Isabelle, Tahsi and Sir Jingles watched the near-naked, alleged prince of Sharithlond run. The prince was heading towards the two kobolds who were planning on building a bridge across the dangerously acidic Iris Canal.
“Hey, what in the hell?” said one of the kobolds, dropping his bundle of scrolls. They rolled into the Iris Canal and promptly melted.
“Gods damn it, Rotri, why’d you drop everything? That shit is expensive!” said the other kobold.
Rotri pointed a sharp, reptilian fingernail in the direction of the half-elf prince running up to them. The other kobold dropped her bundle of scrolls immediately, and they too rolled down the hillside and plopped into the Iris Canal, sizzling and melting into nothing.
“Oh, gods damnit all to hell!” said the kobold. She stamped her feet in frustration.
The prince ran up to the kobolds and screamed and moaning at them through the silk gag in his mouth. The kobolds looked in the distance at Isabelle, Tahsi, and Sir Jingles.
“Hey! You three!” called Rotri. “What’s the deal with this guy?”
[Speechcraft attempt: deceive]
“We’re Cloud Reach guards!” said Tahsi. “He’s our prisoner.”
[Speechcraft had mixed results]
“Cloud Reach guards?” asked the other kobold. She pointed at Isabelle in suspicion. “Why’s that lady on the white and black speckled horse not wearing Cloud Reach guard armor, then?”
Tahsi shrugged. “Ah, shit! Opened my character sheet!”
“Sorry, you opened your what now?” asked Rotri.
“Nothing, don’t worry about it,” said Tahsi.
The prince started jumping up and down, and was absolutely screaming through his gag.
“He’s being really annoying,” said Rotri. “I think I’m going to take this gag out of his mouth.”
[Speechcraft attempt: intimidate]
“No, don’t do it! As a member of the Cloud Reach guard, I forbid you to!” said Tahsi.
[Speechcraft succeeded]
“Okay, yeesh, no need to freak out, guy,” said the other kobold.
On hearing this, the prince leapt forward and kicked the kobold in the crotch.
“Ack!” cried the kobold. “That really hurt! Would you three please get over here and control your prisoner?”
Isabelle nodded in admission. She and her two party members directed their horses onward, approaching the kobolds and the unruly prince. They dismounted and surrounded him.
“Alright, prince,” said Tahsi, “Let’s get those legs of yours tied back up. Jingles, do you have any more rope?”
“Oh, yes,” said Sir Jingles. “I’ve always got plenty of rope.”
“Wait a second,” said the lady kobold. “Did I just hear you say this elf is a prince?”
[Speechcraft attempt: deceive]
“No,” said Sir Jingles. “He said prisoner.”
[Speechcraft failed]
“I don’t trust this guy,” said Rotri. “Who ever heard of a cat guard, anyway?”
“Yea, this is suspicious as hell,” said the lady kobold. She drew a greatsword and took a fighting stance. “I think these three are up to no good.”
[Combat mode activated]
Isabelle rolled her eyes. These kobolds were obviously low level, and a waste of her time. Then again, Isabelle had recently learned a new spell and needed a chance to test it out. Isabelle opened her inventory.
Inventory: Isabelle
Carrying capacity: 84/91
Item
Traits
Necromancer Robes
+10 mana, +3 confuse, +3 enchant, +1 destroy, +4 carry weight
Ring of Improved Destroy
+3 destroy
Staff of the Undead
+5 mana, +2 carry weight
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
[Necromancer Robes equipped]
[+10 mana]
[+3 confuse]
[+3 enchant]
[+1 destroy]
[Ring of Improved Destroy equipped]
[+3 destroy]
[Staff of the Undead equipped]
[+5 mana]
Isabelle wasn’t planning on using the Staff of the Undead to cast a spell, but its +5 mana bonus would surely be useful. Isabelle raised her right hand and pointed it at the lady kobold. Isabelle thought ‘Cast Ice Blast.’
[Mana 95%]
Isabelle watched with glee as a barrage of sharp ice shards shot out of her open palm and battered the lady kobold.
[Critical hit]
[556 damage dealt]
[2 frost damage dealt]
[‘Kobold’ is frozen]
[Achievement Unlocked: Freeze an enemy]
Isabelle watched as a shell of blue hue grew over the kobold and she froze in place.
“Oh my gods, what’ve you done to her?!” said Rotri, the other kobold. He dropped the greatsword he had drawn and started running away towards some thick forest undergrowth.
Isabelle had to stop him from escaping. If she didn’t, he’d surely tell someone what he’d witnessed, and she couldn’t risk any actual Cloud Reach guards knowing their location, or that they now had horses. She raised her hand and once again thought, ‘Cast Ice Blast.’
[Mana 89%]
More ice sprayed out of her hand brilliantly, shooting through the air and at the escaping kobold.
[206 damage dealt]
[2 frost damage dealt]
Damn. Only about a third of the ice had hit him. Still, the kobold looked a little staggered and frightened from the blast of ice. Isabelle needed to focus more if she was going to get a good hit on this little bastard.
[Notice: use stamina for extra battle focus?]
[Y/N]
Isabelle thought yes.
[Extra focus activated]
[Stamina 90%]
Perfect. Isabelle could see time slowing down and her distance vision improving as the kobold continued running towards the underbrush. Now she could cast again. Isabelle opened her hand again and thought ‘Cast Ice Blast.’
[Stamina 80%]
[Mana 82%]
The ice shot from Isabelle’s hand slow at first, and then quickly as her enhanced time perception deactivated. It shot through the air and battered the kobold perfectly. When the stream of ice shards was halfway spent, the kobold froze.
[‘Rotri’ is frozen]
The rest of the ice then sprayed into the frozen kobold, sending cracks through his frozen body. When the last couple of ice shards hit, the kobold shattered into spatters of bloody ice, spraying all over the ground.
[Critical hit]
[1014 damage dealt]
[‘Rotri’ is dead]
[Destroy increased to level 4]
[Achievement Unlocked: Break a frozen enemy apart]
[Combat mode deactivated]
“Fuck’s sake, Isabelle,” said Tahsi. He took a large bite of bread. “That was fucking terrifying. Where’d you learn to use all this magic, anyhow?”
“A spell tome,” said Isabelle. She realized how defensive her voice sounded. Isabelle had really wanted to keep the magic to herself. Tahsi was better at everything else, why not let her be the one good with magic?
“Wow, a spell tome. That’s so cool,” said Tahsi. He took another bite of bread. “Did you know, Isabelle, that when I was younger, I thought they were called spell tombs? Tomb, as in, like where a dead person would go. Funny, huh?”
Isabelle forced a chuckle. Then, she had a couple thoughts. First of all, what had happened to the prince? Isabelle looked around and saw that Sir Jingles had stayed true to his task and tied the captive back up. Excellent. Isabelle then knew she could focus on her second issue, which was that she hadn’t even tried to loot either of her would-be attackers! Isabelle rushed forward to the shattered remains of Rotri and focused on a frozen toe.
[Loot ‘Rotri’?]
Isabelle thought yes.
Inventory: Rotri
Item
Traits
Potion of Lesser Health
+5 hp, +0.5 carry weight
Copper (3)
n/a
Gold (1)
n/a
That was a little disappointing. Still, Isabelle took everything.
Inventory: Rotri
Item
Traits
n/a
n/a
Now, Isabelle was ready to loot that other kobold. She walked back over to the side of the Iris Canal and focused on the frozen kobold.
[Loot ‘Kobold’?]
Isabelle thought yes.
Inventory: Kobold
Item
Traits
Capenter’s Guild Ring
+5 crafting
Copper (1)
n/a
Hey, that Carpenter’s Guild Ring had a great crafting bonus! At least this loot session wasn’t a total bust.
Inventory: Kobold
Item
Traits
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
n/a
n/a
Wait a second. Isabelle wasn’t totally certain this frozen kobold was dead.
“Uh, Tahsi? Sir Jingles? Do you guys think this frozen kobold is dead?” Isabelle asked her party.
They both shrugged, and then jumped and swore as their character sheets popped open. Isabelle rolled her eyes and looked back at the frozen kobold. It wasn’t too far from the highly acidic Iris Canal. Isabelle pushed the cold, heavy body of the frozen kobold down the slight hill and into the river, watching as it quickly melted and fizzed into nothingness with some crackles and pops.
“Isabelle, did you really just push that kobold into Iris Canal?” asked Tahsi.
“Yea,” said Isabelle. “I couldn’t leave any loose ends.”
“Shit, you sound like a career criminal,” said Sir Jingles. “I would know, seeing as I’m a career criminal. I’ve got some contacts in the Flock, too, if you’re ever interested.”
Before Isabelle could ask Sir Jingles to explain what exactly he was talking about, a quest request was staring her in the face.
Quest: Talk to the Flock
Description: It helps to have friends in high places, and Sir Jingles has contacts in the Flock. See if you can get in touch with anyone in the Flock through him, they may be able to help you in a time of need or even offer you membership.
Activate? Y/N
Huh. The Flock, huh? Reading the quest request, it seemed to Isabelle that the Flock was somewhat similar to the Mob back in her past life. The thought of meeting with this ‘Flock’ made Isabelle feel a little nervous, but it also sounded pretty cool. Plus, Sir Jingles wouldn’t have suggested it if he didn’t think she was cut out for it, right? Isabelle thought yes.
[Quest ‘Talk to the Flock’ activated]
[Loading quest]
[…]
[…]
[Quest prepared]
[Talk to Sir Jingles to learn more about his contacts in the Flock]
“So, Sir Jingles—” said Isabelle, “—who do you know in the Flock?”
“My main guy is Neser Fatwater. He’s young, but powerful, and he owes me a favor. Those guys are funny about their favors, too. They seem to take them really seriously. I can’t even count on my paws any more the amount of times one of the Flock’s associates has shown up in the middle of the night to ask me if I have anybody in mind for them to whack off,” said Sir Jingles.
“Uh, to whack off, Sir Jingles?” Isabelle raised an eyebrow.
“To kill? Duh?” said Sir Jingles.
“Sir Jingles, are you telling me that you’ve got a network of criminals actively looking for someone to kill on your behalf?” asked Isabelle.
“Yes?” said Sir Jingles.
“Why didn’t you mention that earlier?” asked Isabelle. “Hell, there’s no reason for us to try and get back into Cloud Reach at all if all you need to do is call up your Flock friends and have them whack Oglo!”
“Have them whack Oglo off, you mean,” said Sir Jingles. “But anyways, I never said you could use my kill credit on your own target, Isabelle. I was just letting you know that I had contacts in the Flock, really.”
[Speechcraft attempt: persuade]
“Sir Jingles, come on. You aren’t going to use it otherwise. You said yourself they won’t stop nagging you because they’re so eager to kill for you! I think directing the Flock to kill Oglo is something that we could both get behind,” said Isabelle.
[Speechcraft had mixed results]
“Look, Isabelle, this is how I see it. I only agreed to go back into Cloud Reach and help you kill this Oglo guy who rubbed you the wrong way at the Citadel or whatever because of one thing. Isabelle, you agreed to use that nice map of the prison you’ve got to help us get back all our confiscated inventory items. I know Tahsi has a lot of things in there that he wants, namely loaves of bread. And I know that I have waiting for me in that prison’s impound lot the countless tools and treasures a prized cat burglar such as myself often amasses. As it stands, we have a vested interest in continuing your quest and getting back into Cloud Reach, but I personally do not have a vested interest in spending my kill credit for you, Isabelle. That’s the honest truth. I want to keep it for myself. I am, honestly, a selfish person,” said Sir Jingles.
“That’s fair,” said Isabelle. She sighed, feeling a little tired. Was Sir Jingles' endless talking just wearing into her? That's how it felt.
“However, I do have an idea that may interest you, Isabelle,” Sir Jingles said, “I could put us in contact with the Flock and offer your map of Cloud Reach’s prison to them. In exchange, they may be able to help us get into Cloud Reach in the first place, and they may also be interested in helping you dispatch Oglo, though I doubt the Flock would get their hands dirty for you without someone spending a kill credit. But still, it is not a bad idea to consider involving them in this venture. They’re people that you want on your side, and not on your enemies’ side, if you catch my drift.”
Isabelle had to think a little on this one. “I’m not sure about giving them my map, Sir Jingles. Would it be okay if I think on this for a while? Maybe until we’re closer to Cloud Reach?”
“I don’t see why not,” said Sir Jingles. “I can get in touch with them any time with my special Flock contact sending stone, though, so—ah, shit.”
“What?” asked Isabelle.
“My special Flock contact sending stone is locked up in the prison’s impound,” said Sir Jingles. “So, if you really do want to talk to the Flock, it’s going to have to wait til we’ve already done that bit of the quest.”
“That figures,” said Isabelle.
[Quest addition added]
[Quest link activating]
[…]
[…]
[Quest link activated]
[Quest ‘Talk to the Flock’ successfully linked to Quest ‘Get Revenge On Oglo’]
[Achievement Unlocked: Activate a quest link]
[Continue onward to Cloud Reach and break back in to Cloud Reach’s prison]
That was curious. Isabelle wondered why exactly the system had gone through the effort of ‘linking’ her two active quests together.
[Clarification: Linking quests allows for more succinct system prompts and direction. Additionally, linking quests raises the overall xp gained over time from acting on a given quest (q) exponentially when the exponential rate is determined as n+1, where n refers to the number of quests linked minus one. The act of linking a quest itself, too, raises your overall xp immediately.]
Huh. That sounded pretty nice. It also reminded Isabelle that she hadn’t really been paying attention to her XP status recently. Isabelle thought, ‘see xp status.’
XP Status
Overall XP:
88/100
Level:
13
Magic Ability XP
Enchant:
0/100 xp
level 0
Summon:
0/100 xp
level 0
Heal:
0/100 xp
level 0
Destroy:
12/100 xp
level 4
Transmute:
0/100 xp
level 0
Confuse:
35/100 xp
level 0
Normal Ability Levels
Crafting:
0/100 xp
level 4
Sneak:
64/100 xp
level 6
Archery:
22/100 xp
level 5
Lockpick:
0/100 xp
level 0
Armed Combat:
43/100 xp
level 5
Melee Combat:
21/100 xp
level 3
Speechcraft:
98/100 xp
level 5
Sleight Of Hand:
42/100 xp
level 3
Woah! Isabelle had not expected to be so close to leveling up already, after all, she’d only just reached level 13. Maybe she could just push herself over the edge. Isabelle saw her speechcraft was only two points away from increasing another level. Seeing that reminded Isabelle that she had the prince’s noble robes, and his necklace of greater speechcraft, in her inventory. Maybe she couldn’t talk to the Flock without Sir Jingles’ Flock contact sending stone, but she could definitely try to persuade him to spend his ‘kill credit,’ whatever the hell that was, on Oglo. Isabelle opened her inventory.
Inventory: Isabelle
Carrying capacity: 84.5/91
Item
Traits
Noble Robes
+6 char, +2 carry weight
Necklace of Greater Speechcraft
+10 speechcraft, +0.5 carry weight
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
[Noble Robes equipped]
[+6 char]
[Necklace of Greater Speechcraft]
[+10 speechcraft]
Isabelle walked up to Sir Jingles with a smirk.
“Oh, hi again, Isabelle,” said Sir Jingles. “Say, those noble robes sure are flattering. I never really was one to find humans attractive, Isabelle, but you’re kind of making me think I might’ve been missing out.”
Isabelle felt too smug about how stupid Sir Jingles was acting to feel self conscious. It was crazy how much a little outfit change could do.
[Speechcraft attempt: persuade]
“Sir Jingles, are you absolutely sure you wouldn’t want to use your kill credit with the Flock to kill Oglo for me?” Isabelle asked. She almost couldn’t believe how her voice sounded as she spoke, even she was finding herself a little alluring in this state.
[Speechcraft succeeded]
[Speechcraft increased to level 6]
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
Finally! Isabelle could level up now. All she had to do was get away from Sir Jingles. It seemed like, the more she talked to him, the more tired she got.
[Clarification: Your speechcraft, while decently high and greatly improved by the items you have equipped, is still somewhat weak compared to Sir Jingles' speechcraft. This is mainly due to his first special ability, which greatly improves his char and speechcraft. As a result, speechcraft attempts against him are far more draining to you.]
“You know what, Isabelle? I'd be happy to use the kill credit to kill Oglo!” said Sir Jingles. “I will say, though, you might want to save the Flock’s power for a different hit. You seem like you might wanna get your revenge on this guy yourself, Isabelle, and it might not be as fun to have hired goons take him out for you. That said, my kill credit is as good as yours. In fact, here.”
[Accept gift of 1 Flock kill credit from party member Sir Jingles?]
[Y/N]
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
Isabelle thought yes.
[1 Flock kill credit has been added to your credit list]
Isabelle had a credit list?
[Clarification: Yes. There are a number of different credits that the system can manage for you, one of which being kill credits. You may see your list of credits by thinking ‘see credit list.]
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
Fascinating. Isabelle wanted to look at her credit list, but that could wait until she had more than one credit on it.
Feeling faint and forgetful, Isabelle walked over to Tahsi, who was eating bread, and talked to him about their next steps. He seemed to think they ought to trace back their steps a bit so they weren’t right next to the Iris Canal and set up camp for the night, even though Tahsi also said that sleeping at night would totally ruin his circadian rhythm. Isabelle thought that was a good idea, mainly just because she was to tired to think at all. Really, she was herself so weary that even the idea of leveling up felt like it could wait until after she’d caught some shut eye.
They set up camp, using bits of tarp that Sir Jingles had stolen earlier from the bandits they’d encountered to fashion a makeshift tent. They kept the prince essentially naked, though as the night grew cold Isabelle felt pity on him and gave him a blanket before settling in to slumber herself.
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
If she could even get any sleep with those green letters glaring her in the face, that was.
[Notice: Sleep Synchronization Activating...]
[...]
[Sleep synchronication activated]
What did that mean? It made Isabelle feel a little uneasy. Still, she felt almost compelled to drift into slumber...