Infinite Assassins: Daggerland Online Novel 2 A LITRPG Adventure

by Peter Meredith

  “We’re a good team,” she said. “We’ve always been a good team.” With her face turned away she reached out her hand. It was shaking. He took it in his and wondered at the coolness of it. His was hot and sweaty from the battle. He wanted to wipe it on his leathers, but at the same time he didn’t want to let go. There was a finality in their touch.

  They couldn’t see each other in Daggerland and they couldn’t see each other in the real world. He didn’t want to let go of her hand; he didn’t want to break the connection that had been between them for a year—but he couldn’t stay there forever or even for very long. He had too much work and too many irons in the fire.

  “It’s temporary,” he said, letting go.

  “Temporary,” she agreed before walking away.

  Chapter 26

  The Mill, Ghak Territory

  Cricket’s mom was named Clareleth. She walked quietly next to Roan through the city to Ghak territory and at first he didn’t notice or even care. He was caught up in his own troubles, but eventually, as he neared the apartment he shared with Beckwen, he realized that just saving her wouldn’t be enough.

  Clareleth had been a prostitute for most of her young life. She probably wouldn’t know what to do with her freedom. When Roan asked what she would like to do if she could do anything she answered: “Whatever it pleases you, milord.”

  Roan groaned at this. “Okay, it pleases me that you become a goat farmer.”

  “I don’t believe goats are farmed, milord,” she replied, timidly. “I think they are herded. I’ve never tried to herd animals before, but if that is your wish, I will do so.”

  “It’s not my wish. My wish is to find out what you want to do.” Clareleth shook her head and shrugged. He couldn’t tell if she was afraid to have an opinion or because she lacked one. Once they reached Beckwen’s apartment, Roan held up one of the large gold wheels. “I’m going to leave now and when I get back, I want you to tell me what you would do if I gave you one of these. I want to know where you would go and what you’d do. The only wrong answer is staying in Oberast.”

  She looked like a fawn who’d been asked to recite Shakespeare, but there was nothing he could do about that at the moment. He left her and walked across Ghak territory, noting the toughs with the green armbands, the street walkers with their purple bruises, the grimy urchins who were always underfoot and the shopkeepers who nervously watched over their goods like a mother hen over her brood.

  It felt a bit like being home.

  Just as the day before, Corvo met him at the front of the mill. To save time, Roan put his weapons in his Dimension Bag and handed it to the rogue. “You look happier,” Roan noted. “Did you win your money back?”

  Corvo clapped him on the shoulder. “Only a fool would bet against my man, Ratchet.” He held up the bag. “You get any good loot?”

  “Some,” Roan said, evading the question without following up. Silence seemed to be the best policy when around the leaders of the Ghak. A slip of the tongue would likely lead to his death within the game, which could very well lead to his death in the real world.

  Corvo waited in vain for Roan to elaborate. “Playing it close to the vest? Good luck with that. You should know by now that Tarranon doesn’t put up with lies or secrecy, unless he’s the one telling the lies that is.” Corvo laughed loudly at this and escorted Roan onto the brass elevator.

  Soon they were back in Corvo’s mysterious otherworldly mansion where outside a light snow was falling. It made the crackling fire all the more appealing. Tarranon sat wrapped in a dressing gown, looking ready for bed even though the time in Oberast wasn’t even five.

  “Well, well, well,” Tarranon said, eyeing Roan closely, a small smile playing on his lips. “You have been a very busy boy, Ratchet. Running all over town creating mayhem and chaos. What was the final tally?”

  The drow had been standing near the window. She came forward, tiny but deadly. “Seventy-one dead, but that’s not including the clerics he massacred.” As she said this a game announcement spread across Roan’s vision: Quest completed! XP +2000!

  “And did he do it without help?” Tarranon asked. “You may not remember this but our wager was if you could kill forty-two of the K Street Killers. It wasn’t if you and ten others could kill that many.”

  “I did not have help in killing any of the K Street Killers,” Roan answered truthfully. They all looked over at the drow, who nodded her head. “Now, if you’ll go fetch, Cricket, I have things to do.”

  Tarranon’s eyes blazed. “Fetch? Do I look like the servant here?” Realizing his mistake, Roan bowed and offered an apology that Tarranon waved a hand at. “Fetch,” he growled. “What I would like to do is fetch the truth out of you, Ratchet. There’s something not quite right about you. There’s something that’s not quite…normal. You killed a hundred people last night and for what? A little girl? That doesn’t make sense. And neither did killing those priests. Why did you do that? What’s your end game?”

  “My reasons are my own,” Roan answered, “and they have nothing to do with our arrangement. Suffice to say that I do not have any ill feelings toward you or your establishment…” The drow cleared her throat, indicating that Roan had just lied. He quickly amended his statement, “I do not like being questioned in this manner. It’s aggravating, which I suppose some would consider an ill-feeling.”

  “I don’t care about your feelings,” Tarranon said. “I care about where your allegiances lie. I care about double dealings and being stabbed in the back.”

  Roan spread his hands wide. “I have no plans to stab you in the back. In truth, I don’t care about you or your operation. All I care about is my mission.”

  At this last statement, the drow cleared her throat. Instead of being angry, Tarranon sat back on his white leather couch, relaxing. “You care about more than just your ‘mission,’ and if you were anyone else, I’d use that little girl to find out exactly what that was. But with you I see there is so much more to be gained by working together. Tell me what drives you and maybe I can help.”

  “You can help me by keeping your word and bringing out Cricket. Other than that, I think it would be best if we stuck to our agreement.”

  “Don’t be so sure. In the other world, things happen completely by chance. People like to fool themselves into thinking there’s a purpose to everything, but the truth of the matter is that there’s no higher power guiding floods and giving Grand Pa Mick a heart attack for a ‘reason’ that’s so obscure no one ever figures it out. But here it’s completely different. Come sit down.”

  Roan sat down on the couch as far away as Tarranon as he could get, which made the crime lord laugh. “You don’t have to worry, I’m not a pedophile! Now, where was I? Yes, reasons. Here in Daggerland, there is a reason for everything. There’s a reason we met. Perhaps some god wanted you to try and kill me or perhaps I’m supposed to kill you.”

  He paused, gauging Roan’s reaction, which only amounted to a shrug. Tarranon went on, “The gods are always poking their noses into things. It can get so convoluted that I frequently don’t even bother trying to unravel it all. In this case it’s not so difficult, you’re trying to get in with The Infinite One’s crew.”

  2—

  Roan kept a straight face. It would have been completely convincing if he could have gotten away with remaining utterly silent. With the drow right there, ready to pounce on his first lie, he couldn’t get away with a simple denial. “I’m not going to comment on your guesses,” he said.

  It didn’t work.

  “I think it doesn’t matter what you say at this point,” Tarranon replied with a knowing smile, “since it’s just as obvious why you want to get in with them. You’re looking to take them out.”

  Too late, Roan realized that the drow was probably using a mind-reading spell. Immediately, Roan began running down his times tables starting with: four times four. The drow said, “Hmm,” in response, which told Roan he was right.

  “F
our times thirteen is fifty-two,” he said aloud. “Twenty-three times eighteen is…”

  Tarranon grimaced and then jerked his thumb. The drow left, as did the bodyguards. It was just Roan and Tarranon. The crime lord sat up, his feet flat on the floor, his elbows resting on his knees. “There’s always a reason for everything in Daggerland. I set up the hit on the temple of The Infinite One. I used a priest of Apollo’s who owed me a favor to deflect blame.”

  The man was so matter of fact that Roan believed him instantly. “But the temple is in your territory. Don’t you make money off of them?”

  “I used to, but once Arching was busted, the money dried up. I tried to be nice about things, but what do I get? Threats of assassinations that were no joke. So, I backed off and bided my time, setting up the hit on the temple. I was hoping to be done with them once and for all, but they’ve come back stronger than ever. I thought I was screwed but then you show up. It’s not a coincidence. Someone is making this happen.”

  Roan wanted to think that the game itself had a hand in things and yet without interference, Roan had chosen Oberast. And it was his choices that had brought him into contact with Charlie Martin, just like it was Charlie’s choice to go back to the temple after his character had died instead of ending the game as some of his friends had.

  Everything Roan had done in the last few days had been of his own volition. The game had not lifted a finger to help.

  “Someone is making what happen, exactly?” Roan asked.

  “This,” Tarranon said, swirling a finger in the air. “Isn’t it obvious? You are here to destroy the temple of The Infinite One.” It wasn’t why he was there. The temple and its evil religion were only the facade. He could burn the building to the ground and slay its bloodthirsty priests, but until he took out the assassins the power and mystique of The Infinite One would come back and it would come back with a vengeance.

  “I want to do more than destroy the temple,” Roan said, lowering his voice. “There are those within the cult who are fantastically dangerous.”

  “The Infinite Assassins,” Tarranon said.

  For the first time Roan had a name for the group that was after him; now all he needed was a face. “Yes. What do you know of them?”

  Tarranon leaned closer, his voice just above a whisper. “It was rumored that back when Arching was running things, he recruited a gang of assassins from here in Oberast. I knew a couple of them. They weren’t the best, but they were the most obedient and the most ruthless. They made hardened criminals shudder. Thankfully, the FBI got to Arching before he could really get going.”

  “Do you have names? Do you know their levels or where they operate from? Maybe acquaintances? Any of them have family in the city?”

  “You sound like a cop,” Tarranon laughed. “If I had any of that info, I wouldn’t need you, would I? What I have is a contact at the temple. I’m supposed to make payments every month. Can you believe that? Me, paying protection money to them?” His laugh this time was more of a cackle. “It’s embarrassing is what it is. If I didn’t…”

  Roan interrupted, “When’s the next payment due?”

  “Three days. Ten thousand in gold.” He looked closely at Roan, studying his face. “Will you be able to take them out?”

  “Probably not, but if I see an opportunity, I’ll take it. In the meantime, I have to be seen around here as if I belong, only we can’t talk of this here in this world. I’ll need your email address on the other side.” Tarranon gave him a queer look. “Don’t worry. I won’t try to sell you anything.”

  “I don’t think so. I am perfectly safe right here from both spying and getting overly chummy with a man I don’t really know. And as for being seen around here, that’s a no as well. You’ll attract unwanted attention. There is a hefty bounty on your head. It’s so large that even some of my men might be tempted to take a go at you.”

  3—

  Roan was so caught up in the idea of getting closer to the assassins that he actually forgot about Cricket.

  He was heading out of the mill when Corvo stopped him. “I thought you ordered something to go.”

  “Huh? Oh, Cricket. My goodness, sorry about that.” She glared at him and he apologized a second time. “I’ll make it up to you. I have a surprise for you at Beckwen’s.”

  “Not more killers, I hope.”

  “A different surprise.” She took his left hand, her head on the level of his sword. She reached out her free hand to touch it. He didn’t try to stop her. “You’re not afraid?” he asked her. She shook her head. “That’s good. You’re going to need to be tough. Your life is about to change.”

  Nervously, she entered Beckwen’s building and when they came to his door she had to be dragged into the living room where Clareleth had been sitting in one of the chairs, her knee bouncing up and down. When Cricket came in Clareleth stared, unable to blink.

  Cricket executed a clumsy curtsey and then looked up to Roan, expectantly. She hadn’t recognized her mother.

  “I will do whatever you want,” Clareleth pleaded. “Just don’t hurt her.”

  This statement made no sense to Roan. “Why on earth would I hurt her? I brought her to you, didn’t I?”

  “Yes, you did, but people can be cruel, milord,” Clareleth answered, her head down, her hands clasped in front of her. She was being entirely submissive. “What do you wish of me? Am I to be a slave?”

  “No!” Roan cried. “I don’t see what’s so hard to understand here. I rescued you so you could be with your daughter. It’s called being nice. Cricket, go hug your mother.” Now it was Cricket’s turn to stare. Roan had to give her a little shove in the back to get her moving.

  The two hugged and cried and then turned to look at Roan, perhaps for an explanation or instructions. He didn’t notice, he was busy reading: Quest Completed! XP +2000. Congratulations, you are now a Level Eight Rogue and have gained the following bonuses:

  Increased Hit Points(+7)

  Attack +1

  Second Attack +1

  Reflex Saving Throws +1

  Improved Spirit Dodge: The Rogue is no longer subject to flank attacks, including sneak attacks

  Leveling Proficiency: After playing two levels with the Long Sword, you are now proficient in its use and are no longer subject to penalties.

  You have +1 ability point to allocate

  You have 11 skill points to allocate

  “Pretty cool,” he said, immediately adding a +1 to his dexterity. He then started adding to his skills: Bluff, Climb Walls, Enable/Disable Traps, Disguise Self, Hide in Shadow, Jump, Move Silently, Pick Lock, Search, Spot, Use Magic Item.

  Character Name: Ratchet

  Class & Level: Rogue - Level 8

  Race: Human

  Alignment: Neutral Evil

  Experience Points: 21705 XP To Next Level: 28000

  Strength – Dexterity – Constitution

  S: 16(+3) D: 17(+3) C: 17(+3)

  Intelligence – Wisdom – Charisma

  I: 16(+3) W: 16(+3) C: 16(+3)

  _______________________

  Armor: 15(20) Hit Points: 63/63

  Initiative: +3Speed: 14

  SAVING THROWS: Will: 5 Fortitude: 5 Reflex: 8

  _______________________

  GOLD: 11984.4

  _______________________

  -EQUIPMENT-

  Weapons

  Doom Sword +3

  Dagger +1

  Heavy Crossbow

  Armor

  Studded Leather

  Magic

  Potion(Unknown) x11 * Invisibility x1

  Water Breathing x1* Healing Potion x2

  +3 Extra-Planar Doom Sword

  Ring of Shielding * Scrolls x3

  Asari Ring of Defense +2 * Inferno wand

  Dimension Bag * Demon Gem

  Asari Ring of Defense +4

  Misc

  Quiver * Bolts x14

  Backpack * Cloak

  Matches * Waterskin

  P
ouches x3 Thieves Tools

  Diamonds x10 * Rubies x10

  _______________________

  † Spells Known †

  Cantrips:

  Tier 1 Spells:

  Tier 2 Spells:

  † Spells Prepared †

  Cantrips:

  Tier 1 Spells:

  Tier 2 Spells:

  _______________________

  Attacks

  Name - Bonus – Damage

  Doom Sword +12, +7 1-8 +6

  Dagger +10, +5 1-6 +4

  Heavy Crossbow +8 1-10

  Abilities

  Locate Traps

  Lucky Roll +2

  Sneak Attack X4 Damage

  Trap Awareness

  Spirit Dodge

  Improved Spirit Dodge

  Skills

  Skills: Balancing +7, Bluff +7, Climb Walls +11, Enable/Disable Traps +11, Disguise Self +11, Hide in Shadow +11, Jump +11, Move Silently +11, Pick Locks+11, Search +11, Sleight of Hand +5, Spot +9, Use Magic Item +10

  “Coming along nicely,” he said, grinning at the character sheet. He didn’t have the unadulterated power of the eighth level wizard he had played last time, however he was no pushover. His sword work was now so advanced that he could cut down a platoon of orcs and his versatility made him a very efficient one-man operator.

  “And what is a Demon Gem?” he asked, reading over his Miscellaneous Items list. He didn’t even remember picking it up. As the mother and daughter watched, he dug through his Dimension Bag with growing excitement. He found the gem in one of the pouches he had snatched from the wizard he had killed at Hansen’s. It was a fat ruby the size of a jawbreaker. When he held it up to the light, he could see something moving around inside of it.