[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
Isabelle and Tahsi stood cowering in their stolen Cloud Reach guard armor as the real member of the Cloud Reach guard asked again for Tahsi’s name.
[Speechcraft attempt: deceive]
“I’m, er, my name is Tuhro Itli,” said Tahsi.
[Speechcraft succeeded]
“Oh. Okay. That sounds like the name of a kobold guard, all right,” said the guard. “What about the human? What’s her name?”
[Speechcraft attempt: deceive]
“Illiana,” said Isabelle.
[Speechcraft had mixed results]
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
“Illiana? What in the hell kind of a made up name is that?” asked the guard.
Tahsi cleared his throat.
[Speechcraft attempt: deceive]
“She’s from out of town,” said Tahsi. “From one of those weird, rich human families. They’ll name their kids anything.’
[Speechcraft succeeded]
“Humans are so strange. It’s a wonder you made it on the force at all,” said the guard. The guard then turned to Tahsi and talked to him about humans, kobolds, and nothing at all.
Isabelle couldn’t help but find the voice of his guard somewhat familiar. Was she just imagining things?
[Clarification: You can opt to take a wis+int check to see whether you are imagining things. However, if you fail, you cannot try again.]
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
Isabelle kept forgetting she needed to level up. What’s more, leveling up could help her win her wis+int check against this guard to see what he was up to. It would probably help to be fully leveled up before getting into the quest to save Sir Jingles, too. So, Isabelle shrugged.
[Notice: You’ve reached level 11!]
[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: 8
Hp:
38
H-Regen:
3/50sec
Mana:
22
M-Regen:
2/min
Stm:
22
S-Regen:
0.5/sec
Isabelle did her best not to seethe in jealousy as she looked at her attribute points. It felt like such a downgrade after leveling up Tahsi recently, and Isabelle was bitter and insulted by that fact. She’d saved Tahsi’s life! What’s more, Isabelle could knock Tahsi out in one punch, apparently. Why wasn’t she the one with higher stats? Still, Isabelle needed to focus on the task at hand. Isabelle wanted to try and shorten her mana regen a little, but she’d told herself she’d focus on leveling herself up in a way that would help her out in her current situation and quest, and Isabelle wasn’t sure mana was the best move for that. She decided to put five points to her stm, and three to her hp.
Skill Points to Spend: 8
Str:
15
Int:
14
Dx:
14
Wis:
14
Const:
15
Char:
14
Isabelle knew she ought to put some points into her dx, it seemed to be a very usefull skill to have. Along with that, Isabelle wanted to add to her const, because she was sick of almost being over encumbered every time she looted, save for when she had this clunky Cloud Reach guard shield equipped. Isabelle wasn’t sure whether she ought to put more points in her char, or save those points for her int and wis. Seeing as she’d have Tahsi with her to use his high skill levels, Isabelle figured she ought to add to her int. Isabelle finally decided to put two to her dx, two to const, two to wis, and two to int.
[Congratulations, you’ve finished leveling up!]
Character Status
Name:
Isabelle
Gender:
Female
Level:
11
Class:
Undefined
Race:
Human
Alignment:
Neutral-Neutral
Attributes
Hp:
41
H-Regen:
3/50sec
Mana:
22
M-Regen:
2/min
Stm:
27
S-Regen:
0.5/sec
Skill Points
Str:
15
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Int:
15
Dx:
16
Wis:
16
Const:
17
Char:
14
Magic Ability Levels
Enchant:
0
Summon:
0
Heal:
0
Destroy:
3
Transmute:
0
Confuse:
0
Normal Ability Levels
Crafting:
4
Sneak:
5
Archery:
4
Lockpick:
0
Armed Combat:
5
Melee Combat:
3
Speechcraft:
4
Sleight Of Hand:
3
Nice. At least Isabelle had a higher sleight of hand than Tahsi did. Plus, she had a level three in destroying magic, and he wasn’t a level anything in any magic. That had to count for something, right?
Isabelle noticed Tahsi and the guard were still talking. Tahsi just couldn’t give his mouth a rest, could he? One minute it was bread, another it was words. Still, Isabelle was ready to take a wis+int to see whether she was imagining how familiar this fluffy, long-tailed Cloud Reach guard seemed. Isabelle thought ‘Check Cloud Reach guard identity.’
[…]
[Your wis+int check failed]
Shit. So much for trying that out. Isabelle had no idea who this guard could be or why they seemed so familiar to her, and now she had no easy way of knowing.
“Well, come on then, follow me,” said the guard. “Let’s go across the bridge and get you two to work! We’re already far behind schedule, and I won’t allow any more dawdling!”
Isabelle and Tahsi followed the guard across the bridge, doing their best to march in step like legitimate members of the Cloud Reach guard. Approaching the other end of the bridge, Isabelle could see a bustling crowd of grimy kobolds, and further back she could see Cloud Reach guards putting together a wooden stage and lighting torches.
[Recognized: 0/100]
Isabelle was thankful for that update, she’d been feeling a little on edge.
The guard led Isabelle and Tahsi through the crowd and up to the half-built stage.
“Now, I’ve got a question for you two,” said the guard. “Have you ever tied a noose before?”
Tahsi and Isabelle looked to one another.
“I mean, I looked it up once,” said Isabelle. “But it was confusing.”
“Looked it up? What do you mean, Isa—er, Illiana?” asked Tahsi.
[Recognized: 20/100]
Shit. Isabelle had forgotten for a second that you couldn’t look things up on the internet in Beaubinte. She must’ve failed a wis+int check or something to make such a stupid slip-up.
[Clarification: You are correct]
“It’s really no big deal,” said the guard. “Here, I’ll show you two how to tie a noose. Just watch me.”
[Recognized: 5/100]
Isabelle stared as the guard took a length of rope and twirled it around itself expertly in but a moment. How could she learn that?
[Recognized: 0/100]
[Learn skill: Noose Tying?]
[Y/N]
So that was how. Isabelle should’ve known the system would come in handy for such a thing. Isabelle thought yes.
[Learning skill…]
[…]
[Skill learned: Noose Tying]
“Alright,” said the guard. “Now I’ll hand each of you a rope and you can give it a try.”
The guard handed Isabelle and Tahsi lengths of rope.
[Use skill: noose tying on item: rope?]
[Y/N]
Isabelle thought yes. She could see Tahsi was going through the same thought process. Afterwards, they both twisted and tied the ropes into nooses in expertly seconds.
“Wow! You both learned that really fast! Almost suspiciously fast. Almost, I mean,” said the guard. “Of course, we only needed one noose for today’s hanging, and it’s already been tied, but you both seemed pretty green and I wanted to make sure you knew what you were doing., Can’t have a member of the Cloud Reach guard not knowing how to tie a noose, now can we?”
Isabelle and Tahsi looked to one another and shrugged, immediately both jumping as their character sheets popped up and covered their vision.
[Recognized: 5/100]
“You two are acting quite strange,” said the guard.
Isabelle and Tahsi focused their vision back on the guard, and their character sheets faded away.
[Recognized: 0/100]
“No matter,” said the guard. “Come along with me, you’re going to help transport the prisoner to his final destination.”
Isabelle couldn’t believe her and Tahsi’s luck. They were being brought right over where they needed to be! Now if only they could ditch this bore of a guard once they got there.
The guard led them back behind the stage, through a row of guards that were standing, smoking and joking about nothing in particular. Past these guards was a small carriage covered in tattered sheets. The guard lifted a flap on the carriage and unlocked a barred door. He ushered Isabelle and Tahsi to walk inside. Once they’d entered, he shut the door behind them.
Isabelle could see a figure slumped over in the corner.
“Alright, you two, go ahead and rough him up a little. I like them to be extra weak for the hanging,” said the guard. his whiskers twitched with excitement.
Isabelle and Tahsi looked to one another with apprehension. Were all the Cloud Reach guards dead set on beating their prisoners?
[Recognized: 25/100]
“What the hell is wrong with you two? Usually I don’t even have to tell a member of the guard to start beating a prisoner! It ought to be an impulse! Didn’t your guard training teach you anything?” asked the guard.
“Sorry,” said Isabelle. She walked over to Sir Jingles’ crumpled form. His head was covered with a dark black cloth. Isabelle raised her fists, preparing to punch him. “We’ll do better.”
[Recognized: 5/100]
[Combat mode activated]
Isabelle punched Sir Jingles’ in the chest five times.
[333 damage dealt]
[Stamina 84%]
Sir Jingles didn’t even respond. That was odd, considering the amount of damage he’d just taken.
“Now we’re talking!” said the guard. He turned to Tahsi. “You, big guy, you take your turn.”
Tahsi walked up to Sir Jingles and kicked him in the head. He keeled over on his side without a sound.
[402 damage dealt]
Isabelle couldn’t stand the fact that Tahsi had just done more damage with one kick than she had done with five punches. She was also worried about Sir Jingles, of course.
“Alright, that’s enough,” said the guard. He chuckled. “Don’t want you guys killing him or anything before we hang him, eh?”
Isabelle and Tahsi didn’t say anything. Isabelle thought to herself that Sir Jingles already seemed kind of dead.
“Now we’re going to lead him up to the stage. Yes, you two are getting the honors of bringing him up to the stage. Just be sure to follow my lead. Once we hand him off to the executioner, we’ll head offstage so that we don’t distract from the climactic moment,” said the guard.
Shit. How could Isabelle and Tahsi do anything about this? They felt completely compelled to keep up the charade. Isabelle considered equipping her real armor and weapons and trying to crit kill this guard like she had Higla, but what would that do other than alarm all the others guards in their vicinity? Maybe Sir Jingles would just have to take one for the team.
“What’s the problem?” asked the guard. “Are you too chicken to hang something?”
Without a moment more of thought, Isabelle and Tahsi both walked over and picked up Sir Jingles. His arms were heavy and rough. They dragged him forward, out the door and past the row of smoking, drinking guards. Isabelle almost felt like she’d become depersonalized for a moment, like she had no control over her body. What the hell had happened?
[Clarification: You and party member Tahsi failed an intimidation check]
Of course. Fucking classic. Isabelle could barely watch as she and Tahsi hauled their unconscious, imprisoned companion up to the wooden stage and set his slumped body by the haning noose.
“Thank you,” said the guard. “Now, follow me.”
Isabelle and Tahsi obeyed, stepping down off the stage and beside the gathering mob of eager spectators. Isabelle felt powerless. Impotent. It digusted her.
“Only a few moments til the big show now!” said the guard with a chuckle and a purr. “Now stop acting so stiff! Kick back, enjoy yourselves and watch the fireworks. This is what being a Cloud Reach guard is all about.”
[Time to execution: 1:30]
Shit. Isabelle looked at Tahsi. And it was then that the confines of their failed intimidation check seemed to melt away. Isabelle opened her inventory.
Inventory: Isabelle
Carrying capacity: 78.5/92
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…
Hell yes.
[Fang Blades equipped]
[+3 poison]
[+8 damage]
[+1 str]
[+1 dx]
“Woah, what are those things? They don’t look like regulation steel,” said the guard suspiciously, his whiskers twitching.
[Combat mode activated]
“That’s because they’re not, motherfucker!” Isabelle said, leaping forwardsand stabbing at the guard. He doged each swipe at him expertly.
“Nice try, foolish human!” said the guard. He raised his steel blade and slash, slash slashed forward, but it almost seemed like he was trying to miss Isabelle. It was bizarre, a fight had started, but no damage had been dealt.
[Time to execution: 1:05]
“Why are you just toying with me?” asked Isabelle as the guard jumped into a spectator and slammed his sword against the ground by her feet. “It’s like this is just a game of cat and mouse to you!”
The guard only laughed, and continued swinging his sword, missing every shot.
“This is fucking ridiculous!” Isabelle jumped towards him again, only to all but fall on her face as the guard danced away. Were all Cloud Reach guards this light on their feet?
[Time to execution: 0:44]
“Tahsi!” Isabelle cried out. “Try and save Sir Jingles!”
“I’m trying, Isabelle!” said Tahsi as two guards jumped towards him and took turns stabbing him with their blades. “Ack! Ack! Arrgh!”
[Tahsi -4 hp]
[Tahsi -6 hp]
[Tahsi -4 hp]
[Tahsi -3 hp]
[Time to execution: 0:29]
Why was Tahsi complaining so much with all these grunts of pain? It’s not like he had to worry about running out of hp. What was his total hp, again? 115? What a lucky bastard. Plus, at least the guards he was fighting were actually trying to fight him back. Isabelle just felt like the guard she was fighting was spending the whole time messing with her. It was probably because she was a human. And a woman.
[Time to execution: 0:16]
A human woman versus a kobold man. Hell, what a double whammy that was, for this prejudiced society Isabelle had clearly been reincarnated into. What a fitting replacement for the prejudiced society she'd reincarnated from. This guard probably thought he was a whole hell of a lot better than her, Isabelle figured. For a second, she almost found herself missing Hegla. At least Hegla’s prejudice was only against Isabelle’s humanity, never her gender.
[Time to execution: 0:08]
Fueled by her own impudent rage, Isabelle leapt forward again, this time much farther than normal, and pounced on top of the guard, knocking him prone.
[Stamina 88%]
She raised her fang blades and slashed at his chest four times.
[442 damage dealt]
Nice.
[‘Sir Jingles’ has been poisoned]
Wait, what? Isabelle was confused. She wondered if the system could repeat that last update to her again.
[‘Sir Jingles’ has been poisoned]
Isabelle looked down at her would-be foe. For the first time she really noticed his thick, catlike fur. His whiskers. His fucking fluffy tail. Isabelle gasped as she lifted the guard’s helmet up to see Sir Jingles’ kittenlike face staring back at her.
“Sir Jingles? It’s been you the whole time?!” Isabelle said.
“Yes, it has,” said Sir Jingles with a sly smile.
“But, if you’re disguised as the guard—” Isabelle said, turning to look back at the execution stage, “—Then who the hell did me and Tahsi put up for execution?!”
Isabelle watched as the executioner guard put the noose around the prisoner’s neck. The crowd cheered as the guard walked over to a large, wooden lever. The guard bowed. The crowd cheered some more. The guard placed his hand on the lever.
[Time to execution: 0:00]
And the guard pushed the lever down. A small slit of wood shot out from underneath the prisoner’s feet. The body dropped.
With a horrible crack, the noose made its ultimate tug and tighten, and the stage erupted in a showering barray of smoke and flame. Loud booms shook the ground as clusters of explosions rattled around the stage, busting it to splintery bits. The ground shook, people screamed, and a near stampede of burning kobolds hurried to escape the premises.
Isabelle tried to call Sir Jingles a fucking lunatic, but she couldn’t hear herself speak. Worse still, whatever members of the Cloud Reach guard there were that hadn’t perished or scattered in agony seemed to be charging towards her with their weapons drawn. Shit.