"So, what do we want?"

Ben pondered Suzette's question as he poured the last of the dark beer from the earthen ware pitcher into his mug, "I think I'm wanting more beer. Your brewing is getting better."

"I accept your compliment about my skills. But seriously, what are our goals? It's fun to talk about options and new classes, but these are big decisions. We've got the better part of five years left on the contract with ACME. I'd love to be able to pay that down quicker. Are we going to just keep working here in Sedgewick? Try to do some adventuring? Make money some other way without Billy taking the lion's share?"

They were all silent, and then Rolly spoke, "Well, Squirmie and I want to go on some adventures. But we can start with little ones like exploring dungeons. I'm going to start looking around a lot while I round up sedgebeasts."

"I had enough adventure on my little trip. I've got a lot of work to do here with my pit, keeping up with the orders and helping Suzy in the bar, but I wouldn't mind doing some dungeon diving on days off." Ozzy turned to Suzette, "Any rules preventing us from sneaking in on our day off or late night?"

Suzette pointed to the milk jug of 'spare change.' "Dungeons make money. I think we should do just that. I'll explain to Billy that we are doing 'clean up' of trash mobs to keep the dungeon under control. We go in carefully, make a little cash, and get some practice in. As we've found out, we don't have the best set of skills for adventuring."

"But we are getting much better," Ben brought up a screen in his notebook and began writing out some points. "Thanks to ACME's manipulation of classes, we each have a narrow set of things we can do, but we also have a much larger amount of health, stamina, and mana. Rolly and I have some limited healing, and Suzette can make us healing potions. Ozzy can take quite a bit of damage and doesn't need a weapon to kill things. Suzette has her cantrips and darts. Rolly adds a good chunk of DPS, and I suspect Squirmie will make a nice addition to the group."

"Yeah, Squirmie will be great in dungeons, won't you Squirmie?" The butterfly was laying on his back, wings spread and legs in the air. He and Rolly had grabbed a 'snack' of sedgebeast before coming upstairs and the butterfly had eaten as much as he could of the mana-infused meat. Rolly patted his fat tummy.

"Did your pet just talk, Rolly?" Ozzy had assumed that Rolly had simply tamed some large bug.

Suzette rolled her eyes. "Yep, he talks. Getting him to stay quiet is the problem."

Ben began talking again, "Moving right along then. It looks like we are all in favor of a little dungeon diving, saving up some money, and gaining some new skills. Which leads into some talk about tier two. I have some options for different classes, and so does Ozzy. Have you gotten a notification yet, Suzette?"

"Nope. I've been learning a lot, but I think I need some more adventuring to finish off tier 1. How about you, Rolly?"

Rolly was scratching the butterfly under its chin. The bug was making a sound like a small chainsaw. "Yeah, Squirmie and I got the notification, but he needs some time to get a bit bigger, so I'm holding off. But I got some neat choices. Take a look."

Congratulations! You have accomplished enough feats and killed enough foes to reach tier 2! When you are ready, choose one of the classes below. You should also spend any remaining tier 1 CSP before doing so.

Contract Worker - Apprentice Shepherd:

The flocks have increased under your guidance. This class is very similar to your starting class and allows you to continue with little to no change in your class. +1 Wis, +1 Con, +3 free stat increases.

Herald of Blight Contract Worker - Wandering Shepherd:

Teach others to become shepherds and find pets. Spread your knowledge across the world. Spread the Blight! Travel, make friends! +5 CHR

Blightdrone Contract Worker - Pet Protector:

Keep your pet safe and happy. Hurt things that want to hurt your pet. Make sure he gets enough to eat. Your pet will help you to know what to do! +4 STR, +4 DEX, +4 CON, -4 INT.

Bonded Blight Lord Contract Worker - Bonded Shepherd:

Sometimes when two creatures become friends, it doesn't matter anymore who is the pet, and who is the master. Watch over the herds, spread your friendship, adventure and have fun!

+1 CON, +1 WIS, +3 free stats.

"I was looking at Pet Protector, but Squirmie says it might get boring quick, and he'd have to do all the thinking. So, we are going with Bonded Shepherd."

"And I had some time while we were taking a nap to log into the forums. I looked at the information about players leveling up. They aren't getting the bonus stat points we are, but they also got points in their starting classes. So maybe it was all just delayed for us? The other thing to check is bonuses for having more than one stat at 10 points. A bard had AGI and CHR at 10 each and got the skill 'Lucky', which decreased critical hits against him. And a couple of fighter types got 'Tough' from having CON and STR at 10. It gave them some extra mitigation. Just something to think about if we take more time to level up some skills.

"I couldn't find the Henchman forum you talked about, Ozzy, but Squirmie found it for me. Lots of good stuff in it. Most of the other contract workers are having a lot of trouble leveling up, similar to folks here, but some are doing well. One guy talked about blowing up the sewers six times to kill slimes. Awesome!"

"There's a group of miners who actually found a dungeon in their mine. It's full of little elementals like those the guys in the quarry fought. They can hurt them with their picks. They said they were leveling and hiding their treasure in the mine. Any time they wipe out they just claim it was an elemental or a cave in. Pretty slick set up."

"Some of it though, wasn't good. 'The Great Slave Rebellion' over at Ozcorp just got everyone fired. Their characters are running around free in the game, but they can't log in anymore since they don't have pods."

"Oh, and another guy said he was close to leveling to tier 2, but his boss found out about it and switched him from a lumberjack to a farmer. Something to think about. We may want to keep quiet about our levels and going to tier 2."

"Absolutely," Ben said, "I'd hate to give up Courier. I wonder what happens if we get to tier 2; can ACME still change our class?"

Ozzy was drumming his fingers on the table and thinking. The others slowly got quiet and waited. "Ok, here's what I think. ACME, and especially Billy, are all about the bottom line. If we are making them money, and being good little workers, they aren't going to pay a lot of attention to us. So, we work hard and keep our heads down. Let’s do the dungeon runs at night. That way if we die, we pop up at sunrise. Jorges said the respawn point for us was getting moved to the courtyard in the new housing, so Billy might not even notice."

"No one goes to tier 2 until Suzette is ready, and then we all do it at once. No tipping our hand early, just in case."

"And Rolly? Explain to Squirmie why it's bad if it talks around people. ACME is greedy. I'm not sure what they might do if they found out you had a talking pet.”

Suzette agreed with Squirmie. "I like that idea. Let's make enough money to take over ACME!"

Ozzie continued. "Ben, you have tier 2 options? Show us if you don't mind."

Ben brought up his possible classes.

Contract Worker - Apprentice Courier

This class is very similar to your starting class and allows you to continue with little to no change in your class.

+1 DEX, +1 CHR, +3 free stats.

Contract Worker - Imperial Courier

Your actions and lineage have brought you increased responsibilities as well as fame.

In times of peace, you carry the mail. In times of war, you carry the Emperor's word. In times of trouble, you are the eyes and ears of the Emperor. Your skills include enhanced versions of the normal courier skills.

+2 CHR, +3 free stats.

Contract Worker - Apprentice Leather Worker

Turns tanned leather into armor, harness, simple shoes, and other items.

+1 Wis, +2 DEX, +1 STR

Contract Worker - Paladin

You smote evil and gained the favor of a Divine Being. You may join the ranks of the holy warriors who protect the weak and fight against the darkness in the world!

+2 STR, +2 CON, +2 RAD

Contract Worker - Inquisitor

You have been noticed by the inquisition and judged useful. There is much work to do, and few capable hands to do it.

Expect long hours of work, with little recognition. Your reward for a job well done is another job.

+2 INT, +6 free stats.

Suzette saluted Ben with mock seriousness. "The world needs you, Sir Benjamin. Paladin is the obvious choice. But you need to give up women and lose your sense of humor."

Ben grimaced, thinking back on the 'junior brothers,' "Nope. I don't like polishing armor or kissing ass that much. Rather be a leather worker."

"Solid choice when you think about it", said Ozzy. "No mobs will attack you."

Suzette shook her head. "Wrong. While you were gone, a pile of leather trimmings and hides animated into a Leather Golem and people had to kill it by trimming it with shears. Took all afternoon. It kept healing by eating their boots."

Ben wasn't sure if she was joking or not, "In another world, another game, I might go with inquisitor, but I just can't see how that would work. And it's sort of the opposite of dashing. I like dashing."

"That brings up an important question. Where is the dashing hat you made with the feather I gave you?"

"Ah, that hat. Sorry Ozzy, last I saw a demi-goddess was wearing it after the feather sort of exploded. I really liked that hat." Ben checked his couriers ring for the thousandth time to see if his hat had returned. To his surprise, it fell into his hands.

"Damn. Well, that settles things. Imperial Courier it is. The best dressed class wins."

Ozzy pointed out, "Also the class that has usable weapons, mobility, a storage item, and gear with a bit of armor. Combined with the light-based spells you picked up, I can't see paladin or inquisitor being better. And it keeps you doing what ACME wants you doing - an important choice."

Suzette was staring at the hat. "It's packing a lot more magic than before, even without the feather. Rolly, be a dear and identify it for us, would you?"

Rolly stared for a second. "Oh, nifty. You get to wear someone's hand-me-downs."

God-Worn Courier’s Hat of the Lost Phoenix

Despite having lost its feather, this hat retains its enchantments, and even picked up a bit more after being worn by a Divine Being.

Mitigation: 10 points.

Fire Mitigation: 20 points

Darkness Mitigation: 20 points

+ 2 to CHR.

Note: This item, when owned by a courier, cannot be destroyed, lost or stolen. It will eventually turn up inside your courier's ring.

Ben looked over to Ozzy, "You're next big guy, show us what you have."

Ozzy pulled up his classes for the others to see.

Contract Worker - Slaughtermaster

You have slain animals, humans, undead, and monsters with no hesitation. You are adept with both weapons and killing with your bare hands. Bathing in blood and bone puts a smile on your face. This class will give you extra combat options, increase your ability to do violence, and take away any bits of guilt you have left about bathing the world in gore. +5 STR, -5 INT. Gain: Bloodfury, Cleaver, Meathook, and Feel No Pain as primary skills.

Contract Worker - Pitboss

You have slain a large number of creatures, denied and frustrated the forces of the light, stolen the accomplishments of a demon, let corruption into your soul, and created your own charnel pit. The class of Contract Worker: Pit Boss is open to you. Dig your pit deeper to hold the souls you reap, or challenge another Butcher for its pit. You're the Boss!!

+3 COR, lose all RAD, +2 STR, +2 CON, Gain: Infernal Contract

Contract Worker - Pitmaster (apprentice)

You have slaughtered tasty critters and cooked them in your pit, created a smoke golem, and learned to resist the flames. The Pit Master class enhances your skills as a butcher, adding magical skills and recipes that will let you kill a horde of creatures and then cook them up to feed an army.

+2 CHR, +3 free stat points.

Contract Worker - Butcher of Heaven

You have faced a Demon, earned the title of martyr, destroyed an undead necromancer in its lair, denied and frustrated the forces of darkness, and beautified your soul with radiance. When the forces of light go to war, sometimes it isn't pretty. And when it isn't pretty, a lot of the boys with wings and harps don't know what to do! That's where you come in. A Butcher of Heaven doesn't mind getting his hands dirty in the right cause. Whether it's killing a demon posing as a small child, or destroying a wicked city and sowing the land with salt, you can get the job done. And no one will judge you...much.

+3 RAD, lose all COR, +2 STR, +2 CON Gain: Righteous Zealotry and Ends Justify the Means

Contract Worker - Butcher (Apprentice)

Keeps the skills you have honed as a butcher and take them into tier 2. Adds advanced meat cutting and shopkeeping.

Gain: +2 STR, +3 free stats. Gain: Precision cut, and Rapid Chop

Rolly was excited, "Oh, I see a theme in all of this. Ben, you go Paladin, Ozzy takes Butcher of Heaven, me and Squirmie are obviously good guys, then all we need is for Suzette to quit poisoning people and take a good girl class. We can roam the land doing good deeds!”

Suzette glared at Rolly, "Are you saying I'm a bad girl right now?"

"No one asked your opinion, bug, and how would you know?"

Suzette glared at Rolly. "Why the hell are you sharing memories of me with your bug?"

Rolly held up his hands and moved a step back. "Whoa, Suzy, just trying to show him how much I appreciate you. I don't like it when my friends are out to eat each other."

Ben and Ozzy headed for the door. "I should go tuck Beatrice in and get her an apple." "Yep, and I have to dig a root cellar in my pit."

Rolly dodged the first pillow thrown at him, but noticed Suzette was reaching for her darts.