Meaningmunching...
Meaningmunching...
Chapter 1.28 A
Klbkch is caught off guard by a surprise party thrown by his colleagues in Liscor's Watch to celebrate his ten-year anniversary of service. He receives a custom commemorative badge from his friends before returning to the agonizing, stark silence of the Free Hive.
Klbkch, a revered member of the Centenium, continued his daily duties as a Senior Guardsman for Liscor's Watch. Upon returning to the Watch House, he was entirely caught off guard by a surprise party organized by his colleagues, including Relc, Watch Captain Zevara, and Senior Guardsman Jeiss. The gathering was thrown to celebrate Klbkch's ten-year anniversary of living and serving in Liscor following the end of the Antinium Wars.
During the festivities, Zevara and the Guardsmen presented Klbkch with a unique gift: Klbkch's Commemorative Badge. This custom-made, highly decorative badge served as a physical token of the deep respect and camaraderie he had earned among the Drake and Gnoll citizens, proving how far he had come since the days of the Previous Watch Captain. The celebration highlighted his integration into the city, contrasting with the typical prejudice faced by the Antinium.
However, the warmth of the celebration eventually came to an end. Klbkch departed the joyful environment of his friends and descended back into The Free Hive. As he returned to his own people, he was immediately struck by the agonizing, oppressive silence of the Worker and Soldier castes, as well as the quiet presence of The Queen. The stark contrast between the lively camaraderie of Liscor's Watch and the cold, silent reality of his home highlighted the heavy burden of his existence.
Klbkch arrives at the Watch House and is surprised by a party thrown by Relc, Zevara, and his fellow guardsmen to celebrate his ten years in Liscor.
Watch Captain Zevara and the members of Liscor's Watch present Klbkch with a custom-made commemorative badge to honor his dedicated service.
An Antinium Senior Guardsman in the city’s watch; arrives at Erin’s door and greets her.
aka Senior Guardsman Klbkch, ant-man +23
A city adjacent to the Floodplains, culturally aligned with Drakes and not friendly to Humans.
aka City of Liscor, the city +8
A guardsman referenced by a rookie as likely getting punishment duty for breaking windows.
aka Guardsman Relc, Senior Guardsman Relc +9
A female Drake and the Watch Captain in charge of the Liscor city guard, and Relc and Klbkch's superior.
aka The Captain, Watch Captain Z +11
An upscale pub in Liscor.
A large geographical region, possibly a continent.
aka the north, the south +1
An elite or original group of Antinium that Klbkch belongs to.
A sapient reptilian species dominant in regions south of Liscor, generally unfriendly to Humans.
aka lizards, giant lizards +3
An older Drake Guildmistress in Liscor.
aka Tekshia
A foundational caste and class of the Antinium.
aka Workers, Every Worker
A class of city guards.
aka Guard, [Guards] +10
A class used as an example by Klbkch to illustrate the variability of skill acquisition within the leveling system.
aka [Soldier], Soldiers
A species of tall, bipedal hyena-like humanoids covered in fur.
aka hyena-people, dog-people +8
The leader of the Antinium Hive, to whom Klbkch plans to report his findings about the unique human, Erin Solstice.
aka The Queen, Free Queen +6
A Senior Guardsman in Liscor's Watch, renowned as its best swordsman.
aka Senior Guardsman Jeiss
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
“You punched Relc?”
“I’m sorry, Watch Captain. You were saying?”
“Are you tired, Klbkch?”
“I may have received less-than-adequate sleep, Watch Captain. The error is mine. Please feel free to dock my pay.”
“If I did that to Senior Guardsman Klbkch, I’d have to censure Jeiss and Beilmark and all the others. Relc would never get paid. And about the punch.”
“…I’m sure Relc had it coming. You’ve now joined every single Senior Guard and half the regulars who’ve taken some kind of swing at him. I’ll overlook this with a stern warning.”
“Then, my punishment, Watch Captain?”
“Don’t do it again? Relc’s a wild card. If he weren’t a [Spearmaster], I’d have no time for half the trouble he causes. I’m going to consider this as an ‘interdisciplinary act between partners.’ You two are a good team. I won’t keep you. Get some rest. If anything, you made my day when I heard about it.”
“I’ll walk with you downstairs. Are you heading back to your Hive?”
“…coming. Quiet! Ready—”
“Surprise! Congratulations, Senior Guardsman Klbkch!”
“What is going on? Am I being pranked? Again?”
“Not this time. Senior Guardsman Klbkch, apologies for the surprise.”
“Relc, you idiot. Didn’t you drop a hint?”
“What? I did! Captain Z—”
“Don’t call me that.”
“I was talking about the old days all patrol! And how long Klb’s been in the Watch, and that we should end our patrol early—”
“I believed you were trying to get me to buy you snacks. Again. And skip work.”
“Well, that’s my fault for trusting Relc. Alright, settle down. We’re going to make it quick. Evening patrol has to go out, but we’re all gathered today, and we had a little whip-round to celebrate you, Klbkch.”
“Me? What is the occasion, Watch Captain Zevara?”
“Is my own badge so poorly maintained that it has become an issue for the Watch? You should have alerted me earlier, Relc. Watch Captain, I apologize for—”
“Klbkch, you idiot. It’s a gift. Don’t you know what day it is?”
“Ten years. Well, it’s not exactly ten years, but it’s close enough to the day the Antinium entered Liscor. We thought this was the day to celebrate it.”
“Plus Beilmark has her birthday next week, so we’re making room for it.”
“You idiot.”
“Ten years.”
“Looking good. We should put you in clothing though, Klb, my man. Especially for Wishdrinks. Imagine if I walked in with only underwear?”
“That’s because you’re ugly as shit, Relc. I bet you Senior Guardsman Klbkch’s handsome for an Antinium.”
“Alright, that’s enough! Relc, you’re already in trouble. Stop causing trouble or I’ll order Klbkch to punch you again. We’ve taken enough of Klbkch’s time—we’ll see you at Wishdrinks.”
“Guildmistress Tekshia. Good evening.”
“Do something. Say something—where are your souls? You mindless, fake Antinium!”
“How much longer?”