Part 1 of 2

The life of a murderer in real life isn’t easy. It should not be after all. Someone that has taken a life should be punished. In Royal Road, it isn’t that much different, except the permanent record.

<>

It is the official name of the bloody red diamond on a player’s forehead. It was automatically created when a player killed another player with neutral alignment. When that happened, the player that performed the killing gained infamy and immediately received the Mark.

Players conducting criminal activities are not uncommon in Royal Road. But those that willingly carry the Mark? None should. There are a lot of problems associated with becoming a PK aside from the infamy gained.

For one, you cannot hide your name. It will show above your head in blood red color even if you hide your face. NPCs naturally turn away from a marked player too with exception of chaos aligned NPCs. Even then you need a certain amount of familiarity to communicate with them.

With the exception of Assassin related professions, there are barely any others that allow players to kill indiscriminately without being branded with the Mark. They have no problem with Infamy status as that was the required stat to progress.

Killing a player net 20 infamy points, while participation in killing resulted in 5 points of Infamy when the victim finally dies but does not result in the participants receiving the Mark, only the Infamy. However the player’s name will be shown as if they are Marked as a result. Dying once reduces your infamy by 10 points with the exception of your bounty being collected by another player, completely wiping the infamy but resulting in dropping 2 pieces of currently equipped items. It gives high motivation for ‘Red Player’, as those bearing the Mark commonly called, to avoid Bounty Hunters like a plague and clear their infamy as soon as they can.

A bounty is only created when your infamy is over 100 points and starts at only piddling 1 gold and increases with every kill and infamy generated. The system is designed so players can improve that amount by adding their money to the bounty pool should they feel themselves wronged or holding a grudge.

A player needs to register as a bounty hunter to receive an update on the bounty within your vicinity and last known location of the red player. Registration fee is 10 gold coins and is not regarded as a profession at all, more of a constant side job. This makes most players that travels a lot register themselves as a Bounty Hunter, allowing huge pools of players that hunt the red players if not for the fame and bounty money, the guaranteed equipment dropped.

Even Umber, who was one of the designated ‘Hitman’ within the Thieves Guild worked to keep his infamy to 50, staying away from the problem of having his face plastered on the Bounty Bulletin.

For Winter, it was not his first time having 100 plus infamy. Only his second time. He managed to clear it rather quickly last time round, when he wasted players that felt they should be paid for cheating gullible Rinne and not very bright Samuel.

There are several ways to clear a player’s infamy status. A player can pay a hefty fee for a blessing to achieve instant neutrality. This is not the preferred method as the fee can easily reach hundreds of gold.

The second method is to kill other Marked players though this method only allows the reduction of up to 50 Infamy. From then on, players usually kill monsters with a minimum level difference of 10 continuously until the Infamy reaches 10 points before doing ‘Charity Quests’ from NPCs that pay out in EXP and Infamy reductions until they are back to neutral.

It needs to be noted that a player’s name is stricken from the Bounty List once their infamy falls to 50 and below and up again should they go back to 100.

The last and least preferred method is to kill 1000 monsters with a minimum level difference of 25 just to remove the <> alone before proceeding with more grinding to reduce their infamy amount. It is obvious why nobody really wants to as it takes forever.

Dying reduce 10 Infamy ONLY for the first death. It then double with consecutive death. There is no need to mention that nobody ever chooses this method.

All of the combination of factors resulted in bitter war between Red Players and Bounty Hunters. The Hunters are no saints either as they choose to kill for profit. Killing a Red Player results in a chance to drop items, EXP and fame. They were sometimes done unscrupulously, like when that player was trying his hardest to bring his status back to Neutral. Killing a registered Hunter brings twice the Infamy too. This becomes a vicious cycle that most normal players don’t really pay attention to.

There are a few more problems when you are a Red Player. Should you be dead, you do not spawn in Graveyard area where players normally spawn. There are areas where you do not have graveyard nearby, such as restricted zones and are forced to respawn on the spot you died. This usually allow Hunters to be in position the moment you log back in.

xXx

When he logged back in, he was slapped with (the) <>. Everyone in his party was except Daffy who died before they managed to retaliate in earnest. No idea how many on Campbell’s side, but he killed a good number of them and Reki killed even more than him, evident from her infamy status when we finally got a chance to sit down and gather ourselves later.

Reki was already waiting on the spot where they were ambushed. Winter was treated to the sight of her shooting a runner that was probably near a hundred meters away. The swift Rogue had no chance at all. At that range for Reki, he might as well be standing still. Winter and the rest had seen how Reki shot. She could cover over 200 meter easily with great accuracy. She even looked bored as she was letting go of her arrow.

Reki was guarding Winter’s spawning spot. Winter remembered that Rogue as he was the one who killed him. He was a Red Player. Winter spied his floating name fleetingly before his body pixelated. A handguard was dropped. Reki shot another arrow that retrieved the item to her.

From how many arrows scattered around the field, Reki had been sticking around to dish out some hurt to the ambushers. Winter had a sudden thought that she might surprisingly be vengeful. He probably should had called out first instead of moving. But when his foot scraped against a few loose gravel, an arrow was already flying at his head before he even managed to blink.

Completely not expecting to be shot on his face by Reki, Winter who always cast <> whenever he felt in danger had little time to think as the arrow rapidly covered the little distance of barely ten meters between where he spawned and where Reki was standing. Actually in hindsight he was probably not thinking at all as he did something that he would never have have done under normal circumstances.

The arrow’s wooden shaft with its metal head glinting against sunlight quivered inside Winter’s closed right fist. The broad triangular head barely two inches away from his forehead. Winter swore his heart stopped for a second in real life. Putting his free left hand against his knees, he leaned against his slightly trembling legs.

A mail pinged in his window. Winter knew who sent it. He always left mails from Reki to automatically open when he picked up her habit of writing mails instead of talking in person.

[Ah. Sorry. You surprised me. I had been busy putting away the trash.]

Another mail pinged.

[By the way. Nice catch! Ihave never seen someone catch an arrow bare handed before. Let alone mine! Never thought it was even possible! Hyuu~~ I am amazed! Winter is so cool! Mwahahaha~]

The content of the mail was not reflective at all to to her current expression , with her avatar’s facial muscles appearing to be neutral. If anything registered as a surprise, or amazement, it was her left hand that patted Winter’s shoulder. If it was again, not reflective of the right gesture, Winter was already used to how quirky Reki was. He has dealt with plenty of the strange quirks of his children alone. Like how Celine was a pack rat and won’t give up her stuff without a fight or Meredith that was quiet most of the time but actually very attentive to what you do. Even Julianne who Ronald regarded as the most normal out of any children has her own quirks.

She stayed with him a few weeks every summer holiday and sometimes could be heard giggling behind him when Ronald was not looking. And whenever Winter whipped his head around to find the source, he would encounter the intent stare of Julianne pointed at him. And when asked, she only giggled further, refusing to answer. Ronald gave up figuring out the children around him a while ago. Come to think of it, Winter thought. Julianne never did that strange giggle and stare act of hers for the longest time now.

Finally calmed down, Winter stared at his right hand that was enclosing the arrow Reki shot.

“Damn. I am good!” He murmured to himself.

Winter was not exclaiming his prominence. It was simply his exultant cry of triumph in escaping certain death.

Of course he would probably not die getting shot in the face, only badly injured. But the realism of Royal Road was as such that you could really feel the terror of death sometimes. And this was the first time Winter tasted this terror firsthand due to the suddenness of it. He had no chance to figure out it was a game!

“Yo, Old man. What are you doing bent over there? Feeling your age?”

This insolent way of speaking could only belong to Samuel. Winter chucked the arrow randomly in the direction where he heard Samuel speak. A girlish yell and a thump later, Winter was forced to chuckle when he turned around.

The arrow Winter randomly threw somehow managed to embed itself vertically on Samuel’s head. Most of the arrowhead was visible, but it stubbornly refused to budge when Samuel pulled at it, firmly anchored on the top of his skull.

“Wha? What is happening? Why dose Samuel have an arrow on his head?”

Rinne that probably just walked in was treated to the view of Samuel trying even harder to pull out the arrow to no avail.

[Nice toss.] An automatically opened mail arrived.

Reki’s left hand was raised around her shoulder height, fist closed. Winter bumped his fist to her’s in acknowledgement. He somehow felt closer to Reki.

“By the way, please don’t shot off my head next time. I like it where it is.”

Ping.

[That was an accident! Accident! It was your fault for surprising me.]

The end of the mail was followed by an image of a cartoonish Reki with cross eyes and index fingers tapping against each other. Winter stopped wondering how she even managed that in an official mail. As far as he know, the system did not even have such custom function.

“Hey, I just logged in and barely moved a step. You just whipped around and shot me!”

Winter was arguing against Reki who stood unmoving but somehow replied to Winter rapid fire. Should someone see, Winter might be thought slightly deranged.

They passed the next minute in this manner. Rinne’s foot was now on Samuel’s head, both hands on the arrow that still refused to be pulled out. Samuel might be yelling something, but it was drowned out by Winter’s loud argument.

xXx

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

It was probably just carelessness. That was the seed that created <>, the largest public PvP place in Royal Road. Whose fault was it?

Winter’s group was not new to being marked as a murderer. They were not sure whether to be surprised or unsurprised that Reki has extensive past bounty when they checked the Bounty Office after the first time they managed to shake off their Murderer’s Mark. That was back when they were journeying toward Arcanum. Weak card and dice cheaters apparently put quite a sizable bounty on them that took a while to clean up as they had to fend of bounty hunters while reducing their infamy rating.

Reki was wanted over 20 times! None ever managed to claim the bounty on her so far.

They should have probably gotten off the main path as it was the scene of a pitched battle with Reki and Winter being wanted. It was already amazing that no other players came to check out the scene. Oh. When you have the Mark, even when you are logged out, your avatar still stays logged in. Marked players need to hide their avatar, which is why Winter considered Reki amazing as she managed to hide herself for 4 days in-game. The truth was, Eamen Jungle was rarely visited as there were barely any quests branching to that direction and no players up till then headed there aside from Winter’s party.

But either way, they should not be careless. After all the first step to avoid being arrested should you ever commit murder is to not stick around the scene of the crime.

Winter who was arguing with Reki was not paying attention to the surrounding. Rinne who failed to dislodge Reki’s arrow (it eventually disappeared after a minute) was busy consoling Samuel as she inadvertently laughed at how ridiculous the whole thing was after they were done, depressing Samuel.

Ping.

Reki’s mail suddenly shot out in front of Winter. It contained only two words.

[WATCH OUT!!]

All in red prints

Winter was reading Reki’s message when she already leaped away. Winter was halfway puzzling what the message meant when his <> picked up a speeding projectile heading at the edge of his detection range and leaped away too with the usual assistance of his ever trusty <>.

An exploding fireball crashed where he and Reki had been standing. It bloomed into a spectacular blast of flame and heat. Winter had never seen the spell before, but the effect of <>, a tier 8 Wizard spell was impressive.

Reki quickly figured that out, came up from a diving roll and shot a bluish tipped arrow at a staff wielding player that had the stick extended out, obviously the caster. Winter did not see it, but the shot was spectacular on its own as <> struck the Wizard’s throat, causing instant backlash to the queued spell that knocked the player off his feet and toppled the warrior holding a shield standing in front of the Wizard.

To his left, Reki and Samuel yelped in surprise as they realise they were ambushed. Again.

Raising twofold <>, Winter shouted out.

“Summon Zorya!”

Relaxed looking Zorya who was expecting a meal ready to eat, courtesy of Winter, was surprised to receive a stab from a player that jumped out from the greens. The stab was not too damaging as the player was not expecting Zorya’s appearance.

From how well the clothing blended with the grass and his face obscured, leaving only eyes visible, Reki knew it as an Assassin. To Winter, it was only another player that somehow got real close to his spot.

Pulling out his sword which Reki handed back somewhere in the middle of their argument, Winter soon began trading blows, often getting the better in their exchanges with the help of spells to tip the balance. The Assassin who was expecting an easy kill was cursing when shallow slashes were landing, occasionally dodging hacking swings which were too close for comfort.

Winter was wondering in between his swift blows where Daffy was right that moment as he could see behind his opponent, the Wizard and Warrior was getting back up in slow motion while two more players that were not around before showed up to further add complications to their situation. One was another Archer type like Reki that was shooting an arrow that Winter could see would be blocked comfortably by his raised wall.

Now that the ambush had failed, they were switching from targeting the strongest target to the weakest one, a good tactic to whittle a party’s fighting power in a PvP situation. Stripping support is the best choice in this case.

Rinne and Samuel was already belting a harmonious tune. The two were always in sync with their performance even though they were doing two different songs. Rinne’s three part harmony voice was singing <> that added AGI by 10% for the next hour while Samuel was finishing his trademark quick performance of <> that buffed 20% movement speed.

Right at that moment, Daffy was sleeping comfortably due to time difference and was glad to not be any part of the fight at all. He did not show his face at all for the next week or so once the news on Winter’s second bloodbath that dwarfed the previous one was broadcasted.

Arman the Wizard was hugging the ground. He was useless to the team for the next four seconds as the glow around his throat still prevented any spellcasting. Their party’s Priest was already healing him while Barstan, their tanker was standing fast with cursing to the arrows that somehow evaded his kite shield.

It was supposed to be an easy kill. A mage, Archer and two Bards. They have no healer or tanker. He thought they were lucky, discovering four criminals on their way to Eamen for their quest. Their party did not do bounty hunting exclusively, but it was common practice for players to collect bounties whenever they can. This was one of those ‘whenever they can’ moment that maybe should not be done at all.

Whomever that Archer was, Arman would love to meet her when not on the other end of her bow. She kept him pinned down after dodging a sneak attack from 40 meters away with her <>. He was too arrogant in assuming that the mage was the more dangerous of the two. He has to revise his guess too as he watched the Warrior? Mage? slowly overwhelming Gustav with timely spellcasting as they clashed. He could not figure that one out.

He decided he should sue for peace despite them starting the fight first and hope they were in forgiving mood as he knew they would be decimated eventually. The half-spider pet was making their archer dance too with her spells.

The spell constricting his throat wearing out, Arman stood up quickly while keeping his whole body behind Barstan.

“Truce! I demand truce!” he yelled as loud as he could.

As he hoped, the barrage of arrows and spells ceased if not immediately. A few more thuds, clangs and dodges then silence.

Still keeping up his sword, the middle-aged Spellsword - Arman decided it to be - yelled back without taking eyes off from Carmen, their party’s Assassin.

“You are asking for a truce after attacking us? What sort of joke is this?”

Arman was rewarded with frosty sideway glare when he peeked out from Barstan’s protection. The blue eyes he spied was as cold and hard as winter ice while his hair was white like fresh fallen snow.

“Well… sorry! I cannot help but be tempted to collect some fame. Or you prefer to add to your infamy and bounty further!” Arman hollered.

Most players did not kill by choice. They were usually trapped by circumstances. Arman should know as he was forced to do so a few times in the past. Though this was the first time he drew back after attacking….

“Alright! I think we can go our separate ways, as long as you get this lousy dagger swinging Rogue off from my sight!”

Arman wanted to correct that player that Carmen was an Assassin, but Carmen was already doing that.

“I am an Assassin! Rogue is so last year! Where are your eyes? Does this costume look like a Rogue’s? Think man! Think! And lousy? Lousy! I will show you lousy!” She screeched, raising her daggers in ready pose. Arman would privately chuckle later when he recalled Carmen’s attempt to point out her costume that was rather skin tight but instead emphasised on her assets.

Arman was mentally sweating, expecting another fight to break out from the insult and rude accusation. Instead, Carmen was the one taken aback as she received an apology from the player.

“Forgive me, I am still rather new at this game. It was a slip of the tongue. If you wish to break it, I am ready anytime.”

Sword already sheathed, the middle-aged played his head slightly though there was no doubt it would be out in a flash. The situation still remained tense but slowly dissipating as tension drained with passing seconds.

Weapons were slowly lowered, prepared spells canceled.

“Damn, Old man, can’t even take a step without being shot.” A voice from behind the raised earthen wall complained. A girlish giggle emanated somewhere from the same spot as the boyish voice.

The bards stepped out from behind arrow studded barrier. One was a comely girl with silver hair. A Singer from the choker worn. The other a standard Bard from the lute he held competently, fingers ready to fire off support spells.

Arman figured that he was lucky nobody died yet. He was fighting a very capable group. Did that Spellsword that appeared to be the leader cast consecutive spell without speaking a word? That require at least <> and a lot of practice. More a mage than a warrior in his skill tree probably. There were plenty to be said too for the bards. They put good performance and support. He even recognised the girl now that he had more time to stare at her. That’s Rinne! The new Royal Road Idol!

“Shut up! Oh, where were we? Ah, yes. A fight. I don’t feel like fighting today, but if you insist, Miss, I am game. Just say the word.” Winter’s confident tone was slowly dissipating Arman’s intent to fight. It promised difficult battle ahead.

Before Carmen was allowed to reply with scathing word, Arman cut her off. She was a firecracker she was. Sometimes he wondered why he picked her up. Staring at how tight her costume was, he remembered immediately. She looked damn good in it though as a player she was slightly below average in skill.

“No more fighting if possible, please? I prefer to not lose any level like I am sure you prefer not to voluntarily increase your Infamy.”

It is not easy to remove infamy rating. Nobody want to let slip chances to reduce it quickly. Or not adding any further.

“I think we can just call this a misunderstanding and part ways, yes?” Arman pasted his best friendly smile, right hand extended out with his whole body in the open and staff lowered.

Slightly suspicious but eventually bowing to his friendliness, the middle-aged looking player walked to his direction, leaving fuming Carmen that was now in a stare-off contest with ‘Zorya’ that was staring at her curiously.

“Fine. Let’s just do this.”

“Shake on it?” Arman asked tentatively. The ice cold eyes stared at the extended hands for a couple seconds before sighing and extended his own hand to shake it.

“Fine. Shake on it. There.”

Their hands joined together in agreement when all hell broke loose.