I was stunned, I couldn't believe they had tossed me out without even giving any effort or trying to determine why I couldn't level up. If things were really desperate I could sort of understand, but wouldn't they want to summon heroes before the enemy is at the point of wiping them out. Honestly they had to know we would arrive at level zero, so they would need enough territory to at least give us a chance to grow in power and turn the tide of the war. Though honestly I didn't believe what they were saying about needing us to defend them, no one in the streets seemed fearful, in fact things seemed quite prosperous and people seemed happy.

Maybe they were aware of who we were and why we were here so they didn't worry about it too much instead they focused on their own lives and decided to be happy now that the 'Pillars' had been summoned. Though I wasn't sure how they would already know since we were summoned to some hidden, and I'm assuming underground chamber.

Shaking my head I put the coins in my main pouch and watched as my counter automatically tallied them for me. An interesting little thing this system, but it didn't tell me how to use my skills, I had to figure out how to use Commander's Mark by just yelling it out, I couldn't figure out how to use the two Auras. Without much else to do and with a growling stomach I began to wander the streets. I eventually found what I was looking for based on the sign outside. 'Moonrise Inn', a pretty simple name but I figured I should be able to get some food and a bed for the night.

Entering I found the first floor mostly empty, just a young woman sweeping and a middle aged man bent over a book with a quill in his hand. "Um, excuse me, are you open?"

The young woman looked up as if surprised, though I did open the door without trying to be quiet, maybe they weren't open yet. Though I didn't see any indicator of that outside.

"We are open for business, though you may wish to find a different place to stay for now." The older man said without looking up from his book.

I was a little intrigued by this, why wouldn't I want to stay at this in. "Why is that? Is there something going on here?" I moved closer to the table he was sitting at, it looked like he was doing some sort of inventory, or maybe just keeping a budget, I don't know, I'm not a book keeper.

"A slaver's troupe is staying here for the week, during the day they are here but at night they head out to do their business in the Night Market. They're not the friendliest people so most would rather stay away from them. They aren't bad people, my brother works for this troupe as a guard, but they have a reputation."

"So they aren't loud and noisy, or rude and violent?"

The man shook his head. "Just a rough bunch, they are slavers after all. But they are a law abiding band, they don't just kidnap random people and force them into slavery. Debtors, criminals, willing slaves, enemy soldiers, those types are who they sell. Most folk just don't like to associate with them."

"As long as they aren't criminals I don't see why I shouldn't stay here." Slavery was a thing in this world it seemed. I wasn't going to interfere, I was level zero after all, and likely to end up enslaved or dead if I started a fuss. It isn't like every culture in all of Earth's history didn't have slaves at some point or another, and this world seemed to be in the middle ages so I figure every country has slaves of some kind of another. "How much for two nights and do you serve meals?"

"A silver a night, and we serve breakfast and supper, if you want lunch you'll need to find another place." The man said simply, seemingly not willing to argue with a paying customer. "Money up front if you don't mind."

I fished two coins out of my pouch and placed them on the table next to him. "Of course. Now..." I pulled a third silver coin out and put it on the table. "Do you mind if I bother you for a bit, I need some information."

The older man raised an eyebrow at the coin and the weird grin I had on my face. "Simple stuff, simple stuff. I seem to have had something done to me where I don't remember much and I need to relearn some things." I gave a placating hand gesture to show I wasn't asking for anything suspicious.

"What do you need to know?"

"Well... you see I seem to have forgotten how to use my Status page... I see my skills, and class, and such, but I've been effected by some sort of mind magic that has made me forget how to use my skills and even what the restrictions on my class are."

"By the gods, you must have run across a powerful psion to have lost that much of your memories. Though since you are alive they probably didn't feel insulted enough to kill you." The man looked a bit worried but motioned for me to take a seat. "Alright, let's start with simple things, you know how to access the Status page, right?"

"Yes, I just need to think or say Status and will it to appear."

"Good, good, that's right." His voice sounded like he was speaking to a child, which I guess I was on the level of in this world.

"Now, let's start simply, you should see your Class near the top in green lettering."

"Uh... wait... I do see it. What do other colors mean, since this is in green." I asked simply, trying to seem nonchalant about it, earning a new skill, Bluff (Level 1).

"Hmmm... I don't know much about other colors, I've heard that orange and blue colors would indicate rare or powerful skills. I figure you wouldn't run across any, they aren't very common. Yellow is supposedly a god given skill or feat, but I haven't heard of anyone outside of one of the churches having one like that. Only one of each yellow skill exists at a time, according to them."

"Thanks, what was I supposed to do, I know you didn't just want me to look at it blankly."

"Right, right, focus intently on it for a few moments. A new page should appear."

Arglwydd y Faner (Banner Lord) - A Unique Leader type class. A Banner Lord grows in power as his followers do, alone a Banner Lord is near useless but when placed in command of others they can draw out the best they have to offer. A Banner Lord's Banner is their only weapon, and all they need if they have proper subordinates, able to make them into their sword and shield. Using the power of their Banner they may buff or debuff those within visible range of their Banner giving seemingly unlimited range to their abilities. A Banner Lord may not have combat-subclasses.

Interesting explanation, but that didn't explain why I couldn't gain experience early today. I closed this menu and went to the word before it.

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

Chwedlonol (Legendary) - You are not restricted by the normal Class abilities and have 2.5X growth rate in all skills, stats, and abilities. As a Chwedlonol (Legendary) Class you may unlock hidden or unique sub-classes for your Main Class.

Again, interesting but it didn't tell me anything about my issues with gaining experience points from earlier today. Honestly it seemed Banner Lord was some sort of strange strategist class. I went through a few more of my skills, most were rather simple, Haggling gave a slight percentage increase in haggling, same with Bluff.

NCO's Intuition - You have spent time in the military as a mid-level member, you have learned to 'sniff out' bullshit when it being fed to you. Lies and deceptions are much easier to notice even when buffed by skills and abilities.

I couldn't help but laugh at that one a bit, it didn't match the others in tone but it fit the name of the ability quite well. With that I was done reading my Skills and went down to the one and only Feat I had.

Burden of Leadership - As a leader you are only as strong as your weakest member, to grow you must grow your followers. When fighting by yourself you gain 0 experience points, but when fighting with a follower or subordinate you gain 150% experience of what your follower or subordinate gain. Grow your army and lead them to victory, such is your Burden.

I wanted to tear my hair out, I couldn't grow stronger without followers, I couldn't get followers now that the King had tossed me out on my ass and who would be willing to team up with a guy saying, hey I need you to follow my instructions, because if you do I'll grow more powerful and that'll make you stronger. I slammed my head down on the table full force and was informed I had damaged myself for -3 hit points.

"Are... are you alright?" The man asked when I suddenly slammed my head onto the table he was working on.

"Yes, just... finding out I'm actually pretty much fucked at this point." Burden of Leadership my ass. Why did I get saddled with this skill, I hated leading teams in the modern military and they want me to command people in the crush of middle magic bullshit?

The man reached out hestitantly and patted me on the arm. "It can't be that bad, right?" He was trying to comfort me, thinking perhaps I had found out that most of my hard earned skills couldn't be used, or that I didn't know what to do with the skills I had because the descriptions were vague. "What's the skill that's bothering you?"

I sighed and sat up straight again before turning to look him in the eye. "If I tell you I would need to swear you to secrecy." I didn't know if it was a big deal to have these abilities, supposedly the church claimed they were unique, one of a kind, and most were part of 'the church', but I didn't feel like becoming a religious zealot.

"Oh... oh..." The man looked nervous for a moment. "Marrie, could you handle things for the time being, me and..."

"Rhys."

"Rhys are going to have a chat in the private room."

"Yes father." Came the younger woman's reply, she hadn't really stopped sweeping the whole time, though the floors seemed clean enough to me.

"Come with me." The man said as he stood up and walked over to a door with several symbols, probably runes of some kind, drawn on it and the door frame. We went inside and I found that it was a very simple room, maybe ten feet by ten feet with a small round table at the center and chairs around it. On the table was a small blood red crystal that gave off a menacing aura. "Sit, sit, this is an oath stone." He said when he noticed that I was eyeing the crystal warily.

"And what does an oath stone do?"

"We make an oath, and should the oath be broken the one breaking the oath will suffer a severe penalty, usually a sapping of strength or even death in some cases." Explaining this he reached out and placed a hand on the stone. "We can make an oath now if you feel it would make you feel more comfortable."

"I... don't think that will be necessary. This is just something I'm a bit concerned about."

"How's about we just make it simple, I won't say what we talk about here to anyone else. By the gods, I swear on this stone that I will not speak of our following conversation to others without permission from Rhys, on my power I do make this oath."

"On my power?"

"Oh, yes, you likely are unfamiliar if you've had your mind played with by a psion. For an oath stone you can make the oath on many things, your life, power, wealth, and so on, should you break the oath made you'll lose that, or in the case of power, you lose levels which can be devestating as you grow more and more powerful... I'm Seth Parry by the way, since we are talking privately I figured I should introduce myself."

"Oh, uh... Rhys Abbán Toutorix." I reached out a hand to shake his before we seemed to relax a bit and felt a bit awkward. "So, I guess I should spin my tale huh?"

"If you would like to, I will listen."

So I began my story of the last twelve hours. It wasn't an eventful or even a very long one but it was very emotional for me as I was angry, hurt, and upset.

Name: Rhys Abbán Toutorix Race: Human Class: Chwedlonol Arglwydd y Faner (Legendary Banner Lord) Sub-Class: None Level: 0 Experience: 0/10 Bloodline: Unknown Health: 22/25 Mana: 25/25 Stamina: 25/25 Hunger: Inactive Strength: 5 Dexterity: 5 Constitution: 5 Wisdom: 5 Intelligence: 5 Charisma: 30 Luck: 50

Currency:

Platinum: 0 Gold: 2 Silver: 77 Copper: 90

Skills: Language Comprehension (All), Haggling (Level 1), NCO's Intuition, Bluff (Level 1)

Feats: Burden of Leadership Abilities: Commanding Aura, Dreadful Aura, Commander's Mark Items: Ocsid Leather Coat, Linen Tunic, Linen Hose, Ocsid Leather Boots, Linen Cape, Baner Fawr* (Great Banner), Cooking Utensils, Mess Kit (bowl, knife, spoon)