The first hour of travel was silent, aside from the wagon's rumble on the stone path leading down the mountain. The second, third and fourth were the same. Jarod didn't really know what to say. His head was swimming with questions, and the others he was with weren't the talkative type. The wagon driver was old, like half the people around here. He was swaddled in a fur cloak and about as talkative as the two donkeys drawing the wagon. Steel sat with his arms wrapped around his knees, quiet. Chen stared into the distance and was rubbing his right shoulder with his remaining hand. Both had been sitting like that for a long time, and Jarod needed to do something, but he just didn't know anything. So, he had to yet again ask questions.

"Is there any magical way to fix this?" Jarod asked. Chen didn't acknowledge him.

"To replace your arm, I mean." Jarod said. Chen turned to Jarod now, and finally spoke.

"No." His voice was hoarse and scratchy.

"Bullshit." Jarod couldn't believe that.

"What?"

"I said, bullshit. I can throw fireballs and there's magical portals that make shapeshifting monsters. You're telling me that there's nobody out there that can regrow your arm? Or make a magical replacement? Nothing?" Jarod leaned forward and pointed his finger at Chen, almost accusingly. Chen had some light in his eyes for the first time since the dungeon, even if it were just surprise.

"I've never heard of anything like that, and what could we even do? We don't even have classes yet!"

"I have." Steel said. Both Jarod and Chen turned to him, and waited for him to continue.

"The town of Steepwatch, in the iron hills where I'm from. I've never been there, but there's an enchanter who's said to be able to create working body parts. They're crude, for miners that get into accidents."

"And why do you care all of a sudden? Are you finally feeling guilty? Or just upset that we were kicked out!" Chen said, accusing Steel.

"Yes dammit! I feel guilty! I thought the dungeon would be easy! I was told it was the weakest type of dungeon seed!" Steel had been holding back, but at this point needed to let it loose.

"What do you mean you were told?" Jarod asked, but the two ignored him to shout at eachother more.

"Easy!? Easy! Look at my arm!"

"I'm trying to give you a solution!"

"A solution!? How could we even afford to travel to the Iron hills!?"

"I'm trying to do the right thing!"

"It's your fault I'm a cripple! You think that telling me about a rumor is gonna clear your conscience!?"

"My conscience is just fine you idiot! It's the right thing to do!"

"How the fuck do you know the right thing without a conscience!?"

"I don't know!" Steel bent forward and grabbed his hair, and tears spilled.

Then, Steel jumped with renewed energy. He glowed slightly, and in but a moment it was gone. Then he looked at his hands in shock, and Chen was taken back in surprise.

"Oh shit, shit shit shit! Dammit I didn't mean to- Dammit fuck fuck shit!" Steel started cursing and kicking around in the wagon, throwing a fit at some sudden revelation that was lost on them. Unless... Jarod subtly tapped Steel.

Steel Greentoe

Class:

Rogue (Tier 1)

Stats:

Strength - 3 Endurance - 2 Agility - 3 Willpower - 1

"Ah." Jarod involuntarily said. He saw the problem. Steel had gained a willpower point.

"What?" Chen looked to Jarod, but Steel answered.

"I accidentally made myself a rogue! I was too busy self pitying and I chose the wrong gods-damned class! This is a disaster! This is a damn tragedy!"

"You've certainly got the mouth for it." Chen mumbled, under his breath. Jarod agreed, the cursing was a bit excessive.

"I've got an idea." Jarod said. The others continued to ignore him.

"What was that you brute?"

"I said you've got the mouth of a rogue."

"I'll make you eat those words!"

"I've got an idea!" Jarod shouted, finally getting the other's attention. They looked at him expectantly, and after a moment, he cleared his throat and began.

"We can't afford to travel yet, but there's work for adventurers, isn't there? We're practically already there."

"Well, yes." Steel said.

"But only those with class levels really can get any attention. And so far only one of us has a class." He motioned at Steel, and stuck his tongue out to quickly mock him.

"I can't indenture myself to you two just because I've trained harder!" Steel said.

"I'm saying we already know how to increase our stats, and all we have to do is level ourselves as well. Once we have our classes, we can get work and get ourselves to Steepwatch." Jarod said.

"And once I help you get your arm back, then I can leave and find something to do with myself." Steel frowned.

"Fine, when we get to that village at the mountain's bottom, we train as we did up here." Jarod said, glad he had found some purpose for now at least. He still wanted to know what Steel meant by 'had been told' but this wasn't really the time to ask.

The next day, approximately, for it was still sunset at the bottom of this mountain, and a few weeks of travel would be needed to get reasonable length days again. The three found a space near the mountain to set up a camp. Luckily, Chen knew some of the edible plants in the area and Steel knew how to hunt. Jarod used his toolmaking ability to make a small campsite, and soon enough they were able to survive at the mountain's base. For the next two weeks, they trained in the quiet, the emotional stress of their situation far more a motivator than the cold weather and thin air of the mountaintop. Early on, Chen had tried for charity in the nearby village as he was the most pitiful of the lot, but unfortunately the village had little to give. It was so small in fact, it didn't even have a name. It was just known as the village at the bottom of the citadel, and only really existed to act as a waypoint for people bringing supplies up to the citadel. They no longer left the campsite, except for foraging and hunting. Their training largely consisted of lifting the biggest logs they could find, and dragging them as far as they could. Steel spent most of his time training as well, since they needed to. Jarod, who was usually lazy, found survival to be a fantastic motivator. And Jarod for the first time felt his stat increase naturally. First, strength, then endurance to reach 1 in every stat. Unlocking his first class level.

You have reached at least 1 in every stat! You may now choose a class!

> The fighter, a physical warrior with limitless potential

> The rogue, an agile specialist who can manipulate both the physical and mental

>The acolyte, a novice in magic who can unlock the mysteries of the world

While he was thinking over his options, he recalled what Kaya had told him about classes. Advanced classes are based off of decisions and learned skills, so there can be interesting and powerful fusions. Classes gave skills, and some nebulous increase in power that he didn't really understand. While he was thinking it over, Chen came up to him and put his hand on Jarod's shoulder.

"I'm going to need to choose acolyte." Chen said.

"I suppose you're right." Jarod replied. Even if he'll be getting a replacement arm, it wont be high quality, and a melee fighter with only one arm isn't effective. Funny, given that Chen was the most suited to being a fighter of the three of them. Steel the second most suited. Then of course, Jarod slowly started to realize that he would have to be fighter, not out of choice, (because acolyte sounded cool to him.) but necessity. They need a tank, and he would unfortunately need to take the brunt of the damage here.

"Then I suppose I'm a fighter."

You have chosen the class fighter!

New Skill!

Skill learned - Power slash : rank 0

Jarod suddenly felt stronger, like he could cut a tree in half. He wasn't about to try, but he felt confident. He had already made a few spears for when they get into battle, and a few stone knives as well. And he hadn't forgotten about his artifact. However, whenever he tried to analyse it, he would get this message.

Your Willpower is too low to use this artifact!

This artifact needs more spirits to function!

He figured he needed to give the thing spirits in order to give it abilities, or augment it. But he didn't want to mess with it when he still couldn't use the base thing. Heck, these are valuable. He even considered trading it for passage, it would probably be worth the distance and more. But when he talked about this idea the other two were wholly against it. It seemed artifacts were too valuable to just trade for travel.

The next day, Chen gained his first class level, and became an acolyte. With that, they were set to go into the village and try their hands at their first quest.