Happy Late Easter
Enjoy!
So this is a late chapter. Sorry about that guys, but I have some important news.
Editing for the Slime Dungeon is complete today, my birthday! For this happy occasion, I'll be writing 1-2 new chapters for book two over there so look forward to it.
The wonderful artist Shi is hard at work making the cover art, and once that is done the book will be published. For those of you who helped me on Patreon, I'll need email addresses to send you your free copy. PM me with them if you would be so kind.
Thanks to everyone who has helped with with kind words and harsh reviews.
Enjoy
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The night was just beginning as Steel, Loba, and Akami returned to the Adventurer'r Tavern. Steel peeked out from the shadows as he watched patron enter and leave the busy tavern. He shook his head at the popularity of the tavern.
"This is too much trouble to deal with; maybe I can shank him when he goes to the outhouse?" A quick look confirmed there was no outhouse, so he canned the plan. "I have to deal with the target in disguise, but I can't sneak around as a spirit without making everyone suspicious." Steel mused to himself, "If I kill or maim this guy, then the guards will likely question everyone inside, so I can't be around. No telling how smart the guards may be."
Steel took a look down at Akami, "You have any ideas?"
Akami wrinkled her nose at Steel as she stared up at him with her beautiful blue eyes. "Right, I didn't think you would." Steel retorted as he turned his head back to look at the tavern.
The Adventurer's Tavern was a decent size building, but it was connected to a large inn that housed most of the patrons that frequented the bar for food and drink. To Steel, it looked like a tall building with a large lobby sticking out the front.
"Let's see what the mini-map says about this." Steel muttered as he enlarged the map. He stared at the city map before his eyes moved to the '-' sign in the bottom right corner. A click made the map shrink to the street level, with the areas inside the tavern shown as well. Steel grinned as he moved the map around to the inn, where an orange dot blinked out from the second floor.
"I guess the target is taking a nice rest after a day of swindling and spending money that isn't his." Steel's left eye began to glow faintly as he licked his lips in anticipation, "I wonder if he has anything interesting with him I can take care of for him."
A quiet growl from Loba alerted Steel to a guard patrol that was coming closer. The three moved back into the shadows and waited until the guards had passed to poke their head back around the corner.
You have learned the skill: StealthDescription:When activated, you hide yourself using your surroundings. The effect can be improved by the use of certain items or wearing certain clothing.Level:Beginner 1Effects:Toggles your character into a 'stealthed' mode. Can be countered be the skill 'Keen Eyes'.
"Glad to finally get this." Steel grinned as he closed the prompt, "Oh, I see you too also got the skill as well."
The two animals gave a sound of confirmation; they had also picked up the skill thanks to their actions. It was another good sign for them, seeing as they both had good intelligence.
In fact, Steel thought of an idea while on the topic of skills. "Let's see if I can use the new spell Marie gave me for this." He said to himself as he dismissed his familiars and walked past the tavern entrance. The NPC's ignored him as he casually walked by them, his presence not registering as important. He made his way to the back of the inn section, where Steel took a quick look around.
Seeing that he was alone for the moment, he quickly cast 'Wind Boost' on himself, augmenting his speed. Moving backwards, he ran up to the building and jumped to the second floor. He spattered himself against the side of the building instead.
Gaining the dazed debuff, Steel backwards onto his back and moaned in pain. Evidently, having increased movement speed did not equal increased jumping prowess. The back door of the inn opened and a NPC peered out, checking for the source of the noise. Spying Steel's prone form, she called back inside.
"It's just a drunk who collapsed outside." She grabbed a bucket of water and threw it onto Steel's face before returning inside and shutting the door behind her.
Steel felt the need to cry. The water she had thrown was dirty kitchen water and he was now covered in garbage. He slugged off the onions on his face and growled angrily at the door.
"I swear . . ." He muttered angrily, before returning his gaze to the inn. Now that he actually put thought into his plan, he realized what an idiot he was. The only windows on this wall were to guest rooms and they would be small; he would not have been able to fit in with his body size.
He folded his arms and sat on the ground, his head tilted in thought. "I smell pretty bad now, so I definitely can't go inside now." He reasoned as he inspected his 'Reeking' debuff, "There must be someway to enter the floor from outside."
Finding no way to get in, Steel sighed and picked himself off the ground, brushing more of the rubbish off his body. He walked around the building back to the front area with the tavern and gazed at it.
He smacked himself in the head when it came to him.
The tavern stretched out from the inn, making it's roof the same height as the inn's second floor. Better yet, the windows on this side were larger and more elaborate, as the view was much better on this side. All he had to do was climb the tavern walls and he would have easy access to his target. Of course, he still had to figure out a way to get on top of the tavern without attracting attention.
"I need a cliche." Steel stared around with a grim hope, but there was no conveniently placed stack of boxes or casual latter anywhere to be found.
"Okay, well then, this quest should have a few ways to complete it then." Steel thought to himself for a moment.
There were three types of quests in Everlife. The first type was repeatable, the normal quests that all players could take at anytime for as many times as they wanted. The herb gathering quest Roxanne had assigned to him was of this type of quest.
The second type of quest were conditional quests. For instance, any quest related to a quick time event like a monster invasion or a war between nations. These quests didn't play a large role at the moment since the game had just started, but would increase in importance in the future. Examples of this type included; gathering supplies for the army, participating in a battle, or completing a treasure quest for the nobility.
The third quest type were unique quests that could only be completed for a single player or group of players, much like the crypt quest Steel had had the misfortune of being apart of. Unique quests had important effects on the entire game of Everlife, and could set important events in motion. Some of the unique quests, according tot he Everwiki, actually had a time limit to complete, otherwise they would be lost for a period of time or forever. Steel had a feeling the cult Roxanne was apart of would give quests of this time eventually as well.
This vengeance quest he had taken was likely of the second type, a quest that came about from circumstances beyond the players control. As such, there should be multiple ways to complete the quest.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Since Steel couldn't use his charisma or 'persuasion' skill to get in, he obviously was stuck to the outside route. "Now, since I'm not a thief or assassin, how would they do this?"
The answer came to him quickly in the form of a punch. Steel hit the ground for the second time tonight and groaned in pain. His health meter ticked down a fourth as he looked up at his attacker.
Mema was glaring down at him before her face softened and she coughed awkwardly.
"Ah, sorry there boyo. I heard there was a drunk hitting the tavern, so I came to punish him." She reached down and pulled Steel to his feet, patting him down. "Sorry about that."
Steel nodded, then raised an eyebrow, "Mema, can you help me get to the second floor of the inn as an apology?"
Mema frowned at him, "Why? I trust you, but we aren't friends."
Steel nodded, "I need to punish someone who takes advantage of young girls. Is that good enough."
Mema paused, than nodded her head, "I trust your words, and I hate men like that so I will help you. Follow me."
Charm has increased by 1 for successful persuasion
Steel grinned as he followed Mema to the side of the tavern. There, she pulled a hidden rope from behind a pile of wood and handed it over to him.
"It's tied to the roof, use it to climb up." She told him.
"Why do you have this rope tied to the top of your tavern?" Steel asked, a little confused.
Mema grinned evilly, "I don't own the inn." She didn't elaborate so Steel shrugged and climbed the rope to the top of the building. The room was shingled with wood, so he didn't have a fear of falling off. When he reached the top, the rope was pulled down by Mema and she walked away. Steel was surprised, as the knotted rope which had supported his weight had easily been pulled down by the tavern keeper.
"What secrets does that scary lady have I wonder." Steel mused as he climbed up the roof to the inn, "She definitely has some lore surrounding her. Maybe I'll get another quest if I help her out later."
Reaching the inn wall, Steel walked along the edge until he came to a large window that was at the end of a small room off a corridor. "I wonder if there is a glass-smith in this world or if the windows are made by magic." Steel wondered as he lifted the window and entered the inn. He enlarged his mini-map and focused it's zoom onto the floor of the inn. The quest dot indicated a room 3 doors down on his right.
"Show time I guess." Steel nodded to himself as he changed his illusion to that of the spirit of justice. He walked down the hall to the door and put his ear on it. Loud snoring could be heard in the room, making Steel grin in anticipation. However, he was once again prevented from completing his quest.
"Oh right, I guess I don't know how to unlock doors." Steel realized with a sour feeling when he tried the door handle. It was night, so of course it was locked. Steel felt like he really was ill-prepared for this type of venture.
"Right, I need to change classes after this if I plan on keeping the illicit activities up." He muttered as he scratched his head in thought. He decided to try the window outside the room, and if that failed he would just have to breaking in the old fashioned way and escape afterwards.
He walked back down the hall and closed the window behind him as he left the inn. The room was slightly over the roof where it started to slant down, but was still in arm's reach for Steel. To his delight, the window was open as well and large enough fro him to climb in through.
"So nice when people are considerate." He laughed evilly as he climbed in through the window.
The inn room, while fancy, was still a single room with a bed, chest, and what looked like a golden chamber pot in the corner. Ignoring the obvious implications of that last one, and the subsequent questions involving the rest of the city, Steel took out his charges and made them into the shadow illusions again,
There were two people sleeping in the bed. One was a young looking beautiful lady, while the other was a rather ugly looking man. The man likely would have been nice to look at if he had been thin, but the beer gut and unkempt mustache made Steel wrinkle in confusion. Why would these two noble ladies run off with this unbecoming man? No wonder her family had tried to stop her.
Steel thought for a moment, and then nodded his head in approval. First, he cast 'Create Water' on the floor, covering it in multiple puddles of water. Next, he extinguished the light in the room from the candles beside the bed. With the room in complete darkness except for the window light, he was ready.
"Wakey wakey now." Steel whispered, than began to laugh as low and evil as he could. Loba and Akami accompanied him with low growls that echoed around the room.
The two bed mates stirred and shivered as they slowly woke up. The man, obviously Roger, shot up in bed and looked around in fear while the woman trembled.
"Roger, what is that sound? What is that smell?" She cried out in fear.
"Meeeee." Steel stressed out the word as he created a small fire in his palm. The little light outlined his skeletal appearance and the shadowy nature of his charges as they slowly walked forward. They both paled in obvious fright.
"I am the Spirit of Justice, and I have come for you Roger for your sins." He turned to stare at the girl, "Leave."
The woman gave a scream and jumped out of bed, fleeing with a sheet around her out of the room and slamming the door behind her. Roger fell out of bed and scrambled as far away as he could to the corner, knocking the chamber pot onto himself.
"Spirit, I have done nothing wrong. Please, I beg you, spare my pitiful soul."
Steel felt moved by the man's heartfelt plea and decided that he had done enough.
However, that calm sympathy did not penetrate his heart and he growled angrily at the man. "Foolish mortal, your magic will not work on the undead." Steel assumed the man must be using some sort of magic to persuade others, otherwise such a weak remark would not have affected Steel.
Roger really began to pale and cry now, blubbering out threats and curses. "Leave me spirit! My father will hire priests to hunt you down! I have powerful friends!" He continued, but Steel ignored the rest of his drivel. He "glided" forward and wrapped his hand around Roger's neck.
"All men are equal in death, fool." He whispered as his other hand stabbed his spear into Roger's heart. Roger gave a groan and sagged as the life left his body.
Nodding, Steel took Roger's blood and wrote the same phrase on the wall behind the corpse. He then checked the body for loot.
Surprisingly, there were: a few gold coins, a letter, a potion, and, most importantly, a spell-book. Steel whistled in appreciation as he stowed away the loot. This had been a productive quest.
Just then, a loud knocking began from the doorway. "Open up in the name of the city lord!"
Quest UpdatedObjective added:Escape
Steel's eyebrow twitched, "Oh shit."