by E C Chii
“STOP!” Charle shouted angrily
The elder responded with a sneer and smile, “You think you are above our laws and traditions? We of Kokuri village find you guilty of assault. While we cannot come to a consensus about the murder charge you are accused of, we must bestow a punishment on you none the less. You will be branded as an ‘Outcast’, you will find no comfort, rest, or friends wherever you go. No law-abiding city, village, or community will welcome you with open arms. You will not be thrown out but also not welcomed by any.”
“Do you have anything to say before we carry out the sentence?” the elder asked
His anger boiled, and he said the first thing that came to his mind, “Your so-called justice is no better than the Empire’s. Corruptus in extremis, you piece of shit!”
Angered, the elder asked with spite in his voice, “What does that mean?”
“It means you are a corrupt piece of shit.”
As he was saying this Charle brought out a red branding iron shaped like a pentagon with all the corners interconnected. Wolf struggled briefly but the guards had grabbed him and held him still, anger filled his being with each step Charle took toward him. When Charle got close enough the pressed the brand onto his chest, searing agony erupted throughout his body. Wolf let out a monstrous howl as the smoke from his burning flesh filled his nostrils. The branding only lasted a few seconds but to Wolf’s perception it lasted much longer. When the brand was removed he collapsed with his body being wracked with pain.
Wolf stood moments later, his vision was crimson red with anger and rage. “You have just chosen to burn a bridge that should have never been touched.”
You have failed ‘The Alunvian Restoration III’
Penalty: Branding as a ‘Outcast’, Alunvian Resistance relates to you with Mistrust
Outcast (Passive, Mark) – All lawful cities and law enforcement will treat you with additional suspicion or outright hostility.
Pointing at the elder, “You, you fucking owe me something and I mean to collect it, now take me to the village storehouse, NOW! This farce of a fucking trial just showed me that none of you worthless card-carrying oxygen thieves is worth saving or redemption.”
Looking around he spotted the blacksmith and armorer, “You both owe me my weapon and armor. I will have it before nightfall or I will get a full refund. With interest if it is not complete.”
The elder stammered with indignation, “You cannot order us around!”
Wolf stared pure death straight through the elder’s soul, “Do you go back on your word and deny me my reward for completing the quest to bring that bitch there here? Or from saving all your sorry asses from that Imperial Legion? If so then I will gladly walk away, but only after cursing your village as oath-breakers to all the gods and goddesses. I think one or two of them will listen.”
To the elder’s credit he held firm, there was a shudder barely visible in him and throughout the crowd that had gathered, but he frowned and just walked toward the town hall. When they both entered they went down into the basement where Wolf saw a large metal door to what he presumed would be the vault. Anger continued to seethe in his chest but had somewhat faded now that he was being let go. After the elder opened the door they walked into a small room with shelves lining the walls with various items on top of it, chests were set on the floor everything in the room were in various shades of color and age.
“I can choose any item correct?”
“Yes” was the reply
“Can I examine it before choosing?” he asked
“If you must, just make it quick” the elder replied with vitriol as he sat in a chair by the entrance to watch him.
Wolf walked down the length of the wall taking his time as he proceeded to look at each item trying to appraise it as best he could without using ‘Analyze’ due to only having a maximum seven to eight uses before he was out of MP. He was eventually drawn to a chest that desired his attention, kneeling next to the chest that was barely larger than a jewelry box. Using ‘Analyze’ made a window pop up:
Name: Fine Oak Jewelry Box (Locked)
Quality: Well Crafted
Creator: Montie Paithon
Contents: 30% full
Rarity: Common
Weight: 5.5 kg
A well-crafted Jewelry Box of oak wood that can contain up to 100 gems or jewelry
Wolf smiled as he set the chest aside for him to come back to. Continuing down the line he came across a large chest that looked to be able to fit his entire body. Analyzing it revealed it to be a wardrobe chest full of various clothing and weighed roughly one hundred kilos. Wolf dismissed this chest immediately. When he looked above the chest he saw a series of scrolls, many were old and looked like they would crumble as soon as he would touch them, so he left them be. One in the back peaked his interest so he carefully picked it out of the stack using ‘Analyze’ brought up the window:
Name: Enchanted Imperial Map
Quality: Unique
Creator: Unknown
Durability: Indestructible
Rarity: Unique
Weight: 0 kg
A Soulbound map that automatically fills in location and map data as you visit areas.
He immediately set this with the jewelry box and moved on. He looked at the elder whose eyes were slightly glazed over from what seemed like exhaustion. He was about to do something incredibly risky but if it worked it would pay off greatly. As an untested technique he had been thinking about goes this could be a literal game changer for him. Drawing on the psychic element he pushed it out toward the elder while he held a helmet under the guise of examining it.
He was incredibly angry already by that bullshit trial. When he continued looking around in a corner was a large pile of goods that he recognized as the stuff from the Imperial Slaver’s tent that he gathered. If he was angry before he was apoplectic now. He decided right there and then he was going to rob their ass blind. Once the stream of hazy blue mana had reached him he tried to subtly push his thoughts and ideas onto the old Huldra. The Elder’s brow creased as he seemed as if he couldn’t remember something and was trying in earnest to figure it out. Wolf pushed a little harder feeling slightly faint from mana fatigue when the elder’s mind gave way. His eyes glazing over and breathing slowing he went into a trance-like state.
Happy the results that old Huldra was now entranced. He continued down to the end of the room he moved a satchel next to the other items without thinking. The end of the room was largely uninteresting with nothing of note. Moving back toward the entrance he additionally picked up a few more items that interested him. He was about to finish when he stopped looking at an odd pair of boots, these boots shimmered and absorbed the light in a weird way. Using ‘Analyze’ showed a new window:
Name: Nightshade Raider’s Boots
Quality: Master-crafted
Creator: Shawn Konnerie
Durability: 377/525
Slot: Feet
Unlockable Quest: Raiders Nation
Armor: 20
Rarity: Set Piece
Weight: 2.5 kg
1 of 9 of the Nightshade Raider set.
Current Owner: None
Restrictions: Raider Class, Level 20
Unlockable Quest – ‘Raiders Nation’ at level 10
+2 AGI
+1 DEX
+3 CON
+10% Movement speed through any terrain
Others who possess a piece of the Nightshade Raiders set have a 100% chance of receiving an item upon killing the owner.
When you collect 3 or more of this set items cannot be destroyed or stolen
3 Set bonus: ????
6 Set bonus: ????
9 Set bonus: ????
Wolf’s eyes bugged out as he glanced at the Elder seeing him still in the trancelike state calmed him down. He didn’t know how much longer the elder would stay in this state, so he quickly walked back to gather everything to put into a chest when he saw the satchel. Analyzing it revealed i
t to be something called a ‘Traveler’s Satchel’ that could fit up to fifty items in it of medium size but didn’t reduce the weight. He carefully placed everything he grabbed inside the satchel but needed to toss aside several larger items that wouldn’t fit or made the satchel appear too big. Going through the room again he began stuffing various small and inconspicuous thing in the bag.
Once he was satisfied he picked up the satchel with a slight grunt and placed it near the entrance, picking up the rest of the items he couldn’t take.
“Hey Bernie, which of these is most valuable?” he shouted as he held up a random sword, helmet, and scroll.
The elder shook the cobwebs out of his head narrowing his eyes at Wolf.
“Gandalf, I asked a question. Do. I. Need. To. Say. It. Slowly? Oh, it might be your hearing that has gone bad. SHOULD I ASK LOUDLY?” Wolf shouted.
“Does your disrespect know no limits? Figure it out yourself.” the Elder sneered
“Easy, there Mr. Rogers I will be out of your way in a few moments.” Wolf said with a laugh as he proceeded to put on a façade of examining various things and tossing them to the side until he came to the satchel.
“I’ll take this.” Wolf said as he picked up the bag and slinging across his shoulder.
“Will you now? Do you even know what that is?” the Elder said with narrowing eyes.
“A bag, what does it look like. What does it matter to you? I have chosen my one item, right?” Wolf said nonchalantly.
“Then it is decided you are both a fool and cretin. Now that you have your item leave. You must leave this village at first light tomorrow.” the Elder said ushering Wolf out the door.
“Yeah, yeah, you don’t need to tell me twice.”
Wolf left the town hall and headed over to the armorer. Upon arrival, an open display of disgust was on the face of the woman manning the counter.
“Look you don’t want me here and I don’t want to be here either. Just give me what is mine, a place to get changed, I want to make sure it fits before I leave.”
To her credit she placed the armor on the counter and pointed toward a small changing room.
Name: Leather Armor Set
Quality: Average
Creator: Nickole Kiddimon
Durability: 125/125
Slot: Full Body
Bonus: N/A
Armor: 70
Rarity: Common
Weight: 8.5 kg
Wolf started to hum the song ‘Hot Stuff’ as he began to strip out of the ill-fitting clothing and put on a thin gambeson that would fit under the leather armor. With the addition of the gambeson the armor was comfortably snug but not overly so and didn’t impede his flexibility or movement. Satisfied he put the loose hood over and left the discarded clothing on the floor as a sign of contempt for the shopkeeper. As he approached the door, he stopped, he walked over to the large thick bolts of cotton and bought several on impulse. Meandering to the blacksmith he found him lounging in a hammock with a mug of ale. As he saw Wolf walking up he raised his mug and said.
“Hail Wolf, sit, have a drink on me and talk a while before you leave.” Antoanio said with a happy grin.
Wolf eyed the man suspiciously but picked up the mug of foamy ale and taking a sip. A grimace splashed across his face as he disliked warm beer. Summoning up some of the water and wind elements he chilled it to his liking before he took a deep draw.
“Cold ale? You really are a stranger to these lands. Only Deep Dweorh drink like that, not that I’ve ever seen one or tried it. Mind letting me try it chilled?”
Wolf shrugged and chilled the smith’s drink as per his request and watched him take several deep pulls of the ale.
“Not bad, I don’t think many of the Hill or Mountain Dweorh will prefer to switch to this way, but the tall folk would certainly favor it like this.”
An odd fact came to the forefront of his mind when the blacksmith didn’t bat an eye to Wolf’s casual use of magic. Curiously he asked, “Why do you not seem surprised or concerned by my use of magic?”
“Bah, I know for a fact that you are not one of them. Would you like to try some of my shine?”
Wolf piped up, “No thanks, as nice it is to be a social butterfly and all I am here for my blade. Are they ready?”
“It is ready, I figured I should give you thanks for telling me how to smith swords in that fashion. It gave me quite a few boons when I finished assembling it. You are now looking at a proud intermediate blacksmith and I am considering specializing in exotic blades.”
“I am glad for you but where is my blade?” Wolf asked taking another pull of ale.
“No need to sensitive like a woman. They are over there on the table, the second one is for the item I owe you, would you like to test them?”
“Absolutely!” Wolf said walking up to them and examining them.
Name: Prototype Uchigatana (Short)
Quality: Above Average
Creator: Antoanio Missagi
Durability: 30/30
Bonuses: None
Critical Hit Rate: 10%
Damage: 15-18
Rarity: Uncommon
Weight: .5 kg
Name: Prototype Uchigatana (Long)
Quality: Above Average
Creator: Antoanio Missagi
Durability: 30/30
Bonuses: None
Critical Hit Rate: 10%
Damage: 18-20
Rarity: Uncommon
Weight: .5 kg
The curvature was slightly more exaggerated than he would prefer but wouldn’t have any detrimental effects to his swordsmanship. The swords even came with a passable leather belt that would be sufficient for his needs. A series of poles with cloth wrapping were spread out in a circle around the back of the smithy. Wolf approached them placing one hand on the handle feeling the rough leather that encased the handle providing enhanced grip. Closing his eyes, he focused his energy inside his core. Opening his eyes, he unconsciously used the ‘Iaijutsu’ ability ‘Nukitsuke’. Faster than the eye could see the sword flew from its scabbard slicing a deep gash completely through the fabric and wood underneath. The fabric caught fire filling the air with the pungent smell of burning wood and cloth. In the same smooth motion, the blade returned to the scabbard allowing him to turn his attention to the four remaining posts.
Taking the quick draw stance again he mentally chose to use ‘Shihogiri’. His perception of the world slowed to a crawl as everything around him turned grey in his vision except for the four posts which remained in color. He felt his body become sluggish as though it were moving through water. As he moved forward at a normal pace of a jog rather than the sprint he was attempting. Upon reaching the first post the blade shot out of the scabbard nearly cutting the post in half, twisting his wrist the blade was facing the opposite direction allowing him to cut diagonally and down.
The cut severed most of the fabric that kept it attached to the post and positioned him close enough to put him in range of the remaining two posts. With the sword having slashed through the third post, digging a deep furrow in the wood ending the sword in the kirioroshi position for the final slash that cleanly bisected the post. As he turned around he saw that the blacksmith was sitting up from the hammock with ale spewing from his mouth in surprise and shock. A grin of satisfaction crossed his face as Wolf performed a chiburi before sheathing his sword and time sped up.
“What in the gods name was that?” Antoanio sputtered and coughed.
“That’s my swordsmanship. Iaijutsu. It is one of the many swordsmanship styles of my grandmother’s homeland. Some are better than others, depending on the situation of course.”
“That is only one of them? How many different styles are there?” the sputtering Dweorh asked
“No one knows anymore.” Wolf said with a shrug as he walked away toward the general store. The look on the Dweorh’s face was priceless but Wolf didn’t see since he was facing away with his two swords bound to the left side of his hip cutti
ng edge facing skyward.
Wolf got to the general store and purchased a large canvas traveling backpack, several months of traveling rations, and other basic supplies. The amount of pure distaste and aversion that emanated from the shopkeeper was palatable and he was certainly over charging him for the supplies. With the last few silvers to his name having been spent he headed to the gate as the sun was starting to set. He knew that he needed to leave as soon as he could before they discovered he took more than he was supposed to. As soon as the gate shut behind him he heard the rapid ringing of bells and knew his time was up. Taking off into a rapid sprint he covered the one hundred meters clearing and entered the safety of the wooded area to the sound of multiple arrows landing nearby.
Slowing to a sustainable jog Wolf moved off the path making his way through the forest following the setting sun west, at least he hoped it was west. Sweat dripped down his face, his breath was labored as darkness encompassed the forest masking his flight. Eventually, he stopped at a large tree which he climbed to rest for the night. Using some of the hemp rope he had bought he lashed himself to the tree ensuring he wouldn’t fall during his sleep. Exhausted from running for several hours straight he fell fast asleep after a cold meal of trail rations.