The move had gone smoothly. The T’jut had helped take apart the cabin and the shed and all the wood Betty wanted to use for rebuilding their home. They would cut the trees necessary for the walls of the house on location, so it was only the wood that required carving and had already been cut to the proper size, that was loaded on the beasts of Burden.
Seeing Betty whip out her carpentry skills was quite cool. It did Marlin a lot of good to see his Mother make the best of her situation. He never really ‘got’ the social implications of being crippled. Truth be told he had forgotten about it, Valkor was not a kingdom that practiced ‘crippling’ and besides his mother, he never actually met someone else that was crippled.
Looking at her, she certainly didn’t look crippled to him.
The trip had been boring actually, Marlin and his friends were on guard duty but not a lot of enemies in this area that would plan an attack against a group this Large.
Lost Haven had treated the T’jut well but North Haven had also been a favorite of Many of the T’jut.
North Haven was big. 4 embassies, 3 official Merchant guilds present and for the many T’jut that fulfilled requests from the freebooter Guild, it offered a much larger and diverse selection.
The surrounding area of North Haven had some Goblin tribes nearby and Goblins once established, were almost impossible to get rid off.
They multiplied like rabbits and were a plague to everyone. North Haven was established after the last Goblin Horde had been beaten, as a permanent base to keep the Goblin population down.
Within the span of 10 years, it grew to become a city with a population close to 50k with a diverse population. It was a ‘Free city’, mostly on Valkor lands. The lands had been annexed by the Mutual alliance at the time, to provide neutral grounds. It also included land from:
Avalonia, an empire that was deeply zealous in rooting out the celestial curses and worshipped God’s from the pantheons of order, devotion, and War. “Yea I can see why mom and pops left, holy hell that sounds like a recipe for disaster”. Marlin thought.
Eluneth, a Nurr kingdom, although sporting a large number of High Kin, it was ruled by the Nurr, Bradford told Marlin that as a high Kin male, he would be very welcome, the implied: ‘don’t go there if you don’t want to screw things over with Milly’, look was obvious.
Marlin curiosity got the best of him and he asked how on earth that place wasn’t overun with Honorless, afflicted with the lust curse. Bradford had a pained look in his eyes and didn’t respond at first, “I had a couple of friends that settled there, it didn’t last long till I stopped receiving letters from them, when I inquired about them, the authorities simply told me they had left their wives and moved to a different country. None of the Kin that go missing in that country, are heard from again.”
Marlin didn’t need Bradford to finish, his image of sweet gentle elves that sang ethereal songs, was slowly fading away. He was getting the distinct impression, High Kin weren’t very liked by the other races and species.
and lastly,
Tonat’Ni’Uh, Land of the Hjabb. How they ruled was rather enigmatic, it seemed to function as a direct democracy, as in each decision was voted for in a referendum.
The Hjabnar’in, looked like faeries made out of wood, with wings that looked like leaves, commonly referred to as leaf folk
The Hjabnar’an, high Kin height, looked like roots bundled together into a doll like depiction of a kin looking, thing. Were referred to as root folk, which incidentally, was a huge compliment to them. Roots of a tree having significant purpose and meaning in Hjab culture. They didn’t worship trees but it was a sort of shamanistic shintoism with trees at the heart of it.
They all had green eyes with gem like properties, and often walked completely cloaked, they looked like the cloaked creatures collecting scrap in a movie he could barely remember, he suddenly felt like he could hear the crying of millions of souls, for the heresy of him forgetting the name of that movie.
The reason the Hjabnar’an wore cloaks was because they dried and shriveled in direct sunlight. Which was uncomfortable and painful.
And lastly, Hjabna’bar. Miniature versions of ents, who apparently also existed but were incredibly rare and barely moved.
One could walk past an ent and not be able to distinguish them from a regular tree. Some had been so passive, they had allowed some random lumberjack to cut them down without fighting back.
The Hjabna’bar themselves were quite active comparatively and about the size of a Giant kin. Gentle kind giant, was their trope, through and through. Lots of them could be seen playing with kids of all walks of life, without a worry from the parents.
Bradford described the Hjab culture to Marlin, they loved to bargain. Not for profit but for the act itself, anger was a foreign notion to them for the most part and their easy going nature made them welcome almost everywhere.
They would never strike a bargain where one side felt they were cheated. As such many effective merchant guilds, were often run by or counciled by, the Hjab.
”Bargaining trees”, Marlin thought, shaking his head. He couldn’t wait to meet the Hjab, it sounded like such an interesting experience.
he looked at his Minions with their new gear.
Killing a ‘Fallen Lord’, like Thror, had a standard outstanding bounty with of lots of gold, so Marlin had split the selling of loot and reward evenly with his T’jut friends.
Marlin had bought a good spear that made a nice ‘whoosing’ sound for Barry. The spear was 10 times better then the old one and had good reach.
For Jerry, he had done something different, he had bought him a steel plated glove with gripping hooks on the inside of the palm,
allowing his style of ‘Jumping on someone’s back to stab them’, to be a lot more reliable. Including a long Bladed ‘Sai’, that Jerry absolutely loved.
The 2 smaller prongs were sharpened and serrated.
For Gary he bought a robin hood-esque hat with a small feather, Marlin caved after he Bought all 3 A small crossbow and he didn’t want Gary to feeling left out. Somehow this was taken as if Gary was performing better then the other two which had them seething with jealousy.
Marlin oversaw his 3 gnoll’s firing their new crossbows, only Gary was proficient, which he pointed incessantly. Marlin figured that, to get the drop on an enemy, having 3 crossbow bolts sticking in the pelt of a bear, was better than one. Additionally the natural high levels of dexterity carried his gnolls capacity with shooting, a long way.
Marlin was not going to let their high dexterity go to waste, crossbows were easily handled and barely required any real training. And they had much better penetration then regular bows.
Billy was clad in armor, custom made, chain padding with some steel plating, His horns had iron rings to reinforce them.
Billy was staring impassively, at the devious hackling and yipping of the gnolls.
Marlin had prodded the goat. but Billy had been distant and distracted with his thoughts. Marlin sighed, he knew the goat would come to him once he was ready.
For the first time in a long while, he pulled up the complete description of Overlord, he usually avoided it but with the way things were going, he could no longer.
Overlord base slots = 8
Simple creatures or the weak willed are incredibly susceptible to your words and will have an innate desire to serve you. You gain access to minions, minions upon forming a bond with you gain a fragment of your soul. No magic is known to end this bond short of killing The master. Those that have become master overlords can bring back their minions from the dead. Their bodies are merely a vessel, their minds and soul bound to you, some overlords can manifest a new body for their minions with great effort
Once your rage activates it channels your Darkness through your words, Intimidation will benefit from both your strength and your Dominion attributes.
+4 Loyalty, (increased minion slots), you have shown to your Minions, that you are worthy of following. Your battles and endeavors to gain power have not gone unnoticed by those who serve you, as such it is much easier to control more minions for you.
Misttress Milly Canta, Sorceress Supreme.
Loyalty from your Mistress +1.
Bound Minions:
Knightly Steed Billy.
Gary the Tracker + 1 loyalty.
Barry the Spearmaster + 1 loyalty.
Jerry the Stabber +1 loyalty
Marlin did a double take. He had completely forgotten that his relationship with Milly had provided him with a +1 to his Minion slots but what really stabbed at him was that for some reason Billy wasn’t loyal to him? What was going on?
”You three that is enough practice, put the crossbows back in the chest and give the Mistress the key, afterwards you are to help her with her duties”.
The gnolls hackled and yipped, moping and kicking dirt, they much preferred the satisfaction of bolts landing in the dead carcass of a bony wolf. But the stern Glare of Marlin, told them they wouldn’t receive any bacon whatsoever if they dared question his orders.
“Billy, with me, lets take a walk”.
“Yes my lord.” The response was meager, far too dull for the uptight eager to please goat.
They walked away and after they were out of anyone’s earshot, Marlin stopped. “Let’s hear it Billy, something is eating at you, what is it”?
“If something was eating me, I would know sire”.
”you know what I mean Billy, You were the first minion, always will be, you were with me my entire life. I know when my best buddy is not doing ok”.
”You are becoming a Dark Lord, sire. My word, my oath is ironclad but im unsure of the future. The way you fight without Honor, the way you desecrate their Honor. I don’t know how to handle it”.
He went on,
“Recently I discovered the gnolls do not work for the coin they bring in, they take it and they told me you let them. Little by little, never too much for people to grow suspicious. Those two potions they brought, stolen as well”.
It was a lot, Marlin was surprised of Billy’s comprehension but Billy had a way to defy the odds.
“Do you regret giving you my oath? Do you wish me to release you of your service?”, Marlin asked.
Billy shook his head vigorously. “What are you saying my lord! Never! Im simply struggling with the wisdom of your choices, I struggle to see the Honor in them”.
”To be fair Billy at first i didn’t pay back the things the Gnolls took. They tend to target the people who offended me or tried to wrong me. The gnolls simply exacted their ‘justice’ but Billy”. Marlin looked the goat in the eye.
”Kin and the other sentient species are smart. Do you really think they wouldn’t notice Money or Potions going missing? Ive been paying it all back without the Gnolls knowledge, and I expect this secret to stay between us you hear?”
Billy sighed in relief, but was confused. “Then why do you let them?”
”It’s good practice for their skills, and this way I get to commend them for their cunning. A reward of sorts for their loyalty. They are gnolls and it is in their nature to hoard. I cannot change them, only guide them”.
Billy hung his head, “I feel ashamed for doubting you my Lord”.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Don’t be Billy, if you see me do wrong, I expect you to tell me, or at least give me your council. A knight does not serve blindly but with his eyes open you hear?”
Billy nodded more relieved by the second.
“As for the way I fight, one fights in their most efficient manner, I cannot change my Ruthless ways. I can promise you I will always endeavor to be fair”.
Billy looked at him and ‘boobed’ him like he did all those years ago when they first met. It clanged this time.
“I do not and will not regret to be your knight my lord”. Marlin smiled and gave him a ruffle on the head.
+1 loyalty! Billy swears his fealty to you again!
“Now what do you say? We ought to explore North haven with everyone right? We should hit up the freebooter guild today, gotta put that Letter of recommendation of our previous boss to good use.
”Right away My lord! I shall summon your subjects”! And he was off.
“It’s good to know I have someone so like you, to steer me from time to time”. Marlin thought. He had started paying back the thefts of the Gnoll’s, simply because he couldn’t justify it any way shape or form to Billy.
The goat was resolute in his Morals. He sighed, “who is leading who again”?
His 3 friends were busy, so it was just Marlin and his minions that went to North Haven.
Lost Haven was a collection of buildings.
North haven was a veritable Fortress. The walls high enough so no ladder or simple siege tower could breach the walls.
Not like siege weapons were an actual thing, it was usually evokers that learned ’earth magic’ and flung it at the walls. Defensive mages would harden and solidify the walls.
It was a game of cat and mouse. Did you try to win a war of attrition? Or did you focus all your efforts onto one section and send your martials into a death trap as they would get battered by arrow rain, Spells and whatnot.
A properly defended city like this would cost tremendous amounts of resources to take over. Having experienced Milly Magic, he could see how a wall solidified by an army of mages, evokers and wizards would be near impenetrable.
Marlin approached the gate and was greeted by 4 Guards. Well ‘greeted’ was a strong word. They raised their spears. Marlin was confused until he remembered he was wearing his Helmet, ‘tyrant’s crown’, he took it off and calmed down.
“Is there a problem”? He pulled the badge around his neck that proved he was a freebooter, and pulled the letter of recommendation from Audrey from his belt pouch.
”How do we know you didn’t take that badge”? One of the guards asked, he was older looking but Marlin had no way of knowing how old.
”Really?” Marlin rolled his eyes. “Everyone knows these things disintegrate when the wearer dies, here”, he tossed the badge. “Check for yourself”.
Another guard, a stern woman, had taken the letter and was looking it over and spoke up. “You expect us to believe you are only level 2?” She gave him a, ‘you better explain’ look, sizing up the armor Marlin was wearing.
“The armor belonged to a Dark Lord Thror. From the Lands of Faeran, he had been on the run from a band of Giant Kin and was on his last legs when me and my T’jut friends ran into him”. Marlin explained.
The other two guards scoffed in disbelief. “Right, you expect us to believe the Scourge of the North was slain by an absolute nobody like you”.
The older guard narrowed his eyes, “he speaks truth”. He said.
Marlin looked at the older guard and saw the same wisps as he had seen around the eyes of Torren during his investigation.
The female Guard scoffed. “He has your senses fooled Lucas”.
“Not even some of the ascended can fool my senses!” He snapped. “You may pass Marlin but you are expected to report to the nearest freebooter guild for confirmation that you are who you claim, is that clear? We have nothing to go by than the word of one born under the shadowed star, until you do, you will be considered one of the honorless, so better clean that stain of yours”.
Marlin had heard enough, Guards average level was 5, these 4 were clearly above but he was incensed.
he unsheathed his rage, his eyes flared and the guards jumped and encircled him. Marlin told his minions telepathically to stand down and let him do the talking.
Mocking taunt “Do the guards of North Haven question the honor of each Valkor citizen? My, my your prisons must he overflowing with the innocent”.
success.
All 4 of the guards gripped their spears more tightly. Marlin had just insulted the entire guard garrison of North Haven.
“Take that back!” The youngest of the 3 stepped in front of Marlin.
threatening display: “step aside!”, Marlin infused his words, his posture, his aura with rage and dangerous intent.
Critical success.
The guard flinched and stumbled out of the way. He was higher level, skilled enough to take Marlin in a one on one. It didn’t matter. the fear choked him and he stumbled out of the way.
Marlin walked smiling with an evil look, turned around to the other 3 guards who were ready to pounce.
He showed them his control, his restraint and sheathed his rage. The oppressive atmosphere gone within an instant.
”You are going to have to take my word for it, like with any citizen,”
he chuckled while smiling fiendishly, “i will behave, besides if the guard starts throwing false accusations to upstanding citizens what would the local constable say”?
He cackled and started walking, the gnolls fell in line and gave the guards a few smug glances. Billy held his head high and didn’t deign the guards with his attention.
Was it smart to offend the guard? No not in the short run. But those of lower level had to stand up for themselves.
It hadn’t been very obvious at first but levels carried quite the social status and often enough, higher levels ordered those of lower levels around, it never crossed clearly into abuse of power but it was usually in the grey.
Marlin was glad it was over, he had suspected his first encounter with civilization was greatly Influenced by his father’s presence. It was good to know how people truly reacted to someone like him. Basically a bandit that had ties to the Freebooter guild.
That trend continued, walking into town, he had seen Bandits in the rare occasion in lost haven but usually avoided them. Here he was basically one of them. The upstanding citizens clearly avoided him. The religious folk in Lost haven must have been the reasonable kind, here they looked upon him with the same disgust and disdain as the rich and the nobles. The Honorless, of which there were a staggering amount, grinned at him thinking he was one of them. Sizing him up wondering about alliances.
One passed a note with a few coins to a small boy who could barely walk towards Marlin, with how much he was shaking.
Marlin sat down on the edge of the bridge he just crossed. To make himself less imposing. And he barely touched the note and the boy ran off, Marlin heard him talk to his friends, all telling him how brave he was.
Marlin wasn’t really offended he felt the whole thing ridiculous. “Im not that scary”, he thought to his Minions.
“whens da mastah angwy, me thinks he rips ma bones out and break them in frontsz of my face sooow i can sees”, Jerry thought back.
”Im not angry now”, Marlin thought back.
Billy responded back, “I believe it prudent the master thinks back on last night, his time spent with the mistress to calm the torrent of emotions you are suppressing. You are insulted and aggravated, which I believe these Masses, are mistaking for Malice”.
Marlin checked Billy’s attributes, still 6 wisdom. “That makes no fucking sense, he should be much higher”.
Marlin did what Billy proposed and he sat down remembering his private moments with Milly, ever since she had hit lvl 3 she had changed subtly.
Her Master had been fuming that Milly had taken eruption. Apparently a Primordial dancer was supposed to only learn and comprehend magic that helped her group as a support member. And although on paper that made sense, the chaos of battle crushed any notion of a plan. It was all about the habits one trained, the things a person was naturally inclined to do.
Milly had been more free, she was smiling more, her smiles always made him feel light, her eyes sparkled with that mischievous but passionate glint again. Marlin took his time and when he felt calm and serene again he walked towards the Freebooter guild.
Apparently the bandit that had passed him the note wanted to meet there. “Going that way anyway”. Marlin thought.
He did note that many people were less wary of him now that he was actually calm.
North Haven was a large, fully walled off City. All the Buildings were made of Brick and wood mostly 2 story high and There was a lot of Commerce going on. Neutral grounds meant that many of the Tariffs on goods could be circumvented in this City so even though There was a constant threat of goblin raids. The taxes that they paid conducting trade, made sure the guard was well equipped. Marlin estimated the average guard here was level 6, a big Milestone as far as strength of the Individual was concerned. And most walked in optimized gear for their class. Guards walked in groups of 4.
A knight in full plate, a Hunter a evoker which was a ‘root based’ caster that had learned the root and Arcane language. Which basically meant he could throw fireballs. Cast protective magic,
what one would expect of the classical dnd Mage.
And a Seer. A seer specialized in tracking-magic and dispelling buffs. Overall this particular combination of classes, could stall for time, hunt troublemakers down and stand their own if needed. He saw quite a few guards all eyeing him.
A big river ran straight through the city, canals had been dug in every direction and small barges with goods, floated on the canals and river.
There were quite a few Sea Kin around. Small, stocky build dwarves/halflings that had friendly faces overall, some had beards some didn’t. The female Sea kin looked very comely and were very shrewd in their sales, Marlin noted that he didn’t see a single one with the persuasion skill. They did most of their trade on their ships docked in the sprawling canals and rivers.
The city had mostly High kin but also the occasional Giant kin, Nurr (elves of different sizes and shapes) and Hjab.
The Hjab were fascinating. The Kin and Nurr fancied themselves ‘righteous’ and for the most part they were but that often made them ‘judgmental’ as well.
The Hjab didn’t have such notions. They were too occupied with bargaining. Selling garbage, treasure, trinkets, artifacts the dizzying array of goods the Hjab walked around with was mind boggling. They all had carts loaded with stuff. They would bargain with children, elderly, rich, poor it didn’t matter to them who you were. Marlin had already bargained with a few and felt he had made good trades, 2 Healing potions for a discount tucked in pouches in his new bandolier. Super handy and in reach when needed. Plus he thought it looked cool.
The jealous eyes of the gnolls told him they wanted a bandolier too. Mostly to stick sharp objects in.
After an eternity of bargaining, The Hjabnar’an were especially relentless. He made it to the Freebooter guild. He walked up to the reception and ignored the hushed whispers.
He placed his freebooter Badge on the counter and did the whole truth check to get him registered. he took stock of what he had walked into.
Back in Lost Haven the general mood had been a happy go lucky type, here it felt distinctly cutthroat.
“So you are Fell tongue, you look like a coward to me”.
Marlin Turned around and facing him stood a Giant kin hunched over smiling wickedly, back straight he would stand 10 feet tall,
“and you look like the runt of the litter” Marlin didn’t miss a beat. He knew a bully when he saw one.
The Giant easily taunted snarled, “watch your mouth pup! Or il crush you like a barrel. He flexed his muscles. You probably got your dogs to do the knife work while you cowered like one, when you killed Thror!”
Marlin looked at the receptionist for an explanation. The man sighed, “folk around here have a hard time believing a nobody with a small repute like you, managed to best a Dark lord”.
Around Marlin everyone nodded in agreement. “You definitely didn’t best him in combat as you claim, killed him in his sleep more like”, the giant spoke, “Like a proper Honorless would”. Taunting Marlin.
Marlin sighed, here it was, an attack on his reputation, he saw the smirks the chuckles and the making of bets. The giant had challenged him. “For fuck sake”, Marlin thought.
”First of all, we bested that Dark lord, Me, my minions and my friends, a Berserker, a t’jut sorcereres who would have you crawl on all fours btw,” he pointedly looked at the giant who looked furious at the taunt.
”So easy”, Marlin thought.
and a Monk.
“It was 8 against 5. And those 5 had been exhausted and they still almost had me and my friends. Took a week for me to heal the injury. Marlin split his hair where the skin still showed a web of cracks from when his head almost caved in”.
”pf, so you admit you are weak!” The giant douchebag continued”.
Mocking, taunting, threatening:”Nope merely acknowledging the strength of my Opponents of which I can tell you have none, how about it runt? You wana go? A duel till you or me surrenders. Or are you all talk? A little shit that couldn’t handle the lands of Faeran and ran from home like a scared little coward?”
“The gaint kin put up a big grin, his furious face was gone. “Deal, let’s go to the back, to the sparring ground.”
Marlin casually dropped his entire coin purse on the counter, the old man looked at him raising an eyebrow. “Im betting on myself. And don’t pretend you guys don’t bett. Odds of 1 to 4?”
Marlin smirked and told his Minions to stand to the side as he walked onto the sparring ground, a square of 30 by 30 feet. All the freebooters hollered, making bets.
He spotted quite a few bandits in the crowd lifting a coin here or there. He wondered if being a free city made it easier for the scum and villainy to enter. He let all those thoughts drop as he focused on the fight ahead.
He let his heart drum, his rage he let out freely. The giant douche, had well worn chain mail and a massive spear that looked heavy but was twirled like a twig in the giant kin’s hands.
They stood roughly 30 feet apart and the ref on the side, the ref hollered a bunch of rules that basically boiled down to. Don’t kill or maim for life.
The giant got into a stance and his smirk was downright predatory. He stalked forward and Marlin almost missed it. Within an instant the Giant was close by. He had crossed the distance with some superior footwork that almost looked like he slipped 25 feet. Marlin blocked the thrust. The spear hit his shield Dead on and the force of the blow shook him, his bones rattled. It had hit the shield perfectly but Marlin’s deflection and shield guard did a lot of work on absorbing the blow.
A follow up swipe, that was so lazy Marlin saw a perfect opportunity and blazed his manic glee. Combining frighten, with ‘i can take it’.
Tyrannic frighten: “No wonder you ran from home you are pathetic!”
Narrow success
The giant slipped backwards in a flinch but was on him again with precise might. 2 More thrusts followed, the sheer force hurt Marlin, the weight behind each thrust could be felt and the shock caused severe bruising under the armor.
One thrust glanced off his shield passed his shoulder pauldron and drew blood. The giant had obviously fought armored opponents before.
Tyrannic frighten: “come on! Hit me already! This is Boring!”
critical success
A fast drop kick from the giant narrowly avoided.
Tyrannic frighten: “you are going to suffer. you are going to die”!
crit success
The giant slipped back, scared out of his wits, dark whispers seeped into his mind and he couldn’t shake it, his spear so steady and precise was shaking. The crowd quieted down and watched the fight more intently.
The Giant Kin Gromwul. Was known around these parts, he was fast, strong, precise. His spear rarely missed. Rushing his opponents with blinding speed was his signature move and against Marlin it seemed to do barely a thing.
Although shaking and stalking his prey he Surges again. 5 wicked thrusts send Marlin’s way but this time Marlin is bursting with euphoric rage, adrenaline surging, his Fury mounting.
He roars out his laughter, as he takes one badly aimed thrust willingly, he flashes a stance with his shield and axe to the side, the Spear glances of his meticulously crafted armor, again the giant flinches and steps backwards with that ludicrous speed.
Tyrannic frighttful laughter: “Look at the bitch! Run!”
critical success
The next 3 Thrusts and a couple of kicks lacked the finesse that almost did Marlin in the first round. Marlin only passively uses his shield to step and dance around the spear. the Last thrust comes straight for Marlins Face. but his defensive momentum is too great to overcome for the Giant and Marlin steps in, swings his axe into the belly of the giant who barely defends in time. Marlins axe drawing blood.
Marlin follows up and roars his everything into a staggering shield blow aimed straight at the knee of the giant, who isn’t fast enough to step aside. The tip pierces into the side, a sickening crunch and the leg buckles, breaking the knee. The giant throws a Massive haymaker but luckily for Marlin he wears his helmet and although his bell gets rung bad, the Giant topples over.
The giants knee a mangled mess. Marlin’s control slips and he thirsts for blood as he jumps on top of the giant,Roaring.
But as he brings down the bloodied tip of his shield, to introduce it to the giants teeth, he gets janked backwards. He Looks up.
“O hey Bron, how are ya?” Marlin smiling fiendishly, still succumbing to his rage.
“Mind letting me go?? Im almost done with this bitch!”
The reff steps in and clears his throat, “I think the bitch is done, you won the duel”.