As they entered The Silver Stag, the warmth and comfort of the interior immediately embraced them. The common room was spacious, with polished wooden tables, a roaring fireplace, and the aroma of hearty food wafting through the air. At this time of day, the common room was mostly empty.
A friendly innkeeper behind the counter, a middle-aged man with graying hair, greeted them with a smile, addressing Alistair. “Sir Alistair of Drakendale, it is a pleasure to see you again. Be welcome to The Silver Stag. Will you and your friends be staying the night, or merely taking lunch?”
“Staying the night,” Alistair said, retrieving his coin purse and producing three fat, five-silver pieces. “Lunch, dinner, and breakfast on the morrow, and four of your finest rooms.”
“Very good, sir. To confirm, this will not be on the Chapter House’s credit?”
“No, sir. Off the books. The extra is for your discretion.”
“Of course, sir,” he said, almost giddily. “All of you seem tired and worn, but The Silver Stag is the finest establishment in all Highcliff. If you cannot find rest, succor, and peace here, then you can’t find it anywhere.” He turned his head back. “Martha! Prepare a swift, but full, luncheon for four guests in the private dining chamber.” Then, back to Alistair. “Will you take ale or wine?”
“Wine, but make it watered,” Alistair said. “We’ve been walking all night through the wilds, and we plan to rest as soon as we have lunched.”
“Indeed?” the innkeeper asked, surprised at this. “Well, after your meal, we can prepare four tubs for you, that you might wash the night’s trials away. You can count on our discretion, Sir Alistair.”
“I thank you, Gregory.”
“Please, follow me to the dining room.”
The innkeeper led them swiftly through the common room toward a door leading into the rear of the establishment. Thankfully, what few patrons there were sat far from the counter, so there was no chance of Alistair’s words being overheard.
They entered the private dining room, a cozy chamber with a large oak table set for four. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting hunting scenes, and a chandelier with candles cast a warm glow. They settled into cushioned chairs, their exhaustion palpable. Within minutes, a generous meal was set before them: roasted chicken, fresh bread, a variety of cheeses, and a hearty vegetable stew. Cool watered wine was poured, and Gregory left them to their meals.
The four attacked their plates ravenously. Once done, Justin was so full that he was about to nod off, a feeling aided by the wine’s gentle buzz. From Lila’s heavy eyes, it seemed as if she were in the same boat.
The innkeeper returned. “Your baths and rooms are ready. If you are ready, I shall take you there myself.”
“Very good,” Alistair said.
They rose from their seats, following the innkeeper up a set of stone steps. Everyone was too tired to even talk.
“Here they are,” the innkeeper said with a smile, once they’d arrived at the end of the hall. He handed them four small brass keys. “At The Silver Stag, we have a dedicated bathroom for each floor. You shall find it halfway down the hall, separated by gender, of course. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Nothing, good innkeeper,” Alistair said. “Thank you.”
“If you have dirty laundry, it is not too late to begin the early afternoon wash. I can have Martha return it to you by evening, if you set it outside your door within the hour.”
“Of course,” Alistair said.
The innkeeper gave an accommodating bow before retreating down the stairway.
Once Gregory was gone, Alistair took the others in. “We’ll be safe here through the night. I’ll be able to detect any trace of Death Magic if it comes too close to the inn. Those thralls of Valdrik’s are better suited for hunting overland than blending into a city like this. If we leave tomorrow when the sun is good and bright, we should get a sizeable head start on them.”
“They will be lying in wait for us on the Queensroad,” Eldrin pointed out. “By now, they’ve surely figured out where we’re headed, especially considering the company we’re keeping.”
“That is something we must discuss, perhaps this evening, when our heads are fresher for rest.” Alistair’s gaze took in Justin and Lila. “You two can bathe first.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Lila said. She then frowned. “Just realized I don’t have a change of clean clothes…is it safe for Justin and I to go out and buy a few things?”
“Not a chance,” Alistair said. “We must stay in the inn until it’s time to leave. Far too dangerous.”
She pouted a bit but didn’t argue. She was probably too tired for it.
“Let’s go,” Justin said. “You’ll have clean clothes tonight, Lila.”
“I guess.”
As they headed down the hallway, Lila looked down at the Ring of Hygiene on his right index finger. “What I wouldn’t give for one of those right now! The guy said it cleaned your clothing too, right?”
“He did,” Justin confirmed. “But a hot soak is just what I need right now.”
“I hear that.”
They entered the bathroom, and as the innkeeper had said, there was a partition to separate the two. Justin thought back to what Lila had said about bathing customs. Apparently, here in Highcliff, modesty was a thing. Maybe Lila had meant her home country of Daeloria.
On the men’s side were three steaming copper tubs, and on the women’s, just one.
Justin bathed more quickly than he would have liked, knowing that Alistair and Eldrin were waiting for their turn. Once dried off, he left Lila there and returned to his room. Alistair and Eldrin had vacated the hall, though he could hear their voices, talking low through the door.
Slowly, he crept up and pressed his ear to the oak. There was nothing at first, and for a moment, he believed he had been discovered.
That was when their conversation resumed. Justin heard Alistair speak first, his voice calm and measured.
“You’re right that Valdrik’s men are likely waiting for us on the Queensroad. We have to be ready for that.”
“Aye, they’ll be expecting us to head straight to Belmora before heading north to Mont Elea. It’s the fastest route. But it will also be the busiest, and that can be a sure shield. There are regular patrols of the Queensguard every few hours, and the Baron will think twice before trying something.”
Alistair sighed. “I fear the Baron is desperate. He knows there’s little time left before we reach Mont Elea and may risk a direct confrontation, even if we opt for the Queensroad. After all, if we make it to Mont Elea, his schemes will be foiled. And, of course, I’d rather avoid unnecessary bloodshed, especially if it puts Justin and Lila in more danger. That incident with the dire wolves was far too close. Not to mention the Vault.”
“Aye, all that’s true. There’s an old trader’s road that breaks off from the Plainsway to Draegor’s Keep. It’s less traveled, and if need be, we can head east overland and lose them in the wild. My thinking is Valdrik’s men might not think to look for us there, and by the time they realize where we went, it’ll be too late for them to catch up.”
There was a pause before Alistair spoke again, his tone contemplative. “That could work. But what of supplies? We’ll need provisions for the extended journey, and there are few villages up that way. That would take us through the Wilderlands of Balor. That’s rough country.”
Eldrin’s voice was reassuring. “We can stock up here in Highcliff, of course, which will see us a good part of the way. The hunting is good in the Wilderlands. It might slow us down a bit, but we won’t want for anything. Winter is still two months away. Enough time to make Mont Elea before the hammer falls.”
“It will take at least a couple of weeks longer than the obvious path,” Alistair said. “And let’s not forget, after the Wilderlands, there’s the Brackenbog. One false step will see you sinking to your death. There’s at least fifty miles of that before we reach the Gulfway. And if winter comes early, as it did five years ago, that alone could be enough to end us.”
“Aye, all true. Two poisons, pick one. The faster Queensroad, or the less-traveled route.”
Alistair seemed to consider this. “All right. First light, we’ll head to the market. We’ll need supplies, whatever path we choose. We need to be discreet, though. Valdrik likely has eyes here.” There was a pause. “What is it about the boy that the Baron would go through all this trouble? It’s not just about me reporting him to the High Priest.”
Eldrin hesitated for a moment. “That, I can’t say. His story…is interesting. You should ask him.”
“Humph. Perhaps I will, Ranger. But for now, rest is best. Both he and the Bard will need it for the long road ahead.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“Do you think she’ll want to go her own way? If she did, would the Baron try to track her down?”
“That’s hard to say. My guess is, he’ll put all of his resources toward finding Justin and me. Lila is not a concern of his. I will put the decision to her tomorrow, or perhaps this evening. She deserves to have a choice. Though it’s clear she sees something in the young man.”
“Aye, that she does.” Eldrin’s voice took on a more serious tone. “I’ll keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.”
Alistair’s voice softened slightly. “Thank you. Your skills have been invaluable on this journey. However, like Lila, I know Valdrik is not your fight. When we make Mont Elea, I’ll ensure you are properly rewarded.”
“If what you’ve just told me about Valdrik is true, Paladin, then I would do this for free. However, the money would be welcome.”
Justin heard movement within the room, so he pulled away from the door and creeped down the hallway toward his own room. Thankfully, the floorboards made nary a sound.
He wondered at the part of the conversation he had missed, what Alistair had told Eldrin about Valdrik. He felt left out, and he wondered why this information wasn’t for him or Lila. Clearly, Alistair esteemed the Ranger far more, perhaps because of his age or abilities.
Justin returned to his room, the exhaustion at last becoming impossible to ignore. He fell asleep to the sound of creaking wheels, horses, and distant conversations.
----------------------------------------
When Justin awoke, the evening light bathed the room in hues of gold. The noises of the city could still be heard, but they had softened somewhat with the fading of the daylight. He resisted the urge to fall back asleep, even if that was all he wanted. His head was throbbing something fierce, either from exhaustion, or perhaps an aftereffect of the Grimroot extract. His bones were aching, and his muscles stiff.
As he sat up in bed, he received a System message.
You have reached Level Three. As you awake to greet the evening, things feel as if they are coming together…slowly. You know you’ll get there, one step at a time.
Justin felt himself reflective as he pondered his journey so far. Instead of resisting the introspection, he bathed in it for a few minutes until a new message broke him from his reverie.
You have one Attribute Point to distribute.
For the first time, Justin felt he faced a tough decision on where to distribute the point. So far, he’d gone all in on Charisma, which made sense for his character. As a Socialite, all of his bonuses depended on that stat. At least, as far as he knew.
But after thinking about the Vault, getting stunned twice by Zaramund, likely because of a lack of Intellect, and having a close call with the dire wolves—not to mention all the hard travel which required Endurance—he was torn. Maxing out Charisma as much as possible would make sense if he was in a large city, where he could count on guardsmen to keep the peace.
For the foreseeable future, at least, it didn’t seem like that would happen. If Alistair and Eldrin’s conversation was any sign, they had a long, tough road ahead of them.
His Cane of Valoria already granted him a +1 boost to Perception and Charisma, which was nice, but he had the distinct feeling it wouldn’t be enough.
So, that begged the question: where to put the point?
He could do with a boost in either Power, Endurance, or perhaps Intellect, which would help his survivability. From the conversation he’d overheard, if they ended up going up this Plainsway, or even running into Valdrik’s men along the Queensroad, it might be the difference between life and death.
And yet…and yet…
It still felt wrong.
He sighed and locked the point into Charisma.
Your Charisma Attribute is now: 14.
And just like that, the tension of having made the wrong decision evaporated. Besides, he had plenty of banked experience points. If he really needed to put a point in something else next time, he had the full freedom to do so.
As a Level Three Socialite, you have unlocked your third class skill. Choose wisely! There is no going back.
As with both other times, there were two to consider. Justin perused both.
Dandy’s Swagger: Perform a captivating strut that immediately fills you with confidence and swagger! This skill boosts allies’ Charisma by +2 and makes neutrals treat you as if you have +2 Charisma for one minute. Hostiles take a -2 Charisma penalty for one minute. This strut can halt conversations and cause enemies to hesitate, with this effect becoming more likely at higher Charisma levels. Cooldown: 30 minutes.
Endearing Compliment: Deliver a tailored compliment that’s sure to soften hearts of stone! If your Endearing Compliment makes the recipient smile, they treat you as if you have +5 Charisma during the conversation. If a complimented person gives you something you want, the skill’s cooldown resets. Usable once per day per individual. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
Justin pondered both skills, weighing their pros and cons with careful consideration.
Endearing Compliment seemed straightforward and powerful. The ability to craft a perfect compliment and gain a +5 Charisma boost for the duration of a conversation could be invaluable in negotiations or when trying to gain favor with a specific person. The immediate refresh of the cooldown if a request was granted was a bonus, making it a versatile tool in social interactions. Unlike Dandy’s Swagger, it was honed and specific.
However, it had its limitations. It required the recipient to smile, which might not always be possible in high-stakes situations—although if it were anything like Poison Barb, its opposite, then he could also get a good read on his target and know what kind of compliment would be effective. Another limitation was that it could only be used once per individual per day, limiting its utility, although it seemed it could be used on any amount of people, within the limits of the ten-minute cooldown.
Dandy’s Swagger offered a more dramatic and immediate effect. The eye-catching strut would not only fill Justin with confidence. It would also cause allies to gain +2 Charisma for one minute, while causing neutrals to treat him as if he had +2 Charisma. Not only that, but it also inflicted a -2 Charisma malus on hostiles. That malus could be useful in making them more vulnerable to a Poison Barb. Justin could envision a synergy between the two Skills; Dandy’s Swagger to soften up their Charisma resistance, so that Poison Barb would land more effectively.
While not as specific and powerful as a +5 Charisma Bonus with one particular person, Dandy’s Swagger had the potential to turn the tide in larger social confrontations, and even in battles, causing enemies to hesitate and allies to rally around him. The ability to halt conversations and make enemies hesitate was particularly intriguing, as it could create openings for strategic maneuvers or escape—something Justin could have sorely used several times. The cooldown of thirty minutes was longer than Endearing Compliment, but it was still reasonable, given the power of the move.
Justin reflected on his journey so far. The Vault had tested his mettle in ways he hadn’t expected. He had faced Zaramund’s terrifying presence, endured the treacherous climb, and survived the dire wolf attack. Each challenge underscored the importance of not just Charisma, but also presence and confidence. The ability to make enemies hesitate and allies feel more assured could be the edge he needed in the unpredictable and dangerous path ahead.
Dandy’s Swagger aligned with the essence of his Socialite class. It was about more than just words; it was about presence, confidence, and the ability to command attention. This skill could enhance his natural charisma and make him an even more formidable force in social situations.
After a few moments of deliberation, Justin decided.
He locked in Dandy’s Swagger.
You have chosen: Dandy’s Swagger.
Instantly, Justin felt a surge of confidence wash over him as the knowledge of the skill entered him. He knew he had made the right choice. The road ahead was uncertain, but with his new skill, he felt more prepared to face whatever challenges came his way.
He got up from the bed, his body still aching but his spirit renewed. He knew he needed to rejoin the others, but first, he wanted to check his character sheet:
Justin Talemaker
Class: Socialite
Level: 3
Experience to Level 4: 1154/325 (Level-up available!)
Attributes
Power: 10
Coordination: 10
Endurance: 10
Intellect: 10
Perception: 10 (+1)
Charisma: 14 (+ 1)
Skills
(Level 0) Epic Barb: Obsolete.
(Level 1) Poison Barb: You know precisely what to say to cause emotional damage to someone, stunning them temporarily. If your barb renders them speechless for at least three seconds, the cooldown immediately refreshes. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
(Level 2) Dazzling Display: Once a day, strike a pose or make a gesture that immediately captures the attention of those nearby, momentarily distracting or captivating them. The strength of this skill scales with your Charisma Level.
(Level 3) Dandy’s Swagger: Perform a captivating strut that immediately fills you with confidence and swagger! This skill boosts allies’ Charisma by +2 and makes neutrals treat you as if you have +2 Charisma for one minute. Hostiles take a -2 Charisma penalty for one minute. This strut can halt conversations and cause enemies to hesitate, with this effect becoming more likely at higher Charisma levels. Cooldown: 30 minutes.
(Hidden) Gentleman’s Rebuff: Instinctually block the first hostile attack directed at you once per day by any character or creature up to Level 12.
Equipment
Weapon: Cane of Valoria: + 1 to Charisma and Perception. Confers hidden skill “Gentleman’s Rebuff.”
Accessory: The Ring of Hygiene: Once per day, become perfectly clean and groomed to your exact specifications.
Just reviewing his equipment got him curious. He went to the room’s mirror, looking at his unkempt, almost wild hair. Despite this, he was shocked at the transformation.
He hadn’t lost ten pounds, as previously supposed. He’d lost at least twenty, and maybe even as much as thirty.
It wasn’t just exercise and fresh air. Something else was going on, too, having something to do with either his class or his Charisma level, or perhaps both.
His face was thinner. His double chin was still palpable but reduced. A jawline was taking shape, and it was magnificent. His facial hair was a right mess; he hadn’t taken care of himself in months, and it was even worse now. He looked better than he had in years, perhaps all the way back to childhood.
He observed the silver Ring of Hygiene on his finger. Perhaps it was time to test out its capabilities.
He wasn’t sure how it worked, but he looked in the mirror, imagining a clean-shaven face and a classic haircut, with a modern twist. He wanted the top to be long enough to have some volume to create a slight wave, parted to the right. Overall, he wished for a clean, polished look, but with enough length on top to style it a bit.
As soon as he was done with that image, he confirmed it with a mental click. An aura of yellow light surrounded him, making it impossible to see just what was happening. After a moment, it dissipated, and Justin stared in astonishment at his reflection.
His auburn hair was perfectly styled, just as he had envisioned, with the top long enough to boast a gentle wave, neatly parted to the right. His face was clean-shaven, highlighting his newly defined jawline, and his skin seemed fresher, almost glowing with health. The transformation made him look years younger, a stark contrast to the unkempt appearance he had grown accustomed to over the past years.
There in the mirror stood not merely Justin Talemaker, former NEET, recluse, and dweller of basements. There stood a proper gentleman: well-groomed, revitalized, brimming with confidence and yes, even aplomb.
With a satisfied nod to his reflection, and a sly wink, for he couldn’t help himself, he twirled his cane and stepped out of the room, his stride carrying the weight of his newfound self-assurance, his cane clacking merrily on the wooden floorboards.
For the first time, he looked and felt every part the Socialite.