The Cheater's Return

by Brian McGoldrick

  » HP Bonus: 15 / Level

  » All Attributes: 1/Level

  » Agility: +3 / Level

  » Perception: +3 / Level

  » PA 1 / Level

  » PDB 1 / Level

  » MA 1 / Level

  » MDB 1 / Level

  » Free Character Points: 5 / Level

  » Base Class Abilities: Spellcasting; Any Rogue Ability

  » Description: Aspect of Darkness

  Before the dawn of time, there was nothing but the Dark of the void and the great ball of Earth that would become Tathlum. Crom Cruach was among the firstborn of Earth and Dark. In the nebulous time, before the Elder Gods created Air, Fire, Water, and Light, he hunted the Outworld beasts that wandered the void.

  Earth Master

  » Archetype: Undefined

  » HP Bonus: 10 / Level

  » MP Bonus: 15 / Level

  » All Attributes: 1/Level

  » Reason: +3 / Level

  » Willpower: +3 / Level

  » PA 1 / Level

  » PDB 1 / Level

  » MA 2 / Level

  » MDB 2 / Level

  » Free Character Points: 5 / Level

  » Base Class Abilities: Spellcasting; Any Arcane Ability

  » Description: Aspect of Earth

  Before the dawn of time, there was nothing but the Dark of the void and the great ball of Earth that would become Tathlum. The Elder Gods were born of Dark and Earth. Their labors gave rise to Air, Fire, Water, and Light. All life rose from Earth, and all life returns to Earth.

  Crom Cruach was among the firstborn of Earth and Dark. His only interests were strength and power. He cared not for the weak lesser races that were born from the labors of the Elder Gods and scurried upon the surface of Tathlum. He cared not for those that prayed to him and besought his patronage. The only lessons he bequeathed were strength and solitude.

  Blood Warrior

  » Archetype: Undefined

  » HP Bonus: 20 / Level

  » All Attributes: 1/Level

  » Strength: +3 / Level

  » Toughness: +3 / Level

  » PA 2 / Level

  » PDB 2 / Level

  » MA 1 / Level

  » MDB 1 / Level

  » Free Character Points: 5 / Level

  » Base Class Abilities: Spellcasting; Any Fighter or Divine Ability

  » Description: Aspect of Blood

  Born in the time of Earth and Dark, Crom Cruach was the fiercest hunter of the Outworld beasts. After the Elder Gods created Air, Fire, Water, and Light, he returned to the depths of Tathlum to slumber, and in his dreams, he sometimes taught the meaning of Earth and Dark to the lesser races. He cared not for the lesser beings, but they worshiped him. They offered him libations of Blood, and he dreamed of the times when he hunted the Outworld beasts and fed on their Blood.

  When new Outworlders calling themselves Fomhoraigh and Tuatha De Danan came, they tried to displace Crom Cruach in the hearts of the lesser beings and sought his destruction. Crom Cruach awoke and he hunted the newcomers. After long ages of sleep, he hungered for the Blood of Outworlder beasts, but he only found the weak newcomer Gods. Acknowledging none, Crom Cruach brought an age of Blood and Slaughter to all.

  "Let me see the classes."

  I copy the class statistics for the three classes, but not their descriptions, to the party channel. In the back of my mind, I have the feeling that I should not let Raven Goddess know about the Aspect Class descriptions, at least not yet.

  As she looks at the descriptions, Raven Goddess frowns. "The attribute values are extremely strong, but the Base Ability options are ordinary. For the inheritance of Crom Cruach, I would have expected the classes to be stronger."

  The description window for each of the classes has a second tab labeled Aspect Class Abilities, but they are nothing but blank pages. I do not see the point in mentioning it. To be honest, even if there was information on those tabs, I am not sure I would mention it. After all, Raven Goddess and I have a complicated relationship, and I really do not want her to know everything about me.

  I frown. "Yeah. All three are strong. I prefer fighter type classes, but both of the others are interesting too. I'm not sure which one I should pick."

  Raven Goddess give me an odd look. "Why do you not simply triple-class?"

  With my mouth hanging open, I do nothing but gape at Raven Goddess for a good twenty seconds. "Triple-class? Are you crazy? That would be 2.1 million XP just get all three to Level 20, forget about 40, 100 or 180."

  Raven Goddess gives me a flat stare. "Every twenty Levels opens up a new Rank, and the experience requirements scale up by a factor of ten. Level 20 is 700,000 experience points, and Level 40 is 7,000,000 experience points. When you reach Level 20, others should only be at most Level 25 or 26, and that assumes you do not steal extra shares of experience."

  "We can't be the only ones that can steal extra XP."

  Raven Goddess scoffs. "Of course, we are not, but among those cheaters dragooned into serving the Church, I know of none that is even as efficient as you were before you started copying my techniques. Now, you should be considerably more efficient."

  "Let me think about it. It's almost time to meet Vinny."

  Raven Goddess stares appraisingly at me for a moment. "If you do not want to accept my judgment, I can introduce you to people who fought in World War VIII as double-classes and triple-classes."

  I just nod and start the log out sequence.

  Triple-classing. I am not too sure about that. I was planning to use the cheat to pull way out in front of other people while Leveling, but maybe it would not be so bad to triple-Class.

  Shadows from the Past

  Earth: Yukon City

  May 14, 1337 AA

  Following Morgan Danan, Patrick Armagh entered the back seat of the limousine.

  "Take us to the unlicensed fighting club."

  "Yes, Ma'am."

  It took slightly less than half an hour for the limousine to reach an industrial gate in the city walls of Yukon City.

  Following World War III, the Patriarch of the Church of the Resurrection provided advanced technology to the small communities of survivors that allowed them to ultimately build cities that could provide shelter from the radioactivity. The newly risen city-states were all surrounded by walls and had energy domes that could screen out the lethal radiation. By 1337 AA, there was little need for the radiation screens in many parts of the world, but nearly all residential buildings were still contained within the walls of the city-states.

  The abandoned factory that Vincent Torino used for his illegal fighting business was outside the city walls, and the Yukon City government generally turned a blind eye to such ventures. The lives of people were cheaper than dirt, and extralegal ventures like Vincent's fighting club provided an outlet for violent and aggressive tendencies. It and other places like were a needed pressure valve in a city-state of over forty million residents, where three-quarters of them were living in poverty.

  With Patrick and Morgan, both lost in their own thoughts, the journey had passed in silence, and they both looked out the windows with a faint air of bewilderment, when the limousine stopped next to the factory building.

  The guards outside the factory door easily recognized Patrick, and one of them offered a faint smile. "Hey, Wild Boar. Boss is waiting for you in the VIP lounge."

  "Thanks."

  With Morgan Danan at his side, Patrick Armagh crossed the empty manufacturing floor and ascended one of the sets of stairs leading to the second floor VIP area.

  In his usual booth, Vincent had a half-empty bottle of whiskey on the table and half-empty glass in his hand.

  With a look of surprise in his eyes, Vincent rose to his feet. "Hello, Wild Boar. Ms. Danan, is there something I can help you with?"

  With a slight smile turning up the corners of her lips, Morgan Danan shook her head. "I am just accompanying Crom."

  As his eyes narrowed, Vincent tu
rned his stare on Patrick. "Crom? Crom Cruach? You claimed you were not him."

  Despite the layers of fat on his face, Patrick appeared to have a smile on and nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. "I lied. Other than you, how many people do you really think would associate a fat pig like me with the Shadow Knight Crom Cruach?"

  For a few moments, Vincent's face flushed, and his eyes filled with anger. After he closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, his stony facade returned.

  "Sit, please."

  After Patrick and Morgan took their seats in the booth, Vincent sat down and observed the pair for a moment. They were sitting close together, but there was still enough distance between them to indicate that theirs was not an entirely comfortable relationship.

  Vincent met Patrick's eyes. "What should I call you, now?"

  Patrick shrugged. "Whatever you want. As long as I'm not looking for an excuse to hit someone, I don't particularly care what people call me."

  "Do you need an excuse to hit someone?"

  Again, Patrick shrugged. "Not really. You're the one that called me here. You want to get to the point?"

  A faint frown appeared on Vincent's lips. "My son was drafted and I volunteered to get him out of the draft. The club is shutting down."

  Patrick nodded. "No problem. I've been drafted, and I'm moving to the City of Mann, anyway."

  Vincent shook his head. "I wonder if that is what you could call fate."

  "Mr. Torino."

  Vincent met Morgan's hawkish stare. "Yes, Ms. Danan?"

  "You are a veteran of World War VIII and a Legion of Merit holder in Yukon City. Your son should have been exempt from the draft. Do you mind telling me how that happened?"

  Vincent's eyes narrowed, and hostility was visible in their depths. "How do you know that?"

  "Cavallo of Rocky Peak Castle."

  It took Vincent nearly thirty seconds to get his expression under control, but once he again had a stony lack of expression, he stared intensely at Morgan. "How did you know? How long have you known?"

  Morgan gave Vincent a faint smile. "I knew long before I ever came to Yukon City, but that is immaterial. You are a decorated veteran. Your immediate family should be exempt from the draft for World War IX. How did your son get drafted?"

  Vincent sighed. "Archbishop Green is an enemy of mine. He is the Archbishop of Yukon City, and the Chairman of the City Council has his nose so far up Green's ass, he could lick his tonsils."

  Tilting her head slightly to one side, Morgan stared speculatively at Vincent with pursed lips for a few moments. "Have you considered emigrating from Yukon City?"

  Vincent scoffed. "A World War has begun. Do you really think the City Council or Archbishop Green would let me escape?"

  Morgan smiled coldly. "If you left with me, no one would dare to interfere. I am willing to offer you and your family asylum in the City of Mann."

  "Why?" Vincent delivered the single word question in a cold voice that contained more than just a hint of threat.

  "You were a thorn in my side during the Greenwald War. I have a great deal of respect for both your tactical and strategic ability. You rival the best of my Cryogenic Immortals. After World War VIII ended, I had you thoroughly investigated, and I found it interesting that you destroyed your Cavallo sheathe and started over from scratch. Also, I know that you are not a Churchman. I am fully aware of your enmity with Archbishop Green.

  "Become one of my men. Whatever your choice, I offer you a safe home for your family. I swear it on my Blood and my Name." Without revealing any sign of her thoughts or emotions, Morgan stared into Vincent's eyes.

  Vincent frowned slightly. "Would you be upset if I said I did not wish to found a polity or lead your armies?"

  Morgan shook her head. "No. What do you want to do?"

  Vincent shifted his gaze to Patrick. "I want to adventure with you."

  Patrick's jaw fell open. "Huh? Why?"

  "I want to fight with my life on the line. I want to feel what it's like to be alive again."

  Patrick grinned. "Throwing my own words back at me?"

  Vincent shrugged. "Laura, my wife, fought with me through World War VIII. Recently, she told me that I seem like a shell of the man I once was. She's right. I witnessed that battle between the two of you. Whether before or after, I never saw anyone have so much fun fighting such a brutal, bloody battle. If I adventure with you, maybe, I will find what I lost."

  Vincent looks around the empty building. "After the war was over, I was burned out, but I was addicted to the violence and killing. I destroyed my sheathe from the war to escape from myself, but I still lived as a cryogenic immortal, until Laura wanted to start a family. I left the game for her, but I had already lost part of myself. I think I may have become a gangster because I was looking for the rush of battle and killing, again, but it did not work. I am like a man adrift without a rudder. What do you say?"

  Patrick's fat lips split apart, revealing his big, white teeth, and he held out his hand. "Sure, Vinny. It'll be a lot of fun. I guarantee it."

  After shaking Patrick's hand, Vincent looked at Morgan again. "I accept your offer, Ms. Danan."

  Morgan revealed a small smile. "You may call me Morgan or Raven."

  Vincent nodded. "Raven."

  "Crom, I said I would introduce you to men who had triple-classed. Crom Cruach, meet Cavallo."

  With raised eyebrows, Patrick looked at Vincent. "You were a triple-class?"

  "During World War VIII, not after. When I started over, I only used a single class. Being a multi-Class means you are hunting strength and power. It takes an enormous amount of work to build up a multi-Class sheathe. It is the path of a true power gamer. No one else is crazy enough to put that much effort into maximizing their sheathe."

  Vincent released a breath that might have been a sigh and a faint smile touched his lips. "I used to be a hardcore power gamer. I took full advantage of triple classing. After the war was over, Laura wanted to play for fun, so we started over. I gave up my sheathe, my name, and my past. I will never tell Laura, but a part of me has always regretted it."

  With narrowed eyes, Patrick gave the impression of pensively frowning, even though the layers of fat made any subtle changes to his expression impossible to read. "There has to be a catch. Other than the experience costs, what is the downside?"

  Vincent smiled faintly. "Most people never wonder about the second part. I have seen a couple dozen munchkins that thought they were power gamers completely ruin their sheathes by doing things in a half-assed manner. You need classes that complement each other and fill in the weaknesses for each other, or you need classes that enhance the strengths of each other.

  "I knew someone that managed to learn the Church of the Sun's Holy Knight Class and then learned the Shadow Knight Class. It was a complete disaster. The classes are almost directly antithetical to one another. He was killed early on in World War VIII. I cannot remember his name or his face anymore, but I will never forget his idiocy."

  Vincent stared steadily into Patrick's eyes. "Are you seriously thinking of triple-classing?"

  Patrick nodded. "I have access three hidden classes that all come from the same source. They were all created and used by one person in the past."

  Vincent whistled softly. "That is a treasure-trove. If you seriously plan to do this, do not waste your Character Points on Attributes. They are just too hard to come by. You will have three classes all feeding into your Attributes. You will be a bloody monster, and those five Character Points per Level will be barely more than a waste. Use your character points on your Abilities. Skills can be increased by using, and I always thought Character Point boosted Skills were substandard to those raised through practice and use. Abilities cannot be Leveled by using them. You need to grind Character Points for that. If you try to grind the XP to convert into Character Points on top of Leveling up a triple-class, you will stagnate."

  Patrick nodded his head. "Okay, thanks. I get the picture."

/>   "Vincent, despite the Church not being courageous enough to touch me, if you stay in Yukon City after I leave, they will not hesitate to go after you and your family. We should act now, if you want to safely extricate yourself from Yukon City. As long as we are together, not even one as arrogant as Archbishop Green will interfere."

  Vincent stared into Morgan's icy eyes for a moment and nodded. "Let's go."

  Rising to his feet and heading toward the front of the abandoned factory, Vincent took out his pocket assistant and made a call. "Rick, bring the car around front."

  "Yes, Boss."

  Terminating the call, Vincent put his pocket assistant away. As he walked through the building, his eyes seemed to be looking everywhere, and there was an air of melancholy surrounding him.

  When the three reached the door, Vincent stopped, and looking back at the empty building, he gave a faint sigh. "Nothing ever stays the same, and the end of one thing means the beginning of another."

  As Vincent left the building, his age almost seemed to regress, and fierce determination filled his eyes.

  * * * * *

  Vincent lived in a detached mansion, with a small yard, in the wealthiest part of Yukon City. Under the social structure of the city-state, it was an area that required one to have more than just money to own property, but as one of only three living Legion of Merit holders, there was no one in the city bureaucracy that would have tried to deny him the right to purchase land.

  When the limousines belonging to Morgan and Vincent came to a stop, there were already two people waiting on the front porch, with a stack of luggage next to them. One was a very pale, blonde woman that looked to be in her mid-thirties, and the other was a boy that looked to be in his late teens.

  As Patrick and Morgan exited Morgan's limousine, both of the people on the porch stared at the two, but each of them appeared to have entirely different thoughts regarding the subjects of their stares. The woman's stare appeared curious, and the boy's stare was clearly denigrating.

  While the blonde woman stared at Morgan, her eyes contained a mix of caution, respect and hot-blooded rivalry.

  Vincent stood next to the blond woman, facing Patrick and Morgan. "Raven this is my wife, Laura. She was Serena, the campaign strategist behind Rocky Peak Castle's expansion. I was just the battle strategist."