《The Adventures of a Wayward Spy》 How it began. Being an orphan can be tough, people say it is because we have no mom and dad. This is a fallacy. Most orphans are left at the orphanage as infants who have no memory of their parents, in a proper orphanage you learn you most likely won''t be adopted, and being an orphan just means you have to work harder. This is not to say orphans do not want to have parents, but in a proper orphanage, the adults are quick to tell you to not keep your hopes up. We are told to put our hopes in something bigger. I spent my first five years in a small town in northeast Texas. A small town orphanage is different than a large town. There half the community treats you like trash, and the other gives you free shit. My parents were killed in the terrorist attack. My parents were spies, overseas in China. Fortunately for me, I was born with hypercognition. I was extremely smart. Also fortunately, the person who was nice to me was the librarian, a kind man named Alex, he also tutored me had finished trigonometry by the time they came and got me. Apparently as part of my parents last will and testament, their wages were to be spent to educate and train me. On my sixth birthday, they came, the NSA. For the next ten years I was taught the latest in science, history, math, and language. I was also trained to be a spy. At age fifteen I was approached by my handler Garth, I was given two options, one I could stay here, at this remote underground facility, till I was 18 and receive the last part of my parents will, or I could be placed as an asset on the ground within the US, and wait till I was 18. It was a tempting choice, I liked the monotony, cut I did think that my parents would have wanted me to see the world, so I said I would Like to be an operative, working overseas. This was a surprise to the higher ups, they did not think an orphan would care about what his parents whom he never met would think. The compromised, once a month I would go on a mission otherwise I was an asset on US soil. This leads me to the other kind of orphanage, a big city orphanage is more like a gang, in fact, they are respected by the other actual gangs. Lets just say orphans with a lot of time on their hand can think of pretty creative ways to bring down criminal empires. So they may operate in the same territory, but the gangs will stop all wars in the assistance of the Orphan Block. It didn¡¯t happen often and most of the times they gave eachother a wide berth, but sometimes, someone, like me, needs to get ahold of something that is not exactly legal. Orphans can''t do anything to legitimate businesses. I was the new guy, so I was hazed, the problem was every attempt to haze me failed. In an orphanage dominance used to be decided by fights, but now, it was decided by a game, chess. The orphan leader of this section of manhattan was a ten year old kid. He reminded me of myself, to bad I had five years on ten year old me. He was ¡°evaluating¡± me to determine my role, I said that if I won I would be left alone. I beat him in seven moves. This is where I miscalculated, apparently beating the leader instantly promoted me as the leader. I did not want the position but I had it, so I spent my first month reorganising our Block. We all became spies, sort of. I had every orphan above the age of five take Krav Maga, after enough experience, or they reached ten, they would take Wing Chun. Everyone over eight learned how to pick locks, over ten learned how to crack dial safes, 12, electronic safes. Afterwards was the optional biometric safecracking class I taught. I spent most of my time training Ten year old me, who was actually seven year old me. Any orphan above the age of fifteen was working. I was left out of that bracket because I was working. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. I left for my mission at the end of the month, it was a simple snatch, grab an individual, not to hard, just wait till he is at home asleep. Horse tranquiliser plus body bag plus evac team equals successful mission. When I got back to Chelsea I learned that we were having some trouble, there was a ten story building that was owned by a private real estate company. I checked into it and it was as shady as they come. We were hired by an orphan whose adopted parents were getting kicked out of the building they lived in. Not all of the orphans were actual orphans, but once an orphan always an orphan. Every child, as soon as they could walk, practiced climbing, parkour, not the stuff you see on youtube, no, only in very specific moments were flips useful, normally they are just another way to kill yourself. Kids learned how to move without being seen in an urban environment. I talked with my contacts at the NSA, this was not their normal direction, at first they told me to tell the police, but then I told them my plan. A ten story building full of children training as spies and soldiers, leading the underbelly of the community, hearing and seeing everything. And when they become adults, a little push is all that will be needed to get them to join the military, CIA, NSA, FBI, or any other government organization. True a lot of them will only want to be cops or lawyers for their community, but over six million orphans on manhattan island, that¡¯s a lot of potential government bodies. We still needed evidence, and that required breaking in, almost two months was a lot of time to learn, especially for children. We already had hackers, safe crackers, and combatants with NSA level skill. I was going to lead the team but, the kids wanted to prove themselves. A team of four eight year olds and a ten year old hacker were deployed. The hacker was stayed on an adjacent rooftop, disabling security and alarms. The other four ziplined to the building rooftop, entering through the roof, they were out in fifteen minutes, no alarms tripped, no security alerted, egressed the way they came leaving no evidence. Except for a little hole and scorch mark where the bolt that held the zipline was blown off. After that mission, the building was listed as private property, the liquidized net worth of the real estate company went to outfitting the building, bedrooms, game rooms a cafeteria and several high tech conference rooms were built, nothing too sophisticated, no military grade hardware, we even had an armory on each floor. The weapons in said armory were age appropriate, no guns till age thirteen, the fifth floor. The last of the money was placed in various credit unions, giving us roughly thirty thousand dollars a month, eighty percent of which went to infant products and hiring caretakers. Kids cannot take care of babies without a guide. The last twenty percent went to food and kitchen staff. The orphans had become a company, we only hired immigrants, and paid them, fairly, in cash. It was put on paper, tax free, it was legal, barely. After my second mission I came back to hearing the orphans out of the garment district and hell¡¯s kitchen inside of midtown west were encroaching on our territory, so played their leaders in chess, and won. I left said leaders in charge of their district, and reorganise their structure to match ours. Over the next three years I systematically united the Orphan Blocks of manhattan, with a similar style, beat the leader in chess, find a corrupt private company take it down and set up shop. The last law I made for the orphans, was that our system should be evaluated every fifteen years by the leaders of the district, times change, so we should change as well. The time came for me to leave, it was an easy departure, people were sad to see me go, but they had strong leaders. The district leaders each picked a representative from their district, they were evaluated and tested till one remained, he became the new Orphan President. At the inauguration, I was asked to pass over the duster I wore, a black trench coat with ¡°Orphan Block¡± written in white on the back. The actual President of the United states attended. The Orphan Block system was initiated all across America. I was told, that the last gift for me was going to be a pistol, and official employment by the U.S. government. My parents did not have enough pull to grant their real final request, but because of the enormous changes I instigated, that benefited the U.S. Government, I was to be given the real gift. It was the chance to explore a new dimension, a german scientist had built a machine capable of transporting a single individual somewhere, it was unknown where I would end up, but I would be given aid, A revised combat uniform, all a dark grey, reforming ceramic plates sewn into a cuben fiber uniform. It came with a suppressed pistol, a matching trench coat, a backpack and assorted gear. Only what was considered most essential, ammo, food, water. I accepted this, the intrigue of a new dimension was enough to sell me I only had to tell them what I discovered if I ever made it back. Before I activated the machine, I considered all I left behind, especially the Orphan Block. There was obviously a lot more to that story, but that is for another time, and follows a different person. This is my story. The adventures of a tradecraftsman. My name is Nathan Daniels. Chapter 1: Rule#1 Cardio I knew was told two things, one I would probably never get any support as the device will be destroyed, to I could take nothing electronic. This was fine, there was nothing to be done. Believe it or not using the device was relatively anticlimactic, there were no bright lights, just a slight fluctuation in the air around me, a ¡°vvwomp¡± sound and darkness¡­. For like two seconds, I was immediately hit by sunlight, correction, starlight, as this star was not Sol. I opened my eyes to find myself in the middle of a desert plane, I could see a lonely mountain in the distance. My welcoming committee to this new world could only be equated to zombies. Rule#1; Cardio. Turned out these zombies were not the George Romero, more like Santaolalla. Grotesque and moderately quick. I took off running and I let off three rounds, dropping the local zombie population by 30 percent. It was an easy task of running and shooting the last seven zombies, but it was strange, after every kill a small flash of light entered the corner of my field of vision. I had to blink my eyes to avoid being distracted. After the surprise party, I sat down in the dust. The corner of my vision still healt that strange flashing light. I focused on it and words appeared in my vision. Welcome to Aden came first in blue letters. Your first action on Aden was running, because of such action, your speed has increased by 50% Your stats have been evaluated, and attribute points have been given accordingly, to see your stats, simply think ¡®status page.¡¯ You have used a weapon from another plane, this weapon has become Legendary and is now indestructible. There is currently no skill for such a weapon on Aden. Your clear prior knowledge and expert use of the weapon has granted you the ability of Legendary weapon mastery. Your apparel is from another plane, it has become Legendary and are now indestructible. There are currently no skills for such armor on Aden. Your clear prior knowledge and expert use of this armor has granted you the skill of Legendary weapon mastery. Your items and equipment are from another plane, as such they have become Legendary and are now indestructible. Some of your items and equipment are not found on Aden. Your clear prior knowledge and expert use of your items and equipment has granted you the skill Legendary items mastery, the abundance of Legendary Items on your person has granted you the title Legendary Collector. Legendary weapon mastery, Legendary weapon mastery, and Legendary items mastery have been combined to make Legendary Mastery. I did not waste time with thoughts like, ¡°this is impossible.¡± If it were impossible than it would not be so. I Beheld my new planet. The first thing I needed was to know my position. Status. I thought Abe was rewarded with my list of stats. Level: 0 Level is a direct reference to your cumulative life experience. Though you have Life experience, none of it is related to Aden. Your previous experience has been measured and applied as ability level in intelligence, cunning, and wisdom. Under the age of eighteen level is the same as age, afterward you make your own progress. Strength: 20 Strength is a direct reference to your ability to lift objects and strike targets. Your prior fitness has set your strength to the maximum ability of someone of your level. (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) There are infants with my level of strength? Endurance: 10 Endurance is a direct reference to your ability to resist pain and trauma. This affects the frequency of ingestion of foods needed, and your durability. Warning: Endurance can fluctuate based on disease or broken bones. Health factor is 10 points for every point of endurance, until 200 health is reached, then the ratio is changed to 2:1. Current Health: 100. (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) So the torture training has an upside. I thought sardonically. Stamina: 25 Stamina is a direct reference to the amount of energy your body can use before tiring. This affects the frequency of injection of liquids needed. Warning: Stamina can fluctuate based on age or drastic changes in lifestyle. Energy factor is 10 points for every one point of Stamina, until 200 energy is reached, then the ratio is changed to 2:1. Current Energy: 210. (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) Dexterity: 10 Dexterity is a direct reference to your ability to move and aim steadily and precisely. It plays a minor role in stealth and avoiding traps, and a major role in combat, craftsmanship, and the manipulation of complex machinations. (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) Agility: 10 Agility is a direct reference to your ability to perform complex maneuvers. It plays a small role in kinetic vision, and a large role in stealth, combat, mounting, and almost all forms of movement. (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.)Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Fortitude: 5 Fortitude is a direct reference to your mental endurance. Warning: Fortitude can fluctuate based on exhibited morality, sanity, or the experience of mental trauma. (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) Intelligence: 15 Intelligence is a direct reference to your ability to solve problems and apply experience. Warning: Intelligence can fluctuate based on Fortitude. (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) Wisdom: 5 Wisdom is a direct reference to your ability to understand the metaphysical. It is also measured by your morals, objectivity, and natural ability to communicate without motive and teach. Mana is factor is 10 points for every one point of Wisdom, until 200 mana is reached, then the ratio is changed to 2:1. Current Mana: 50. (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) Extraordinary Abilities (Extraordinary is used in its literal meaning, as in not of the standard variety. Some of these can be extremely bland while others can be amazing.) Cunning: 386 Cunning is a direct reference to your ability to make decisive tactical decisions, and to manipulate people for good or ill. It also includes Creativity, the ability to think outside the normal, and Strategy, the ability to out maneuver your opponent. (This skill has been affected by your prior life experience.) Speed: 50 Speed is a direct reference to your ability to move quickly, it is not affected by agility. It only slightly affects your kinetic vision and processing speed. Each point reflects one percent of your base speed. Current Speed bonus: 50%. Current top speed: 60mph. That last one is cool, special training back home had increased my running speed to 40mph, by training my muscle fibers to move at the same speed as if I was hopping on one leg to when I was running, decreasing the amount of time my feet were on the ground, increasing my speed. For accessing and reading your status, you have received 10 experience. You have gained a level! Level: 1 Strength: 25 (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) Endurance: 20 (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) Stamina: 40 (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) Dexterity: 25 (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) Agility: 25 (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) Fortitude: 10 (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) Intelligence: 30 (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) Wisdom: 10 (This measure is not an accurate representation of your ability, it is inhibited by your level, as your level increases your strength will change automatically until proper representation is achieved. Also efforts to improve this skill will be noted but not applied till your level permits.) During the past level, the three abilities and skills your effort was most placed in were, Legendary Mastery, Speed, and Dexterity. They will receive double ability points. You have received two ability points to spend where you desire. Dexterity is at max for your level, points will be saved. Speed: 70 Skills Legendary Mastery: 22 Legendary Mastery equates to the percentage of mana needed to use special abilities of legendary objects. Mana needed: -22% The amount of information was staggering, but I was a quick learner. Besides I had some experience with this kind of thing, video games were a big thing in the Orphan Block. One thing I know is I am going to call energy stamina, it¡¯s easier that way. I took out my binoculars, legendary Item eh? I stared at them for a moment, then spoke ¡°Item Status.¡± To see Item status say or think ¡®identify¡¯. -_-... Identity¡­ I said, why did I feel like a noob? Legendary Dual Spyglasses This item is legendary, it can see as far as desired, by will of thought, it can also be used to see through objects, at 5 mana per meter. Using the binoculars in reverse actuation will allow the user to see the essence of things. Cool if I turn them around they become a microscope. I used them to look at the mountain, the rangefinder said it was thirty miles away! This meant two things, one It was so far away that I could not see the base or the foothills, there was almost five hundred more feet of mountain. The planet curvature was in the way, two that mountain was really big. I mentally prodded my binoculars to zoom, they zoomed to 1584 times, at a this distance I saw a flicker and a shadow, it looked like a cave in the mountainside. The first thing I decided to do was run, I wanted to get my speed up. I was about to start sprinting when I saw a violet light in the corner of my eye, when I noticed it a message came up. You are a Perfect Infant! Having max abilities at level zero is quite a gift, you will now earn experience, and progress your abilities, at an accelerated rate. Cool! I sprinted for about twelve seconds before I collapsed in exhaustion. My lack of stamina was no joke. I took out a bottle of water. Identify. A message appeared telling me I had legendary water in a legendary bottle. Half the bottle would give me unlimited stamina for a week, when the bottle was empty I could refill it for limited effects that would rise to the original level over time. I drank half the bottle and I felt like I had taken a every top energy drink and supplement at once. I took off running, it took me three hours to run around the mountain at a near perfect circle. At this I noticed my health was dropping very slowly, it was only down one point.. It was related to hunger. I found this out thanks to a yellow message. The food bars I was given, gave me a week per bar back on earth, on Aden, the same bar lasted seven months. I spent the next four weeks sprinting around the mountain, always trying to go faster. I when my speed reached 300 I realized my acceleration was slow, when I tried to improve it I got a message saying that my level was to low to improve my agility. So I kept sprinting, I decided to stop when I either had three of my twelve water bottles left, or I reached 500. Turns out I ran out of water first fortunately I was able to refill them, now an wight of a bottle fully restored my stamina. I did gain a skill called Sprinter, it was an advanced form of Runner apparently that decreased the amount of stamina lost from running, but not other things. Now it took nine seconds for me to drain my stamina, I eventually got a rhythm going that got me to the mountain in a half hour, which seems slow but I had to stay at around sixty mph to drink water. My reflexes and brain were still slow. It took till dusk for me to find that cave, the cool air and shelter was a welcome change to eighteen weeks of desert. Tomorrow I would explore the cave. Chapter 3: Manchildren ¡°You talk to the serpents!¡± The small man said. His voice was low and full of rocks. ¡°Why wouldn''t I?¡± I asked innocently, though I knew that almost anyone would say it was stupid to talk to snakes. ¡°They be of evil sorts.¡± He said, it wasn''t hard to imagine how this small man could think that. ¡°Really? I just kinda walked into their city, I even talked to the queen and king. They didn''t seem evil.¡± Of course by this time I was just having a little fun. It is not often you make friends with a serpent race that everyone thinks are abominations from hell. The small man must have decided I was crazy because all he said was, ¡°Well it''s probably best if I get back my dad is waiting for Adalbor¡¯s axe.¡± As he was backing away, he grabbed a large metal case that was leaning against the wall. Dad? He is a child? ¡°You don''t mind if I tag along, just to the city, I¡¯m afraid I will get lost in these tunnels.¡± The boy? Anyway, he led me for about five minutes, and after a few turns, the tunnel opened up to a grand chamber. It seemed as if they hollowed out the entire mountain, In some places there were grand columns and arches that lifted to the ceiling, as if they were holding the mountain up. In the center there was another column but this one was round, and, well, it was the biggest structure I have ever seen. Large stone supports came off the sides from about four hundred feet up. They bent down at 30ft and plummeted to the ground. The column itself was about 120 meters in diameter and stretched to a height unknown. Well probably known, but like the other smaller columns they hit the top of the mountain and I could not see it. About a thousand meters up the column seemed to change from stone to glass, inside I could see magma, this magma, along with some strategically placed mirrors, lit the entire cavern. It was an architectural marvel that would stand the test of time for millenia. The rest of the city was not quite as grand, but still so intricate, there was not a building over fifteen stories, and they decreased in height the farther away you got from the center, with a few sporadic taller building mixed about. It was clear that the city, at one time, had a rigorous and thorough structure, but over time, it had been changed in a way cities do. ¡°It¡¯s a grand sight, the three best inns in the city are down that street, the oldest one is actually the first one you will come to, after that they get flashier, and pricier.¡± Manchild left without another word. I chose to follow his directions, oddly there was not a single soul on the streets, it was a little eerie. Sure enough I came to an old inn, but by no means did it look run down, it had detailed carvings on the stonework, and it was lear why no one was on the streets, they were all here. When I entered the inn, the boisterous noise abruptly halted, and everyone eyed me. I ignored their gaze and promptly approached the bar. It was not long before conversations started again, and there was this annoying scratchy sound. ¡°Don''t get to many of ye surface dwellers down here.¡± Another manchild asked me, this one had a much lower, and gravely voice than the previous, it became clear this was a dwarven city. I should have known, but I guess I was too distracted by the artwork the buildings provided. ¡°Aye, I am not from here, I my hoe is very far away. I was hoping to get a room, but I am lacking in coin.¡± It was a foolish hope, but it would be better than sleeping on the rocks again. ¡°Well, normally I would turn you out, ever since old Berin died, giant of a dwarf, no one has been able to play his instrument, and I have had a deal that anyone who could play the thing would get free drinks. I suppose i could change that to free lodging, I always have some rockmuncher trying to play it every night, it would be nice to get a someone to play something.¡± I looked at the far wall where the innkeeper was pointing, and I found the source of the annoying scratching sound, the instrument was a cello. I only knew that because my mom had played the instrument, and I decided to learn how. It seemed like my mother could help me from beyond the grave,and dimension. I stood and made my way towards the cello, the whole room got quiet again, except for one voice. ¡°Hey G?tz get yer arse off the damn thing, you''ve been tryin¡¯ fer fifty years now and you still sound like a dying skitter.¡± The innkeeper shouted, ¡°Let the uplander have a go, maybe he can bring some blasted peace to me ears.¡± I wordlessly sat down on the stool behind the instrument, I pulled the bow across, tunning it. After it was tuned I spoke. ¡°In the land I come from, the dwarves have a song, a solemn one about their fight to regain their home under a misty mountain that was stolen from them by a desolating dragon. My voice is not as deep, it does not fit the song, but I hope you all will like it.¡± There was not a sound till I started, and it was only a short gasp. I started to sing the song in as low of an octave as I could, but I have a feeling I didn''t do it proper justice. At the end of the song, the inn was still quiet, I looked at the innkeeper. ¡°Aye lad, you earned yer free room, but why don''t you play that grand song again. I think we all would like to hear it again.¡± I went back to playing the cello again, satisfied that I had achieved lodging, after I played the same song again, I played miscellaneous music I remembered, when I could see things winding down, I played the same song once more, then placed the cello down in the case that was near it. Afterwards the dwarf named G?tz approached me, now sober, ¡°Can you teach me how to play Berin¡¯s instrument?¡± ¡°I can teach you to play the cello.¡± The dwarf was big for dwarven standards, at five and a half feet tall. He seemed truly eager to learn how to play, instead of just trying to get free drinks.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°The cello, cello, cello,¡± he repeated, trying out the word, ¡°yes I shall learn how to play it.¡± The innkeeper walked over and handed me a key, ¡°Thank you for that, you may be an uplander, but you did us dwarves right. People are going to remember, treat you as a friend.¡± You reputation with the Dwarves has increased to Popular. ¡°It was nothing, I do have a question though, did Berin have any other instruments?¡± ¡°Yes, one just like the one you played only smaller, and he held it under his chin.¡± ¡°A violin, could you bring it here, I would like to start teaching Gotz tonight.¡± At this, the aspiring musician perked up. He ran over and picked up the cello and sat down on the chair, we spent the next hour going over chromatic scales. Gotz had natural talent, and n excellent memory. In the span of an hour he mastered all twelve. The only conceivable reason he had not figured out how to play on his own, was because he was drunk every time he tried. ¡°Tomorrow morning, I will teach you a few songs, for now I have to go to sleep, I have some things I wish to accomplish during the day.¡± Gotz nodded and put the cello away, he didn''t say anything, but I didn''t expect him to. He learned a lot today, anyone would be mentally exhausted and desire to stew in one¡¯s own thoughts. I climbed the stone stairs that led to the rooms. Because of the lack of visitors inside the mountains the inn was more of an apartment building, only the second floor had temporary rooms for renting. I had been given the key to an apartment however, on the third floor. It made me wonder what the innkeeper expected of me. I again was asleep by the time I hit the pillow. The morning came early, a thin dwarven girl knocked on my door and informed me that the bath was ready and that my attire could be washed. I thanked her and asked for directions to the bath, she told me that it was in the basement, I would just continue down the stairs. I did so, and the girl followed me, when I asked why she said so she could take my clothes to be washed, and that they would be done by the time I was done with my bath. The first room was a changing area with bathrobes lining the wall. It was clear which robe was mine. A simple case of which one is not like the others. One robe was twice the size of all the others. I quickly disrobed, hehe good pun, and donned the bathrobe. Growing up as a spy, then as an orphan took away any abashed feelings about being naked in front of anyone. The girl however, was kind enough to turn her back until I was finished. ¡°There are stalls behind you.¡± She said without a hint of embarrassment. Sure enough there were, the doors were open and I could see my reflection in the mirror inside the stall. The robe was a bit garish, but it was usable. There was a sliding door leading to a communal bath, it seemed clothing was optional. Off to the right there were showers, again it was communal and clothing seemed optional. I inspected the shower. Dwarven communal bath and shower Bathing or showering for five minutes gives you the Clean status effect. Using soap adds the Pleasantly Clean status effect. Wearing a bathrobe has no affect on gaining the aforementioned status effects, it merely protects personal modesty. I disrobed, literally this time, I prefered to not have a wet bathrobe. And if no one else cared, then it didn''t bother me. Sure enough when I returned my clothes were on hanger, and my skivvies were folded on the floor. I dressed again and headed up to the main room for breakfast. Gotz was already there, he was practicing his scales, he was getting better. The music had more feeling, even though they were just scales. ¡°I an Ryder Roarke, I am afraid I did not get your name.¡± I said to the innkeeper ¡°That stodgy old rockmuncher is Bartholomew, uplander name if you ask me.¡± Gotz spoke for the innkeeper. ¡°Aye I be Bartholomew, but that skylover should keep his mouth shut about things he don''t know, I can very well answer for meself. People call me Bartho¡± ¡°Do you have a pencil and paper?¡± I asked ¡°A what?¡± The dwarves for all their marvels had not made pencils. ¡°A linear graphite dispenser with a reverse actuated, self mitigating, vulcanized mitigation device, and a blank, white, planar arborous filament.¡± ¡°Oh, I can see why you call it a pencil, we have them, but the mitigation device is separate, paper is one of the few commodities we get from the surface world. We call it paper though, ha ha!¡± Bartho seemed to think it was funny, I did not see the humor, but I didn''t see any harm done either. Bartho retreated underneath the bar for a few seconds and appeared with a stick of graphite, and a piece of paper. I sketched out a bar with a treble clef and one with a bass clef, I drew out all the kinds of markings on the bars and called Gotz over. I explained the meaning of each one, and I taught him the song I played last night. The news of my performance spread, and it had already been called the Bergbarheim Anthem. I left him practicing, and I went to find a blacksmith, I needed a tinkerer. As I walked through the city, I received many stares. Most were friendly, they had heard of my musical exploits, the rest were just, curious. I entered the first blacksmith shop I saw, but I soon realized they made goods that required many different tools to make, meaning they were made so only they could repair them, and field repairs are much more difficult. Every shop was of similar style. I was looking for a smith who made things to last, the kind of things that could be used for anything and never break, and if they did, you could fix them with tape and a wrench. It took a bit of asking around, but I finally got the address of a smith who still did things the old fashioned way. It was on the edge of the city, not too far from where I entered it. It was about noon when I arrived at the doorstep. There was a tall dwarf at 5¡¯5¡± swinging a huge hammer onto an anvil. ¡°Excuse me master smith, I have a proposition for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not buying anything.¡± ¡°Fantastic, how does that affect me?¡± The dwarf looked up. ¡°You are the man that both my son and daughter won¡¯t stop talking about. A snake charmer, bard, and a pervert.¡± ¡°They are serpents, very kind ones, I am a musician, I tell no tales, and I have never been disrespectful to a lady.¡± I spoke calmly but was actually confused about the last one, and quit a bit miffed. ¡°I would say being unclothed, beholden to a girl is disrespectful.¡± Oh! ¡°I apologize, your son was the first dwarf I met, I did not know the age of your daughter, and I did not see the stalls, I also grew up in places where modesty was a commodity, an expensive one.¡± ¡°Very well, what is yer proposal?¡± The dwarf seemed very understanding, but also very dangerous. ¡°A trade of information, I know of many things that are technologically advanced, you do thing the old fashioned way, build things to last, instead of a way to keep taking money from a lazy client base.¡± ¡°You teach me the old, true dwarven methods of smithing, I will teach you the ways of making wonders that you have never seen.¡± ¡°It sounds like yer trying to play me for a fool.¡± ¡°Hold up that shield in front of you, away from your body.¡± The dwarf complied and I pulled out my pistol and shot it, the armor piercing round blew a large hole in it. The dwarf seemed convinced. ¡°I have need of an assistant, me son is too busy swinging that axe of his, he can''t be bothered to help. I accept, but on one condition, you find someone to replace you when you leave.¡± ¡°You have a deal, let''s start with repairing that shield.¡± ¡°Aye that be me idea as well.¡± That started the my first day with the Tinker. Chapter 3: Manchildren ¡°You talk to the serpents!¡± The small man said. His voice was low and full of rocks. ¡°Why wouldn''t I?¡± I asked innocently, though I knew that almost anyone would say it was stupid to talk to snakes. ¡°They be of evil sorts.¡± He said, it wasn''t hard to imagine how this small man could think that. ¡°Really? I just kinda walked into their city, I even talked to the queen and king. They didn''t seem evil.¡± Of course by this time I was just having a little fun. It is not often you make friends with a serpent race that everyone thinks are abominations from hell. The small man must have decided I was crazy because all he said was, ¡°Well it''s probably best if I get back my dad is waiting for Adalbor¡¯s axe.¡± As he was backing away, he grabbed a large metal case that was leaning against the wall. Dad? He is a child? ¡°You don''t mind if I tag along, just to the city, I¡¯m afraid I will get lost in these tunnels.¡± The boy? Anyway, he led me for about five minutes, and after a few turns, the tunnel opened up to a grand chamber. It seemed as if they hollowed out the entire mountain, In some places there were grand columns and arches that lifted to the ceiling, as if they were holding the mountain up. In the center there was another column but this one was round, and, well, it was the biggest structure I have ever seen. Large stone supports came off the sides from about four hundred feet up. They bent down at 30ft and plummeted to the ground. The column itself was about 120 meters in diameter and stretched to a height unknown. Well probably known, but like the other smaller columns they hit the top of the mountain and I could not see it. About a thousand meters up the column seemed to change from stone to glass, inside I could see magma, this magma, along with some strategically placed mirrors, lit the entire cavern. It was an architectural marvel that would stand the test of time for millenia. The rest of the city was not quite as grand, but still so intricate, there was not a building over fifteen stories, and they decreased in height the farther away you got from the center, with a few sporadic taller building mixed about. It was clear that the city, at one time, had a rigorous and thorough structure, but over time, it had been changed in a way cities do. ¡°It¡¯s a grand sight, the three best inns in the city are down that street, the oldest one is actually the first one you will come to, after that they get flashier, and pricier.¡± Manchild left without another word. I chose to follow his directions, oddly there was not a single soul on the streets, it was a little eerie. Sure enough I came to an old inn, but by no means did it look run down, it had detailed carvings on the stonework, and it was lear why no one was on the streets, they were all here. When I entered the inn, the boisterous noise abruptly halted, and everyone eyed me. I ignored their gaze and promptly approached the bar. It was not long before conversations started again, and there was this annoying scratchy sound. ¡°Don''t get to many of ye surface dwellers down here.¡± Another manchild asked me, this one had a much lower, and gravely voice than the previous, it became clear this was a dwarven city. I should have known, but I guess I was too distracted by the artwork the buildings provided. ¡°Aye, I am not from here, I my hoe is very far away. I was hoping to get a room, but I am lacking in coin.¡± It was a foolish hope, but it would be better than sleeping on the rocks again. ¡°Well, normally I would turn you out, ever since old Berin died, giant of a dwarf, no one has been able to play his instrument, and I have had a deal that anyone who could play the thing would get free drinks. I suppose i could change that to free lodging, I always have some rockmuncher trying to play it every night, it would be nice to get a someone to play something.¡± I looked at the far wall where the innkeeper was pointing, and I found the source of the annoying scratching sound, the instrument was a cello. I only knew that because my mom had played the instrument, and I decided to learn how. It seemed like my mother could help me from beyond the grave,and dimension. I stood and made my way towards the cello, the whole room got quiet again, except for one voice. ¡°Hey G?tz get yer arse off the damn thing, you''ve been tryin¡¯ fer fifty years now and you still sound like a dying skitter.¡± The innkeeper shouted, ¡°Let the uplander have a go, maybe he can bring some blasted peace to me ears.¡± I wordlessly sat down on the stool behind the instrument, I pulled the bow across, tunning it. After it was tuned I spoke. ¡°In the land I come from, the dwarves have a song, a solemn one about their fight to regain their home under a misty mountain that was stolen from them by a desolating dragon. My voice is not as deep, it does not fit the song, but I hope you all will like it.¡± There was not a sound till I started, and it was only a short gasp. I started to sing the song in as low of an octave as I could, but I have a feeling I didn''t do it proper justice. At the end of the song, the inn was still quiet, I looked at the innkeeper. ¡°Aye lad, you earned yer free room, but why don''t you play that grand song again. I think we all would like to hear it again.¡± I went back to playing the cello again, satisfied that I had achieved lodging, after I played the same song again, I played miscellaneous music I remembered, when I could see things winding down, I played the same song once more, then placed the cello down in the case that was near it. Afterwards the dwarf named G?tz approached me, now sober, ¡°Can you teach me how to play Berin¡¯s instrument?¡± ¡°I can teach you to play the cello.¡± The dwarf was big for dwarven standards, at five and a half feet tall. He seemed truly eager to learn how to play, instead of just trying to get free drinks.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°The cello, cello, cello,¡± he repeated, trying out the word, ¡°yes I shall learn how to play it.¡± The innkeeper walked over and handed me a key, ¡°Thank you for that, you may be an uplander, but you did us dwarves right. People are going to remember, treat you as a friend.¡± You reputation with the Dwarves has increased to Popular. ¡°It was nothing, I do have a question though, did Berin have any other instruments?¡± ¡°Yes, one just like the one you played only smaller, and he held it under his chin.¡± ¡°A violin, could you bring it here, I would like to start teaching Gotz tonight.¡± At this, the aspiring musician perked up. He ran over and picked up the cello and sat down on the chair, we spent the next hour going over chromatic scales. Gotz had natural talent, and n excellent memory. In the span of an hour he mastered all twelve. The only conceivable reason he had not figured out how to play on his own, was because he was drunk every time he tried. ¡°Tomorrow morning, I will teach you a few songs, for now I have to go to sleep, I have some things I wish to accomplish during the day.¡± Gotz nodded and put the cello away, he didn''t say anything, but I didn''t expect him to. He learned a lot today, anyone would be mentally exhausted and desire to stew in one¡¯s own thoughts. I climbed the stone stairs that led to the rooms. Because of the lack of visitors inside the mountains the inn was more of an apartment building, only the second floor had temporary rooms for renting. I had been given the key to an apartment however, on the third floor. It made me wonder what the innkeeper expected of me. I again was asleep by the time I hit the pillow. The morning came early, a thin dwarven girl knocked on my door and informed me that the bath was ready and that my attire could be washed. I thanked her and asked for directions to the bath, she told me that it was in the basement, I would just continue down the stairs. I did so, and the girl followed me, when I asked why she said so she could take my clothes to be washed, and that they would be done by the time I was done with my bath. The first room was a changing area with bathrobes lining the wall. It was clear which robe was mine. A simple case of which one is not like the others. One robe was twice the size of all the others. I quickly disrobed, hehe good pun, and donned the bathrobe. Growing up as a spy, then as an orphan took away any abashed feelings about being naked in front of anyone. The girl however, was kind enough to turn her back until I was finished. ¡°There are stalls behind you.¡± She said without a hint of embarrassment. Sure enough there were, the doors were open and I could see my reflection in the mirror inside the stall. The robe was a bit garish, but it was usable. There was a sliding door leading to a communal bath, it seemed clothing was optional. Off to the right there were showers, again it was communal and clothing seemed optional. I inspected the shower. Dwarven communal bath and shower Bathing or showering for five minutes gives you the Clean status effect. Using soap adds the Pleasantly Clean status effect. Wearing a bathrobe has no affect on gaining the aforementioned status effects, it merely protects personal modesty. I disrobed, literally this time, I prefered to not have a wet bathrobe. And if no one else cared, then it didn''t bother me. Sure enough when I returned my clothes were on hanger, and my skivvies were folded on the floor. I dressed again and headed up to the main room for breakfast. Gotz was already there, he was practicing his scales, he was getting better. The music had more feeling, even though they were just scales. ¡°I an Ryder Roarke, I am afraid I did not get your name.¡± I said to the innkeeper ¡°That stodgy old rockmuncher is Bartholomew, uplander name if you ask me.¡± Gotz spoke for the innkeeper. ¡°Aye I be Bartholomew, but that skylover should keep his mouth shut about things he don''t know, I can very well answer for meself. People call me Bartho¡± ¡°Do you have a pencil and paper?¡± I asked ¡°A what?¡± The dwarves for all their marvels had not made pencils. ¡°A linear graphite dispenser with a reverse actuated, self mitigating, vulcanized mitigation device, and a blank, white, planar arborous filament.¡± ¡°Oh, I can see why you call it a pencil, we have them, but the mitigation device is separate, paper is one of the few commodities we get from the surface world. We call it paper though, ha ha!¡± Bartho seemed to think it was funny, I did not see the humor, but I didn''t see any harm done either. Bartho retreated underneath the bar for a few seconds and appeared with a stick of graphite, and a piece of paper. I sketched out a bar with a treble clef and one with a bass clef, I drew out all the kinds of markings on the bars and called Gotz over. I explained the meaning of each one, and I taught him the song I played last night. The news of my performance spread, and it had already been called the Bergbarheim Anthem. I left him practicing, and I went to find a blacksmith, I needed a tinkerer. As I walked through the city, I received many stares. Most were friendly, they had heard of my musical exploits, the rest were just, curious. I entered the first blacksmith shop I saw, but I soon realized they made goods that required many different tools to make, meaning they were made so only they could repair them, and field repairs are much more difficult. Every shop was of similar style. I was looking for a smith who made things to last, the kind of things that could be used for anything and never break, and if they did, you could fix them with tape and a wrench. It took a bit of asking around, but I finally got the address of a smith who still did things the old fashioned way. It was on the edge of the city, not too far from where I entered it. It was about noon when I arrived at the doorstep. There was a tall dwarf at 5¡¯5¡± swinging a huge hammer onto an anvil. ¡°Excuse me master smith, I have a proposition for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not buying anything.¡± ¡°Fantastic, how does that affect me?¡± The dwarf looked up. ¡°You are the man that both my son and daughter won¡¯t stop talking about. A snake charmer, bard, and a pervert.¡± ¡°They are serpents, very kind ones, I am a musician, I tell no tales, and I have never been disrespectful to a lady.¡± I spoke calmly but was actually confused about the last one, and quit a bit miffed. ¡°I would say being unclothed, beholden to a girl is disrespectful.¡± Oh! ¡°I apologize, your son was the first dwarf I met, I did not know the age of your daughter, and I did not see the stalls, I also grew up in places where modesty was a commodity, an expensive one.¡± ¡°Very well, what is yer proposal?¡± The dwarf seemed very understanding, but also very dangerous. ¡°A trade of information, I know of many things that are technologically advanced, you do thing the old fashioned way, build things to last, instead of a way to keep taking money from a lazy client base.¡± ¡°You teach me the old, true dwarven methods of smithing, I will teach you the ways of making wonders that you have never seen.¡± ¡°It sounds like yer trying to play me for a fool.¡± ¡°Hold up that shield in front of you, away from your body.¡± The dwarf complied and I pulled out my pistol and shot it, the armor piercing round blew a large hole in it. The dwarf seemed convinced. ¡°I have need of an assistant, me son is too busy swinging that axe of his, he can''t be bothered to help. I accept, but on one condition, you find someone to replace you when you leave.¡± ¡°You have a deal, let''s start with repairing that shield.¡± ¡°Aye that be me idea as well.¡± That started the my first day with the Tinker.