Volume One: Classes

The First Volume of Ars Arcana, a collection of papers relating to Classes and its Limitations passed between learned fellows of the College in the years 211 until 216.

Athena VII's First Paper..

~~---~~ ..being An Extract from Athena VII's Letter to Watson Caine, Maul Fonteneau and Helena Scott, written in Late 2nd Dust, Year 211. For context, on year 211, Athena VII has been the Deity of Knowledge for only 1 year and 10 months. Watson was an accomplished Siege Engineer who would later ascend on year 247 as the new Deity of Artifice. Maul was a Plague Archmage, vying for the position of First, which he will attain on year 253 and ascend as the new Deity of Magic. ~ (Editor's Note, HLC 1592)

Now that the pleasantries have been said, let us talk frankly. As all four us have and had aspirations to live as long as possible, I find it prudent to record our transactions, for future reference. I hope none of us take offense, and see the advantage of doing so.
I propose, my fellows, that the number of years lived is a hard cap to the total number of levels that one can attain on all of their classes.
As most people know, other species, whether sentient or not, lack the ability to improve their class. Only humanity can improve (whether born Common or Noble) and change their class as well as ascend to the relative immortality of becoming a Deity.
Again, it is also common knowledge that the difficulty to level up becomes harder as the person attains more levels in total. However, I submit that this total is not the reason for this hardship.
I also submit that the number of classes has no effect in the obstacle of acquiring more levels.
This theory, however, is harder to prove, as there has never been a documented case of a person having more than three classes. I know that several of our colleagues doubt that it's possible to have more than two, since most of the time classes merge together (a single person being a Blademaster and a Mage would soon find themselves becoming a Blademage), yet I am living proof that three classes at once is indeed possible. --- ...as you will read in the later papers, documented cases of people having four or five classes simultaneously have been confirmed via an Appraisal and/or Truth spell. ~ (Editor's Note, HLC 1592)
Back to the topic at hand, there is a well known phenomena, known colloquially as a growth spurt, where children between the ages of 9 and 12, suddenly gain several levels in rapid succession. It is not unheard of for a ten year old boy to go from Common Lv 3 at the start of the year, to Apprentice Smith Lv4, and ending the year being a Smith Lv9. Having six new abilities in 12 months would be miraculous if any of us today experienced it- in fact, obtaining two in a year is already impressive.
Attached with this missive is a list of 179 recorded 'growth spurts' across all four inhabited continents, which happened between Early Green 210 until Early Green of this year, separated by age. ~~---~~ ...the complete list can be found in the first appendix of this volume. ~ (Editor's Note, HLC 1592)
As you can see, those who experienced this 'growth spurt' gained from two to nine(!) total levels in one year. However, none of those totals exceeded the age of the individual.
I also submit my sworn testimony under spells of Truth, that I, Athena VII, formerly Cordelia Rosier, was born on the 10th, Mid 3rd Dust, Year 170. At the time of writing, I am 40 years old. I currently have the following classes and levels: Arcane Illustrator Lv 32, Prime Librarian Lv 7, Deity Lv 1. ~~---~~ ...removed from this Extract are the sworn testimonies of four mages of at least level 30, using the same two Truth spells along with several more esoteric ways of detecting falsehood. Note that enchanted items that can Appraise without fail are yet undiscovered at the time of this letter ~ (Editor's Note, HLC 1592)
All of my predecessors, save the first Athena, have gained at least four levels upon ascension, up to a record of seven by Athena II. I was the the only one who gained only one level in the Deity class. In my opinion, this is because when I gained the class, I was 39 years old while having a total combined levels of 38. In my birth month, I expect that I will shortly gain a level either as a Prime Librarian like last year, or as a Diety.
Given the evidence presented, I conclude that my proposal is factual. I welcome your review.

Maul Fonteneau's First Reply..

~~---~~ ..being An Extract from Maul Fonteneau's Letter, written in Early 3rd Dust, Year 211. This missive is in reference to Athena VII's Letter to Watson Caine, Maul Fonteneau and Helena Scott, written in Late 2nd Dust, Year 211. ~ (Editor's Note, HLC 1592)

You are the only person I know that has more than thirty levels in a single class. In fact, I would be hard pressed to find anyone who's total levels are anywhere near their age.
The vast majority of humanity have twenty levels across a single class, same as other sentient species, with the difference of our classes changing and merging. A select few elites reach level thirty, and even fewer reach forty levels in total.
~~However, an average human in Ryzahl lives for 50 years. ---~~ ...as of printing, the average human in Ryzahl now lives for 70 years. ~ (Editor's Note, HLC 1592)
Even accounting for the growth spurt phenomena, which, I found out, occurs only in about a third of humanity, it is my opinion that the data is not enough for a definite conclusion.
Just because we cannot find people with total levels higher than their age does not mean that there is causality or a connection between them.
In addition, from what I am able to gather, it appears that the rate of gaining levels is skewed- the lesser the total levels, the faster you gain more levels, and vice versa. This reinforces the commonly held belief that you mentioned.
The relationship between the difficulty of gaining levels as the total becomes high merits further study.
However, given the evidence presented, I found no facts contradicting your original proposal.

Helena Scott's First Reply..

~~---~~ ..being An Extract from Helena Scott's Letter, written in Late 3rd Dust, Year 211. This missive is in reference to Athena VII's Letter to Watson Caine, Maul Fonteneau and Helena Scott, written in Late 2nd Dust, Year 211. ~ (Editor's Note, HLC 1592)

I found the following individuals with the help of a Seeker, Ewen Page. All of these are verified by a Truth Potion of the highest grade and from my [Aletheia] Spell.
Blodwen Dacosta, age 21 from the Kirwater Lake Riftown, has the following classes & levels: Fisher Lv 6, Cobbler Lv 5, Initiate Cleric Lv 1, Elected Mayor Lv 1. It is not known why the Deity of Life & Law haven't reclaimed the young Mayor's cleric levels.
Cordelia Strout, age 23 from Brentlet Enclave, has the following classes & levels: Lady Lv 3, Farmer Lv 8, Merchant Lv 2, Master Jeweler Lv 8.
Peter Trevarthen, age 51 from Savanora Plateau, has the following classes & levels: Common Lv 2, Druid of Metal Lv 27, Survivalist Lv 3, Runebreaker Lv 2. It is rare for the Common class not to change into a profession. In this case, the subject was ordained into the druidic order at a young age.
Lionel Posner, age 36 from Heavensfall City, has the following classes & levels: Pactholder Lv 22, Bladesman Lv 3, Initiate Psion Lv 1, Detective Lv 6, City Watch Representative Lv 2. The subject was the only one that our Seeker found to be holding five classes simultaneously.

Athena VII's Second Paper..

~~---~~ ..being An Extract from Athena VII's Letter to Watson Caine, Maul Fonteneau, Helena Scott, and Ries Hector, written in Mid Green, Year 212. ~ (Editor's Note, HLC 1592)

More papers & replies to follow. ~ GaiusCoffee

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Athena VII's First Paper..

Now that the pleasantries have been said, let us talk frankly. As all four us have and had aspirations to live as long as possible, I find it prudent to record our transactions, for future reference. I hope none of us take offense, and see the advantage of doing so.

I propose, my fellows, that the number of years lived is a hard cap to the total number of levels that one can attain on all of their classes.

As most people know, other species, whether sentient or not, lack the ability to improve their class. Only humanity can improve (whether born Common or Noble) and change their class as well as ascend to the relative immortality of becoming a Deity.

Again, it is also common knowledge that the difficulty to level up becomes harder as the person attains more levels in total. However, I submit that this total is not the reason for this hardship.

I also submit that the number of classes has no effect in the obstacle of acquiring more levels.

This theory, however, is harder to prove, as there has never been a documented case of a person having more than three classes. I know that several of our colleagues doubt that it's possible to have more than two, since most of the time classes merge together (a single person being a Blademaster and a Mage would soon find themselves becoming a Blademage), yet I am living proof that three classes at once is indeed possible. --- ...as you will read in the later papers, documented cases of people having four or five classes simultaneously have been confirmed via an Appraisal and/or Truth spell. ~ (Editor's Note, HLC 1592)

Back to the topic at hand, there is a well known phenomena, known colloquially as a growth spurt, where children between the ages of 9 and 12, suddenly gain several levels in rapid succession. It is not unheard of for a ten year old boy to go from Common Lv 3 at the start of the year, to Apprentice Smith Lv4, and ending the year being a Smith Lv9. Having six new abilities in 12 months would be miraculous if any of us today experienced it- in fact, obtaining two in a year is already impressive.

Attached with this missive is a list of 179 recorded 'growth spurts' across all four inhabited continents, which happened between Early Green 210 until Early Green of this year, separated by age. ~~---~~ ...the complete list can be found in the first appendix of this volume. ~ (Editor's Note, HLC 1592)

As you can see, those who experienced this 'growth spurt' gained from two to nine(!) total levels in one year. However, none of those totals exceeded the age of the individual.

I also submit my sworn testimony under spells of Truth, that I, Athena VII, formerly Cordelia Rosier, was born on the 10th, Mid 3rd Dust, Year 170. At the time of writing, I am 40 years old. I currently have the following classes and levels: Arcane Illustrator Lv 32, Prime Librarian Lv 7, Deity Lv 1. ~~---~~ ...removed from this Extract are the sworn testimonies of four mages of at least level 30, using the same two Truth spells along with several more esoteric ways of detecting falsehood. Note that enchanted items that can Appraise without fail are yet undiscovered at the time of this letter ~ (Editor's Note, HLC 1592)

All of my predecessors, save the first Athena, have gained at least four levels upon ascension, up to a record of seven by Athena II. I was the the only one who gained only one level in the Deity class. In my opinion, this is because when I gained the class, I was 39 years old while having a total combined levels of 38. In my birth month, I expect that I will shortly gain a level either as a Prime Librarian like last year, or as a Diety.

Given the evidence presented, I conclude that my proposal is factual. I welcome your review.

Maul Fonteneau's First Reply..

You are the only person I know that has more than thirty levels in a single class. In fact, I would be hard pressed to find anyone who's total levels are anywhere near their age.

The vast majority of humanity have twenty levels across a single class, same as other sentient species, with the difference of our classes changing and merging. A select few elites reach level thirty, and even fewer reach forty levels in total.

~~However, an average human in Ryzahl lives for 50 years. ---~~ ...as of printing, the average human in Ryzahl now lives for 70 years. ~ (Editor's Note, HLC 1592)

Even accounting for the growth spurt phenomena, which, I found out, occurs only in about a third of humanity, it is my opinion that the data is not enough for a definite conclusion.

Just because we cannot find people with total levels higher than their age does not mean that there is causality or a connection between them.

In addition, from what I am able to gather, it appears that the rate of gaining levels is skewed- the lesser the total levels, the faster you gain more levels, and vice versa. This reinforces the commonly held belief that you mentioned.

The relationship between the difficulty of gaining levels as the total becomes high merits further study.

However, given the evidence presented, I found no facts contradicting your original proposal.

Helena Scott's First Reply..

I found the following individuals with the help of a Seeker, Ewen Page. All of these are verified by a Truth Potion of the highest grade and from my [Aletheia] Spell.

Blodwen Dacosta, age 21 from the Kirwater Lake Riftown, has the following classes & levels: Fisher Lv 6, Cobbler Lv 5, Initiate Cleric Lv 1, Elected Mayor Lv 1. It is not known why the Deity of Life & Law haven't reclaimed the young Mayor's cleric levels.

Cordelia Strout, age 23 from Brentlet Enclave, has the following classes & levels: Lady Lv 3, Farmer Lv 8, Merchant Lv 2, Master Jeweler Lv 8.

Peter Trevarthen, age 51 from Savanora Plateau, has the following classes & levels: Common Lv 2, Druid of Metal Lv 27, Survivalist Lv 3, Runebreaker Lv 2. It is rare for the Common class not to change into a profession. In this case, the subject was ordained into the druidic order at a young age.

Lionel Posner, age 36 from Heavensfall City, has the following classes & levels: Pactholder Lv 22, Bladesman Lv 3, Initiate Psion Lv 1, Detective Lv 6, City Watch Representative Lv 2. The subject was the only one that our Seeker found to be holding five classes simultaneously.