The men in black clothing had dragged Rotgoriel to one of the rolling predators that he'd seen from his window. The inside of it was surprisingly empty. Some form of animated, hollow undead used as a steed? Humans were strange.

Then they had taken him to a bulding of stone and metal, and asked him nonsensical questions. Stubborn and thoroughly fed up with their banter, he kept silent. He could read their poses, their faces, and he saw in them no killing intent. Their wrath was a bluff... he was a juve, whatever that term meant. They had declined to kill him on the staircase, he would not be slain here, he thought.

Then, in the blink of an eye, he was no longer a human.

He was no longer anything.

All around him was gray space, filled with disembodied voices and floating words. He watched for a bit, confused.

“What is this place? Where am I?” Rotgoriel demanded, in a period of relative silence.

RUTGER: What is this place? Where am I?

L2PLAY: Noob!

ARISTATTLER: Didn't we go over this last time? Are you joking with us, kid?

A noise from behind him, a sort of weird 'boop', and he turned to see words that nobody had spoken.

RESPAWN IN... 24 HOURS

YOU MAY USE G.O.L.D. TOKENS TO REDUCE THIS TIME.

YOU HAVE FIVE G.O.L.D TOKENS LEFT

“I have gold?”

RUTGER: I have gold?

ONCELER: I'll take that off your hands if you don't want it.

REALGIRL: Hey, if you give me three tokens I'll invite you to my Eris chat. I have a lot of fuuuuunnnn videos there. For six I'll let you watch my livestream.

YUBAI: Want more gold? Best prices here!

Rutger frowned. Were these dark powers? He had to be very clear then, and not promise them anything.

RUTGER: No you can't have my gold. Tell me where I am. Show yourselves!

The grayspace exploded into laughter around him. Rotgoriel snarled, and tried to brush aside the walls of words, as his unseen tormentors jeered at him.

But he could do nothing, and eventually he realized they could do nothing to him. At that point, superior draconic willpower reasserted itself, and he shut up. There was nothing to gain or lose here. So what if these unseen spirits mocked him? He was still a dragon.

Well, unless he was a human. That was a worrisome thought.

During a moment of relative silence, the older, non-mocking voice from earlier spoke again.

ARISTATTLER: We went over this before, but maybe you're on some drugs or insane. You're dead, kid. This is where we hang out until we respawn.

RUTGER: You told me about this before? I don't remember that.

ARISTATTLER: That's your problem, not mine. So I'm not telling you about it again.

RUTGER: That is fair.

YUBAI: Last chance on best gold deals!

RUTGER: I have gold. Will you give me more?

YUBAI: Follow the link ^o^

SEENKYLE88: Rutger, you sound like a ****. Want to come use my oven?

The words only caught his eye against the background chatter because the speaker used his name. Rutger thought that merited a reply, and he had a question to ask anyway.

RUTGER: Why would I want to use your oven?

STEVEROGERSLEGACY: I told you once to shut up, you damn Nazi.

SEENKYLE88: Stop oppressing my freedom of speech! You call anyone you don't like a Nazi! You're the real Nazi!

STEVEROGERSLEGACY: You do know most people who got past the third grade don't buy the “I am rubber and you are glue defense anymore,” right? You're a fucking Nazi.

ARISTATTLER: Oh, is the Nazi turd going again? You know logic doesn't work on them. Just block him, Steve. Life's been so much quieter since I found that option.

STEVEROGERSLEGACY: I know, but I just hate bullies. When I bring it up the new guys know they're not alone. Sometimes that helps.

RUTGER: How do I block the Nazi turd? I do not see an option.

SEENKYLE88: That's because you're a stupid subhuman piece of filth. Give me gold or I'll find you in game and rape you.

RUTGER: Give you my gold? No. I think I would rather eat you.

There was a pause, then the grayspace exploded with laughter once more. Mocking voices and jeers filled the air, and Rutger rolled his eyes and sighed. He let the taunting wash off him with patience... patience that turned into amusement, as Kyle did not. He shouted and raged, and more and more of the unseen assholes turned their ire on him.

SEENKYLE88: FUCKING SOSHIE DEEVS! YOU'LL BE FIRST AGAINST THE WALL WHEN THE CHOSEN ONE IS REBORN!

Rutger didn't understand what most of this was about. He was pretty sure this was some sort of afterlife that wasn't meant for dragons, and that worried him. If he was reborn, respawned or whatever, would he be stuck in a human body forever? That was horrible thought. To go from being a dragon, to... this...

ARISTATTLER: Lord. Can't tell what he's saying, but I can guess given everyone else's replies. Kid, you'd better block him. He showed up half an hour ago, and he's probably gonna be here a while. Last thing you want is a day of some dumbass loser ranting at you in fake German for that long.

RUTGER: Or I could respawn. He eyed the words behind him.

Still, it was giving up gold. Granted, it was gold he couldn't see, and had never touched, and he wasn't sure how he got it...

SEENKYLE88: Or you could make Generica great again and uninstall. You little deev.

STEVEROGERSLEGACY: Says the guy who can't do shit to anybody in here. Come find ME on the outside.

SEENKYLE88: Shut up, white knight, I'm talking to Rutger! Last chance, coward. Give me gold or I'll find you and hurt you, over and over again.

RUTGER: Come try. You sound tasty.

Another storm of laughter and jeers, and that decided Rotgoriel. The human afterlife sucked. Even if there was the risk of becoming human permanently, that had to be better than here. He turned and even though he didn't have claws, he tried to push against the words that said “yes” to his respawning.

Evidently it got the idea, because the grayness disappeared...

...and was replaced by black void, broken by green light.

Rotgoriel sighed in relief, as his claws met an unseen floor. He had a body! He was a dragon again!

Then, something caught his eye, some movement, and he looked up and up, up past what he thought were stars in the void.

They weren't stars.

They were white scales against space-dark scales, and two luminous white eyes above them. Metal glinted in the green light, but he didn't dare focus and stare.

Rotgoriel was in the presence of an ancient, and instantly he looked down, so as not to offend with his boldness. The ancestors had full well taught him how to behave to his elders.

“Choose your place of rebirth,” the ancient's voice was like rolling thunder.

Green light shifted. Rotgoriel snuck a glance up, saw four cubes of the stuff coalesce into green words

The Blasphemous Hatchery.

The Drowned Prison's Entry.

The Village of the Yellow Eaters.

And finally, The Place of Your Demise.

But Rotgoriel couldn't focus on that right now, because there was an ancient in front of him, and proper deference must be paid.

“Great one, I am Rotgoriel. I beg the honor of knowing your name.”

Silence, filled only with the slow hiss of great lungs, and the clanking of metal. Then, a reply. But not the one Rotgoriel had expected. “Choose your place of rebirth.”

“I... will obey, Great one. If it is improper to...” he risked a look up, and for the first time, he realized that the ancient was bound. He was chained by hundreds... no, thousands of chains stretching off into infinity! Chains of all metals and sizes, dug into and around the ancient's scales.

This was horrific. This was against the natural order. The ancient had been bound, and such a horror could not stand!

“I will free you!” Rotgoriel bellowed, and ran towards the ancient.

It took a few moments to realize that he wasn't going anywhere. That his feet were finding traction on the unseen floor, but he himself was going no closer.

“Who!” Rotgoriel shouted again. “Who has done this to you? Whose throat must my teeth find?”

The ancient stared at him, great white orbs rippling with shadows, as if something was moving inside. “Choose... your... place of rebirth.”

“You cannot speak, save to say that?” Rotgoriel asked. “You are bound by more than chains. Please. Tell me what to do. Tell me who to devour. I will end this blasphemy!”

The ancient shook, chains rattling, and for a second Rotgoriel hoped, dared to hope he could escape... but then the vast form slowed, and stopped. With a popping noise, and a screech of metal pulling taut, the dragon managed to twist its head down.

Rotgoriel followed its gaze to the Ancient's hand. To claws splayed out among the green pillars, claws that twisted and pulled against their own chains as they moved into a series of gestures.

But all too soon the gestures slowed and stopped.

“Choose your place... of rebirth,” The ancient said, once more. Its hand slumped, and its neck cracked as it sagged in its chains.

Rotgoriel shook his head in frustration. This offended him to his core, and he hated it. But there was nothing to be done. Perhaps someday he would find a solution. Perhaps the next time he found himself beyond the wall of death (which was a strange thought and nothing he'd expected to experience for a very long time,) he would be in a better position to affect change.

With a heavy heart and a drooping tail, the hatchling turned to consider his options.

The Blasphemous Hatchery was probably where he'd been born. The adventurers could still be there, and they had doubtless looted the place anyway. No, there was no point in returning there.

The Drowned Prison's Entry... perhaps that was the waterfall he'd awoken next to? That would give him a greater shot at finding Geebo, if indeed Geebo still lived. Why was he so concerned about that, though? And the waterfall might be close to where he died, in which case the thing that killed him might still be out there.

Which also was the problem with the place of his demise. If his murderer was about there somewhere, he'd be coming in blind.

That left the Village of the Yellow Eaters. Village meant humans or dwarves or one of the usual prey species. Eaters signified predators of some sort. Orcs, perhaps? Maybe yellow orcs?

Rotgoriel nodded. He was a mighty predator. Smaller ones would fall before him. And villages were usually outdoors, so if they didn't, then he could always fly away. Yes, the Village was the best option.

He pointed with one claw, and once more the world shifted.

Snow crunched underclaw. Pre-dawn light chased away fading stars. And the air was full of screams and smoke.

Rotgoriel turned, crouching low, feeling his newly-remade muscles tense. He beheld burning huts side, saw yelling, hide-wearing figures fleeing more flame. A woman shrieked and charged him, and Rotgoriel drew back a claw to smack her down...

...when she fell to her knees, skidding through the snow and mud and slush to end up in front of him, prostrate and begging.

“Please! Help save our village from the raiders!”

OOKWIA CRESSILDASDOTTIR HAS OFFERED YOU A PRIVATE QUEST

DETAILS: SAVE THE VILLAGE FROM THE ATTACKERS.

REWARD: ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED EXPERIENCE AND TWO THOUSAND FACTION.

COMPLETION: ALL ATTACKERS HAVE LEFT THE AREA.

DO YOU WANT TO ACCEPT THIS QUEST? Y/N

Rotgoriel blinked.

What did he care whether or not these people lived or died? It was not his problem. Dragons ate the weak, they didn't defend them. He opened his mouth to tell her to begone, but a woman's voice yelled from across the way.

“Hey Tank, watch this overkill! Activate Fireball!”

And then a huge, fiery sphere the size of one of the huts sped toward Rotgoriel.

There was no time to run.

There was no time to dodge.

There was only time to feel hatred, and swear vengeance when he returned after his next respawn. “Yes!” he snarled to the woman, as the fireball blew up next to her and turned his world to fire.

But the fire washed over him, over and through him like he didn't exist.

Boombabe has attacked you!

Your PK settings prevent all damage!

Boombabe has been flagged PK!

Do you wish to enable PK for retribution? Y/N?

“Yes!” Rotgoriel yelled, as the steam and smoke cleared, and the charred husk of the villager crumbled to the ground, forgotten by his side.

PK switch enabled! Happy hunting! 23:59 left...

Silence, from the line of burning huts.

Then the woman... Boombabe, yelled. “Tank! Unknown player! I just went red!”

“Shit!” A man bellowed, and metal clanged on metal. “Abort abort abort! Get out of here, I'll cover you!”

LUCK+1

“Flee, cowards!” Rotgoriel bellowed, and loped after them. He passed smoldering corpses, pedaled furiously through slick snow, and leaped troughs and racks and pots as he scrambled.

AGL+1

It felt good to be alive again! His body brimmed with power, more than he remembered having. He was stronger, faster, a little sharper... and he was on the hunt, for those fools who had thought to kill a dragon with fire!

But as fast as he was, they were faster. And turning past the last burning hut, he saw a pair of large, winged forms lifting off from the ground and flying into the rising sun. Griffins, he realized as they ascended. The ancestors had spoken of these. Fierce predators, and skilled fliers.

INT+1

They were both each twice the size of Rotgoriel. And each bore a figure on their backs. One had red words floating above her head, the other was green, and clad in metal. That was all he could make out before they accelerated, and fled.

For a second he thought of pursuing. Only a second. But two griffins in the air, with two more foes to boot... even a dragon would be hard pressed, Rotgoriel decided.

WIS+1

Besides, he had chased them off, and that should be enough for—

Defend the Village quest complete!

You are now A CONVENIENT ALLY with the Children of the Yellow Icon

Congratulations, by defending a settlement against nigh-impossible odds, you have unlocked the Knight job!

You cannot become a Knight at this time, all adventuring slots are full!

Seek out your guild to forget an existing job!

Rotgoriel read the words before they vanished, then laughed. What self-respecting dragon would ever be a Knight? The very idea was ludicrous.

Ah well. He had reaped a reward, so his job was done here. Shrugging, he headed back to the village. His stomach was empty, and he smelled enough cooked meat to remedy that problem. Skipping the fallen children, he settled in to a larger, meatier adult, and began to feast.

After a few minutes of bloody repast, he heard footsteps crunching on the snow. He lifted his bloody muzzle, and stared at a large figure in hides, clutching a spear.

“The Icon wishes to see you,” the man said.

“I grant the Icon audience. They may approach me,” Rotgoriel said, and lowered his muzzle back into his meal's ribcage.

“No, you are to see him,” said the man.

Rotgoriel lifted his bloody muzzle and stared at the man.

CHA+1

The man took a step back. “Please! When it is convenient for you, of course. I am only the servant.”

“Yes,” Rotgoriel said, and cracked a rib between his jaws. “You are.”

After a few more minutes and a full belly, he deigned to follow the still-trembling man.

He led the dragon to a hut at the edge of the village, and for a second Rotgoriel wondered why it lay unburned. The nearest ones to it were ashes. Why had this one escaped?

INT+1

The words told him this was significant. He kept that in mind as he followed the man inside, into a lair that was bigger than the hut appeared to be on the outside. But Rotgoriel was familiar with such tricks, so he remained unimpressed.

Rotgoriel was more impressed by the layers of painted symbols scrawled on every inch of wall, put there by painstaking precision. And by the ornate mask that the hut's occupant turned to face him. A bandaged thing in dirty yellow robes, it looked him over in silence. Rotgoriel held its gaze, even when the man behind him whimpered and fled through the curtain.

“Well?” The dragon asked, finally. “You have your audience. What do you wish to say?”

“I bring you an offer,” the thing said, muffled and ragged. “Let us discuss how to rend apart the chains that bind us, and escape this glittering trap forever.”

RUTGER'S CHARACTER SHEET

Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Rutger Royal

Age: 1 Day

Jobs:

Cultist 1, High Dragon Hatchling 4

Attributes Pools Defenses

Strength: 156 Constitution: 153 Hit Points: 309 Armor: 75

Intelligence: 39 Wisdom: 36 Sanity: 75 Mental Fortitude: 75

Dexterity: 14 Agility: 36 Stamina: 50 Endurance: 0

Charisma: 36 Willpower: 151 Moxie: 187 Cool: 75

Perception: 151 Luck: 33 Fortune: 184 Fate: 4

General Skills

Brawling – Level 13

Dodge – Level 6

Fly – Level 10

Ride – Level 1

Stealth – Level 2

Swim – Level 1

High Dragon Hatchling Skills

Burninate – Level 6

Chomp – Level 5

Draconic Tongue – Level N/A

Dragonseye – Level 15

Limited Equipment – Level N/A

No Thumbs – Level N/A

Scaly Wings – Level N/A

Slow to Age – Level N/A

Cultist Skills

Unlocked Jobs

Conjuror, Grifter, Knight

Gear: