Scholar An academic who walks the Lands Between, and a member of the School of Hierodas who seeks knowledge through travel. He contracted a disease that causes abnormally rapid aging.
Boasts impressive Arcane levels but other attributes suffer. Has the potential to gain incredible battlefield advantages through observation.
Preference: Thrusting Swords.
Overview
The Scholar has some of the most lopsided stats among the Nightfarers, boasting the highest Arcane stat in the game (exceeding the Executor) while being below-average in almost all other stats. With the lack of weapons that scale with Arcane (even his rapier has no Arcane scaling) he compensates with incredible ailment infliction or item usage. Both will require a detailed knowledge of the map in order to locate the appropriate equipment and items needed to bring out his full potential. Once realized, though, the Scholar can become a potent force multiplier for his allies, bestowing incredible buffs from the items he uses and debilitating enemies with ailments and debuffs.
Background
Abilities
Custom Thrusting Sword Moveset
Light attack combo (both one- and two-handed) involves five attacks: two thrusts, then two horizontal swipes, then a final thrust. In comparison, normal thrusting sword attack combos are purely thrusts and are slightly faster.
Uncharged heavy attack (both one- and two-handed) is a single lunging thrust.
Charged one-handed heavy attack alternates between a forward lunge followed by two swipes, or two lunging thrusts.
Charged two-handed heavy attack alternates between a forward lunging thrust with a swipe, or two lunging thrusts.
Rolling light attack (both one- and two-handed) is a horizontal swipe.
Dashing light attack (both one- and two-handed) is a diagonal swipe. Dashing heavy attack (both one- and two-handed) is a long-reaching lunge with a thrust.
Jumping one-handed heavy attack is a thrust. Jumping two-handed heavy attack is a downward diagonal thrust.
Dual-wielding combo:
Alternate thrusts, left hand first.
Three thrusts with the right-hand weapon.
Spinning swipe with left hand, thrust with right.
Left-hand thrust, followed by thrust with both weapons simultaneously.
In the middle of charging a heavy attack, or a light attack animation, input Dodge to perform a back-stepping feint. The Scholar has invincibility frames during this, where most other classes do not. The feint attack also hits harder than a single light attack.
After a successful feint or backstep, input Light Attack again for a two-hit follow-up that closes back in on the target.
Dodge-Roll
Scholar's dodge-roll is a short dash that covers less ground than a normal dodge-roll and has fewer invincibility frames. (11, compared to the usual 13)
Passive Ability: Bagcraft
Carry more items, and level-up items by using them. Each item category is leveled up independently.
Scholar can carry an increased number of consumable items per inventory slot (his passive does not apply to Smithing Stones or Stonesword Keys).
Most categories are doubled in capacity (1 -> 2, 2 -> 4, 3 -> 6). Darts specifically receive an increase from their usual of 8 to a max of 12.
If he is using any Relic ability that starts him with consumables in his inventory, he will have twice the usual amount of consumables compared to any other Nightfarer. (e.g. "Fire Pots in possession at start of expedition" grants him 4 Fire Pots instead of 2)
Each category of consumable can be leveled up by using the items within it, with visible breakpoints and an experience bar visible in the inventory screen when selecting an item. If an item is offensive, it needs to connect with a target to provide experience. If an item is utility or instant-use, simply consuming the item is enough to provide experience.
Leveling a category to Level 2 increases the efficacy of the items within it. Whatever the role of an item, it will do more of that for Scholar (and for other allies if relics with an item sharing effect are equipped).
Leveling a category to Level 3 adds a unique bonus effect to each item.
Increases Physical damage from 66 to 100 resulting (51% increase) Increases Magic damage from 44 to 66 (50% increase)
Also inflicts a defense debuff to target that increases damage taken by 2% and lasts 40 seconds. Repeated hits cause debuff to stack (max 10 stacks for +20% damage taken) and resets the duration.
Also inflicts a defense debuff to target that increases damage taken by 2% and lasts 40 seconds. Repeated hits cause debuff to stack (max 10 stacks for +20% damage taken) and resets the duration.
Also inflicts a defense debuff to target that increases damage taken by 2% and lasts 40 seconds. Repeated hits cause debuff to stack (max 10 stacks for +20% damage taken) and resets the duration.
Also inflicts a defense debuff to target that increases damage taken by 2% and lasts 40 seconds. Repeated hits cause debuff to stack (max 10 stacks for +20% damage taken) and resets the duration.
Also inflicts a defense debuff to target that increases damage taken by 2% and lasts 40 seconds. Repeated hits cause debuff to stack (max 10 stacks for +20% damage taken) and resets the duration.
Physical damage increases from 178 to 236 (32.5% increase) Magic damage increases from 60 to 146 (143% increase)
Creates 3 gravity waves instead of 1 Physical Damage: 0.745x compared to level 2 and 0.988x compared to level 1 Magic Damage: 0.452x compared to level 2 and 1.1x compared to level 1
Increased Fire Damage: 20.4% compared to level 2 and 43.2% compared to level 1 Deals damage level 7 (small blow) which can knockback small targets or push horse riders like Tree Sentinel away
23.6% Increase in magic damage 5 uses to hit level 2
23.5% Increase in magic damage compared to level 2, 52.7% Increase in magic damage compared to level 1 10 additional uses or 15 total uses to hit level 3
Explosion: Holy damage increases from 105 to 116 (10% increase) Wraiths: Holy damage increases from 60 to 82 (17% increase) 5 uses to hit level 2
Explosion: Holy damage increases from 116 to 128 (10% increase compared to level 2, 21.9% increase compared to level 1) Wraiths: Holy damage increases from 82 to 125 (52.4% increase compared to level 2, 78.5% Increase compared to level 1) 10 additional uses or 15 total uses to hit level 3
Explosion: Holy damage increased from 115 to 116 (0.8% increase) Wraiths: Holy damage increased from 60 to 71 (18.3% increase) 5 uses to hit level 2
Explosion: Holy damage increased from 116 to 128 (10.3% increase compared to level 2, 11.3% increase compared to level 1) Wraiths: Holy damage increased from 71 to 91 (28% increase compared to level 2, 51.6% increase compared to level 1) 10 additional uses or 15 total uses to hit level 3
Magic damage increases from 255 to 280 (9.8% increase) 22 uses to hit level 2
Magic damage increased from 280 to 334 (19% increase compared to level 2, 30.9% increase compared to level 1) 40 additional uses or 62 total uses to hit level 3
Skill: Analyze
See target with monocle and note findings which linger as spirit symbols to various effect.
Continue observing to advance Analysis. Improve rate of progress by using Analyse on more enemy specimens, discovering special notes, and including allies in analysis.
Upon initiating Analyze, a dial will start to progress individually for all enemies within the monocle overlay. A dial will begin to lose progress if an enemy moves out of the overlaid area, or if the monocole is put down (either from using the skill or cancelling it). This allows Scholar to preserve Analyze progress while dodging attacks or closing distance. Several factors affect the speed of the dial's progress:
Proximity to enemy. There are 3 classifications of distance for progress, with the closest starting practically next to an enemy. If an enemy is too far away, it will not receive a dial (mostly noticeable when entirely outside a PoI).
Allies' presence within the overlay. If allies are within the overlay, it progresses slightly faster.[2][3]
The dial's initial amount filled can be increased over the course of a run. Using Analyze on unique targets[4] will increase the starting position by a margin.[5] No specific amount of progress needs to be present in the dial. If you are scanning a new unique enemy for this run, the color of the dial will pulse slightly when Analyze is executed to indicate as such.
"Discovering special notes" seems to refer to gathering Local Clues.[6]
With the monocle out, Scholar can apply either beneficial effects to himself (using right-hand Heavy Attack input), or negative effects to enemies (using left-hand Heavy Attack/Weapon Skill input). If applied to enemies, each individual dial uses its own progress as reference. If applied to himself, it takes the highest value among the enemies currently within the monocle.
If the dial is less than 50% full, Scholar can reduce enemies' attack by one increment, or increase his own maximum stamina and restore some stamina.
If the dial is more than 50% full, Scholar can apply double the effect of the previous level.
If the dial is full:
Applying a full dial to enemies will increase the amount of stance damage inflicted on the next hit they receive.[2]
Applying a full dial to himself grants Scholar a bubble shield for approximately one second. The next instance of damage he would receive within this duration is negated, and pops the shield, producing a shockwave in a small area around him. This shockwave deals damage to enemies and forces a minor stagger, interrupting their actions.[2] Notably, it does not prevent follow-up damage from multi-hit attacks or lingering hitboxes. If the shield fades on its own, there is no additional effect.
Ultimate Art: Communion
Scatter pages of taboo tome to thread enemies and damage simultaneously. Damage inflicted on threaded enemy affects other enemies. Also, can heal HP of threaded allies. Attacks received from threaded enemy also damage attacker.
The Scholar is invulnerable during the casting animation.
All affected enemies are marked with the Ultimate Art icon under their health bar, next to any debuffs/status ailments.
Whenever a threaded enemy takes damage, all other threaded enemies take 20% of that damage.
Whenever a threaded ally is healed, all other threaded allies receive the same amount of healing.
Relic Rites
Effect Name
Details
Notes
[Scholar] Prevent slowing of Character Skill
Slows the decay rate of Analyze meter
----
[Scholar] Allies targeted by Character Skill gain boosted attack
Any allies within range of Scholar's Analyze gain +20% physical damage and +15% affinity damage for 30 seconds
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[Scholar] Continuous damage inflicted on targets threaded by Ultimate Art
Enemies affected by Communion take 15 damage per second for 20 seconds.
----
[Scholar] Earn runes for each additional specimen acquired with Character Skill
Analyzing a new enemy type earns 1300 Runes.
----
[Scholar] Improved Endurance and Dexterity, Reduced Intelligence and Arcane
Decreases Intelligence by 4 and Arcane by 20, increases Endurance by 6 and Dexterity by 40
Deep Relic Exclusive
[Scholar] Improved Mind, Reduced Vigor
Decreases Vigor by 3, increases Mind by 9
Deep Relic Exclusive
[Scholar] Reduced FP consumption when using Character Skill on self
Reduces FP consumption by 0.85x for 40 seconds after using character skill self buff
Crossing the storm-tossed seas, I reached the land of my ancestors. According to my documents, there is an academy in which the great sage Hierodas passed down his knowledge — he for whom our institution is named.
But what I seek above all else is the Cleansing Tear. There is a line concerning it found in a collection of folk tales I read back in the institution that I cannot help but dwell upon.
“The Cleansing Tear is our desire manifest — that which will save our kind from its fate.”
It can be found here, in this land, I am certain. The gate hidden in the fog has opened. I will draw the truth into the light, at last.
Chapter 2
A journal entry titled "A Lens to Look Into the Past."
The enchanted monocle I carry was given to me by my mentor as I embarked upon this quest. It is invaluable to my analyses.
The glintstone brings various facets of the object into focus. By unspooling the memories buried within the object, the events of the past can be witnessed.
A process which must be performed with care. I shall verify these thruths myself, such that no harms comes to the relationships I have built with others.
I write this record of my actions with those same ideals in mind.
Chapter 3
A journal entry titled "The Vestiges Surrounding the Cleansing Tear."
I found a scrap of paper I believe to have been carried by a messenger. Though soiled and in poor condition, I saw faintly but unmistakably the word "tear" imprinted upon it.
Examining it further, I heard the most intriguing words arise from within the vision I beheld...
"The tear... Salvation..."
This warrants further analysis. I shall continue my probe of the phantom vision as usual.
Chapter 4
A journal entry titled "The Albinaurics' Secret Elixir."
I discovered a nobleman's diary in a study hidden beneath a marsh. Deciphering it affirmed the connection between the Cleansing Tear and the Albinaurics.
The vision also pointed to a place known as the Research Annexe. Could it be there that we, the Albinaurics, find our manifest desire and reclaim our fate?
An additional observation: A fellow warrior of the Roundtable Hold was exhibiting some strange behaviour. It seemed she wished to escape the notice of the others, and so, with proof of my claim in hand, I made her a proposal that should serve us both.
I had been deliberating how to frame such a long disappearance from the Roundtable Hold, but now I have my answer. I leave the rest to her.
Chapter 5
A journal entry titled "The Trader of the Roundtable Hold."
With scant clues, the Research Annexe, the nobleman's second residence located below Limveld, was near impossible to find without the Priestess' help. I thought of the peculiar being who seems to come and go from the Roundtable Hold at its leisure. I explained my purposes to it and struck a bargain with the small jar merchant.
I communicated via etchings on wax tablet, and the merchant responded gleefully. After an exchange of drawings, we concluded with a detailed agreement. All that was left was to wait. Before long, everything was ready. The truth would soon be revealed. With my heart aflutter, I packed a few belongings and went to the merchant.
Chapter 6
A journal entry titled "The Truth of the Cleansing Tear."
What remains of this entry has been crossed out so many times it has become completely illegible.
The majority of it has been torn out completely.
Chapter 7
A journal entry titled "That Which I Dreamt While Asleep."
In deepest darkness was I lying down, adrift in a small boat that was barely large enough to contain me in width or length. The sky above too was black as pitch, and though there was nothing at all to mark my passage, no land nor shore in sight, still I felt the rocking of the vessel as it drifted down the stream.
Just then the little boat creaked as someone stopped it dead. I tried to crane my neck to see but my body would not move. All I saw was a hand clasped upon the vessel as it pushed me gently out.
"Cast hatred aside. Heed not the call of the broken and discarded..."
White flowers bloomed on the riverbank, and a sweet scent not unlike honey wafted gently. ...l began to wonder what became of the woman with whom I had made the bargain with. I wish I could give her the crystal I found underground to show her my appreciation.
Chapter 8
A journal entry titled "A Sentimental Reawakening at the Roundtable Hold."
My memories returned in vivid clarity after my reawakening at the Roundtable. I have known this uncanny sensation in my frame before - this feeling that my body had been lost. Once I was able to move my arms and legs, I finally stood up.
I asked the Iron Menial who had come to my aid - he responded by indicating the flower sitting at my bedside. Its white petals swayed gently, exuding a uniquely refined aroma.
I must speak to her, it seems. There is no need to keep the bargain anymore.
Chapter 9
A journal entry titled "My Purpose."
Limveld is a sacred land under which sleep secrets and mysteries aplenty. What I have unearthed will change our understanding entirely, for I have found that which before was only known to us in books and legends.
I know I will be called a madman, a liar, or worse, but I hope that those follow in my footsteps will be that much closer to the truth.
Allow me to conclude my findings, having now come to the end of this grand romance.
The Cleansing Tear is not a manifestation of our desires - it has not the power to change our fate. It is however, an artifact of great import - let it be known to history.
↑ 2.02.12.2Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named missing data
↑It's possible this affects the starting fill of the dial instead of or in addition to the speed.
↑Most enemies that are visibly distinct will be unique targets. However, certain groups exist, such as Commoners and the various types of Dogs, which are not treated as unique by this system.
↑Unclear if the progress rate is affected by this as well, or just the initial position.
↑Entirely unclear which aspect of Analyze the local clues affect.