Elliot wakes up early as usual. He heads out to the bar to get some food and drink. As he is eating the Scribe sits down next to him. The strange man has three uplinks on the back of his neck and a small metal plate on the left side of his skull with skin creeping over it.

“Yeah?” Elliot shifts in his seat to look at the Scribe.

The man has taken a strange metallic device out of his coat. It has a small cord running back to his coat. He holds the tablet up to aim at Elliot. He frowns at the results, taps the screen of the device, and then shrugs. Elliot waits patiently, as his curiosity is growing faster than his annoyance with the intrusion.

“You have the advanced system gene. You’ll find great prospects through hard work but will have to work harder than most other people to see those results. It's more likely you die before then, but you are close to some yield.” The man muses.

“You are reading my stats in the system?” Elliot questions with growing curiosity.

“Obviously.” The man snorts and turns the tablet to face Elliot.

“Oh, I can’t read,” Elliot replies succinctly. He's surprised anyone would assume he could.

“Agh, shame.” The Scribe turns the tablet back around.

“What does having an advanced system gene mean?” Elliot asks raising an eyebrow.

“Someone in your bloodline accessed a tier of classes most can’t. The majority of people can’t get a class, and the majority of people who have a class are like me. I have a primitive class. The minority of those with a class have a mundane class which is a step above primitive. And an even smaller amount of people have advanced classes. It's really quite complicated when you get into multiclassing, gestalt, and prestige classes. Not to mention the dozens of archetypes you can unlock for each class.” the Scribe explains.

“This is too much all at once. What is the benefit of having the advanced system gene?” Elliot asks as he holds up his hands defensively.

“Well, you can retrain under a master or unlock on your own new classes most people will never have access to. And you can have a mundane class and primitive class as well. Though there is potential for you to unlock the prestige class.” The Scribe muses. “If you want to, when you get to the next level, I could reset your experience to open your primitive slot and train you in the Chronicler class. I am only a level 1 Scribe, but you have the aptitude for it.”

“How do I get the experience you speak of?” Elliot asks as he folds his hands on the table.

“Oh! I know the location of a sufficient monster nearby. I can take you to it and we can slay it.” The Scribe says excitedly.

“Why are you helping me?” Elliot asks.

“Well, I admit, it's not out of altruism. I assumed you would be the type to say, I scratch your back, you scratch mine.” The Scribe shrugs.

“What did you need from me?” Elliot squints at him.

“I need someone to help me take over a dig site in Bakers. Another scribe got there before me, but the prize buried deep below is far too powerful to trust him with.” He explains.

“Alright, I’ll help you get into the dig site, but we will talk to this other scribe and come to an agreeable solution,” Elliot says.

The scribe nods in agreement.

“Thanks, Elliot.” The Scribe says.

“Why do you know my name?” Elliot leans back in his seat.

“It was on my tablet. You are in the system after all. My name is Frederick.” He points inward to his chest.

“Alright, Frederick. I’m going to go talk to the Guild Master first. I’ll be back to take you up on your offer. We’ll hunt that monster then.” Elliot stands and leaves.

“I’ll be waiting for you.” Fred waves as Elliot exits the bar.

Elliot heads to the market, where he avoids people shouting about their goods for sale, and he finds the Guild Hall among the chaos. He enters the hall, seeing entryways to various meeting rooms and offices inside. There is one man with short black hair and a goatee holding a clipboard and jotting down a few notes.

The young smith approaches him.

“Yes? Can I help you?” The man looks up.

“Are you the Guild Master?” Elliot asks.

“I am?” The Guild Master seems cautious of the heavily armed man before him. “I assume you are looking for work?”

“Indeed. I wanted to know how I could be of assistance.” Elliot explains.

“Well, right now we have three troubles plaguing the town. There is a bandit chief organizing the local outlaws against us. Take him out and I can pay you a hundred and fifty bronze coins. If you can kill the monster terrorizing the farmlands then you’ll receive two-hundred bronze coins. The final task is one the Lord is sponsoring. If you can find and bring in the renegade Judge that escaped last night there is a five silver bounty on their head.” The Guild Master lists off the quests.

“A Judge escaped last night?” Elliot seems surprised.

“Yeah, they say they had help from one of the bandits.” The Guild Master says.

“Right, well I’m sure my group can handle at least one of those missions.” Elliot nods his head before leaving the Guild Hall.

Elliot clenches his fists. He sent the bandit to find the Judges not to rescue one of them! Elliot is going to have to find a way to rescue them both now. Even though they could be anywhere.

He starts walking back to the tavern when suddenly two hooded figures appear on either side of him.

“No name and the Jay?” Elliot asks.

“How did you know?” The bandit asks.

“Why are you still in the city?” Elliot says through gritted teeth.

“No way out. They have triple the guards Bakers does. And they were so corrupt I didn’t have to hide.” The bandit says, sounding perturbed.

“Look, I can get us out through the Judge’s quarters. We have a secret exit. But, there are four guards and two dogs patrolling the house.” The Judge says.

Her voice is female. Catching Elliot off guard who expected another older man like the last Judge he hired.

“Then we notify our friends in the tavern. We flood the enemy, killing them in seconds. And we hide the bodies.” Elliot says nonchalantly.

“Damn.” The Judge says.

“Yeah, you're really cool with that plan?” The bandit asks.

“Why not. It’s not so different than what we’ve done before and they’re the bad guys, right?” Elliot doesn’t care for his question to be answered.

“I like the way you think. You’d make a good Judge.” She says.

“Right, who were you?” Elliot asks as he reaches the door to the tavern.

“Esmeralda.” She answers as Elliot opens the door.

They enter the tavern and Elliot nods to the Chronicler. He is using his tablet to help the Antibaptist review his new skills from previous levels gains. The young smith approaches them.

“Frederick, pack your shit, we are leaving now. Jeremiah, can you gather the party. I’ll go get Talia.” Elliot says.

“Oh, check the last private room for Jayce and Mo.” Jeremiah quickly adds.

“Oh, gods,” Elliot mutters.

He walks back and knocks on Talia’s door. She answers after a few seconds, sleepily. Blinking away the exhaustion she looks up at Elliot.

“Yeah, boss?” She asks.

“Get ready to go, we’re gonna have a rough day,” Elliot warns her.

“Alright.” She nods to him and closes the door gently.

Elliot walks to the end of the hall and knocks on the door. There is a groan inside. Someone walks towards the door with light footsteps. The door opens and a woman pokes her head out.

She has a red feather stuck in her dark brown hair, her hair is up in a bun, and she has some make-up on. The apokoliptians are known for finding inventive ways to make beauty products. Elliot notices there are red tribal tattoo’s down her bare chest.

“Are you looking to lay some morning wood?” She says with a sly smile.

“First, gross. Second, I’m here to grab Jayce and Mo.” Elliot crosses his arm.

”What? The skinny Clanner and the Ismaeli? Those babies are actually in some grand militia.” She scoffs.

“Yeah, my militia. Can you go get them…” Elliot leaves the sentence trailing.

“Robin. My name is Robin.” She says.

“Of course it is.” Elliot smiles.

Robin leaves the door cracked open, there is a shuffle inside, and then she speaks loud enough to be heard by Elliot.

“Your pimp is here.” She jests.

“The tan guy with the jacked arms and the ‘hero of few words’ type vibes?” Jayce asks.

“Yeah, that guy.” Robin answers with words that drip sarcasm.

“He’s gonna kill us!” Mo calls out.

There is a commotion as the two get dressed and grab their belongings. They hurry to the door and throw it open. Elliot is standing there with his arms crossed.

“Jayce?” Elliot starts to speak.

“Yes sir!” Jayce straightens faster than lightning strikes.

“When you look at me is it that all you see is a pair of arms?” Elliot asks, keeping a straight face, even though he wants to smile. (21 Intimidation vs Insight 8)

“No, sir. You have many wonderful features and a brilliant personality.” Jayce quickly says with a militaristic tone.

“I like that your teeth are straighter than the average person,” Mo adds in a serious tone.

“Thanks, ladies,” Elliot says with a smile and turns to leave.

Jayce and Mo wonder what just happened.

Elliot waits until everyone is ready and prepared. He gets his equipment from the private room. And the group plans on how to get out of the city. The Judge and the Chronicler are introduced to the group; Esmeralda and Frederick.