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LOCATION: THE RIVERSTONE HEARTH – INN & TAVERN
CITY: MYRRINDEL, ALLOVIA
DATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 | TIME: 8:00 AM
Brick and Trevor Gant woke at the Riverstone Hearth Inn and immediately descended the steps into the lively dining hall.
They could already smell the coffee, meats and toasted bread.
Brick's stomach grumbled loudly, and he suggested they grab a bite before they meet up with Flint.
Trevor agreed and sat with his oversized friend.
"I selected the Rogue Assassin persona for today," Trevor said. "When I hit level 30 with it recently, I got some new tracking skills that also extend my Endurance."
Brick had just shoved a huge forkful of eggs into his mouth, and after swallowing, he put his hand on Trevor's shoulder.
"That's good, I didn't want to have to carry you on my shoulders."
Brick's deadpan expression met with Trevor's surprise, then they both burst into laughter.
As they were finishing up, Brick was about to message Flint, when he showed up at the inn.
"Ah," Flint said, "I thought I might find you two here already."
Brick stood and shook Flint's hand.
"We're ready to get started. The girls…" He pulled the marbles from a special pocket in his gear. "The girls have been looking forward to it, too."
Brick rolled the marbles in his hand for a moment, a wistful look on his face, before he shook it off and tucked the glass spheres back in the fabric folds right next to his heart.
"I see you've found a perfect place to store them," Flint said, smiling.
"Yeah. Aria sewed pockets like this into every one of my shirts… uh, tunics."
Flint nodded.
"Follow me," he said, "what I'm about to tell you isn't for public consumption."
He led Trevor and Brick toward the back of the inn. The innkeeper glanced their way, then turned back toward the morning crowd.
Flint pushed open a door that Brick had never noticed before. It led down a darkened hallway, then opened into a room with a small table and four chairs.
He unrolled a map onto the table.
"This is a map of our planet, Evirond. We're, of course, in Allovia. Here."
Flint pointed to the large land mass to the east side of the map.
"As you know, Myrrindel is the capital of Allovia, and Dawnhollow is far to the east, here."
He pointed out the former Grimwatch, which had in recent months become a bustling city in its own right.
"Okay," Flint continued, "to the west of Allovia, across the sea, is the kingdom of Namarien. Elethrae is the capital city. Namarien is mainly and elven kingdom. Northwest from there is Kragmere, run primarily by dwarves and humans."
He waved his hand over the rest of the map.
"The rest is untamed wildlands we refer to as Graventhal. So. That's the overview. Are you with me so far?"
Trevor looked up.
"Dwarves? Like, real dwarves?"
Brick laughed.
"He also just said elves, but dwarves is where you are surprised?"
Trevor blushed a bit.
"We've seen elves and half elves here," he said, "but never dwarves."
"Yeah," Flint said, "dwarves tend to keep to themselves, always crafting and building. They're an amazing people, truly."
Trevor looked even more excited to explore this new world beyond the borders of Allovia.
"Now today," Flint said, "you're getting on a ship to Elethrae. It will be a four-day journey. When you arrive, be sure to go straight to the town square so your map can update. After that, you'll be able to travel directly to Elethrae from your world."
"Got it," Brick said. "We thought something like this might happen, so we planned for a longer stay in Evirond than the normal single day."
Flint pulled out two satchels from a larger bag he had slung over his shoulder. He handed one to Trevor and one to Brick.
"These bags contain everything you'll need to get started. You're unknown in our world, so there was no need to change your identities. But backstories are important. So read each of yours. Memorize it, and burn the parchment before you set out. Can you do that?"
"No problem," Trevor said. He looked at Brick and smiled. "It's like an espionage novel."
Brick chuckled.
"Yes, it is. In the Navy SEALs, we didn't have to do much of this, but our CIA counterparts were experts in shedding their persona and taking on a whole new identity."
"Something you should be getting pretty good at, Trevor," Flint said, "given your Hollow Mantle class."
Flint gave them a few minutes to go over the details. He answered some questions about their new background. Details on the town they were supposed to hail from. Which was, essentially, the old Grimwatch.
Flint handed each of them a surprisingly heavy coin purse.
Brick tugged on the strings and pulled out a few of the shiny silver coins.
"They're called quills, right?" Brick asked.
"Yes," Flint replied. "Our ancestors who settled all these lands believed in wisdom over everything. They chose the quill, a symbol of scholarship, as the name for our currency. All the kingdoms in Evirond use it, so there's no need to exchange for another as you travel."
"Understood," Brick said. "What else?"
Flint closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
"First, a long overdue upgrade for you, Brick."
---
System Message
Mason Briggs
Previous Class: Bulwark, Level 40
Class Upgrade: Vindicator, Level 40
Class Description:
Vindicator
You have been wronged on many fronts and in many ways. In the past, you would push past adversity and continue moving forward to accomplish your objective.
The Vindicator requires no such thing. Injustice and negative karmic balance become actual fuel for your vengeance.
New Mechanic Unlocked:
Smoldering Focus
Karmic imbalances in the universe make your blood boil. Almost literally. When you or those around you are wronged, your Focus builds. Smoldering Focus can be unleashed in combat. Point of Focus can be added to your normal skills at will to increase damage done or the amount of incoming damage you can shrug off with ease.
Smoldering Focus has no cap, and can be used freely to bolster the Vindicator's skills.
Current Smoldering Focus: 1,182
---
"Whoa," Brick said. "This is fucking incredible."
He looked at Trevor.
"My class has been upgraded from Bulwark to Vindicator. Listen to this."
He read the class description to Trevor, along with the new mechanic.
"Yes," Flint said, "for what lies ahead, we needed you to be more damage-focused than a pure tank defensive build. I hope you like it."
"Are you kidding me?" Brick said. "This is right up my alley. And the girls are loving the new energy, too."
Flint smiled.
"Good. Now for your first mission. This will take you beyond Allovia and into Namarien. You'll start in the capital city of Elethrae and trace the patterns from there."
Flint released the new mission to Brick and Trevor.
---
System Message
Mason Briggs
Vindicator
You have been assigned a new Mission.
[Mission: New City, Same Problem]
Board a vessel bound for Elethrae, where The Muted Cord continues its diabolical aim of dismantling the System to enslave the people of Evirond.
Follow the map when you arrive.
The innkeeper will provide further instructions.
---
"So," Trevor said, "the innkeeper there will help us get settled?"
Flint nodded.
"Yes, you'll find our network includes innkeepers in many taverns throughout the lands. It's a great way to gather information."
"Makes a lot of sense," Brick said.
"Now, let's get you on your way. These papers will gain you access on one of the ships crossing the sea."
Flint handed Brick and Trevor a small parchment scroll.
"The quartermaster shouldn't ask any questions, but if he does, tell him the pass phrase."
"Which is?" Trevor asked.
"New City, Same Problem," Flint said, smiling.
He then led Trevor and Brick to the docks. The gulls swirling and chirping overhead were almost as loud as the people milling about the marina, and the smell of seafood being offloaded from fishing trawlers was overwhelming.
Brick turned around to shake Flint's hand, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"I guess we're on our own," he said. "Ah, there's the ship."
Brick and Trevor weaved through the crowd for ten more minutes until they arrived.
The wide, wooden gangway led from the dock to the ship. Trevor looked up at the massive masthead looming above.
Painted neatly on the side of the cargo hauler were the words:
Vengeance of the Deep
Brick smirked. "A very good name for a ship. I approve."
He and Trevor handed their parchment rolls to the quartermaster.
He looked them up and down.
"Traveling lightly, I see? Not planning to stay long?"
Trevor panicked inside, but in his Rogue Assassin persona, his face didn't betray his fear.
"You know how it is," Brick said. "New city, same old problems. We're heading there to find work. Traveling light just made sense."
The quartermaster's brow raised at the pass phrase.
"Take the two rooms at the end of the hallway belowdecks. We'll bring wine later when we're off. Cap'n will want to have a chat once the sun goes down."
Brick just nodded and walked ahead, as confident as ever. Trevor followed behind, breathing a little easier.
In Brick's pocket, Nina and Sienna vibrated with excitement.