Road to Garret

“So you see, you lizardmen are quite the species! Very interesting from a scientific perspective,” Dr. Longfoot said.

“Fascinating,” I muttered. Although I was feigning disinterest, I was actually listening to everything the good doctor was blabbing on about. He was reciting numerous interesting facts that had to do with lizardmen, and by extension, me. Like how lizardmen couldn’t get sick, or how we were resistant to most poisons. Or how female lizardmen give live birth instead of laying eggs, or how lizardmen weren’t really considered reptiles since they were warm-blooded.

It was all very interesting stuff. Sadly, the doctor’s knowledge of my new species couldn’t really help us out of our current situation.

We had been stuck out at sea for three straight days now. Although we had some fishermen among the lizardmen captives, their experience was with watercraft much smaller than this one. We also had no idea just where the hell we were, since none of us had any nautical experience. There were plenty of maps, charts and navigational tools on the ship, but no one had a clue on how to use them. In hindsight, it may have been smart to keep a few of the sailors alive, at least until they got us to land.

Three of the lizardmen captives (including the two that wanted to make mincemeat out of Dr. Longfoot) had decided to take the risk and swim for shore. They were most likely dead now. I base this assumption on two things. One: they had no idea which direction land was. Two: lizardmen may be good swimmers, but swimming in a river and out in the middle of the open ocean were two different things.

The rest of us made do with trying to steer the ship in the direction we thought land was. We used the position of the sun to figure out which way we should be heading, then pointed the ship westwards, where land should be.

The good news is that I managed to find my stuff among the dead. My sword was in the captain’s quarters along with my pack; I was thankful that these sea dogs hadn’t rifled around in it too much. My maps were secure, and most importantly so was my supply of bullets and gunpowder. I reloaded my pistol, tucked it into my belt, and waited.

We were hoping to find land soon, as our long term survival was not guaranteed. Thankfully, there was a lot of fresh water aboard. Sadly, the food situation was much more dire; there wasn’t much meat aboard, just dried jerky and lots of vegetables. And as you may have noticed from our sharp teeth, lizardmen ain’t too fond of vegetables.

“Land!” shouted out one of the lizardmen suddenly.

I ran to where he was pointing and looked. Just on the horizon was indeed what looked like the shore. We had made it!

“Is it truly land?” Dr. Longfoot asked as he strode over.

“Yep,” I told him. “Looks rike you von’t be a shnack after all.”

“Yes. Quite.”

The other captives abandoned ship as soon as land was spotted. They simply leaped off the ship into the sea and began to short swim towards shore. I, on the other hand, decided to take the boat. I didn’t want to get my powder wet, plus I had Longfoot to worry about.

So he and I jumped onto the rowboat, and I assigned the good doctor to rowing duty. When he complained, I told him it was either that or I toss him over the side to swim. He got to rowing mighty quick.

It took twenty minutes of the doctor’s rowing (and complaining about said rowing) until we reached dry land. By the time the boat hit the sands of the beach, the doctor was wheezing, coughing, and out of breath. He really should take better care of himself.

I jumped off the boat onto land and felt the warm, wet sand squish through my toes. I gazed upon the pristine golden shores along with the bright blue sky and cerulean sea. This place resembled paradise. If one wasn’t careful, one might let the scenery distract them from the fact that they were in Hell.

I heard a splash and saw that Longfoot had toppled off the boat and onto the surf. I, of course, laughed.

“Yes, yes, very humorous,” the doctor glowered. “Where in the world are we?”

“No idear,” I took out my map and started searching. “Ve could be anywhere along the coast of Armas. Let’s ned inland. Maybe we’ll find a road or shomething.”

Longfoot nodded and we were off.

We walked further inland, past the beach, and came upon a large, grassy plain with rolling hills. In the distance, we spotted what looked like a road or thoroughfare of some sort, headed from north to south. Upon spotting it, Longfoot started jumping up and down.

“I know where we are!” The doctor said giddily. “That is the road to Garret, which shouldn’t be too far away to the south of here.”

“Garret,” I said. “Is that a town?”

“Oh yes, quite a big one, in fact.” Longfoot started walking towards the road and I followed. “It’s got everything! Pubs, inns, restaurants. Oh! And a bank, so we can get you your money.”

I was liking the place already.

“Reny chance of slavers being there?” I asked. It wouldn’t do to run into any business associates of the late Captain Sorgenson.

“Oh, no,” Longfoot shook his head. “Garret is part of the Free Association. They don’t dabble in slavery, unlike our neighbors in the south.”

“I see.”

I let the doctor lead the way as we got onto the road. While we walked, I decided to check up on a few things.

“Status,” I whispered.

Name

Nero

Level

9

Race

Lizardman

Proficiency

Swimming- lv8, Hold Breath- lv9, Hunting- lv6, Firemaking- lv10, Smithing- lv12, Magic- lv5, Language (Common), Language (Drakkis)

Standing

CoR: HATED

VE: NEUTRAL

FAA: NEUTRAL

ZF: NEUTRAL

Hmm. Looks like I jumped three whole levels. Still, level 9 seems a bit low. In Heaven, the maximum level was 90. I wonder if that’s the same down here?

I also noticed that I had a new proficiency: Magic. How in blazes did I get that? I couldn’t use magic, at least not in the way Tycho did. Though there were those boxes marked “Magic Creation System” that popped up when I made gunpowder and my pistol; could that be linked to this somehow?

“Say, are you alright?” asked Longfoot.

I blinked and looked at him. “Huh? Vat?”

“Sorry. You were quiet and just staring at nothing. I thought something may be wrong.”

“No, nothing’s wrong,” I told him, then made the menu vanish.

As we got closer to Garret, the road became more traveled. We passed by stagecoaches, carriages, wagons filled with goods, and even lone travelers on foot. Of course, all of them took the time to gawk at me. I guess I don’t really blame them. I was a six and a half foot tall lizard walking around wearing a floppy hat and long coat.

We arrived in Garret around the mid-afternoon. It was definitely a large town, as Longfoot had said. In fact, it could almost pass for a small city. Garret itself was surrounded by tall stone walls which I suppose kept out the riffraff and controlled entry into the town.

Speaking of controlled entry, the guards stopped us right before we could enter the town.

“Halt!” said one of the armored men. I noticed he had a hand on the hilt of his sword.

“What seems to be the problem, watchman?” Doctor Longfoot asked.

“What’s your business in Garret?” The grim guardsman looked both of us over, though his eyes lingered on me.

“Oh, the usual, I suppose. Find a place to eat, sleep. Oh! And visit the bank, of course.”

The guard nodded. “Very well. You may enter, but you can’t bring that in with you!” He pointed a finger at me.

I spoke up. “Are non-numans not allowed in town?”

The guard and the rest of his men looked surprised at the fact that I could talk. The lead guard coughed to recollect himself, then said, “N-no. Dwarves, elves, and halflings are all welcome in Garret. B-but your kind is dangerous! We can’t have you walking among our women and children!”

“One could shay the same about your kind as well,” I retorted.

“M-maybe so! But I still can’t let you in!”

I growled, but Longfoot stepped in and probably prevented me from doing something stupid.

“If I may,” he said to me while looking nervously at the guards. “Why don’t I go into town and get your money while you wait here? Then we can be on our merry way.”

I was annoyed, but I could sorta get where the guard was coming from. If I was in charge of a town there’s no way I’d let a crocodile into it, not even if it talked. So I relented.

“Fine,” I said. “I’m trusting rou here, doc. If you don’t come back, I’ll find you. Then rou’ll wish I let those two on ze boat have their way wif you.”

Longfoot gulped, then nodded. “Of course! I am a man of my word, I assure you.” He then shuffled off into town, his steps quick and eager to get away from me.

“Mind if I wait here?” I asked the guards.

“No. Just… don’t make a scene.”

I rolled my eyes.

Half an hour passed and there was still no doctor. I really hope he didn’t get it into his head that he could get away from paying me what I was owed. I kind of liked the little guy, and I’d hate to have to kill him slow.

I yawned and tried to focus on the scenery. Trees. Leaves. Grass. Sunshine. The place was pleasant; it didn’t look much like a Hell at all. From down the road, I could see a group of people approaching. There were five of them and they were dressed in full gear. I was guessing from their tired looks and the dust on their clothing that they were returning from one venture or another.

One of them was a young man, probably eighteen or nineteen years old. He wore a set of full metal armor and had a shield and sword on. He was walking sluggishly, his eyes on the road. When they raised up and saw me, said eyes bugged out and he had a look of panic on his face.

“Monster!” He shouted, drawing his sword and raising his shield. “Monster!”

Great. This is not what I need right now.

His friends tried to stop him, but the kid started rushing towards me, his sword held high.

“Die monster!” He shouted.

I sighed. When he was about ten feet away from me, I drew my pistol and shot him in the chest. The bullet easily pierced the metal of his armor and embedded itself in his heart. The boy then fell flat on his face, dead.

The guards were too shocked by the loud retort of my pistol and all the smoke to do much of anything but gawk. The kid’s friends, on the other hand, ran to his side and began checking on him.

“He’s dead!” cried one girl who was dressed in white robes. “You killed him!”

That seemed to break the guards out of their stupor. They all rushed towards us, weapons drawn.

“Hold it, right where you are!” They told me. “You are under arrest for murder!”

Oh, for Christ’s sake...