On Starcrest 28, in the year 1850 AC (Arbiter Calendar), somewhere in the Inner Zone of the Whisperpine Expanse, Alistair checks his inventory to see how much Gold Royals he has. He was recently paid before being permitted to leave the Northern Army of Frostguard. Currently, he has a total of 25 Gold Royals, 150 Silver Talers, and 700 Bronze Scales accumulated in his inventory.
He plans to be cautious with his spending, as he needs to save enough for travel and accommodations, such as inns and information about the land. "Okay, system. I would like to spend 8 Gold Royals on the 'Roll of Unwritten Fates,'" he says. The system, represented by a blue screen, gives a thumbs up as 10 random permanent characters appear on the screen.
"Alistair," the system informs him, "all random characters are displayed in gray, indicating they are all common tier. You have received 4 village apprentice guards, 2 apprentice fishermen, 2 trainee watchwomen, and 2 apprentice bakers. These individuals are ordinary people who have little to no chance of awakening their aura energy."
"So, how should they appear, or will they suddenly show up out of nowhere?"
"Ding-dong, that's correct, Alistair. They will appear suddenly, with no memories of how they got here or where they came from—only memories related to their duties and roles. They will remember what jobs they took and will be able to use that knowledge. Their loyalty will be absolute, and the most important thing is that you can choose where you want them to appear, but it's only one time."
"Hmm... based on their duties and roles, they would fit better in a small village. Bringing them with me could be too dangerous. Any suggestions, system?"
"How about the Golden Flow Village?"
"The Golden Flow Village?" Alistair said, sounding confused; the name seemed familiar.
"Have you forgotten, Alistair? It's the village where your mother and two older sisters govern." The system sighed from the blue screen.
"Oh right, I remember now. Hehehe, sorry for forgetting that! So, you're suggesting that I make them appear near the Golden Flow Village?"
"Yes, that's correct. It would be much more beneficial for your family's small village to improve. If you summon good characters who are combat types, defender types, or buffer types, I recommend using them to assist you."
"I see. Now that you mention my mother and two older sisters, is there a way to contact them?"
"There are actually two ways to reach them. The first involves some of the summoned characters who have the role of messengers, but it will take time for your message to be delivered. The second method depends on your luck; one of the summoned characters has the ability for long-distance communication using technology that originates from outside these two continents."
"You mean technology beyond the barrier?"
"Yes, Alistair. It's commonly referred to as MagiTech Communication. However, since the two continents have no influence on magic and mana energy, you can't use MagiTech Communication as is. But with some tuning and reconstruction of the tool based on blueprints, it's possible for you to use it—though it involves complicated structures that you might not understand, even if I tried to explain."
"I see. As long as there are possibilities, I will accept them whether they work or not. After all, there are always trials and errors in the world we live in."
"I am so proud of you for saying that, Alistair."
"Hahaha, you're making me blush! It just reminds me of my childhood when I was still an ordinary apprentice lumberjack. The seniors taught me that there are trials and errors when it comes to cutting down a tree—it's similar to that."
After that, Alistair summoned new characters near Golden Flow Village, which increased the resident population from 150 to 160 people. He now had 17 gold royals and decided to spend another 8 gold royals, hoping that one of the summoned characters would assist him on his journeys. When the blue screen appeared showing the results, it displayed 9 gray characters and 1 blue character, indicating that he had summoned a Rare Tier character.
"Nice, a Rare Tier!" Alistair smiled as he received the rare character.
"Alistair, you have received 3 Farmers, 3 Lumberjacks, 3 Blacksmiths, and 1 War Priest. The 9 non-combatants have been transferred automatically to Golden Flow Village, while the War Priest will soon arrive at your location."
"A War Priest? Is there a difference between a Priest and a War Priest?"
"The distinction between a traditional priest and a war priest is significant. A priest typically serves as a non-combatant, focusing on spirituality, healing, and guidance. In contrast, a war priest embodies the dual roles of both cleric and warrior. Equipped with a mace that is often enhanced with powerful auras, this formidable figure can wield their weapon with such strength that it is capable of shattering even the most massive boulders."
"Beyond their offensive abilities, war priests possess Aura Heal, a powerful restorative magic that allows them to mend injuries and bolster the health of their allies in the thick of battle. They also have a foundational level of mace mastery, which not only improves their combat effectiveness but also provides a means of self-defense against hostile adversaries."
"This combination of healing and combat skills makes the war priest invaluable, especially in dire situations where protecting a traditional priest could prove challenging. Should the circumstances turn dire, having a war priest by their side ensures that both protection and healing are readily available, creating a steadfast defense against any threat."
"Wow, despite being a rare-tier character, the description of this war priest is no joke. Does this mean that this war priest already possesses an aura of energy?"
"Yes, that's correct, Alistair. This war priest is at Aura Materialization Realm Level 5. He has a few learned abilities, which include: Basic Aura Generation, Basic Aura Heal, Basic Mace Mastery, and Intermediate Aura Enhancement Capabilities. Keep in mind that these are only for rare-tier characters; the higher the tier level, the higher the realm and the additional abilities they possess. So, don't be surprised if you are lucky enough to obtain higher-tier characters."
"Very interesting! I think I might have a strong group of allies by my side during this journey."
"Indeed, you will. You are about to exit the Whisperpine Expanse, where you will see the last outpost. After the Whisperpine Expanse, you will arrive at an abandoned shipyard, and you might find something valuable there."
"It's time for a treasure hunt, system."
After that, Alistair met the war priest, who was holding holy scriptures. At his side was his mace, and he was wearing full armor along with a metal helmet for protection. He greeted Alistair respectfully and referred to him as "Lord." He introduced himself, saying, "I am Kai the War Priest, and I shall travel with you, my Lord."
"Greetings, Kai. My name is Alistair. We shall head to the abandoned shipyard."
Kai replied, "Understood, my Lord."