I think Yves has its elites, if nothing else they'd need at least some people to keep adventurers in check, without having to send an army into the capital. Also, theirs is a feudal system, so Ithink they have knights and other elites amongst the lower nobility as they are obligated to fight in wartime. Probably not amongst the count and the other lazy nobles surrounding the king, but other more conservative nobles (as opposed to the kings new proslavery nobles) may just take their traditional duties a little more seriously. One traditional way on earth would be to send your sons off to train with another knight (removing the bond between parent and child from the equation), which I could see some do, but I doubt it would be the standard. Sending your sons and daughters (we have seen very little sexual discrimination in the land) to specialized training schools where their affinities are determined and a training program for them is put together seems more realistic. This would mean most yvesian nobles know at least the basics of a fighting style and most likely have gone through high-level stat training followed by stat-increasing supplements (dependent entirely on how much money the lord can afford to invest in his child). Some real-world fighting, or at least powerlevelling from following a warband into combat against local threats also seems like a given. I wouldn't be surprised to learn many nobles have a combat profession. I also think there will be at least a few trainers in Law, selling their services at a very high price to adventurers and mercenaries. W
We know that there are at least Five Techniques Styles in/around they River Peninsula. Interestingly each of those Styles seems to belong to a Different Race, so I'm thinking that most Races probably have At Least One Technique Style for that Races Preferred Combat Weapon, probably more depending on the Numerousness and Dispersal of that Race. I suspect that while the Granite Breaker style is the Most Prevalent or Revered Style amongst the Fire Tip Mountain Dwarfs, other Mountain Dwarfs probably have there Styles for Hammers &\or their own versions of Mace Arts. And the same for Hill Dwarfs, although I wouldn't be surprised if they didnt tend towards more Axe Styles then Mountain Dwarfs. Humans probably have some of the most varied and versioned Styles throughout their Race. Although there tend to maybe less depth in many of them compared to other Races, Goblins probably excluded. But I would agree that they probably aren't that easily to find a Teacher in them, or for that matter to find someone who knows and is then willing to Teach you one. And while there might be those who are willing to sell their knowledge and Style I suspect that most of them aren't selling either a particularly renowned and great version &/or an incomplete version?
Complete versions are probably very, very rare. Considering you have to reach masterrank not only in the skill but also in the style to have learned it. Most styles have likely lost the upper tiers and if not finding a master willing to teach probably isn't that easy either. On the other hand, there may be a system that allows practitioners to rediscover the lost parts by practicing and researching long enough. For most people the first few tiers would be more than enough though. Being a journeyman in a style with an adept skilllevel would make you a very tough opponent for someone who lacks a style. You could probably beat a master in skill. I still think there will be a number of style trainers in Law, in connection to the Dungeon. Its likely the biggest or only Dungeon in the kingdom, large enough to have a major impact on the economy of a country with many million citizens. The flow of wealth someone willing to teach even the basics of a style can access is likely enormous, enough to attract adepts and even Masters. Plus the adventurers have had nearly a millennia to develop their own styles.
Indeed it's likely that the better Adventurer Guilds, Knight Orders and other strong Militant Institutions will have at least one, as well as any Older Noble Lines and the like.
An order of knights could be an epic enemy, especially if Aleron avoids the pitfall of making them all bad and instead creates a political conflict between good factions. Maybe have them overthrow the kingdom out of genuine concern for the nonhumans and the peasantry, only to end up at war with Richter over some stupid misunderstanding.
Wonder if Randy knows some Small Blade Cambat Arts that Specialise in Knives & Daggers? Or Possibly even a Whip Art? I I would like for Richter to Learn at least one Unarmed Combat Art/Technique, and maybe an Combat Spell Casting Art.
It's been confirmed in God's Eye that Balance is a Secondary Stat, so I'm thinking that there are probably Combat Techniques/Arts that can help to increase the Balance Stat (especially Unarmed Combat Techniques). Most likely Skills as well, like say Acrobatics.
Yes richter could greatly benefit from learning an unarmed combat art. He has already discovered how bad it sucks to be with out a weapon in a dire situation. As a former gamer he should also realize that unarmed combat is going to have some built in equalizers to it. Making him less likely to be so vulnerable in the future.
I am thinking that the Mental Safeguard(/Fortress) and Chi Hardening training that Richter is undergoing maybe similar to Techniques/Arts, in that they aren't classed as Skills but if he Practiced them to a significant enough expertise, degree and strength that he might be granted some type of Talent like ability, whether Passive or Active is no knows? What do you think of this idea and what do you think he might get it anything!
Mentally he might be able to get a "split consciousness" type benefit where he initially takes a small hit to processing power, but gets an internal "him" to ponder things in the background. Improving it further would eventually improve total processing power for both conciousnesses.
