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Chapter 24-2 [Aurora’s Journal: Nathaniel]
🕑 Added 2023-11-11 15:23:08 +0000 UTCI thought Rowan was something but Nathaniel… Well, at least it makes sense for him to have such a powerful build. What doesn’t make sense is how he’s invested so much Essence without exploding! Nathaniel and Rowan have both mentioned multiple times how I need to Level my physical Foundations so that I can handle eating the remains of Plagued Beasts. As much as I’m loathed to do so… there must be more merit in doing so than I’ve been lead to believe by the Academy’s teachings.
Adding his investments thus far together… Nathaniel has just over fifty million Essence invested. By my calculations using the Academy’s methods—and with no external influence—the average Wielder shouldn’t have that high of a Limit until they’ve reached the Twentieth Floor. The fact that nearly all of that Essence was invested in only his Foundations is another matter…
Though Rowan seemed impressed by Nathaniel’s Essence Limit and the sheer prowess of ‘one so young’, the man went on a long rant about optimization. He borrowed a scrap of paper and drew up countless examples of how much more effective Nathaniel’s build would be had he left all of his Foundations at Level Five and invested the remainder of his Essence evenly across his Deck. His long tangent was no different from how a professor would speak with one of their students—the gall of him, talking to a descendant from one of the esteemed families in such a way.
Well… that’s how I felt until he brought up his reasoning for being so animated about Nathaniel’s choice. There’s a massive gap in a Card’s Effects between Levels beyond Level Five… even more so with the Cards that Nathaniel chose the ‘Enhanced’ Effect’. Rowan was worried that when Nathaniel chose to Level one of his Enhancements—particularly due to his Origin Card—that the increase in the Foundation that said Enhancement boosts would cause harsh backlash and days to even weeks of adjustment to be able to control himself. In other words, with so much synergy between so many Cards, Leveling any one of them could cause Nathaniel significant problems.
Nathaniel didn’t flinch once during Rowan’s monologue, even admitting at the end that it took him a couple of weeks per Foundation to get used to the increase between Levels Four and Five for the ones he boosted with the Enhancement option. For the jump from Level Five to Six… he said it took him nearly six weeks for each. That was after purchasing an Enhancement that helped with self-adjustment.
I’d only been taking Rowan half-seriously during his lecture but after hearing that, I made ample notes and reminders to keep my Foundations and other Cards from having a substantial Level gap. I’d already learned my lesson about having Cards at a higher Level than my Foundations. He also mumbled something about the lack of order that Nathaniel kept his Cards in… and despite being in agreement, that’s a bit of a non-issue.
Alright… this is going to be a long list. Thankfully Rowan’s fine with holding off on my own review until I’ve finished copying these down.
[Nathaniel’s Card Upkeep]
The Cards documented below are listed at base value for their Levels and Ranks. All figures are shown without the amplifying Effects of the Origin Card or Enhancements.
Origin
[Card Name: Enhancer's Dominance]
[Class: Origin]
[Rank: Origin]
[Level: 3]
[Essence: 21,420/100,000]
[Description: The Wielder gains an increased affinity for Enhancements]
[Effect 1: Requirements to use Enhancements are reduced by 1 Level]
[Effect 2: The Effects of all Enhancements are increased by 50%]
Foundations
[Card Name: Strength]
[Class: Foundation]
[Level: 6]
[Essence: 0/100,000,000]
[Description: Increases the Wielder’s physical might]
[Effect 1: Increase of 500% to the amount of force the Wielder can exert]
[Enhanced Strength: Double the Effects of Strength]
[Card Name: Vitality]
[Class: Foundation]
[Level: 5]
[Essence: 0/10,000,000]
[Description: Increases the Wielder’s ability to recover]
[Effect 1: The Wielder’s stamina is recovered 250% faster]
[Effect 2: The Wielder’s wounds heal 250% faster]
[Enhanced Vitality: Double the Effects of Vitality]
[Card Name: Endurance]
[Class: Foundation]
[Level: 5]
[Essence: 0/10,000,000]
[Description: Enhances the Wielder’s physical form]
[Effect 1: Increases the Wielder’s physical stamina by 250%]
[Effect 2: Increases the Wielder’s resistance to physical damage by 250%]
[Immovable: If the offender’s Strength is less than the Wielder’s Endurance, the Wielder can withstand most physical assaults without being moved]
[Card Name: Agility]
[Class: Foundation]
[Level: 5]
[Essence: 0/10,000,000]
[Description: Enhances the Wielder’s physical speed]
[Effect 1: Increases the Wielder’s speed by 250%]
[Effect 2: The Wielder’s actions become 250% more instantaneous]
[Enhanced Agility: Double the Effects of Agility]
[Card Name: Dexterity]
[Class: Foundation]
[Level: 6]
[Essence: 0/100,000,000]
[Description: Enhances the Wielder’s control over their body]
[Effect 1: Increases the Wielder’s reaction speed by 500%]
[Effect 2: Increases the Wielder’s coordination by 500%]
[Effect 3: Increases the Wielder’s flexibility by 500%]
[Deft Movements: The Wielder’s body detects cumbersome movements and naturally adjusts and trains the mind to move more efficiently]
[Card Name: Perception]
[Class: Foundation]
[Level: 6]
[Essence: 0/100,000,000]
[Description: Enhances the Wielder’s ability to perceive the world around them]
[Effect 1: The sensitivity of each of the Wielder’s five senses increases by 500%]
[Effect 2: The Wielder’s accuracy is increased by 500%]
[Enhanced Perceptions: Double the Effects of Perception]
[Card Name: Intelligence]
[Class: Foundation]
[Level: 5]
[Essence: 0/10,000,000]
[Description: Enhances the mental faculties of the Wielder]
[Effect 1: Increases the Wielder’s comprehension by 250%]
[Effect 2: Increases the speed at which the Wielder can comprehend information by 250%]
[Enhanced Intelligence: Double the Effects of Intelligence]
[Card Name: Wisdom]
[Class: Foundation]
[Level: 5]
[Essence: 0/10,000,000]
[Description: Enhances the Wielder’s focus and control over their being]
[Effect 1: Increases the Wielder’s focus by 250%]
[Effect 2: Increases the Wielder’s control over their various skills by 250%]
[Enhanced Wisdom: Double the Effects of Wisdom]
[Card Name: Will]
[Class: Foundation]
[Level: 6]
[Essence: 0/100,000,000]
[Description: Enhances the Wielder’s mental endurance and resistance to numerous magics]
[Effect 1: Increases the Wielder’s resistance to magical illusions and debuffs by 500%]
[Effect 2: Increases the Wielder’s resolve by 500%]
[Enhanced Will: Double the Effects of Will]
Enhancements
[Card Name: Luck]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Sacred]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Increases the drop rate of all Cards within the Tower. The Wielder must deal the final blow]
[Effect 1: Drop rate increased by 20% of existing rate]
[Sacred Effect: As a Sacred Enhancement, the Effects of this Card are extended to all members of the Wielder’s Party]
[Card Name: Revealing Gaze]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Sacred]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: The Tower’s secrets are revealed by the Wielder’s gaze]
[Effect 1: When focusing, the information on most items or Relics is revealed to the Wielder. The amount of data shown is determined by the Wielder’s Will and Perception versus the Rank of the object]
[Effect 2: When focusing, the information of any Plagued Beast is revealed to the Wielder. The amount of data shown is determined by the Wielder’s Will and Perception versus the Will and Level of the Beast]
[Effect 3: When focusing, the information of any other Wielder is revealed. The amount of data shown is determined by the Wielder’s Will and Perception versus the Will of the Wielder]
[Sacred Effect: With intense focus, Relics, Plagued Beasts, or Wielders hidden behind obstacles are revealed to the Wielder. The distance, accuracy, and aptness of this Effect are determined by the Wielder’s Will and Perception versus the Rank, Will, or Level of the hidden entity]
[Card Name: Strength Augmentation]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Augments the Wielder’s Strength Foundation]
[Effect 1: The Effects of the Wielder’s Strength are increased by 20%]
[Card Name: Vitality Augmentation]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Augments the Wielder’s Vitality Foundation]
[Effect 1: The Effects of the Wielder’s Vitality are increased by 20%]
[Card Name: Endurance Augmentation]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Augments the Wielder’s Endurance Foundation]
[Effect 1: The Effects of the Wielder’s Endurance are increased by 20%]
[Card Name: Agility Augmentation]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Augments the Wielder’s Agility Foundation]
[Effect 1: The Effects of the Wielder’s Agility are increased by 20%]
[Card Name: Dexterity Augmentation]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Augments the Wielder’s Dexterity Foundation]
[Effect 1: The Effects of the Wielder’s Dexterity are increased by 20%]
[Card Name: Perception Augmentation]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Augments the Wielder’s Perception Foundation]
[Effect 1: The Effects of the Wielder’s Perception are increased by 20%]
[Card Name: Intelligence Augmentation]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Augments the Wielder’s Intelligence Foundation]
[Effect 1: The Effects of the Wielder’s Intelligence are increased by 20%]
[Card Name: Wisdom Augmentation]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Augments the Wielder’s Wisdom Foundation]
[Effect 1: The Effects of the Wielder’s Wisdom are increased by 20%]
[Card Name: Will Augmentation]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Augments the Wielder’s Will Foundation]
[Effect 1: The Effects of the Wielder’s Will are increased by 20%]
[Card Name: Mastery]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Boosts the Effects of all Foundations]
[Effect 1: Increases the Effects of all Foundations by 4% of their current value]
[Card Name: Physical Resistance]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: The Wielder has an unnatural resistance to harmful physical effects]
[Effect 1: The Wielder sustains 10% less damage from physical injuries]
[Card Name: Mental Resistance]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: The Wielder has an unnatural resistance to mental Effects]
[Effect 1: 10% reduction to all non-allied mental Effects targeting the Wielder]
[Card Name: Spell Resistance]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: The Wielder has an unnatural resistance to the Effects of Spells]
[Effect 1: 10% reduction to the Effects of all non-allied Spells targeting the Wielder]
[Card Name: Heat Resistance]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: The Wielder has an unnatural resistance to higher temperatures]
[Effect 1: Preceding Foundations, the Wielder’s body can comfortably withstand temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius]
[Card Name: Cold Resistance]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: The Wielder has an unnatural resistance to lower temperatures]
[Effect 1: Preceding Foundations, the Wielder’s body can comfortably withstand temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius]
[Card Name: Airy Steps]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Even walking along the earth, the Wielder wanders through the clouds]
[Effect 1: An airy padding reduces the terrain’s effects on the Wielder by 10%]
[Effect 2: All skills that would hinder the Wielder’s movement by seizing their feet or legs have their Durations and Effects reduced by 10%]
[Card Name: Enhanced Hearing]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Greatly enhances the Wielder’s sense of hearing]
[Effect 1: Increases the Effects Perception has on the Wielder’s hearing by 20%]
[Effect 2: Extends the range of Cards that require hearing by 20%]
[Card Name: Enhanced Sight]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Greatly enhances the Wielder’s sense of sight]
[Effect 1: Increases the Effects Perception has on the Wielder’s eyesight by 20%]
[Effect 2: Extends the range of Cards that require sight by 20%]
[Card Name: Prolonged Sustainability]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: The Wielder can push forward, for days on end]
[Effect 1: Increases the Effects of Endurance on the Wielder’s stamina by 20%]
[Effect 2: Reduces the sustenance required to use energy and maintain the Wielder’s physique by 20%]
[Card Name: Insomnia]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Lack of sleep is inconsequential to the Wielder’s well-being]
[Effect 1: The Wielder can remain in a state of wakefulness for 2 days and nights plus the Level of Endurance without feeling the results of normal fatigue. This Effect is lessened by the normal fatigue earned through rigorous activity]
[Card Name: Meditation]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Tap into the energies of the world around]
[Effect 1: While sitting still, the Wielder’s Vitality is increased by 20%]
[Card Name: Sphere of Omniscience]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: The Wielder sees all within their domain]
[Effect 1: When concentrating, the Wielder can sense all living beings within a sphere of influence extending 2 meters times the Level of Perception plus Wisdom in all directions. Barriers reduce range by half per barrier penetrated. Moving breaks concentration]
[Card Name: Nature’s Veil]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: Blend with nature in a bid to avoid detection]
[Effect 1: Within 2 meters times the Level of Perception, the Wielder can spot areas in nature that can provide concealment or shelter. A dull shimmer marks the area]
[Card Name: Coat of Arms]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: With ample protection, the Wielder becomes a fortress]
[Effect 1: The Effects and defenses of any and all worn garments are increased by 20% times the Level of Endurance]
[Card Name: Master of Arms]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: With weapon in hand, the Wielder becomes a herald of destruction]
[Effect 1: The Effects and damage output of any and all objects wielded as a weapon are increased by 20% times half the Level of Strength plus Dexterity]
[Card Name: Indomitable]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: The Wielder’s Spirit is unbreakable]
[Effect 1: The Effects of the Wielder’s Will Foundation are increased by 20%]
[Effect 2: The Effects of divination and mental Spells cast against the Wielder are decreased by 20%]
[Card Name: Intimidation]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: To those that are lesser, the Wielder becomes fear itself. To those that are greater, the Wielder becomes a target]
[Effect 1: Beasts that come within 2 meters of and have less Will than the Wielder have a 20% chance of fleeing]
[Effect 2: Beasts that come within 2 meters of and have more Will than the Wielder have a 20% chance of identifying the Wielder as the biggest threat, making the Wielder their primary focus]
[Card Name: Self-Improvement]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: The Wielder ventures to become the best they can be]
[Effect 1: The Wielder’s body sculpts itself in a way that brings out the best in the Wielder’s build, movements, habits, and other physical actions]
Summons
[Card Name: Tame Creature]
[Class: Summon]
[Rank: Holy]
[Level: 2]
[Essence: 0/10,000]
[Description: The Wielder attempts to cleanse a Plagued Beast of its affliction in an endeavor to befriend or capture it]
[Effect 1: The Wielder casts Tame Creature before injuring the target. If successful, the target creature is cleansed of its Plague and becomes a Summon. The Summon dropped cannot be of a higher Rank than the equivalent Rank of the targeted creature, but it can be lower. The probability listed below this Effect is applied after the likelihood of whether or not the targeted Beast will drop a Card]
[Pure: 50%]
[Blessed: 12%]
[Holy: 1.2%]
[Sacred: 0.12%]
[Angelic: 0.0012%]
[Cooldown: 23 hours]
Comments
Ullyr
Fixed in the final draft, thank you! Also responded to your comment above, but since it was under someone else's I'm not sure if it will alert you
Ullyr
Oh, for sure. Threat Acuity was pretty much just free Essence to toss in his pocket after selling it. Not really necessary for his build. In fact, the Academy wasn't necessary for him, he just despises his Family's and the Church's politics and wanted to be associated with some other organization instead of them. Could he have ascended from a young age with little to no backing? Sure, but he knew his Elder wouldn't allow it and would drag him back. Lone Wielders don't make it far.
Foundations seem like the one card class that is always going to be useful no matter what origin card you get and it’s the one class of cards everyone will always have so I can see some sense in leveling that instead of other cards but as the chapter mentions spending the essence to get those to level 6 without leveling any other cards even past level 2 does not seem like a smart decision.
Josh
What’s weird is he obviously had these foundation cards leveled well before he got his Origin card. He said it took a weeks and months after leveling the few to level 6 to get over the sickness or whatever. He’s only had his Origin card since the end ish of the first book. Can’t be more than a month or so I think. What would he have done if he got an Origin card that had nothing to do with Foundations but was like spell related or something?
Yeah, sleep reduction would be the obvious answer. It just seems ominous for the question marks like a potential cursed card. It could extend benefits to party members at higher levels like his luck card. Nathaniel’s build is like a brick house! He only has Luck and Tame Monster as utility and the rest are based off his Origin card and insane foundations. 40/52 cards 9/9 Foundations 30 Enhancements 1 summon (Tame Creature)
Josh
Just a heads up, the Dexterity foundation you have at level 6, but with the level 5 max essence count.
Mike Valentine
I'd probably choose Omniscience over Threat Acuity too.
Seems to be written as intended.
MPod
Revealing Gave 3rd effect last Wielder should be changed to opponent or similar
Stating the obvious I would assume it reduces the need for sleep. Given the rank of the card, I think it would be cool if it also gave some kind of enhancement that becomes more powerful the longer the person has gone without sleep until an eventual drop off if the person has gone too long (likely based on foundations and level of the insomnia card). At higher levels, this could then potentially make it so Nathaniel could go without sleep nearly indefinitely with a large buff. Just one idea that would go well with prolonged sustainability.
Thanks for the chapter! Anybody want to speculate on the effects of Insomnia card?
