Fearing the things that are alien to us is a sign of our insignificance.
- The Human Question by Gideon de Salavia 378 AC.
Thankfully, extricating ourselves out of the dump was relatively simple and uneventful. According to Elenora and Theo, their forr ho was ironically called the Silk Quarter. Al-lazar had fought back the encroachnt of night with a host of artificial lights, both magical and mundane. The mark of a higher civilization. The Do of Becoming, the tallest monunt, glowed almost as brightly, its majesty barely challenged. Not so for the poor Silk Quarter, for their night had landed truly, causing to be cautious almost to the extre. I was fearful, not for myself, but for my charges. Every shadow held a potential threat, every wayward glance in our direction a warning. It was like one of those hated escort quests that had always annoyed .
I tried badgering Theo’s mother about their past, but for the most part, I had received only evasive answers. Not wanting to be rude, I decided not to push further. Theophania, on the other hand, was a never-ending stream of questions, her curiosity seemingly unaffected by the day's earlier dangers.
More oddly, I found that Elenora had forbidden Theo from calling her mother. When pressed, she simply stated that it made her feel old.
We arrived tired and bedraggled at the Begonia’s Shade. The day had been long and hard, and coming back here gave a certain sense of closure. As if this inn acted as a central hub where I could save my ga and so forth. It was a sha that I could not save the ga.
The first sight to greet was that of Kidu in the common room, his large presence drawing the eye. Unlike the barbarian I expected him to be, I saw him eating delicately at his al with the correct utensils. Larynda, sitting next to him, was devouring a side of mutton in a manner more fitting of my initial expectations of the northern savage, creating a striking contrast. Today was full of surprises.
And of Elwin, there was still no sign. The man could be a ghost at tis.
“Gilgash of Uruk! You look like you were in a fight with sothing out of the storm. And lost,” Kidu comnted, laughing between mouthfuls.
I responded with a dry, “Thank you, as always,” while the pair behind offered polite bows.
Naira, the innkeeper, approached after attending to another table, her gaze assessing. “I presu a bath is in order? I’ll prepare the room and water for,” her eyes briefly settled on Elenora and her daughter before returning to , “three.”
“That would be perfect, along with a change of clothes for . My harness and gambeson?”
“Ready in two days. Tomorrow evening, if he does not drink this evening.”
A pleasant surprise, if not a curious answer. “Very good. And, of course, the Lady Zariyah?”
Amused by the title, Naira smiled. “The lady is in my room, resting. She ntioned that today's excitent was too much. It seems too much excitent can unsettle both heart and soul.”
“I couldn’t agree more. These are Theophania and her mother, Elenora. For now, could you please attend to their needs?”
*****
After giving the smiling serving girl Ninurta the remains of my bloodstained and torn clothing outside the inn’s baths, I inford her that I would be taking my evening al in my room.
I was able to enjoy a mont of peace, free from violence. Taking a mont to unwind, I looked over my body and tested it, moving my limbs and testing their range and movent. Miraculously, it seed my magic had prevented any lasting damage. There was a fleeting concern about potential internal injuries, but it quickly dissipated, likely a re shadow cast by the stress I had endured, washed away by the warmth of the water.
Dressing in clean clothes afterward felt extraordinarily luxurious, a simple pleasure magnified by the day's trials.
Going to my room, I made sure to put on my sword, fashion and convenience be damned. I just sat on the edge of my bed and reviewed my character sheet.
[STATUS] Calling: Gilgash lvl.14 Paladin/Reaver
Strength: 32
Dexterity: 26
Constitution: 47
Intelligence: 25
Wisdom: 22
Charisma: 16
Luck: 24
Entropic Mimic [Creature of Entropy - lvl.25]
Health: 387/537
Stamina: 26/65
Mana: 1/1
Adaptive Defense (lvl.2)
Shield Form (lvl.2)
SKILLS & PROFICIENCIES
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Pain Nullification (lvl.3)
Power Strike (lvl.4) 10
Endure (lvl.5)
Stealth (lvl.2)
Rest (lvl.4)
Backstab (lvl.2)
Dodge (lvl.3)
Polearms (lvl.3)
Dual Wield (lvl.2)
Critical Hit Mastery (lvl.4)
Improved Unard Combat (lvl.1)
Hamrs (lvl.4)
Flails (lvl.3)
Maces (lvl.3)
Shields (lvl.3)
dium Armour (lvl.4)
Improved Heavy Armour (lvl.1)
Axes (lvl.2)
Daggers (lvl.4)
Throwing Weapons (lvl.2)
Double Throw (lvl.1) 5
Shield Bash (lvl.2) 10
Riding (lvl.2)
Dash (lvl.1) 10
Swords (lvl.3)
Crossbows (lvl.4)
Blind-Fighting (lvl.2)
Rush Strike (lvl.1) 20
Tracking (lvl.1)
Trap Detection (lvl.1)
Frenzied Strikes (lvl.2) 30
Monster Taming (lvl.1)
SPELLS & MAGIC
Heal (lvl.5) 5
Rust (lvl.4) 2
Identify (lvl.3) 1
Silent Casting (lvl.2)
Mana Regeneration (lvl.2)
Purify (lvl.2) 3
Greater Heal (lvl.2) 10
Holy Aura (lvl.3) 2
Decay (lvl.1) 1
Drain (lvl.5) 2
Entropic Aura (lvl.3) 2
Inferno Bolts (lvl.2) 2
GIFTS
Curse of Entropy: -20% to all starting attributes.
Mark of the Paladin: 10% resistance to Dark/Holy magic. 5% resistance to Physical.
Touch of the Void: 10% reduced resistance to Holy/Fire magic, 20% resistance to ntal Effects, 15% immunity to ntal Effects.
Mark of the Adaptive Helix: 5% resistance to Physical, Minor Regeneration.
Experience to next level 208/1283
Health: 404/441
Stamina: 42/76
Mana: 4/18
A few points of experience from combat and four points of ‘organic’ attribute gains were not a bad haul for a single day. Still, it was not comnsurate to the amount of effort I had exerted, nor the suffering I had to go through body and mind. Didn’t gas like this tend to have a reverse difficulty curve? Weren’t things ant to get easier as I progressed? I thought I had a solid build…
More interestingly, my Mimic had grown along with , as it had gained a level with the subsequent increase in attributes. Also, its skills had risen which ant that, like , it experienced organic growth.
There was a small knock on the door.
“Sir, your al,” ca Ninurta’s small voice.
“Co in,” I replied brusquely and she opened the door.
A sll of curried at wafted in with the serving girl and my eyes feasted on the evening al. Until then, I had not realized just exactly how hungry I was. Along with the al, Elwin sauntered in with a look sowhere between knowing amusent and genuine worry.
“You were up to a lot today. Mind if I join you for a bite or two?”
I took a small breath before fixing a polite expression. “Not at all. Ninurta, if you please, a little more food and wine for my guest.”
“As you wish, samasa,” the girl answered seriously, skittering out of the room after placing down the al and drinks on the low table of the room.
“The big man seems to be enjoying real civilization, can’t bla him for it. Been a long hard trip on the road with not really much in the way of anything. We should all have a talk, jus’ the three of us, you know. The original crew that fate has taken down this rry road,” he explained casually, shrugging his shoulders.
I looked him over, searching for anything casual observation might have missed. “Are you in a maudlin mood, Elwin, or is there sothing else you wish to say?” I asked, not much in the mood for anything. Company, even Elwin’s company, might be a better companion than stewing myself in my own thoughts.
“Now… let just get a quick sip. Throat’s mighty parched as I’ve heard that a certain soone has been busy in the great city of Al-Lazar,” he replied saucily before sitting down cross-legged on the carpet.
Wishing he would just get to it, I nonetheless joined him. Not that I had much choice. “What do you an?”
“Picking fights with the furries. Oh, and consorting with probably practitioners of the dark arts, more picking fights, saving so random won in the slums from the depths of poverty for no reason, and you guessed it… more fights. The last one, by the look of it, she would have had you if I didn’t put my best foot forward. Took ages to find my blades after that… Yes, you can thank the magnificent Elwin for that. Took one good look at and thought better of it!” he answered smugly, helping himself to so of my evening repast.
“Cowards that prey on the weak and vulnerable often turn tail at the first sign of real resistance,” I remarked blithely, cracking my neck.
Curried at of unknown origins lay before on a bed of saffron-yellow rice. The aroma of it tantalized , coaxing a fresh hunger to gnaw at my belly. A part of suddenly regretted allowing Elwin to join , as I sat down cross-legged, opposite him.
“Right random it all is. Pretty long list for a day’s activities. Wonder where you find the ti for it all? And why for that matter,” he comnted between mouthfuls.
Taking a mont to savor the first bite of the al, I idled in my response. How had he known? Perhaps he had spoken with Zariyah and Elenora, but his last comnts suggested that he had witnessed things firsthand.
“You followed ?”
“That I did. ‘I saw that savage animal start it, I did!’ sound familiar? Always got your back I do! And, I can tell you, it seems that I have not lost my touch. I don’t know if you’re worthy of respect or just plain stupid at tis. What’s the word the big man always uses, god-touched right?”
“That was all you then…” I replied a little sourly. Still, I was in no mood to chastise anyone and still a little ntally exhausted. “If you want to help, just make it a bit more obvious next ti.
“So?” he insisted, gesturing with his hands for to explain.
“So?”
“Why you do it? All of that?” he insisted again.
“Because it felt like the right thing to do? Do I need any other reasons?” was my arch reply.
“It’s just that, now don’t take offense here, but you just don’t seem to be that type. As I said before, it just seems so very random,” he continued placatingly, pouring a glass of watered wine for him and .
With a grin that I hoped annoyed, I gave my blithe answer, “Perhaps, it is because the fates and the gods will it? Praise be to the goddess and all of that.”
I enjoyed his expression as I finally enjoyed my evening al, bland though it tasted.
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