by Charles Dean
The guards stopped the waves of monsters when the sun disappeared behind the colosseum, and by the time the day was done, his inventory was stocked full with monster parts, and he was halfway through Level 20. All things considered, it was a very good day for Lee. The random miracles and glass working had even managed to convert some of the audience. He had racked up quite a healthy bit of Faith, and he was now just one guard shy of easily making his way back to the real world.
Thank you, teacher. Lee laughed to himself as he looked at the heaps of bodies strung across the sands. He studied the guards as they opened the gates and prepared to lead him and Dave back to the cells. He was going to make his final gambit now. He reached into his inventory and pulled out a full glass of monster-blood-turned-beverage, and as he walked up to the guard who had sympathized with him earlier, he extended the glass. "Here, this is for your troubles. I hope that it wasn't too much of a hassle bringing in a new contestant on such a hot day. I'm sure they woke you up even earlier than me, and I hope there's no hard feelings."
Lee hated being nice to somebody who was, without a doubt, judging him solely on his race. It actually made his stomach twist and turn, but he needed to do this. Out of all the guards that he had run into, Oran was the one with whom he had the most positive interactions. He knew that the more time he spent talking to somebody, the less likely they were to judge him superficially. As long as the interactions were pleasant, the fact that he was a Human would matter less and less. That's why, even though there was still a big social divide between them, he did his best to try to be nice. He needed a win. He needed this guard to believe in him. He had already performed several miracles that were said to be impossible, so if he was going to convert one, this Oran fellow would be the one.
"What the blasted lands do you mean by this? What are you trying to do?" the guard asked suspiciously. He stared at the glass as it was handed to him and then swirled the liquid around before giving it a sniff as if it were poison.
Lee took the glass back from the man and then sipped it before handing it back. "It's not poison, and it's perfectly fine to drink. Go ahead and give it a try."
After a moment's hesitation and a little more twirling of the beverage inside the glass, the guard finally took a small sip.
Quaid guffawed when he saw his comrade taking a sip of a beverage handed to him by a Human, and his facial expression was priceless. "What the hell are you doing? You shouldn’t take that from him! How do you know you're not cursed now? You've seen the ridiculous magic he's done inside the arena, and for all you know, his honeyed words are just to help him spring this trap. Why would you even drink that?"
"It doesn't taste that bad! In fact, it’s better than anything I've had served to me in the last year. It kind of tastes like . . . that delicious, fruity stuff the Aes Sidhe used to make.” The guard took a big gulp this time and swished it back and forth in his mouth. “Yeah, just like that but less sweet.”
"It could still be poisoned. There are sweet poisons. You still might die from that crap, so why in the blasted lands would you drink it?" the guard admonished his coworker, reaching over to grab the glass from the man's hand but failing as the imbibing guard stepped back and held onto the cup firmly.
"Gentlemen, you have nothing to worry about. This is a gift from Augustus. He is doing this, sir, because your good friend believes. He knows that he is already considering him and believes in his abilities. Unlike you, who are still filled with doubt, this man has seen the light. There are none that cannot be blessed by Augustus, and a little faith will go a long way. For those who have absolute belief, anything is possible.”
He could tell from Oran's expression that he was slowly but surely being moved in the right direction. Unlike his companion, this man was wide-eyed and calm. He was drinking from the cup Lee had given him, nodding right along with Lee's words. Maybe this particular Firbolg isn’t that racist. Or maybe he needs belief for something . . . He might have lost a loved one? Or maybe he was close friends with a Human before the schism?
"I would have thought that my performance and the things I've shown to you would be enough. But, if you still need more convincing, you know exactly where to find me. After all, you're the ones walking me home tonight." Then, before he turned to leave, Lee decided to take a stab in the dark. "But, before you do, I want you to know that Augustus can help you with what has been weighing on your mind.” He intentionally kept the subject as vague as possible. It was a trick he had seen on TV a thousand times, and he had no real belief that it would work in real life, but he figured it was worth a try. It’s only one guard, so if this fails, what’s the most I lose? Lee smiled, putting a hand on the guard’s shoulder. “He already knows your problem.”
"His problem?" the other guard said, looking very confused. "What problem does he have, and how in the blasted lands is your stupid god going to help him? Stop trying to yank his chain, stupid cledor. It's just a stupid waste of your time and ours."
"I . . . I don't know what you're talking about,” the guard responded, wrapping both of his hands around the cup Lee had given him and tensing up.
"Yes, you do." Lee had to hide a ridiculously-big grin as he realized exactly how vulnerable this poor man was. He wasn’t necessarily any nicer than the other guard; he was, however, less inclined to succumb to peer-pressure-induced prejudice. Some recent, tragic event had given him an unusual burst of empathy. "Augustus knows of your loss, and even though you think no one can tell, he can."
Yup, I’ve hit a new low. I’m picking on the worst emotional scab a person can carry to further my shameless lies. Lee faltered as he realized what he was doing--taking advantage of someone’s recent loss to push his own agenda--but then he remembered how he got here and why he needed to convert this guy, and he suddenly didn’t feel bad about his behavior anymore.
The guard looked away and sighed. “But . . . you can’t help. It’s too late.”
“It’s not too late for Augustus to help,” Lee said, resting his free hand on Oran’s other shoulder. “If your intentions about this matter are pure, he can save what is already lost.”
“He . . . He can?” the guard asked hesitantly.
The other Firbolg was clearly growing angrier with every passing exchange. “Stop listening to this tall-browed cledor rat! He’s just trying to get into your head! He’s messing with you!”
“But . . . He knew! And even you didn’t! I didn’t tell anyone at work, so how could he know?” Oran asked confusedly.
Doubt had seeped into the guard’s head, and Lee relished it. I don’t know. I just took a second gamble, and your face told me I was right. How the heck are people so gullible? Then he remembered that they probably had little to no formal education most of their life--something that had taught him to doubt and question almost everything. Yup . . . Thank God for required education as a kid that stressed critical thought. I could have ended up like this guy without it.
“He could have . . .” The other guard floundered as he tried to come up with an alternative reason. “I don’t know, man. I just know that he’s a cledor. A rat. Look at that stupid mile-high forehead and those bulgy eyes. He’s a cledor rat. And they lie. They all lie. He’s lying, and he’s trying to use you. That’s what they do, man.”
Lee waved his hand dismissively, pushing aside the other guard’s doubts. “Why would I trick you? I gain nothing from this but your faith, not freedom, reprieve or better living conditions. Even if you believe, I could still die tomorrow.” They don’t understand the religion game or faith points, so as far as they’re concerned, I just removed their only good reason to suspect an ulterior motive. “You don't have to release me or do any favors for me. You just have to believe. That's all Augustus asks of you. We can ease the suffering.” He wasn't even sure if the guard had lost a family member or friend, but he knew that it was someone close to the guard, or else his talk right now would have been dismissed already.
"But . . . How is he going to help her?
She's dead. You can’t bring the dead back to life, can you?” The guard paused, looked at Lee and then shook his head. “No, you can’t. That’s stupid. It’s a stupid question. Don’t try to play games with me.”
"I'm not playing games with you, and no, I won't bring anyone back to life," Lee said, looking the man directly in the eyes. "Instead, what I can offer you is peace of mind. This world is full of hardships. It's a test of our endurance. No one can avoid suffering in this world, and even if we brought her back, she would just suffer again. The trials and tribulations of everyday life would weigh on her day after day. What I’m offering is something different, something that is even better than life here in this world.”
"What could possibly be better than life here?” the guard asked, his voice shaky and unsteady. “That doesn't make sense. If she's not alive, then of course she won't suffer. But she won't know happiness either. She won't exist at all. How is suffering worse than not existing?" Lee had obviously hit a nerve. The only thing that bothered him was that he still didn't know anything about who this person was. He didn’t know how old she was, what she looked like, or how she was related to the guard. He only knew that this person was a woman who was close to the guard.
"When we die, our soul stays alive. It goes to a place that nobody wants to be, and Augustus can help. He can take her soul from their and move it to a world where she will never suffer again . . . a world where all of her needs will be met and happiness can be achieved without effort . . . a world without hunger, stress or pain." Lee did his best to maintain eye contact while keeping a straight face. Given his situation, he couldn’t say he really liked the man, and the guards were all complicit in Kirshtein’s rotten justice system, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that what he was doing was wrong. No matter how much he told himself that the reason he was doing it was for the people back in Satterfield or the people who were currently suffering in this town, he couldn’t shake the sleazy feeling it gave him. If he didn't make it back to his world, and he didn't train, then everyone would be worse off for it. He needed the skills and knowledge he could develop there to help everyone, but this step in getting there was anything but easy.
"So, you're saying that she’s currently in pain?" the guard asked anxiously, his eyes growing wide and his mouth hanging open.
"I'm saying that she doesn't have to be . . . that she didn't have the choice when she was alive. But you do now. All you have to do is accept Augustus's open hand. Do that, and both of you will never have to worry about what happens after you die again. If you believe in Augustus, you can be with her when you die. That is, just so long as you don't take your own life to get there.”
Through continued use of deception, you have received +1 Deceit. Current Deceit: 19.
"That's nonsense! You heard what the one true Herald said," the other guard protested, interrupting Lee’s speech. "He said that those dastardly, weak-armed Humans will say anything they can to twist and manipulate us. He warned us that we shouldn’t listen to them because they’re nothing but liars! He's lying right now: there is no afterlife! There is nothing. She's dead, and there’s nothing that you can do to bring her back."
Lee silently backed away. He had already delivered what he considered a fatal blow, and he didn't see the need to push further. If he pushed any more, he would come across as desperate. Desperate people don't make sales, and that's exactly what he was trying to do right now: sell. It was clear that the guard had taken the bait from the expression on his face, so Lee didn’t see the need to comfort him any longer. Instead, after allowing the man a moment of reflection, Lee said quietly, "I'm not going to force you. Augustus can help you if you want, but he doesn't have to. It's your choice."
"I don’t know about the dead or a life after this one, but faith fed my belly when I was starving, so I highly recommend it. But, then again, I'm kind of biased," Dave added from behind. "Anyone who feeds me will generally have my support."
"You lost loved ones too. Don't think that Augustus won't take care of them as well," Lee said. He couldn't exactly tell what Dave’s resulting expression was meant to convey, but he knew that Dave didn't look comfortable as he shrugged and looked away. The subject was obviously still too sore for him.
The guard looked away again as well. "I . . . I don't know what to think. If you say he can help . . . then . . . maybe . . . No, I don't know."
"Well, your choice. Gentlemen, I think it's about time somebody brought me to my cell. I'm kind of knackered from being attacked all day long, and I think that my buddy and I could use some relaxation, some drinks and a place to rest our heads. I've heard that you fine fellows have quite the selection of dust-covered dirt floors to sleep on, and I’ve had my eye on a certain special cramped space next to a sweaty old man who hasn't bathed in months. It seemed lovely, if you don't mind me saying."
“Right,” the other guard said, turning to face Lee and striking him across the face so hard that it did 6 damage. “Don't think I’ve forgotten what I owed you from this afternoon.”
That’s right! You only stopped hitting me because I still had to go on the sands. Lee grimaced as he remembered that but quickly controlled his expression so that he wouldn’t give the smug idiot any more satisfaction. “That’s it? Didn’t want to collect interest?” Lee taunted, earning him another strike. He was now short 12 hit points from full health since he had had plenty of time to heal via mana usage and basic regeneration during the power-leveling adventure earlier.
The angry guard snarled as he struck Lee a third time and then turned back to the other guard. “If I think that you are taking his words a little too seriously, then I'm gonna have to report you. We might work together, but I won't tolerate a sympathizer."
“I'm not stupid enough to buy into what he is saying," Oran said. Lee almost burst out laughing because, as a soon as the guard spoke, a notification for Faith appeared in front of him in the usual blue box.
Your actions and deeds have successfully converted 1 person to your religion. Faith has increased by 1. Current Faith: 684.
You get that, Augustus? Is that a receipt for my ticket home? He knew that the god was watching, and he didn’t even need an answer to know that it was exactly what he needed. He would have to wait until nightfall and some alone time, but this was still great news nonetheless. Step 1 of the plan? Complete success. Step 2? Figure out how to afford all the education I’m going to need in the other world. Between the powerlevel, the knowledge that he was going to get a trip home and the fact that he had survived the sands, his first day at hell-camp, gladiator edition, was going swimmingly.
“Right. Hey, Dave, do you play poker?" Lee asked, walking off in the direction that he knew his cell was in. “I feel like a few drinks and a game of poker would be perfect after the day we’ve had."
"What's poker?" Dave asked as he followed along. "I never heard of it."
"It's a card game like . . . Something you can play with your friends while drinking. You guys have card games, right?" Lee didn’t even have to look over to know that the answer was no. "Never mind. I'll just have to teach you guys. I'm not sure what we'll bet to keep the game fun, but I'm sure we can think of something. After all, if I'm going to be stuck in prison, I want to fulfill every single childhood cliché I can--and one of those was playing cards with other inmates."
Dave laughed, ignoring the spiteful look the guard cast in his direction. "A game? Sounds fun, so you can count me in."
Everybody was waiting for them as they arrived back in the cell, and as soon as Dave and Lee walked in the door, the entire room stood up. Half of them had their hands open and waiting, and Lee knew exactly what they wanted. They were hungry. It was doubtful that the few he had helped before he left had shared any with the others, and now they all wanted some too.
Luckily enough, one of the golems had been hard at work gathering ingredients for Lee’s dinner the entire time he was away. The stockpile of food was close enough that it would only take a minute to make a
run back and forth, and it had grown so big that the rodent had been forced to dig a small hole into one of the thick colosseum walls in order to keep it hidden. Sadly, they hadn’t yet been able to tunnel through completely. That was something that he was going to have the two golems work on overnight. If they could tunnel a connecting path, even with a tiny hole, then it would be the perfect way to sneak food in and out without risking either of them being caught.
Lee pretended to pray, just as he had done before and then started distributing meals to those who professed belief in Augustus, which earned him a few more faith points. It took a while to get all the meals together since there were so many more this time, but he was able to use the time to convert more of the monster blood he had harvested into something drinkable while he was waiting. The whole process took Lee nearly half an hour, but considering that it earned him a good amount of faith and improved both his stealth and sleight of hand, he considered it time well spent.
Your mastery of Sleight of Hand has progressed from the rank of Initiate Level 2 to the rank of Initiate Level 3. Sleight of Hand now allows for better unseen manipulation of small objects.
Due to improving Sleight of Hand, you have received +1 Intelligence. Current Intelligence: 141.
Due to the sneaky activity of your golems, your mastery of Sneak has progressed from the rank of Novice Level 10 to the rank of Journeyman Level 1. This skill improves one’s ability to stay hidden, move silently and act undetected.
Due to improving Sneak, you have received +1 Intelligence. Current Intelligence: 142.
Then, while Dave was bragging about his exploits on the sands and everyone had stopped paying attention to Lee, he took that time to pull out the stack of papers that he had received from the mysterious man. Amusingly, Miller's letter, which was on top, started off with a series of titles: 'To the Herald, the God of Fire, the Son of Augustus . . .’ The exhaustive intro consumed nearly three lines of text, but the message then rapidly devolved into a series of slurs, profanities, and angry promises as Miller explained the graphic, gruesome and horrifying ways that he would use to kill the people responsible for arresting Lee. His descriptions were so vivid and thorough that Lee had no problem imagining every single kill, and he knew that the Firbolg wouldn’t hesitate to fulfill his promises. It was slightly-comforting knowing that someone would go to such extremes for him, but it was also disturbing in its own right.
