“Rabyn, what exactly do you want in life? Ignoring the possibility of an execution, what would you do given the resources to grow with this faction?” I asked the orc. His answer here was probably all that really mattered about the previous conversation. The revelation, while a problem, didn’t seem like it really made anything a bigger issue at the moment, just another tally in the list of reasons the big factions would eventually make a real move against us.
“I could give you a fancy, long-winded speech about exactly what I want, but I think the easiest way to explain it is a single word: revenge. I am neither stupid nor rage-fueled. I will not compromise your faction to achieve my own goals but know that I will remember everyone who stands beside me when the moment arrives,” Rabyn answered, still smiling.
“What makes you so sure it will?” Pryte followed up.
“Fate. Somehow, despite everything that happens, I continue to survive, and now I’ve found myself here. I find it incredibly difficult to believe that this is the meaningless whims of random chance. The chain of events needed for all these people to find themselves together on this planet boggles the mind to consider. So, instead, I choose to believe fate has decided to intervene. And I will answer. I will wield these knives in service of that unknowable cosmic arbiter so that my children may write poetry,” Rabyn answered, his words flowing with their own kind of energy. What kind of man would he have been had he not been forced into a world of violence? I was sure now that I was going to have to find a way to keep him alive.
“Hard ta argue with that. Been considering the same myself, and vengeance is a motivation I can get behind,” Mel added.
“How common is the belief in fate within the Spiral?” I asked, not sure if they were just waxing poetic or if this was a common theme.
“It’s not an uncommon belief. In fact the idea of fate seems to be one of the truly unifying forces across all civilizations. We’ve even quantified the concept with the idea of luck in the System somewhat, but I’m not exactly a believer myself. I think we make our own destiny and that sometimes there are people pushing so hard against the normal flow that they can’t help but draw others up in their wake,” Pryte answered.
“Can’t say I expected the conversation with the orc ta be the one to go all philosophical,” Mel cut in, with a surprising lack of annoyance in his words. Was he enjoying this conversation? Was Mel a philosopher at heart?
“So then, which of us is the one catching everyone in their path? Sanquar?” I asked, also genuinely enjoying this turn of conversation. It felt like I was sitting around bullshiting with my friends back in college.
“If we entertain this idea instead of fate, then no. Sanquar is the force that started this, but all of this hinged on his meeting with you, Dave. How many other people on your planet are capable of doing what you did with your core?” Rabyn asked. So he had realized something was different about it.
“Dammit, how the hell did you figure that out?” Mel asked, some of his anger rushing back into his voice.
“I told you, I am neither stupid nor rage-fueled. I pay attention to what is going on around me, more so than most, as my class allows me to better understand the metabolism of people in order to give them their needed boosts. Dave’s metabolism doesn’t quite make sense to me. He also seems to have more mana orbs socketed than you would expect for anyone of his rank,” Rabyn explained.
“Mel, it’s fine. This was always going to come out eventually. Hiding it from the people seeing me fight the most would be near impossible anyway,” I said, not wanting this to turn into an argument. The reality was I had been considering telling the newcomers anyway.
“Dave’s core is not split. He has an artificial socket system sitting on top of it. Instead of socketing a mana core directly into it, he sockets six separate cores within his chest. He has managed to extend those connections into his mallet, adding a seventh mana orb as well as a dungeon core,” Pryte explained. Rabyn lost his smile as his jaw dropped, giving way to a look of total incredulity.
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“I wasn’t aware that was possible, and even if it were, the energy that would be needed for something like that is impossible. How did you do it?” Rabyn asked the usual calm and collected nature of his voice entirely gone.
“The System pushed me towards it, and the energy came from Sanquar saving up his own experience for most of the time he was trapped here. Combine that with the unfinished works of Karlinovo, some refined soul mana plates, and an extremely dangerous experiment, and you get how I formed my core,” I answered, skipping over the unimportant details.
“And you really want to argue against it being fate pulling us all together? The head of this faction holds some of the greatest potential of a channeler I’ve ever heard of. Trelione sends his granddaughter out to explore the idea of leaving his own retirement. Somehow, the Arena prize on a first level just happens to accidentally be the place Sanquar was banished to, and it’s won by a faction I’ve was forced into…” Rabyn’s words slowly turned into laughter, abruptly ending anything he may have been planning to add.
Surprisingly, Mel joined him. “Sorry, Rabyn’s right, this is all just so insane it’s hilarious.”
“I assume this means we don’t need to worry you are going to attempt to desert the faction at the first chance?” Pryte asked, shaking his head and smiling. He looked on the verge of laughter himself. I’d likely have joined them if I hadn’t already come to terms with how crazy all of this was. It was kind of nice to see the people used to the Spiral stuck in my world for once.
“Desert to what? Assuming my own reputation didn’t stop me from joining anyone else, the rest of yours certainly has. No, as I said, fate has placed me here, and I will see this through to the end,” Rabyn answered, the laughter dying as his voice reverted back to the serious.
“Thank you,” I said honestly. The more I dug into the orc, the stranger he was from my own expectations.
Rabyn stood up and stopped at the door, turning back to speak again. “After we return from the expedition, I’d like to test your abilities, Dave, and the mallet as well,” he requested.
“Yeah, that’s fine, assuming we have the time,” I said, hoping we did. Rabyn nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.
“That’s everyone we need to cover for now. We can do another of these meetings later for the support staff and other members, but at the moment, I can’t imagine that would add much to our knowledge,” Pryte said once we were alone again.
“I don’t know how much we can learn from my kids or Maud. We do need to talk to Timon and Sanquar, though. Sanquar might be more of an entire-day event with Elody as well. As for Timon, I can already tell he’s not just a pilot. Want to enlighten us a little there, Mel?” I asked, looking pointedly at the floating man.
“Caught on, did ya?” Mel asked back, maintaining my eye contact.
“Timon is an accomplished pilot, but that’s not what his actual class is, just the secondary specialization some subterfuge classes allow for, for better blending in. I don’t actually know the specifics of the class, and I doubt Mel does either. It’s not something those with them generally share. Anything beyond that you’d like to tell us, Mel?” Pryte asked, joining me in my stare.
“Look, I’ve known Timon for a very long time. Pryte’s right. I ain’t got any clue what the real name of his class is, but he’s always been my most reliable friend. The fact that he’s sticking around here through this when he could be literally anywhere else speaks volumes. We need him,” Mel answered.
“I didn’t say we didn’t. I just wanted to know the truth about the man. I can appreciate a man able to rib you,” I said, glad to have confirmed the truth of my suspicions. I wasn’t sure what else we’d be able to learn during his meeting, but I still intended to have it when we had the time.
“Well then, that’s for our first squad interviews. Well done, gentlemen. I’m going to get these filed, find us a handyman, and see about Glorp’s family. If I’m not back before the trip tomorrow, don’t wait for me; it likely means something important has come up,” Pryte said before he stood up and stretched his legs.
“Alright, good luck. I’m going to go take a deep dive into all my mana orbs, and some of my class abilities while we have the time. I’ve got some more tinkering to do,” I said, joining Pryte in a stretch before nodding to Mel and making my exit. Corey and I had some work to do.
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There are many classes specializing in spycraft, subterfuge, infiltration, and the like. The problem with detailing any such classes here is that those who possess them are very rarely willing to discuss the exact nature of the class for obvious reasons. Purchasing one of these class orbs on the open market is illegal, but unlike other such banned class orbs, the classes themselves are not considered illegal. It is just a further method to control the trade and access to these rarer specializations.
Classes Volume 1 by Zolinjar