Worldweaving...
Worldweaving...
Chapter 1.15
Klbkch rushes to the inn and uses a healing potion to save a near-dead Erin Solstice. After disposing of the Hobgoblin's corpse to prevent reanimation, Klbkch returns to Liscor to physically discipline a drunken Relc.
At the eastern gates of Liscor, a tired Drake on duty watches as Klbkch speeds past. Utilizing his [Enhanced Movement] skill from his [Guardsman] class, the Antinium races toward the inn.
Upon arriving, Klbkch finds the inn heavily damaged. The front door is smashed in, smoke pours from the kitchen, and the common room is completely wrecked. Among the destruction, he discovers Erin Solstice on the brink of death. Klbkch immediately administers a healing potion, successfully pulling her back from the edge and saving her life.
Investigating the aftermath of the brutal attack, Klbkch identifies the slain Goblin Chieftain as a Hobgoblin, a highly dangerous evolutionary subtype. Surviving the desperate, close-quarters battle allowed Erin to acquire two new skills: [Bar Fighting] and [Unerring Throw]. To prevent the Hobgoblin from being reanimated as an undead monster, Klbkch drags the corpse outside, dismembers it, and buries the pieces.
After ensuring Erin's safety and neutralizing the immediate threats, Klbkch returns to Liscor. He tracks down his patrol partner, Relc, who is heavily drinking at a local bar. Holding Relc accountable for his negligence during their patrol, Klbkch beats him up, leaving the Drake bruised on the tavern floor.
Using his [Enhanced Movement] skill, Klbkch rushes past a tired Drake on duty at Liscor's gates to reach the inn.
Klbkch discovers a severely injured Erin Solstice in the ruined inn and administers a healing potion to save her life.
A young woman from Earth who stumbles into a fantasy world and takes refuge in an abandoned inn.
aka Erin, the traveller +64
Small inn where Erin is present; currently occupied by her. Noted by the Watch as having been abandoned years ago but Erin is using it; the Drake and Klbkch enter here to investigate.
aka the inn, Abandoned hilltop inn +27
An Antinium Senior Guardsman in the city’s watch; arrives at Erin’s door and greets her.
aka Senior Guardsman Klbkch, ant-man +31
Klbkch identifies the dead Goblin Chieftain as a dangerous Hobgoblin and buries its dismembered corpse to prevent reanimation.
Following her desperate fight, Erin acquires the [Bar Fighting] and [Unerring Throw] skills.
Returning to Liscor, Klbkch finds a drunken Relc at a bar and beats him up, leaving him on the floor.
A powerful and savage Goblin warrior who breaks into The Wandering Inn and attacks Erin, serving as the chapter's primary antagonist.
aka The Chieftain, the Goblin +11
A class associated with members of the city watch, held by Relc.
aka [Guardsman], [Guards] +4
A skill possessed by Klbkch that allows him to move at incredible speeds.
aka [Enhanced Movement]
A Skill obtained by Erin after winning a violent struggle inside her inn.
aka [Bar Fighting]
A Skill obtained by Erin, likely as a result of throwing objects during her fight.
aka [Unerring Throw]
A class focused on running inns, hospitality, and tending to guests and establishments.
aka [Innkeeper], Innkeeper (class) +6
The local municipal law enforcement tasked with keeping order in cities.
aka The Watch, the guard +27
A guardsman referenced by a rookie as likely getting punishment duty for breaking windows.
aka Guardsman Relc, Senior Guardsman Relc +13
A Senior Guardswoman who supervises the walls and orders a report to the Captain about possible smoke.
aka Senior Guardswoman Beilmark, Beilmark the Guardswoman +3
A city adjacent to the Floodplains, culturally aligned with Drakes and not friendly to Humans.
aka City of Liscor, the city +8
An ancient and foundational text that explains the mechanics and philosophy of the world's system of levels and classes.
aka The Book
A species of large, sentient insectoid people; one arrives at Erin’s door with a companion.
aka giant insect, Ants +28
A species of which Erin Solstice is a member.
aka Humans, smooth skin +4
A sapient reptilian species dominant in regions south of Liscor, generally unfriendly to Humans.
aka lizards, giant lizards +3
A species whose chieftain was defeated by Erin, earning her a bounty.
aka Hob, Hobgoblins
“I do not understand your reasoning. But I will accede to your request. Know that I will defend myself with lethal force if attacked, however.”
“I’m okay. Really. I just—I’m from somewhere else. Another world. This place is different. I just—I just don’t want to talk about it right now. It’s been a bad day.”
“Say rather that it has become obvious. It is an unbelievable statement, but it is the only one I can come to.”
“I do not mean this country or even this continent. You are not from here, are you?”
“Many clues lead me to this conclusion. Your curiosity about levels and classes, your mysterious arrival, and this ‘Michigan,’ which is no nation recorded in any book or map. But most of all, it was this last moment. No Human would weep for a Goblin.”
“I had made the observation that you were not from this world, Miss Solstice.”
“Of course. Forgive my rudeness. But if I may, I would like to suggest a course of action.”
“They’re vicious, evil little monsters. And they’d probably eat me if they could.”
“They are worthy skills. Unusual for the [Innkeeper] class, but not unheard of.”
“That’s fine. They’re gone, anyways. They ran off when they heard him screaming.”
“Many would argue otherwise, Miss Solstice. Goblins are considered monsters and bandits for the purposes of determining crime under Liscorian law. They are killers who prey on the weak. You have nearly died at the hands of one.”
“Your leveling is stupid. Your skills are stupid. I hate your world’s classes, I hate your city, and I hate you.”
“I’m just having a bad—I mean, it’s been—I hate this world. But I didn’t mean that last bit about you. You’re okay. Everyone else can go to hell.”
“One last question, Miss Solstice, if I may? What caused the Goblin Chieftain to attack you in the first place? It is rare that the tribal leader takes any aggressive action if unprovoked.”
“Respectfully, I must disagree. Though the Goblin Chieftain is dead, his tribe may seek vengeance.”
“After I killed the Goblin—I gained a new skill. Two, actually. [Bar Fighting] and [Unerring Throw].”
“Another sign you do not belong to this world, Miss Solstice.”
“They’re murderers. And so am I. Don’t kill them.”
“I mean no offense. It is simply that all beings know how classes and skills work.”
“It is not known. But our oldest texts tell us of this truth.”
“Not really. Sort of. I guess? But why are there levels in the first place?”
“It is the way of the world. All races that think are given the ability to level and take classes.”
“Learning skills is not merely a matter of levels. Classes and leveling are simply the basis of our lives so we may grow faster from what we do. It is a fact of life.”
“It is simply how we live our life. This is a universal truth throughout the world. Is yours not the same?”
“Relc. He killed two Goblins and beheaded them.”
“I have disposed of the Goblin Chieftain’s body. However, there are many Goblins still hiding nearby. If you feel safe here, I will dispose of as many as I can. If not, I will escort you to the city and then return with reinforcements to—”
“I just know. Please. I’d really like to be left alone.”
“You are not from here, are you, Miss Solstice?”
“You will be weak for at least a day afterwards. However, you will recover in full. You are lucky; there was no infection that the healing potion could have exacerbated.”
“I buried it outside. Far from the inn, in pieces, to prevent chance reanimation. Worry not.”
“Is there something you wish to ask of me, Miss Solstice?”
“Good thing you’re here. Let me tell you, that Erin girl? Stupidest Human I’ve ever met. Do you know what she did this morning?”
“Oi, Klb! You won’t believe what that stupid Human did this time.”
“Worry not. The healing potion worked. The bandage has stuck to your skin.”
“Good. Thank you. So. What now? Did you—what did you do with the body?”
“I’m not in shock. I’m really not. I’m just—tired.”
“You are still suffering from this encounter. Your mental state is unbalanced.”
“Then you have a commonality with many non-Antinium species. My apologies. I should not be asking such questions now. You are still in shock.”
“Really? Why’d I get them? And aren’t skills like…set?”
“This is true. Over a quarter of the deaths of travellers on the roads around Liscor are due to Goblin attacks. They are murderers.”
“All those that Think—Feel. From Feeling do we Act. It is in Action that we Level. All those who Think have a Class. And it is in that Class which we find destiny.”
“I see. It is a long way to Rhir. Here. Please accept this.”
“Good night to you. Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience. I shall take my leave.”
“Allow me to apologize on both our behalves. Words cannot express my shame.”
“No Human. No Drake or Gnoll, Selphid, Dullahan, Beastkin, or any creature from this world would.”
“To put it simply, classes are general ways of life that individuals take. In life, one might choose to become a [Butcher], or perhaps a [Musician]. It is simply a matter of fulfilling the requirements. Often, they are known, but there are exceptions. One cannot simply take [Ruler]-type classes for instance.”
“That is indeed one of the ways to learn such a class. But in any case, classes increase one’s proficiency at their role with each new level. And with that increase in ability, Skills may be learnt. But there is no one set of Skills for a class.”
“I will remain here with your permission. It would be unwise to—”
“Yeah. I changed the subject. Humans do that when they don’t want to talk about something.”
“But why is that how things work?”
“Thanks for dealing with those drunks, Klbkch. I owe you one.”
“Right, you’ve got to be born into it.”
“No, it’s not. We don’t have levels, and we don’t learn Skills like we’re in a video game. We don’t have classes except for ones in school, and we don’t need levels to learn things.”
“Hey, what’s gotten into you, Klb? Decided to take me up on a night out for once? Pull up a seat.”
“Miss Solstice? Miss Solstice, you must drink.”
“No? If you feel unable to travel, I can—”
“I took no offense, Miss Solstice. I realize you have gone through a traumatic event. The fault lies with me for not being more receptive to your distress. I should have provided more comfort and companionship. In that, my partner Relc is occasionally more effective than I.”
“Not at all, Senior Guardswoman Beilmark.”
“Indeed not. Two individuals taking the [Soldier] class, for instance, may learn different Skills at the same level. It is a matter of need and inclination which allows individuals to learn skills. For instance, while Relc is a higher-level warrior than I, he is not of a higher level in the actual [Guardsman] class and thus does not possess the [Detect Guilt] skill.”
“Miss Solstice. Are you well?”
“How’d you figure it out?”
“Really? No one? What about Drakes?”
“The Antinium? We do not weep.”
“May I ask why not?”
“Or whom. Who did it? And why?”
“Did someone teach you that?”
“I’d like to be alone now.”
“May I ask how you know?”
“…Thank you. Um. Thank you.”
“It is part of the lessons any child learns. The exact wording comes from a book: The Book of Levels, which was originally written nearly twenty thousand years ago. Copies of this text are among the few mainstream works that have been faithfully reproduced into this age. I have studied it extensively upon coming to this continent to understand the mentality of the peoples here, as well as levels and classes in general.”
“…I didn’t mean that.”
“Well then, explain it to me.”
“Well then. Take care, Miss Solstice.”
“I thought as much.”
“I’m not in shock.”
“As you say.”
“One more thing.”
“And they’re murderers.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I’m going to sleep.”
“Very well then.”
“I—I’m alive.”
“Was it obvious?”
“Do you understand?”
“Ow. What was—”
“Drink.”
“Guh.”
“It’s wrong.”
“Undoubtedly.”
“That’s stupid.”
“You’re fine.”
“It’s okay.”
“They won’t.”
“What about your people?”
“Oh. I see.”
“Oh—ow! Good to know.”
“No. No killing Goblins.”
“No. I’m not.”
“Really?”
“By who?”
“Ah. Miss Solstice?”
“Um. Okay?”
“No.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”