Beastborne- Mark of the Founder

by James T Callum

  The gnome took Hal’s payment, wrapped up his order, and handed it to him. Hal immediately thrust it into his inventory for safekeeping.

  “Changing room is back through there, third door on the left,” Rondo said, pointing at a swinging saloon-style door that he’d missed earlier.

  Hal ventured into the back while the others struck up a conversation.

  He was eager to finally be dressed in something that wasn’t made from stolen material. He would finally have something more useful than a wet paper bag in keeping his insides… inside.

  Where they belonged.

  Slipping into the door, Hal stepped into a small half-circle room with three huge mirrors and one mounted on the door behind him so he could get a full view of his new outfit.

  Locking the door, Hal stripped out of his old equipment and into his new armor but paused halfway into pulling on his pants. He kept the [Brave Belt] and the [Spaulder of the Ravenblessed].

  The man that stared back at him through those mirrors was hardly recognizable. Hal had gained a little weight after he dropped out of college, depression, poor food options, and a soul-crushing job made it hard to take care of himself.

  What he saw in the mirror was somebody lean and fit. Muscular definition lined his arms and legs. He had abs! Small and slight though they were, he had them. His cheeks were defined and slightly hollowed.

  If only the mark on his left forearm would do the same. If anything, he swore it glowed brighter. It was practically pulsing with golden light.

  Hal quickly slipped on his new gear and kicked his clothes into the corner. He didn’t want them. While he appreciated the koblin-made garments, they certainly weren’t anything sentimental. When he looked back up into the mirror he saw a proper adventurer.

  True, the armor was a little frayed around the edges and worn in places, but it didn’t have any blood or dirt and it fit him as if it had been perfectly tailored to his body. He guessed there was some magic that took care of sizing issues.

  Rondo hadn’t asked about his size for any of the items now that he thought about it. Wouldn’t that be nice, he mused. Clothes that fit perfectly. No more odd sizes needed.

  With his [Goblinbane] at his hip, strapped into his [Brave Belt], he would fit in at the Adventurer’s Guild. People wouldn’t turn their heads to look at him in wonder.

  His friends were in the middle of a conversation when he came back. Mira immediately stopped talking and heckled him with a cat-call.

  Even Elora looked at him differently, a faint smile tracing her lips.

  The only person who looked at him the same was Ashera. Ever since her freedom, she had never seen anything but the best in Hal.

  “Thanks for that,” he said to Mira. “I really appreciate you putting this together for me, Rondo.”

  “My pleasure! If you survive your foolish quest, make sure to come back and see what else we have that might stop you from dying in your next ill-fated endeavor!”

  Once they were out in the alley again, Hal shook his head, unable to stop himself from smiling at the strange gnome shopkeep. “He really has a way with words, doesn’t he?”

  “I mean, he’s not wrong. You’re probably going to die,” Mira said, guiding them through the warren of back alleys. “I heard that the barrier kills anybody who touches it. Only the Founder can pass through it.”

  Hal and Elora shared a look and for the first time, he saw resignation in the Ranger’s gray-blue eyes.

  If she thought he was going to let a rumor stop him, she was sorely mistaken. Seeing the determination in Hal’s eyes brightened Elora’s disposition considerably.

  This was his chance to see Founder magic up close, something that had been hidden from all of them but would only be useful to Hal if he was to ever embrace what they said he was.

  Mira caught the glance and wrinkled her nose at them. “You guys know something I don’t?”

  “No,” they all answered, stumbling their words over each other.

  The elf rolled her eyes at them. “Have it your way. What’s next? You’ve got your armor, we have the contract. We need a fifth? I know a few-” Mira was cut off as a shout drew their attention.

  “Y-you!” a young woman cried, pointing her finger at Hal. Instinctively, Hal’s eyes flashed to his left forearm but it was covered in a thick quilted sleeve of dark red and a leather bracer over that.

  When Hal looked up he noticed Ashera and Elora had also glanced in the direction of his arm. Mira looked curiously at the woman.

  The woman was atop Hal before anybody recovered from the sudden shock. She scooped him up in her arms and twirled him around. “You saved my baby girl!”

  Her shouts brought more attention, and Hal recognized several of the dour-looking faces as those people that came into town the same day he had. They looked like refugees but now they looked at him with hope and reverence.

  “This is him?” asked one of the men, taking his hat off and clutching it in white knuckles. “You saved my Mattias? Is this him, son?” From behind the man’s coat, a young boy peeked out with one purple eye and one blue. Hal recognized him as one of the imprisoned children.

  The boy nodded meekly and hid back behind his father’s coat. Tear tracks ran through his soot-stained face. “Bless you, sir. I do not know why you saved our children. They meant nothing to you and we have no gifts to give you.

  “Nothing that would rival what you have given us. You have given us our hope back.” He motioned behind him. “There are more that want to thank the one who saved our children. Our homes may be ash but our children live. It is enough to turn a tragedy into a celebration.”

  Dozens of rough hands dragged Hal away and it was all Elora, Mira, or Ashera could do just to keep up with the growing throng of men and women clutching their reunited children. Voices raised in shouting his name, parents looked at him like he was some kind of saint.

  Like he had all the answers. Did they forget Elora saved them too?

  As they dragged him away, he was bumped and jostled in their eagerness to see the man that had saved their children. Once or twice he tried to reach out to Elora or Ashera but every time he caught sight of them, they were farther away.

  The crowd swelled around him, leading him down twisting alleys until eventually, he recognized nothing. He couldn’t even see Ashera or Elora anymore.

  30

  “Hey-hey, what’re you think you’re doing? Lay off him!” Mira cried, from somewhere in the surge of bodies.

  “What’s going on here?” a woman’s voice called. “Who in the seven hells thought this was a good idea? Nobody?” Hal heard the woman slapping people away until the group around Hal ducked their head and stepped back, giving him room.

  Before him stood a young woman but her pale gray eyes held a depth of sorrow in them even when she smiled at Hal. “You must be Hal,” she said, extending a hand.

  “I am Leis. I am so very sorry about all this. Our people meant no harm. They’re just excited and wish to pay their respects. When we learned that somebody had saved our children and had done so without any attempt to get a reward… we were astounded.

  “Most of us wanted to meet the man that could be so selfless. A few of us may have gotten carried away, I hope you can accept my apology on behalf of all us poor refugees.”

  Mira pushed through the drably garbed men and women until she stood next to Hal, a spear gripped tightly in her hand. She whispered to Hal, “You okay?”

  “I’m fine,” Hal said. “I think they got a little excited is all. They weren’t trying to hurt me.” To Leis, he said, “I accept, and I’m glad to see so many of the children’s parents are safe. I had… feared the worst.”

  Several of the men and women made a sign in the air with their hands and muttered what Hal took to be a prayer.

  “Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts,” Leis said. “While many of the children did lose their parents, we will raise those that need a family. Windstrom was always about community first and we
will honor those ideals even though our home is lost.”

  Elora and Ashera squeezed through the press of bodies and stood by Hal’s side. The girls exchanged curious glances at Mira’s appearance but said nothing.

  Hal wasn’t sure how she got there so fast either. One moment she was back with Elora and Ashera, the next she was in the middle of the press like she dropped out of the sky.

  “While it is not much, we ask that you take this gift,” Leis said, bowing her head and handing Hal a small egg-shaped jewel that shifted between purple and green as the light played over it.

  “It is a Sending Stone and if you are ever in need, speak into that stone and its mate will hear it.” Leis lifted up a similar stone. “We will do everything we can to aid you. It is all we can offer.”

  “Thank you,” Hal said, rolling it around in his hand. The colors shifted and Hal found himself entranced by the simple smooth beauty of the stone. “I didn’t do it for a reward.” He slipped it into his inventory. “But I am glad to hear that the children won’t be on their own anymore.”

  “We will take good care of the little tikes,” a man said. “We’ll make do, the best we know how. A town as big as Murkmire must have a tiny hole for people like us.”

  He seemed so sure, so optimistic. Hal began to wonder if there would be room in the Coffin District once it was cleared. As the new owner, he could set aside some room for the refugees and their children.

  The children, at least, wouldn’t mind living alongside the koblins. Of that, he was certain. He caught a few of them looking around as if expecting the strange-talking beastmen to pop out at any moment.

  And then he immediately stopped himself. I’m placing too much importance on this one thing. This very particular district that has already foiled so many.

  He wanted to promise the underfed children and the sickly people with their stained clothes and scant few possessions that he would find them a home. But he had no idea if he could make good on that promise.

  The very last thing these people needed was false hope. So Hal thanked them again, and before he left, he asked Leis one vital question, “Do the Sending Stones work both ways?”

  Leis’ eyes widened in surprise, telling Hal she hadn’t thought he would even ask such a question. “Yes, they do.”

  “Then be sure to use it if you need help too,” he said. “I may not have much influence here but having somebody who can watch your back can’t hurt, right? You’ll tell me if something is wrong? If the Watch treats you poorly?”

  Leis nodded, a small smile hooking the edges of her lips.

  “Good,” Hal replied.

  Along with Mira, Elora, and Ashera, he left through the winding passages of the alleys and back to the main street.

  Windstrom Refugees Reputation: +10,000 (Town Hero).

  The Windstrom Refugees see you as a folk hero and will sing your praises whenever given the opportunity. When mingling with other populations they will increase your reputation by 100 points a day as they tell the tales of your heroism.

  If anyone so much as casts aspersions at your honor, they will be among the first in your defense. They will follow you to the seventh hell if you were to ask them.

  Your Leadership has risen to Level 8.

  Your Leadership has risen to Level 9.

  +1% Party Damage (9%).

  +2% Leadership Efficacy (18%).

  Hal strode with purpose up to the Blade Ring where he stopped a block away from the Adventurer’s Guild and looked at the three.

  “What?” Mira asked. “You want me to go find us a fifth?”

  Shaking his head, he said, “No, I need to talk to one of the Guild agents inside about the contract particulars. But the way Giel talked, he made it seem like he needed to help us.

  “While I’m talking to the Guild, could one of you go check on Giel? At the very least we should let him know we’re going to try the contract.”

  “I will go,” Ashera said. “He seemed to take a liking to me and that may sway him to help us. If not…” She looked at the Adventurer’s Guild. “There certainly seemed many who were interested in joining.”

  Elora came up to Hal’s side. “We’ll meet you outside,” she said to Ashera.

  Together, the three of them walked back into the inviting chaos of the Adventurer’s Guild.

  Hal found an attended counter easily enough. The young man looked at him, then at the badge Hal had pinned on his breast. He smiled pleasantly. “Hello, Initiate. How might I be of service?”

  “I have a few questions about this contract,” Hal said, taking the rolled-up contract and laying it on the glass counter.

  The man’s light hazel eyes widened. “Oh, so you’re that Initiate. Well, I do say, there is a considerable betting pot on your adventure.” He leaned in and winked. “I placed a few dozen sparks on you, don’t let me down, eh?”

  Mira raised her brows at that. “And how much did you place against him?”

  Clearing his throat and adjusting his thin black tie, the agent didn’t respond.

  Chuckling, Mira patted Hal on the back. “I’m sure you have everything in hand here. I’m going to go place a few bets! Don’t die without me!” She disappeared into the press of adventurers shortly after.

  Turning his attention back to Hal, the agent asked, “How might I help you?”

  “This reward says the ownership of the district will be in our names, right?” Hal asked, pointing at the specific line.

  “Not quite, the ownership will transfer to the one who initially took the contract. That is you, is it not?”

  “Wait, so my party members do not get ownership?”

  “Not unless you choose to give it to them.”

  Hal looked at Elora questioningly, she merely shrugged her narrow shoulders. “We’re trusting you with a lot more than a district,” she reminded him. “I do not care who owns it, so long as our mission remains the same.”

  “It does,” Hal agreed, and that seemed good enough for Elora.

  Turning back to the agent he said, “My question is about… privacy.”

  A well-manicured raised hand stopped Hal from explaining further. “The Adventurer’s Guild will gladly anonymize your name from both the records of contract completion and for any rewards if you so choose. It is not so uncommon an ask,” he said at the questioning looks. “Many well-to-do adventurers would never have a moment of rest if they were known to have completed certain bounties or contracts.”

  “And we would do that upon completion?” Hal asked.

  “Precisely,” said the agent. “Is that all?”

  Hal nodded and left. He stood outside for a little while before Ashera joined them.

  She shook her head. “The Gone Goose was closed with a handwritten sign that said, ‘Gone Adventuring, be back soon!’ Have either of you seen Giel?”

  “No,” Elora and Hal answered in chorus.

  “Should we grab a fifth then from inside?” Ashera asked.

  “Not yet,” Hal said. “We don’t know if we’ll even be able to get in. Until then, let’s just keep it to us four. If we can find a way in, we’ll come back for a fifth.”

  “Does this mean….” Mira gasped aloud, coming out of the Adventurer’s Guild. She jumped up and down like an excited child. “Are we finally going to the Coffin District, now? Are we gonna try and solve the riddle only to painfully die like so many before us?”

  “You seem way too chipper for somebody that’s less than thirty minutes from dying,” Hal pointed out.

  Mira scoffed. “It’ll take at least an hour-and-a-half to get to the Coffin District. Follow me, I’ll show you where it is. That way you don’t have to go bumbling about asking questions.”

  While they walked up the various curving streets and through consecutive paler gates, Mira kept up a constant stream of dialogue.

  “Where did you guys come from anyway? We don’t get many new recruits this time of the year. Bandersnatch season is nearly upon us and a lot of the lowe
r ranks don’t live to see the new year. It’s enough to put most potential recruits off until they’re less likely to die out on a simple bounty, y’know?

  “By-the-by, not that I’m prying but, are you two with him because you’re Power Leveling him?” She pointed at Hal. “I know some people look down on the practice but I’m not one to judge. Is that what’s going on here?”

  Elora and Ashera shared a glance.

  “No,” Elora said apprehensively. “We are friends and while Hal is a bit weaker than us, we want to make sure he stays safe.”

  “Yeah, but he doesn’t even have a Class.” She turned to Hal, gently laying her free hand on his shoulder. “I don’t mean to sound insensitive or judgmental. But we should all be throwing our sparks at him.

  “I doubt his skills are all that high if he’s still a Novice. I want you to use ‘em so you can at least cut something with that sweet hip-candy you got there.” Mira pointed at the [Goblinbane].

  “I appreciate it but you don’t have to.”

  “Nonsense,” Mira said, squeezing past a trundling cart laden with silks and tapestries. They just passed through a silver gate from the Verdant Ring below and into the Cloud Ring. “If we’re really going to stand a chance of doing this, you’ll need to be able to fend for yourself. While it would be nicer if you had a Class, having decent skills is the next best thing.”

  “She has a point,” Ashera said to Elora. “We could do a lot of good to get Hal caught up and standing on his own two feet.”

  For a moment, Hal was certain Elora was going to object. A dark corner of his mind thought he saw worry and fear flit across her face. Perhaps his suspicions were right.

  Maybe Elora did want a puppet for a Founder and the thought of Hal being powerful and independent didn’t sit right with her. After all, it would be hard to cow him if he could fight back properly.

  “I don’t know,” Elora said, and Hal braced for the sharp words to come. “If you saw what I did back at the goblin cave, you wouldn’t think Hal was still a Novice. He handled himself well. His magic is something I have never seen before. It’s strong.