulf shrugs.  "Well, if you choose to show off your nature, it's your decision.  So long as it doesn't impact your performance."  He turns back to you.  "Is that all?"

"We also need to decide on your training regimen," you tell him.

"Ah, yes.  Of course.  Well?"

---

(A) Gun Mastery
(B) Medic Bullet (requires Gun Mastery Level 1)
(C) HP Up
(D) Cover Fire (Requires HP Up Level 1)
(E) Physical Attack Up
(F) Penetrator (Requires Phys ATK Up Level 1)
(G) TP Up
(H) Take