An Assassin's Anthem

Riley walked out of the academy that evening. What a day. She stretched and bounced away the stiffness in her legs. Then she looked at the boys in front of her. Timothy gestured and strode toward the towering palace.

“Again?” Riley groaned.

“Duty never rests,” Timothy said with a crooked smile. “We need to audit winter supplies and verify the state of the troops.”

“I need to practice enchanting,” Riley countered, following him toward the palace.

“You’ll be a duchess. You won’t have time to enchant things,” Dwight countered with a chuckle. “Come on.”

Paperwork. I’m not doing that. Riley stifled her groan. Grandma can do it. She smiled and followed the group into the castle, walking into the prince’s study and pausing in front of the bookshelves. She browsed them while enjoying the heat from the nearby hearth.

Timothy shut the door. “Where did you go last night?”

“To recruit some help.” Riley grabbed a book on spells to aid farms. Can I use a storm for this? She flipped it open.

“Are you an assassin?” Timothy asked.

“Nope, but one trained me,” Riley lied. She flipped the page.

“Riley, do not lie to me.”

Riley spun and found the prince frowning. She frowned back. “What answer do you wish me to give, my prince? It’s clear you have already decided.” She walked over to her seat, sat, and skimmed through her liberated book.

“If you are, we need to know,” Timothy said.

“I’m not. Believe what you will.” Riley didn’t bother looking up. What a jerk. She flipped to the next page. Hmm, Spring Shower looks promising for long-term utility.

“You can tell us if you are,” Dwight said, sitting next to her. “We’ll keep it secret.”

“And I’m telling you that I’m not. Do you have any idea what it takes to get that class?” Riley asked, looking up from the book and meeting Dwight’s gaze. She saw hesitance on their faces. “I mean that. Do you know? I assumed you did. Ask the prince. He should know.”

Both boys turned toward the prince. Timothy frowned and shook his head. “I don’t.”

Riley set her book on the desk and walked back over to the shelves. She scanned the books, grabbing one from the shelf: The Art of the Executioner. Wiping off the dust, she walked back and handed it to Timothy.

“How do you know that book?” Dwight asked.

“I told you that I was trained by one.” Riley placed the borrowed book in her lap and pulled the stack of papers closer. “I did not meet the requirements.”

The boys crowded forward. Timothy flipped open the book, and Riley peered at the text momentarily.

Many classes specialize in killing sapient life of all varieties. Executioners focus on grim efficiency and lethal strikes. Killers focus on the ability to remove those who would challenge them. Soldiers fight in an organized manner to either defend or assault targets. Assassins focus on hunting and using lethal strikes without ever being seen.

While there are multiple adjacent classes and upgrades, one truth remains constant. Lethal intent and death are the foundation for anyone seeking these classes. The manual will walk you through various training exercises and the requirements…

Timothy flipped the pages, moving to the one with requirements.

Anyone walking the Executioner’s path must do so with care. Careless killing without meeting the requirement will lead you into the area of a killer or a murderer rather than something more useful.

Those walking the Executioner’s path must kill those convicted or declared outlaws. A place of power where you can test your mettle against convicted criminals is advised. You will need to kill at least a dozen criminals with lethal strikes. You will also need at least two lethal physical skills (or Death’s blessing).

For those who wish to acquire such a class before they come of age, you will need to kill at least fifty criminals with lethal strikes before your trials. The gods will decide if it will be in your four.

Timothy looked up and gasped. “Fifty?”

Riley nodded. “For Executioner, yes. You need to kill a lot of people. I certainly do not have that class. I don’t know of anyone who does.”

“But we could do that in a dungeon,” Dwight said.

“Yes, if we had the skills and got a town with criminals,” Kamal said.

Timothy looked at both. “Why do you want it? Soldier seems better. Or guard.”

“They are better,” Riley replied, looking at both with confusion on her face. “Executioner isn’t sought by anyone. It’s too restrictive. Soldier or Guard are way better. Even Killer is better than it. It may have a bad stigma, but it’s a versatile class you can turn into Soldier or Guard.”

“You read too much,” Dwight said with a chuckle. “Did you learn the requirements for all the classes?”

Riley chuckled. “Gods, no, but I’ve been studying. I do want to upgrade mine. And I want to pick up a few other useful ones.” She turned back to Timothy, who’d placed the book on the desk.

Those who walk the Assassin’s path must kill marked individuals, typically due to some written or verbal contract. You must execute a dozen contracted individuals without collateral or detection within a place of power.

For those who wish to acquire such a class before they come of age, you must complete at least fifty contracts before your trials. Then, it is up to the gods to decide.

Riley picked up a quill. That’s what Dad told me. She grabbed a paper from the stack and started skimming.

Timothy frowned and looked up. “How does anyone get this when they awaken?”

“They don’t,” Riley replied, jotting down notes. “Okay, that’s a lie. In theory, you get trained by an assassin, who would spend an absurd amount of time ensuring you don’t die. Realistically, you don’t. That’s the edge of the seekers. They can get an earlier start.” She looked up. “And no, I didn’t go and complete fifty contracts,” she lied and rolled her eyes.

Dwight took the book and reread it. “So, if I wanted to become one?”

“Get something like Killer and upgrade it after completing contracts. That’s easiest unless you get lucky in a place of power,” Riley replied.

Timothy shook his head. “More trouble than it’s worth. Guard or Soldier or Hunter are just as good.”

Riley nodded. “Assassin’s strength is in stealth. I’d advise getting a skill for that regardless.”

Timothy stood, walked to the wall, and slid the book back into his shelves. “That was interesting. Thank you.” He walked back.

“You’re welcome. Yes, the kingdom does train assassins. And yes, they work for the seekers.” Riley jotted down notes and handed them to him.

“Makes sense. What’s the perk of assassin?” Dwight asked. He stood, walked over, and pulled out the book. Then he read. “Condemnation,” he exclaimed five minutes later.

“What?” Timothy asked, looking up.

“You know that the classes get a person-specific upgrade at B-tier? Assassin gets nasty depending on how you kill and how many. That’s where most get Massacre, which would be amazing.” Dwight sighed and sat in the chair. “Think I could get it?” He asked, flipping through the pages.

“Yes, but you’d need to practice and upgrade it,” Riley said, handing another paper to Timothy.

Timothy took it, skimmed it, and wrote a letter.

Dwight went quiet. Riley focused on the papers. Hurry. If we want sleep tonight, we need to move it. She rapidly skimmed through the stack.

The group worked in silence. Quills scratched, and pages flipped. Supper came and went, the four eating quietly while they worked.

After finishing the mound of papers, Riley stood and walked over to the window. The sun had set, and snow fell lightly outside. Turning, she headed for the door. Finally.

“Riley?” Timothy called.

“Washroom and then bed,” Riley lied.

“Have a good night,” he called.

“Sleep well,” Riley said, walking outside and heading down the hall to the washroom.

After relieving herself, she walked back into the still halls. She felt the book in her dress and smiled. The game is afoot, and sleep will wait, she thought, quoting her father.

She smiled and said a prayer.

“The game is now beginning.

Intel is my friend.

So I move invisibly.

A servant’s task begins.”

Triggering Assume Disguise, she shifted and looked down at a maid uniform, a very fancy maid uniform. The dress had perfect creases, the white ribbon on the back was too big, and black curls were spilling out of her white cap. “Really, Beauty?”

[You look amazing! ~Beauty]

I guess it’s hard mode today. With a sigh, Riley walked down the polished hall, veering around two corners before stopping next to the princess’s study. It was silent, very silent. She knocked once and waited. Hearing no response, she walked inside and found no one.

Happily accepting that, Riley walked over to the princess’s desk and sat. Her fingers danced across the piles of paper until she found a stack of sealed letters.

Pulling out a knife, she carefully broke the wax seal and skimmed through the letters. Most were requests to various dukes and barons. A few were letters for the thieves’ guild, and a few others were to mayors. Adding a note to Althea, Riley smiled and resealed them, heating the bottom and pushing them into the paper. Then she turned to the stack of reports, searching for anything that would give away potential weaknesses.

Speed-reading through the papers, Riley skimmed. Which one, which one? She rapidly noted the highest-performing baronies and duchies, some of which seemed far too profitable.

Pausing at the neighboring duchy, Riley made mental notes on several towns. Counterattacks were necessary, and tonight was the one time they wouldn’t suspect the exhausted girl to use.

She returned the papers to the desk and slipped out of the room, scurrying down the halls and quickly turning the corner.

Timothy dodged out of the way. He stopped and stared at the maid. “Are you new?”

“Yes, my prince,” Riley said, bobbing into a deep curtsy.

The prince looked at her outfit, blinked, and shook his head. “I need to sleep,” he muttered, rubbing his eyes.

Riley forced herself not to laugh while walking quickly down the hall and triggering Assume Disguise again.

Riley Milvsky

Level: 169

Bard (C)

Level: 110

Dominating Song D Use 30 mana to reduce nearby enemy strength, dexterity, and movement speed by 3. This effect extends 20meters, and the radius of influence expands by 1 meter for each inspiration spent.

Psychic Strike E Wield your mana to cause psychic damage to a target. Cost varies based on allocation.

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

Assassin (C)

Level: 110 + 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.

Dancer's Form B +10 speed. +2 levels to assigned class. You may use a charge of inspiration to boost your movement speed by an additional 5 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.

Ranger (C)

Level: 110

Predatory Sight E Your perception and insight are boosted by 5. This boost is not reduced by low light or no light.

Manipulate Storm E Attempt to control or augment elements of a storm. Cost varies.

Ice Blade E Conjure a weapon made of ice. Costs 2 to 20 mana depending on blade durability.

Pretty E Your appearance is better, but it could be even grander. Use 1 mana to get a little help from Beauty! (Upgrade me again!) Penalty applied: Unequippable. Beauty may alter your appearance at her whim.

Spell Thief (C) Level: 110 Inactive.

Noble (E)

Level: 115 Inactive.

- -

Empowering Presence E Your subjects gain +3 strength, +3 dexterity, and +3 movement speed; allies within 20 meters count as subjects. You may use Bardic Inspiration to temporarily boost the range and the effect.

Inspiring presence D Your subjects regain 1 stamina and 1 mana every hour. Allies within fifty meters count as subjects. You may temporarily expand the range by 15 meters for each bardic inspiration spent.

Dexterity 680

Strength 338

Speed 252

Intelligence 338

Charisma 478

Stamina 570

Mana 668

Inspiration 279