Lucas knew that it was just a programmed response and that, at no point, did they ever feel pain or fear, but it still caused him to cringe and pull back momentarily as he heard their lamentations. He turned to the next one after the first was dead and began charging up a different spell. He had seen Zap, Firebolt, and Frost Breath, but he hadn’t seen the Earth Spike skill yet. It took only a second and a half to prepare, and then a giant spike erupted from the ground, impaling the grey-barked Treant with a narrow, conical spike. His body was lifted up and suspended in the cage, leaving the corpse’s feet to dangle.

Somewhat happy with the way that had turned out, Lucas decided to repeat the process on the Dwarf in the next cell. Afterward, he finished the last one off by freezing her to death with Frost Breath. As the elderly Alfar woman was frozen into a statue, a quest notification appeared in front of him.

Quest Route Activated: Dog of the Imperium, Part 2.

You have burned the bridges of opportunity with the rebellion in Hesse, and in doing so, you have placed your feet firmly in the Imperium camp. Even though you have earned a place within the Imperium, however, it is at the bottom. A traitor to the rebellion, you are currently considered lower than a dog and must climb your way up the ranks if you wish to make something of yourself in the future.

To do this, you must first earn a title of nobility. There are several methods of accomplishing this, but until you have earned at least the lowest title, the soldiers and members of the Imperium will never fully embrace you as one of their own and never share the secrets of their craft openly to you. Without a title, you will not be able to find a teacher that can help you advance past one of the four basic classes: Fighter, Rogue, Mage, or Healer.

Note: Due to betraying the rebels in the quest The Teachers of Old, if your actions are discovered, Were-Rat Chieftain Kulako’s opinion of you will reach the lowest possible value.

Xun Guan crossed the room and stood before him, a warm smile on her face. “Welcome to the Imperium . . . my heroic villain.”

Chapter 2

Character Name: Lucas

Level: -67

Hit Points: 140

Arcane Energy: 200

Stamina: 100

Holy Energy: Class Locked

Current Class: Mage

Stats:

Arcanum [increases Arcane Energy by 10 per point]: 10

Holy [No Effect/Class Locked]: 0

Athletics [increases Stamina by 10 per point]: 0

Fortitude [increases Hit Points by 1% per point]: 0

Charisma: 0

Luck: 0

Unspent: 30

Current Elemental Attunement:

None

Combat Proficiencies:

None