Moving through the alleyway, I thought of ways to make money, with the most plausible options being stealing, becoming a street performer, or taking any odd jobs available.
You would think children would go door to door asking for money in exchange for mowing lawns.
But that is not the case here because of the lack of lawns common people own obviously.
And those who do have them already have servants hired to maintain them.
This brings me to the next idea: becoming a servant to a noble.
Of course, finding a good-willed noble is important, but this town itself is larger than I anticipated. Rather than a town, it's more akin to a kingdom so there is many opportunities to find one good soul. I had only explored two-fifths of the land, and from what I've gathered, the kingdom is divided into five districts.
The first and lowest class of people is the slum where criminals or the poverty usually reside, the second is the common district, normal people with waged jobs, and the third is the noble district, which I had explored previously, leading me to steal a noble's pouch. Fourth is the vendor's district, and the fifth and last is the royal district, located smack dab in the middle of the kingdom.
From what I've heard, becoming a servant in the royal castle requires strict discipline, several years of training, and a recommendation from a noble, none of which I have time or connections for.
But knowing how they treat slum dwellers, I need to at least look like a commoner to be able to communicate without discrimination.
But a single fact might change this: the D&D rules I'm stuck by.
What do you mean? you ask.
You'll see.
~~
Sitting beside the road in the noble district, I covered myself with a clean rag and placed a bowl in front of me.
Many looked at me with disgust, kicking the bowl as they walked by or ignoring my presence.
Some did drop a coin or two, but without much more care, so I ignored them.
After several hours of sitting, a middle-aged man with black hair and blue eyes came up to me.
"Child, go purchase something to eat." With a gentle voice, he dropped several silver coins.
Looking up, I saw his face expressing pity for me.
'Bingo.' Remembering his face, I thanked him greatly and pocketed the silver coins before he left.
Watching the direction he went, I packed my bags and headed to the alleyway, but heard a familiar voice behind me.
"There she is! Get her!" A fat noble I had stolen from had several guards at his side, and after his command, the guards quickly rushed towards me.
"Fucking bitch, not now!"
Quick on my feet, I dashed into the alleyway.
Spotting a stack of wooden boxes, I used them to boost myself onto the rooftops.
[Rolling acrobatics with advantage {4,17} 17+5 = 22, succeed]
I instinctively saw the easiest route, and to the guards' surprise, I climbed up the 20-foot wall with the help of empty wooden crates.
Looking down I saw the baffled guards as they tried to climb.
[Rolling acrobatics... {nat 20, 14, 10, 2}]
'Fuck'
While the other three failed, one guard quickly climbed up as if the heavy armor didn't affect him at all.
The other three guards were surprised by his performance. They had known each other for years working for the baron but didn't know he was a gold-medal athlete. Even the guard was surprised by his own performance as if a god had granted him momentary power.
Seeing the opportunity to create space, I quickly ran across a bridge connecting two houses while the guard climbed the 20-foot wall.
The guard finally finished climbing and pointed at my running figure crossing over rooftops.
"Stop right there, criminal scum! I have the power of god and goddess on my side!" He followed me across the rooftops, though slow due to his inexperience with the uneven terrain of roofs.
Remembering where the kind noble had gone, I went in the opposite direction and eventually lost their pursuit.
"Huff, huff, fucking bastards, leave me alone already." I quickly caught my breath as they ran past my hiding spot.
Looking at the sun for the direction of the east, I recovered my mental compass and headed southwest, where the kind noble had gone.
Eventually spotting him, I tidied up any misaligned hair and took off my hood.
"Excuse me kind sir" Grabbing his attention he was surprised to see me.
"What do you want little girl" With a kind smile he crouched down and waited for my response.
"Are you... looking for a servant" This question baffled him.
"Why do you ask that, do you wish to work in my residence?"
"Yes! if you wish I can complete any task that you give me, be it cooking, cleaning, or washing clothes"
'Please please please please'
[Rolling charisma... {nat 20} 20+2 = 22] Happiness quickly rises from inside as I see the number 20.
Intrigued, the kind noble in front of me scanned me before rubbing his chin and smiling.
"Alright child follow me, if you truly are as you said then I shall hire you"
~~
After walking for a while we arrived at a decently sizable mansion, guards patrolling the outer fence walls as we walked to the gate.
Noticing our arrival, the guards quickly scanned me and asked the noble for my identity.
"She will be a new servant, so treat her fairly" After the word the guard bowed and opened the gate
Entering the courtyard, I saw many maids taking care of the gardens filled with flowers.
"My wife loves flowers, and she always tends to them personally if she has the time" Noticing my curious gazes the noble explained.
"A-apologies if this bothers you"
"No need to apologize, it's quite normal to see curious gazes among young people" He patted my head and moved on to the mansion.
Opening the doors, a fancy old England-style home, one you see in any medieval setting.
"Earl Kendrick I am pleased you have returned safely" An old butler wearing a monocle came and greeted the man.
"Alfred, it was only a stroll around the noble district, nothing extreme" Kendrick waved his hand in dismissal.
"But I'm afraid assassins can lurk everywhere, one even stands right beside us right now" Alfred casts a sharp glance at me but I remain stoic.
Bowing slightly I introduced myself.
"Greeting sir Alfred, I'm merely a peasant that is looking for a job within this manor, I mean no harm to kind noble Kendrick"
"No need to put up your guard against this child, I was the one who first approached her," Kendrick said in my defense.
"If Earl Kendrick said so, I shall trust your judgment, sir"
"Thank you, Alfred could you give this young lady a room and a proper outfit, she will be working as a maid moving forward"
~~
Author's note: if you're wondering if i'm actually rolling for these, yes I do, and the fights will also be simulated in an dnd fight