Ruthless

5p + 2 (gained from new host)

Bought Heat Resistance and Thick skin (before changing hosts)(-2p)

Thick skin (value 1) + Heat Resistance (value 1) /normal merge/ = Heat Resistant Skin (value 2)

Effect - the skin grows thicker, slightly more resistant to damage as well as heat. Far from fireproof but less flammable.

Air bending upgraded to lvl 2 (-1p) 

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Remaining trait points - 4

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Days till Aang gets out of the iceberg- 27

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Host - Sal (Age 16)

Bond = 20 (10 trust, 10 control)

Status - left-handed (lol), beaten up

Morality - 23/100 (mostly evil, yes, I really rolled the dice. High, moderate or low morality doesn't give any bonuses but might affect interactions with different characters based on their perception abilities)

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HP = 20/40

Qi = 50

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Strength - 7

Perception - 9

Endurance - 8

Charisma - 10

Intelligence - 7

Agility - 6

Luck - 5 

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Skills - 

Earthbending 10/20 

Brawling - 9/20

Stealing - 8/20

Cooking - 5/20

Stealth - 4/20

Air bending - 2/20 (trait-given skill, locked)

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Ring Traits - 4/10

Iron Stomach lvl 1 (value 1)

Heat Resistant Skin lvl 1 (value 2)

Shadow kissed lvl 1 (value 3)

Air Bending lvl 2 (value 12)

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Available trait points - 4

Purchasable:

Lvl 2 traits - Sal

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All That's Left - Lvl 1

Once, Sal was right-handed. But life has a way of changing things. Now, his remaining hand is stronger, faster—retrained to adapt and excel.

(Effect: Doubles the dexterity of the Host's dominant hand. Cost: 2 Trait Points)

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Thirst Resistance - Lvl 1

Years in the desert have shaped Sal's endurance, teaching his body to make the most of every drop of water. His thirst is now merely a suggestion, rather than a need.

(Effect: The Host requires only half the usual amount of water to function properly. Cost: 1 Trait Point)

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Shifting Sands - Lvl 1

Sal always claimed he was a sandbender first, even before he was an earthbender. There's something about the sand—the way it shifts, the way it moves—that feels like an extension of himself. And the sand seems to agree.

Effect: Grants the ability to sense sand within a limited range, detecting vibrations to "see" through it without using sight. This effect also works with earth, though at half efficiency.( Cost: 4 Trait Points)

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-Save the points

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-Remember that you can merge/dice merge and upgrade any of the already owned traits, and that the higher the bond value goes, the stronger, rarer and more expensive the traits will become. 

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The instant Sal slipped the ring on, a shiver went through him, something between a fever and a shock. You felt his thoughts, pulsing and feral, clawing to break loose, yet with a sheer act of will, he held them down. 

His severed hand, his gnawing hunger and thirst — all of it was forgotten. Only one need burned in his mind now, insatiable and fierce: power. Like an addict tasting the purest, most seductive drug ever conceived, he was higher than a kite.

You knew why. Sal wasn't "good" in any sense of the word; you could see that. Maybe it was his upbringing, maybe something more innate, but his psyche was all greed and self-interest. You would liken him to a leech, not only hungry but entitled, seeing all things as his due.

Trust wasn't his strong suit either. But that hardly mattered now. With your ring, he could walk unseen, unheard. He was a dual bender now, with skin that was (slightly) hardened against the dangers of the world. You'd covered all your bases.

Sal finished looting the third house, his new skills proving perfect for slipping into sandstone walls as easily as air through cracks. It was easy to steal from earthen houses as a silent earthbender after all.

 The night in the Oasis was still, emptier than last. The brawl from yesterday must have driven away much of the traffic. He slipped back out, sealing the sandstone wall with a flick of his wrist, like a closing mouth swallowing its secrets.

 His steps had grown lighter, a smug smile tugging at his lips as the pouch of stolen coin on his waist grew heavier.

The Oasis stretched quiet under the moonlight as he strolled through it, his head held high. You felt the satisfaction radiating from him, pure waves of triumph.

Ahead, he reached a larger house — one you recognized as the Oasis's stable. A quiet space tonight, with only a few ostrich horses sleeping soundly in the sand pens. Most of the mounts had gone, just like the travelers, and the empty stables meant fewer guards. 

Just one, standing outside on an earthen bench, smoking a pipe. He looked lax, lulled by the peace of the night.

Sal waited until a stray cloud swept over the moon. In a silent glide, he moved past the guard, stepping right into his line of sight.

(Perception roll - req 90 / Rolled 36 / Fail)

 The man never reacted, his eyes blank as Sal's silhouette passed unseen before him. In one smooth motion, Sal unsheathed a short sword he'd stolen, and with a single stroke, he beheaded the guard.

For a moment, it seemed like time stretched. The head fell, almost dreamlike, tumbling forward in a slow spin, blood tracing a faint arc in the dim light before the body crumpled. 

Sal, unfazed, clenched his fist, and the sands obeyed, pulling the headless body down into the earth until there was nothing left — not even a whisper. The whole scene unfolded in perfect silence. Not a hint of guilt or pause came from him.

Sal looked down, where the man had disappeared, and a satisfied smirk crept up his face. The guard had been an earthbender too — weak, yes, but still. The realization that he'd killed another bender without breaking a sweat made his grin widen, an exultant light sparking in his eyes.

Then he turned toward you. For a heartbeat, that glee vanished, replaced by something more timid, a glimmer of respect mixed with fear.

"Speak your mind," you said, a command that filled the silence. Sal wasn't sure if it was a request or an order, and you didn't mind either way.

He swallowed, choosing his words carefully.

"Mr. Crow, if I may ask… you said that the Ring had lost a lot of its power… but that it'll grow stronger with time, right?"

You nodded, a slight tilt of acknowledgment. Yes, you had told him as much, though it was only half-truth. Right now, you were far from the ultimate weapon you'd spun tales about, the lost relic of the King of Envy, and by the time you reached that level, Sal would have either become an empty vessel or would have passed you along to someone else.

Sal's voice grew hushed, eager. "Then… are there… actions that can hasten it? Something like… I don't know, souls?" 

His attempt at casualness failed, betraying an undercurrent of madness. His thoughts unfurled, and you understood his intent: he wanted to kill everyone in the Oasis. All for the sake of the power you had dangled before him.

It was far darker than the petty theft and flight he'd originally planned. But there was an undeniable logic to it. To give him this capacity for bloodshed would tether him further to you, amplifying the bond between you both. Besides, it was night — if things turned sour, he could simply melt into the shadows, invisible and untouchable.

You gave him a slow nod, thoughtful.

"Let me consider it," you said, leaving the promise hanging, a glimmer of possibility.

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-Allow Sal to do what he wants.

You're not sentimental—strength is strength, and vengeance can be its own reward. The Oasis means nothing to you; let it burn if it must.

(+20 trust, +2 extra trait points IF successful)

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-Change his target to someone else.

Why waste fury on the Oasis when there are others more deserving of his wrath? The tribe that cast him out, the mercenaries who took his hand—they are worthier foes.

(+5 trust, and start the "Revenge is Sweet" Quest)

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-No, it's better to accumulate strength before jumping into danger.

The people in the Oasis may be innocent—or maybe they're not. Either way, a hasty attack won't bring him power, only risk. Persuade him to set aside hatred and stick to the original plan.

(Roll +30 req, +10 trust if successful, ? if not)

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-No, it's a dumb idea.

You've just secured a host, and it would be foolish to let him charge to his death so soon. Assert control: command him to abandon his anger and follow the initial path.

(Roll +50 req, +10 control if successful. If failed, Sal will still obey but will detect a mind control attempt)

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Another Option: (write in comments)