Inside, the main hall was quieter than during his previous visit. A few hunters lounged around tables, some cleaning weapons while others pored over maps by lamplight. The smell of leather, oil, and woodsmoke filled the space.
"Looking for someone?" asked an aged hunter nursing an ale near the entrance.
"The Huntmaster," Clive replied. "Is he still here?"
The man jerked his thumb toward a hallway. "In his office. Probably won't appreciate being disturbed this late, though."
Clive nodded his thanks and headed down the corridor. He paused outside Kell's door, gathering his thoughts before knocking firmly.
"Enter," came the Huntmaster's voice.
Kell sat behind his desk, a series of reports spread before him. Small tokens, markers representing various threats, were arranged on a large map of the surrounding territories. He looked up, his sharp eyes showing mild surprise at seeing Clive.
"The artist returns," he said, setting down his quill. "Second thoughts about Shadowfen?"
"No," Clive said. "But I've been thinking about what you said regarding the dangers. About preparation."
Kell leaned back in his chair, studying him. "And?"
"I've created the weapons you and Garrett suggested." Clive stepped forward, placing his sketchbook on the desk and flipping to the pages showing his spear and mace designs. "They're high quality. But having a weapon isn't the same as knowing how to use it."
Kell examined the detailed sketches. "True enough. Many fools have entered Shadowfen well-armed but untrained. Their weapons eventually become trophies for the Risen."
"I need to learn," Clive said. "Specifically, I need to learn from you."
The Huntmaster studied him for a long moment. "You held your own against me with a sword."
"A weapon I understand. These others..." Clive gestured to the sketches. "I'd be guessing. And as you said, guessing gets you killed in Shadowfen."
Kell rose from his chair and walked to a window overlooking the training yard behind the guild hall. "Training won't be gentle. We'd have days to cram in what usually takes months."
"I don't expect gentle," Clive said.
"No, I suppose you wouldn't." Kell turned back to face him. "Dawn tomorrow. Behind the guild. Bring all your weapons."
Clive released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Thank you, Huntmaster."
Kell waved dismissively. "Save your thanks. You may curse my name before we're through."
"Probably," Clive admitted with a small smile. "But I'd rather curse your training than die from lack of it."
"Fair enough." Kell returned to his desk. "Dawn tomorrow. Don't be late."
Clive nodded and turned to leave.
Dawn painted the sky in soft pinks and golds as Clive stood in the small clearing behind Hunter’s guild. Dew still clung to the grass, dampening his boots as he moved through basic forms with his spear.
"You're gripping it too tightly," came Kell's voice from the edge of the clearing. He leaned against a tree, quarterstaff in hand, watching his practice.
Clive loosened his grip slightly, feeling how the spear's perfect balance made it almost an extension of his arms rather than a burden to be controlled.
"Better," Kell said, approaching. "The spear isn't like your sword. It's not about controlling the weapon—it's about directing its momentum." He positioned himself beside him. "May I?"
Clive handed him the spear, and he demonstrated a basic thrust.
"See how I'm using my back foot to drive the force? The spear amplifies your body's motion." He returned the weapon to him. "Try again."
Clive mimicked his stance and thrust forward, feeling the difference immediately. The spear shot out with surprising speed, the counterweighted butt end providing perfect balance.
"Good. Now recover," Kell instructed.
Clive pulled back, but the motion was awkward, leaving him momentarily vulnerable.
"No," Kell shook his head. "With a sword, recovery is about pulling back your arm. With a spear, it's about repositioning your entire body." He demonstrated again, showing how the recovery motion naturally flowed into a defensive stance. "One continuous movement. Thrust, recover, ready."
For the next hour, Clive practiced the basic spear forms under Kell's watchful eye. The weapon demanded an acute understanding of distance and timing.
"The spear's greatest advantage is reach," Kell explained as he corrected his stance again. "You can strike enemies before they can strike you. But, as you figured out in our spar, that advantage disappears if they get inside your guard."
To demonstrate, he suddenly stepped past the spear's point and tapped his ribs with his quarterstaff. "Dead," he announced.
"What's the counter?" Clive asked.
"Two options. First, backpedal to maintain distance." he demonstrated the retreating motion. "Second, use the shaft as a barrier and the butt end as a weapon." He showed him how to quickly slide his grip and strike with the counterweighted end when an opponent closed in.
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Clive practiced these transitions until his arms burned with fatigue and sweat dripped from his brow despite the cool morning air.
[Level up]
[Spear Mastery Level 2]
"Enough spear work for now," Kell finally said. "Let's move to the mace."
Clive set the spear aside and retrieved the mace he'd manifested.
"Your stance needs to be completely different," Kell observed. He positioned himself in front of him. "Feet wider. Lower your center of gravity. The mace is about stability and controlled power."
Clive adjusted his stance, feeling how it changed his relationship with the weapon.
"The sword is an instrument of precision," Kell continued. "The spear is an instrument of distance. But the mace..." He nodded at the weapon in his hand. "The mace is an instrument of commitment."
He held up his quarterstaff horizontally. "Strike."
Clive swung the mace in a controlled arc. The mace bounced off the staff without purchase.
"Again, but commit to it this time," Kell challenged. "The mace doesn't cut—it crushes. Half measures accomplish nothing."
Clive reset and swung again, putting his weight behind the blow. The quarterstaff shuddered under the impact, nearly knocked from Kell's grip.
"Better!" he approved. "But your recovery is dangerously slow. The mace's weight works for you during the strike but against you afterward."
He demonstrated with his weapon, showing how a mace swing left the wielder vulnerable in ways a sword or spear did not. "With a sword, you can change direction mid-strike. With a spear, you can adjust your aim during a thrust. But once a mace is in motion..."
"Physics takes over," Clive finished, understanding. "Momentum becomes both ally and enemy."
"Precisely," Kell nodded. "Which is why your footwork becomes even more critical. You must position yourself to account for that recovery period."
They practiced various strikes. Overhand, diagonal, and side swings, with Kell teaching him how to incorporate his body's rotation to add force while maintaining balance for the recovery.
[Level up]
[Mace Mastery Level 2]
[Power Level+3]
"The mace also changes your defensive options," he noted, demonstrating with slow movements. "A sword parries. A spear creates distance. But a mace?"
"Intimidates?" Clive suggested, only half-joking.
Kell smiled. "Sometimes. But tactically, the mace excels at breaking defenses rather than creating them. Your best defense with a mace is a good offense. Strike with enough force that your opponent's guard shatters before they can counter."
As the morning wore on, Clive began to appreciate the fundamental differences between the weapons. The sword had felt natural to him almost immediately—perhaps because of its balanced nature or its prevalence in the art and media of his previous life.
The spear had required a mental adjustment, forcing him to think in terms of lines and distances, treating the entire clearing as his combat space rather than just the immediate area around him.
But the mace—the mace demanded a psychological shift. It rewarded commitment and punished hesitation. Each strike was a decision that couldn't be easily undone.
"The Risen won't give you time to reconsider a strike," Kell reminded him as if reading his thoughts. "Commit fully or don't strike at all."
By midday, Clive's arms felt like lead, and fresh blisters had formed on his palms despite the leather wrappings on the weapons' handles. He sat heavily on a fallen log, massaging his shoulders.
"Different muscle groups," Kell explained, offering him a waterskin. "The sword uses the forearm and wrist extensively. The spear engages the shoulders and upper back. The mace relies heavily on the core and full arm strength."
Clive drank deeply, then wiped his mouth. "I didn't realize how specialized each weapon would feel. In stories, heroes just pick up whatever weapon is at hand and use it expertly."
"Stories skip the weeks of training and muscle memory," Kell said, sitting beside him. "But you're progressing faster than most would. "
“Thanks.”
"Rest today. Practice again tomorrow. Your body needs to absorb these lessons before you depart."
As he walked back toward the guild building, Clive remained seated. One day, he would master these weapons too.
Clive Weston - Character Stat Sheet
Name: Clive Weston
Class: Pictomancer
Rank: Journeyman
Patron Deity: Certainty, Goddess of Certainty and Undoubting
Stats
- Power Level: 45
- HP: 133/133
- MP: 35/35
- Certainty Points: 5
Level Progression
- Metalwork Illustration: Level 6
- Consumable Illustration: Level 1
- Architectural Illustration: Level 1
- Dagger Mastery: Level 3
- Sword Mastery: Level 2
- Spear Mastery: Level 2
- Mace Mastery: Level 2
Abilities & Skills
Class Abilities
- Artist's Eyes (Passive): Enhanced visual perception and analysis
- Upgrade: Motion Vision - Can perceive movement trajectories before they occur
- Draw (Active): Creates permanent physical objects through detailed sketching
- Paint (Combat): Harnesses color theory for elemental magic
- Mix: Combine available colors to create wider variety of spells (2 mixing slots)
- Apothecary's Nose (Passive): Identify and categorize complex scent profiles with precision
Available Colors: Red, Blue, Yellow, White,
Spells
Red Spells
- Red Fireball I - MP Cost: 2
- Red Rage I - MP Cost: 2
Blue Spells
- Blue Flu I - MP Cost: 3
- Blue Hail I - MP Cost: 3 + 1/min (ongoing cost)
- Blue Icebolt I - MP Cost: 2
Yellow Spells
- Yellow Fever I - MP Cost: 2
- Yellow Lightning I - MP Cost: 2
White Spells
- White as Holy I - MP Cost: 3
- White Light Spear I - MP Cost: 2
Mixed Color Spells
- Amber Fireball II - MP Cost: 10 (Red + Yellow mix)
Burst Spells
- Red Burst 0 – MP Cost:1
- Blue Burst 0 – MP Cost:1
- Yellow Burst 0 – MP Cost:1
- White Burst 0 – MP Cost:1
Special Traits
- Obsessive Focus: +20% skill progression when working on single project
- Artistic Purist: Cannot create/accept currency; unable to sell created items
- Certainty's Chosen: Chosen champion of Certainty (Have absolute conviction)
- Pyrographer - Artist of Flame: +15% fire spell damage, burn 10% longer
Skill Branches
Metalwork Illustration (Level 6)
- Materials: Iron, Steel
- Quality Levels: Poor, Normal, High
- Weapon Types: Sword, Dagger, Spear, Mace
Consumable Illustration (Level 1)
- Current: Water, Small health potion, Small mana potion
- Quality Levels: Poor, Normal
- Limitation: Normal quality potions only without advanced understanding
Architectural Illustration (Level 1)
- Current Structures: Basic house designs
- Materials: Brick, Wood
- Scale: Toy-size to small tent
Equipment
- Artist's Sketchbook: 10 pages, regenerates daily at dawn
- Canvas of Reality: Pre-paint background spells once per day
- Novice's Paintbrush: Basic tool for chromatic spellcasting
- Novice Color Palette: 4 colors + 2 mixing slots (Red, Blue, Yellow, White)
Active Quests
- Bloom in Darkness: Obtain a midnight blossom from Shadowfen
Ballads sing of heroes who master any blade at first touch. Reality teaches that true mastery begins when your muscles ache and your pride bleeds. —Veteran Instructor Thane Blackwater, Truths of the Training Ground