Arn’s tumbling corpse landed partially in the swimming hole, but his torso struck the bank to its right. As the impact slammed into his corpse, Arn’s heart was sharply compressed…and whether through luck or the grace of the Gods, restarted.

Arn’s world was pinpricks and swirling lights. After a time, he saw blurry letters…

CONGRATULATIONS! By resurrecting without magic or outside aid, you have met the requirements for the class Revenant (Legendary)! Would you like to take this class (Yes/No)?

Whhhat?? It was too much to process, but Arn was practical, and taking a class, any class, without approval of the Village Elder was grounds for expulsion. Though his vision was spinning, Arn ignored the prompt and tried to turn his head and rise. Pain and nausea exploded into Arn, and he slammed back to the ground, head rolling to face the trees to the right of the swimming hole – just as a gaping black muzzle dripping with saliva closed on his cheek and began to rip.

A fresh wave of pain swept through him, Arn futilely lifted his arms to grasp at the warg. The warg happily shifted to the closer offering of meat, biting down on Arn’s arm with enthusiasm. Perhaps because of the extent of his injuries, the attack took on a surreal quality, as though it was happening to someone else. Some small part of Arn knew there was only one chance, and Arn selected “yes” as the warg decided its prey was helpless, sank its muzzle into Arn’s stomach, and began eating flesh.

Class Selected: Revenant!

Affliction: Myocardial Instability removed!

CONGRATULATIONS! You are now a level one Revenant! +4 Constitution; +4 Attribute Points (4); +1 Skill Point (1). Resurrection Timer reset. Would you like to go to distribute …

The brief wave of bliss Arn felt on class selection faded, and he felt spikes of agony shoot through him as the warg resumed ripping into his belly. Arn desperately lunged for the warg’s jaws through the transparent menu text. Shocked, the Warg briefly backed off, looking at Arn with puzzlement. But deep thoughts are not for wargs, and “alive” was a condition it was used to fixing.

As the warg’s jaws closed around his neck, Arn’s had time for one last thought. I should have finished that pie…

Attention: You have died.

Arn: Level One Revenant

Attributes:

Constitution: 8 (+4)

Dexterity 5

Strength: 4

Intelligence: 9

Will: 8

Charisma: 4

Skills:

1 undistributed skill point

(**Author’s Notes: Arn’s non-combat skills such as Herbalism are omitted for convenience. Skills are not awarded for basic life activities such as running or swimming. Certain attributes are known to be hidden, and improve based on a linked primary attribute, level, practice and other factors. Hidden skills are discussed further in the story, including Toughness, Stamina and Speed.)