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Chapter 1- Hard Landing

Underdark- Black Web Region

Kingdom of Zeren'gor- City of Nythi Thalas

Aaron opened his eyes and looked around, a few things jumped out at him immediately. One he was in an alleyway back behind a building, two he was laying in some trash which was on par with everything that had been going wrong with his life, three a beggar was eyeballing him and his clothing until his hands darted to where his daggers should be on his belt. The beggar moved off immediately leaving Aaron alone to his own devices.

Aaron checked his HUD, a twenty-four-hour clock had started ticking down, it would signify the moment the 'Log-Out' option was no longer available to him. Aaron didn't care, he had nothing left back on earth waiting for him. He had several Notifications and Alerts waiting for him, but it was no surprise considering he had been gone from this world for so long.

Two years for him, but eight years for Ithea. Not that the time difference mattered to him anymore, this was his home now, for good. Aaron rolled to his feet and staggered a little bit as he pulled up his Notifications and Alerts. 

Notice...

Since the last time you logged in, several MAJOR changes have occurred Immortal. Due too this, the following has occurred...

---Your Stat and Skill Points have been refunded

---Check your Skill Trees, some Skills have been modified or removed, new Skills have been added 

---Some Common Skills have been changed, see your Character Sheet for more details

Alert...

Due to Inactivity, the following has occurred...

---You have lost all Fame/Infamy

---You have lost all Experience towards the next level...Level (31)

---Some Achievements and their corresponding rewards have been lost.

---Reputation with the Thieves Guild has dropped to...Neutral

---Rank within Thieves Guild...Heir Apparant...has been lost

---Rank within Thieves Guild is...Probationary...See the nearest Thieves Guild leadership about securing membership

---Divine Curse of Kiaransalee (Ire of Vengence) has been lost 

---Reputation with the Matron Council has increased too...Neutral

---Reputation with the Kingdom of Zeren'gor has increased too...Neutral

---All funds not stored in a safe location or at a bank have been lost

---Your Bind Point has been lost, it is HIGHLY recommended that you seek out a new safe location and create a new Bind Point as soon as possible

Alert...

Aaron closed his eyes and silently fumed...He had lost everything, again, due to his brother's choices. First, he had to get off the street, if he remembered correctly, the city guards of Nythi Thalas were not exactly kind to beggers or thieves and he was in his basic newbie gear. He quickly checked his inventory, most of his gear was there, but some items had been removed. It was probably due to his Reputation losses with the Thieves Guild, but he would have to check later, now he had to get out of there.

Aaron quickly walked out of the alleyway and into a silent street, there were only a few people on it currently. Mostly commoners, but he saw two city guards and a Matron with a half dozen House Guards. Aaron gave them all a wide berth and his eyes on the ground. The Drow were odd like and would take any challenging look head-on. Being a male in a female lead society didn't help either, originally Aaron had thought it had been a nice idea with all the Racial Abilities the Drow offered, but living within the society was a whole different matter entirely. Most male Immortals would flee for the surface or other parts of the Underdark once they realized they were largely second class citizens within the Kingdom of Zeren'gor. 

Due to this, the Drow Race as a whole, and the opportunities present were largely unknown to males. However, an enterprising person such as a Thief might find the Drow kingdom a place ripe with opportunities. This is why Aaron had chosen the Rogue base class, and had joined the Thieves Guild and had attained the Thief Primary Class while his brother Peter had gotten the Enforcer Primary Class. Aaron had figured his brother planned to become a Brawler Advanced Class, but with him going to prison he had no idea what his backstabbing brother had done since. Helena had gone the Mage and had become a Priestess. She had planned to become one of the many followers of the Drow Pantheon and specialize as one of the Priests of the Drow Gods, but without Aaron's money to prop them up, all their dreams had probably fallen to the wayside. 

That thought brought a small smile to his face and a giggle that caused more than one person to look at him, but he ignored them as he moved deeper into the city. As he did, the crowds grew thicker and it let Aaron get to work on relieving people who were not careful enough with their valuables. The small market had netted Aaron a few Gold and Silver before he moved off before he attracted the attention of the city guards or worse, the Thieves Guild. Currently, he wasn't ready to face them, not yet anyway. So that meant going to a place a Thief would not normally go to...

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Underdark- Black Web Region

Kingdom of Zeren'gor- City of Nythi Thalas

Mercenary District- The Undefeated Warrior

"It's three silver for a night, it will include a meal and you can take a bath as well.' the innkeeper stated as he leaned slightly away from Aaron who frowned and nodded his head in agreement as he placed his pilfered wealth on the counter and got a key in return. 'Dinner will be ready in just over an hour, go take a bath...please." the man stated before waving him off. 

Aaron smiled at the Duergar and bowed slightly before heading up to his room and a bath. In less then ten minutes he was soaking in chest-deep hot water as he scrubbed the dirt and smell away. His clothing, armor, and weapons were in the wardrobe and would be magically cleaned within the next hour. Aaron could have jumped into the shower but after everything that had happened on Earth and with what he discovered here, he needed time to think and to absorb the changes to what had happened. Aaron first brought up his Class information. 

Spoiler: Spoiler

Base Class: Rogue

Description: The Rogue class are the thinkers and tactical in their battles. They can do immense damage with their surprise attacks, but do not have much health for a stand-up fight. They prefer hit-and-run tactics or standing back and raining death from a distance. 

Popular Classes: Assassin, Ranger, Thief, Hunter

Effect 1: Increase Poison Resistance by 5%

Effect 2: Increase Attack/Movement Speed by 5%

Effect 3: Dagger(s) and Light Armor Proficiency will grow at an Increased Rate

Effect 4: Stealth and Backstab Combat Skills

Restrictions: Light Armor, Cannot wield 2-Handed Melee Weapons (Not including Staves)

Note* Rogue class damage is determined by the Dexterity Stat. 

Ability Unlocked...

Name: Teleport

Description: I go where I want too!!!

Benefit 1: Break any movement impairing Effects/Debuffs

Range: 10 Yards

Cast Time: Instant

Restriction: You have to see where you are going and cannot Teleport through solid objects

Cost: 100 Stamina and Mana

Cooldown: 5 Minutes

Primary Class: Thief

Description: The Thief is a master of infiltration, opening things that people want to stay locked away, and talking his way in and out of situations. 

Effect 1: Charisma sub-Stat Unlocked/Increased by +5

Effect 2: Luck sub-Stat Unlocked/Increased by +5

Effect 3: Perception sub-Stat Unlocked/Increase by +10

Effect 4: Increase Dodge Chance by 5%

Effect 5: Neutral Alignment 

Restrictions: Light Armor, Cannot wield 2-Handed Melee Weapons (Not including Staves)

Abilities Unlocked...

Name: Scrappy Fighter

Description: Some people need to be stabbed in the eye. 

Benefit 1: Decrease Cooldown of Backstab by 25%

Benefit 2: Increase Damage of Combat Skills/Abilities by 10%

Benefit 3: Increase Chance to cause Bleeding by 5%

Cost: Passive, N/A

Cooldown: N/A

Name: Lock Down

Description: I am a man of the people, I just give them what they want. 

Benefit 1: Decrease Infamy by 10 per Day

Benefit 2: Decrease Infamy by 50 per Day if imprisoned

Benefit 3: Decrease the Chance at being recognized by Guards/Inquisitor's by 10%

Requires: Infamy of 100+

Restriction: Infamy will not be lowered less than 100

Cost: Passive, N/A

Cooldown: N/A

Aaron whistled, Lock Down was a huge boon for any Thief. Being sighted stealing or on any Burglary increased one's Infamy be a minimum of one hundred. Infamy would also increase in proportion to what was stolen and the value as well if they could link you too the crime and the Inquisitors were very damned good at their jobs. Lowering one's Infamy had always been a problem once gained without paying fines out the ass, now Thieves had an innate Ability that lowered it to a certain point. 

Aaron flipped over to his Character Sheet to review what he had there...He had eighty-seven Stat Points to spend. Rogue did not have huge resource pools like Warriors and Mage types, they depended on surprise and overwhelming force or causing damage over time effects. Since he was no Assassin, Aaron had to depend on Bleeding and Open Wound Debuffs for those times he got into combat. So since he was not resource-intensive, he had to put the bare minimum into Strength and Intelligence. He still had to put some into Constitution as well so he could survive more than a bitch slap also.

Since he automatically earned one point into Dexterity and Agility each level, those two stats were far more advanced than his others, which was sitting at a bare minimum of ten points each. After some consideration, Aaron dumped ten points into Constitution, Strength, Intelligence, and Wisdom before putting twenty into Dexterity and the last seventeen into Agility before looking at his Character Sheet one last time before closing it. 

Name  Aaron Sumner Level 30 Experience 0/15,000 Base Class Rogue Constitution 20 Health  1,100 Melee Damage 5.9 Prrimary Class Thief Strength 20 Health Regeneration 5 per Second Ranged Damage 1 Advanced Class --- Dexterity 59 Stamina 1,100 Spell Damage 1 Utility Class --- Agility 56 Stamina Regeneration 5 per Second Critical Hit Chance 1% Gathering Profession --- Intelligence 20 Mana 1,100 Dodge Chance 12% Crafting Profession --- Wisdom 20 Mana Regeneration 5 per Second Parry Chance 6% Fame --- Carry Capacity 200 lbs Stat Points 0 Skill Points 20 Infamy ---

With all the fresh fish jumping into Fate Online, he would be head and shoulders above the competition for now. The older Immortals that had been here for a while though would have a clear edge over him...the thought frustrated him to no end if only his brother hadn't fucked him over!!! Aaron dismissed the frustration, for now, it wouldn't help him and he had too much to do concerning the Thieves Guild and getting used to being in this world again. With a thought, he brought up the Rogue Skill Tree.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Rogue Skill Tree...

Name: Grace under Pressure

Tier: Initiate

Description: I have nerves of Steel!!!

Benefit 1: Increase Dexterity and Agility by (Level X.25)

Benefit 2: Increase Stamina/Mana Regeneration by (Level X.25)

Cost: Passive, N/A

Cooldown: N/A 

Stalker Branch...

Name: Stealth Mastery

Tier: Initiate

Description: Master Assassin or Master Thief, if you are not a master at 'Marco Polo', you ain't shit!!

Benefit 1: +10% Decreased chance of being seen while Stealth is active

Benefit 2: +5% Decreased chance that you will be heard while Stealth is active

Requires: Stealth

Cost: Passive, N/A

Cooldown: N/A 

Name: Dash (Requires Level 25)

Tier: Initiate

Description: Beep, Beep...Wow, he is fast!!!

Benefit 1: Cover short distances rapidly while in Stealth

Range: 10 Feet

Cast Time: Instant

Requires: Stealth

Cost: 100 Stamina and Mana

Cooldown: 30 Seconds

Name: Vanish (Requires Level 30)

Tier: Initiate

Description: I am not the Rogue you are looking for. That won't wo---BLUE CAR!!!

Benefit 1: Break Combat and lose all Aggro

Benefit 2: Activate Stealth

Range: Self

Cast Time: Instant

Cost: 200 Stamina and Mana

Cooldown: 5 Minutes

Name: Magnetic Personality

Tier: Initiate

Description: He can sell snow, to an Eskimo

Chance of Success: 25%

Benefit 1: Increase your Chances of talking your way out of a situation. 

Benefit 2: Charisma will increase the Chance that Magnetic Personality will affect your target by (Charisma X.5)

Benefit 3: Luck will increase the Chance that Magnetic Personality will affect your target by (Luck X.25)

Range: 5 Feet

Duration: Until Cancelled

Cast Time: Instant

Restriction: Single Target

Cost: 50 Stamina and Mana per Minute

Cooldown: 30 Seconds

Street Smart Branch...

Name: Rogue's Eye

Tier: Initiate

Description: Some people have an eye for artwork or women, I have an eye for those things people want to be kept hidden. 

Benefit 1: Increase Chance to detect traps/Stealthed enemies by 10% (Passive) 

Benefit 2: Increase Chance to find hidden doors, passages, chests by 5% (Passive)

Active Effect: +25% Chance to detect Stealthed foes, traps, hidden doors, passages, chests

AoE: 10 Feet

Range: Self

Duration: Until Cancelled

Cast Time: Instant

Cost: 50 Stamina and Mana per Minute

Cooldown: 30 Seconds

Name: Deft Hands

Tier: Initiate

Description: It's not my fault!! Your money jumped into my pocket!!!

Benefit 1: Increase Chance that Pick Pocket will succeed by 5%

Benefit 2: Luck Stat will increase Pick Pocket chance by (Luck Stat X.25)

Cost: Passive, N/A

Cooldown: N/A 

Name: Sap (Requires Level 25)

Tier: Initiate

Description: Oh, look. Birdies!!!

Benefit 1: Stun a target

Range: Melee

Duration: 30 Seconds

Cast Time: Instant

Cost: 250 Stamina

Cooldown: 5 Minutes

Name: Evasive Moves (Requires Level 30)

Tier: Initiate

Description: Suck it UP and RUN!!!

Benefit 1: Increase Dodge Chance by 20%

Benefit 2: Decrease Chance to be struck by Critical Hits by 10%

Range: Self

Duration: 15 Seconds

Cast Time: Instant

Cost: 300 Stamina 

Cooldown: 10 Minutes

Name: Dagger Mastery

Tier: Initiate

Description: The pointy end goes in the other guy, right? 

Benefit 1: Increase Base Damage of Knives/Daggers/Dirks by 10

Benefit 2: Increase Chance to cause Bleeding Damage by 5%

Cost: Passive, N/A

Cooldown: N/A

Scrappy Fighter Branch...

Name: Shank

Tier: Initiate

Description: He shouldn't have looked at me like that! He has a lazy eye...idiot. 

Damage: 50 + (Melee Damage X1) 

Benefit 1: Increase Chance to cause Bleeding/Open Wounds by 10%

Benefit 2: Increase Critical Hit Chance by 5%

Range: Melee

Cast Time: Instant

Cost: 100 Stamina

Cooldown: 1 Minute

Name: Fan of Blades

Tier: Initiate

Description: 

Damage: 75 + (Melee Damage X.5) per Blade

Benefit 1: Launch up too (4) Conjured blades at a target or targeted area

Benefit 2: Increase Chance to cause Bleeding Damage by 10%

Range: 10 Feet

Cast Time: Instant

Cost: 50 Stamina and Mana per Blade

Cooldown: 1 Minute

Name: Perferrate (Requires Level 25)

Tier: Initiate

Description: Hmmm...Yeah, I will get you a bandage for that.

Benefit 1: Increase the Chance to cause Bleeding by 10%

Benefit 2: Increase the duration of Bleed effects by 5 Seconds

Cost: Passive, N/A

Cooldown: N/A

Name: Dual Strike (Requires Level 30)

Tier: Initiate

Description: Yes!! I did it. I stabbed him in the eye, throat, ear, guts, all over!! He farted and it stunk!!!

Damage: 150 + (Melee Damage X2) per Blade

Benefit 1: +25% Chance to cause Bleeding/Open Wounds

Benefit 2: +10% Critical Hit Chance

Range: Melee

Cast Time: Instant

Requires: Dual Wielding

Cost: 200 Stamina

Cooldown: 3 Minute

Archery Artwork Branch...

Name: Bow Mastery 

Tier: Initiate

Description: Death from a distance...As long as they die. 

Benefit 1: +10 Base Damage of Bows

Benefit 2: +5% Chance to cause Bleeding Wounds

Cost: Passive, N/A

Cooldown: N/A 

Name: Stunning Shot

Tier: Initiate

Description: What, what happened...Works every time. 

Benefit 1: Stun your Target

Range: 5 Yards

Duration: 10 Seconds

Cast Time: Instant

Cost: 200 Stamina and Mana

Cooldown: 5 Minutes

Name: Precision Shots (Requires Level 25)

Tier: Initiate

Description: Thread the needle. Its ten feet away!!!

Benefit 1: Ignore 5% of Targets Armor

Benefit 2: Increase Critical Hit Chance by 1%

Cost: Passive, N/A

Cooldown: N/A 

Name: Rapid Fire (Requires Level 30)

Tier: Initiate

Description: It's not a machine gun, but hey, what can you do?

Benefit 1: Increase Attack Speed by 30%

Benefit 2: Increase Damage by 5%

Active Effect: Decrease Accuracy by 5%

Duration: 15 Seconds

Cast Time: Instant

Cost: 300 Stamina and Mana

Cooldown: 5 Minutes

Name: Kill Chain (Requires Level 30)

Tier: Initiate

Description: Everyone has to die sometime, I am just helping them along. 

Benefit 1: Increase Melee/Ranged Damage by (Level X.25) (Passive)

Benefit 2: Increase Critical Hit Chance by 1% (Passive)

Active Effect: Increase Melee/Ranged Damage by 25%, Increase Critical Hit Chance by 10%

Range: Self

Duration: 30 Seconds

Cast Time: Instant 

Cost: 500 Stamina and Mana

Cooldown: 1 Hour

Name: Lucky Bastard (Requires Level 35)

Tier: Initiate

Description: That damned bastard, how did he do that. 

Benefit 1: Damage Immunity (Duration 5 Seconds)

Benefit 2: Recover 10% Health

Benefit 3: Increase Health Regeneration by 25% (Duration 20 Seconds)

Requirement: Killing Blow

Cost: Passive, N/A

Cooldown: 12 Hours

Note* Bleeding= Melee/Ranged Damage X.25 per Second (Duration 10 Seconds), Can stack up too 3 Times

Note* Open Wound= Melee/Ranged Damage X.5 per Second (Duration 10 Seconds), Can stack up too 3 Times

Aaron immediately discounted the Archery Artwork Branch, he would never depend on a bow or crossbow to fight his battles. They were useful tools at times, but if it came down to a fight, he would meet it with a blade. After some consideration, Aaron put one Skill Point into Grace under Pressure, Stealth Mastery, Magnetic Personality, Rogue's Eye, Deft Hands, and to make sure he could deal some damage he put one point into Dagger Mastery, Shank, Fan of Blades, and Perferrate and confirmed his purchases as he felt new knowledge flood his mind. Aaron was excited, Rogue's Eye was new since the last time he had been here, but Kill Chain and Lucky Bastard would have to wait. He had to purchase at least two finale Skills in any of the Skill Branches too unlock the two finale Skills. 

With another thought, he dismissed the Rogue Skill Tree and brought up the Thief Skill Tree. Aaron smiled as he started to read....life was about to get very interesting.