Aiming

Normal Merge :

 Heat Resistant Skin(value 2)+ Who needs sustenance (v2) = Solar Furance lvl 1 (value 4)

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Solar Furnace

The sun is more than heat—it's fuel. Sal's body has adapted, absorbing warmth from his environment and converting it into energy, allowing him to endure harsh climates and subsist with minimal resources.

(Effect: The Host's skin absorbs external heat, optimizing metabolism to need only a quarter of the usual food and water intake. In extreme heat, the Host's stamina is slightly boosted, while their tolerance to high temperatures is increased)(Value: 4 Trait Points)

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(AN - fire still burns, you need like a 10 value trait to start tanking weak fire)

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There were many popular options for what to tell Sal so I will mix them up as they don't contradict each other.

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After hours of what seemed like aimless wandering through the desert, dawn began its slow creep over the horizon. At first, it was just a pale blush behind the dunes, but soon the sun's first rays cracked over the edge of the earth, stretching long, golden fingers across the sand. The desert shifted, transforming from a cold, quiet expanse to a warming landscape bathed in soft light. Each grain of sand seemed to capture the glow, the temperature rising gradually, as if the desert itself were waking up.

With the warming sun, the fog over Sal's mind lifted, just a fraction, loosening the tangled web of anger and thrill that clouded his thoughts. His silence had hung thick for hours, yet you could feel his mind's wheels turning, revisiting plans, reviewing possibilities. And, at last, a priority rose to the surface: sleep.

He dismounted the ostrich horse, which shifted uneasily, tossing its head as if uncertain about its newfound companion. Sal moved quickly, his earthbending forming a small, rough shelter of sandstone, the layers compressing into a makeshift tent to shield him and his mount from the harsh light of day.

"You don't need to worry about the desert's heat anymore," you said, almost casually. "If anything, your body will use it as fuel."

He paused, glancing at you, then at the ring. A spark of awe flickered in his eyes as the realization dawned on him. His mouth opened to ask a question but stopped short, almost reverent.

You chuckled softly. "The ring's power… it grows, Sal. I'll tell you more as it happens."

He simply nodded, lost in thought, then sat in the sand, letting the first rays of sun fall over his shoulders. The ostrich horse clacked its beak and stepped into the cool shade of the sandstone shelter. Sal didn't follow, keeping himself under the sky for just a moment longer, absorbing the desert heat.

"The moment you wake up," you continued, "training begins." His nod was firmer this time, anticipation pulsing off him, eager to hone his skills, sharpen the edges of his rage. You could feel his mind darting toward the practicalities of revenge — his tribe, their leader, the confrontations that lay ahead. A faint smile tugged at your lips.

As Sal finally ducked into the tent, he sealed the entrance with a layer of sand, leaving only a small crack to avoid any surprise guests — be it scavengers or worse. He let himself sink to the ground, exhaling, though his restlessness was clear.

After a moment, you gave him a gentle prod. "Tell me," you said, your voice as calm as the night sand, "who do you most want to kill?"

Sal went still, then looked down at his hands, brow furrowing. "The leader of my tribe," he finally said, voice low, deliberate. "He was the one who cast me out, after I killed my father." A wry smile crossed his lips. "And that man? He was worthless. Drunk, weak… He did nothing for the tribe. I didn't lose sleep over it. But being cast out, that was… unjust."

As he spoke, you felt the information settle in. You gave a small, subtle smile and, with a snap of your fingers, sacrificed two trait points. 

(Trait - All that's Left acquired - Cost 2 tp / 1 tp remaining)

Immediately, you saw it ripple through Sal. His lone hand flexed, almost instinctively. He lifted it, staring as he moved it in ways that seemed impossibly smooth, like a snake's effortless glide through sand.

A few scattered pebbles lay around him, and he reached out, bending them to circle his hand, testing his improved dexterity. They danced around his fingers with a newfound fluidity, almost like water, flowing easily in tight, precise loops. You could feel the awe radiating from him, his disbelief that such control could be achieved with a single hand.

"A taste of what's to come," you murmured. "The more you stay with me, the stronger you'll grow." He looked up, his expression softening, gratitude mingling with a flicker of doubt — a flicker you knew would fade in time.

"Now go ahead and rest," you said, your voice carrying finality. "And, while you drift off, let me tell you a story, of a place called the Foggy Swamp. Perhaps, someday, you'll set foot there…"

Sal's eyes drifted shut, and you began, your words weaving the tale of a land far different from this sun-bleached desert. The Foggy Swamp, lush and tangled, where vines hung like curtains, where every creature was bound to the spirit world in ways few could comprehend. A place where secrets thrived, held deep within its murky depths. And perhaps, just perhaps, Sal might one day find himself wandering its maze-like heart, searching, as always, for power and purpose.

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Trust + 5 / Bond = 30 (20t/10c)(+1trait point, new perks available for purchase)

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Available trait points - 2

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I Am. A. Sandbender

Sand isn't just something Sal moves; it's an extension of him, as familiar as his own skin. His control over sand surpasses even his skill with earth, flowing with natural precision.

(Effect: +1 to earthbending skill when bending sand. Cost: 2 Trait Points)

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Fratricide

Blood means nothing if it stands in his way. Sal's strength over family ties is ruthless, a reminder of the lengths he'll go to for power.

(Effect: +5 to all rolls against those who share a close blood relation with the Host. Cost: 1 Trait Point)

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Obsessive but Skilled

Once Sal sets his mind on something, he can't let it go. His focus on a goal is so intense that sometimes, it's as if fortune itself bends in his favor—though unpredictably.

(Effect: 50% chance to gain +5 to a roll the Host is deeply determined to succeed in. Cost: 2 Trait Points)

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Previous traits are still available for purchase

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Choose -

Allow Sal to continue on his quest for Revenge after X days of training. 

(Sal's rations can last him 20 days (5 for a normal human) if he was alone, but feeding the Ostrich Horse lowers the days to 5)

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Or try to convince Sal to give up his quest or postpone it. (Roll req - 70)

Other quests available -

-King of the Dessert (Sal always wanted his own Oasis)

-King of thieves (What's yours is mine and what's mine is still mine)

-Dessert hunter (There are many strong beasts in the Dessert. Sal takes offense to that)

-The Traveler (Sal always wondered how these so-called...oceans looked like)

-Or make your own quest, Sal will probably agree.