by Sean Oswald
Nothing could have been further from the truth. They were both lost in close examination but not of anything outside themselves. Their introspection sought to understand what had created this situation. The Watcher struggled with the realization that his question had not been one of simple curiosity. He had harbored anger that even he hadn’t recognized before. His entire nature was one of order and his self-identity was based upon a strict adherence to that order, to following the One. To question the purposes or methods used was unimaginable to most of his kin, to do so in anger was beyond the pale.
As great as the turmoil within the Watcher was, the roiling storm within the Condemned dwarfed it. It was a whole new layer to his own personal hell. Hatred had been the armor of his conscious and self-righteous indignation had been the bulwark of his soul. Damn, the Watcher, damn his insipid attitudes. The Condemned had believed he was meant to sway his brother. Instead, in that moment of spewing vitriol, a chink in his armor had appeared. Not even the seed that had been planted in this latest of their test subjects could assuage his mind of its fears. A flash of insight had shown him something about himself, something which no being in his place ever wanted to experience. If for even a moment he blamed himself for any part of his current lot… Remorse might be good in a mortal who could change, but in the heart of an immortal it was the never ending twisting of the knife and the hand upon the blade was his own.
APPENDIX A- ENDING CHARACTER SHEETS
Name: David Nelson
Race: Human
Age: 40
Level: 21st
Alignment: +1
Position: Baron of Murkwood, Consort to Lady Emiri
Movement: 39
Defense: 14 (5)
Attack: 20 (10)
Stats:
STRENGTH: 36
Bravery: 10.8
Regen Rate: 3.6/hour
Melee Damage: +72%
DEXTERITY: 8
Ranged Damage: +16%
Rogue Skills: +16%
AGILITY: 16
Movement Rate: +32%
Defense Rate: +80%
CONSTITUTION: 25
Health: 550 (250)
Regen Rate: 2.5/hour
Fury: 7.5
Regen Rate: 2.5/hour
Endurance: 25
Stamina: 7.5
Regen Rate: 2.5/hour
Needed Rest: -25%
INTELLIGENCE: 42
Mana: 700 (420)
Spell Damage: +84%
WISDOM: 17
Mana Regen Rate: 255/hour
Faith: 5.1
Regen Rate: 1.7/hour
CHARISMA: 16
Social Skills: +32%
Teamwork: 4.8
Regen Rate: 1.6/hour
LUCK: 5
+5% chance to avoid catastophroic effects
+5% improvement on chance of loot drops
+5% improvement on quality of loot drops
Total XP: 7561XP to Next: 399
Unspent Stat Points: 0
Unspent Character Points: 0
Traits:
Where the Mind Leads the Body will Follow
Tier 2: +20% Strength
Tier 3: Unassigned class skill (Lvl 21)
Skills:
Running: 3
Sense Motives: 20
Speak Languages: 14
Diplomacy: 80
Engineering: 80
Knowledge- Research: 101
Knowledge- Law: 3
Survival- Forest: 14
Survival- Desert: 7
Tracking: 15
Taunt: 1
Dodge: 1
Heavy Armor: 1
Unarmed Combat: 50
Archery: 20
Long Blade: 20
Double Strike: 20
Weapon Specialization- Long Sword: 20
Offensive Stance: 20
Sneak Attack: 10
Flanking: 10
Quicken Spell: 11
Esoteric Senses: 10
Abjuration Magic: 40
Minor Shock Shield
Obscure Scrying
Ablative Armor
Conjuration Magic: 40
Minor Messenger Bird
Gate
Alcoholic Cloud
Summon: Dire Rhinocerus
Divination Magic: 10
Identify
Assess Enemy
Sure Strike
Evocation Magic: 40
Magic Missiles
Minor Force Stomp
Lesser Brilliant Radiance
Thunder Arc
Lightning Bolt
Shaping Magic: 20
Minor Binding
Minor Enlarge
Minor Mending
Lesser Repulsion
Gear:
Masterwork Chainmail Armor
Flaming Longsword
Ring of Charismatic Influence
Epic Ring of Health
Hawk’s Eye Ashen Wood Longbow
3 Arrows of Piercing
Bag of Holding
Name: Emily Nelson
Race: Moon Elf
Age: 39
Level: 15th
Alignment: +2
Position: Lady Emiri of the Circle, Baroness Murkwood
Movement: 49
Defense: 13 (5)
Attack: 15
Stats:
STRENGTH: 7
Bravery: 2.1
Regen Rate: .7/hour
Melee Damage: +14%
DEXTERITY: 13
Ranged Damage: +26%
Rogue Skills: +26%
AGILITY: 32
Movement Rate: +64%
Defense Rate: +160%
CONSTITUTION: 12
Health: 120
Regen Rate: 1.2/hour
Fury: 3.6
Regen Rate: 1.2/hour
Endurance: 13
Stamina: 3.9
Regen Rate: 1.3/hour
Needed Rest: -13%
INTELLIGENCE: 17
Mana: 200
Spell Damage: +34%
WISDOM: 36
Mana Regen Rate: 1188/hour
Faith: 10.8
Regen Rate: 3.6/hour
CHARISMA: 16
Social Skills: +32%
Teamwork: 4.8
Regen Rate: 1.6/hour
LUCK: 10
+10% chance to avoid catastophroic effects
+10% improvement on chance of loot drops
+10% improvement on quality of loot drops
Total XP: 3808XP to Next: 332
Unspent Stat Points: 0
Unspent Character Points: 51
Status:
Kirashemi +10% mana regeneration
+30 temporary mana
Tier 2: +20% Wisdom
Skills:
Running: 4
Swimming: 8
First Aid: 16
Speak Languages: 4
Balance: 60
Stealth: 25
Sneak Attack: 20
Improved Critical Strike: 20
Short Blades: 25
Double Strike: 16
Quicken Spell: 11
Abjuration: 20
Lesser Consecration
Lesser Cancel Magic
Essence Magic: 20
Minor Heal
Minor Blessing
Minor Cure Poison
Minor Blight
Lesser Regeneration
Gear:
High Steel Dagger of Piercing
Moon Elf Leathers
Cloak of Fleeting Shadows
Ring of Mana Regeneration
Tabernacle of the Gods
Wand of Fireballs
Ring of Noble Command
Ring of Epic Health (unworn)
Dagger: Mage Slayer
Name: Miranda Nelson
Race: Half-Human/Half-Moon Elf
Age: 15
Class: Meta-Mage
Level: 19th
Alignment: +1
Movement: 46
Defense:
11 (5)
Attack: 10
Stats:
STRENGTH: 5
Bravery: 1.5
Regen Rate: .5/hour
Melee Damage: +10%
DEXTERITY: 12
Ranged Damage: +24%
Rogue Skills: +24%
AGILITY: 27
Movement Rate: +54%
Defense Rate: +135%
CONSTITUTION: 13
Health: 130
Regen Rate: 1.3/hour
Fury: 3.9
Regen Rate: 1.3/hour
Endurance: 11
Stamina: 3.3
Regen Rate: 1./hour
Needed Rest: -11%
INTELLIGENCE: 50
Mana: 800 (500)
Spell Damage: +100%
WISDOM: 13
Mana Regen Rate: 195/hour
Faith: 3.9
Regen Rate: 1.3/hour
CHARISMA: 29
Social Skills: +58%
Teamwork: 8.7
Regen Rate: 2.9/hour
LUCK: 7
+7% chance to avoid catastophroic effects
+7% improvement on chance of loot drops
+7% improvement on quality of loot drops
Total XP: 6156XP to Next: 404
Unspent Stat Points: 0
Unspent Character Points: 71
Traits:
Reborn
Air Walker
Tier 2: +20% Intelligence
Skills:
Running: 6
Speak Languages: 4
Bluff: 40
Concentration: 11
Balance: 100
Short Blades: 5
Esoteric Senses: 20
Quicken Spell: 11
Magic Focus- Evocation: 20
Steal Spell: 20
Shape Spell: 11
Enchanting: 5
Charm Magic: 20
Daze
Minor Charm Enemy
Minor Forgetfulness
Blending Camoflauge
Lesser Mesmerize
Lesser Fear
Lesser Irresistible Joke
Illusion: Minotaur
Illusion: Giant Spider
Conjuration Magic: 20
Minor Webbing
Summon Basic Mount
Mage Armor: Chainmail
Invisible Housekeep
Conjured Wind Whip
Gate
Lesser Earth Elementaling
Divination Magic: 20
Identify
Assess Enemy
Lesser Telepathic Detection
Extended Gaze
Lesser Guage Defenses
Essence Magic: 20
Minor Bleeding Wound
Minor Withering
Lesser Regeneration
Evocation Magic: 20
Minor Electric Shock
Ice Dagger
Flame Fan
Magic Missiles
Frost Wave
Lesser Shield Breaker
Gear:
Lesser Wind Ring
Ring of Spell Storing
Wand of Viscid Globs
Bridle of the Nightmare
Ring of Epic Health (unworn)
Drake Thigh Bone Staff
Robe of the Spell
Moon Elf Leathers
Robe of Scrying Eye (broken)
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Thank you for reading Watcher’s Question, book two of Life In Exile.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SEAN OSWALD was born on Krypton, Zenn-La, or Planet Vegeta, depending on which one of his kids is asking and what mood he is in. He served in the USMC straight out of high school before going on to obtain a highly useful degree in ancient languages.
Then, onto the mission field to work at an orphanage in India with his wife and 2.5 kids before returning to the US and surrendering to the dark side. Some say Sith, but his business card reads attorney.
Now, he lives with his wife and nine (yes, 9) children in central Illinois. Although to be fair, some of the kids are moved out and now he has version 2.0 called grandkids--which are even more fun, despite still having a 4 year old of his own.
When he isn't serving justice, moving furniture for his wife, or playing with his kids, he is busy trying to force all the stories in his head onto a piece of paper.
Don’t forget to join LitRPG Addicts and come hang out with me!
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