Chapter 121 – Lunch
“Welcome, Lord—no, I see it is Baron Longchaser.” I corrected myself as I read the [Appraise] information for the old Baron Longchaser’s son and his family. “Forgive me, but last I heard your father still held the title. We may not have been close, but I pray that nothing happened to him?”
Sayer Longchaser
Human Male
Level 25 Swashbuckler / Commander
Titles: Well-Endowed, Agile, Baron
Sayer Longchaser had a lean, athletic build, looking to be in his early-to-mid-twenties. In my old life, I’d have said he was one of those gymnasts or parkour guys. The rapier on his hip suggested that he was a good bit more martially inclined than his father had been. At the very least, he did not have the ‘Greedy’ title, like Nab had.
Arabella Longchaser
Human Female
Level 23 Bard / Courtesan
Titles: Siren, Accommodating, Baroness
His wife, Arabella, was dressed in a lovely gown that showed off her ‘assets’ to their greatest effect, without being improper, as one would expect of a courtesan. She actually had an enchanted lyre hanging from a sling at her side. The Siren title meant that her CHA was doubled for any vocal performances, as well as ‘non-threatening’ social skills like [Diplomacy], [Seduction], and [Persuasion]. A couple years younger than her husband, she nonetheless had a more worldly air about her than Baroness Ravenharbor had.
Roy Longchaser
Human Male
Titles: Virgin, Curious One
Their son, Roy, was only three years old, and his access to the Voice of the World was locked. The Voice typically only unlocked a child’s class (which they were born with) and the ability to choose a profession when they hit eleven years old, for humans. Elves and other races had different timeframes, obviously. There were stories of individuals getting an ‘emergency unlock’, but no one wanted a child to be put in the kind of situations where that was needed, and the types of rituals that might cause a ‘forced unlock’ were generally not pleasant for anyone involved, either.
Interestingly enough, I’d learned that children could gain XP through killing, as well as through other actions, if they were in line with their class, and their actions before their access to the Voice unlocked would be taken into account for unlocking General Skills. So, it was not unheard of for a child trained from a young age to wield a blade to unlock access to the Voice, and be at Level 2 or even 3. More than that, and circumstances would have likely given them an emergency unlock before then.
Avelyn Longchaser
Human Female
Level 25 Ink Mage / Painter
Titles: Inspired
Then, there was Sayer’s sister, the younger daughter of Nab Longchaser. Neither beautiful nor plain, Avelyn was an Ink Mage and Painter, and the Inspired title meant she was even better with her artistry than others of her level would be. Ink Mage was an interesting class, since it was best known as a summoner class, where the caster summoned creatures and objects they painted or drew. Summoned creatures obeyed the Ink Mage, and the mage gained proficiency with objects she conjured. On those grounds alone, the class had the potential for great power, if the mage was properly prepared, and the strength of her summons increased not only with her level, but with the skill and care that went into the art.
However, the ‘arcane knowledge’ part of [Arcane Ritualist] told me there was more to the class than that. They could write words on creatures and objects, and change their nature, so long as the word remained. And while ‘ink’ was in the class’s name, the word did not need to be inked. So, carving ‘soft’ into a hard wooden bench would make it feel like a comfortable pillow. From what I knew, the number of words an Ink Mage could string together on an object or creature, and the strength of those words, went up with their level.
One of the benefits of an increased INT ability was that you thought faster, so I had already run through all those thoughts when Sayer forced a pained smile on his face. “Sadly, my father has had several setbacks, lately. The Necropolis of Akkras collapsing, which I do not blame you for, as he did, was merely the first issue. More troublesome for him was having a trusted servant prove treacherous. The family butler disappeared one night, and took much of the Longchaser family’s treasury with him. Still, he might have held on, if it were not for the coming celebration, where he’d be forced to confront the other barons, much less the king, he may have recovered. But so soon after such a humiliation, his pride could not bear it. He took [Noble’s Rest] the night before last, on the eve of our teleporting to Coldpeak for the celebration. We spent yesterday setting affairs in order before teleporting over last night.”
Ah. [Noble’s Rest] was a poison designed to let the target pass peacefully in their sleep. It was considered a gentle, dignified way to take one’s own life, which is how it got the name. Of course, because it was tasteless and only took effect when one went to sleep, it was also a favored way of eliminating a troublesome noble without arousing suspicion.
I nodded my head solemnly, and said, “I am sorry to hear that, truly. But you look to be stepping into his title well enough.”
And then, young Roy, being a child and all, whispered to his mother in what he probably thought was quiet, but was loud enough for everyone to hear, “Mommy, who is that? She’s even prettier than you are!”
I chuckled slightly, and said, “I am Baroness Alis Pureheart, of Windwater Barony. And something you’ll learn, as you grow older, is that people become ‘more’ in many ways as they level up. Since I am in Tier 2, with both a Class and Profession which involve Charisma, that means I have gained quite a bit more in the way of attributes than your mother has, even though she also has a Charisma-focused class and profession. But to get to the level I am, you have to either be long-lived like the elves, or put your life on the line, again and again, often going into dungeons, where death awaits around every corner.”
Arabella blushed slightly, and said, “Sorry, you know how children are.”
“Oh, do not worry. I know I am beautiful, and I do not mind a child honestly saying such things. However, as one woman with a ‘socially-focused’ profession to another, as you level up, skills become more expensive, forcing you to choose carefully. And, when you get to Level 50 in the Tier, your Profession will have a ‘capstone’ skill, that will be incredibly powerful, but also very focused on the essence of that Profession, and the same is true for your Race and Class, as well. These capstone skills cost four skill points to take, which should tell you how much the Voice of the World values them.”
“Baroness Pureheart,” Roy said, without thinking, “what skill did you pick?”
“Roy!” Arabella said, sharply. “You do not ask people about their skills, unless you are in a party, or are contracting them for some work!” She looked at me, again, and said, “Again, I’m sorry.”
I laughed, and shook my head. “I see the Curious One title does not come from nowhere. But it is well known that I am a Mind Sorceress, so I don’t think there is any harm in giving a glimpse of the power a capstone skill has. I picked up [Empty Mind], which allows me to touch someone, pay their INT+WIS+CHA times 100 in MP, and erase their mind, completely. All thoughts, all memories, all their skills, gone, forever, unless someone gets a [Miracle] to bring them back. That is the type of skills that await the end of a Tier.”
That line of conversation was cut off by Belon, the chef, bringing in the food, which was a stew of roast pork in trenchers of bread, along with a dark red wine to drink. A simple, hearty meal, especially compared to what some nobles would eat for lunch, but regardless of Belon’s skills, this was just a snack, for me. A Tier 2 could needed more food, or food from Tier 2 creatures, in order to account for their greatly enhanced abilities. I had the [Tier 2 Endless Camp Ration Box], so that was not a concern, and these meals were more to keep up appearances than anything.
Once we were seated at the table, and Roy was suitably distracted asking Syllia about elves, Sayer said, “Lady Pureheart, It is said that you are a ritualist, amongst your other talents, yes?”
“That is true. I’ve picked up a wide array of skills, as the Voice of the World has thrown different situations at me. But I’m sure that much, at least, is known to all the barons, by now. If you’re asking me this question, there is some ritual that you would like to see done?”
“In my father’s study, there was a grimoire, containing a Tier 2 ritual called the Sacrificial Birth of the Underground Labyrinth. Our scholars have read the grimoire, and concluded that it is a Tier 2 ritual, designed to give rise to a Tier 1 dungeon at the site of the ritual. However, as a Tier 2 ritual, none of the wizards or sages in Shadescar are capable of casting it.”
I considered that, for a moment. “And you are hoping to birth a new dungeon, to grow into a replacement for the Necropolis. From the name alone, you must know that such a birth will likely involve sacrifices, possibly the sacrifices of those central to your barony’s functioning. So, why are you looking to walk such a road?”
I gave the man credit where it was due; he did not bat an eye at the question. “The Necropolis was a not insignificant portion of the economy of Shadescar. While the barony will not collapse entirely without it, the loss of the dungeon leaves us much diminished, as has the loss of the family fortune. A new dungeon, a young dungeon, which can eventually grow into a replacement for the Necropolis, would give the people a concrete hope for the future. It would give us a chance to rebuild, at least enough to keep the Theocracy from swaying the citizens with overtures of a better life under their rule.”
“I do not have the [Improved Ritual Magic] spell, which I would need to get the best effect out of the ritual. It most likely can be done without it, but it would almost certainly require more power to pull it off. Which would mean more sacrifices.”
“I understand,” Sayer said. “In that case, if you should pick up the skill in the future, I would grant the grimoire to you, which would allow you to repeat the ritual in Windwater, if you chose. A dungeon in your lands would help your people, as well, yes?”
It was a clever play. Giving me the grimoire would indeed allow me to learn and reproduce the ritual, putting a dungeon in Windwater. It was a long-term investment that would profit both our baronies greatly, assuming the cost was not too high. “Certainly, but that would depend on the cost. However, I will keep this in mind for when I next level, though I cannot say when that shall be. Without facing enemies in Tier 2, it would take quite some time for me to level again.”
“Of course,” Sayer nodded. “In that case, I believe Avelyn had something she wished to discuss with you, regarding magic. I am afraid the arcane has never been my forte, but my sister has worked hard to get where she is, despite father never agreeing with her path.”
“By which he means that I did not want to sell myself into marriage to enrich our father, and I certainly did not care about profiting off my art, or taking commissions from people who would restrict my expression,” Avelyn said. “The truth is, I have recently unlocked the skill, [Magic Tattoo]. This allows me to tattoo myself or others with images, which have two magical effects. The first is a passive ability, which is determined by the subject of the tattoo, and whether the tattoo occupies an item slot within the Voice of the World’s estimation. The passive ability works so long as the tattoo is present. The second ability, however, allows the bearer to summon the image at will, so long as they have the MP to sustain it, but if the summon is destroyed, then the tattoo disappears for a month and a day, and you lose the passive effect during that time. The tattoo is only removed if someone successfully disenchants it. Unfortunately, I must have some sort of reference to make the tattoo in the first place.”
“I see where this is leading. You wish to use one or more of my companions as references, then? And what is it that you offer?”
Avelyn, heartened by the fact that I did not deny her out of hand, said, “I know that a Dire Hellhound, an Angel, and a Lesser Frost Dragon are amongst your companions. I would offer to tattoo you, and all those in your party, with tattoos of your own design, so long as I have the knowledge to do so, in return for being able to study those three, and use them as a reference for my own tattoos.”
Slotless magic items that produced passive abilities that we could tailor to our needs, and potentially allowed the summoning of powerful creatures or items? And, in return, she wanted to get reference material for three tattoos, though she would likely be able to reproduce them for others. She was asking a great deal. A great deal indeed. But what she offered was extremely valuable, as well. She knew full well the cost of what she wanted, and what her magical art was worth.
I smiled as I turned to look at Sayer, “Lord Longchaser, I am afraid I may need to borrow your sister for a few hours after lunch, and possibly into the evening. I hope you do not need her for anything today?”