Everyone knew about Deathcasters, or at least ... everyone Zack knew. They Gods had introduced Deathcasters fifty years ago as a new Class available to Adventurers of Balarel. And almost fifty years later, being a Deathcaster remained against the law, because everyone quickly learned Deathcasters could wield the Desouled dead as weapons.

Desouled dead, even when wielded by a Deathcaster, ignored the Law of Consent. That meant a Desouled body could attack anyone at any time, without their consent, and even kill that person if powerful enough.

No one in Balarel was brave enough to say the Gods had made a mistake by creating Deathcasters, so they’d settled on calling the Class a challenge, instead. A challenge to be arrested and imprisoned on sight.

Unlike Lifecasters, who served and drew their power from Celes, Goddess of Resurrection, Deathcasters drew their power from Ralun, God of Endings: Celes’ husband. The creation myths taught by the church taught two immutable facts.

First, the church taught that Celes and Ralun created the world and its Gods. The Nurturer Gods—Vox, Isdon, Levos, and Kya—and the Challenger Gods—Idros, Ansin, Xiva, and Dina—were the children of Celes and Ralun. It was those children who watched over Balarel’s mortals and Monsters.

Celes stood apart, as did Ralun ... or so the church claimed. Moreover, the church did not claim Ralun was evil. To claim a Divine God was evil would blaspheme against the entire Pantheon. Instead, they simply claimed He had a purpose in the world that was incompatible with mortals and their goals.

Celes made life. Ralun ended it. No mortal was immortal, so there would always be a need for the God of Endings, but that didn’t mean mortals should invite his attention or worship in His name.

Yet ultimately, to Zack, none of the myths of creation or religious zealotry meant much. For other than his role as the patron God of Deathcasters, Ralun had one more direct and practical purpose. His Shrines offered one the ability to reSlot, just like the Shrines of Celes.

At a Shrine of Ralun, one could reSlot without members of the Church of Celes looking over their shoulder and demanding to see their Status Sheet before they left, as was their right. Yet shrines of Ralun were remote and hard to reach, while Shrines of Celes were everywhere. Therefore, the only people who regularly sought out Shrines of Ralun in order to reSlot were—

“I’m not a Deathcaster,” Anna said calmly. “I swear that on Celes Herself.”

Zack gave the world a moment, just to see if any of the Gods turned Anna to salt. They didn’t. Swearing upon Celes was a seriously reckless thing to do if one intended to lie, yet Zack couldn’t simply take Anna’s word that she hadn’t chosen a forbidden Class. He needed more.

“Can I see your Status Sheet?” That was a bold question to ask someone he’d only known a few days, but circumstances demanded proof.

Anna simply shook her head. “I’m afraid not, but not for the reasons you think.”

“That reason being that you’re actually a Deathcaster?” If a Desouled corpse strolled out of the woods, Zack would pop [-Shadow Walk-] and run for his life. His heart now hammered in chest so loudly he feared even Anna might hear it.

“I’m not a Deathcaster,” Anna repeated. “Can I prove that to you another way?”

Zack pondered all the ways she could get the drop on him. Then, he nodded.

Anna rose, turned away, and pressed her hands together. Her fingers moved in complex motions as fire burst to life in her hands. That fire formed into a ball just like that he’d seen her cast back in the Crackpaw Mine. “[-Burn-],” she said.

The ball of fire rocketed off into the trees, smashing into one not far away. It exploded and left a charred mark on the ancient Deepscorn wood. Yet though traces of flame licked up and down the tree for a few moments, they soon went out. Deepscorn trees were far too hearty for a simple fireball.

Anna looked his way for confirmation he’d seen her Skill, the same she’d used in Crackpaw Mine, then turned to the tree again. Once more her fingers moved, and once more, the power of the Gods manifested. Yet this time, it wasn’t flames that appeared inside her palms. It was ice.

“[-Freeze-]”, Anna said.

A sparking, jagged crystal of ice little larger than her fist rocketed outward on a trail of snow and sparks. It slammed into the charred portion of the tree where her [-Burn-] Skill had impacted and covered the tree in crackling frost.

When Anna settled down to face him again, visible sweat glistened on her brow. She’d likely just consumed a great deal of Blood. Yet while her breathing was mildly faster, it wasn’t labored. It was obvious she could cast both spells a few more times before stopping.

“So you can use Harmcaster Skills,” Zack agreed. “That’s your proof?”

“Do you know any Deathcasters that can use both [-Burn-] and [-Freeze-]?”

“You could be Dual Classing,” Zack said.

Now Anna actually smiled again. “Just how old do you think I am?”

Zack raised one hand. “This is obviously a trap.”

Anna laughed lightly and shook her head. “I’m 17, Zack. Trial age, just like you. I’m not saying it’s impossible for someone to gain 15 Levels plus six more in a year, but I don’t know anyone who’s ever done it. I don’t know anyone who’s ever come close.”

“You do look 17,” Zack agreed.

“And do you find me attractive?”

Zack knew there might be a trap here, too, yet he was willing to risk it. “I thought I’d already made that abundantly clear.”

“It is nice to hear, and being on the run gets rather lonely,” Anna said. “I wouldn’t be opposed.”

“That’s good news,” Zack agreed.

“But before we even think of growing any closer, I need you to understand just how complicated my life is right now. Alan and I hope to Level in Grassea for years if possible, but we’ll be lucky to go undetected for a week. So any fun we had—”

“—would be fleeting,” Zack agreed. “To be clear, I’m in the same situation.”

“You paid an exorbitant fee to a group of lawbreaking specialists to flee your zone of birth and travel across the sea to a foreign starter zone, where you’re hiding with your brother hoping to not be arrested by the Blazers?”

“I’m not looking for anything long term,” Zack corrected easily.

“So you’re still interested in me despite the fact that being with me might get you noticed by those who hunt me. That’s not just a remote possibility. It’s a real one.”

Zack smiled wide. “If I’m being honest, getting crosswise with the Blazers would make it more likely someone from the Shadowers Guild would recruit me. Which is just a bonus.”

Anna ruefully shook her head. “So none of this truly bothers you.”

“It’s wild, I’ll give you that. But I don’t think you deserve what happened to you.”

Anna’s eyes suddenly grew unsure. “What does that mean?”

“It means that whoever’s hunting you, I think they’re the ass in this situation. Call it a gut feeling, but you don’t strike me as someone who deserves to driven from her home. You don’t strike me as someone who’d do anything to warrant that. So if someone’s after you, they’re an ass.”

“They are that,” Anna agreed, so quietly he barely heard.

“So why didn’t you bring Alan?” Zack asked. “Not that I miss him.”

“He had other plans. Also, he didn’t think we could trust you with any of this.”

“Did you tell him you planned to tell me anyway?”

“I might have smudged my intentions a bit.”

Zack rose. “Well, here’s the bad news. I’ve never been to our Shrine of Ralun.”

As Anna rose as well, the disappointment on her face was obvious. “I see. I’d simply hoped—”

“But I can find it for you,” Zack added.

Her face lit up. “You can?”

“I’ve heard rumors and I have ideas,” Zack said. “I’ve even seen glimpses of an old map. Shrines of Ralun aren’t just useful for Deathcasters, you know. They’re useful for Shadowers as well.”

“Are they,” Anna said dryly.

“No way to prove you pulled a job if some nosy Lifecaster doesn’t have a record of you slotting [-Scale Wall-], [-Unlock-], and [-Purloin-] the day before a jewel disappears from a second story vault. And unSlotting those Skills before you return to town.”

“If you can find it—”

Zack gripped her hand. “I can find it,” he said confidently.

She didn’t pull her hand away. She held his hand instead, and hers felt very warm. “If you find that shrine, I’ll owe you several nights of supper and more than a few rounds of mead.”

“That’s a deal,” Zack said.

“And maybe a night after as well.”

Now Zack’s smile faded. “I’d love that,” he agreed, as he released her hand. “But not for—”

“Not for this,” Anna agreed quickly. “It wouldn’t be payment. It would be, well ... for me.”

“That I can get behind.”

“You just might,” she agreed.

Caught utterly off guard, Zack then laughed far harder than he expected. He was surprised by how much he already liked this woman. Both of them were taking a big risk in trusting the other, but life without risks was boring. Life wasn’t meant to be boring.

And it would be nice to wander the Deepscorn woods in such pleasant company.

====

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Patron: Ralun, God of Endings

Description: A forbidden Class that can control the Desouled dead and wield them as weapons. For almost fifty years, almost since the Gods first made it a selectable Class, no Adventurer may choose this Class by decree of the Church of Celes. To do so invites lifelong arrest.

Yet some few defy the church. In addition to Skills involving diseases and poisons, Deathcasters can raise defeated Monsters and the Desouled dead to fight their battles. Worse, the Desouled body of a fallen mortal ignores the Pantheon’s Law of Consent, and may freely attack other mortals.

Therefore, whenever possible, all desouled dead in Balarel are cremated before the day is out.

Preferred Weapons: Staffs, Knives

Primary Attributes: Divinity, Wisdom

Secondary Attributes: Vitality

Primary Role: Bow

Secondary Role: Shield (using a Desouled pet)