by Edwin McRae
Mark waved the papers at Arix. “What happens if I don’t sign? What happens if I don’t want to be their Bug Hunter?”
“You’d be a muppet, that’s what. They won’t kick you out so no need to get your bollocks in a twist. They’ll make sure you can log off. Whether you do or not is up to you.” Arix looked at his watch. The flashy black and gold device was an affectation twice over. Firstly, because this was FIVR, and secondly because no-one wore watches these days. “Right. Time for me to piss off. I promised Krissy dinner and a show at the West End this evening.” He pointed at the contract. “The devs said to take your time thinking it over. Me, I say sign it and live happily fucking ever after in La La Land. Means I don’t ever have to worry about meeting your spotty ass on the street some day.” He stood, straightened his jacket, and gave them both a wave. “Toodles and here’s to never meeting again.”
“Something we can all agree on,” offered Citadel.
“That goes double for me,” agreed Vari.
Arix blew her a kiss and vanished without even a puff of smoke.
Vari turned to Mark, her dark eyes full of questions. Only one made it to her lips. “Well?”
“Well what?”
“The gods are offering you a pact. Are you going to pledge them your undying service?”
“They’re not gods, Vari, they’re-”
She shushed him with a kiss and then firmly cupped the sides of his face as she stared into his eyes. “Are you going to live happily ever after with me in La La Land?”
“Ahem, I think I’ll leave you to it,” offered Citadel. “I have cockroaches to muster and an existential panic attack to stave off.”
“Any time you need to talk about that, you just say. Okay, Sid?”
“Thank you, Mark. I will.”
Mark felt Citadel’s presence fade away, like the air settling after a door is closed. Without breaking eye contact with Vari, he scribbled his signature on the paper and tossed both it and the pen onto the floor. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw them vanish just like Arix had done.
“I’m not sure it’s always going to be ‘happily’, Vari. There’s inquisitors to deal with.”
“Their monsters too. Worse things than Captain Wardog.”
“That’s right. And The Barrens is still full of creatures and secrets.”
“And it’d be nice to free Karaji from reiver slavery at some point.”
“Outsiders coming in and causing trouble as well.” He smiled and drew her closer. “So, I guess what I’m saying is that it might not be the healer slash children’s entertainer scenario any time soon.”
“That’s okay. I can wait.”
“Ever after?” asked Mark.
Vari answered him with a kiss.
End of Book Two
Congratulations!
You have completed the "Weighty Tome" quest.
With your piercing eyes you have slain the Epic Boss that is Book Two.
You are a ruthless executioner of reading material!
Your XP Reward = 500
If you enjoyed Executioner: Reign of Blood and have not already taken on the “Signed in Blood” quest, simply tap on the link below and you will be teleported to my mailing list signup.
And this quest comes with a loot drop as its reward.
Were you wondering how Citadel came to be the spirit-in-the-stones of the Warlocks’ rightful fortress? Having completed the “Signed in Blood” quest, you will receive two FREE short stories.
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In Old Flame you will learn how Citadel and Ivara of the Dancing Flame fought to the bitter end against the forces of oppression, and how Sid gave up his body to become the guardian and keeper of the Warlock Way.
In Bloody Minded you will hear about Dayna’s experiences during her nightmarish expedition into The Barrens and why she was the only ranger to return with Wayfarer’s diary.
Here’s the link again…
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Thank you again, Lorekeeper! If you want to check out my other stories, learn a bit more about about me, or hear my thoughts about LitRPG and video games, you’re most welcome to stop by www.edmcrae.com.
Cheers!
Edwin McRae
Character Sheet: Arix the Dammed
Class: Executioner - Level 9
Progress to Level 10 = 3022/5000
Body: 18
Modified Body: 19
(+1 from Dusk Leather Armor)
Mind: 15
Spirit: 15
HP: 162
Modified Body: 171
EP: 135
Skills
Axework (Tier 5)
Horse Riding (Tier 2)
Arbalist (Tier 4)
Acrobatics (Tier 3)
Climbing (Tier 3)
Buzzard Eyes (Tier 2)
Fox Ears (Tier 2)
Hound Scent (Tier 1)
Enduring Will (Tier 1)
Spells
Chopping Block (Tier 3)
Truelight (Tier 1)
Clean Slate (Tier 3)
Justice Prevails (Tier 3)
Righteous Fury (Tier 2)
Blood Retribution (Tier 1)
Suspended Sentence (Tier 1)
Gear (Buried in The Barrens)
Solmora’s Bite
Two-handed Battleaxe
+50% to base axe damage.
+25% attack speed.
50% chance of inducing a melancholy that reduces the victim’s damage dealt by 25%.
20% chance of inducing crippling despair that paralyzes the victim for 5 seconds.
“Despair is the fertile soil from which delight may sprout and bloom.” - Ishka the Devout
Dusk Leather Armor
+1 Body.
+5% movement speed.
20% reduction to torso damage during daylight or darkness.
40%reduction to torso damage during twilight.
5% chance to prevent total damage during daylight or darkness.
15% chance to prevent total damage during twilight.
“Dusk watches from the shadows as night murders the day.” - Vaydn the Merciful
Jaravir’s Handshake
Silver-forged Gauntlets
40% reduction in damage to the hands.
10% reduction in all physical damage received.
10% increased accuracy with two-handed weapons.
10% increased damage dealt with two-handed weapons.
“I make a promise with a handshake and keep it with a fist.” - Jaravir the Bloodcoin
Kren’s Tempered Cuisses
25% reduction to damage sustained to the upper leg.
25% chance to prevent all damage to upper leg.
15% reduction in upper leg muscle fatigue.
+10% to knee attacks.
“I don’t care if you’ve got balls of rock. I’ve got a knee of forged steel.”
- Captain Kren of the Imperial Guard
Kren’s Tempered Greaves
25% reduction to damage sustained to the lower leg.
25% chance to prevent all damage to lower leg.
15% reduction in lower leg muscle fatigue.
+10% to kick attacks.
“They say not to kick a man when he’s down. What a wasted opportunity.”
- Captain Kren of the Imperial Guard
Character Sheet: Mark the Everborn
Class: Warlock - Level 10
Progress to Level 11 = 5297/8000
Body: 18
Modified Body: 20
(+2 from Jaravir’s Icy Resolve)
Mind: 16
Modified Mind: 17
(+1 from Jaravir’s Icy Resolve)
Spirit: 16
Modified Spirit: 18
(+2 from Amulet of the Citadel)
HP:
160/160
Modified HP: 180
EP: 160
Modified EP: 180
Skills
Swordplay (Tier 5)
Horse Riding (Tier 2)
Spells
Terrifying Manifestation (Tier 4)
Second Skin (Tier 4)
Arcane Edge (Tier 4)
Ethereal Flesh (Tier 3)
Mind over Matter (Tier 1)
Ivara’s Ignited Exhalation (Tier 3)
Forge Anew (Tier 1)
Shroud of Shadow (Tier 2)
Cunning Linguist (Tier 2)
Lurking Inferno (Tier 3)
Obsidian Plate (Tier 1)
Fortress of Fire (Tier 1)
Rift of Corruption (Tier 1)
Gear
Garridar’s Ironhide
35% reduction to damage caused by hits to the torso.
20% reduction to damage to arms.
25% chance to prevent total damage.
10% Fire Resistance.
10% Cold Resistance.
“One must grow a thick skin to survive this harsh world.” - Garridar Stoneye
Volcanic Bastard Sword
A blade of living lava bound by thermal enchantments.
100% bonus to base sword damage.
150% bonus to base armor penetration.
30% chance of inflicting burning damage for 1-6 seconds.
25% chance of breaking a base weapon when sparring.
75% chance of cauterizing organic material.
Ambient heat can be transferred into metal and stone with 80% efficiency.
“Our petty angers are puffs of steam to the mountain’s molten rage.” - The Infernal Marakor
Jaravir’s Icy Resolve
Silver-forged Helmet
+2 Body.
+1 Mind.
40% reduction in damage to the head.
10% reduction in all physical damage received.
Contains ‘Petina of Frost’ to keep the wearer cool during battle.
“Either your head stays cool or you lose it.”
- Jaravir the Bloodcoin
Amulet of the Citadel
+2 Spirit
“Magic is the essence of a warlock. Loyalty is the essence of a friend.” - Citadel
Cuisses of the High Legion
20% reduction in damage caused to the upper leg.
20% chance to prevent total damage to the upper leg.
10% reduction in upper leg muscle fatigue.
“An empire begins with a pair of sturdy legs and a willingness to march.”
- Commander Ezra of the High Legion
Greaves of the High Legion
20% reduction in damage to the lower leg.
20% chance to prevent total damage to the lower leg.
10% reduction in lower leg muscle fatigue.
“Forget ceremony. A soldier stands on tender flesh and brittle bone.”
- Commander Ezra of the High Legion
Character Sheet: Vari of Karajan
Class: Figurist - Level 9
Progress to Level 10 = 4524/5000
Body: 12
Solmora’s Blessing +1 Modifier: 13
Mind: 17
Spirit: 19
Solmora’s Blessing +3 Modifier: 22
HP: 108
Modified HP: 117
EP: 189
Modified EP: 216
Skills
Alchemy (Tier 5)
Physik Perception (Tier 5)
Horse Riding (Tier 2)
Meta Sight (Tier 2)
Spells
Mend Flesh (Tier 5)
Rend Flesh (Tier 5)
Puppeteer (Tier 4)
Sculpt Bone (Tier 4)
Purify Blood (Tier 2)
Blinding Malaise (Tier 2)
Cleanse Infection (Tier 2)
Grow Afresh (Tier 2)
Gear
Solmora’s Blessing
+25% reduction to damage received.
+1 to Body.
+3 to Spirit.
+50% resistance to magical manipulation of the wearer’s Mind.
“With clarity and purpose we find our way through the mists of despair.” - Ishka the Devout
Ebon Staff of the Dusk
20% increase in casting speed.
+20% to staff base damage during daylight or darkness.
+50% to staff base damage during twilight.
“Day and night are stale illusions. Everything changes and dusk has the truth of it.”
- Desir the Leaden Heart
Blood of the Lost
+20% to base dagger damage.
30% chance of inducing internal hemorrhaging in an organic enemy.
+30% accuracy when thrown.
Will return to owner if in line of sight.
“We might be lost yet our blood will always find its way home.” - Ishka the Devout
Ring of Radiance
Produces a white light with a radiance equivalent to a burning lantern.
The wearer can invoke the radiance effect by uttering “Illuminate” and stop the radiance with an utterance of “Extinguish”.
The wearer can strengthen or weaken the radiance through force of will.
Breastplate of the High Legion
20% reduction in damage to the chest.
20% chance to prevent total damage to the chest.
10% increase in lung capacity.
“Can’t terrify an enemy with wheezes and gasps.”- Commander Ezra of the High Legion
About the Author
Edwin has been a screenwriter and narrative designer for over 12 years now. After four years of writing for television, he started with Grinding Gear Games in 2010. He became lead writer on the creative team that took their online ARPG, Path of Exile, from 80,000 players to 20 million players and a 100 million dollar buyout from Tencent. During the last eight years he's worked with numerous Indie game developers, helping them turn their ideas into stories that players can experience and enjoy.
Edwin has recently fallen in love with LitRPG, a genre that beautifully incorporates his twin passions of video games and science-fiction.
