What Marshall did expect when he woke up was another round of dangling from the wall in uncomfortable cuffs, along with the, almost, pleasant sounds of distant misery. However, like much of the last weeks, it seems like the gods were determined for him to have "unique" experiences. This time it was in the form of ash and snow floating through the bars of the window.
"Hang on a moment..." He says aloud as the ash seemed to pass right through a metal bar, only for it to suddenly deform like a melting candle. Eyes wide, he twists his body away while trying to push his cuffs into the path of a few falling flakes. Also subverting his expectations, when one did land on them there was no sensation of pain, just the melting acting like mud for a second. Which is all he needed to get that one off and hold the other one out to wait. Luckily the window was positioned high in the wall so the flakes fell more towards the bars and door leading out of his current vacation spot. Leading to most of those bars pooling near the floor, giving him an easy way out should a flake land on the other cuff.
"Come on you magic snow." He begs as the flakes continued to tease him by floating ever so close. He had half a mind to reach out and grab one, but the pool of expanding metal on the floor warned him against this. Finally one landed on the cuff and he wrenched his hand out of it, just as the sounds of stomping feet echoed down the halls.
"Of course they show up now. Have I become the Fool somehow and didn't get the title? Status." He grumbles pulling up his information.
Name: Marshall Hunterson Race: Beastkin - Hound Age: 25 Years 3 Months Level: 5
Strength:
16 (Average 10) Constitution: 19 (Average 10) Dexterity: 10 (Average 10) Intelligence: 10 (Average 10) Wisdom: 8 (Average 10) Charisma: 8 (Average 10)
He couldn't see anything new, or any new flashing sections that would mean changes. Though he would admit that helping that girl out had given him some levels in a short time. He might even qualify for an Adventurer group if he could clear his name and titles somehow. Luckily the footsteps seemed to be moving up the stairs rather than coming to investigate him currently, giving him a few minutes to look over one more thing.
"Titles." He whispers and focused on the concepts.
Warrior Ascendant You have studied and pushed yourself beyond the limits of your class, Warrior, and gain no further XP until finding the next step. Slave Bound You are marked and owned by - Kingdom of Varithfall Oathbound In return for your life you have pledged to serve Pyra Elysian, First Empress of Flame. Any actions made against her best health will result in death. Breaker of Chains You have continuously found yourself in chains or bound but found ways around them. Gain +1 Constitution per Level. ??? The $5E&'s have marked you.
He noted a new title which explained his sudden boost to Constitution, and a change to his Oathbound one. It had never given the girl's last name, and that title was a little shocking to say the least. He mind briefly drifted to the lessening snow and ash wondering if she was the cause.
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"If she didn't cause it I will eat my boots." He growls, and then looks down, remembering that they had taken everything except his boots. He had to admit it was a weird choice by the guards, but decided it might be high time to get moving and find someone to borrow some cloths from. Moving carefully across the, now solid, metal he realized that the stone never melted, and felt vaguely stupid for just assuming it would kill him if it touched him. Running through the tunnels he was able to back track to the room where he thought they had taken his stuff when they hauled him into his cell. Opening the door he froze upon seeing a guard slowly smoldering into ash, at least that was the best way to describe what was happening. The man had been sitting in a chair, which was now just charcoal, and only part of his face was still there. The rest seemed to be floating away as black and red embers and a mouth open to silently scream. Marshall couldn't really bring himself to care all that much for the man. Even if he did know him, most of the guards in this town were Humans, and they almost always abused the Beastkin for being "lesser".
Stepping carefully through the room, it was otherwise oddly intact, baring the other piles of ash that he assumed had been guards. Mostly of them were in beds or something similar to the first man, and under one bunk he found his large travel pack, clothes, and gear. Also some much nicer pieces of both clothes and gear, so he treated himself to an upgrade considering that ash would find it hard to use a crotch protector or large sword.
"Well it's been a delight gentleman.. er ladies too, but I really have spent too much and the Miss will likely have my head as it is. Soooo..." He remarks, though not sure why since they were far beyond being able to hear. But, it felt nice to say as he gently shut the door.
"Some of them were sleeping after all, would hate for them to wake up on the wrong side of the ash." Briefly he wondered if all the crazy things had gotten to him, or maybe the torture had knocked some sense loose. He just shrugs to himself and continues, cautiously up the stairs leading out of the dungeon. Usually there would be a few guards posted at the top and bottom to ensure warning could be given in the instance of a dungeon break, but it looked like everyone was rather busy running around up top. Thanks to his borrowed clothes it seemed like few gave him notice, and the few that did didn't really have time to chase him if they wanted to keep the other prisoners from escaping. And, to dodge the ever lessening ash and snow. It was really coming down when it started he guessed, looking at the mounds of ash and pools of metal. Odd that it only seemed to affect some things but not others. Though he wasn't going to complain too much. Most of these guards likely had close to 15 or 20 in their physical stats. Which made them more than a match for most, and if they had the actual Guard class. Then, they likely had even higher Constitution and Charisma.
Classes were important to stat growth since you otherwise couldn't get gains per level. Even if you could train stats through exercises that worked them, it was a slow and painful grind for them, so most just focused on their jobs. Also getting XP wasn't easy, and Marshall could attest to that fact considering he had been one of the village defenders for years. Yet, he barely got above level 2 until he had to travel with Pyra. Since she was able to immolate most actual monsters, and he got some XP by being bound to her. Yet, he long ago reached the peak of level 5 for Warrior and so couldn't gain more levels. Though maybe by being bound to the "First Empress of Flames" he would get experience as an Imperial Guard or something interesting. Then, he could gain more levels by accepting that advancement.
Looking both ways down the main street he saw several more piles of ash. By now the snow and falling ash had stopped, and he could more far faster as he sought her out. Though he had no exact notion of where she was, the title "Oathbound" gave him a series of hot and cold feelings when he was moving in the correct or incorrect direction. Which eventually lead him to a series of apartments built up against the wall. Which meant it was a slum housing, and probably owned by the guard considering the kingdom mark of two swords and a bird in the door. He hoped she was alright and would be her normal self. If this snow and ash thing was her doing, it was likely due to something happening to her that might scar her. Like when he watched his wife get taken and his children put into collars. It wasn't like that everywhere and with all Humans, but it was common enough to bring much heartache to Beastkin everywhere. He was stalling, he knew, but even if the last month or so had been crazy. Seeing that girl so innocent, confident, and, at times, happy, had helped him feel a bit less dark about the world. Sighing to himself he knocked on the door, and a few moments later it cracked open.
"You aren't a guard." A young boys voice came from the door.