Reborn as the First Boss, Chapter 36 (Patreon)

Chapter 36 – Introductions

Katelyn

Human Female

Level 18 Fighter / Blacksmith

Titles: Tough, Survivor, Headwoman

It didn’t take long for the new headwoman, to arrive once called for. I noticed she had the [Survivor] title. According to Roland, most of the villagers who took up arms and survived the night got the title, as well as everyone who survived up on the redoubt on the ridge. The title was an interesting one, since the only way to get it was to survive a fight against a foe that both outnumbered and outleveled you, without running away. Not an easy get.

Once you got it, though, it basically gave you a 10% boost in all survival skills and against enemies that were higher leveled than you. On top of that, you took less damage from attacks as your HP dropped. Starting at 80% of your total HP, you took 10% less damage from attacks, and by the time your HP got to 20%, you were taking 40% less damage. There was also a 50% chance that you could survive a killing blow with 1 HP, but that couldn’t happen more than once every ten minutes. A lifesaver for any adventurer or soldier, but not much use for a blacksmith who stayed in town.

Headwoman Katelyn was a broad-shouldered woman. Clearly had the muscle one would expect of someone who ran a forge, but wasn’t into ‘amazon’ or ‘butch’ territory. Her black hair was cut shoulder-length, most likely to keep it out of her way when she was hammering away at the forge. Her clothes were fairly simple, just thick pants and a shirt with leather apron over it. A pair of leather gloves was tucked into her belt, which also sported a hammer and other tools in special slots. Fairly typical for what you’d think a blacksmith in a fantasy world would be like.

“Good to see yer up, Baroness. And thank ye fer makin’ me the new headwoman round here. But why me, ifn you don’t mind me askin’?”

I chuckled at the woman’s plainspoken question, and said, “Headman Tomas died in the fighting, and when I asked who represented the village, I was told that not only did people already see you as Tomas’s second, but you were already stepping up to lead the efforts to clear the mine. That’s what a village head does. They don’t wait for someone else to tell them what to do, they get people moving. So, I just made official what was already the truth.”

“Well, shucks,” she said, blushing slightly. Perhaps she wasn’t the type that was used to honest praise? Still, she quickly coughed, and said, “Anyways, the mine entrance’ll be clear by the time we start needing to worry about cooking dinner. The mage types have been passing messages back and forth with the people trapped down there. Only losing ten out of those who didn’t have the heart to take the wall is a blessing, all told.”

“Captain Lunet told me of how two of the men deliberately stayed in the danger zone, to keep the goblins out, even as the rocks fell.”

“Aye. I’m not as one to speak ill of the dead, but that surprised me, comin’ from Wilkin and Renfry of all people.”

“How so? I know that they wouldn’t have been looked at as the most courageous sorts, since they were in the mine, instead of on the wall, but that sounds like more to me.”

“Well, Wilkin’s always been the quiet type, you know? Never did anything we could find, but there were times he were a bit too keen on his job as a butcher, if you get me. But there were always rumors, about how sometimes merchants and travelers seemed to ‘leave town’ without anyone actually seeing them go. Never caught him, as I said, and none of the villagers ever went missing like that, so no one asked too closely without any kind of proof to back things up.”

Roland nodded. “I’ve seen the type. They’re not right in the head, and they know it, so they try to indulge themselves in secret. Most don’t last too long, as their madness makes them take risks, but some of them keep their wits enough to know better than to shit where they eat, pardon the language. Those ones can keep things hidden for a long time. I expect, when Wilkin’s shop is rebuilt, you’ll find some surprises in the basement.”

“Aye, that thought’s crossed me mind, too,” Katelyn nodded. “As for Renfry, poor bastard was the town drunk. Always managed to be just sober enough to swing his pickaxe in the mine, and he was damn good at it, but seems like there were fewer nights he spent in his own bed than on a cot in our little excuse for a jail. More than once, he got into fights, and needed to spend time in the stocks. And that’s without him being a pervy lech.”

I nodded slowly. “As Baroness, I pardon those who fell in the fighting of any misdeeds they’ve done within my domain. They spilt their blood and gave their lives to defend this village, and so, no matter what we may find about them later, they will be remembered as men and women who, when it came down to it, proved that even the worst among us can be heroes, even without a title from the Voice of the World. Headwoman Katelyn, when the cleanup is done, I want a monument placed by the mine, so all can see. Have the names of the fallen on it, with their class and profession, so all can see. Have someone talk with Captain Lunet and Guildmaster Roland to get the names of the fallen soldiers and adventurers, as well.”

Headwoman Katelyn nodded. “That’ll make more than a few people glad, my Ladyness. They’re not wanting to forget the people we lost, but trying to praise someone if you find bodies in their basement is hard on decent folk. You saying their dyin’ to save the village wipes the slate clean will help, a lot.”

The door opening cut off any further conversation. Six humans walked in, clearly fresh from the road. All were armed and armored, as was only sensible when traveling towards potential goblin troubles. That they still came, despite not knowing whether the village was still standing said something about them.

Reinhold

Human Male

Level 25 Priest / Enchanter

Titles: Devout

First up was obviously the new priest. He wore a chain shirt over a simple gambeson, with a tunic over the top, emblazoned with the symbol of Yton, the god of Crafters, and a simple helm on his head. For arms, he had a mace that hung from his belt, and a shield was slung over his shoulder. A satchel hung at his side, likely some kind of bag of holding, given his profession. Simple, practical, but well-made. As one would expect from Yton’s faithful.

He scanned the room, before setting his gaze on Roland, and pulling a sealed envelope from his bag. “Guildmaster Roland. I am Father Reinhold, of the Church of Yton, sent to be the replacement for Priest Tristan. I also have a letter for you, from Guildmaster Bertol in Coldpeak. But I’m afraid I do not know the others here?”

Roland nodded as he took the envelope. “Ah, I’m glad to hear young Bertol is still doing well. As for the others, some are my adventurers, and others are knights of the barony. The forgewoman you see there is the new Headwoman of Stonebreak, Katelyn. Captain Lunet, there, is the commander of the Baroness’s forces that rode to fight the goblins. And, most importantly, this is Baroness Alis Pureheart, Lady of Windwater Barony and the Hero Slayer who took down the Goblin Hero just last night.”

That got all eyes on me, as expected. The priest and the accompanying adventurers all bowed, but I waved them off. “There’s a time for pomp and ceremony, with all the formalities that entails. Right now, the concerns are for trying to recover from the battle. Stonebreak stands, but it was a near thing, and much of the village’s strength is either dead, or in need of healing beyond what our Healers can provide.”

Reinhold nodded once. “I understand, my Lady. But my office demands that I first do one bit of formality.” He paused, drawing himself up, and said, “As the highest-ranking priest of Yton in this village, I hereby take up the mantle of spiritual leader for this place. By Church law and royal decree, I shall hold no office, martial or bureaucratic, within these lands, for my first duty is to the Church, and my flock. Under my stewardship, this church shall support the Barony of Windwater and the Kingdom of Dascora, and their rightful rulers, but is not subordinate to either of them.”

He paused, and then said, a bit more sheepishly. “My apologies, my Lady, if that came off as untoward. Ever since the rise of the Holy Theocracy of Eclana, there has been tension between the different churches and other lands. The compromise the Church of the Crafter reached is a formal separation. Each Church’s grounds are separate from the domain of the lords who rule the land, and they pay only those taxes any other freeman would pay. In return, any Priest who takes up a permanent posting is barred from having any rank within the various militaries, guilds, and so-forth. Naturally, we will not shy away from helping in times of crisis, but we hold no official power, and cannot be ordered into action.”

I nodded graciously. “In my experience, things rarely end well when politics and religion meet, so it is for the best. My household fighters and I took up residence in the church temporarily, as we prepared for the goblin horde, but I’ll have it vacated so that you can move in. There are a lot of people who will be needing your god’s aid if they are to get back to their lives as crafters. Headwoman Katelyn can work with you on seeing to them.”

Reinhold chuckled, and said, “I’m sure the Church here in Dascora won’t mind a Baroness spending a few days in a vacant building, my Lady, especially when the Baroness in question was working to defeat the goblins that slew the priest who once lived here. Better a tool or building be in use, and for good purpose, than for it to be left idle for the sake of propriety. The Eclanans might kick up a fuss about such things, but we’re much more practical around here.”

“Well said, Father. Now, will you introduce me to your companions? It takes a special sort to take on an escort mission guiding a priest towards a potential goblin horde.”

Owin

Human Male

Level 20 Diviner / Gambler

Titles: Lucky

Father Reinhold laughed, and waved first to a man in mage’s robes, with a solid-looking staff. If it weren’t for that, or what [Appraise] told me, then one could easily believe he was any random person, so bland were his looks. Except for the perceptive light in his eyes, that was.

“Owin here is a Diviner and a Gambler, a ruinous combination for anyone who dares take him on in cards or dice, as you might expect. However, it was his divinations that allowed us to avoid several problem areas along the way, and allowed us good positioning for the fights we could not avoid. He also was the one who claimed that the road would be mostly safe, all the way until we got to Stonebreak, despite the goblins.”

Alyson

Human Female

Level 20 Paladin / Scholar

Titles: Skilled

Next, he pointed out a woman wearing a suit of full plate, fitted to her proportions. The breastplate was emblazoned with the symbol of Cineas, the Goddess of War, as was the shield she carried in one hand. A sword was sheathed at her side, but a two-handed maul was slung across her back by a strap. As befit a follower of the War Goddess.

“Knight-Errant Alyson is a servant of Cineas, as you can see. Her skills as a paladin served well in keeping off the skeletal undead that attacked us as we traveled from Coldpeak to Blackstone, on our way to Granite Pointe. A fine credit to the Order of the Silver Blade.”

Ela

Human Female

Level 20 Rogue / Thief

Titles: Nimble Fingered

The next in line was a rogue with leather armor over her torso, a pair of leather bracers, and not much else in the way of defenses, beyond her clothes. Clearly, she preferred not being hit in the first place to being able to withstand a blow. I counted at least six daggers on her person, as well as a hunting bow in one hand. Skirmisher, rather than up-front fighter.

“Young Ela, here, is a rogue, and the scout for the party. I’m told that she has quite some experience in disabling traps, and other such things, when the group goes raiding bandit lairs and other unsavory places. And she is silent as can be, when she chooses to be.”

Betta

Human Female

Level 20 Priestess / Courtesan

Titles: Seductress

The next woman was dressed in what might be considered armor, technically. The ‘breastplate’ barely covered her chest, and was specially crafted to enhance her ‘attributes’, but left her tones stomach clear, revealing a shining jewel glinting from a navel piercing. She had steel bracers, and a skirt of leather straps to help somewhat protect her legs. A pistol hung low on her right hip, and a short sword on her left. She was also the only person I’d seen in this world that came close to Mhyrsha’s beauty.

“Betta, despite how she looks, is an actual priestess of Videa. She is solid in a fight, as few creatures can bring themselves to harm her before she runs them through, but she is a skilled healer. Just keep any pure youths who have yet to know a woman away from her. The monastery at Blackstone chased us out in a hurry after several brothers had to atone for breaking their vows of celibacy.”

Alfan

Human Male

Level 15 Fighter / Armorer

Titles: Tough

And then, there was a man wearing a steel cuirass, bracers, and grieves, but little else in the way of armor, save for an open-faced helmet. A rifle was slung across his back, a pistol hung in a holster at his hip, and he carried a two-handed axe with flames running along its blade over one shoulder. Clearly, his job in the party was to hurt things, while the paladin defended everyone. Still, it was interesting to see others with guns in this world.

“And then there’s Alfan, the group’s fighter. He’s a good lad, always keeps his head clear in battle. Saw him cleave a bandit’s head in two with that axe, before shooting another in the face as they tried to get to Owin in a fight. All told, they’re a solid group of adventurers. I know Guildmaster Bertol was sad to see them go.”