A Record of Ash & Ruin: The Grieving Lands

Book 3: Chapter 38: Save Point

Fearing the things that are alien to us is a sign of our insignificance.

- The Human Question by Gideon de Salavia 378 AC.

Thankfully, extricating ourselves out of the dump was relatively simple and uneventful. According to Elenora and Theo, their former home was ironically called the Silk Quarter. Al-lazar had fought back the encroachment of night with a host of artificial lights, both magical and mundane. The mark of a higher civilization. The Dome of Becoming, the tallest monument, glowed almost as brightly, its majesty barely challenged. Not so for the poor Silk Quarter, for their night had landed truly, causing me to be cautious almost to the extreme. I was fearful, not for myself, but for my charges. Every shadow held a potential threat, every wayward glance in our direction a warning. It was like one of those hated escort quests that had always annoyed me.

I tried badgering Theo’s mother about their past, but for the most part, I had received only evasive answers. Not wanting to be rude, I decided not to push further. Theophania, on the other hand, was a never-ending stream of questions, her curiosity seemingly unaffected by the day's earlier dangers.

More oddly, I found that Elenora had forbidden Theo from calling her mother. When pressed, she simply stated that it made her feel old.

We arrived tired and bedraggled at the Begonia’s Shade. The day had been long and hard, and coming back here gave me a certain sense of closure. As if this inn acted as a central hub where I could save my game and so forth. It was a shame that I could not save the game.

The first sight to greet me was that of Kidu in the common room, his large presence drawing the eye. Unlike the barbarian I expected him to be, I saw him eating delicately at his meal with the correct utensils. Larynda, sitting next to him, was devouring a side of mutton in a manner more fitting of my initial expectations of the northern savage, creating a striking contrast. Today was full of surprises.

And of Elwin, there was still no sign. The man could be a ghost at times.

“Gilgamesh of Uruk! You look like you were in a fight with something out of the storm. And lost,” Kidu commented, laughing between mouthfuls.

Naira, the innkeeper, approached after attending to another table, her gaze assessing. “I presume a bath is in order? I’ll prepare the room and water for,” her eyes briefly settled on Elenora and her daughter before returning to me, “three.”

“That would be perfect, along with a change of clothes for me. My harness and gambeson?”

“Ready in two days. Tomorrow evening, if he does not drink this evening.”

A pleasant surprise, if not a curious answer. “Very good. And, of course, the Lady Zariyah?”

Amused by the title, Naira smiled. “The lady is in my room, resting. She mentioned that today's excitement was too much. It seems too much excitement can unsettle both heart and soul.”

“I couldn’t agree more. These are Theophania and her mother, Elenora. For now, could you please attend to their needs?”

*****

After giving the smiling serving girl Ninurta the remains of my bloodstained and torn clothing outside the inn’s baths, I informed her that I would be taking my evening meal in my room.

I was able to enjoy a moment of peace, free from violence. Taking a moment to unwind, I looked over my body and tested it, moving my limbs and testing their range and movement. Miraculously, it seemed my magic had prevented any lasting damage. There was a fleeting concern about potential internal injuries, but it quickly dissipated, likely a mere shadow cast by the stress I had endured, washed away by the warmth of the water.

Dressing in clean clothes afterward felt extraordinarily luxurious, a simple pleasure magnified by the day's trials.

Going to my room, I made sure to put on my sword, fashion and convenience be damned. I just sat on the edge of my bed and reviewed my character sheet.

[STATUS] Calling: Gilgamesh lvl.14 Paladin/Reaver

Strength: 32

Dexterity: 26

Constitution: 47

Intelligence: 25

Wisdom: 22

Charisma: 16

Luck: 24

Entropic Mimic [Creature of Entropy - lvl.25]

Health: 387/537

Stamina: 26/65

Mana: 1/1

Adaptive Defense (lvl.2)

Shield Form (lvl.2)

SKILLS & PROFICIENCIES

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Pain Nullification (lvl.3)

Power Strike (lvl.4) 10

Endure (lvl.5)

Stealth (lvl.2)

Rest (lvl.4)

Backstab (lvl.2)

Dodge (lvl.3)

Polearms (lvl.3)

Dual Wield (lvl.2)

Critical Hit Mastery (lvl.4)

Improved Unarmed Combat (lvl.1)

Hammers (lvl.4)

Flails (lvl.3)

Maces (lvl.3)

Shields (lvl.3)

Medium Armour (lvl.4)

Improved Heavy Armour (lvl.1)

Axes (lvl.2)

Daggers (lvl.4)

Throwing Weapons (lvl.2)

Double Throw (lvl.1) 5

Shield Bash (lvl.2) 10

Riding (lvl.2)

Dash (lvl.1) 10

Swords (lvl.3)

Crossbows (lvl.4)

Blind-Fighting (lvl.2)

Rush Strike (lvl.1) 20

Tracking (lvl.1)

Trap Detection (lvl.1)

Frenzied Strikes (lvl.2) 30

Monster Taming (lvl.1)

SPELLS & MAGIC

Heal (lvl.5) 5

Rust (lvl.4) 2

Identify (lvl.3) 1

Silent Casting (lvl.2)

Mana Regeneration (lvl.2)

Purify (lvl.2) 3

Greater Heal (lvl.2) 10

Holy Aura (lvl.3) 2

Decay (lvl.1) 1

Drain (lvl.5) 2

Entropic Aura (lvl.3) 2

Inferno Bolts (lvl.2) 2

GIFTS

Curse of Entropy: -20% to all starting attributes.

Mark of the Paladin: 10% resistance to Dark/Holy magic. 5% resistance to Physical.

Touch of the Void: 10% reduced resistance to Holy/Fire magic, 20% resistance to Mental Effects, 15% immunity to Mental Effects.

Mark of the Adaptive Helix: 5% resistance to Physical, Minor Regeneration.

Experience to next level 208/1283

Health: 404/441

Stamina: 42/76

Mana: 4/18

A few points of experience from combat and four points of ‘organic’ attribute gains were not a bad haul for a single day. Still, it was not commensurate to the amount of effort I had exerted, nor the suffering I had to go through body and mind. Didn’t games like this tend to have a reverse difficulty curve? Weren’t things meant to get easier as I progressed? I thought I had a solid build…

More interestingly, my Mimic had grown along with me, as it had gained a level with the subsequent increase in attributes. Also, its skills had risen which meant that, like me, it experienced organic growth.

There was a small knock on the door.

“Sir, your meal,” came Ninurta’s small voice.

“Come in,” I replied brusquely and she opened the door.

A smell of curried meat wafted in with the serving girl and my eyes feasted on the evening meal. Until then, I had not realized just exactly how hungry I was. Along with the meal, Elwin sauntered in with a look somewhere between knowing amusement and genuine worry.

“You were up to a lot today. Mind if I join you for a bite or two?”

I took a small breath before fixing a polite expression. “Not at all. Ninurta, if you please, a little more food and wine for my guest.”

“As you wish, samasa,” the girl answered seriously, skittering out of the room after placing down the meal and drinks on the low table of the room.

“The big man seems to be enjoying real civilization, can’t blame him for it. Been a long hard trip on the road with not really much in the way of anything. We should all have a talk, jus’ the three of us, you know. The original crew that fate has taken down this merry road,” he explained casually, shrugging his shoulders.

I looked him over, searching for anything casual observation might have missed. “Are you in a maudlin mood, Elwin, or is there something else you wish to say?” I asked, not much in the mood for anything. Company, even Elwin’s company, might be a better companion than stewing myself in my own thoughts.

“Now… let me just get a quick sip. Throat’s mighty parched as I’ve heard that a certain someone has been busy in the great city of Al-Lazar,” he replied saucily before sitting down cross-legged on the carpet.

Wishing he would just get to it, I nonetheless joined him. Not that I had much choice. “What do you mean?”

“Picking fights with the furries. Oh, and consorting with probably practitioners of the dark arts, more picking fights, saving some random women in the slums from the depths of poverty for no reason, and you guessed it… more fights. The last one, by the look of it, she would have had you if I didn’t put my best foot forward. Took me ages to find my blades after that… Yes, you can thank the magnificent Elwin for that. Took one good look at me and thought better of it!” he answered smugly, helping himself to some of my evening repast.

“Cowards that prey on the weak and vulnerable often turn tail at the first sign of real resistance,” I remarked blithely, cracking my neck.

Curried meat of unknown origins lay before me on a bed of saffron-yellow rice. The aroma of it tantalized me, coaxing a fresh hunger to gnaw at my belly. A part of me suddenly regretted allowing Elwin to join me, as I sat down cross-legged, opposite him.

“Right random it all is. Pretty long list for a day’s activities. Wonder where you find the time for it all? And why for that matter,” he commented between mouthfuls.

Taking a moment to savor the first bite of the meal, I idled in my response. How had he known? Perhaps he had spoken with Zariyah and Elenora, but his last comments suggested that he had witnessed things firsthand.

“You followed me?”

“That I did. ‘I saw that savage animal start it, I did!’ sound familiar? Always got your back I do! And, I can tell you, it seems that I have not lost my touch. I don’t know if you’re worthy of respect or just plain stupid at times. What’s the word the big man always uses, god-touched right?”

“That was all you then…” I replied a little sourly. Still, I was in no mood to chastise anyone and still a little mentally exhausted. “If you want to help, just make it a bit more obvious next time.

“So?” he insisted, gesturing with his hands for me to explain.

“So?”

“Why you do it? All of that?” he insisted again.

“Because it felt like the right thing to do? Do I need any other reasons?” was my arch reply.

“It’s just that, now don’t take offense here, but you just don’t seem to be that type. As I said before, it just seems so very random,” he continued placatingly, pouring a glass of watered wine for him and me.

With a grin that I hoped annoyed, I gave my blithe answer, “Perhaps, it is because the fates and the gods will it? Praise be to the goddess and all of that.”

I enjoyed his expression as I finally enjoyed my evening meal, bland though it tasted.

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