As SJ made her way back through the streets towards District 11, her display triggered. Opening her notifications, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Your alignment has changed to neutral.
Panic flooded SJ as she opened the second notification.
Congratulations on killing Charles Shaltier, 1245xp earned.
'Who is that?' SJ thought.
"No idea," Dave replied.
Moments later, her display triggered again.
Congratulations on killing Justin Boyle, 245xp earned.
Update - Class Quest - Three for two
Carlito has issued you the task of completing three guild quests. You may complete any three of the following within the next seventy-two hours:
A cheating wife - eliminate Olivia Sharcastle, known to frequent the Emperor’s Arms. - Complete
Competition - eliminate Master Garshaw’s sole competition in the market area of District 4.
Elimination - Remove the threat caused by the Legionnaire Justin to the assassin guild ‘Liquidation’. - Complete
Hallowed Earth - find the person behind the death of Killian Broadaxe and seek vengeance.
Reward: Two class perk points.
"Oh no," SJ said aloud. A passing elf glanced at her with a strange expression. "Sorry," SJ said as she continued hurriedly down the street.
'What have I just done?' she thought. The only consideration she had was to get home; the fact that it appeared that she managed to kill two people rather than just Justin, the only factor coming to mind was that they had shared a drink. SJ felt sick. She had no idea who this Charles Shaltier was, but looking at the experience gain she had gained from the kill, he must have been at a much higher level. There were no details of damage or anything from the poison notification, just the kill comment.
Her senses had hit overdrive. Every sound on the street seemed twice as loud as before. Hurrying back home, she entered and went straight up to her room, ignoring the pleasantries from Yawnee and Lurtew as she did. Closing her bedroom door behind her, she sat heavily on the edge of her bed and placed her head in her hands.
"I don't know what you are getting all upset about," Dave said unhelpfully.
'I may have just killed an innocent,' SJ thought.
"Damn it," she cursed aloud and punched the bed in anger. Kibble had started to move towards her since she had entered and squeaked, jumping backwards. Hearing his squeak, SJ turned around and looked at her companion.
"Sorry, Kibble. I didn't mean to scare you."
Kibble looked at her, tilting his little head on his long neck, and blinked cautiously. SJ moved her hand out towards him, and he took a moment before approaching and rubbed into it.
'My alignment has changed. That isn't a good thing.'
"It's still neutral. It isn't as if you have just become chaotic evil."
'That's not the point, and you know it isn't. I always said I would fight for good over evil, and for my alignment to change down, I must have killed someone good.'
"Maybe, maybe not. They may not have been lawfully aligned."
'That still doesn't make me feel any better. I know nothing about them. At least with the others, I have had information supporting a reason behind their assassinations.'
"Come on. It's only one being. Many lives have been lost over the millennia, and many have been innocent. Look at the wars that have taken place. Particularly the Scrug Wars. Millions died during that period. Many of them were innocent bystanders to the troubles."
'That doesn't mean what I have managed to do is excusable. I need to find out who this Charles was.'
"Why torture yourself? What has happened has happened. You can't undo it. It is just something to consider in the future if you decide to try and use poison again."
'Never,' SJ thought emphatically.
"Never, say never. There may be a time you require it in the future," Dave said.
Kibble had moved and climbed onto her lap. A tear of anger and frustration fell from her cheek and landed on his head, making him shake his head in protest. She slowly stroked him, feeling the warmth and love that he was giving off, his purring growl vibrating against her thigh and stomach. Gradually, SJ calmed herself, getting control of her emotions as she did.
"Let's get you some food," SJ said. Standing and placing Kibble on the bed. He bobbed his head excitedly and hopped from the bed, following her as she left the room and headed down to the kitchen.
Yawnee was in the small office and called to her as she passed.
"Are you ok?"
"I am sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I had some bad news, that was all."
"Hopefully, nothing too drastic?" Yawnee asked.
"No. It will be fine," SJ replied as she entered the kitchen and sorted Kibble out some hogling from the icebox. Once Kibble was happily tucking into his meal, SJ walked back to the office, leaning on the door frame.
"How has your day been?" SJ asked.
"Good. We are ahead with the barrels, so we hope to close out earlier than expected with the Brewers Guild. We haven't informed them yet. Lurtew doesn't think it advisable until we get paid for our latest batch."
"Knowing what they are like, I would have to agree. Have you seen Holly or the kids today?"
"No, not today. I am guessing they are still at the inn."
"I will call around and see how they are getting on. Oh, before I forget. There will be a visitor a little later, he should be coming around at 1600hrs. I am discussing some building work with him."
"Building work?" Yawnee asked.
"Yes. I wish to get a balcony built at the rear of my room and even potentially have a further set of steps from the yard up to it. I was also thinking of getting an entrance built into the rear yard wall. It would allow you and Lurtew access from the garage area to the yard as well and then one out onto the street from the yard.
"I see. That is quite a lot of work, and it wouldn't be cheap."
"I am aware. I have been chatting to one of the construction firms. 'Garshaw's Construction'."
"They have a good reputation. My friend has used them before. The work they performed was excellent."
"That is good to know," SJ smiled. "Right. I am just going to call around to see Holly and the kids. Then, I need to head over to District 12. I should be back before they are due, but if not, could you make them welcome? Their name is Redford."
"Of course I can," Yawnee smiled.
At this time of day, the outer door to the inn's rooms was unlocked, so SJ entered and went up to their room. Knocking on the door, she waited patiently. The door opened just a crack, and Joel looked through. Seeing SJ, he pulled the door open fully.
"Hi, SJ," he smiled.
"You are looking a lot brighter today."
"I feel it. Thank you for the healing tonics. Mum told me you bought them."
SJ smiled. "It's not a problem. Is your mum in?"
"No. She went to work at the bar again. Harry has gone back to bed. He keeps complaining that he is bored and has nothing to do."
"I am guessing your mum said you had to stay here?"
"Yeah."
"Did she say when she would be back?"
"No, sorry. She didn't say a time."
SJ looked over at the table, where she noticed a tattered piece of parchment and an inkwell.
"What are you doing?"
"Practicing my writing. Mum said that I need to be able to write if I want to better myself."
"That's great. I am guessing your mum has taught you?"
Joel looked away, a little embarrassed.
"What is it, Joel?"
"Mum can't read or write," Joel said, looking down.
"Then how are you learning?" SJ asked, confused.
"I copy the words, usually from signs, and try to learn what they mean."
SJ walked to the table, where she could see many well-written words scratched on the parchment. The latest word was Emperor, which SJ assumed Joel had copied from the inn's sign.
"Do you know this word?"
"No."
"It is 'emperor'. As in the ruler of the continent."
"So this inn is owned by the emperor?" Joel asked in shock.
SJ couldn't help but laugh in response. "No. It is just a name. Many inns are named after different beasts or beings. The Black Griffin, The Emperor's Arms."
"Oh. You said emperor, right?"
"Yes. These letters are pronounced em, then puh, then ruh."
Joel spent the next few minutes asking SJ about several other words he had written down. A few of them she didn't recognise and could only assume they were another language. That was the problem of living in a city with so many races and languages spoken and trying to self-teach. If you didn't know how to read or write, you were already on the back foot. SJ was impressed with how well he had written the words; the letters were perfectly formed, and he had to have practised them for some time.
"Maybe we can get you a teacher at some point?"
"A teacher?"
"Don't you have schools in the city?" Coming to think of it, SJ had never even considered schools previously. A scribe had taught Cristy while she was still at the orphanage in Killic, but Killic didn't have a school either.
'I may have to look into getting a school built in Killic,' SJ thought. 'It would help the town massively if all the children attended school and learned to read and write.'
"That is unlikely it will happen," Dave said.
'Why?'
"Most children work before their coming of age to support families. Look at Little Stuart."
'I hadn't even considered it before now.'
It was another of a multitude of ideas that SJ would add to her list. After sitting with Joel for a while longer, SJ asked what they were doing for food that evening. Joel shrugged, not even considering food since they had eaten huge breakfasts that morning. SJ doubted that Holly would work late, knowing the boys were at the inn by themselves.
"I need to go. I have an errand to do. I will call back later to see your mum," SJ said.
"Thank you for helping me."
"Not a problem. Maybe I can teach you your numbers at some point."
Joel smiled at her comment as she left the room. He closed and locked the door behind her. As she walked down the stairs, she smiled at her interaction with Joel. The fact that he was trying to better himself filled her with hope.
District 12 was nicknamed the smithies district. The air hung heavy with the smell of soot and oil. Virtually every street corner SJ turned, she could hear the clang of metal on metal as smithies performed their trade. The number compared to the rest of the districts she had visited it definitely held to its nickname. After asking directions, she eventually found Poxon Street, where Killian Broadaxe's smithy had been. The arched entranceways to the covered smithy area where the forge was situated were blocked by wooden doors. A sign hung on the entrance written in common and a second language that she assumed was dwarven. 'CLOSED'. There was also a weathered parchment tacked to the door.
'Reward, 30 silver for information into the death of Killian Broadaxe. Contact Ferya at the Cobalt Armoury.'
It didn't take SJ long to track down the armoury. It was only a street over, and a bright cobalt sign of a shield hung above its entrance. The stone building was single-storey, and SJ entered through the large double doors into an open-floored shop filled with suits of armour. Mannequins littered the floor space, holding various differing styles and types of armour. There were suits of plate, chain, scale, and splint, and within each primary type, there were multiple variations. The differing metals used were also prominent: copper, brass, bronze, iron, and steel. At the rear of the shop was a display behind bars, and inside, SJ recognised the brilliant, lustrous sheen of mithril.
It was not just the number of differing types of armour but also the designs that attracted SJ's attention. Some were heavily customised with crests, emblems, or beasts. Several pieces even had spikes on them. One particular set of plate armour, which was coloured black, reminded SJ more of a hedgehog. It had so many small sharp spikes attached to it. SJ couldn't imagine it being the most practical armour to wear.
As SJ took in the shop, a female dwarf approached her from behind a counter.
"Hello, miss. Can I help you with anything?"
SJ looked at the dwarf; she was dressed smartly in a deep rib-boned burgundy dress. Her ample bosom was forced upwards by its grip. The dress seemed almost unnatural and uncomfortable to SJ. Her hair was a deep black, and as per many female dwarves, she sported a perfectly trimmed beard with plaited strands. She stood relatively tall for a dwarf, not much shorter than SJ herself.
"Are you Ferya?"
"I am, and welcome to my shop. May I ask how you know my name?" Ferya smiled warmly, her eyes full of mirth.
"I was hoping to speak to you about the alleged murder of Killian Broadaxe."
Ferya's expression changed immediately, and all mirth disappeared in an instant.
"And what is it you wish to discuss," Ferya's tone was now sharp and direct.
"I work at the tower and am trying to find out some details about his death."
Ferya frowned at SJ's comment. "The tower closed the case based on what the district guard told me."
"They had, but I am helping with some of the older cases, and I was asked to do some further investigation to ensure nothing was missed."
Ferya's frown didn't leave her face; if anything, she appeared more hostile. "It has been weeks since his murder, and only now does someone from the tower come to see me."
"I am sorry, but with everything that has been happening recently, the tower guards have been stretched, so they have brought in some more of us to help with the investigations to allow the guards to cover other necessary tasks. I am sure the news of the recent riots have reached all the districts by now."
"There were no riots when it was reported initially."
"All I can do is apologise on behalf of the tower, and I am here to do what I can to assist with the matter."
"You are becoming much better at making up stories on the fly," Dave chuckled.
SJ ignored Dave and continued.
"The tower has also been made aware that a job has been raised at a guild in relation to his death and would like to prevent any further bloodshed if possible."
Ferya squinted at SJ, her narrowed eyes burning into her, her lips tight.
"So, it takes me to raise a quest to get the attention it should have got initially," Ferya huffed in response.
"So, you admit to raising the request?" SJ asked.
Ferya's expression changed immediately to one of wariness, realising what she had just admitted to doing.
"Look. I am not interested in who raised what, where or why. I am just after information that may lead to discovering who may be behind the murder," SJ said, realising that she may have stretched too far with her latest comment and didn't want her clamming up. "I am assuming you must have an idea; otherwise, you wouldn't have raised it."
SJ could see Ferya go through an internal battle before she replied. "How do I know you are from the tower?"
Quickly thinking, SJ removed her token, which showed her as a council member. She hoped that Ferya didn't know there were different tokens for different roles.
Freya looked at the token carefully before replying again. "Okay. I can tell you exactly who murdered Killian."
"Who?" SJ asked.
"It was his cousin, Malvon."
"And where can I find this Malvon, and how do you know?"
"Killian was killed by a particular weapon that only few know of and only dwarves carry."
"Which weapon?"
"He was struck with a dwarf pick. It is a specially designed weapon for piercing armour, similar to a war pick, with a much finer blade. It is designed even to penetrate Mithril and is devastating to an unarmoured foe. Killian was struck on the back of his head by one."
"And how can you be certain it was Malvon who did this?"
"Malvon had been trying to ruin Killian's business for decades. They have been rivals in the district for nearly fifty years. Malvon is the only dwarf I know in this district whose personal weapon is a dwarf pick. Very few dwarves even have the skills to forge them these days unless you went to the ancient smiths in the dwarven capital. I told all this to the guard previously, and they never acted on the information."
"Where could I find this, Malvon?"
"He will be at his smithy on Neflew Street or at the 'Drowned Slug' where he spends most of his time."
"Is it far from here?"
"His smithy is west of the district near the inner wall and the Drowned Slug. Any resident in District 12 can direct you there."
"Okay. Thank you for the information. I will look into the matter further, and if I discover anything, I will let you know."
Ferya didn't reply, turning away from SJ and heading towards a customer who had entered since they had begun talking and striking up a conversation. SJ took that as her message to leave, and after checking her display and the time, she decided she better head back to meet Redford at her home.
