Late that evening, a portly man with a hooded cloak, concealed face, and a heavy bag of gold, navigated the maze-like tunnels, by lantern, guided by a coded map he had obtained from his dowager mother. Every step was a risk, but he was driven by a singular purpose.
Deep outside the capital, within the ruins of an ancient settlement, stood the Bloody Ogre Tavern. The bustling establishment was a well-known lair of assassins and general seedy types.
Earl von Brown, once a man of prestige and authority, had fallen from grace. Now, he stood outside the tavern mustering his courage. Knocking on the door, three times, as his mother instructed. A small slit opened, and two yellow eyes stared out at him.
"State your business?" came a deep gruff voice.
"I'm here to see Rabbit," the earl stuttered.
"Come in, mind the step" the ruffian cautioned.
When the door opened, the earl came face-to-face with an 8ft tall troll. Staring at the orcs tusk, the earl tripped on the step and stumbled onto the tavern floor.
Standing up, he dusted himself off. Looking around, he saw the walls adorned with weapons of every kind, and the air was thick with the scent of oil and leather. Shadowy figures moved about, each one a master of their deadly craft.
People sat around grimy tables. When the Earl sat at the bar, his sleeve stuck to the surface. He watched the bartender, clean a dirty mug.
"What do you want to drink," the greasy bartender asked.
"Nothing, I just heard to see Rabbit," the Earl replied sheepishly.
"He's through there, but it'd keep my wits about you. The last guy who asked for Rabbit lost his head." The bartender and the other customer laughed.
The Earl followed the bartender's finger to a private chamber. Sitting along alone at a table was a tall figure shrouded in darkness.
"You wish to hire one of our assassins?" the Assassin Guild Master asked, his voice smooth and calculating.
"Yes," the Earl answered, his voice scared voice now filled with resolve. "I wish to see my nephew, Thaddeus, kidnapped and tortured."
The Guild Master's eyes glittered with interest. "That ennobled Traveler from Woodhaerst? He's affiliated with the new mayor's guild. That's risky business, upsetting the mayor, especially when the new emperor favors him. We can do it, but the price will be steep. Tell me, why do you want to torture as opposed to kill him?"
"He has taken everything from me," the Earl spat, his voice filled with bitterness. "He has betrayed our family and destroyed my legacy. He must pay," the Earl spit venomously.
"Oh, I see. The emperor deeded your property to him. You want to torture him until he hands over what was rightfully yours. But doesn't that mean you can't pay us?" probed the guild master.
"I can pay half now. You'll get the other half when I gain access to my accounts," the Earl said throwing the heavy bag of coins onto the table.
The Guild Master considered this for a moment before nodding slowly. "Very well. I have the perfect assassin for such a task, a Traveler who is a master of deception and stealth."
The Earl's eyes widened. He had heard whispers of an assassin Traveler guild. It was rumored every guild member was elusive as a shadow and as deadly as a viper.
"I will pay whatever it takes," he declared, his voice filled with desperation.
The Guild Master smiled a cold and predatory smile and extended his hand. "Then we have a deal, Earl von Brown. Thaddeus's days are numbered. My assassin will see to it."
With a wide grin and a lighter purse, the Earl left the ancient ruins.
…
Meanwhile, Thaddeus and Sabrina lay asleep, excited to travel to Woodhaerst tomorrow.
Shroud in darkness, the assassin stealthily approached the Brown residence, their every move a practiced stride of stealth.
A creak on the floor, a shadow in the window, the assassin was subtle. Slowly the assassin spun Thaddeus onto his back. Standing to the side, the assassin's poisoned dagger was only inches from his heart.
The emptiness of noise altered Thaddeus's mind. He quickly summoned his massive axe and blocked the descending blade.
System Message: Analyze Name: Player Killer Class: Assassin Level: 62
Thaddeus parried the clash, and using his strength he shoved the assassin backward. Even with the space, knew he was at a disadvantage. The assassin's higher level outmatched Thaddeus.
"Argh," screamed Sabrina altering the house staff and waking the neighbors. Wrapping the bed sheet around her, she ran out of the room and downstairs for safety.
As the assassin lunged forward, Thaddeus parried with precise force, the clash of dagger and axe. The axe's length created a distance between the two. However, the assassin's high dexterity lets them easily maneuver around the axe and close the distance.
The room was dim, lit only by the flickering shadows cast by a lone candle, and the two figures danced around each other, blades weaving intricate patterns in the air.
The assassin was quick and agile, his movements fluid and precise, each strike aimed to kill. Thaddeus was forced to rely on his gaming experience and intuition, his senses heightened by the danger. The room was filled with the sounds of steel clashing, grunts of exertion, and the subtle shuffling of feet.
Thaddeus countered the assassin's advances, recognizing the technique of a trained killer, but the assassin's face was a mask of concentration, giving nothing away.
With a swift movement, the assassin struck low, aiming for Thaddeus's legs, forcing him to jump back The blade narrowly missed its target, leaving Thaddeus off balance. Seizing the opportunity, the assassin lunged again, his blade whistling through the air.
But Thaddeus was ready. He twisted his body, deflecting the strike and countering with a swift thrust of his own. The assassin dodged, but Thaddeus's axe grazed his arm, drawing blood.
The fight continued, neither combatant willing to yield. The room became a battleground, furniture knocked aside, decorations shattered. A vase crashed to the floor, a painting was sliced in two, each object a casualty of the ferocious duel. In the chaos of the fight, a spark was ignited. A candle knocked from its holder, a curtain ablaze. The fire spread quickly, consuming everything in its path.
At one point, Thaddeus found himself pressed against the wall, the assassin's blade at his throat. With a desperate heave, he pushed the assassin back, gaining a moment to breathe.
The assassin's eyes narrowed, a hint of frustration creeping in. He attacked with renewed vigor; his strikes were more aggressive, more frenzied. Thaddeus matched him, blow for blow, his mind focused, his body a finely tuned instrument of war.
With a sudden twist, Thaddeus managed to disarm the assassin, his dagger flying across the room. But the assassin was not defeated. He lunged forward, his second dagger drawn, his face twisted in rage.
Thaddeus parried the dagger with his axe, the impact sending shockwaves down his arm. The two men locked eyes, their faces inches apart, their breath mingling in the heated air. If not for his superior constitution he would've been in worse shape.
What the assassin did not know was, while Thaddeus was lowered leveled, his strength and constitution exceed his level.
With a sudden move, Thaddeus swiped the axe, chopping off the assassin's main weapon arm. He struck with precision, his axe finding its mark. When the assassin's body went limp, his eyes wide in shock, a final breath escaping his lips, Thaddeus received two messages.
System Message: Congratulations your skill in one-handed axe has increased. You have +5 skill points to allocate
System Message: Congratulations you have reached Level 58. You have +5 Stat Points to allocate.
The room was now silent, the battle over, but the fire that had been ignited in the chaos continued to grow, consuming everything in its path.
Thaddeus stood there, his chest heaving, his body covered in sweat and blood. The realization of what had transpired slowly sank in, and the impending danger of the fire became clear.
With the last ounce of his strength, he stumbled from the burning manor, the flames a monstrous force that would not be denied.
The Brown Manor, a symbol of a once-proud family, was now a pyre, a grim testament to a battle fought and a family's descent into darkness. The flames roared, the embers of vengeance still smoldering, the tale of Thaddeus and the Browns forever etched in fire and blood.
Sabrina had heard the clash of swords and the unmistakable sounds of a struggle, but nothing could have prepared her for the sight that awaited her in Thaddeus's room. The door was ajar, and as she pushed it open, her eyes widened, and a gasp escaped her lips.
The room was in disarray, furniture overturned, decorations shattered. And in the center lay the lifeless body of the assassin, a grim expression on his face, his eyes still open, fixed on death.
Thaddeus was standing over the body, his chest heaving, his face pale and covered in sweat. He looked up at Sabrina, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and exhaustion.
Sabrina's heart pounded in her chest as she took in the scene, her mind struggling to comprehend what had just transpired. Her voice trembled as she finally spoke, her eyes never leaving the dead assassin.
"What... what has happened here, Thaddeus? Who is this man?"
Thaddeus's voice was weary, his words coming slowly. "An assassin, sent by the Browns. He came for me, Sabrina."
A chill ran down Sabrina's spine as the realization hit her. The Browns had taken their feud to a deadly new level. Her voice was almost a whisper as she asked, "Are you hurt, Thaddeus?"
He shook his head, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'm fine, but the manor is on fire."
Sabrina's eyes widened, and she could now smell the acrid scent of smoke in the air. Panic set in as the gravity of the situation became clear. She grabbed Thaddeus's hand, her voice filled with urgency.
Under heavy smoke, Thaddeus evacuated Sabrina and the house staff. He led them down the street. Under the streetlight, everyone stood silently, their minds a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Fear, anger, shock—they all melded as they watched the Brown Manor in flames. The fire roared and crackled vengefully.
"What do we do now?" she said worriedly.
"We should wait for the city guard, they probably want an explanation,"
No sooner had he said that than a company of high-level guards and a mage arrive.
"Quickly, tell me what happened!" demanded a Level 185 guard captain.
Thaddeus quickly recounted the events of the night, explaining how he had been attacked by an assassin and how the fight had led to the fire that consumed the manor. His voice was calm and steady, despite the traumatic events, his mind still in battle mode.
The guard captain listened intently, his eyes sharp and calculating. When Thaddeus finished, the captain turned to the mage, who was already working on containing the fire.
"Get that fire under control and send someone to examine the assassin's body. I want to know who sent him," the captain ordered.
He then turned back to Thaddeus, his expression serious. "Please do not leave the city until the investigation is complete. I'll personally report this to the mayor. Do you have a place to sleep tonight?"
"We do," Thaddeus said trying to not look Sabrina in the eyes.
She glanced at Thaddeus, her eyes widened at the mention of the mayor, her worry evident.
When they reached Owen and Lillian's manor, the brother and sister, were already waiting by the door. The siblings were happy to house them and their staff. Until the investigation concluded.
…
Back at the inn, where the Brown family stayed, they received the news of the assassin's failure with cold fury.
The Earl's eyes narrowed, and his voice was a low growl, "Damn those assassins, how dare they send a novice. That was the last of our gold. We're broke now, destitute. We'll be kicked to the curb like peasants.
Learning they were broke, the Earl's mother fainted. Her heart could not handle the stress. Worse yet, his wife and her maidservant had already packed.
"Dear, my brother offered to house me and our daughters. I plan to spend a few days, with him. When this over, I'll return my love," Lady vont Brown said, walking out of this inn with their daughters.
The flabbergasted Earl was in disbelief. Holding his fainted mother, he wondered how he got here in life. He realized he had crossed a line, a line that could never be uncrossed. The feud with his nephew had turned deadly, and there was no going back.
As he stood contemplating his next steps, came a hard beating at the door. A firm voice commanded, "Maxwell Brown, open, it's the city guard. You are being detained for questioning regarding the Brown Manor fire."
Hearing the guards, the anxious portly man began sweating profusely, his heartbeat quickened and fainted. When the guards broke down the door, they found the former Earl and dowager, unconscious on the bed.
The capital awoke the next morning to the news of the fire and the failed assassination. Whispers and rumors spread like wildfire, and the Brown family's name was forever tarnished.