Wisdom: 2
Endurance: 20
Charisma: 12
Luck: 10
Experience: 500/24000 (You have 5 unused skill points)
Skills (125% boost to any skill for level up)
Combat Skills:
Block: 3 (420/1000)
Distract: 4 (900/1400)
Dual Wield: 8 (1200/3800)
Identify: 5 (500/1900)
Light Armor: 2 (400/750)
Parry: 8 (1440/3800)
Small Blades: 9 (2005/4600)
Stealth: 9 (3070/4600)
- Detect Hidden: 6 (250/2500)
- Shadowcraft: 3 (800/1000)
Swords: 2 (635/750)
Unarmed: 4 (1205/1400)
Wall Running: 4 (120/1400)
Magic Skills:
Air Magic: 1 (000/500)
Professions:
Barter: 2 (500/750)
Cooking: 6 (900/2500)
Firemaking: 7 (2300/3200)
Rayne was happy with most of his stats, so he put two points into Intellect to give him a larger mana pool so he could channel his speed magic longer. He put two into Agility, bringing it up to twenty-eight and then put the final point into Endurance to give himself more health and stamina.
He left the skill boost alone. That was being saved for a real emergency or until he had some higher-level skills. The most amusing part was he had gained two levels in Firemaking and Cooking. It took him a bit of searching back through his notification to see it stemmed from him catching the entire town hall on fire and all the inhabitants. The cooking experience came from cooking all the lizardmen. It was both gruesome and hilarious.
Rayne and his sister spent the next three days with Jeff and Marge. They were super gracious hosts, and Rayne made sure he helped around the farm. He even picked up the Farming skill from planting some of the seed he had recovered to help out Jeff. Rayne chuckled at the thought of ever truly focusing on the skill, but it never hurt to have another skill on the sheet.
Libby truly loved the experience. She enjoyed Marge’s easy humor and motherly love. Rayne wished Libby could have grown up in a household like this instead of the one she had to endure. Jeff was stern, but Rayne never thought for a moment he would ever abuse anyone. Marge was kind and loving, but she also wouldn’t back down from Jeff either. She had not backed down when confronting him about the need for them to help his sister. These were the kind of parents Rayne had only wished for.
As much as it hurt to do so, Rayne and Libby packed up their few belongings and made ready to leave. Jeff surprised Rayne with a gruff hug, and Marge kissed him on the cheek as they said their goodbyes. Marge even handed over some of her delicious homemade bread for them to eat on their travels. Libby cried as they said their goodbyes, and Rayne even spotted some tears on Jeff’s face as he told her goodbye.
The two of them left the farmhouse in high spirits and continued their original journey to Seora. They still had over two weeks’ worth of travel ahead of them, but they were both in perfect health and feeling better about their lot in life.
A week and a half of travel passed by with no issues. The trip reverted to how it had been during the initial couple of days out of Esmere. Libby enjoyed the sights and nature while Rayne enjoyed his sister’s happiness.
Rayne kept a careful eye on their surroundings as they traveled and began to notice something troubling. The fields of the farms they had been passing were getting more and more bare. There were already enough problems with food shortages in the cities around. What would happen if this kept getting worse? There was no excuse for the fields not to be fully planted. You couldn’t sustain a kingdom without food.
This thought brought him back to the deal he had overheard, where the nobles had sold out the kingdom to the Dark Elves with their army of orcs and goblins. None of this was making any sense. Starving the citizens so the nobles could hoard food was nonsense. The nobles would eventually collapse as well without a peasant and merchant class to support them. Couple that with the food shortage and fallow fields and something incredibly wrong was happening here.
The journey had been smooth, and Rayne had calmed down and enjoyed the trip with his sister. Less than a week from Seora, they stumbled upon some trouble, though. Rayne heard a commotion coming from down the road and told his sister to stay put and relax. He made his way down the road and came upon a disturbing sight. There were three merchant wagons arranged in a circle with, what Rayne assumed, were the merchants huddled together in between. There were two guards with the caravan, but they looked haggard and wore out as they fought between the carts to keep out a group of a dozen bandits.
This wasn’t his fight, and normally Rayne wouldn’t get involved with something like this, but two things came to mind. The first was his promise to himself to continue the goal of the Shadows of the Flame. These were not the corrupt nobles, but he knew that the nobles used these bandits as hired help to collect goods. The second thing was practicality. He had nothing and no one in Seora to help him when he arrived. With luck, one of these carts could be home-based there, and he might earn some favor. It would be good for him to have contacts when he arrived.
Rayne made his way to the line of trees near the road and stayed concealed in them until he got close enough to the caravans to act. The bandits were not watching their surroundings and were all focused on the caravan, so he made his way to the one closest to him. It was time for him to take them out. The first one was within range, and he wanted to kill them silently. He pulled his stiletto dagger and snuck up behind them. His left hand quickly wrapped around the man’s mouth as his dagger dug into the man’s lower back and ripped out of his side.
You have dealt 200 damage to Bandit (1) (Level 10) with Iron Stiletto Dagger (Critical Hit) (Mortal Blow) (Ripping Damage).
His hand muffled the man’s cry, and Rayne gently lowered him to the ground to avoid more noise than necessary. A kidney shot like that would make the man bleed out quickly. He repeated this process for three more bandits on the edge of the action before they finally noticed him.
You have dealt 200 damage to Bandit (2) (3) (4) (Level 10) with Iron Stiletto Dagger (Critical Hit) (Mortal Blow) (Ripping Damage).
Bandit (Level 10) has died (x4).
When he was spotted, a cry of alarm came up from the bandits, and they all turned to look at him. With no other option, Rayne tossed out his last Smoke Bomb and activated the skill.
You have activated Smoke Bomb. Enemy visibility reduced by 35%. Enemy accuracy reduced by 35%.
White smoke started to fill the area quickly and Rayne burned his mana as fast as he could to fuel his Air Magic to increase his speed. He was like a ghost in the night as he darted through the smoke, stabbing and slashing at the bandits. They would cry in fury and rage and then it would morph into whimpering cries as they started to fall to the ground.
Rayne had heard about these bandits from different merchants and thieves in the cities. It appeared the rumors were true. They were said to be utterly incompetent and horribly skilled. The only way they got anything done was through brute force numbers and intimidation. As he made his way through the fools, this proved more and more correct.
None of them could use their weapons very well, and they had almost nothing in the way of armor. Hell, they barely had clothing, much less anything resembling armor. Rayne dispatched these people like they were children and received two small hits that didn’t even make it through his armor.
Bandit (Level 10) has died (x8).
The smoke cleared, and the merchants and their guards stared at the only man left standing in the middle of all the fallen bandits. Rayne stood there with his head held high and his blades in their sheathes.
“Greetings to the caravan. I mean you no harm. I thought you might need a hand,” he called, trying to ease the tension.
The men all looked at each other in confusion until one finally stepped forward.
“Greetings, traveler. My name is Gerrard, and I a
m in charge of this caravan. I appreciate your timely assistance.” He said in a diplomatic tone.
“Well met Gerrard. I am Rayne. I was traveling to Seora when I noticed your trouble and felt it was my duty to assist. I’m not a fan of these lawless bandits myself.” Rayne said with a casual smile as he lowered his coif to reveal his face.
Gerrard smiled at Rayne when he revealed his face, and some of the tension disappeared from the other merchants and guards. Rayne knew his shrouded hood seemed to unnerve some people. It was obvious what his armor was made for.
“We would welcome your company on the trip if you would be willing. I am a merchant from Seora, and that is my final stop. I would feel safer if you would join us. I would pay you the same wage I do my guards for the trip.” Gerrard told him calmly.
“I appreciate the offer, but I have to go back and collect my sister. I am traveling with her, and I left her up the road when I heard the trouble,” Rayne told them.
Gerrard considered it for only a moment when he spoke up. “Your sister is more than welcome to travel along. Why don’t you go grab her while I have my guards clean up this mess?”
“I’ll take you up on that offer, good man. Let me get her, and I’ll be right back.” Rayne told them. Gerrard nodded as Rayne turned and left. He found Libby quickly, right where he had left her, and brought her back to the caravan. He told her he had helped a caravan defend against some bandits, and they had offered to let them ride along to the city with them. She seemed happy with the idea, and they made their way to the caravan.
Gerrard smiled as he returned, and when he saw Libby, his smile grew more genuine. Rayne guessed that seeing his sister in person helped ease the man’s doubts about his story. They approached, and Gerrard looked to Libby.
“Hello, dear. Your brother showed up just in time to help us, so I have agreed to hire him as a guard for the rest of the trip to Seora. Would you care to ride on the wagon with me? I can assure you it is much more comfortable than walking.” Gerrard told her kindly.
“I thank you good, sir. I would love to ride with you on the wagon,” Libby told him shyly.
They got the wagons back in order and were able to get their animals hooked back up. The scramble had been fast to round up the defense when they had spotted the bandits, and it damaged some of the gear. It took the guards some time to get things back in order, and Rayne assisted where he could. Libby enjoyed visiting with Gerrard, and the man doted on her like a daughter.
Rayne’s sister had that effect on people. She could bring out the best in people, even if they didn’t know they had a good side. He thought it had to do with her innocent face and large eyes that felt like she was looking into your soul.
It took two hours to get things back in order, and before they left, Gerrard approached him with a small bag of coins. He handed them to Rayne and Rayne took the pouch with a grateful nod.
“I have taken the liberty of supplying your pay upfront for our trip. This also has most of the coins we found on the bandits you killed. It was only fair for them to go to you since you took care of most of them,” Gerrard explained.
Rayne was taken back with the man’s honesty. Most merchants he had known would have done everything to swindle him. They would have never bothered with turning over goods found on the bandits and would have hoped he had forgotten about it altogether. Not only did this man hand it over without being asked, but he even paid upfront. Rayne was quickly starting to like this man.
It was about time our luck changed for the better. How is it possible for two people to have such rotten luck? An abusive father and spineless mother, while living in a horrible city, was no life I want any part of. I will treasure these last few days with Jeff and Marge and use them as an example of how things could be. Rayne resolved to himself.
They didn’t travel far that day since the bandit attack had taken up a lot of time, but the evening rest was nice. Rayne agreed to step in on the watch rotation, which earned him some goodwill with the other guards. They had been wary of him after his display, and they felt he had made them look bad.
They settled down for the evening, and the merchants brought out a large stewpot. They set it over a fire, and within no time, Rayne could smell a delicious stew simmering in the pot. Gerrard approached him while they were waiting for the food.
“Do you mind if I ask you a few personal questions?” Gerrard asked.
Rayne looked at the man for a moment and considered the request. He didn’t trust people most of the time until he got to know them, but he decided to give the man a chance with his show of honesty earlier. Rayne nodded his agreement.
“What are your plans in Seora? I tried talking to Libby, and she didn’t really know.” Gerrard said quietly.
Rayne let out a heavy sigh. “I honestly don’t know. We fled our home from an abusive father and headed off on our own to Seora. I want to start over there and take care of her, but I don’t have much in the way of skills. Most of my skills revolve around fighting and not in crafts.”
Gerrard looked thoughtful for a moment. “Does Libby have any skill in cooking?”
“She has a bit of cooking experience, but nothing great. She can cook a decent meal when needed. She is also friendly and kindhearted,” Rayne told him with a sigh.
Gerrard smiled at that. “I saw that. I ask because I would like to propose something to you. My wife and I own an inn and an alchemist shop in town. Your sister would be a wonderful addition to the inn. My wife and I lost a child a few years ago, and I believe that her presence working at the inn will be a welcome sight to my wife, Greta. I also want to extend you a job. I have an opening for an apprentice spot in Alchemy. I know you don’t have any skills, but I feel obligated to help you out. I may not be going back to my Greta at all if not for your help. She would beat me senseless if she found out you saved my life, and I didn’t offer to help you in your need.”
Rayne almost broke down, crying at the man’s generosity. He struggled to keep his composure and all he could do for a moment was nod to the man.
“It would mean the world to me,” Rayne told him in all honesty. This man seemed to be a sign of goodwill from the gods themselves.
The final day of their travel arrived, and they got the wagons ready to move. Libby hopped up beside Gerrard as the carts started rolling, and Rayne fell in step with the carts. The morning was clear, and the surrounding countryside was easily visible. They peaked the last hill on their trip, and Rayne caught a glimpse of the city that was to become their new home. The city itself wasn’t as large as Esmere, but it was close. A ten-foot wall surrounded the entire thing. It was nothing that would deter a serious attacking army but more than adequate to keep out small forces and wild animals.
The trip through the gates was uneventful as it quickly became clear that the guards here knew Gerrard well and liked the man. They waved him through with friendly conversation and smiles. The trip through the city was crowded, and their pace slowed dramatically. Everything started moving at an incredibly slow pace by this point.
They made a few stops on their way into town. Items were being unloaded into different shops and stalls, and sometimes other items would take their place on the cart. He asked Gerrard what was going on.
“These people don’t have the means to do much trading, so I agreed to do some on their behalf. They provide me with trade goods, and I will trade it for what they need. It’s honest work, and it never hurts to have friends,” Gerrard told him with a smirk.
They continued through the town and stopped at numerous shops to swap out merchandise. Rayne had yet to see a single person who even had a bad attitude toward Gerrard. The man was like a saint to these people. Even Libby was swept up in the adoration of the man. Rayne could see the glee in her eyes every time Gerrard came back to sit with her on the cart.
Libby still wasn’t very talkative and had never been before, but he spotted her chatting with the man from time to time, and it made him feel even more confident abou
t this situation. Rayne resolved to make this work, and if it required him to give up his thieving ways and turn to a normal craft, then he would be the best damn alchemist he could be.
They finally made their way to the alchemy shop. Rayne could tell what it was by the wooden sign with the alembic pictured on it. That was a common sign for most city alchemists. Rayne had needed to visit one a few times for medicines, and the Shadows of the Flame had a contact in one of them for poisons.
The other carts had already gone their own way, so it left Rayne and Gerrard to put up the cart and the animals. They wheeled the cart into a storage barn behind the shop while Rayne and Gerrard each took one of the mules by their bridles and led them back to the inn with Libby in tow. They smiled and joked as they walked over to the inn. It was fortunate that his inn and his alchemy shop were not far apart.
They put the animals in the stable near the inn, and Gerrard told the boy there to take good care of them and brush them down. From there, he took Libby by the hand, and they all made their way into the inn. As soon as he opened the door, Rayne felt like he was home.
The place had a clean appearance and solid wood floors and walls. The bar was polished to a gleaming shine, and all the bottles of wine were neatly arranged behind it. There was a cozy fireplace in the middle of the expansive room, and even the tables themselves were sparkling. The only filth was at the table where patrons were currently eating, and even they seemed to grimace when they noticed the mess they made in this place.
The warm and inviting atmosphere was what drew Rayne in, though. Everyone was smiling and laughing while they could hear jokes over the air. Rayne saw a few barmaids walking through the room and delivering food and drinks to the patrons. A couple of them were even cute.
“None of that under my roof, boy. You keep your eyes away from the girls I employ, or you get to deal with Greta, and she will eat you alive,” Gerrard said with a hearty chuckle.
Rayne sunk his head real quick in shame since the man had read him so easily. About that time, a red-haired woman came bustling out of the back room with what appeared to be an impossible amount of drinks and trays perfectly balanced in her arms. She walked to a nearby table and clanked the dishes down for the men and turned to walk back to the kitchen when she spotted Gerrard. She took off in a sprint for the man, and he caught her as she jumped into his arms.
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