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Karnnie

I would hope that the MC is smart enough not to choose anything until he has used all the essences he has and thinks about long term survivability. Just because something is out of his reach now, does not mean it will always be.

Karnnie

Summon lesser elemental - does as stated, effect lasts XXX amount of time or requires XXX amount of aether/minute Create Earth Golem - Allows caster to summon an Earth Golem able to receive simple commands. Guard, Attack, Defend, Retrieve, Etc. Earthen Spikes - Allows caster to create Earthen Spikes from the ground length, number of spikes and range based on Magic affinity. Minor Earth Javelin - Allows Caster to launch a hardened (or stone) javelin from the ground toward a single target. Earthen Cloak/Camouflage - Blend into any surrounding stone or earth, More effective while standing still/moving slowly. Some of those should be good for around a 40 affinity. Hope this helps.

Lenny Sanchez

He needs a long range attack. He has plenty of offensive capabilities but is lacking a subtle long range attack. I would recommend something like stone bullet or hurl magic stone. With his air shield, he might be able to guide it so that it can be something like a long range sniper ability. He needs subtlety right now as he is at risk at appearing overly powerful.

Victor Skaarup

My guess is none of the above. MC will find a spell form that allows him to work with metal. Based on guess that as he imprints more spell forms on his growing number of affinities, he will develop skills in working more extensively with runes.

Zaffre

Locate stone/metal is my favourite but would only really be useful once he is established outside the empire. Tremor sense would be useful as a scout depending on his affinity/range. Stone shape is probably the best for story writing opportunities.

Zaffre

Earth sonar could be a higher level version of locate stone/metal.

Zaffre

I like the idea of an erosion spellbut would rate it higher. Like a stone to earth spell that affects metal

Dallen Arny

Stone shaping is the best one. He has more aether so he will be able to shape more things than Maiveth. Not to mention that if he ever learns runes, he will be able to create permanent arrays. He can make his own furniture, food storage, buildings, weapons, casting molds, chains, manacles, baths, seal cracks, etc … Stone is everywhere, super durable, and with a little creativity and a lot of time he could craft anything with just his hands.

DaShoe

Survivability wise, this is the correct choice. It can be used offensively and defensively. In addition, it is a skill that can be used outside of war.

Wiggles1

He put off the displacement spell form because the useful ones were too mana intensive.

Deliver roo

If I remember correctly the Displacement spell form he chose focused on movement. Shatter seems too limited, Stoneskin is redundant, so I guess this leaves earth speak as the most useful in the 20-30 range.

M.S.McGowan

I think Stone shaping has to be the best choice. A movement ability would use too much of his aether.Also he has an expert tutor who comes from a clan of experts. He won't have to learn it all by himself. Maybe he could learn an improved version from the earth spell book?

Silver Beard

He needs a movement ability. I really like tremor sense; but it just not going to cut it. Ony ? is if it'll be passive or active? I vote passive

Khent Mercer

Locate Stone/Metal is an absolutely amazing ability for a soldier and I can imagine it being really fun to write. Assassins/scouts? They use metal weapons and probably coins. Looting? Find the stash, this is a gamechanger. Trying to find the secret tunnel? Gonna be metal mechanisms or at least torch holders. Incoming arrow? Got metal on it. Precious stones are gonna be enchanted stuff. Spies are going to have more gold then they should and can be sussed out using this. Pick an ability that is fun to write but for me this is doozy.

Dan Addis

Earth speak sounds useful, a create pit trap spell could be fun

pizzaranger

Some kind of spel that slowly turns his body into some durable kind of stone/rock. But because its a slow (with ways to accelerate) process it doesnt get looked at as much. But the way to speed up would be with precious materials of stone affinity monsters.

Sincere

Turn him into sub zero, able to glide, put a air wall to stop ppl from moving and can heal. He needs a strong upper cut now

David T

Golem should be one of the high affinities 80+. Animating stone should be really magic intensive. If it wasn't you would see golems running around all over the place.

Nobody is perfect

I would chose a shape or manipulate abilty beacuse it s the best long term choice with a lifespan of 1000+ years he should start thinking long term and noone of the low lvl ability's are really so good that they are gamechanging

Jeff McClure

So, if Earth Affinity is going to be around 25, then I would take Earth Glide. But, if 30 is Stoneskin I’d wait.

Robin

Earth catapult - I'm thinking of a skill where the user falls trough the earth but when it stops he is ejected with about the same acceleration as gravity (so double gravity). So you can take a run and fall down and then be launched up in a ballistic trajectory. Not very controlled and dangerous so it.might be in range of his affinity. Earth catapult or somthing to that effect. Can be used to go trough walls, etc but requires some practice and can be limited initially by a high ether cost.

SouthToiletWizard

Done. Keep platinum coin in storage until raiding ancient tombs and cities. Wins the game the old fashioned way bludgeon his enemies with his coin purse

Cameron C

Is Earth the affinity also associated with say, crops and growth? I think there should be a fairly large number of just miscellaneous farming style spells that require low affinity, stuff to improve herbs or crop yield. Earth could also have a charcoal like spell that helps counteract poisons, by creating charcoal inside themselves or something.

Silver Beard

Earth glide should have a passive of 25%...active 50%; should come from the Dungeon book too... something nobody has but him seemingly

Skyra

Stone spike - creates spike that forcefully impales target Pitfall trap - creates hole in ground by compressing soil to walls

Skyra

Stone armor - takes earth and stone from surrounding to create armor that protects and empowers user

Skyra

Soil swim - Ability to swim trough earth and stone.

Mason W

I like a shatter stone concept where he is able to hold small rocks up to fist size and imbue them to shatter explosively when he throws them, like a shrapnel grenade.

Nobody is perfect

create walls = create walls, roof's (house building)

Nobody is perfect

petrified: petrified enemies (evtl. petrified gaze)

Nobody is perfect

Lesser Less Gravity: decrease the gravity from a object or your own Lesser More Gravity. increase ..... (15x heavier sword when you swing down) Gravity Control: Manupliate Gravity around you 5m radius exponsional increase for more radius and linear more ather for more weight (make other/you heavier/ligher; let stones fly around you and use them as a shield/bullets, flying, gravtiy crush enemies) stone bullet earth/stone/metal armour: create a protective armour around you. useless without decrease gravity/weight more a spell not a imprint

Nobody is perfect

control earth: compination from Manipulate and shape earth control stone control metal Absolute Control: control metal + control stone + control earth

Nobody is perfect

Manipulate metal Manipulate stone shape metal seismic sense= detect seismic attativtits like foot steps evtl. a better version where you can use this to create a map or find tunnels

Styx

Soft fall - absorb excess energy into the earth on impact from a fall.

Styx

Steady foot - perfect balance when in contact with the ground.

Styx

Soft foot - footsteps on earth or stone are completely silent.

Blorcyn

Fabricate for one of the 40s? I’ve just gone on dndbeyond and am looking at fourth level spells. Fabricate Earth? The ability to make Earth like materials - stone and crystals? Stone shape - you form stone in to a shap of your choosing. Stone skin - turn a willing creatures skin hard as stone. Oh you’ve got this at 30 already. Summon least elemental? A sprite or mephit. Something very very minor.

The 49th Khan

I don't know if its a different affinity, but what about Shape Metal?

NobleBoy24 .

Find precious metals! Let’s turn this into a kingdom builder?!!??

Xcel D Brite

Shape stone . Its the most versatile skill im the early stage that can be used to get out of tight earthly cages and can isnt limiting as shatter. Best scaling in power when he get down to min maxing .

Faa Diallo

Imbue heat - ability to heat up any stone or earth. Earth to mud - pretty self explanatory Stone wall - wall of stone Echo - a sound on earth can be mimicked in another nearby location. Can be used for anti-tracking. Or mimicking a stampeding hoard or army. Earth Golem - self explanatory Earth spike - from the ground Life and death (couldn't come up with a better name) - able to change the composition of soil to be nutritious for plants and animal or he can dry out the soil to start fires and such. Usage in alchemy.

Da Worst John

Like ether (20) Locate Stone/Metal or (20) Earth Speak. As a lot of people have already suggested, using either as an extra sensory input to either sense metal weapons coming at the MC or basically as tremorsense. And let's face it, what person from our world would not jump at some level of spider-sense?

Alex Galaitsis

The problem is that his aether pool is still so low. Earth glide would make for the most interesting combat to read about, but not if he can hardly use it more than once. Maybe a bit later it would really shine. Otherwise, shape stone for the raw utility. Removing the stone holding shut a prison door, carving a breathing hole in a sarcophagus trap, etc.

Mason W

Soft stone (25) - User can make stone soft around fingers and toes and sink in 2-3 inches. Useful for climbing stone surfaces.

Joe

My choice would be shape stone. The MC already has sharp senses for scouting. A tremor sense would have limited utility for him. Sensing precious metals seems more useful to a miner. Depending on how it can be used. Like the metal has to be in contact with surrounding stone. Shatter would be my second choice. The MC was imprisoned once and won't want to experience that again. However, he won't be able to sneakily escape that way. With shape stone, he will pretty much always have the exact tool he needs at all times. Or he can move the stone or concrete that holds metal hinges on prison doors to escape. And use that same shaped stone as a knife or spear. I think that simple power has the most wide range of uses if used wisely

N Holifield

Earth Glide.

Faa Diallo

Earth speak can make him go the scout direction. His combat potential is pretty his I think he needs utility at the moment. But if not that then stone skin

Josiah

That's why I think something like the tremor sense from avatar would be best. Not useful in direct combat straight away but incredible for scouting and if detail improves at higher affinities in direct combat he could essentially have eyes in the back of his head.

Wiggles1

Displacement Apex Spell Form: Greater Teleport (70) All he needs to do is find a dungeon room with aether pool essences he can farm, and consume the aether pool and displacement essences. Then he'll be able to cast this spell. Casting this lets him escape the wraith city and the Empire. He read about this spell in his dreamscape in Chapter 134, in the library. He considered the spell and why it was out of his reach. Now a couple weeks later it's in reach.

Alex

Move earth/stone. Amount affected depends on mana invested. Helps in fights to trip people and help unbalance the enemy . Also can create footholds or small protrusions during run/ sprint/jump to redirect Eryks momentum. Useful in camping- make latrines/ raise ground of tents during the rain/snow. Make short 3-4 ft compacted earth wall. Can help climb mountains as earth in cracks can help create hand and footholds. Even have a handful of earth in pocket and throw in the face of other - coat their face and impede visibility

Lemes

I see a lot of people with interesting ideas, but I hope the MC has lower options at this point. A very OP MC would ruin the story. I really like how Erick is being built, he has his magical affinities but also depends on his physical abilities. A more balanced MC makes the story much more interesting.

BubblyGhost

From what we've seen people having multiple affinities is exceedingly rare. It's possible there's some out there, but for those individuals it's probably better to just train them to be a mage rather than imprint such a thing onto their core

BubblyGhost

Perfect void affinity spell lol. Simply obliterates all contaminants in something. Aka poison, debris, infection, germs

BubblyGhost

Actually, I think sense metal/stone is the perfect choice here. People seem way too interested with combat applications when I think as far as combat goes Eryk has a solid foundation to build everything he needs upon a fighting style, more is less and he should just work to training the abilities he already has up. The reason why I love sense M/S is the overall application and utility. Eryk isn't a spellcaster so his imprints need flexibility or pure power. SM/T gives him a rough form of armed/armored enemy scouting, a rudimentary means of tracking, an ability to hunt for more rare/esoteric materials, and it is something almost entirely hidden and can't be discerned by an enemy.

Lemes

Unfortunately, due to the number and quality of essences that the MC has I think his options will be somewhat limited, and if we are going to work with a limit of 25 affinities I believe the two best would be shatter or locate Stone/Metal. Shatter could be a very useful skill for entering or escaping places, locate stone/metal are interesting skills but I don't think they are as good as shatter. Earth Speak would also be a very good option. I think I would choose shatter or Earth speak if I were in the MC's shoes. But everything will depend on the expenditure of ether. The skill might be wonderful, but it would be worthless if it required a very large amount of ether.

BubblyGhost

Also pretty darn useful against armored opponents, as all it takes is some warping around a joint to reduce effectiveness

BubblyGhost

I think just like how hard it is to affect living creatures the same would be for runic weapons. Aka hard as hell to manipulate

sleepy1

(25)Break Ground This spell causes a small area of either stone or dirt to become broken and uneven, counting as difficult terrain. (40)Heave This spell causes the ground to heave and buckle. Any creature standing in that area must make a reflex save or fall prone. The effected squares become difficult terrain. mini earthquake Solidify This spell causes a small dirt, mud or clay object to solidify into stone. The stone can be of any type, but never anything of value. This spell cannot be used on a creature composed of dirt, mud or clay, nor on any substance currently under the effect of any other spell. (40) Catapult (70) Passwall travel through rock/stone for up to 3 minutes.

David T

Meld stone

LifeOfConfusion

I like the locate metal spell, it has a lot of utility that’s not obvious. Not just as a way to locate ore, but detecting equipment on enemies, or searching for treasure in a dungeon. It just seems versatile

Josiah

(40) Create Golem. Shape and size of Golem can be modified. Strength of Golem increases with affinity

Clinton Smith

25 Stone Bullet Low mana cost single target ranged attack (Equivalent to a fast moving sling stone, takes practice and effort to aim like his air shields) (not a one shot ability like storing the head but has increased range, lower mana cost, and can be a great distraction) (fits better at 25 I think) (something more powerful like stone spike should be up around 40) Having a magical ranged attack he can display might give him an excuse as to how something died if he stores the heart or something, just say he must have gotten a lucky hit.

Josiah

Maybe throw in a boost to mental fortitude and aether resistance too

Erick Thiemke

this is something I was thinking of improving on Maveith's ability of stone shape but a lot of hurdles - does it affect runic weapons? how fast does it work? is it useful in a fight since it would be touch based

Josiah

Earth Empowerment. Gains strength if he is standing on Earth and gets a boost to his physical attributes like strength, Constitution, and endurance

Erick Thiemke

that would be like 90...super powerful and cost a lot of aether

Silver Beard

Displacement and Illusion- make copies that randomly attack, but author can pick what copy to replace as real... etc

Erick Thiemke

oh I can bring back the Cleanliness spell from World Sphere!

Garrett

How about a purifier/cleaner for contamination in things like water or other dissolved solids at 15/20

Silver Beard

He keeps learning spell forms for one at a time. Surely there are more powerful abilities that combine affinities. Blink for instance. A displacement spell, but coulple with earth (or limited too) could be more powerful, cost less, etc.

Meowgrr

Dust storm -- earth particles blind everyone :)

Eddie

Earth sensing ability definitely seems like the most practical for better awareness and survivability. Shatter seems op if it can also be used on weapons.

Josiah

40-70 idk where to put it. Transmute Metal. Like Midas Touch but metals into other metals.

Garrett

I meant it more like an extension or lite ranged version of the shape stone at 10 not very fast but does compress the earth for the spike. Not very useful in combat but useful to prepare a defense.

Erick Thiemke

Quicksand...I believe this is the power High Mage Dacien has

Erick Thiemke

i am just spitballing required affinities right now. need to establish the effect before locking in required affinitt

Meowgrr

I remember seeing a documentary about some megafauna skeletons that were all trapped together (in Canada I think) and the theory was that a strong earthquake and sandy soil caused them to partially sink and they were all just stuck there. It's always freaked me out a bit! Kind of like how tons of bubbles released into the water from below can cause ships to sink....

Silver Beard

L40 Aero rate Soil... a farming utility spell

Erick Thiemke

i am trying to stay away from all creation type magic - cant summon stone out of nothing for an stone spike for example. if the opponent was on stone then it could happen. there is a magic affinity for creation (materialism) and when we get to that in the story I will explain it more

Bob

I'm worried about the MC getting too OP, or waiting too long. Maybe some form of Earth-Walk / Spider-Climb? So he's always on stable footing on the ground and can walk a bit faster. Upper levels, walk on a stone ceiling or up a cliff. Makes climbing a breeze. Seems like a scalable basic spell and wont turn him into Colossus Wolverine.

Silver Beard

L50 Earth Safe Zone: A 24hr refuge/respite that can't be breached nor exited. 7 day cool down.

Josiah

This seems like a really good one for the 40 slots. This just sounds so cool

Brandon Terry

Imbue earth aether. It was described that affinity’s kinda worked by transforming aether into whatever Affinity you have in various degrees of purity depending on the strength. Imbuing earth aether would make earth and metals more like themselfs making special effects more powerful and weaknesses more apparent. The effect targeted would be more controlled by getting a higher affinity. And the strength of effect dependent on how much aether used. This is an ability that could be developed during his now long life to be better and would immediately be useful in strengthening stone or metal barriers and the metal parts of the entire company’s armor and weapons. As it could be developed through his entire life of absorbing monster essences I think a growth ability is needed to not be short sighted

Meowgrr

Liquefaction -- a small area under a target vibrates like a localized earthquake, causing things to sink into the earth and become trapped.

Kut

Something like that yeah. Ofcourse in a lot of places it couldn't work, but in certain buildings and terrains he can benefit a lot. I also thought back on toph in avatar being able to pick up people chasing them or the amount of people and thought it was cool

Netveiwer

(25)Hole. Creates a roughly 3feet deep 1 foot diameter hole. Perfect for latrine duty. (40) Gravedigger. Freely create and fill in 6x6 pit in eye sight, farther from caster ramps up cost.

Lobotomized Philosopher

Assuming we’re sticking to things around an affinity of 25 then Earth speak seems the most useful and interesting story-wise. He already has air shields for defense, giving him stone skin just makes the air shields redundant. Shape stone sounds neat but not too useful. Earth speaks tho gives him situational awareness and foreknowledge of incoming threats. Also he only needs to get to 20 affinity to imprint it.

Kut

I do like some of the other ideas, but the ones that do large scale things, like a movement ability or digging would be extremely limited due to his reserves

Erick Thiemke

like an earth echo mapping?

Silver Beard

higher the affinity... higher the speed; but the rest is stat

Garrett

How about a stone spike spell with a level 10-40 and adjusted spike size for each level? Something like a 1ft spike from ground at 10, 5ft at 25, and 15ft at 40?

Erick Thiemke

added it as earth glide above

Josiah

I do like the tremor sense ideas. He needs a scouting and awareness skill and it would also help him in fights and scale range and detail with the affinity

Paul Rauner

I like stone skin and the Boris reference and I’d like to see it as his go public. The build in both the pressure on his preferred associates and his reluctance to align himself with an oppressive regime tends toward exposing his special talents and forcing a confrontation. A spell form that mirrors a confrontation with the douche brother of the duchess, preferably while actually fighting the a-hole would mirror where you already expect his choices to lead and serve as a catalyst.

Kut

Maybe a sort of tremor ability? For scouting and prospecting. Could give the layout of some rock based areas/could find the location and amount of people hiding, sneaking or walking. Probably an active momentary version, not a passive one picking up stuff around him always

Erick Thiemke

I like that - maybe call it earth listening or something like that

Josiah

(25) Ability to anchor someone to a specific spot of ground. The further they try to move from it, the more it is like moving through concrete. Could be used both offensively on others and defensively on himself and allies.

Erick Thiemke

higher affinity - longer range. look for one metal/stone type at a time (sample in his hand). it would be good as it gets more powerful the more he increases his affinity

Eriach

I like these other suggestions ☺️ can tell there's other DND players here

Cruz115

Thats a great question, he could use it to locate foes around him.

Silver Beard

25- Earth shift Basically a movement ability as long as he is in direct connection to the ground (no boots). Also the ability to slowly move though earth/stone walls.

Erick Thiemke

i was thinking something akin to a shatter spell

PatronTurtle

40 - shape metal Similar to shape stone, but more applicable to smithing. Costs more depending on the type of metal

Immutably Empty

Not sure, but low level - move earth. Doesn't create walls or anything. Just like digging with magic.

The 49th Khan

Tremor sense. Sends a magical pulse that gives the user feed back of all earth in an area limited by aether and accuracy limited by affinity. Or it locates all pressure through the earth, effectively becoming an earth-limited radar.

Erick Thiemke

no - i have not picked anything yet. i don't want it to be OP but useful. a lesser version of stoneskin is prob the backup plan. or a stoneshape more power than maveiths

SouthToiletWizard

Would locate stone/metal extend to weapons armors or items/artefacts? If so it could be pretty useful. Easier to find treasures/structures/people at least if they are dead and have metal items.

PatronTurtle

25 - Degrade stone/metal Degrades a material by different methods (rust, erosion, etc). Not shaping, but just eroding it. Would be useful for taking down buildings, destroying weapons in an extended fight, or getting specific eroded materials for alchemy