[Recognized: 45/100]
“Isabelle?” Tahsi asked through the bars of his holding cell.
Isabelle looked to Higla, the kobold guard, who just stood there and laughed.
“No, you idiot! Illiana!” said Higla. Higla turned to Isabelle. “Sorry, he seems to have mistaken your name for that of his favorite human. He’s just a baker, though, so he can’t help but be a little stupid.”
[Recognized: 0/100]
“It’s fine,” said Isabelle.
“Actually, it’s not fine,” said Higla. “Our prisoners have to respect us guards. Especially when they’re about to be hanged. Why don’t you go on in the cell and rough him up a little? Get some of your violent human tendencies out of your system?”
“Uh, what?” Isabelle’s eyes went wide under her guard helmet.
“Just go in there and beat a little bit of respect into him. Maybe crack a rib or two. No big deal, he’ll be dead soon anyway. He was incredibly rude to you, Illiana, it’s the least you could do. Or are you humans just too weak to stand up for themselves?” said Higla.
Isabelle wanted to argue against beating Tahsi, but she was getting the impression it was her only way of keeping Higla happy. Possibly, it was her only way of keeping up the whole ‘being a guard’ charade.
“Here, I’ll unlock the door,” said Higla, walking over to the cell and pulling out a key ring. “And you go there and give him the business”
Isabelle had an idea. Maybe instead of beating Tahsi, she could try beating Higla. Isabelle focused on Higla and thought ‘Check Level.’
[‘Higla the Guard’ is level 52]
Fuck, that was a high level. Were all the guards such high levels? Still, Isabelle felt almost compelled to try and do something. After all, she’d managed to take down a giant spider! Hell, she’d taken down a giant! She’d taken on a whole Citadel! But a guard was different. If Isabelle got this guard fighting, it would probably only be moments before three more guards came to help. Higla turned her back to Isabelle, heading to the door.
If only Isabelle hadn’t used her special ability already! But there had to be something else she could do. Isabelle didn’t think attacking Higla was worth it. She’d probably just get more guards called on her. But maybe if Isabelle employed some trickery, she could get out of this situation. Isabelle raised her right hand and thought ‘Cast Draw Flame.’
[Mana 94%]
[Speechcraft attempt: mislead]
“AAGH! My hand! My hand’s spontaneously caught fire!! AAAGH What do I do?!” said Isabelle, waving her hand around frantically.
[Speechcraft succeeded]
[Speechcraft increased to level 4]
“Holy shit,” said Higla. “I’ve read about that in scrolls, but never seen it in person! Hang tight, little human, I’ll go get some water. Try and beat the prisoner a little while I’m gone if you can manage.” Higla ran off down the hall, leaving the cell door unlocked and open.
Isabelle snickered and walked inside the cell. She shook her hand, watching the flames fade into the air. Tahsi cowered, scooching himself into the far corner and shivering.
“Tahsi, stop worrying,” said Isabelle. “I’m not going to beat you. I’m going to get you out of here.”
“What do you mean?” asked Tahsi.
“Tahsi, my name’s not Illiana. I’m Isabelle. I’m here to break you out, you doofus,” said Isabelle.
Isabelle was expecting joy from Tahsi, maybe some celebration, or at least a meager smile. But instead, he reacted almost coldly.
“If it is really you, Isabelle, just beat me and get it over with. It’d be better to be hanged that go through any more of this hell on Beaubinte,” said Tahsi.
“Tahsi, you can’t be serious! Look, that guard’s going to come back here soon! If we’re going to break you out it needs to happen fast!” said Isabelle.
“Oh, I’m serious, Isabelle. I’m dead serious,” said Tahsi. “My life went to hell the moment I let you into my home. I’ll never forgive myself for taking pity on you that day. At this point, I’ll probably be happier dead, anyway.”
“Jesus Christ,” said Isabelle, rolling her eyes.
“Who?” asked Tahsi.
“Don’t worry about it. A saying from my old life,” said Isabelle. She leant over to look at the ropes binding Tahsi’s hands. Isabelle opened her inventory to look for a blade.
Inventory: Isabelle
Carrying capacity: 78.5/79
Item
Traits
Fang Blades (poisoned)
+3 poison, +8 damage, +1 str, +1 dx, +5 carry weight
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
[Fang Blades equipped]
[+3 poison]
[+8 damage]
[+1 str]
[+1 dx]
Isabelle slashed at Tahsi’ ropes, freeing his arms. Immediately he stood up and punched her in the gut.
[-1 hp]
Isabelle was more than a little insulted, but was also kind of thrilled that he’d only done 1 hp of damage to her.
“Why’d you let me free, you idiot?” said Tahsi. “Now you’ve killed us both.”
Had Isabelle died and woken up in another world again or something? Tahsi had just gut punched her for setting him free, and now he was calling her an idiot! Isabelle just couldn’t believe it. She didn’t know how Tahsi could feel confident calling anyone an idiot, considering his own persuasions.
“Can I at least get a thank you?” Isabelle asked Tahsi.
Tahsi responded with a distempered grunt and a cross of his arms.
“Wow. Remind me not to save you again,” said Isabelle. She turned to the cell door and pushed it further open. Then, Isabelle focused on the key ring that Higla had left in the door. Did all the guards in Cloud Reach just have a bad habit of leaving the keys in the door?
[‘Holding Cell Key Ring’ added to inventory]
“Alright, Illiana, I came as fast as I could, here’s a big bucket of water!” said Higla, walk-running as fast as she could down the hall to the left. Her serpentine eyes went wide as she noticed Isabelle and Tahsi both standing there outside the cell. “What in the hell is this? Why’d you let him out? And why isn’t your hand on fire?”
Isabelle grimaced and Tahsi muttered ‘nice job’ under his breath.
[Speechcraft attempt: mislead]
“I, uh, I just kind of shook the fire off my hand,” said Isabelle.
[Speechcraft succeeded]
“That makes sense,” Higla said, setting down the bucket of water and walking up to them both. “But what about the prisoner? Why is he out of his cell? And why aren’t his arms bound?”
[Speechcraft attempt: deceive]
“I, uh, I went in the cell to rough him up,” said Isabelle. “But he just looked so pitiful that I didn’t know if I could do it. Plus, I mean, he just looked so weak… so I cut his ropes off. It just didn’t feel fair to beat him while he was essentially defenseless, is all.”
[Speechcraft succeeded]
“That’s a unique way of looking at the situation,” said Higla. “Then again, you are a human, maybe your inferior, lesser developed humanoid mind thought it was a good idea. You’ve got to realize, Illiana, he is the prisoner, and you are the guard. You’ve got to internalize that if you’re ever going to succeed. There are a lot of plucky young kobolds that would kill to be in your position. What I mean is, they would kill, if killing wasn’t illegal, of course, since we’re talking about prospective instruments of Cloud Reach law here. Seriously, though—you ought to consider getting a bit of a grip on yourself. You need to look at him, and you need to feel above him. Here, let me show you.” Higla pulled out a mace and whacked it against Tahsi’s ankles.
“Ow!” said Tahsi.
“Don’t talk back to me, pig!” said Higla. “Now get on your knees.”
Tahsi got on his knees, muttering under his breath about law enforcement’s egos.
“Hey, I heard that!” said Higla. “Do you think you’re better than me? Do you? You’re a fucking criminal, you know. A fucking criminal. Let that seep through that thick, gluten-fed skull of yours. You’re lower than the dirt. You’re lower than a worm writhing through dung. Never forget that.”
Isabelle was starting to feel more and more uncomfortable in this situation. Higla seemed to be enjoying it a little too much, she thought.
“Alright, human,” said Higla, stepping away from Tahsi, “You give it a try now. Let him know his place. Even though he’s a kobold, which generally places him above you racially, of course.”
Isabelle really didn’t like Hegla. She walked up to Tahsi and looked down at him. He looked up at her like he was picturing punching her head open.
“Oh, you, you think you’re better than me, huh?” said Isabelle, not even herself convinced that she was in any way intimidating Tahsi. “Well, I’ll show you! You… you stink. You smell like a dirty lizard.”
“I stink?” Tahsi said back to her, with a little chuckle.
“Don’t let him talk back to you, even though he doesn’t actually stink and that’s just a function of your inferior human nose,” said Hegla. “Go ahead, punch him in the nose!”
“Yea, Isabelle, punch me in the nose!” Tahsi jeered.
[Combat mode activated]
Isabelle reeled her fist back and then punch Tahsi in the nose, doing her absolute best not to do much damage.
[Critical hit]
Shit.
[284 damage dealt]
[Party member ‘Tahsi’ is unconscious]
[Achievement unlocked: knock someone out]
[Achievement unlocked: hit a party member]
[Combat mode deactivated]
Tahsi fell backwards, limp. At least the system had said ‘unconscious’ and not ‘dead.’
“Holy hell,” said Higla. “You can punch like nobody’s business. No wonder they put you in the guard. Must be that crazy human strength. I’d always heard about it, but I never really took that rumor seriously til now. I mean, damn.”
“Oh my god!” said Isabelle. “Stop it with all the human talk! Human this, human that, I’m sick of it!”
“Illiana, I understand that I told you not to let the prisoner talk down to you, so you may be in a bit of an uppity mood, but I am your superior. You are new on the guard, and what’s more, you are a human, and you need to know your place.”
That was it. Fuck this shit. Isabelle had killed a fucking giant. A goddamn giant and a bunch of bloodthirsty lunatic convicts. Isabelle could take this guard.
[Combat mode activated]
“Uh, Illiana? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Isabelle opened her inventory. It was time to put on her real armor.
Inventory: Isabelle
Carrying capacity: 78.5/79
Item
Traits
Giant Spider Armor (human)
+4 hp, +8 str, +13 carry weight
Fang Blades (poisoned)
+3 poison, +8 damage, +1 str, +1 dx, +5 carry weight
Giant Spider Gauntlets
+4 damage, +3 stm, +1 dx, +3 carry weight
Giant Spider Boots
+4 stm, +2 str, +1 dx, +5 carry weight
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
[Giant Spider Armor equipped]
[+4 hp]
[+8 str]
[Fang Blades already equipped]
Oops.
[Giant Spider Gauntlets equipped]
[+4 damage]
[+3 stm]
[+1 dx]
[Giant Spider Boots equipped]
[+4 stm]
[+2 str]
[+1 dx]
“What the fuck just happened? What happened to your clothes?!” said Higla.
[Notice: use stamina for extra battle focus?]
[Y/N]
Isabelle thought yes.
[Extra focus activated]
[Stamina 90%]
Isabelle smirked, walked forward, and slashed Higla at the neck 8 times.
[Stamina 63%]
[Surprise attack]
[Critical hit]
[788 damage dealt]
Isabelle stood there and watched as a fountain of blood sprayed from Higla’s neck. Higla’s eyes went pale. Higla opened her mouth to scream, but all that came out was a faint gurgling as the kobold guard fell to the floor and twitched/
[Higla is dead]
[Combat mode deactivated]
[Achievement unlocked: perform a surprise attack]
[Achievement unlocked: kill a guard]
[Achievement unlocked: kill a guard in one hit]
[Achievement unlocked: kill an enemy with a much higher level than your own]
[Achievement unlocked: kill an enemy with a much higher level than your own in one hit]
[Notice: you’re ready to level up]
Holy shit. Not only was Isabelle shocked that she’d managed to kill Higla in one hit, but she was thrilled that she got a fuck ton of achievements for it. Of course, a guard lying dead in their own blood was fairly suspicious, so Isabelle needed to act fast if she was going to get away with this without having the entire Cloud Reach guard descend on her like a bunch of prejudiced vultures.
Isabelle looked to Tahsi, who was still laying unconscious. She wondered if she could do anything to wake him up. Isabelle focused on Tahsi.
[Wake ‘Tahsi’ up with ‘Potion of Lesser Health’?]
That wasn’t too costly. Isabelle thought yes.
[Potion of Lesser Health given to Tahsi]
Tahsi’s eyes fluttered open. He groaned.
[Notice: you’re ready to level up]
“Holy shit,” said Tahsi. “My nose hurts so much! What happened, Isabelle?”
Isabelle thought for a second before she spoke.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
[Speechcraft attempt: mislead]
“Well, Higla really wanted to hit you, and she really wanted me to hit you,” said Isabelle. “And you ended up unconscious.”
[Speechcraft succeeded]
[Notice: you’re ready to level up]
“Ugh. I hate guards, they always act like they’re so superior to everybody,” said Tahsi. “Speaking of which, where is…?”
Tahsi stopped talking and gasped as he saw Hegla face down in a puddle of blood.
“Holy shit,” said Tahsi. “You fucking killed her? Isabelle, you’re a godsdamn lunatic.”
“That’s an odd way to pronounce ‘hero,’ Tahsi,” said Isabelle. “Anyway, let’s get the fuck out of here before any more guards come in and try to fucking murder us.”
“Good call. Only, do you mind if I level up first, Isabelle?” asked Tahsi.
“Do I mind if you level up?” Isabelle asked with shock. “Why would you need to be leveled up, you just got knocked out by me!”
“Wait, Isabelle, it was you that knocked me out?” Tahsi asked.
“…Yes,” said Isabelle. “But look, Tahsi, I need to level up. I killed Higla in one hit.”
“Well, perfect. I mean, I don’t like to call guards by name because I find it a little too humanizing, but, perfect. Go ahead and level me up, and then go ahead and level yourself up, Isabelle. It’s the least you could do after knocking me out and ruining my life and almost getting me executed,” said Tahsi with smile.
[Notice: Party member Tahsi ready to level up]
[Notice: you’re ready to level up]
“Fine,” said Isabelle. She thought, ‘Open Tahsi character sheet.’
[Notice: Tahsi has reached level 15!]
[hp restored to 115]
Fucking seriously? Level 15? 115 hp? What was this shit? How was Tahsi so ahead of her? Isabelle had escaped prison and fought through a Citadel and a dungeon! What the fuck had Tahsi done? Get beat up by guards and sentenced to a hanging? How had he leveled up so high?
[Notice: You have attribute and skill points to spend]
[Would you like to spend your points now?]
[Y/N]
Isabelle thought yes.
Attribute Points to Spend: 10
Hp:
115
H-Regen:
0.1/sec
Mana:
58
M-Regen:
0.1/sec
Stm:
85
S-Regen:
0.3/sec
What in the flying fuck was this? Tahsi had 58 mana? Why? What did he need all that mana for? Did he do anything with it? And those regen times were absolutely insane! How was that even possible? Isabelle was nowhere close to that! She was only five levels behind him! Also, ten fucking points to spend?! Isabelle begrudgingly put five into stm and five to hp. There was no point in putting any in mana because, once again, Tahsi didn’t use it at all!
Skill Points to Spend: 10
Str:
45
Int:
39
Dx:
36
Wis:
61
Const:
36
Char:
50
Isabelle audibly laughed at this one. 45 str. Forty fucking five. 61 wis? 50 char?! Whatever. Isabelle was over this shit. She put all ten points into char, because why the fuck not.
Character Status
Name:
Tahsi
Gender:
Male
Level:
15
Class:
Baker
Race:
Kobold
Alignment:
Neutral-Good
Attributes
Hp:
120
H-Regen:
0.1/sec
Mana:
58
M-Regen:
0.1/sec
Stm:
70
S-Regen:
0.3/sec
Skill Points
Str:
45
Int:
39
Dx:
36
Wis:
61
Const:
36
Char:
60
Magic Ability Levels
Enchant:
0
Summon:
0
Heal:
0
Destroy:
0
Transmute:
0
Confuse:
0
Normal Ability Levels
Crafting:
15
Sneak:
0
Archery:
6
Lockpick:
0
Armed Combat:
6
Melee Combat:
16
Speechcraft:
12
Sleight Of Hand:
0
“I sure do love looking at my character sheet. It’s always satisfying. Don’t you love to look at your character sheet, Isabelle?” Tahsi asked with a smile.
Isabelle smiled back, but didn’t say anything. Looking at her character sheet used to be satisfying, back when she hadn’t seen stupid Tahsi’s stupid character sheet in a while. Now, she only halfheartedly wanted to level up.
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
Isabelle rolled her eyes.
A loud creeking echoed through the hall. The stone doorway was opening.
“Shit!” Isabelle whispered to Tahsi. “We need to get out of here, fast!”
“How?” asked Tahsi. “I think that’s the only entrance!”
“Fuck’s sake,” said Isabelle. She could hear two guards walking forward, talking to one another about how annoying hanging were and how they didn’t like tying nooses because of all the rope burn. “Tahsi, how do you feel about trying to level up your sneak?”
“Honestly?” said Tahsi. “Not super confident.”
“Great,” said Isabelle, rolling her eyes. She looked around, spotting an exceptionally dark corner of the hallway near a closed cell. “Just go crouch in that dark spot over there, Tahsi, and hope for the best. My sneak’s pretty high, maybe if we get lucky they’ll either leave to look for you or I’ll be able to get close enough to them to take them out.”
“Wow, Isabelle, you’ve gotten really bossy,” said Tahsi. “But sure, okay.”
Tahsi walked over to the shady space and crouched. Isabelle crouched as well, crawling over beside Tahsi’s open cell. She still had the holding cell’s key ring, so even if she got locked in, it was no big deal.
[Current visibility: 0/300]
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
The two guards walked up. They ran over to Higla’s dead body and gasped.
“Holy shit, somebody killed Hegla!” said one of the guards.
“Yea. I mean, we all kind of wanted to, let’s be real, but I never thought anybody would,” said the other guard.
“We’ve got to call in reinforcements, stat!” said the first guard. She pulled out a large conch shell and blew on it. A loud sound echoed through the hall.
“I’m going to look around. I bet the assailant is still in here,” said the second guard, drawing his longsword.
[Current visibility: 45/300]
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
“I think I see someone over in the cell!” said the guard, walking cautiously closer.
[Current visibility: 156/300]
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
Shit. Isabelle was in for it now.