From the instant Jack plunged into frigid waters of liquid mana, he felt like he was fighting for his life as ice cold liquid sought to penetrate his flesh, to consume him, to make him an extension of itself and itself alone. Only now did jack truly appreciate the peril of forever crashing headlong into powerful forces he barely understood, but there was no point in regret or self-recrimination as he felt his heart turning to ice.

There was nothing to do but plunge, ever deeper under those brilliant blue waters, plunging so deep, embracing such terrible pressures that the ice in his heart was forced to thaw into a liquid colder than any water he had ever imagined, even as it blazed with the fiery heat of his blood.

More than his blood, it was the roaring tidal wave representative of the tidal life force of an entire realm, the cycle of life from prey to predator to alpha predator, as sustenance was absorbed and reclaimed further up the food chain, brimming with life and all it's glorious potential that could itself be ignited to catastrophic, glorious effect.

Only then did he truly appreciate how deadly was the crimson path he had but taken the tiniest footseps upon, only embracing the most personal elements of that art, catalyzing his own power to further empower his spells, when it was capable of more. So much more.

Willpower check successful!

But he would not let the whispered enticements of the most vampiric of all arts sway him from insights that were just as valid. Insights that would allow his art to synergize so well with the four elements this universe recognized as being primal, from which so many other things sprung.

For blood and water were both liquids, and both were pools of life, and had evolved to be such, on earth, at least, for billions of years. And just like a card game favoring numbers or suits, he would be true to his element so long as he channeled any material in liquid form, or water in any state.

And as his enhanced Ice Shield made so clear, it mixed brilliantly with bloodmagic as well.

It was a truth he recognized so well, in fact, that he could no longer deny it. Classes with no affinity to blood magic, which Jack now sensed resonating through him as strongly as life itself, were now, strangely and regrettably, beyond his comprehension.

Save for one.

Willpower check successful! You have successfully differentiated Water (liquid) affinity with Blood affinity! Congratulations! You now have Blood Magic affinity: Rank 1! You now have Water Magic affinity! Rank 1! (These ranks are additive to all ranks you may earn with underlying arcane arts!New classes are open to you!

Advanced Classes open to you: Dark Druid / Runeforger (Bloodmagic Background)

Adept Classes Open to you.

Soul Weaver (Maternal Lineage + Rank 3 affinity)

Crimson Water Adept: Your intense affinity for Water and Blood allows you to manipulate both arts to a degree unmatched by most! You may rank up both your underlying school of magic and your class affinity such that all bonuses stack, giving you unparalleled potential to shape, create, and destroy, using the arts of the Crimson Water Adept! - Warning! Your specialization comes at a cost. You are unable to gain ranks in any other arcane school. Note. Fire magic affinity means you may adapt spells that change the temperature of your water magics without penalty!

Crimson Fire Adept. Your intense affinity for Fire and Blood allows you to manipulate both arts to a degree unmatched by almost anyone! You may rank up both your underlying school of magic and your class affinity such that all bonuses stack, giving you unparalleled potential to shape, create, and destroy, using the arts of the Crimson Fire Adept! - Warning! Your specialization comes at a cost. You are unable to gain ranks in any other arcane school. Note. Water magic affinity means you may forge spells of Liquid Plasma a full Tier below what such would normally entail!

Adept+ Classes Open to you:

(Exalted) Crimson Warrior: You have trained and fought beside a warrior who has himself taken his first steps along the Crimson Path. And somehow, you just know that were you to let go of all hesitation and embrace the furious lessons of battle, you too would find yourself more than able to tap into the life-magic feats of a Crimson Warrior, tearing free life force and potency of your foes with every swing of your blade! Best of all, all kills recharge your feat use count before needing an hour's rest or meditation!

Note. Arcane affinity limitations of warrior classes have been surpassed! Due to your unique heritage with the blood of elves, dark generals, grey witches, and blood adepts in your background (blood magic affinity detected) your class is able to surpass normal limitations! You would become an Exalted Crimson Warrior, able to rank up both the School of Blood Magic and the School of Grey Witchery (Soul Weaver) without limit, in addition to the warrior's martial feat path. Lesser Witchery school would also be open to you. No other arcane schools would be open to you. - Crimson Warrior Exalted class is equal to Adept+ Tier class!

A part of Jack winced even as he reveled in his increasing power, in the opening of additional classes. Because clearly there was a price to pay with the path he had chosen, seeking to find blood affinities with nearly all his arts, finding the potency of his own life force to be a devastatingly effective spell enhancer, despite its prohibitive costs in terms of personal lifeforce. But since he was leveling skills and not actual levels at this point, and needed every survival edge he could get, he thought it a fair trade. Especially if he could evolve the skills to cost him no life force at all, like his Bloodflame Variant, merely double the mana that was already just a fraction of the original cost with each increasing rank, and surprisingly effective at piercing defenses and doing damage.

But clearly there had been a cost to so deliberately honing in his focus. Now, the only classes open to him were those that embraced the crimson path, at least partially, Save for his mother's class. But considering that he had been blessed with a Rank 3 affinity in the Soul Weaver's arts, and that blood, mind, and soul were arguably the three pillars of sentient life itself... it wasn't surprising that his mother's class would always be open to him.

Despite the drawbacks, what sent chills down his spine was studying the interface notes regarding the Exalted Crimson Warrior. if he was understanding it correctly, he would have the advantages of both the fighter perk path, and the ability to level up both his mother's sphere and the blood sphere of magic. In short, it utterly incorporated his mother's class and, now that he thought of it, perhaps his father's as well, and what a thrill of wonder it gave him to think of his father as a ruthless general and savage in the battlefield, the dark villain of tales he would read aloud to his quietly smiling parents and his half-elf sisters, so strikingly beautiful, all of them, and so familiar he had never thought of them as exotic or elven at all, before this very moment, merely as his sisters.

And Jack was almost positive that, Mitch's presence and mentorship aside, Jack would never have opened up such a class if it weren't for his father's gifts also singing in his blood. Of course, the major drawback was stretching those 5 character points and 8 class points between the demands of what would effectively be 2 classes. And a part of him still held onto the dream that he just might be able to forge a class he thought would leave most others in the dust, if he could actually get it to work.

All it required were two more elemental affinity globes, and an awful lot of luck.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Jack Evergreen Class Undecided Level 0

Primary Attributes

Strength 12 (Exceeds 74% of base population)

Vitality 12 (Exceeds 74% of base population)

Finesse 14 (Exceeds 90% of base populationd)

Quickness 13 (Exceeds 83% of base population)

Perception 13 (Exceeds 83% of base population

Scholarship 15 (Exceeds 95% of base population)

Willpower 13 (Exceeds 83% of base population)

Charisma 11 (Exceeds 62% of base population)

Insight. - Gold Tier

Health 10xVit+Str+(10xlevel) = 132

Stamina 10xVit+Str= 132

Mana 100 +10 (+10+20DA) /+10IT/ = 140 = Rank 2 Diligent Arcanist. 250 Hours needed for +30 Rank 3. +10 more for Rank 1 High Intensity Trianing) =150

Base Appearance 10 (Average)

Virtues

Rapid Learner

Explosive Growth

Plane Walker

Flaws

Painful Healing

Perks Earned in Game

Rank 2 Diligent Arcanist. +30 to Mana pool.

Rank 1 High intensity training. +10 to Mana pool.

Forged in Battle +1 to Perception & all physical stats.

Rank 1 Fire Affinity / Rank 1 Water Affinity / Rank 1 Blood affinity / Rank 3 Soul Weaver Affinity! - Spells associated with those schools are cast as if wielder has additional ranks in underlying arts = to affinity.

Favorite Skills

Firestream (Blood Flame) - Adept Rank 2

Geyser - Adept Rank 1. / Tier 2 Greater Geyser - Apprentice Rank 1

Ice Shield (Blood Shield) - Journeyman Rank 5 (Resilience)

Earth Armor (Blood Armor) - Journeyman Rank 1 (Reduced Reserves)

Acid Arrow - Adept Rank 1 (4 for 1)

Rune Forging - Adept Rank 1 (Arcane Forger)

Lesser Healing - Journeyman Rank 1 (Painful healing penalties minimized!)

Tier 1 Soul Weaver Arts: - Snip/Pinch/Spool - Apprentice Rank 2

Tier 2 Soul Weaver Arts: - Shear/Fabricate - Apprentice Rank 2

______________________________________________

Jack took an explosive breath, panting as if he had just surfaced from a dive hundreds of feet deep. And perhaps he had, he thought, coming too, soaking wet and with a splitting headache upon the town square.

Only now it looked nothing like it had before he had lost himself in aquatic visions.

Where before it had been ruins and desperate struggle and caustic death with a half-devastated keep overlooking it all, now he beheld a square in perfect repair with dozens of cherry trees blossoming along the side of the road with countless tulips, roses, and marigolds by their roots, the air alive with a riot of exquisite scents, the gorgeous profusion of scent and color instantly calming his alarmed soul.

And where before their had been discord and terror, now there was a vibrant celebration, dozens upon dozens, perhaps hundreds of townspeople singing, playing instruments or dancing in the streets, wearing what seemed their most colorful flax or woolen clothing, the rich aroma of fried meats coming from multiple stands run by cheerful looking villagers handing sticks of meat to any of the celebrants dancing their way.

Jack's anxious frown turned to a relieved smile, his head bobbing to the delightful notes of flute and harp when he sensed a figure making a beeline towards him.

Someone he didn't know.

Quickness check successful!

He spun around quicker than a man could blink, summoning ice shield and earthern armaments faster than the stumbling villager could raise his hands, either in alarm or perhaps to show he meant no harm.

"Greetings, young sir. Please forgive my intruding your... meditation? I don't suppose you'd happen to be 'Jack,' by any chance?"

Jack frowned at the man, truly taking in the somewhat short, anxious looking man with the slightest beginning of a pot belly and earnest blue eyes under a carefully combed head of hair. The cut of his cloth seemed to be a bit better than the other villagers, for all that everyone looked clean, happy, and all but glowed with health.

Jack slowly dipped his head. There was no denying it, and when the man flinched at the sight of Jack's clenched fist crackling with flame, Jack took a deep, steadying breath, forced to accept that the constant struggle for survival had wound him up more than even he realized. But it didn't stop him from holding tight to fire's gift, making it all the easier to summon, should he need it. "Yes, what is it?"

Great use of charisma there! He mocked himself, though he kept his face a polite blank, waiting for the other man to react.

The man cleared his throat, went for an awkward chuckle. "Well, then as the vice mayor, let me be the first to formally welcome you to the town of Loamsville and greet one of the heroes of the hour who not only saved the town, but the keep and our lives as well!"

It was only when the man bowed solemnly and low that Jack shook away his battle-reflexes, and a part of him couldn't help smiling in surprised relief, to be the recipient of such warm gratitude he was almost positive was unfeigned. After all he had seen, done, and endured these past few weeks, he counted it a small miracle to actually be greeted with a hero's welcome and honor. For all that he was struck with the sudden recollection of halcyon lives lived where even as an eternal level 1 hero, he had diligently followed the path of honor and glory, feted and love after enduring hardship and peril for causes greater than himself, with the sincerity and warmth he had only found in fairy tales in this lifetime.

That was... until now, as he couldn't help flashing a bemused smile, putting away flaming fist and shield of ice as the entire crowd caught wind of the vice mayor's proclamation, all of them simultaneously bowing or curtseying or applauding, the words 'hero of the hour!' and 'Our champion!" ringing sweetly in Jacks' surprised ears.

And Jack couldn't help laughing at those gentle words, smiling and nodding at the sincere warmth he saw in the gazes of so many humble villagers, to say nothing of a pair of strikingly beautiful girls, gazing at him so boldly, as if wondering in their own minds if he was the hero of their life's tales, before turning away with flushed cheeks and smiles, and Jack somehow knew, just knew, that if he were to slip though the crowd with nods and smiles and ask just one of those girls to dance...

He shook away bittersweet memory, flashes of a life where he had done just that after one of many adventures, and how a night of dancing and gentle smiles had turned to so much more, so very quickly, his dreams of adventur surrendered for a ring of gold, and dreams of a different sort.

In a life lived countless years ago.

He blinked away sudden tears, for all that he was smiling with a nostalgic ache, covering for it by himself giving a bow to the townfolk as a whole. "And you for the warmth of your words and the sincerity of your smiles!" He declared, not hesitating to grab frying sausage and a stein of beer when passed his way. "It is for the sake of our fellow man that we dare so much, and it is the warmth and love of friendships forged and gratitude earned that is the sweetest reward we could ask for, so thank you all for your grace and warmth and making this a truly special day for myself as well!"

Words that earned him smiles and congratulatory shouts, and Jack couldn't help but laugh and drink deep of the stein in his hands, and when a particularly buxom laugh with a teasing smile took his hands and began to dance, he didn't stop her, instead pressing her close for a spin and a toss before taking the hands of another, an impromptu dance forming out of nothing as Jack embraced the role of this magical dream of life expected, the noble hero grateful to be just that, his virtue a balm to his own soul, the love in his heart somehow washing away the ruthless, even predatory way he had taken to cutting down so many of his foes.

As if only now choosing his own path, and for all that he had been forged by those who embraced predation as well as love, choosing for himself the role of hero.

At least for this gentle, welcoming town, and the villagers within.

You have successfully helped pull an entire community from the brink of nightmare, embracing the role of hero while doing so!

You have altered the fate of an entire community for countless future generations, and a portion of their endless potential is now your own! Just as you have helped to shape the tales of countless lives, now others are more likely to want to be a part of your own life tale as well.

Charisma has been permanently increased by 2 points to 13!

You have endured extreme hardships far beyond your level! You have completed a virtuous quest! You have completed a heroic quest! Potency channeled into Vitality and Appearance! Never has your skin been clearer or healthier, never have you felt so filled with life and energy as you do right now!

Vitality & Appearance have been permanently increased by 1 point to 13 & 11 respectively!

The vice mayor chuckled in warm approval, clapping Jack's shoulder as he flowed out of the dance as easily and naturally as he had flowed into it. "I knew you were a lad of character! Come, this way, Jack. Your companions, the guardians of our town, will be eager to see that you are alive and well once more."

Jack froze at this, peering intently at the man now jerking to a stop, looking back at him curiously.

"Wait... what do you mean by alive and well... once more?"

The earnest looking man winced, before flashing an apologetic smile. "Forgive me. Perhaps that was a poor choice of words?"

Jack's frown grew. "Just how much time past since..."

"Jack! You're back!" This from a squealing Lauren, positively glowing with an unexpected vitality as she squeezed him tight, flashing the most gorgeous smile he had ever seen, tears of joy in her eyes. "I knew you weren't dead. I knew it!"

Jack winced, then chuckled. "It's good to see you too, Lauren! But... shit, why are you crying?"

"Because you were gone for three days," said a bemused Sharon, also looking knock-out gorgeous, kohl lining her beautiful almond eyes, hair pinned up to showcase high, elegant cheekbones, her silken almost kimono-like dress making her look so very much like a southeastern supermodel of a lifetime ago.. assuming any of them could cast deadly balls of exploding acid or enchant with a wizard's flare like she could.

Her furrowed brow quirked in a smile as Jack gaped. "See something you like?"

She chuckled when Jack's cheeks blazed, turning to Lauren. "I can't believe how grateful I am for the boon we earned, saving this town! Honestly, I know it has nothing to do with optimal builds, or become masters of our crafts, but there's something about just looking in the mirror and seeing the girl of your dreams looking back at you."

Lauren's smile turned wicked. "I know, tell me about it! Adventuring for survival was nice, and I wouldn't take back a single point I invested in being strong and tough enough to survive, and having a magic pool I didn't have to be completely ashamed of. But just catching Mitch's gaze, knowing how much he adores me, just knowing he feels how much I love him, cherish him, and, yes, being just as beautiful now without makeup as whenever I was young and stupid and concealing all my flaws and former vices?" She chuckled throatily. "I'm sticking points into Charisma and Appearance every level I earn, from now on!"

The pair shared a happy nod at that, before turning to Jack, squeezing his hands. "We were so afraid we had lost you. That somehow, you had sacrificed yourself for this town even more than, well, we already have."

Jack swallowed the lump in his throat. "It's alright, I'm fine, I think. I was just, well, communing with the globe I had chosen for my prize."

Sharon's elegant sculpted brows flowed into an adorably quizzical look. "What are you talking about?"

Jack winced. "Don't you remember the golden chest covered with jewels... the tomes filled with sacred knowledge inside?"

The girls nodded at this with pleased grins upon their striking features, much to Jacks' relief. "Well, the prize I wished for was another affinity globe. Like the one I had claimed before."

Sharon's smile froze on her features. "Wait... you did what?"

Lauren winced. "Jack... dear, lovely, Jack... you didn't actually um..." She swallowed as if girding herself to say it. "You didn't actually try to assimilate more than one affinity... right?"

Jack's stomach twisted in sudden, anxious knots.

"Shit. You're going to tell me that's bad, right?"

Sharon's gaze was almost pitying. "You truly have no idea, do you? And Jack...that chest was only supposed to grant tomes."

Lauren's emerald green eyes positively twinkled. "Tomes of knowledge that could be on any subject you could imagine. The most elite of classes, the most exotic of spells... "

"Or how to master the techniques embraced by the most prestigious enchanters in the entire kingdom!" Sharon squealed, eyes sparkling with excitement.

Jack grinned, exchanging glances with the pair of them as they quickly walked to where Jack was increasingly certain was their new de facto home.

The very nobleman's chateau they had claimed as a base camp of sorts, just days ago.

"So, I take it you guys are speccing into crafting?"

The girls gave heartfelt nods, smiles thinning, beautiful gazes haunted by visions Jack understood all too well, having fought by their side since nearly the beginning of their quest.

"We are, Jack," she said with a swallow, a hand instinctively clenching her abdomen where she had almost disembowled herself, when her mind had been enslaved to a madman. "All my Level 7 class points, and all the skills and perks I'm learning from the green tome now soul linked to me... all of it is going into making me the most well-rounded witch I can possibly be." her anxious gaze softened, her look one of sheerest happiness once more. "I can't tell you the sheer, sweetest joy of communing with nature the way witches were supposed to. Not just using our powers to master storm, hex, and lightning. This? This is a path of creation, Jack, making potions so like the ones you've shown me, and so much more!"

She shared another nod with Sharon, before turning back around, squeezing Jacks' hand. "I think the path of a wise-woman, someone who can create poultices to cure almost any illness, who knows the ebb and flow of the natural world, and can assure that crops are forever bountiful, livestock healthy, homesteads free of sickness and plague... I think this is the path that was meant for me."

She flashed a bittersweet smile. "For all that delving is a rush... it's a nightmare as well."

Sharon nodded wholeheartedly. "I agree 100%. Besides, since we were able to choose our subclasses so early, we can rank up our base class with the experience we earn, just by creating poultices, helping local communities, or studying artifact creation!"

Her gaze turned sympathetic. "It's tougher for the boys. Being warrior classes that so directly garner their potency from battle, from overcoming struggle, lacking the finesse of arcane classes, they have to give of themselves to forge their artifacts."

Jack blinked at this. "Give of themselves?"

Lauren nodded. "Expend their life force to forge their works. In other words, whereas our creations garner us experience, they have to spend experience to forge their prizes." She flashed Jack a meaningful look. "Similar to your own path, right?"

For some reason he felt his cheeks heating up. "It's just how it ended up, Lauren." He chuckled ruefully. "Believe me, if I hadn't been desperate to survive, if I wasn't basically stuck at level 0, with all my focus being on developing skills instead of levels and powers..."

"I understand, Jack." she gave his hand a squeeze, and him a reassuring smile. "It's what makes your runes so powerful, what might one day let you fuse it with Sharon's own arcane artifacts, right?"

Jack nodded. "I... think so? Hope so? though I wouldn't mind if there was a way I could forge wonders without..."

He blinked as Sharon gave a firm shake of her head. "Nope, afraid not, Jack." She gazed meaningfully at his clay armor. "Even if you manage to learn the trick of infusing that or your shield without tapping into your own potential... if my enchanter's tome has taught me anything, it's that failing achieving absolute mastery of an enchanter's intricacies, or the life force of plants or animals gathered to make potions... permanent artifacts can only be made with the blood or life force of the forger."

Lauren nodded sadly. "Which means Jacob and Mitch can only take our crafting path so far."

Jack blinked at this. "Wait, those guys are following suit? I was almost sure that..." he caught their suddenly troubled glances. "But that's awesome! I'm glad you're all following paths that allow you to craft and create together, maybe make some nice coin while your at it!"

Lauren flashed a heartfelt smile that lifted his heart to see. "I agree completely! Nothing makes me happier than to see my man working under the tutelage of the town blacksmith when I come back into town after a long day of studying the intricacies of the forest and fields under the gaze of the local wise woman." She sighed happily. "Seeing his smile, feeling the way he sweeps me up in his powerful sweaty arms, smelling of iron and soot and, well, hunger he has for me..." She flushed prettily. "Then we freshen up together and... later... we enjoy a wonderful dinner with our friends and talk all about our day." she chuckled throatily. "It's bloody domestic bliss is what it was, something that would have bored the hell out of me, just a few years ago. But now?" She patted her perfectly flat belly for some unfathomable reason. "Now, I couldn't be happier."

Jack grinned. "That's awesome news, Lauren! It sounds like you and Mitch are truly living your best lives together."

She positively beamed at those words.

"So, what's Sin up to?"

She exchanged glances with Sharon. "Best if you ask him. But never mind that, we're here! Come on, let's say hi to the guys. I know they'll be excited to see you up and about!"

And a bemused Jack was more than happy to follow as they made their way back to what was probably one of the nicest manors in a town that truly was closer to city sized than village with it's elegantly filigreed and obviously reinforced hardwood doors and thick stone construction that nonetheless managed to look cozy with its vine colored trellises, decorative parapets and many colorful stained glass windows sparkling in the afternoon sun.

And Jack couldn't help but smiling when the slightest touch of his hand at a bemused Lauren's direction, and the door opened soundlessly of its own accord.

Temporary Guildhall of Team Troll Killer recognizes initiate Jack Evergreen. Welcome initiate!

Jack flashed a bemused smile Lauren's way.

She shrugged, eyes twinkling. "We haven't really gotten around to deciding on a new name, and of course we consider you one of us, initiate!"

Sharon nodded, her smile turning apologetic. "I think that's the default title for any member of any guildhall significantly lower leveled than the core members. I know we can mess with the settings, but since this is just a temporary guildhall for us..."

Jack smirked at that. "Well, that's fair, I guess. I'm the only one among us not actually leveling, after all."

At which point they made their way past several luxuriously appointed rooms, Jack getting a kick at glimpsing the fine baroque furniture and pastel artwork he would think more befitting a museum than an actual place of residence. Still, he couldn't help smiling when he heard the voices up ahead, catching sight of a serious-faced Mitch slowly shaking his head before the vice-mayor's pleaful gaze.

"I'm sorry, vice mayor Plumb. As much as we're grateful, more than grateful for the warm welcome, and we're more than happy to stay for a few more weeks to rebuild, our plan is still to formally establish our hall in the capital," said the powerfully built Warrior, Jack catching sight of the plump, friendly mayor's crestfallen gaze before Jack and Jacob abruptly looked up, catching sight of Jack and girls, faces splitting into beaming grins.

"Jack! Damn good to see you, kid! Where the hell were you hiding?" said Mitch with a chuckled, Jacob nodding and clapping Jack on the back, with a final glance the vice-mayor's way.

"We'll talk later, Mr. Plumb."

"Are you absolutely sure, you won't consider extending your stay?" said the vice-mayor, a hint of desperation in his friendly gaze. "I can promise you the warmth and friendships you would be able to forge here are far beyond the cold alliances, so easily broken, that make up city life. And should you actually be willing to be founders..."

Jacob's gaze hardened. "Vice-Mayor..."

And that's when Jack saw it, after a laughing Mitch squeezed him in a brotherly bear-hug earning a chuckle. "Jack, great to see you, man! Where the hell were you, this week? And hell, you're looking pretty good for someone who was MIA!"

Jack's blood ran cold, catching sight of the portrait's lining the pastel-colored walls. Innocuous scenes of bucolic countryside bliss, cozy city scenes, and lush verdant forests and fields.

And a handful of family portraits, one in particular, that of a cold-eyed giant of a man radiating a certain presence besides a pair of pale-faced youth, all of them dressed like 17th century English nobles complete with fencing blades at their hips, seeming to glare down at the handful of up-and-coming adventurers and the vice-mayor pleading for the sake of his town.

Jack's heart hammered, feeling a sudden awful tension, wondering if the world could really be so twisted as he suddenly feared it truly was.

All but tasting the peril in the air as Jacob glared down at the all-but pleading vice-mayor about to say words that could never be taken back.

"Guys... Jacob!"

Jacob frowned, turning Jack's way, furrowed brows an odd mixture of relief and ire. "Just give me a moment, Jack. We have a lot to discuss, but first I have to..."

"Who the hell does the portrait on the wall belong to?"

This caused everyone to blink and gaze upward, following Jack's trembling finger to the arrogant countenance of the lord glaring down at them.

Mitch's eyes widened, he gave a bemused chuckle. "Serves that bastard right. Giving us an impossible mission. Damn right we're going to crash at his summer pad, and if he doesn't like it..."

"That's Lord Hecklebart," insisted the Vice-Mayor, dipping his head respectfully Jack's way. "He is, or was, technically... the lord of these lands." The man's features pinched, clasping his fists anxiously, his gaze almost a plea. "And that's why, you see, we would be honored, more than honored,"

Jacob frowned, shaking his head before the deflating mayor. "Basically Lord Hecklebart hasn't been here for years and his negligence might have been one of the factors leading to Loamsville falling into regio, or the realm of nightmare, where dungeons and horrors pop up like mad and thriving communities can rapidly turn into ghost towns."

The vice-mayor desperately nodded. "Yes. All true. All true! And our town was placed in dire peril, and it was none other than you, brave adventurers who put an end to our troubles. It is for this reason, and only this reason, that we can, per the law of this land, modify our charter..."

But Jacob was frowning, peering intently at Jack, his eyes still locked on the cold-eyed faces above, doing his best to choke down the wave of horror threatening to overwhelm him.

"Just to make sure I'm not mistaken, that I don't misunderstand... that man up there, beside the two youths at his side... that's Lord Hecklebart?"

Sin, appearing out of nowhere, gave a bemused nod of his head. "That's the pugnatious ass who thinks he can claim our guildhall for his own, yes. Between you and me, I wouldn't be surprised if he's already had us declared dead in Greyspeak, so damned eager he is to claim our charter for himself." He sneered up at the picture. "Won't that asshole be beyond surprised to see us, once we wrap things up here."

And Jack couldn't help but wince at the way the vice-mayor visibly deflated. "Very well," the man said in a soft, sad voice. "If that's your final answer..."

"No it isn't!" Jack shouted, surprised by his own ragged, too loud voice, earning furrowed brows from his friends and a look of desperate hope in Mr. Plumb's gaze.

Jacob frowned, shaking his head. "Jack, that's not the—"

Jack flashed a desperate smile the vice-mayor's way. "Could you please give us just a moment's privacy? Maybe we could take this conversation up tomorrow? There's something we really need to talk about."

The relieved Mr. Plumb positively beemed. "Tomorrow it is, then! Perhaps after a good night's sleep... I truly hope you'll all consider what this town has to offer!" he said by way of a hurried farewell as he dipped his head and hurried out the door.

Sin snorted at the man, Lauren giving a sad shake of her head.

"That really wasn't right, Jack. Leading him on."

Mitch nodded, hard features unmoving. "We're jetting in just a couple days and completing our original quest! We're adventurers, not town maintenance, and if we let ourselves get roped into caring for such a low-level town..."

Even Sharon nodded. "They need heroes to take up residence since they're suffering from a definite in absentee landlord, which means they can't leave. Any hero that takes up residence will be tying themselves to this land, maybe for years. And whether your an adventurer or crafter, city contacts, resources, supplies, markets, and adventuring opportunities is what you need to get ahead. Not, well, bucolic bliss."

Lauren, however, frowned at those words. "I don't think it would be so bad, just staying here and starting over," she said, her soft voice little more than a whisper, not even perking up when Jack wrapped his powerful arms around her, kissing her crimson curls.

"But babe, I thought we agreed! We'd take it easy for a year, train under the best the city has to offer after we cash in that sweet, sweet golden box containing our tomes, and grow at our own pace."

Sharon nodded as Lauren seemed to wilt under their combined gazes. "We were going to register at the arcane academy and learn all we could, once we mastered our enchanted tomes, remember, sister? Growing and maybe earning some levels the careful way. The smart way. I know they have one of the most famous enchantries in this kingdom, and even if one wise-woman popped out of nowhere to guide you here, imagine how many natural mages will be teaching at the academy?"

Lauren seemed to wilt, bowing her head in defeat. "Alright, if you guys—"

For some reason Jack had found his tongue curiously frozen, gazing at them all in a certain amount of horror, like watching favorite characters in a tragic play as the scene inevitably folded into one that could never be taken back.

Forcing himself to say the words that just might change everything. He didn't know if even saying the words stuck in his throat would trigger an unforseen doom.

Knowing he could just walk away and slip free of swirling fates rapids altogether...

before forcing himself to say the words.

"That's Eric's father."

Jacob froze in the middle of his lecture regarding the virtues of living in the city, gazing at Jack in speechless disbelief.

Sin's eyes widened, he glared, cursing at the protraits above.

Mitch furrowed his brow, glaring Jack's way, as if it were somehow his fault. "Jack. What the hell, man. Are you sure?"

Jack swallowed the lump in his throat, forcing himself to nod. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure. Mostly sure. Anyway, that Lord Hecklebart is the spitting image of Mr. Goldson. Team leader of dad's... my dad's section." Jack rubbed his temples as flashes of two lives, equally real, raced through him.

Mitch shook his head, cursing softly, before sharing a look with the girl in his arms.

Jacob still looked unconvinced. "Jack, are sure? I've met Lord Hecklebart's sons. Arrogant as any pair of cocky lordlings could be, and neither one of them looked at all like Eric."

Sin nodded. "I've made a thorough inventory of all the pricey looking crap here, boyscout. And there's nothing, no jewelry or piece of artwork, with that loser's face on it. Believe me, I would know." He flashed a dark smirk Mitch's way. "Not going to apologize for it, either."

Mitch snorted. "No sweat there, Sin. Hecklebart's one asshole I wouldn't mind getting the best of.

Jack swallowed his parched throat, forcing himself to say it. "If you all go back to the city... I think, shit. I don't think I'll ever see you guys again, if you go."

Lauren paled at those words.

Mitch glared. "What the fuck are you talking about, Jack?"

Jack clenched his fist. "Think it through! This whole fucking mission! A low-level romp so you could claim your place, right?" He smirked at the nods before him. "Wrong! You all were being played from the start from some asshole of a lord who wasn't going to give up his enchanted digs to a handful of low powered no-names, no matter what the law says. Frankly, knowing what a weasel he was back on Earth, I'm surprised he didn't have crossbow snipers take you all out along the road. But I guess that elemental dungeon and all the other shit we encountered was enough of a setup, guaranteed to wipe out annoying noobs like us!"

Sharon gave an angry shake of her head. "Jack, there's no way anyone can trigger a dungeon like that. Not ambush adventurers out of nowhere..."

Mitch nodded. "It's impossible, dude. In order for that not to have been just bad luck or a nobleman's fortune fucking with us... he would have had to literally set it up himself."

Jack gave a frustrated shake of his head. "Yes, I know!" He pointed in the direction the town square was located. "And isn't it a glorious fucking coincidence that this town was imperiled by his son? Not the pair of idiots in the picture, I mean his son from a life before!"

Jacob rubbed his temple, cursing softly. "Shit. Jack, if you're right... assuming your memories aren't as jumbled as mine sometimes seem to be. Because the statistical odds of that being a coincidence..."

"A psychopath who was actually opening a rift between worlds," Jack went on. "And for all we know, that twisted elemental dungeon was just a trial run. And a convenient way to block the path to Loamsville, and more than enough to distract unwanted visitors or patrols while Eric went batshit mad playing Dark-Sims with the town here."

Mitch's clenched fist looked ready to tear chunks out of the rich burgundy colored table they sat around. "Shit. Shit! That fucking asshole played us from the start!"

Jack nodded, relieved his words were finally getting through.

Lauren was visibly trembling. "If we go back... if he finds out what we did..."

Sin nodded. "And there's no way he won't. The only way we would be coming back, especially if word gets out that the town was rescued, is if we actually destroyed the threat. Which means he'll know we killed his son." he barked with sudden bitter laughter. "So this fucking mission, where we prove ourselves and our right to our guild hall, was nothing but a trap, assuring we croak, one way or another."

Jack nodded. "There was no way for you guys to win. The fix was in from the start." He flashed a bitter smile. "Just like startups confronting big huge megacorporations who already have the local elected officials in their pocket and the laws written in their favor. They're all but doomed, unless their innovations are so cutting-edge that it's like winning the lottery. And of course it's those lucky few being hyped that keeps people from looking too closely at all the other small businesses being ground to dust."

Sharon gave an angry shake of her head. "So, what, all of us adventurers, feted and honored, supposedly, for risking our lives, defending the world from peril and evil are really just tools and patsies for the rich and powerful, destroyed without a second thought when we get in the way of their designs, or they're just done with us?"

Sin chuckled softly. "Of course, sweetheart. How the hell could it ever be otherwise?"

Jacob glared at Sin, before sighing and nodding his agreement. "He's right, babe. We go back, we're utterly screwed."

Mitch cursed softly. "Fuck. For all we know, this shithead will send mercs after us for killing his little psychopath of a necromancer. What the hell do we do now?"

Jack, swallowed, doing his best to swallow his sudden tension, hoping against hope that things really had been set up according to Elerium's original premise, even if fractal complexity now allowed for infinite variations, even more than in the realm they had once called home.

"Guys, just so I'm clear... what exactly did the vice mayor want from you?"

Mitch smirked. "He wanted us to claim the charter for this town. To make it our own."

Jacob nodded. "Not just in title, but to fuse a part of ourselves with the lands. To, well, tie ourselves to it."

Sharon nodded. "That's what I was talking about, Jack. This town, as beautiful as it is, only has a fraction of the learning opportunities of the city."

Jack nodded. "I get that. My only question is this... do adventurer charters work like they did in Elerium 2.0?"

Mitch frowned, sharing a glance with Jacob. Sharon and Lauren exchanged a quick, puzzled glance, and it was Sin whose eyes widened first, instantly getting it.

He chuckled softly. "You're a genius, Jack."

Jack shrugged. "No way of telling if it will work."

"But if it does..."

Jack smiled. "Exactly."

Mitch glared at both of them. "What the hell are you two talking about?"

Sin smirked. "Really, Mitch, you don't get it? After the guilds we formed our first year when competing for those prizes?"

Mitch snorted. "You sucked at town management."

"So did you. Who gives a fuck? Point is, what did we use our towns for?"

Mitch chuckled softly. "We really didn't give a shit about them. We just used them as bases because..."

His eyes widened, as did everyone else's, hard smiles now gracing all their features.

"Because you can't enter another player's home base without permission!" Sin crowed. "That's our fucking answer, right there!"

Sharon frowned. "It can't be that easy... can it? What, we just tell the town that Lord Hecklebart and his assassins and toadys aren't allowed inside?"

Jacob slowly shook his head. "It's not about permissions here, it's about..."

"Regio," Jack said, struck with sudden insight. Or perhaps... memory. "If you guys claim the town charter, and we follow whatever quest chain lets us raise the regio level of this town...we're literally placing it one or two steps above the physical world below. The days will be brighter, the nights more glorious with the stars above..."

"The air will be alive with magic!" Lauren enthused, eyes positively twinkling. "Everything around us will turn a bit more story-book like! The stories the wise-woman tells me, they happen in Regio, a world as much faerie and wonder as not, a world of quests, resources, and balance. Just a halfstep over the world below. A world even more magical than this one!"

Sharon nodded. "Even though it's not really, it's just an extension of our world... like climbing a mountain, and every step forward gets you closer to wonder and living dream... and we take a few steps upward every time we enter a delve, even though those regios are scary, not glorious.

Mitch paled. "And the Vice-Mayor just gave up on us taking the charter. Shit. I'll be right back!"

Jacob blinked as Mitch all but disappeared in the blink of an eye. "How the hell..."

Jack grinned. "I'm pretty sure his Quickness and Strength are mid twenties, or close to it."

Lauren positively beamed. "With the endurance to match. Believe me, I know." She flushed prettily, blinking at her own words. "I mean..."

Sharon chuckled throatily. "We know what you mean!" she said, patting her friend's hand before awkwardness could bite too deep, anxious gaze her smile couldn't completely disguise now looking Jack's way. "Do you really think it will work?"

Jack smiled and nodded. "I'm almost positive that it will. And with the right wards... no one hostile to our town will find it."

"But what about trade and, well, more villagers?" said Lauren. "The town's beautiful, but almost empty. Only a fraction of the original inhabitants stayed or, well, survived. I'm just glad the farms outside the village are doing well."

Jack grinned. "Then let's hope the charter includes them as well, because then the town can be entirely self-sufficient and grow back at a healthy pace."

Lauren nodded. "Oh, it does. The local farmlands, pastures, and more are included in the territory." She chuckled ruefully. "The Vice Mayor was really trying to sell us the virtues of claiming this charter for ourselves. And at first I had mixed feelings but the more I studied under the wise woman... the more I thought back on the city..."

"We know," Sharon said with a nervous smile. "And you were right. because if we can't secure ourselves here, we sure as hell can't go back to the city."

Sin nodded. "We're going to have to make our way to an entirely new kingdom as fast as we damn well can, because we've escaped death too many times to die in the cross-hairs of fucking assassins sent by an incensed lord who used his son to destroy an entire town." his gaze hardened. "Or, we could just take him out ourselves."

Jack frowned, catching his gaze. "Nice thought. But remember, you're level 8 in a world where at least a few people have been playing their characters for fucking centuries."

Sin paled at that.

"Not that ultra level whatever would give a shit about noobs like us. But my guess is one thing you don't like when you've secured your power base is uncertainty. The chance of chaos wrecking everything. And the same instincts that might have centuries-old players who live by playing smart and keeping a low profile when new powers are rising, might have them take a very different stance, if some group of noob assholes are killing nobles and shaking up the status quo that keeps their long lives stable, predictable, and safe."

"Our lives wouldn't be worth shit," Sin hissed.

"Pretty much."

Jacob frowned thoughtfully, bright blue eyes pinning Jack's own. "You seem pretty damned savvy for a clueless player who only just woke up."

Jack shrugged. "Honestly, I'm just going off gut instinct here. But considering that I was on the Path of Eternity long before I dared the path I'm now on..."

"The Path of Peril," Sharon said. "And should you die..."

"All the lives I lived before, that give me those occasional hunches, like today, count for nothing. When I eventually wipe, as we all will, I'll be a slate so clean it won't even be me any more. Just a clone. Or a twin." He shrugged. "For all intents and purposes, I'll be gone forever."

Sin chuckled bitterly. "When you put it like that... why the hell did any of us choose this path anyway?"

"That one's easy. Power. Freedom. Being able to forge your own path through life," said Jacob.

Sin shook his head. "And the fact that we still thought it all just a fucking game, until way too late."

"That too," Jacob admitted.

With those words they spent a long handful of moments in brooding silence, before Mitch burst into the chamber, sudden alarm replaced by surprised, please smiles when their warrior flashed a fierce smile, holding back a paper radiating magics so potent Jack's mouth gaped in awe.

"Got it!" Mitch crowed, face splitting into a fierce grin. "We now own the charter to the entire town, with no strings! So long as we do our best to defend it, it's ours."

All of them gazed for long moments with awe at the charter once Mitch rolled it out, sharing smiles and high fives, Sin grinning from ear to ear.

"That bastard might be running rough shod over our guild hall, but according to this, all his property and assets now belong to us!"

Mitch flashed a cold smile. "Thanks to boyscout, I knew just the line to take with our Vice-mayor, who agreed to stay on and handle the day to day affairs while we focus on bettering ourselves and defending the city."

Jack allowed the words to flow over him as he focused on the message flashing on his interface.

You have been offered provisionary membership to: Team Troll Killer! (Full membership may not be granted until class is chosen and levels earned.) - You have hit Yes!

Team Troll Killer presently owns 1 Town. Population: 1056 (Includes town proper and adjoining farming communities).

Regio level 0. (Requirements for Regio establishment = clearing territory in full, resetting local dungeon, cardinal ritual.)

Resources: 27 hectares of prime farmland. Multiple mercantile shops & crafting facilities. 1 Mixed ore mine.

Mine presently has access to Tier 1 ores. Mine will earn additional free destiny points once Regio is established. Destiny points may transform mine into A. High resource mine. B. High resource dungeon.

Team Troll Killer currently has 3 Destiny Points to spend. These may be spent on A. Town Infrastructure. B. Town Populace. C. Surrounding territory (Forest & Fields) D. Local Dungeon / Mine E. Claimed Territory as a whole.

Team Troll Killer has elected to forgo fiduciary concerns. Tax generation and income issues will be left to Vice-Mayor Plumb. Guild members will be given access to all commonly available resources and high quality foodstuffs free of charge. Guild members will not be taxed on proceeds earned through direct actions, nor upon revenue streams established within their territory.

Present revenue streams established: None.

Businesses and properties claimed for personal use: Former residences of Evil Mastermind known as Lord Hecklebart.