~Perla’s Journal Entry: Quinteth, Floris 17, 3rd AC 2579~
The Matis have done it, they've captured a Kitin of the depths. I still can’t believe it myself, that such a beastly, dangerous creature can be trapped - but they did it. I was there among them when it was captured, along with the Royal Kitinologist and other homins in Falls of the Two Totems.
The purpose of this risky undertaking is to study the creature and learn from it, so that in the future we may be able to fight Kitins more effectively. But I have doubts. The Matis have a long history of experiments ending in fiasco - one example of such grand and horrible schemes are The Ruins of Silan. I remember the days of my training with Sterga Halma, “..I think that the best method for beating the enemy, is to first get to know them. If we could analyse some samples, we could find an effective way of eradicating them…” he said, and after he tried to get me to betray the Rangers and their work. Back then we were talking about plants, and everyone knows how that fiasco ended.
The Matis have always been dreaming grand matissian dreams; obsessed with their legacy and past glory, obsessed with genetic mutations both marvelous and horrible. They are prideful people and it is their arrogant superiority that in the end makes them dangerous. It surprised me, the level of support noted at the event by the peoples. But I was more surprised that no official Ranger was asked to help with the task, given that Rangers have been studying Kitins for eons since the First Great Swarming.
But I can understand why they would not ask Rangers to assist. What knowledge the Rangers may have, whatever advantage they may have over combating Kitins, it is clear they are not yet ready to share it, nor willing to teach one nation so that they gain an advantage over the other. I can’t help but wonder if the Matis will share their discoveries with the other nations or hold whatever advantages they may gain from their Kitin studies for their own agenda. I wish I could be reassured that they will, but I can’t help shake the feeling, the fear, that it will become another Matis disaster.
However, I am glad I was present at the event. It allowed me the opportunity to put my new learned skills to the test. I've earned quite a few titles as my skills advance in melee, Light Armswoman, Heavy Armswoman, Close Fighter, and even Gunfighter. I’m also a Priestess and Elementalist. Simply swinging a weapon isn't enough, there are other tactical advantages that come into play when trekking, training in a party, or when training Solo also.
Trekking for example - when in a trek across the land there are rules to guarantee the survival of everyone in the party. The number one rule is “if you don’t have a master skill, you heal,” and it doesn't matter in what capacity every bit of heals helps the party. Never pass the guide, let them lead and stay behind them at all times - this will prevent running into dangerous animals. If the group is attacked heal, if you are attacked don’t run, stand still, give the tank the chance to taunt the animal away from you, and for the healers to heal you - going off and running away from group, or, running toward other homins while dragging aggro will put everyone at risk. And the second most important rule “do not loot unless told to do so,” quartering during a trek can respawn the animal, much worst, respawn a full pack or mob on the party that can get everyone kill.
When training Solo - It isn't enough to equip a weapon and wear boosted gear, one also needs to know its opponent, and know what type of weapon to use against them. The flora and fauna of Atys is smart and in the mainland knowing when to use slashing, smashing, or piercing weapons on what is important.
For example; I've learned plants are magical so using heavy armor while combating them doesn't offer protection like one would think - unless one is fighting Cratchas because they have a poison as well as a piercing attack - instead jewelry takes a greater role as it provides max protection against magical attacks. Stingas for example do cold and root damage. So, I can fight Stingas naked and still be protected wearing jewels with max cold protection - but I prefer to use light armor with +2 dodge. Now, as far as a weapon, Stingas have 25% protection to piercing and smashing weapons, but 0% protection to slashing weapons. I made the mistake thinking a two-hand weapon will slice through Stingas like knife to butter, I was wrong. Stingas tend to evade and dodge two-hand weapons, two-hand weapons are poor against dodging targets - but one-hand weapons are better at hitting dodging opponents ((two-hand weapons are better at hitting parrying opponents)), I learned.
This is only an example of the knowledge I've gained while training melee; a good fighter is a thinking one, one that can outsmart opponents in combat but also work well in a party. A thinking fighter makes good use of auras. In the mainland, stanzas like melee protection aura (MPA) and invulnerability are life savers. A fighter needs taunt stanza, not only to pull a single target from a mob, but also helps take the aggro from the healer, or from another fighter who’s too badly hurt. Sometimes, using invulnerability (invul), will allow me enough time for a healer to revive someone from the party. Other times I use melee protection aura (MPA), and those near me also benefit from this aura when I use it. A good fighter not only keeps the mob from the mags and healer but also knows when to help heal teammates. Even the most devoted melee fighters study magic, at the very least healing magic to revive (Rez) friends.
Many of these tactics were practiced not only by me, but by other homins during the run from Yrkanis to Falls of the Two Totems. We encounter quite a few violent animals on the roads, Gingos, Torbaks, Javings, Cutlers, and even Gibais. But it was during the taunting of the Kitin from the depths that group tactics became more evident. And with good teamwork they captured the beastly creature successfully.
The Matis have done it, they've captured a Kitin of the depths. I still can’t believe it myself, that such a beastly, dangerous creature can be trapped - but they did it. I was there among them when it was captured, along with the Royal Kitinologist and other homins in Falls of the Two Totems.
The purpose of this risky undertaking is to study the creature and learn from it, so that in the future we may be able to fight Kitins more effectively. But I have doubts. The Matis have a long history of experiments ending in fiasco - one example of such grand and horrible schemes are The Ruins of Silan. I remember the days of my training with Sterga Halma, “..I think that the best method for beating the enemy, is to first get to know them. If we could analyse some samples, we could find an effective way of eradicating them…” he said, and after he tried to get me to betray the Rangers and their work. Back then we were talking about plants, and everyone knows how that fiasco ended.
The Matis have always been dreaming grand matissian dreams; obsessed with their legacy and past glory, obsessed with genetic mutations both marvelous and horrible. They are prideful people and it is their arrogant superiority that in the end makes them dangerous. It surprised me, the level of support noted at the event by the peoples. But I was more surprised that no official Ranger was asked to help with the task, given that Rangers have been studying Kitins for eons since the First Great Swarming.
But I can understand why they would not ask Rangers to assist. What knowledge the Rangers may have, whatever advantage they may have over combating Kitins, it is clear they are not yet ready to share it, nor willing to teach one nation so that they gain an advantage over the other. I can’t help but wonder if the Matis will share their discoveries with the other nations or hold whatever advantages they may gain from their Kitin studies for their own agenda. I wish I could be reassured that they will, but I can’t help shake the feeling, the fear, that it will become another Matis disaster.
However, I am glad I was present at the event. It allowed me the opportunity to put my new learned skills to the test. I've earned quite a few titles as my skills advance in melee, Light Armswoman, Heavy Armswoman, Close Fighter, and even Gunfighter. I’m also a Priestess and Elementalist. Simply swinging a weapon isn't enough, there are other tactical advantages that come into play when trekking, training in a party, or when training Solo also.
Trekking for example - when in a trek across the land there are rules to guarantee the survival of everyone in the party. The number one rule is “if you don’t have a master skill, you heal,” and it doesn't matter in what capacity every bit of heals helps the party. Never pass the guide, let them lead and stay behind them at all times - this will prevent running into dangerous animals. If the group is attacked heal, if you are attacked don’t run, stand still, give the tank the chance to taunt the animal away from you, and for the healers to heal you - going off and running away from group, or, running toward other homins while dragging aggro will put everyone at risk. And the second most important rule “do not loot unless told to do so,” quartering during a trek can respawn the animal, much worst, respawn a full pack or mob on the party that can get everyone kill.
When training Solo - It isn't enough to equip a weapon and wear boosted gear, one also needs to know its opponent, and know what type of weapon to use against them. The flora and fauna of Atys is smart and in the mainland knowing when to use slashing, smashing, or piercing weapons on what is important.
For example; I've learned plants are magical so using heavy armor while combating them doesn't offer protection like one would think - unless one is fighting Cratchas because they have a poison as well as a piercing attack - instead jewelry takes a greater role as it provides max protection against magical attacks. Stingas for example do cold and root damage. So, I can fight Stingas naked and still be protected wearing jewels with max cold protection - but I prefer to use light armor with +2 dodge. Now, as far as a weapon, Stingas have 25% protection to piercing and smashing weapons, but 0% protection to slashing weapons. I made the mistake thinking a two-hand weapon will slice through Stingas like knife to butter, I was wrong. Stingas tend to evade and dodge two-hand weapons, two-hand weapons are poor against dodging targets - but one-hand weapons are better at hitting dodging opponents ((two-hand weapons are better at hitting parrying opponents)), I learned.
This is only an example of the knowledge I've gained while training melee; a good fighter is a thinking one, one that can outsmart opponents in combat but also work well in a party. A thinking fighter makes good use of auras. In the mainland, stanzas like melee protection aura (MPA) and invulnerability are life savers. A fighter needs taunt stanza, not only to pull a single target from a mob, but also helps take the aggro from the healer, or from another fighter who’s too badly hurt. Sometimes, using invulnerability (invul), will allow me enough time for a healer to revive someone from the party. Other times I use melee protection aura (MPA), and those near me also benefit from this aura when I use it. A good fighter not only keeps the mob from the mags and healer but also knows when to help heal teammates. Even the most devoted melee fighters study magic, at the very least healing magic to revive (Rez) friends.
Many of these tactics were practiced not only by me, but by other homins during the run from Yrkanis to Falls of the Two Totems. We encounter quite a few violent animals on the roads, Gingos, Torbaks, Javings, Cutlers, and even Gibais. But it was during the taunting of the Kitin from the depths that group tactics became more evident. And with good teamwork they captured the beastly creature successfully.