An Assassin's Anthem

Riley woke and stretched. She looked at the small, stone room and felt like screaming. Four days. Four days of pure snow. She took a deep breath. Please tell me that the blizzard has stopped. Please. She sat up and looked around the room. Nicole was dozing in a nearby bed. Three guards were standing next to the wall, and her father was nowhere to be found.

Be safe, Dad. She bit her lip and sat up. Her nightgown shifted into a white and green dress. ‘Tis the season. Pausing to look at her notifications, she yawned. At least I finally leveled those a little.

[Psionic Assassin (B) has advanced: 197 → 203!]

[Bard (C) has advanced: 202 → 208!]

[Ranger (C) has advanced: 227 → 231!]

[Spell Thief (B) has advanced: 202 → 208!]

[Noble (D) has advanced: 257 → 262!]

[Infiltrator (E) has advanced: 82 → 94!]

[Enchanter(F) has advanced: 63 → 75!]

[Alchemist (E) has advanced: 140 → 150!]

Clearing them away, she looked at her guards and back at Nicole. How can I mess with her? With a growing smile, Riley walked across the room and stopped. She looked at Nicole’s long white hair. I’ll just style it a bit.

Reaching down, Riley gently picked up the strands and was jerked onto the bed. She wriggled, and Nicole pulled her closer.

“Riley pillow,” Nicole said, her eyes opening and a grin spreading across her face.

Riley sighed. “You have something that lets you see pranks?”

“Yes, I have a danger sense type ability and more strength,” Nicole said, snuggling her. “You’re warm.”

Sitting there, Riley looked out at the guards. “What’s the agenda for the day? Is my dad back? Did it finally stop snowing?”

Nicole released her and sat up. “Please tell me that it stopped. If not, I’m using Lady Riley for a pillow and going back to sleep.”

“You can’t pillow me. You’re my handmaiden,” Riley replied.

“And you’re my pillow.” Nicole chuckled.

Riley used Ambush and appeared across the room. She stuck out her tongue.

“Cheater.” Nicole sighed and sat up.

Riley turned to the guards. “Well?”

“I’m unsure, Lady Riley. We’ve been in here a while.”

Riley sighed and nodded. “Sorry. I don’t even know your names.”

“That’s alright. We’re rotating. I’m Megan,” a towering woman said. She stretched and hit the ceiling.

“Thanks, Megan.” Riley opened the door.

Megan walked out and peered down the hall. Riley followed her down the hall, pausing to peer into the large conference room. She saw several knights dozing at the table. That’s not promising. Walking out of the hall, she looked at the room.

Soldiers were everywhere. Some dozed, chatted, or just stared at nothing. The sound of a soft wind carried through the door, and Riley walked to a door and cracked it open.

A field of white greeted her. Snow had drifted through the yard and had piled in front of the doors. Looking up, Riley saw it falling, settling down in waves. Is this magic or just pure storm?

Shutting the door, she sighed and looked at the room.

“Cards, Lady Riley?” a soldier asked, chuckling.

Riley walked over to the table. “Don’t tempt me.”

“Come on now, we’ll start you off small.” He grinned. “One silver.”

Riley sighed and dug into her coin purse. She looked at the group of six. “Fine. One game. Then I need to get breakfast.”

The man grinned, and Riley grabbed the deck from the table. The cards blurred as she shuffled them in mid-air. With her fingers dancing through them, she palmed a couple, sliding them up her sleeve while dealing the rest in a rapid blur.

“Hang on now,” the soldier said, staring at her.

Riley grinned. “Come on now. Surely, there’s nothing to fear from a young lady.” She set the deck on the table and placed down the last cards.

“I want to swap hands with you,” another said, reaching over.

Riley nodded. “Go ahead. That’s fair.”

He frowned and looked at his hand. Riley started laughing. She reached for her hand, and he grabbed it.

Grinning at him, she grabbed the other set of cards and winked.

“Gods, don’t invite her again,” one said, rubbing her head.

Riley smiled. “I can withdraw if you’d like.”

“Yes, please,” the woman snapped back.

Riley reached down and grabbed her silver. Then she placed the hand on the table while hiding her three stashed cards underneath the others.

“That’s it? We could have won.”

Riley laughed and winked. She turned and walked away from the table, heading down a hallway and entering the dining area. Like the other rooms, soldiers lingered everywhere. They decorated the stone floor and walls, living objects that were strewn everywhere. Some turned towards her and nodded. She waved and made her way through the crowd, walking up and joining the line for food.

“Think she could have won?” her guard whispered.

Nicole laughed and stepped around them. She walked up and stood next to Riley. “I saw.”

“Did not,” Riley replied, chuckling and stepping forward.

“Is your dad coming back anytime soon?” Nicole asked.

Riley shrugged. “Only the gods know. He’ll be back when the storm ends. That’s my guess.”

“And you’re stuck enchanting and making stuff?” Nicole sighed. “We could go explore.”

Riley grinned. “That does sound like fun.”

“No, you aren’t allowed to leave. It’s too risky,” Megan said, moving forward. “We understand the frustration, but those are the rules.”

Riley scowled at her. “I’ll hide myself.”

“Nope. Your father and Travis gave orders.”

Riley huffed. Why’d they get to visit the other forts while I’m stuck here? She sighed, and Ivan walked into the room.

Like a small flame, hope roared through Riley. She smiled and waved him over.

“Good morning,” Ivan said, joining them in the line.

“How is it looking?” Riley asked.

“Storm should blow over today, and the rest of the line was hit by it. Everything has ground to a halt, and repairs have been the focus.”

And a billion oaths, Riley thought, looking at the growing list.

[12892 people have sworn loyalty to you. This bond will break if you fail in your noble duties.]

I wonder what they’d do if I sacrificed Noble. Wait… Would that break it? She looked at the oaths and contemplated it. Then she looked at Noble. Should I dump it into Bard? She debated it for a moment before delaying.

Clearing it away, she stretched and yawned, looking back at Ivan. “Did you see them?”

“Here? Yes. They are fortifying the nearby village.” Ivan frowned. “But it’s not close enough to siege us. So, we’ll likely move when the storm dies down.”

Yes. Riley nodded. “Are we still heading up the line? Can the others hold?”

“That’s the fear. There are rumors of a large reinforcement marching, but I do not know where.” Ivan frowned. “Have you seen your father? I was hoping he’d know.”

Riley shook her head. “I’m not sure where he is.”

~~~

Roger’s fingers flicked; a metal nut popped off a bolt and fell into the snow. And another wagon down. Walking toward the next, he looked out at the massive encampment. Fresh recruits were everywhere. They’d filled the nearby snow-covered village and every tent. Makeshift buildings lined the road.

Shaking the snow from his cloak, he walked up to the next wagon wheel and grabbed a nut. Wrenching it with his boosted strength, he unscrewed it and started on the next, popping each off and tossing them into distant snow drifts.

Walking down the line, he finished the final wagon and stretched. Maybe I should have brought Riley. She would have enjoyed this. Sighing, he studied the nearby recruits.

Walking over to a tent, he poked his head in and studied the group of soldiers huddled beside each other. “Storm’s breaking.”

“Thank the gods,” one soldier said. He began coughing loudly, the barking sound rolling through the air and triggering several others.

And they’re sick. Roger frowned. “Almost isn’t worth it.”

“It will be when I have an oathed servant and yearly dungeon runs,” another soldier said. He shivered and pulled his cloak close.

“Aren’t you worried about living?” Roger asked with a raised brow.

The soldier chuckled and coughed. “They’re weak.”

Roger nodded. Do I sow discord or let them get a wake-up call? He debated it while studying the small group. He looked at the sickly group and made another choice. “You should get up. They are getting ready, and there is food in the village.”

Hopefully, they’ll spread that cough around and get stuck here for a week. He turned and jogged away.

Meandering through the groups, he debated a mass slaughter before finding a new answer. He looked at the mayor’s home and quickly made his way through the snow-covered streets, vaulting over massive drifts that had formed throughout the sleepy village.

Walking up to the gates, he looked for any guards and didn’t find any. Because they are all inside. He chuckled and walked to the door. Pulling out lock picks, he carefully aligned pins and opened the door. Walking inside, he closed it and pulled out his knives.

He stepped down the polished wood hall, paused at the first door, and gently opened it to find a half dozen dozing soldiers lounging on the furniture.

Moving soundlessly, Roger walked into the room. His eyes fluttered around the room. Walking up to the bed, his arm shot out. The knife sliced across the throats of the three sleeping soldiers. Reaching down, he tossed the blanket over them and used it to muffle the noise.

Turning to the three in the chair, he repeated it, slicing throats and killing each with minimal noise.

As the last went still, Roger looked at each, searching for anything worth looting. Finding nothing, he turned and headed to the next door.

Like an avatar of Death, Roger went from room to room, killing everyone. Blood dripped and sprayed. The quiet home grew quieter with each one, and Roger finished the grisly work with a frown. Well, that’ll slow them. Their leaders are dead. He sighed and shook his head.

Gods, I hate war. Maybe we should just leave. Frowning, he liberated coin purses and headed for the door.

Riley Milvsky

Level: 320

Bard (C)

Level: 208 + 4

Dominating Presence C +1 level to the assigned class. Enemies within 100 meters of you lose 20 strength, 20 dexterity, and 20 speed. You may expend bardic inspiration to increase the effect.

Control Water E Manipulate the water around you. Cost varies based on amount.

Restoring Presence B +2 to the assigned class. Subjects regain 1% stamina and 1% mana every 30 minutes; their healing is augmented by 50%. Allies within 100 meters count as subjects. You know of injuries and may use mana to heal allies within fifty meters. You may use inspiration to expand and increase the effect.

Empowering Presence C Your subjects gain +20 strength, +20 dexterity, and +20 movement speed; allies within twenty meters count as subjects. You may use Bardic Inspiration to temporarily boost the range and the effect.

Psionic Assassin (C)

Level: 203 + 12

Assume Disguise S +30 charisma. Enhance your current disguise by altering your displayed information and taking on the disguised form. Grants +5 levels to the assigned class. Perception and Insight suffer -250 levels against your disguise and -50 levels against your deception or stealth. Penalty applied: Gods’ Oversight.

Momentous Tempo B +10 speed. This boost will increase to up to +100 for every ten seconds you are in motion. Slowing in any way will reduce the effect. +2 levels to assigned class. You may use a charge of inspiration to boost your movement speed by an additional 10 for a minute.

Death's Cloak A Slain enemies will grant experience to your base level and active classes. +3 levels to the assigned class. Perception and insight suffer -25 levels against you. Penalty applied: Covenant.

Ambush B +10 speed. +2 levels to the assigned class. Costs one stamina to use. On use, you teleport to a shadow within 20 meters. Penalty applied: Covenant.

Spell Thief(B)

Level: 208 + 2

Predatory Sight C +1 level to the assigned class. Your perception and insight are boosted by 30. This boost is not reduced by low light or no light. You may use 1 stamina to double this effect for ten seconds.

Spirit Blade C +1 level to assigned class. Manifest an ethereal blade of psychic energy that will vanish after thirty seconds or six seconds after being thrown. Costs one stamina or one mana to manifest a blade.

Pretty C Use a mana to get Beauty’s help! She may provide it anyway. Oh, and you’ll stand out in a crowd! After all, everyone knows a Beauty.

Music's Lute - You may summon this lute from the heavens. It will return to the heavens when you will it away.

Ranger (C) Level: 231 Inactive.

Noble (D)

Level: 262 Inactive.

Enchanter (F)

Level: 75 Inactive.

Alchemist (D)

Level: 150 Inactive.

Infiltrator (E)

Level: 94 Inactive.

- -

Psionic Storm C +1 to the assigned class. Conjure a storm of void or psychic energy. Variable cost.

Conjure Storm D Manipulate or conjure up a storm. Mana cost varies.

Conjure Potion C +1 to assigned class. Conjure a potion that you understand. You may add an additional minor healing effect to any potion. Cost varies based on the potion and potion duration.

Dexterity 1277

Strength 640

Speed 445

Intelligence 1060

Charisma 882

Stamina 855

Mana 1914

Inspiration 532