by Pirateaba
There’s an information lockdown between Hives? Hm. That’s more rivalry than competition. Good to know.
“Yeah, there’s not much I can really make. Hell, I know all kinds of useful technologies and advancements in metallurgy, medicine, construction…but you need an existing framework to build all of it. Titanium, for instance is a metal harder than steel, but it’s impossible to smelt without…well, damn, I guess a Tier 6 spell might do it or something…”
“Impractical for the Gnolls, in short.”
“Yeah. And things like mathematics—well, it would change the world, but it’s not immediately useful.”
“Indeed.”
I sigh.
“Fuck. I think it has to be an artifact. A magical one. I’ll have to ask Lady Magnolia—or Teriarch.”
I told Klbkch a lot. Not everything, but quite a lot of what I’ve seen and done. And what I know. The Antinium nods.
“A dangerous choice. Both individuals are quite powerful and you may risk much by approaching either one. Despite Teriarch’s abilities, I would encourage you to view Magnolia Reinhart with the same amount of caution.”
Another surprise. No—I really shouldn’t be surprised, should I?
“You know him? Teriarch?”
“We know he is a Dragon. He incinerated two armies sent against him in the Second Antinium War. It was a mistake to attack him. I advised against it, but the Queens did not listen.”
Get the book. Read the book. Unless that’s the part of history that no one knows about. Yeah, I think people would know if a Dragon lived on the continent. Another secret to keep.
“If you are able to convince him to part with one of his treasures…yes. That would no doubt satisfy the Gnolls.”
“If. Any tips?”
“Do not attack him.”
“Thanks.”
I eye Klbkch. He sits calmly in his seat, watching me. If only I could read Antinium and tell what he’s thinking. Is he really that calm? He must be nervous. But his face is an insect’s face; impossible for me to read.
“I’m surprised you don’t want me to tell you how to create weapons from my world. Not that I would.”
“Despite the advantage it would bring, I fear it would work at cross purposes to my goal. A superior type of weaponry would only impel my Queen to abandon her current plan and use such arms to begin a third war. I would not wish such bloodshed to occur. I…do not wish to see the inhabitants of Liscor die.”
A tin man with a heart. Part of me actually wants to hug him. The other half wants to sit in a corner and gibber for an hour.
“So. What’s the plan?”
Klbkch tilts his head.
“I will provide you with information, resources, protection. You must assist Erin Solstice in your own way. And if you have a means to help my Hive—”
“Right. I get it.”
I stand up. I start to pace. I have to move.
“But there are so many questions I want to ask. All the things the Antinium know—”
“I will share what is necessary. But some secrets must remain so. If you are caught and tortured or charmed—”
“Right. Right.”
He’s no idiot. I eye Klbkch. No, he’s no idiot at all. He’s a Prognugator, one of the Antinium Generals. He’s probably smarter than I am. But then what can I ask?
“If you can’t give me something to give the Gnolls, all we can exchange is information.”
“Just so. I believe that is extremely valuable in itself.”
He’s not wrong there. I spread my hands.
“Is there anything you want to know about my world?”
“Many things intrigue me. But if I may—earlier today, Erin mentioned to you that our system of leveling is similar to your world?”
“Ah.”
I make a face. Erin and her big mouth. How can I even explain that to him?
“We…don’t level up in our world. Not at all. We can become better at things through practice, but we don’t level.”
“Not at all? Erin mentioned a game in conjunction with this fact. ‘Diablo’.”
It feels completely strange for an Antinium to start mentioning video games. I shake my head.
“That’s…it’s just a video game. A thing people play for fun, like chess. It’s not…”
I hesitate. Hold on, now.
“It has parallels to this world. Erin and I have both noticed it. The way this world operates with people leveling up—it has parallels to a game. But many things are different.”
“I see. But are the mechanics similar?”
“They are. I know the game—”
Hell, I lived Diablo III for a while. I was addicted until my damn parents made me quit.
“—But I couldn’t compare it to this world. I don’t know how the class system works or how leveling works.”
“It is considered a mystical element of our world as well. Most people understand the mechanics, but there is no consensus on the reason behind our leveling or advancement.”
Really? I frown.
“Can you explain some of the mechanics to me? From your perspective—a native’s perspective, that is.”
Klbkch nods. He taps a finger on his arm a few times, a dry, clicking noise. Then he speaks.
“Leveling is a means by which we grow stronger. As we take interest in certain activities, we gain classes. By pursuing these activities we gain more levels in a class. However, gaining levels grows exponentially more difficult as time goes on.”
I nod. That all squares with what I understand.
“Most people will end up around Level 20 in one class over the course of their life. Few individuals reach Level 30. A handful in each town; a few dozen in a city. Few will ever reach Level 40; those who do are considered famous in their own right. Those who pass Level 50 in their class are generally known throughout the world.”
Again, more information I know, but Klbkch saying it still useful.
“Is there anyone who’s ever hit a…maximum level? Level 100, for instance?”
Klbkch seems to frown. He has no eyebrows but—is it just my imagination? That’s the sense I get from him.
“I know of no individual with a level approaching one hundred. Legends speak of individuals with levels above eighty and ninety, but why would there be a limit of one hundred levels?”
“Because…”
I pause. Well, because it’s a round number? No; there’s a reason for it.
“Hold on. This is a concept from my world. Where I come from—video games usually have a level limit. Level 100 or 99 is usually that limit.”
“Video games? What are those?”
“Games from my world played for fun. Like chess.”
“Ah.”
Diablo III didn’t have that system. The level limit there was Level 70 with Paragon levels, but in this case it sounds like Level 100 would be the closest match. Klbkch shakes his head.
“That is odd, but intriguing. I have never known any individual with such a high level in any case. Most grow too old to continue leveling in time to pass Level 60 in any case.”
“Hold on. Old? What does age have to do with levels?”
I frown. Is leveling…age gated? That doesn’t sound quite right.
“Age is a known factor in leveling. Those who grow older level far more slowly, independently of their actual class level.”
“That doesn’t sound like any game I’ve played. Are you sure that’s what happens?”
Klbkch nods.
“I am one example of this occurrence. I have…declined in ability much over the many years I have been alive. I have lost levels, which is an occurrence that only occurs among the Antinium.”
“You lost your levels? Because you died, right?”
“Correct. During the First and Second Antinium Wars—and even before that—I have experienced death many times. I am able to be resurrected thanks to my Queen, but each time I lose ten levels from my classes.”
&nbs
p; That sounds exactly like a video game. Resurrecting and losing levels? I scratch at the table with a fingernail.
“And you’re saying you’ve having a tougher time regaining your levels because you’re…older?”
Klbkch nods again. He seems to hesitate, and then he speaks.
“This is secret information. At the moment, I am a Level 21 [Swordslayer], a Level 18 [Commander], a Level 11 [Diplomat], and a Level 14 [Assassin]. However, at my peak I was a Level 44 [Swordslayer], and a Level 26 [Assassin].”
My jaw drops. If you add up the levels, Klbkch is saying he once had seventy levels altogether! Isn’t that on par with a legendary hero? No—a Named Adventurer is only around Level 40. He was stronger than that? Wait a second, if you add up the levels he has now…
“That’s…incredible.”
Klbkch nods. It’s not arrogance.
“My abilities were quite useful. However, you will note that my current self is far weaker than I was. Recently, I have struggled to regain even the levels I have lost, and I find it increasingly difficult to level up my [Swordslayer] class.”
“Right, but you still have over sixty levels total, don’t you?”
“Correct. But that is only cumulatively. As I have said, I am leveling slower due to my advanced age. I am quite old, and it is an established fact that older individuals gain levels slowly.”
Wait, but what Klbkch is saying doesn’t make sense to me. I tap the table as I speak.
“What about your cumulative levels? I mean, you were Level 70 in total, and now you’re Level 64 in total. Wouldn’t that explain the slower growth you’re experiencing?”
Klbkch pauses. Again, I get the impression he’s frowning at me.
“Why would cumulative levels affect my growth?”
“Because you’re nearing the level cap of one hundred. If it exists in this world. Look, in a video game leveling up requires more experience the higher level you are, right? Just like this world. But that cost is based on your total number of levels, not just a single class’s level.”
Do they really not know this in this world? Does that explain lower levels? Gods, it might. The Antinium stares at me across the table skeptically.
“That conclusion requires a number of suppositions that cannot be substantiated. I am not sure your belief that there is a maximum level in this world is correct. Moreover, why would each class count towards this total?”
“Why does age count towards leveling?”
I shoot an answer back at Klbkch. Okay, it’s a cheap debate trick, but I feel like I’m on to something.
“The problem I’m hearing with your world is that everyone assumes you slow down in leveling due to age. But what if that was just because older people have a lot of other classes?”
The Antinium is silent for a long moment.
“Most individuals do not level past Level 20 to begin with. Few attain a cumulative level past fifty, even with other classes.”
“Because it gets harder to level up! And people think it’s age, but—okay, let’s say you’re a Level 20 [Butcher], but you have ten other levels in…I don’t know, [Dancer]. That means that the system would treat you as a Level 30 person when it comes to leveling up, slowing your growth. And that also means that adventurers, generals…everyone is stunting their growth and maximum level by taking on needless classes!”
I point at Klbkch. My heart is racing with excitement.
“You aren’t leveling up because you have needless classes. You were stronger when you were younger because you only had two classes, and you focused on one more than the other. Think, Klbkch. Can you name any other individuals who only had a few classes?”
He’s silent for a long time. Then Klbkch looks up.
“The first Grand Queen. She…she was Level 79. She was a [Supreme Matriarch] – a special class gained from advancing in the [Queen] class for centuries. She…she was extraordinary among my people because she continued to level even in her later years.”
“My god.”
I have so many questions. But I have to continue.
“Okay. Then—damn, we need more information. Do you know if your Grand Queen had stopped leveling? Or was she continuing to gain levels? Did she have any other classes?”
Klbkch pauses. He lowers his head, as if he’s in…pain? As if the memory hurts him.
“She was focused. She only truly desired one class, and never took any other. She was so dedicated to leading us that…yes; she had only one other class, although I barely recall it.”
“That’s why she got to such a high level. The exponential difficulty of leveling was working against her of course, but she would never have gotten to that level if she didn’t focus on one class.”
I think I’m smiling. I don’t have levels—I might not ever have them anymore—but we’ve figured out something huge. This information—could I give it to the Gnolls? Hold on, it’s not that useful unless you have people who can actually get to a high level, but…no, it’s still frickin’ big.
All at once Klbkch stands up. I flinch, but he’s not looking at me. He stares out a window.
“I…we must confirm this. This information—if it is true, it changes much. That it was not discovered—”
“I guess if most people never level up as much, it wouldn’t be an issue. And someone who’s high-level might not realize they’re nearing their level cap. Plus, it might be a softcap.”
“Softcap?”
“It’s another idea from my world’s games. It means that there’s no hard stop when you get to a certain point, like Level 100, but afterwards continuing becomes impractical. So let’s say there’s a softcap on Level 100. It means that after that point you can continue leveling, but advancement will be even slower.”
Klbkch begins to walk back and forth, like I was doing. I watch him move—he’s got to be agitated.
“That adds credence to your statement. In advanced years, leveling is often cause for celebration.”
“Is there any way we can corroborate this information? Prove it, somehow?”
“My situation is unique to my nature, and I do not have access to information about other Prognugators and Queens.”
“Why not ask a local, then? You said Selys was in Liscor?”
Klbkch nods.
“She is in the park with Mrsha.”
“The park? Well, can we talk to her?”
“Let us go at once.”
—-
When Klbkch opens the door for me, I blink at the snowy landscape. The snow is knee deep outside.
“What the hell happened out here?”
The Antinium walks out with me, striding through the snow as I shut the door to Erin’s inn.
“I believe the effects of alcohol on the Frost Faeries led them to increase the amount of snow that fell overnight.”
“Goddamn it, Erin.”
“I would appreciate it if you did not use that expression.”
I hesitate, and look at Klbkch.
“Oh, right.”
Gods are real. When I think of that—it makes the revelation of leveling seem pale in comparison. I still can’t believe no one in this world realizes there’s a level cap. But if most people never level that high up, and the few who do just think they’re ceasing to level due to age…
“What can you tell me about the God?”
“Very little. I only know what my people know. And I would prefer not to speak of it in any case.”
“Why?”
Klbkch looks at me.
“Because even speaking of Gods gives them power.”
American Gods. Neil Gaiman. Or—alternatively, Small Gods, Terry Pratchett. My mind races. I—I close my mouth and walk with Klbkch in the snow, thinking.
It’s only a few minutes before we reach Liscor’s gates, despite the heavy snow. The guards recognize Klbkch in sight and call out to him. He waves. We walk on. Klbkch leads me down the streets of Liscor, and I look around at the bustling city.
Yo
u’d never imagine it was just attacked a few weeks ago. While this place isn’t New York, it’s hardly a small town either. The city feels…well, it feels big. Populated. Liscor is bigger than Celum or Esthelm, despite being enclosed on all four sides by those massive walls*.
*Talk about fortifications. Apparently, all Drake cities have these gigantic walls, although Liscor’s are second only to the famous Walled Cities. If the gates hadn’t been left open during undead attack, I can’t imagine even a hundred thousand of them would have been able to break into Liscor. Not without siege weapons. Undead siege weapons…? A giant?
It’s either because he’s an Antinium or because he’s a Senior Guardsman—probably both—but Klbkch and I walk in a circle of space even on the most crowded of streets. Surprisingly, not all the looks he gets are unfriendly, either. Some Drakes and Gnolls nod to the Antinium, and Klbkch exchanges greetings with several people he knows by name. It’s actually me that gets more dirty looks.
The Antinium turns down another street.
“Where are we going?”
“To a playground, I believe. In the park. Selys has taken Mrsha there.”
Sure enough, the street widens and then I find myself staring at the oddest of sights. In the center of the city is…a park. A big one, at least, for an enclosed city like that. And there’s a playground occupying a part of it as well.
“What the hell?”
It’s a playground. And those are…trees. And grass, growing right next to the cobblestones that line the circular perimeter of the park. That’s normal. Yeah, parks, trees in a city with walls. I can see that.
But the playground catches my eye. Because it is not like a Human playground. Human playgrounds aren’t this cool.
It’s a…jungle gym. AT least, that was what it was. But some mad architect took one look at the plans and decided to make a playground for children that would give any anxious parent a heart attack.
Long tunnels of smooth, polished wood connect towers that spiral upwards like a miniature castle. Monkey bars are set twenty feet in the air, above a floor that you have to climb up a long rope just to get to. Even as I watch, a Gnoll cub slides down a slide that curves downwards over thirty feet, dropping the kid down towards the ground in a long, spiraling journey.
