《Shaleen the Wanderer (old version)》


 1.1 Before the Sphere

    Arc 1 Introduction to the sphere, Chapter 1: Before the Sphere


    Martin Cortan closed the door and let himself slowly drop on the couch.


    Finally Home ¨C if I never met another suit with opinions on how to improve the companies webshop, it¡¯ll be ten years too soon. Four hours wasted to explain that one of those ideas is illegal and the other two would double the administrative work without any improvement¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°[bing] ¨C you got mail¡± comes from the computer in the next room.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°Can¡¯t I get five minutes pause today?¡± Another quarter of an hour later Martin sits down before his computer and opens the mail.


    ¡°Hi Martin, what¡¯s up? You promised to help us programming the NPCs in the new Icewind zone. We¡¯re currently in the developer¡¯s chat to discuss the planned story¡±.


    [activate chat window]


    <Mart001 logged in>


    <TrevAlpha>so we agree to use a druid NPC at the triangle forest to summon up to twenty ice wolves as the main enemy?


    <TrevAlpha>Hi Martin, you¡¯re late


    <Mart001>sorry ¨C and I have to skip the sessions today. Just came back from work late, and I don¡¯t feel like developing our free game server today. I just want to fall into my bed¡­


    <Lightgal>Sorry to hear, just take your rest ¨C work is more important than this hobby after all


    <Mart001>Bye and gn8


    ¡­


    ¡°So, now where did I put the bread this mor¡­¡±


    FLASH


    WHITE


    Everything around is white


    ¡­


    ¡­


    After a short while the whiteness slowly leaves. I blink my eyes trying to see something¨C I don¡¯t feel the floor or anything else. Looking around I see a large black room with several people floating in the air, about one or two meters above strange golden circles.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    A bit before me floats a very old man in hospital gown with the ends of several catheters and tubes hanging down. Behind that a young Asian girl in a school uniform shouts agitated in a language I don¡¯t understand.


    Suddenly another flash comes from the right, and then there is a man in a pastor¡¯s cloak floating next to me on the other side. This repeats a few more times, and like myself no one seems to know what¡¯s going on.


    ¡°Hello? Can someone tell what¡¯s going on?¡± I shout into the room. All the people around just look confused.


    With a black flash a giant man appears before us. He is about three times as large as even the larger people floating here. He looks like a medieval merchant, but one in extremely expensive clothing.


    ¡°Hello everyone ¨C let¡¯s get started now since everyone is here. We haven¡¯t got all day after all.¡±


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Xenotic Conversion


    Phase one started


    Processing 01% complete


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Some form of holographic window suddenly floats before my eyes, blocking a part of my sight. But before I can even think about this, the giant continues to speak.


    ¡°Yes, you have been kidnapped. And no, I have no intention of letting you return home or hear any complains about it. So don¡¯t bother with that part. But since the rules require giving you some explanations, let¡¯s get that out of the way.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been around for quite a number of centuries, and your ancestors sometimes called me a god because they were too primitive to grasp realities. I¡¯ve been given names like Loki, Lugh, Coyote or Kutkh ¨C but there is no need to bow down to me as a god or use any of those ancient names.¡±


    ¡°You can simply call me Rob ¨C that is R.O.B. or short for Royally Overpowered Bastard - that would be enough on niceties.¡±


    Suddenly there is a shout from the right ¡°You¡¯re like that Q from TV¡±. It looks as if it came from some colored kid with a skateboard and a baseball cap, but difficult to be sure with that blue screen partially blocking.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Xenotic Conversion


    Phase one Processing 47% complete


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Rob is obviously incensed. He turns around and shouts ¡°Hey ¨C I hate Treckies with their boring ¡®everything is a bright future¡¯ mentality. And for comparing me with that low power failure that can¡¯t get a single plan working correctly ¨C for that insult you¡¯ll get an extra curse!¡±


    A small light shoots from his hand and hits the kid that grunts in pain.


    ¡°Ok, let¡¯s ignore that unpleasant interruption and get back to business. You all will be send into a world we created and have to live there from now on. You¡¯ll even get ten fate points to make sure that you are unlikely to die on your first day.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯ll grab some popcorn and watch how you handle your conversion and your new world ¨C I even have a side bet going on how many of you will survive their first month, their first year or their first decade.¡±


    A bright smile appears on Rob¡¯s face. ¡°Please, try to survive ¨C it would get me quite some rewards if enough of you survive for me to win the bet.¡±


    ¡°I even promise that we¡¯ll let you live without further interruptions ¨C unless you become interesting for us, of course. If you do have an interesting life in the Sphere, then we might meet again someday. And now off you go¡­¡±


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Xenotic Conversion


    Phase one Processing 100% complete


    Initiating Transfer - Phase two


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Suddenly the force that holds us afloat vanishes and we fall down into black tunnels inside the golden circles below us.


    Before everything vanishes I still hear Rob¡¯s last whisper ¡°Of course interesting means the same as in that old Chinese saying ¡®May you live in interesting times¡­¡¯¡±


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Xenotic Conversion Phase two Transfer ongoing


    Initiating Body Conversion ¨C Phase three


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 1.2.1 Dark Cultist Sacrifice

    Arc 1:Introduction to the Sphere Chapter 2, Part 1: Dark Cultist Sacrifice


    I¡¯m falling down through a darkness more intense than anything I¡¯ve ever seen or experienced before. Something grabs my hands and feet and stretches me while my body feels like it¡¯s burning ¨C that is how those victims of medieval torturers must have felt. I have no reference to anything and continue falling.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>Xenotic Conversion


    Body Conversion complete


    Adding Fate subsequence and 10 Fate


    Transfer complete


    Xenotic Conversion Complete</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Suddenly there is light and I land on something uneven. I¡¯m lying with my back on something a bit squishy, warm and wet, and above me Iooms an old man in a black cowl. One of his raised hands holds a bloody dagger, the other raises something that looks like a still bloody heart, but one that seems to contain a metal ball as well as flesh. He looks surprised at me.


    ¡°Wha¡­¡±?


    I try to get away, but my hands and feet are bound somehow.


    <table style="background-color: #21d121">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Danger Detect ¨C automatic Fate modification.


    4 Fate used ¨C 6 Fate left</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    There is some disturbance somewhere in the room. Loud shouting and alarm cries. But before I can understand what¡¯s happening, the face of the old man changes and becomes determined.


    And before I can do anything, the dagger crashes down.


    PAIN


    <table style="background-color: #21d121">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center">Critical Damage ¨C Heart pierced


    Fate activation of boosted [hidden], organic regeneration begins.


    Low Need ¨C Fate modification for [hidden].


    4 Fate used ¨C 2 Fate left</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Everything goes dark¡­


    ¡­..


    I¡¯m groggy, and something is hitting me. Everything hurts and heat waves go through my body. Someone is holding my arms in a painful grip. I see two men above me, and when I try to move one slaps me in the face while the other keeps hitting my legs and abdomen.


    ¡°Stop it ¨C Help, Help, somebody Help¡± I try to shout.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="619">


    Help System activating


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="619">


    Sphere System HELP


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" rowspan="4" width="54"></td>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="509">


    Welcome to the Sphere System Help Segment


    This system can be activated at any time by concentrating on [Help]. If that is no longer necessary you can change this configuration under [History/Log].


    </td>


    <td style="text-align: center" rowspan="4" width="56"></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="509">


    We hope that your life in the sphere will be long and productive or full of challenges depending on your personal preferences.


    To ensure this we made the system that will manage your existence as simple as possible ¨C you really should not need such a help because everything should be self-explanatory.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="509">


    Basically you can call up any of the management screens by concentrating on their name, like [Status]. If you concentrate on any word in any screen, it will bring up an explanation as well ¨C it¡¯s so simple that any idiot can use this.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center" width="509">


    If the system itself has any question for you ¨C like asking how you want to proceed, then just think the answer and the System or the Gods will handle the rest.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    What? I can¡¯t see anything anymore? What idiot is responsible for this? All I can do is to listen to try to figure out what¡¯s going on while being slapped around and while my body burns.


    There is a woman speaking somewhere in the room. ¡°Markus, Hel¡¯kor ¨C finish that and let¡¯s get out of here. The City Watch can arrive any minute now, and I don¡¯t want to sit through a week of bureaucracy just for this small bit of loot.¡±


    I hear the two men standing up and feel how they grab the chains around my wrists and ankles. One of them speaks ¡°These chains are magical, they should be worth something as well ¨C but the other things in her inventory are bound.¡±


    My arms and legs fall down, released from their chains. Everything hurts and I hear steps leaving in some distance.


    Everything still hurts as hell, but slowly the burning sensation begins to fade.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    organic regeneration complete.


    Ability [hidden] cancelled.


    Health 1/5 stabilized.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I finally get rid of these screens and look around ¨C some sort of medieval stone hall with an altar-like block next to me, no windows. I have to try and stand¡­.


    What? My body? Why do I have the body of a woman? What is going on?


    There is a lot of blood on the body I see when I look down, and when I try to move my arms, the feminine looking arms do that. Grabbing the large boobs hanging on the body also feels as if I touch my own body. Somehow and for whatever reason that bastard changed my body into a woman.


    I lie down again ¨C the stone is cold but I can¡¯t process all what¡¯s happened to me.


    ¡­


    After a few more minutes while I hear steps approaching. Three man in some sort of uniform come from the door. The uniform looks like a variant of medieval light armor with several badges ¨C could this be the city watch that the woman mentioned?


    One of the men starts going around the room while the other two approach me. One of them steps to the side while the third one looks at me.


    ¡°You are on an official crime scene under investigation by the city watch. Please share your background and gallery with Constable Miller so that we can determine your reason for being here¡±.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Constable Miller of the Blackfield City Watch wants to access your data.


    Share YES/NO?


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Huh???¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡°Attention please. You are found on a crime scene and we need to check for your part in what happened here. Failure to share your info will require us to arrest you as a suspect for more detailed questioning. I will not ask again ¨C please share your data with Constable Miller now!¡±


    ¡°Uh ¨C yes?¡± What does he even mean with this question? I¡¯m very confused.


    The other man (Constable Miller?) suddenly speaks up. ¡°You can calm down, Sergeant. She has been almost completely [blank]ed ¨C no background or titles, Level 1 with zero XP, no type or primary, useless secondary ¨C the full [blank]. There are only two memories in her gallery at all.¡±


    ¡°The first memory is the moment the adventurers disrupted the ritual ¨C with her and a second girl on the altar and the High Summoner ready to sacrifice her. And the second memory is of the adventurers gangraping her. But she still has something in her inventory that wasn¡¯t looted ¨C looks like it has been bound to her.¡±


    The first man suddenly looks a lot less threatening at me and crouches down.


    ¡°Hey, sorry ¨C you¡¯re probably confused at the moment, but sacrificing people to demons is not something we can allow to happen in our country. I¡¯m Sergeant Zeertan of the Blackfield City Watch. Please help us sorting this out, that way we might even find out who you are or were.¡±


    He then somehow grabs into the air and a small box with several crystals appears from nowhere. He takes the crystals and touches them to my skin while murmuring to himself ¡°not on the list of missing citizens, no missing servant, no runaway slave, not on the wanted criminal list either ¨C sorry, you¡¯re not on any of our search lists.¡±


    ¡°OK, can you tell us what you have in your inventory and why the adventurers didn¡¯t loot it? Oh, Right ¨C you probably don¡¯t remember how to use the Sphere System. Concentrate on the word [Inventory], it will pop up a screen showing your primary inventory. Then grab into one of the slots to take out what you see and we can check it.¡±


    Ok, that sounds easy even if it¡¯s confusing ¨C am I in some form of Matrix-like online game?


    [Inventory]


    That¡¯s how I look like now? A hot, big-titted super model with green hair? Don¡¯t think about it Martin, you don¡¯t have time for a breakdown¡­


    Below my picture are twelve boxes labeled "Primary Inventory" - no secondary in sight. Eleven of the boxes are filled, with two objects filling two slots each. What is that? It''s labelled "?Harem Belt?"?


    I¡¯m holding up a belt with some transparent gaze in place of a loincloth. As I concentrate on it an information window pops up.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; background-color: #64c8dd" colspan="2">Item: ?Harem Belt? [Not Identified]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Item Rank</td>


    <td>[Low]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Set Item of Set</td>


    <td>?Harem? (0/10 Equipped)</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Equipment Slot</td>


    <td>Belt</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Description</td>


    <td>Two ornamented golden bands hold together by a golden clasp with a large blue gemstone form the belt, but three transparent veils hang from it.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Value</td>


    <td>Unidentified</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Abilities</td>


    <td>


    <ul>


    <li>Add two Attachment slots (only usable for items of [High] quality or value)


    </li>


    <li>Blocks Equipment Slots [Pants] and [Trousers/Skirt]</li>


    <li>[Bound Property to N/A]</li>


    <li>Cannot be lost</li>


    <li>Cannot be stolen</li>


    <li>Cannot be dropped</li>


    <li>Cannot be sold</li>


    <li>Cannot be placed in seconday inventory</li>


    <li>Cannot be placed in astral inventory</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    And as soon as I close that window, another one pops up.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    [Xenotic] ability triggered


    Identify skill learned


    Identify Item (limited) +1 (0/100)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Then the City Watch Officer speaks to me again.


    ¡°Please try to drop the belt ¨C it will go back into your inventory instead. Looks like someone really pulled a number on you with that set, because it¡¯s almost worthless and can only either be equipped or block your primary inventory. But I don¡¯t have time to explain everything to you, sorry.¡±


    Without help I¡¯ll be lost here, no matter what. I try to look meek. ¡°Please Sergeant Zeertan, I don¡¯t know anything and need help for everything.¡±


    <table style="background-color: #20d020">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Manual Fate Manipulation attempted


    ¡°Please have pity with me and help me where you can¡±


    2 Fate used ¨C 0 Fate left


    Disabling Fate subsequence


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Grmbl ¨C that was not what I wanted, but perhaps it¡¯s for the best even if it removed the last Fate Points.


    One of the other two man who had been looking through the room during this approaches and speaks:


    ¡°One moment of your time, Sergeant. According to her memory there were eight cultists, but we have only six corpses. I have identified one of the missing summoning assistants as a citizen, but I don¡¯t have anything on the guest who only watched the ritual and who is also missing. The ritual circle itself has some variations that I¡¯ve never seen before ¨C besides the bothering fact that it had two people as sacrifices.


    The high summoner still wears a contract ring, but it¡¯s broken and worthless and doesn¡¯t even tell us the name of the demon they wanted to summon anymore. That¡¯s all we can say at the moment.¡±


    Zeertan looks at me deep in thought for a while before he takes some items from his inventory again.


    ¡°There is a standing reward for proven identification of any demon cultist. I could simply pay you that in coins, but I think it¡¯s better for everyone if I give you the reward as services from the town. That way you''ll get slightly more value while the treasurer don''t have to part with cash.¡±


    ¡°This is a simple map of Blackfield. If you concentrate on it, this map will show you your current position for a few days before its power is lost. If you touch any of the stamps I now place, it will guide you to the building where you get the service mentioned for free.¡±


    ¡°This stamp is to the city healer for a single [limited] healing for your wounds. These three give you three days of locked single room at the guard-contracted inn. Here are three stamps for three hours in the City Archives ¨C make sure to tell the archivist that you have been [blank]ed and need an explanation for everything. ¡°


    ¡°With this, you also have the city tax for visitors paid for seven days ¨C that is how much time you have to find and register for any work. Additional days would be 10 copper per day for visitors or 1 copper for contracted non-citizen workers.¡±


    ¡°The last stamp is for one of the second hand dealers ¨C he sells and buys everything¡± (was there a wink from the sergeant¡¯s eye?), ¡°and that stamp gives you a value of 40 copper in wares from him, for example a backpack or some tools.¡±


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    A quest has been placed


    ¡°get your rewards for identifying the cultist¡± [Very Low Quest]


    Please open your quest screen to learn details


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Then he takes out a small black band with a badge on it.


    ¡°Now this is a multi-purpose City Lock, and that is non-negotiable. We use it to protect critical witnesses as well as probable suspects. While wearing it you¡¯ll look as if you were wearing nondescript clothing and no one will remember any details about your face either, but you won¡¯t be able to leave town and have to report to the city watch in two days to have it removed. We¡¯ll go into some more questions on what you remember and get a copy of those two memories then.¡±


    When the sergeant closes the band at my throat, a window pops up.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    A quest has been forced on you


    ¡°Report to Citywatch Headquarters for Interview¡± [low quest]


    Please open your quest screen to learn details


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    He looks around and gestures to his two men. ¡°Looks like that¡¯s it, we¡¯ll leave the rest to the cleanup crew. Let''s go.¡±


    ¡°But Sergeant, regulations require us to¡­¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, Constable Olgren, the adventurers obviously already looted everything of value. Let¡¯s go, the cleanup-crew should arrive here in an hour or so.¡±


    The men leave the hall to the staircase visible through the entry doorway.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: left" colspan="2">You have received a timed quest</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; background-color: #64c8dd" colspan="2">Loot the Ritual Hall


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Questline</td>


    <td>The Dark Cult of ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Details</td>


    <td>Sergeant Zeertan has given you the opportunity to search and loot the ritual hall for any hints and valuables that might be left after the adventurers looted it (and blame that on the adventurers). This seems to be non-standard procedure and you should better be away from here before the next group of the citywatch, the cleanup crew, arrives.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Time Remaining


    </td>


    <td>67:37 Minutes</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Rewards</td>


    <td>


    <ul>


    <li>Loot (optional)


    </li>


    <li>Hints (optional)</li>


    <li>40 XP</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Failure Condition</td>


    <td>Be inside the building when the cleanup crew arrives</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Failure Penalty</td>


    <td>Loot taken away, arrested and imprisoned until interviewed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 1.2.2 Looting the ritual hall

    Arc 1: Introduction to the sphere Chapter 2, Part 2: Looting the Ritual Hall


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: left" colspan="2">You have received a timed quest</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; background-color: #64c8dd" colspan="2">Loot the Ritual Hall


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Questline</td>


    <td>The Dark Cult of ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Details</td>


    <td>Sergeant Zeertan has given you the opportunity to search and loot the ritual hall for any hints and valuables that might be left after the adventurers looted it (and blame that on the adventurers). This seems to be non-standard procedure and you should better be away from here before the next group of the citywatch, the cleanup crew, arrives.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Time Remaining


    </td>


    <td>67:37 Minutes</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Rewards</td>


    <td>


    <ul>


    <li>Loot (optional)


    </li>


    <li>Hints (optional)</li>


    <li>40 XP</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Failure Condition</td>


    <td>Be inside the building when the cleanup crew arrives</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Failure Penalty</td>


    <td>Loot taken away, arrested and imprisoned until interviewed</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Hmm ¨C the sergeant said ¡°about an hour or so¡±, but this system seems to know the exact time. How does it even handle time?


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    [Xenotic] ability triggered


    Clock skill learned


    Clock (limited) +1 (0/100)


    Current Day Time 15:42:17 hours


    Do you wish to display time YES/NO?


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    And now I have a clock floating at the edge of my vision ¨C how does this even work? Doesn¡¯t matter for now, I can try to make sense of it when I¡¯m no longer on a countdown.


    For looting I¡¯ll need more than a single free slot for inventory ¨C but the sergeant said those parts can be equipped, and due to the city lock enchantment anyone would see me as wearing regular clothes. Let¡¯s try.


    [?Harem Belt? Equipped]


    Yes ¨C two more inventory slots free. Strike!


    Next


    [?Harem Necklace&Backveil? ¨C failed to equip, cannot remove necklace ¡°City Lock¡±]


    Ok, two inventory slots will remain blocked. What¡¯s next? This chain doesn¡¯t have a lock at its ends, how is it even worn? Doesn¡¯t matter, [?Harem Chain? equip]¡­


    "OUCH!!!"


    My hands come up in reflex while I look at where the pain came from.


    ¡­


    Nipple piercings¡­


    That HURT, damn it!!!


    ¡­


    And now there hangs a chain between my boobs.


    ¡­ MY boobs¡­


    What has that bastard done to me???


    Stop it Martin.


    Get a grip on yourself.


    ¡­


    No, not that kind of grip¡­ I let my hands drop.


    ¡°Did I just make a pun at myself?¡±


    Focus, Martin, Focus ¨C you don¡¯t have time to be distracted.


    Focus¡­


    [?Harem Ankle Bands? Equipped]


    [?Harem Navel Piercing? Equipped] ouch


    [?Harem Arm Band? Equipped]


    A regular earring and one with a chain to a nose piercing? What the hell is it with all those piercings?


    And another tiny piercing as the last part. Where does that even go to? Ouch - at the brow...


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    [Xenotic] ability triggered


    Focus skill learned


    Focus Mind (limited) +1 (0/100)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    So, 10 slots free in my inventory ¨C let¡¯s look at [Inventory]


    I''ve seen pictures of harem costumes that cover a lot more than this one, this is nothing but pieces of jewelry. Almost every equipment slot is either used or sealed by that costume, and I suspect the backpack slot will also be blocked when I wear that Necklace&Backveil thing. Only eight slots for rings and one slot for another armband left, and that harem armband has four tiny slots for coins or gems or similar small things. And two ¡°attachment slots¡± at the belt, but with a requirement ¡°[high] quality¡±, whatever that is.


    The map can go into one of the slots until I need it. Now let¡¯s look at what is left around¡­


    A large hall, about 10x15 meters. Two thirds of it are a bare, grey stone floor containing a large circle of probably nine meter drawn with chalk and a lot of different symbols. A black block serves as an altar placed exactly on the border but still inside the outer part of the circle. Six corpses in robes are scattered around, they look like their clothes had been searched before. A nude girl corpse is on the altar, bloody and with a hole where the heart had been. The blood is splattered in a strange way, and it looks as if someone had been lying there as well, forcing her body nearer to the side of the altar.


    The remaining third of the hall is separated by a wooden handrail with two openings. There are several cabinets and shelves on the walls, all looking as if they had been searched and their contents cluttered around the floor. The entrance is a stone arc on one wall there, with a stair going up visible. The hall is about four meters high and has no windows but simple masonry for the walls.


    I¡¯m still standing next to the altar, so let¡¯s start with the corpses lying around here. They all have been searched, but rather quick and roughly ¨C there are a few small coins scattered around.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Small Copper Coin


    Value: 1 copper


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Medium Copper Coin


    Value: 5 copper


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Taking them is easy ¨C they just vanish into my inventory. But small and medium coins take different slots and stack to only 10 ¨C I now have two slots blocked with Medium Coin (1/10) and Small Coin (8/10).


    I need something to ¡­ There!


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Small Pouch


    Has 25 tiny slots for coins


    [Very low quality]


    Value: 1 copper


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    OK, now only one inventory slot used for nine coins with space for sixteen more coins. Let¡¯s check the old man that knifed me on the altar.


    His robe has a strange symbol that looks like a magic circle in the background, with three unknown symbols in front of it. That has to have some sort of meaning as it¡¯s on every robe.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Knowledge Entry created


    ¡°Cult of ????¡±


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Sometimes this system is useful ¨C if it doesn¡¯t mess up with you like that help screen.


    Hm? He still wears a golden ring? Why didn¡¯t they loot it?


    [Identify Item (limited) +1 (73/100) failed]


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    ?Goldring?


    [Unidentified]


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The constable said something about a broken and worthless contract ring, could this be it?


    [PING]


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; background-color: #64c8dd" colspan="2">Contract Ring


    Contracted by Contractor to the demon _______________</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Item Rank</td>


    <td>[Limited]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>True Name of the Demon


    </td>


    <td>___________________</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Equipment Slot</td>


    <td>Ring


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Description</td>


    <td>This ring consists of two regular gold rings connected by tiny gold bridges. It is obviously intended to break apart into two rings at some time, but considered one item until it does.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Requirements</td>


    <td>


    <ul>


    <li>The Contractor needs to feed the Demon regularly with the required sacrifice, on punishment of [Pain] and [Healthdrain] for failure


    </li>


    <li>Within 10 great cycles the Demon is to be givn a Great Sacrifice fitting to its nature, on punishment of [Death] and [Corebreak] for failure</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Abilities</td>


    <td>


    <ul>


    <li>The Demon will remain non-aggressive to the contractor and passive unless commanded otherwise


    </li>


    <li>The Contractor can Command the Demon once per day and may trade for more services</li>


    <li>The Contractor will gain a [Youthful Appearance] until death</li>


    <li>The Contractor will gain a [Low Ability] fitting to the Demons Powers


    </li>


    <li>The Contractor will gain an [Average Knowledge] of his choice</li>


    <li>The Contractor can decide how the Demon will advance in Power and Experience and command any new or added power as usual</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">To be sealed in the Name of Power ___________________________</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Strange ¨C just knowing what it is from hearsay gives all its details?


    They said it¡¯s broken and worthless, but it still is gold ¨C and it might give hints. But losing an inventory slot to it¡­


    Should I risk wearing it? Nothing should happen if it is broken¡­


    Yes, I can remove it after putting it on my finger, so that¡¯s one more looted piece.


    OK, where next? The altar¡­


    I look at the bloody corpse of the girl lying on to the altar. That is the girl who just had her heart ripped out of her body when I somehow crashed onto her and the altar. The cultist was surprised to see me ¨C R.O.B. is really messing with people. The city watch apparently believes that I was an intended second sacrifice ¨C better not make them suspicious of me or I might end up in prison as well. The Sergeant spoke of a list of runaway slaves and a daily tax for visitors¨C if this is a medieval world and allows slavery then it wouldn¡¯t take much to cause problems for strangers. Those two fate points might be better spend than I originally thought.


    What is that beyond the altar stone? The sacrifical dagger - it must have fallen there.


    This is the dagger that he used to pierce my heart if the message windows were correct ¨C how did I survive that, fate or not? How does this world and those fate points even work?


    And that is my blood on the blade ¨C do they have something like DNA-Tests here? Almost every fantasy story says that blood can be traced, so I better assume that. And that wicked looking hilt might be another hint, so I better take it myself. The city watch probably has no interest other than arresting or killing the cultists, I doubt that they would help me with anything big for free ¨C not if this resembles anything like the dark ages of Europe.


    One inventory slot for the pouch, two for the dagger and that seems it in the ritual circle. Let¡¯s hope the shelves on the other side give more.


    Time is 16:01:04 hours ¨C I have about forty minutes remaining and probably need several minutes to get out.


    This shelf was a library, but most of the books have been taken. Only two remain: ¡°Animals and their environment¡± and ¡°Demons and their Names of Power¡±. I don¡¯t know how much those are worth, but I can use the animal lexicon to learn more about the word.


    The book about demons ¨C with a bounty on demon cultists I don¡¯t think that is a good idea to take.


    Next one is a cabinet with a broken door. Black candles, chalks, different roots, pouches with powders ¨C all things I fail to identify.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Identify Item improved


    Identify Item (limited) +2 (4/200)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Wait ¨C that pouch¡­


    Yes, some more coins ¨C including two large copper and a small silver


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Large Copper Coin


    Value: 20 copper


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Small Silver Coin


    Value: 1 silver or 100 copper


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    [Xenotic] ability triggered


    Awareness skill learned


    Awareness Sight (limited) +1 (0/100)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Things are beginning to look up, but I need to check faster.


    Third furniture ¨C a wardrobe. Two more cultist robes, but mostly everyday clothes, probably from the cultists. What is this package hanging from the belt?


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="text-align: center; background-color: #64c8dd" colspan="2">Item: Tin Outdoor Set


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Item Rank</td>


    <td>[Very Low]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Description</td>


    <td>A package designed to be carried for outdoor use. It has to be disassembled to use its components.


    It consists of a tin mug, a small knife, a fork and a spoon as well as a purifier with enough chemicals for three mugs of water.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Value</td>


    <td>12 copper


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Abilities</td>


    <td>


    <ul>


    <li>The purifier can remove toxic and acidic effects from water, making it drinkable</li>


    </ul>


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    That package needs only one slot and is better than the rest of the junk here, even usable if I need to go camping.


    Next shelf is empty, contents scattered on the floor ¨C I¡¯ll check later. One cabinet and one chest left.


    Again a lot of strange things from glass balls to iron fittings ¨C probably for different rituals or spells. A lantern with extra oil ¨C that would be usable or I can sell it. There might even be something valuable in the rest of this, but what to take if you don¡¯t know their values and if they might be of interest to someone who is not a demon cultist¡­


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    ?Glass Ball?


    Unknown quality


    Obviously nonmagical but sometimes used in rituals or spells


    Value: ??


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Identify Item improved


    Identify Item (limited) +3 (2/300)


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Improved Identify skill is always good ¨C the points behind it seem to reset with every improvement, most probably skill experience on that skill level. I have used that skill a lot just now.


    I can take the map into my hand again when I leave, so I can fill two more inventory slots. Let¡¯s look at the chest.


    Opened and checked by the adventurers, it contains only chains, locks and keys. And some handcuffs and cage parts. The locks might be usable for something else because they still have their keys ¨C [take]


    22 Minutes left ¨C a quick check on what is scattered on the floor and then I should go.


    A few small copper coins, glassware that was broken when it was thrown, assorted junk as well. Only two tiny slots left in the pouch, the other two copper go into the armband. Two more coins and I have to discard small copper ¨C no wonder the adventurers ignored them. I¡¯m lucky that they missed the coin pouch between the powder pouches or they would probably have taken the silver and the large copper coins from there.


    Anything else I might have missed? I have a feeling that there is something obvious¡­


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Automated Skill Check [hidden] successful


    There is something next to the exit from this hall


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    A hidden skill??? Like some of the messages on from the fate subsequence.


    OK, what is there ¨C several very fine lines scratched into the stone. Looks a bit burned or distorted, probably was some sort of magic symbol.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Memory Picture created


    ¡°Burned-out door ward¡±


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    OK, whatever that was ¨C let¡¯s get out of here, I only have ten minutes remaining.


    Martin goes up the staircase. The ritual hall was four meters high and the stairs go even higher. He comes to something that looks like an opened hidden door and steps through it into some sort of office. There are two windows here and two other doors. One window and one of the doors open to something that looks like a large storehouse, currently mostly empty ¨C no one there, only a number of crates.


    The other window is mostly covered with paper pages attached to it ¨C someone used that as a form of a pinboard, most probably to hide the coming and going of the secret door that opens behind another shelf in this room.


    Nothing looks especially strange here ¨C they would have made sure not to leave any hints of demon cultist here. Wait ¨C there is another bloody corpse in the storehouse, lying below the internal window.


    I quickly go there but find nothing ¨C probably a guard that doubled as a worker.


    Only five minutes left on the quest ¨C let¡¯s check the other door, or do I need to open the main doors?


    Martin leaves the warehouse to a side street. In one direction he can see a large street to where the main doors would open, in the other direction there are a lot of small and rather dirty streets visible.


    A few steps toward the large street shows that this seems to be some form of trade road with several warehouses and stables lined up. The sun shines from directly above.


    Huh? What is that thing? It looks like a white sun instead of a yellow one, and why is there a crescent along its side, partially blacking it out? And what is that all around the sun?


    Martin is so bewildered from the sight that (s)he doesn¡¯t even see the small group of watchmen passing him, until the


    [PING]


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Quest completed 40 XP gained


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 1.3.1 Blackfield - a small town, part 1

    Martin is so bewildered from the sight that (s)he doesn¡¯t even see the small group of watchmen passing him, until the


    [PING]


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    Quest completed 40 XP gained


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    OK, where the hell am I?


    Is that like land there in the sky? All around the sun and down to the horizon?


    No, not exactly ¨C It looks as if the sphere is a hollow world with the sun at its center and the lands being the insides of that ¡°sphere¡±. And that shadow around the sun is probably what creates day and night, whatever it is.


    I look around - at first sight it might look like a medieval or fantasy village or town, but there are a lot of tiny differences. The buildings don''t look ordered - even on a multifloor building the windows aren''t similiar, every floor has the windows in different positions - and why has none of the top floors windows at all? And what is that contraption installed in front of almost every window?


    Mirrors? Why would anyone block half of each window with mirrors?


    ¡­


    Wait a second - if the sun is the center of a sphere, then it will never move. That means it will always be up in the same position, and the mirror will always redirect the light into the window. That is why every window is in a different position on each building - so that no mirror blocks the light from reaching the windows below, because there is no lower window to any existing one. And the top floors can get their light through roof windows, so they don''t need a side window with a mirror that would block the lower floor windows.


    Someone never thinks about how our environment determines our lives unless one sees a completely different environment. I have to make sure not to assume anything as that might cause problems or misunderstandings.


    ¡­


    What to do now? Let¡¯s get to the healer first, 1/5 Health is never good.


    I look at the map ¨C it shows a rather small town. I touch the stamp that is for the healer, and suddenly an arrow appears before me ¨C I have to turn around.


    Great ¨C the System even has its own GPS. Let¡¯s hope that it works better than some of those that directed into the wrong lane on earth¡­


    The town isn¡¯t large ¨C perhaps only a few thousand people ¨C but it is a rather convoluted structure. Those streets were never planned out, and without that magic map-GPS I would never have found this small building. The sign above shows something similar to a Rod of Asclepius with a name ¡°Orig¡± below it.


    The lower part of the building seems to be a single room divided by blankets, and an old man in a monk-like robe looks up when I enter.


    ¡°Greetings my lady, I¡¯m Healer Bertram Orig. What can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°Greetings. Sergeant Zeertan of the city watch send me here to have a wound checked and healed. Can you help me with this?¡±


    ¡°Of course ¨C depending on the strength of the wound I can apply different skills or spells. The cost would start with 50 copper for a [Healing (limited)].¡±


    ¡°The sergeant said that this would be part of a reward with this stamp here.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes, that is also an option. One moment, this is quickly done.¡±


    Bertram starts to gesture and speak, but I can¡¯t really hear those words. Strange - I hear him speaking but somehow I hear nothing.


    [Ding]


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    A [Healing (lim)] has been cast on you


    4 HP restored


    Health 5/5


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    So magic has its own rules when cast, like that hearing and not hearing the spell?


    ¡°That should do it. But if I may ask, my lady ¨C how is that possible that you have such low health at your age? Do you have an Aura affecting you?¡±


    ¡°According to the sergeant I have been what he calls [Blank]ed. Is that one of those auras you¡¯re talking about?¡±


    ¡°No, that is ...¡°


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="614">


    [Xenotic Conversion]


    Translation Updated


    Initiating [K*?¡¯&%$]


    ¡­


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°¡­But if I may ask, my lady ¨C how is that possible that you have such low health at your age? Do you have an Illness affecting you?¡±


    ¡°According to the sergeant I have been what he calls [Blank]ed. Can you tell me something about that?¡±


    ¡°No, that has nothing to do with any health problem. I¡¯m sorry my lady. However, I would like to give you some other advice: The city watch lock prevents people from identifying you, but it is still possible to smell or feel the blood itself. I suggest you should retire either to an inn or to the public baths to clean yourself up.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll see to it ¨C you¡¯re right. Goodbye.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye, my lady.¡±


    I leave the healer''s room and look around. The black crescent is now covering a bit more of the sun - it looks as if night is approaching. I think I''ll really look for that inn. Sergeant Zeertan said that I would get a locked single room there - that would be best to check in detail on my loot and whatever else I can learn. I only have three hours paid at the archives - better not waste them on questions I can answer myself.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    I take out the map and activate that arrow to the inn. The stamp for the healer is now gone, I hope I don''t need him again. I would probably be able to ask around to get here, but 50 copper for that spell shows that my loot won''t get me far. I have a few hundred copper, but with 10 copper tax if I stay more than the week I''ve been given that is not much.


    ...


    I look at the sign. "The courageous Watchmen" - the sergeant said that this inn was contracted by the city watch, and obviously it was renamed for them as well. It looks like a halfway prosperous inn, not really of the high classes but better than the one on the other side of the street. I go in and approach the barkeeper.


    "Greetings. I was told by a citywatch sergeant to come here for a room, and I would like to get a bath if possible."


    The barkeeper checks the stamps on the map before he answers. "Yes, that will get you three nights of room here as well as breakfast and supper. Each would be with one mug of water. Additional mugs would be one copper each filling, lunch would be five copper. One moment..."


    He turns around and takes some sort of staff and a knife. He measures a part of the staff and then cuts through it before giving me the cutoff part and a key. "This is three hours of candle for the night, and the key to your room. If you want more candles, that''s two copper per hour. Bath can be ready in 30 minutes, it would cost 10 copper including rented towels - you can keep the towels for the entire three days if you want. Anything else?"


    "No, I don''t think so - how do I find the bath when it''s ready?"


    The barkeeper eyes me strangely "The system will guide you of course..."


    Damn - need to be more carefull, I don''t really know how everything here works. And I don''t want anyone to get suspicious.


    "Thanks"


    Now how to find the room - ah, again an arrow when I hold the key.


    The room I''m guided to isn''t really what I would call a room - barely two by two meters, with a bed taking up half the space. There is a tiny window with a mirror and a wide board that doubles as a desk anchored on the wall below. I''ll have to sit on the bed to use it as there is no chair.


    I have half an hour until the bath is ready - let''s start by going through those other screens. [Status]


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr style="background-color: #00c831">


    <td style="text-align: center">Equipment/ Inventory</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">Infos/ Titles</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">Skills/ Abilities</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">Quests</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">Gallery/ Knowledge</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">History/ Log</td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="background-color: #00c831">


    <td style="text-align: center; background-color: #64c8dd">Status</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">Race: [Locked]</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">Primary Class: unchoosen</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">Type: Unchoosen</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">Secondary: Kissing [Lim]</td>


    <td style="text-align: center">Xenotic: unchoosen</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Name</td>


    <td colspan="2">N/A</td>


    <td>max Rank</td>


    <td colspan="2">[Limited]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Level (L)</td>


    <td>1/10</td>


    <td>Experience (XP)</td>


    <td>40/100</td>


    <td>free AttrPts</td>


    <td>16/1</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Body-Power (BP)</td>


    <td>5/10</td>


    <td>Endurance (EP)</td>


    <td>6/6</td>


    <td colspan="2">Needs:</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Body-Density (BD)</td>


    <td>4/10</td>


    <td>Health (HP)</td>


    <td>5/5</td>


    <td>Food (FP)</td>


    <td>50/100</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Body-Flexibility (BF)</td>


    <td>6/10</td>


    <td>Physical Rank (PR)</td>


    <td>[Limited]</td>


    <td>Water (WP)</td>


    <td>50/100</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>[Locked]</td>


    <td>-</td>


    <td>[Locked]</td>


    <td>-</td>


    <td>Rest (RP)</td>


    <td>50/100</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Body-Aura (BA)</td>


    <td>8/10</td>


    <td>Control Rank (CR)</td>


    <td>[Limited]</td>


    <td>[hidden]</td>


    <td>100/100</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Mind-Power (MP)</td>


    <td>7/10</td>


    <td>Astral (AP)</td>


    <td>8/8</td>


    <td></td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Mind-Density (MD)</td>


    <td>6/10</td>


    <td>Soul (SP)</td>


    <td>7/7</td>


    <td colspan="2">Weights</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Mind-Flexibility (MF)</td>


    <td>7/10</td>


    <td>Mental Rank (MR)</td>


    <td>[Limited]</td>


    <td>Equipment</td>


    <td>2/10 kg</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>[Locked]</td>


    <td>-</td>


    <td>[Locked]</td>


    <td>-</td>


    <td>Storage</td>


    <td>1/5 kg</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Mind-Aura (MA)</td>


    <td>6/10</td>


    <td>Awareness Rank (AR)</td>


    <td>[Limited]</td>


    <td>Astral</td>


    <td>0/21 kg</td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="background-color: #64c8dd">


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="6">Regeneration and Gain Values</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>EP (10% BP/hour)</td>


    <td>0.5</td>


    <td>AP (10% MP/hour)</td>


    <td>0.7</td>


    <td>[Locked]</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>HP (10% BD/day)</td>


    <td>0.4</td>


    <td>SP (10% MD/day)</td>


    <td>0.6</td>


    <td>[Locked]</td>


    <td></td>


    </tr>


    <tr style="background-color: #64c8dd">


    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="6">Temporary Status Effects</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>Name</td>


    <td colspan="5">Effect</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td colspan="5"></td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td></td>


    <td colspan="5"></td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>