Marshall didn't think there was a medicine to cure the headache that he had these days. It was only clear during the time he spent doing some general labor down at the Labor Yard, and even then there was still a sense of unease. He had seen how different she had become since they fled from Lolacal, but her old personality of arrogance and zero common sense still came through strong. Now, sitting in front of her in the dead of night, while she looked so unconcerned for the trouble that had been brought down on them both. He wondered, and not for the first time, if the gods were just using him for an amusing game.
"Pyra," He says, rubbing his furred face in exasperation, "What did I tell you about guards?"
"To avoid them, and don't let them escape." She replies with a neutral expression, Marshall just looks towards the wooden ceiling of their room.
"Don't TRY to escape THEM," He breathes out, "Be polite and follow instructions so we don't draw attention to ourselves, and I thought you had gone down and gotten a magic permit..." Pyra scoffs at his rebuttal with a wave of her hand and roll of her eyes. Then, she pulls out a metal disk on a cord with a series of magic looking rings and symbols.
"Of course I went and got one, I was bored and the market didn't have any new treats." She responds with a flick of her hair and a smug expression. At this point Marshall just let his body slide out of the chair and heavily hit the ground.
"I give up, I am done, all you had to do was wear it around your neck or show it to the guard and he would have left you alone..." He says with a lifeless expression on his face and closed eyes. This situation once again highlighting how impulsive she could be, just like the fire she controlled actually. It wasn't the first time Marshall had wondered about her connection to the element being an expression of her personality. While he never thought to pursue magic in the past with his ability to see mana now, and the things he had seen done with it. He wondered why there were so many more martial classes and so very few able to use the mystical energy. Most of them were graduates of schools or colleges that taught the arts only to the talented few, and it was considered only second to Historians in the need for Wisdom and Intelligence. Yet, looking at Pyra one would think that all that learning got in the way, because she could throw spells around like breathing. While she couldn't do what the Humans could with their spell weaving anymore. Her skill at weaving fire was still beyond impressive to him.
"Oh." Pyra says before tucking the pendant back into a pocket, "Oh well, the kids were just getting into the story, and I might have been able to tell it this time." She shrugs her shoulders before looking out on the busy morning streets. She still had to sleep, but was an early riser now that she had gotten used to it. Marshall himself should have been down at the Yard this late in the morning, but instead he was trying to decide on the likelihood of injury from jumping out of a window on the second floor.
"I will just go find a guard and tell him sorry and give them some coins. That should fix it. You said money makes everything better." With a sharp nod she gets up and leaves the room. Marshall's brain slowly turns over the words he heard and he panics more each second as he processes them. Sitting upright as fast as his stats will allow, he runs out of the room and almost crashes into the wall. Pyra looks over at him, her hand on the door leading to the stairs.
"No, I will go in a little bit, just stay in the room and don't set anything on fire." His breathing coming out hard, and his eyes a bit panicked looking. Pyra just shrugs and heads back into the room with a sullen expression. Giving Marshall the feeling that she was excited to get into another fight. Her attitude on the road to Amalyn had bounced between blazing rage and being curled up in her sleeping bag. It had been a fast trip to the border of the Varithfall and Masire spending most of his money on the two week trip. During that time they had seen the sky rip open, and Pyra almost ran away upon seeing it was to the south. She had said she could feel it was near her Mother, and that she had to return. Marshall had only stopped her by reminding her of their fight with the Shaman Remus and the command her Mother gave her. Even after that it had taken days to prevent her from running back there. He didn't know if it would have been safer to do so, but something told him that getting as far away from that place as possible was the smarter and safer idea in the long run. Something about that surprised look on Remus' face right before he was blown away.
He glances out the window to the south seeing the strange tear in the sky once again. He had picked this room to keep an eye out for it for Pyra, but also to watch to see if there was any commotion by the Western Gate, which is where pursuers would show up from. Heaving a sigh he pushes open the door leading out to the stairway. He had an idea of what to say to get the guards onto someone else's tail, but he didn't know how it would turn out with it coming from a Beastkin. He opened his status.
Name: Marshall Hunterson Race: Beastkin - Hound Age: 25 Years Level: 10
Strength:
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16 (Average 10) Constitution: 19 (Average 10) Dexterity: 11 (Average 10) Intelligence: 10 (Average 10) Wisdom: 10 (Average 10) Charisma: 20 (Average 10)
He couldn't do it around Pyra, given how angry she got if she found out, and the risk wasn't worth it. He had managed to gain 5 levels, and decided to balance out his under average stats before putting extra points into Charisma. Considering how he seemed to be smoothing out issues with people a lot more than fighting monsters, and while he felt like that might change in the future. Especially considering she wanted to study the System and travel throughout the Realm. Right now it was more important to be a bit more believable and personable. He even had a new class though he didn't know how to feel about it.
Class: Ash Guard Rarity: Special A unique class born from the service to the Empress of Flame. It focuses on supportive combat and emissary roles.
Classes tended be limited in growth depending on their rarity; Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Special. Each one had a level cap, and it was impossible to go higher without obtaining a more rare class. Common was limited to level 25, Uncommon to 50, Rare to 75, but Special was able to advance to level 100. This was the max level of power which would see someone to having a long life span and the strength to lift whole houses. The rarity of classes was also just that, you might find someone in a hundred who has an Uncommon class. Then out of a thousand with a Rare class, but Special were only a handful in each kingdom. The thing that he didn't like was the fact it was exactly how he felt about his situation with Pyra. It was powerful and dynamic as a class, but it was more about talking people down and supporting her, still, incredible abilities. While she wasn't freakishly strong, fast, or the like anymore. Her magic was still powerful, and ever since she had been practicing all the time with her [Ember Shaping] her power had grown. Though she wouldn't share the details of her status with him, and she even claimed she didn't look at anything the System sent.
Seeing a guard pair in the street ahead of him, he shook himself mentally and prepared his words. Then he tried to put on an expression of worry and nervousness, which wasn't hard considering his concerns about how they would react to him.
"E-excu-use me Sir guard." He says, intentionally stumbling over his words, flattery usually helped in situations like this. One of the guards partially turns, before getting a disgusted look on his face. Marshall's branch of the Beastkin race was generally ugly to human sensibilities.
"What do you want beast." He asks with a heavy note of contempt in his tone. His posture being identified by Marshall's new [Emissary Sense] skill as hostile but listening.
"I-i had a friend tell me of a Shaman that came to town two days ago." The looks on the guard's face drastically shifts, and the second guard turns to face him before dragging him quickly into an alley.
"This best not be some kind of prank, beast." The man responds sharply, full of malice but very serious. This was a good outcome so far. Marshall had known that the events around the sky and the south had been making people nervous. He also HAD heard that a Shaman had come to town a while back, so his story would have witnesses. Shamans were a class limited to the Beastkin race, and were often prevented from entering human settlements due to the rebels.
"O-of cou-rse not go-od sirs..." He fumbles for his words, listening to the guidance of [Actor] a perk he picked up for having 20 Charisma, "My-my fellows at the Yard told me, some of them laughed about the guard who died, good sirs. They figure it was the Shaman." All this would be confirmed if the guards asked down at the Yard since it was common for the Beastkin workers to have harsh words for the members of the watch. It was often them that bullied their families within the city for no reason besides that they were bored.
"We will confirm this, and if this is a lie you will be hung from the walls as a reminder. Give your details to my partner." The first guard responds with a sharp nod, and pulls a few things from his cloak pockets. Marshall couldn't see what they were, but he quickly gave his room number and inn details to the other. Before he run away, hunching and looking skittish to sell the look of regret. Though after a few streets he stood up straight with a huge grin on his face. The inn and room were for a Mr. Fenris, but not him though they looked similar. He and Pyra would have to leave the city in a few days during the height of the raids that were likely to take place. The Shaman was long gone, but his [Emissary Sense] had told him this town was unstable when it came to the guard and the Beastkin though he ignored it. He felt bad having to use the knowledge he had gained over the last week, but it would prevent his death so it was something he would find a way to live with.
Congratulations! You have leveled up to level 11 due to using your skills and class description to provide for your Master.
It wasn't a terrible day after all he thought to himself as he made a list for their departure.