The mystery of the missing classes

Theo is sitting on his knees in the grass in front of his father's grave. It's about time for him to get his class assignment. So he felt the need to communicate with his dad for a second.

Dad, we miss you. It's been rough. Mom's been working hard in the shop, but... it's been rough. You used to say that we'd go sparring on the day I turned 15 for good luck. I'm afraid that's one promise you won't be keeping... I remember how we used to fantasize about which class I would be getting. Maybe swordsman, like you, or archer, pikeman or hunter. System forbid I would get one of the more revered combat classes, such as knight, guardian or even the coveted fire mage class... Honestly though, I'm scared dad! What if I get something completely different? Say I get butler, beggar or peasant? Will I be able to take care of mom that way? Will I be able to carve out a life for myself? I wish you were here to guide me dad. I miss you.

Theo wipes the water from his eyes and turns back home.

It's taking a long time. Was I not supposed to have a class at this point? Ugh, this hammering of my heart. Was I always this weak? Why am I so nervous? I hope I get a good class. I just want mom to have a better life. It's been rough on her.

When Theo returns, his mother comes down the stairs in response to the opening and closing of the front door.

Shelly: Theo!

Theo: Mom...

Shelly: Well?

Theo: Well?

Shelly: What did you get?

Theo: I don't have a class yet...

Shelly: Don't be like that. Whatever it is, you can tell me.

Theo: It's not like that, I really don't have a class yet.

Shelly: That can't be! You should have one by now.

Theo: That's what I thought, but I didn't get a notification.

Shelly: Did you check your status?

Theo: Yes, nothing.

Shelly: Check it again...

Theo: It says "class: none"

Shelly: Hmm...

Theo: Mom... What do we do now?

Shelly: Let's check with the village chief tomorrow. He might know something.

* * *

village chief: I can't say I've heard of this before. Theo, did you really not get a class?

Theo: No...

Village chief: If there is something on your mind we can talk about it. If you were lying about...

Theo: I'm not lying! Why does nobody believe me!?!

Village chief: I'm sorry... It's just... unheard of.

Shelly: It's okay Theo, we're just making sure.

Village chief: Could his birth date be off?

Shelly: I'm certain.

Village chief: Could he, at a young age, somehow have been mixed with another child?

Shelly: Vilas! You dare? I know my own baby!

Theo: It's okay Shelly, we're just making sure.

Shelly: Theo, shut it!

Theo: ...

Vilas: I'll ask around, but... I've never heard of this before. I don't know what's causing it, how long it will take and whether or not it will ever be resolved.

Theo: There's got to be something you can do! You're the village elder.

Vilas: I'm sorry.

Shelly: *hugs Theo* poor baby

Theo: *pushes Shelly away* Stop embarrassing me mom!

Vilas: I'll let you know if something comes up, but for now best to get on with your life without presuming to get a class.

Theo: That's...

Theo looks at his mom with a sad look in his eyes. He wants to make his mom proud. He wants to give her a better life. He wants to earn a lot of money to make her life easier. None of that is possible without a good class.

Shelly in turn is looking at Theo with guilt in her eyes. She worries about her baby. She worries that he won't have a future without a class. She worries that he won't be able to stand on his own feet without one. Even the peasant is capable of giving one somewhat of a future, but classless? She wonders if there is something she has done wrong to get here. She wonders if there is something she could have done different. But for now, life goes on.

Yet, this was only the beginning of Theo's suffering. Vilas did what a good village chief does. he started asking around about this situation. The next day, few of the villagers aren't aware that Theo is a classless. When Theo walks around the village, the adults look at him with pity in their eyes. Some of the children throw insults his way. As the days pass, sneering "classless" becomes popular and the rest of the children fall into line and join in on the fun. Initially Theo would get upset when someone called him classless and he even beat up some of the weaker looking ones. With whole groups acting against him, however, that has become infeasible. Not only has he become unable to improve his mom's life. His life has become nothing but torture.

* * *

Adelina: Emergency sire!

Kargaroth: What is it, Adelina?

Adelina: It's a disaster! Our population has stopped receiving classes.

Kargaroth: Do you mean during the coming of age, or when they hit the xcap?

Adelina: Both!

Kargaroth: Are existing classes still raised to the next tier?

Adelina: I'm afraid not, sire.

Kargaroth: First we get overrun with adventurers, then the system stops assigning classes altogether? Are we jinxed?

Adelina: It's been over a week since the last known class assignment. Unrest is growing under the citizens.

Kargaroth: Even so... What exactly am I supposed to do about this?

Adelina: To make matters worse, the second son of the Goldstein noble house didn't get a class.

Kargaroth: Them again? I can't just offer all of their offspring a role in the government, without any effort from their side.

Adelina: The anti-royal faction is gaining power. We might be facing a civil war soon.

Kargaroth: That would be a disaster...

Kargaroth didn't just mean, that a civil war would be a disaster his own position. He had seen first hand what the effect of the last civil war was on the population. Furthermore, infighting would weaken the country and make it susceptible to a hostile takeover by Easteria. That would place Systemia back under the militaristic dictatorship they just barely managed to break free from.

Adelina: The citizens that are not getting their next class are mostly confused. Some of them are disgruntled and are starting fights. My main concern is the growing unrest though.

Kargaroth: We must address the issue quickly, but it's not like we can communicate with the system. All we can do is calm the population and gather information. Let the soldiers, and the militia know that we are looking into the problem and that they are to tread carefully. Their number one priority should be de-escalating any conflicts that arise.

Adelina: Yes sire!

* * *

Once again, Kargaroth finds himself at the congregation of kings. Although he hasn't seen the other kings in quite a while, it feels like not much has changed. The meeting location has remained unchanged. Keaston Eashaw is still the only one in full armor and is glaring at Kargaroth intensely. Kester Wescott is hard to read as usual and Kaule Saulsbury is once again operating as the social lubricant of the whole operation. They started the meeting with some pleasantries and meaningless chatter. Then Kaule asks about the situation in Farsille.

Kaule: Kargaroth, has there been any progress regarding the grain production?

Kargaroth: I don't have any good news. Some youngsters have gotten new classes, but none that help in growing crops.

Kester: Then what classes have they been getting?

Kargaroth: They have been getting mage classes.

Kaule: Well, well, then I guess congratulations is in order!

Keaston: Except that it's the nature mage class, they've been getting. *smirk*

Kargaroth: Yes... (apparently I can't keep this one a secret)

Kaule: Ah...

Kester: I guess we don't have a solution to the food shortage then?

Keaston: Other than hoarding all of the grain on the Izuth?

Kester: It appears there is little grain left to hoard.

Keaston: I wonder where it all went?

Kester: Where indeed?

Kargaroth thinks to himself, that this is exactly the kind of reason why he is hesitant to bring up important issues during the congregation. Nevertheless, he has to ask about the sudden stop in class assignments today. Even with the risk involved, he has to do something. Kargaroth is rudely awakened from his thoughts, when Keaston slams his fist on the table.

Keaston: Once I figure out your deceit, you'll have made an enemy out of the entire continent, Kargaroth!

Kargaroth: Since you already had your spies report back to you that I am getting nothing but nature mages, then how can you still claim I am being deceitful!?! In fact, right now I'll be happy if my citizens get any class at all!

Kaule: Calm down guys! Furthermore, what did you mean with the last part?

Kargaroth: (here goes) We're facing a bit of a crisis. The system has stopped assigning classes.

It takes a while for Keaston to stop slamming his armored arms on the table, whilst crying laughing. It slowly turns into occasional muttering sentences such as: terrorists receive their due.

Kaule: How bad is it?

Kargaroth: There hasn't been a new class assigned in Systemia for two weeks now.

Kester: Oof...

Once again, it takes a while for Keaston to calm down. He is absolutely thrilled with Kargaroth's misery. Kargaroth can do nothing but sit there and be embarrassed.

Kargaroth: I don't even know if the system is aware of the problem

{ Kargaroth, you little worrywart. You can trust good old System here! Everything is under control. }

Kaule: I don't think I've heard of a problem like this before.

Keaston slams the table and tells Kargaroth that he can be proud to be unique, with a big smile on his face. Kester is racking his brains pondering whether or not there is some way he can benefit from this situation?

Kaule: I'm afraid there is not much we can help you with. It appears to be another one of Systemia's unique problems.

Kargaroth: *sigh* I was afraid of that, discussing it here was a long shot.

Keaston: *gleefully* Oh that's right! Did I tell you guys this yet? My country has just gained a new paladin!

Kaule and Kester congratulate him in a rather subdued manner, since his real intentions are obvious. Kargaroth doesn't bother to respond, not worth it.

Kaule: I take it that the peace treaty is still being respected?

Keaston: *gleefully* I'm going to wait for Systemia to self destruct a little bit more.

Kargaroth: No violations.

Kaule: Wonderful! How about the large numbers of adventurers?

Kester: I have had an influx of adventurers, but once they figured out what kind of monsters roamed my lands, they strangely disappeared.

Keaston: I wonder why?

Kester: Why indeed? I wouldn't mind them taking down the storm emperor, the immovable guardian or death junior.

Kaule: Might be a bit of a big ask from coppers.

Kargaroth: We've been giving quests to adventurers to work on the farms. It may take some of the pressure off. However, I do want to stress, that this is not a long term solution. We need somewhere to direct their attention.

{ Working on it! }

Kaule: We have noticed an increase in robbery and small crimes. A worrisome development is, that bandit groups are starting to form.

Keaston: It has been a great source of enjoyment for my men, that they now get to regularly behead copper adventurers that appear to be coming from Systemia. Something you want to share Kargaroth?

Kargaroth: We may or may not have had a few additional adventurer classes this year, before the system stopped assigning classes altogether.

Kaule: Maybe the system is repairing itself?

{ That's a great excuse! I'll take it! }

Kester: Kaule, the Gwynn and Lindstrom nobles should have entered Saudia two weeks ago, any news?

Kaule: They have last been seen inquiring about the Fire Temple dungeon. Other than that, there have been some ... scuffles, but nothing we weren't able to handle. I'm sure you'll consider the way we dealt with it quite satisfactory.

Kester: I'm glad to hear it. If anything happens to those kids, it will cause a shit storm, affecting all of Izuth. It was to be expected that they would let loose a little.

Keaston: Feel free to send them my way. My men will teach them a thing or two about discipline.

Kester: They will be heading for Easteria next and returning through Systemia. Feel free to discipline them, they have been warned. Just be sure not to do anything that will escalate the situation beyond a few rowdy nobles.

Keaston: We will deal with them in a way that is appropriate.

Keaston's words worry Kester, because they suggest that Keaston gave Kester's words little thought, but he chooses not to comment on it. Kester's words may have actually had the reverse effect. Keaston was pondering if he could rile up the nobles and direct their anger at Systemia somehow. A story for another time.

There were some more minor topics introduced and after that the meeting concluded. Kargaroth found himself wondering if he actually gained anything from the meeting. He could also clearly see that any information shared could and did have unwanted side effects. Especially anything that shows off weaknesses to Easteria. Not that it mattered much. Kargaroth suspected Keaston had spies all over Systemia. Lastly, it didn't seem like the other kings were actually doing much to address the problems that were being discussed. The value of the congregation appeared pretty low to him. He still wanted to stay in contact with Kaule, but that could be done through more direct communication. Ultimately, the real reason for Kargaroth to attend was to stay in the good graces of the other kings, excluding Keaston, for obvious reasons. Although it would be nice, if there were a way to get Keaston to stop picking a fight.