Skull and Thrones: A LitRPG/GameLit Adventure

by Eric Ugland

  "And you told Valamir that."

  "Yes."

  "What did he do?"

  "He sent someone to check on the embassy, see if I was telling the truth. And then he headed to the Legion headquarters to get armies moving. Or on alert. Or both. Not exactly sure."

  Matthew stroked his chin, and tapped out a rhythm on the barrel.

  "Anything else happen last night?"

  “I maybe got into a bit of a scuffle with some mancers around the corner from here.”

  “Official ones?"

  "I think they were students. Hired by an Iron Silents stooge."

  "By scuffle, I'm assuming you did a little fisticuffs? Resisted the urge to sling spells about in public?"

  "They had the drop on me. So I, maybe, did a bit of magic work."

  "But they all lived, right? You didn't anger the Mancers further?"

  "That would have been great if I could have pulled it off. I killed a few of them. But the prince was going to take care of things."

  "Hope he does. You are making the prospect of this guild a difficult one to stomach."

  "But what a ride, right?" I asked with a smile.

  The basement monster crashed over something, and Matthew frowned at the floor.

  "Shut up down there," he shouted.

  Strangely, it did.

  Unless, you know, it was just being quiet while it figured out how best to attack from below. Even odds, really.

  “I’m not convinced,” Matthew said. “It’s too good an act played for too long not to be real. He’s never slipped up. He’s cut himself off from his family nearly completely, and given up virtually all the niceties of royalty. For what? To give his brother added protection from assassination and treachery?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “Seems like it might be worth it to them. The royals, I mean.”

  “Find me proof he didn’t do it—“

  “How am I supposed to prove a negative?” I snapped. “And we know Valamir didn’t kill the Emperor because I was basically in the room when the Emperor died, okay? Whatever it was that killed him, I saw it. I was there. And you know who wasn’t there? Valamir.”

  “That’s not enough, Clyde.”

  “Would it be enough if Valamir swore he didn’t want the throne? That he’d turn it down?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Look, Matthew, you’re an awesome guy, and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Really, I do. But if the guild is something you can’t be a part of, then you gotta let me know. Don’t make me run around on impossible quests because you can’t be bothered to tell me the truth of the situation.”

  He glared at me.

  I didn’t want to keep this conversation going around in circles over and over again. So I stomped up the stairs.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  The tavern was packed. Well, packed considering it still wasn’t quite open. It appeared that if you just took the people who lived in my buildings and were allowed free food, you’d essentially fill the Heavy Purse.

  I hung back a minute to check out who was there, and how the groups chose to sit. It was a lot more like a middle school lunchroom than it was like one big happy family. Most everyone seemed suspicious of anyone slightly different from them. Except Leofing. He was just a big smiling bastard over against the fireplace, enjoying the warmth and big mug of whatever it was he happened to be drinking that morning. Godfrey sat at the same table as Leofing, but it seemed like he felt it was the lesser of evils. Mornax stood near the window, looking out. Glaring, really. The other two Carchedonians sat next to each other, leaning their heads close and continuing their quiet conversation from the night before. Lothar Kuthbrook sat in the corner with his son, Sven, and they ate quietly. There was still an air of sadness about the two, though I couldn’t really blame them. Shae sat quietly at the bar, basically at the other end from Nadya. Both either fully involved in their breakfasts, or actively avoiding the crowd that morning.

  Titus and Penelope were behind the bar. Titus cleaned glasses and put things in their place for the day, while his wife surveyed the room, seeing if anyone might be needing something.

  I realized it was the first time we had everyone together without any outsiders. It might have been a great moment to ask who else would join the guild, and what they needed in order to do it. But everyone was so tense. Suspicious. People were not happy to be forced together. It was not a moment to ask the entire group for favors or supplication.

  So I went over to Leofing, and by good fortune and a bit of design, Godfrey. I sat down without waiting for an invitation.

  "Morning," I said.

  "And a good one at that," Leofing said.

  "I spoke with, uh, her."

  "I know."

  "She had some odd—“

  "What you spoke of is between you and her," he said with a slight nod of his head. "There is no need to share its contents here. My mission is unchanged, and I will join you."

  Congratulations! You’ve completed a QUEST!

  Rebuild the Guild IV - Leofing

  You met with Mokoš and she approved of you, even if she did not give you her patronage.

  Reward for success: Leofing will join your guild.

  I smiled, and we clasped forearms.

  "Thank you," I said. “This is great.”

  Leofing nodded, and stood up.

  “Two things, Clyde,” Leofing said, “I await you telling me when you need my assistance. You need not do everything yourself. Two, it is high time I fix that carriage.”

  He nodded once at me, and walked away.

  Then I looked over at Godfrey. He looked terrible.

  “Is something wrong?" I asked.

  Godfrey just stared into his breakfast.

  "I have a task I wish to ask your assistance in,” he finally said, “but I fear it is too complicated for this," Godfrey replied.

  "Well, at least tell me what it is so we can decide together.”

  "My brother."

  "You want me to get your brother?"

  "He is a Thingman. I believe this is something you know."

  “I do.”

  "I would like to get him out of that organization. And I would like him to live here, and join our guild."

  "That's what you're asking for?"

  "Yes."

  You have been offered a quest:

  Rebuild the Guild VIII - Godfrey Hayles

  Godfrey requires you convince his brother to leave the Thingmen and return with you to live and work with Godfrey.

  Reward for success: Godfrey will join the guild

  Penalty for failure (or refusal): potentially the death of the guild

  Yes/No

  I read it over, but wasn’t ready to make any decisions yet. “That's either remarkably easy or ridiculously difficult."

  "I know."

  "Any idea which way he'd go?"

  "More to towards the difficult direction, I'm afraid. He is a stubborn man, and he has long been a fan of the Thingmen."

  "But you aren't."

  "Not this current incarnation of them, no. And with the Emperor gone, the organization is effectively useless. There is nothing remaining for them there. When a new Emperor is crowned, a new group of thingmen will rise up. But these ones are done. It seems, however, they are unwilling to admit it. I fear there is more to the situation than I know. My brother was a loyal sort, always has been, but I didn’t think he would stick around in such a situation like this. That he would willingly stay behind when it was time to go— I just don’t understand. Or why any of them would.”

  "That's not good."

  "It is worse than you think. There is little goodwill for the Thingmen with the general populace — there are already questions rising about why the Thingmen haven't marshaled themselves out of the palace yet.”

  “Is that what normally happens?”

  “Bear in mind, emperors aren’t dying on the regular. But usually when the Emperor passes on, the Thingmen march out i
mmediately, wait for a new leader to be nominated, and then offer their services once again. If I remember correctly, it’s seen a bit like a vacation for the men and women, as they have no master for a time.”

  “And there’s been no movement?”

  “None beyond closing and locking the gates.”

  “So you think they’re up to something.”

  “It certainly seems like it. Why else would they keep everyone out? Why else would they refuse to leave? Or even come outside to explain the situation?”

  “And why do you think your brother would listen to me?"

  "I don't know."

  "I'm not feeling great about my chances here."

  "I'm not either, but I'm out of options. I don’t quite know how you’ll even get in, the place is a fortress meant to be the last line of defense should everything else in Glaton fall. A spot for the Emperor to wait out a siege. And with the gates closed, there is no way in.”

  “Okay, so that’s some good news. I mean, have you tried talking to him?"

  “I told you, the Thingmen's fort is closed to outsiders."

  "So I need to sneak in, meet with your brother, and convince him to come back with me to become a member of a thieves’ guild that isn't a thieves’ guild."

  "Something along those lines, yes."

  "Sneak into an impenetrable fortress, full of highly trained warriors angry their leader has been assassinated, and who are obviously on edge at the moment."

  "That is, in fact, what it is I am asking you to do. But my brother has always been foolish in this regard. Despite what the others have become, he has always been a more pure sort. Quick to follow others, eager to listen to orders, but he is there because of his gifts with animals, not because he is a fighter. Or a murderer. I believe he is a good man in a difficult situation, and I must ask you to see if you might convince him that his time with the Thingmen has come to an end, and he can rejoin his family. Please.”

  "I mean, I'm not sure I can refuse you, but I'm also not sure I can actually accomplish this.”

  "I ask that you try," he said. “If you try your best, I will join you."

  Before my eyes, the notification for the quest changed, altering it to fit what he'd just said.

  You have been offered a quest:

  Rebuild the Guild VIII - Godfrey Hayles

  Godfrey requires you give your best effort to convince his brother to leave the Thingmen and return with you to live and work with Godfrey.

  Reward for success: Godfrey will join the guild

  Penalty for failure (or refusal): potentially the death of the guild

  Yes/No

  "I just couldn't live with myself if I let him go," Godfrey said softly. “Not without at least trying. And I worry you are my last attempt at it."

  I mean, how could I say no to that? I accepted the quest, and not just because Godfrey had made the change to it. In an ideal situation, I'd get the brother to come back with me, and join the guild, and then I'd get two guild members for the price of a single quest. And that made all the difference in the world. Because then I wouldn't necessarily be beholden to Matthew's insane quest to make the count.

  "I've made crazier things happen," I said.

  "That you have," Godfrey replied, with just the hint of a smile.

  “Now who is this guy, your brother?”

  “One of the beastmasters for the Thingmen. And a Thingman himself. You’ll know him when you see him.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Should be enough. Not sure where he lives in the fortress. But the stables are along the northern wall. Might be a good first place to look.”

  “Are you going to give me his name?”

  “I didn’t already? Hamilton.”

  “Got it,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. I got up from the table. A quick scan of the room showed that my next target hadn't left. He was still sitting with his son, though they looked like they'd finished their breakfast. I slid in at their table.

  "Morning," I said.

  "Good morning," Sven said.

  I smiled at the little guy, and he smiled back.

  “How’s the apartment treating you?” I asked.

  “Great,” he replied. “So’s the food.”

  "He's eating enough of it," Lothar said, reaching across the table to ruffle his son's hair.

  "Got to grow up big to be like you, Da," Sven said.

  Lothar's mouth smiled, but a darkness had settled over his eyes.

  "You mind if I ask you a little something?" I asked.

  Lothar nodded.

  "I'm putting together this, uh—“ I started.

  "The guild," he interrupted.

  “Right — that’s what I wanted to talk to you about."

  "You'd like me to join?"

  “I would.”

  "And I get to ask for something?"

  "I mean, I suppose that's how it works. Man, word gets around fast here.“

  He nodded.

  "I take it you have something in mind," I said.

  "Sven," Lothar said, "can you take our dishes to the kitchen?"

  "Yep, Da," Sven said, and grabbed up the bowls and mugs.

  Lothar waited for Sven to get a little distance from the table before he turned to me.

  "I do not want him to follow me into my life," Lothar said. "I want him to be safe, and not have to fight for his supper."

  "I mean, I don't have kids, but I think that everyone wants that," I said. "Right? But I'm not sure what I can do—“

  "There are Imperial Academies," Lothar interrupted, "and they can teach Sven skills so that he might have a greater career. Perhaps even a professor. I know my son is intelligent, he just needs the opportunity to learn.”

  "You want him in the Enderun?"

  "Yes. Preferably there."

  You have been offered a quest:

  Rebuild the Guild IX - Lothar Kuthbrook

  Lothar requires you gain admittance for his son to the Enderun Academy

  Reward for success: Lothar will join the guild

  Penalty for failure (or refusal): potentially the death of the guild

  Yes/No

  I leaned back into the wooden chair and looked at Lothar. Then I let my gaze go around the room, giving myself just a little more time to think. I needed to work through the possibilities. I knew a guy in the Enderun. I could make a pitch to the professor, see if he was willing to extend a helping hand to an underprivileged kid. I could even offer to make a donation or something. I wondered if the academy accepted donations... Still, at least there was a pathway to success, unlike the other outstanding quests. Except Nadya’s. Her quest was going to be cake. Hopefully literally, and there’d be cake at the ball. But this could also be an easy one. I took it.

  "I'm on it," I said. "Hopefully I can have some sort of an answer for you shortly."

  He gave me a genuine smile.

  "Thank you," he said.

  I nodded, and then got up. It was time to start my day.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  My first stop was sooner than expected — I got stopped right outside the Heavy Purse.

  Nadya grabbed my shoulder and spun me around to face her.

  "You didn't forget, did you?" she asked.

  "About tonight?" I replied. "Not in the slightest."

  "Don't be late."

  "Where is it again?"

  "Funny. We're meeting here and going together."

  "Got it."

  "Be here before sundown."

  "I got it."

  "And dress nice."

  "Of course."

  She gave me a smile, and I smiled like an idiot back. Then she went back inside. It was strange to think that she was going to spend her day in the muck of a pit, and I was going to run around Glaton trying to hobnob with important people and buy fancy clothes. It really seemed like it should have been the reverse.

  Whatever the case, I decided it was going to be a good day, and that I would start it by having a
talk with my favorite Enderun professor. Who also happened to be the only professor I knew, but who’s keeping track?

  You’d think a man like me would be able to leave a place when I wanted to. And obviously by man, I mean, elf. But just as Nadya went back inside the Heavy Purse, Nox came waltzing out. He managed to sneak up on me and grab me by the shoulder, spinning me around to face him.

  “Yes?” I asked.

  “I beg pardon, my, uh, Clyde,” he stalled out, slipping into thought. “Is there a preferred form of address? You aren’t titled as of yet, so—“

  “Mister Hatchett?” I suggested. For the briefest of moments, I thought about forcing the man to address me in some ridiculous fashion, but that just seemed needlessly cruel. I already felt weird about having the dude around, maybe this would make it feel a bit more like he was a valet and less a glorified slave.

  “You are married?”

  “Right, Master Hatchett.”

  “Excellent, Master Hatchett. I came to inquire what you would have us do on this day?”

  “What would you normally be doing?”

  “Whatever has been requested.”

  “Uh,” I paused, sounding eloquent as ever. “I don’t know, man. What can you do?”

  “You may access my character sheet, I believe. That might give you a better clue as to my abilities, and perhaps you will see some task I am suited for.”

  I frowned, but ducked into the menus and whatnot for the game stuff until I got down to Tjene and sure enough, there were three entries. Mornax, Klara, and Nox. I pulled up Nox’s sheet, and took a peek.

  Nox Kvist - Lvl 31 Academic

  Traits

  Race: Human

  Height: 5’10”

  Weight: 167 lbs

  Eye Color: Grey

  Hair Color: Black

  Attributes

  Strength: 10