“Not a cart, a—” Mark shook his head. “You know what? Never mind. Let’s go inside.”
Beth followed Eliza’s instructions, opening her Tome and making the necessary changes with a pencil that materialized at her mental command. Much to her surprise, she also got a new Skill as soon as she wrote the names.
HOLDINGS
* * *
Palmyre
327 Cirque du Chânce
Four-bedroom attached residential home located within the Chance District.
* * *
Full permissions granted to:
- Elizabeth Sullivan
- Peter Sullivan
- Mark Sullivan
- Angela Sullivan
- Jack Milsom
NEW GENERAL SKILL LEARNED!
Writing – Skill Level 24 (Tier-II)
Hey, look at that! And it’s not even in crayon, like some members of your family.
Tier-I Bonus: Decreased chance of writing being misunderstood.
Tier-II Bonus: Unlocks writing prerequisite for occupations that aren’t writing-primary (e.g. Guard Captain, Shift Boss, etc.). Required Skill Level varies by occupation.
* * *
*Since this Skill predates your arrival in Arenia, it has been set at a level commensurate with the practical ability you already possess.
* * *
3,950 XP Earned (cumulative)
* * *
RENOWN LEVEL UP!
Level 7 Achieved
* * *
XP: 10,150
XP to next Renown: 50
“Wow!” Beth said. “Peter, Mark, you definitely need to pick up the Writing Skill. That one is a doozy.”
Placing a hand on the door handle, Beth was delighted to see that Eliza’s prediction came true with a satisfying click of the lock. With a breath of trepidation, she entered their new home.
Inside, the house was very quaint. It wasn’t luxury, but it was solidly built. Quite narrow, maybe 6-metres wide and twice that deep, it still managed to make good use of the space.
There was a sitting room to the right of the entrance and a kitchen and dining area at the back, with a surprisingly modern-looking washroom in between. As in, it had something that looked like a toilet and something that emitted water, which under the circumstances was close enough. Stairs by the sitting room led to the second floor, which held three bedrooms—two smaller and one larger. Then there was an additional half-floor above that on the backside of the house that looked like it might have been added later, giving the house an appearance from the front of a 2-story home with a roof that sloped up and away from the street while looking from the rear like a 3-story house with a flat roof. That added 3rd floor room was a simple open space with the stairs running straight into it from below, but it had windows that opened onto the river. That view alone made it the premiere bedroom in the house.
“I certainly can’t complain,” Beth said as she walked into the small garden plot in the backyard, anxious to see the view of the river… only to discover it walled off with a three-metre high brick wall.
“Why on earth would you seal off a view of the water?” she said, shaking her head at the sight. “We’ll have to do something about that wall.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Eliza said with a half-smile. “Still, all in all, not a bad little place.”
“I agree,” Beth said. There were no furnishings, and the house was a bit different than they were used to, but it was theirs, and they were home.
“Thank you for everything,” Peter said, shaking Eliza’s hand. “I mean that. You’re a godsend.” Beth echoed Peter’s statements, and Mark added another round of thanks for getting his parents safely to Palmyre. Eliza shrugged the comments off as though they were nothing. Truth be told, she looked a bit embarrassed at the gesture.
Peter walked Eliza to the door while Beth wandered into the sitting room, pausing at the window to wave goodbye as Eliza headed off down the street. There was a click as the front door closed, then Peter joined Beth in the sitting room with Mark a step behind.
The family stood there, staring at each other.
“So,” Peter said. “What now?”
As though on cue, a brilliant light exploded in the middle of the room, causing everyone to wince and cover their eyes. The light twisted and contorted itself, forming into a vaguely humanoid shape before suddenly going out and—much to everyone’s surprise—revealing Angela hovering upside down in the middle of the room. A look of surprise crossed her face, then gravity took hold and she plummeted to the ground, landing on her face with a smack that prompted a torrent of expletives that only ended when she processed that she wasn’t alone in the room.
The whole family stared at each other in silent shock. As soon as Angela scrambled to her feet, a stone tablet materialized in front of her face. She grabbed it out of midair and read it, her eyes growing wide as they darted across the sheet of stone.
Suddenly, Angela dropped to her knees and raised her fists to the heavens, “NOOOOOOO!”
“Honey, what’s wrong?” Beth said, rushing to Angela’s side. Without answering, her daughter shoved the tablet towards Mark, who took it from her hand. An expression of confusion came over his face as he read the tablet’s contents.
“What does it say?” Beth asked.
Mark read it again, just to be certain, then turned it around so everyone could see. “It says, ‘Congratulations on making it to Palmyre: You are now a Druid.’”
* * *
The Sullivan family returns in Book 2:
“Legends of Arenia: Discovery”
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading the first book in the Legends of Arenia series! For independent authors like myself, success hinges entirely on the positive reviews of our fans. If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review on the Amazon product page. I would be eternally grateful!
* * *
I started this project in March 2020 when the Covid lockdown began, and it was a great experience during a terrible time. Thank you so much to my wonderful wife Erika and my two boys—you’re the real reason this book exists.
* * *
Feel like getting in touch? Feel free to reach out through any of these avenues:
* * *
Website: www.paparsons.com
Twitter: @Paul_Par
Discord: discord.gg/KEdzM8cVZD
Email: [email protected]
Patreon: www.patreon.com/paparsons
* * *
Take care,
P.A. Parsons
About the Author
Paul Parsons is originally from Vancouver, BC but now resides in Santa Barbara, California. Before becoming an author, he worked in the games industry for more than a decade as a designer and writer. He is married with two young boys, plays hockey and D&D, and hopes you enjoy his books.
JOHN “JACK” MILSOM
* * *
Renown: Level 16 – Unclassed
Species: Human
Age: 95
Experience: 68,900
Experience to Next Level: 1,000
* * *
Base Attributes
Strength – 20
Constitution – 22
Endurance – 24
Dexterity – 22
Willpower – 24
Intelligence – 19
Charisma – 13
Luck – 32
* * *
AVERAGE: 22.0
* * *
ABILITIES
Any Last Words (temporary)
Speak with the Dying (temporary)
*Boon – Deus Ex Machina
Threat Assessment
* * *
TRAITS
Well-Aged
Evolving (human)
Self Defence
Sure-Footed
* * *
GENERAL SKILLS
Animal Taming I – 12
Climbing II – 22
Dodge II – 22
/> Jumping I – 11
Rope Use II – 23
* * *
SURVIVAL SKILLS
Campcraft II – 23
Fishing III – 30
Hiking III – 38
Orienteering II – 25
Sense Danger III – 33
Snares II – 21
* * *
WEAPON SKILLS
Fists I – 18
Improvised Weapons – 3
Shields – 3
* * *
FIGHTING STYLES
1-Handed Weapons I – 12
Japanese Ju-jitsu II – 20
Judo II – 27
ELIZABETH “BETH” SULLIVAN
* * *
Renown: Level 7 – Unclassed
Species: Human
Age: 44
Experience: 6,200
Experience to Next Level: 1,200
* * *
Base Attributes
Strength – 14
Constitution – 17
Endurance – 16
Dexterity – 21
Willpower – 17
Intelligence – 17
Charisma – 23
Luck – 19
* * *
AVERAGE: 18.0
ABILITIES
*Boon – Deus Ex Machina
* * *
TRAITS
Evolving (human)
* * *
GENERAL SKILLS
Jumping I – 10
Pickpocket – 1
Writing II – 24
Yoga II – 22
* * *
SURVIVAL SKILLS
Campcraft – 3
Field Medicine – 3
Fishing – 6
Hiking I – 10
Sense Danger – 1
Snares – 2
Stealth – 2
* * *
FIGHTING STYLES
Taunting – 1
PETER SULLIVAN
* * *
Renown: Level 6 – Unclassed
Species: Human
Age: 44
Experience: 5,550
Experience to Next Level: 1,850
* * *
Base Attributes
Strength – 20
Constitution – 19
Endurance – 16
Dexterity – 19
Willpower – 15
Intelligence – 19
Charisma – 14
Luck – 19
* * *
AVERAGE: 17.6
ABILITIES
*Boon – Deus Ex Machina
* * *
TRAITS
Evolving (human)
* * *
GENERAL SKILLS
Jumping I – 11
Rope Use – 8
* * *
SURVIVAL SKILLS
Campcraft – 3
Field Medicine – 3
Fishing – 5
Hiking II – 20
Sense Danger – 1
Snares – 2
Stealth – 2
* * *
WEAPON SKILLS
Short Swords – 4
Small Blades – 3
* * *
FIGHTING STYLES
1-Handed Weapons – 5
Brawling I – 11
ANGELA SULLIVAN
* * *
Renown: Level 8 – Druid
Species: Human
Age: 24
Experience: 11,725
Experience to Next Level: 1,875
* * *
Base Attributes
Strength – 18
Constitution – 24
Endurance – 19
Dexterity – 16
Willpower – 18
Intelligence – 22
Charisma – 16
Luck – 13
* * *
AVERAGE: 18.3
* * *
ABILITIES
*Boon – Deus Ex Machina
Druid Lore
* * *
TRAITS
Evolving (human)
Freediver
* * *
GENERAL SKILLS
Cliff Jumping – 8
Climbing – 7
Jumping – 5
Yoga – 2
* * *
SURVIVAL SKILLS
Hiking – 9
Running for Your Life – 6
Swimming III – 32
* * *
WEAPON SKILLS
Clubs – 1
Thrown Weapons – 7
MARK SULLIVAN
* * *
Renown: Level 10 – மாற்றம்
Species: Human
Age: 20
Experience: 19,450
Experience to Next Level: 2,850
* * *
Base Attributes
Strength – 19
Constitution – 19
Endurance – 18
Dexterity – 18
Willpower – 19
Intelligence – 17
Charisma – 14
Luck – 12
* * *
AVERAGE: 17.0
* * *
ABILITIES
*Boon – Deus Ex Machina
*Boon – Class Compensation
* * *
TRAITS
Evolving (human)
* * *
GENERAL SKILLS
Jumping I – 11
Rope Use – 6
Writing II – 22
* * *
SURVIVAL SKILLS
Field Medicine – 6
Hiking I – 13
Running for Your Life – 5
Sense Danger – 4
* * *
FIGHTING STYLES
Brawling – 1
Arrival Page 30