All in Charisma (A LitRPG/Isekai Adventure)

The embers of the fire provided scant warmth as the chill of the morning settled around them.

Suddenly, a grunt broke the silence, followed by rustling noises as the bandit leader regained consciousness.

Justin awoke to the commotion to see him struggling against his bindings, thrashing about wildly while uttering a litany of curses. He moaned as his injured arm strained against the ropes.

Eldrin calmly approached him, blocking out the morning sun as he cast a shadow over the bandit leader's helpless form. "Listen closely. Escape is a fantasy you can't afford. In a few minutes, we're going to march down that road. You'll walk or face a fate much graver than Silverton's courtrooms." He motioned to the sky, where Shadowflight circled ominously. "Try anything, and my falcon up there will make sure you never get far. Plus, these ropes can get a lot tighter."

"Piss off, you fuck," the bandit said with a growl.

"Delightful," Eldrin said.

He forced a canteen to the bandit's lips. The man hacked and coughed, but eventually had no choice but to drink whatever was offered.

"Why waste water on the likes of him?" Lila asked.

"Not just water," Eldrin said. "I mixed in some mendleaf paste. It should make things go easier."

They ate a quick breakfast of smoked deer jerky and a handful of berries Lila had foraged, and flatbread heated on the rocks around the fire. Soon, they got on their way. Eldrin roughly undid the rope that held the bandit to the tree, giving him a little push for good measure. He stumbled and tripped in the dirt, and Eldrin roughly pulled on his leash to stand him up.

"Can't you at least take my blindfold off, you spineless lump of rotting toad guts?" the bandit retorted.

Eldrin smirked. "If you play nice, sure. But you have to earn it."

The bandit looked as if he was about to curse again but thought better of it.

"You learn quickly."

With the warning delivered, their journey south to Silverton resumed. By noon, they passed the top of the Umber Hills to find themselves back in Whispering Pines. Now, in full daylight, Justin could see the hills spreading into the distance, the first trace of red autumn gracing the leaves. On the horizon rose a line of low mountains, between two of which was a smoky spot. No one was about in the small village square; Justin figured they were probably out on their terraces on the sides of the hills, reaping the harvest.

"Silverton," the Ranger said, gazing into the distance. "One more night in the wilderness will see us there tomorrow morning."

Eldrin removed the bandit's blindfold, and Justin did his best to avoid the man's gaze, though he could feel his beady, hateful eyes leering at him. He was mindful of Eldrin's warning that he might have some ability that would allow him to escape. But the Ranger didn't seem concerned, so Justin told himself it was okay.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully. The bandit sunk into sulky silence, and by evening, they set up camp in a meadow off the road. They met a few travelers on their way, a lot of them with their eyes popping at their prize. None asked any questions.

Eldrin led them off-road, toward a meadow where they could take shelter. Shadowflight went off to hunt and keep watch over their camp. Eldrin forced the blindfold on again and tied the bandit to a tree; he complied because of a previous dosing of mendleaf water.

They were so fatigued that, after dinner, they all went immediately to sleep, even the bandit.

Morning dawned again, cloudy and colder than the day before. They broke camp quickly. As they approached Silverton, the landscape changed gradually. They saw more people on the roads, first farmers heading to their fields, then traders with their mules and carts. They passed a couple of hamlets, small clusters of houses built from timber, surrounded by fences of stacked stone.

The path eventually led them to the city's imposing stone walls. The gates stood open, guarded by men in uniform, a crimson tunic over chain mail, with a silver heron clutching a silver coin in its talons—a fitting emblem for the city. Each soldier bore a pike and wore a conical helmet. Justin could see that the city was built strategically within the pass, with its stone buildings and towering walls making it a fortress against any threats.

As they neared, Eldrin turned to Justin and Lila. "Silverton is key to the Aranthian Plain beyond, and currently, we're in the Aranthian Hinterlands. It's a stronghold, a beacon of security for miles."

Justin wondered why he was telling him this, but maybe the Ranger was suspecting he wasn't from around here at all. Not just Aranthia, but this entire world. Eyrth, Alistair had called it. Eventually, he was going to be found out.

As they passed through the gates, Justin marveled. The city bustled with activity, with the distinct sound of hammers and anvils resonating amidst the background hum of wagons and chatter. Stone and wooden structures, predominantly two and three stories high, spread out like a sprawling mosaic. Thin streams of smoke arose from the many smithies and workshops, speaking of a city that thrived on industry. Up the mountainside to the west, grand mansions stood overlooking the town, symbols of the elite and their affluence.

But what caught Justin's eye the most were the roofs. The beautiful bluish-purple tiles looked as though they were borrowed from an idyllic Eastern European town, reflecting the hues of the sky and adding an air of charm to the industrious city. The buildings' sides were probably once painted white, but years of smoke and soot had stained most of them gray.

Eldrin navigated the streets confidently, leading them to the Mercenary Guild toward the center of town, directly across from the cathedral in the main town square. The Guild was an imposing stone structure with tall, narrow windows and a great oak door that was probably always kept open during business hours. Above the entrance, a large emblem of a crossed sword and arrow shone in the morning light. It was clearly a larger affair than the one in Mistwatch.

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As Justin entered behind Eldrin, Lila, and their catch, it was to the sight of a cavernous hall bustling with activity. The clinking of coins, murmurs of negotiations, and the shuffling of armored feet echoed through the chamber. Eldrin led their captive through the throng of mercenaries, bounty hunters, and guild officials. Justin could see the sidelong glances and raised eyebrows at their haul.

At the far end of the hall, seated behind a massive oak desk, was the Mercenary Master. He was a human with a stout frame, a weathered face, and sharp eyes that seemed to miss nothing. Eldrin approached with a confident stride, producing the bounty bill he had picked up back in Whispering Pines.

"Master Branton," Eldrin addressed the stout man with a curt nod, "we've brought the bandit leader, as specified in your bill."

Master Branton looked the captive over, his keen eyes taking in every detail. "Aye, he matches the description."

Without further ado, he motioned for a pair of armored men to take the bandit away. While the man was restrained, Eldrin unbound him, carefully coiling his ropes and placing them in his pack.

As the guards dragged the bandit off with a yelp, Master Branton reached into a drawer and retrieved a small pouch, which jingled merrily. "Your reward," he said, handing it to Eldrin. "Thank you for your part in securing the Silver Road."

As Eldrin counted the coins and doled them out, Justin felt a rush, an almost physical sensation, as a blue notification bar surfaced in his vision.

Bounty "Highway Justice" Complete!

Experience Gained: 500

Money received: 80 silver marks, to be distributed among party members by Party Leader Eldrin Thornwood.

Loot: One ruby-encrusted dagger and one gold chain, to be appraised and sold or kept, as decided by party leader Eldrin Thornwood.

[Your experience stands at 554/200. Level-up available!]

"Congratulations, all," Eldrin said. "Let's head outside."

Emerging from the guild, the trio found themselves back on Silverton's bustling streets. Curious, Justin took a moment to check his interface, his eyes widening slightly at the experience bar reading 554/200. A check inside his coin pouch also revealed he had just over thirty-one silvers. That number would go even higher once he completed his courier quest and paid Lila her part, and when he got his share of the sold loot from Eldrin.

Justin couldn't suppress a grin. Such was the experience he had gained that he was almost certain he'd get not one, but two level-ups on his next sleep.

"Just one good sleep away from leveling up," he said.

"Same here!" Lila gushed. "This was so worth it."

"Is there a way I can research the skill I'll unlock next?" Justin asked.

"You could try the local library," Lila answered. "They probably have a skill book for your class. But just be warned, progression isn't the same for everyone."

"What do you mean?"

Eldrin cut in. "Certain skills have a way of showing up for most everyone in a class. But there's also an element of randomness to it, or even skills that are completely unique to a person. Traditionally, you'll be presented with two skill choices for every prime number level you attain. A class will always grant a class skill upon adopting a class, and as far as anyone can tell, they give the same skills to everyone. Level 1 will always confer a class boon."

"Interesting," Justin said. "What influences which skills are presented?"

Eldrin shrugged. "Normally, lower-level skills are presented earlier, but this isn't always the case. Scholars have developed various formulae to denote how likely or unlikely a skill will be presented, but I wouldn't trust them as reliable. Basically, some are more common than others. If you're lucky, you might even get a an option for a "Rare Skill." They tend to be better than the non-rare options. Your actions can determine just what skills show up."

"That makes it dynamic," Justin said. "And what about boons?"

"Boons work a bit differently. For every non-prime level, you get to adopt a new boon. And every non-prime level thereafter, assuming it's not a multiple of a previously adopted boon."

Justin frowned. "Care to explain that one?"

"Take mine, for example. At Level 4, I got my first boon, Animal Bond. And at Level 6, I got my second boon, Nature's Bounty. But at Level 8—the next non-prime number—I didn't get a new boon. Rather, my Animal Bond boon upgraded to Improved Animal Bond, which gave me and Shadowflight additional benefits. For example, it increased Shadowflight's strength and recovery. When you adopt a new boon, you also have to consider how it might grow with you."

"Interesting," Justin said. "So, I have something to look forward to with every level-up."

"That's right," Eldrin said. "And you'll always get a new attribute point to distribute. And what's more, your actions will determine the skills and boons you're presented with." He nodded back toward the guild hall. "Take our bandit friend, for example. He had the Thief class; that much I could see. Well, if he made a lot of decisions to rob and murder people, he might have been presented with skills that helped him do that better and been rewarded with experience."

"Horrible to think about," Lila said.

"However, if he'd just burgled houses, then no doubt he would get skills related to stealth and lock picking, for example."

Justin wondered how it would work with him. "There's no point in researching ahead of time, then."

"You may, if you wish," Eldrin said. "Just don't expect things to work out as you expect! As often is said in Eyrth, 'The gods roll the dice, and mortals guess the numbers.'" He adjusted his pack. "About time I headed to the market to offload our loot. That'll give you two a chance to drop off that parcel. Why don't we reconvene at the Moonlit Alehouse later? Cozy place, just around the corner. They also have fine rooms available that won't break the bank."

"Sure, let me just check my map." Justin pulled it out, only to find it was completely blank. "What the hell? I thought this was a world map!"

Eldrin laughed. "It takes a lot of rare and magical objects, plus a top-level Enchanter, to create a Complete Dynamic World Map like you're talking about. I'm guessing the one you bought wasn't too expensive?"

"It was to me," Justin said. "A couple of silvers, if I remember correctly."

"A local map, then. The dynamic range usually doesn't extend beyond ten miles, but that's all most folks need. Beyond those ten miles, things get hazier."

Justin was learning more and more. "How much would a dynamic world map cost me?"

Lila whistled. "A lot. Even a blank map with dynamic capabilities is at least a gold crown. If you want one completely filled out, well, that's almost priceless."

"All that for just a blank map?"

"Well, it doesn't stay blank," Lila said. "You go to a local Enchanter, and most can add anything of note in their local area if they're worth their salt."

"Start saving," Eldrin said, "but in the meantime, if you need a map, a good local map will only put you back a couple of silvers in most places. In bigger cities it might run you three or four. But it's not worth it if you're not staying long." He pointed his feet away. "The tavern is just in the square over there. I'll head that way once I've found the right buyer for these items."

Lila eyed him suspiciously. "And what's stopping you from taking the loot and disappearing?"

Eldrin merely chuckled and slipped a finely crafted signet ring from his finger. "This should be enough collateral," he said, offering it to Lila. "It's enchanted and worth more than our haul."

Justin looked at the ring. While it didn't seem valuable, it was well-worn. Eldrin would surely be loath to part with it.

"Go ahead, keep it," Lila said. "I trust you."

"Lila and I had better take care of that delivery before it's dark," Justin said.

"Farewell," Eldrin said. "We'll celebrate tonight!"

[Eldrin has left the party. You are now the party leader.]

"Shall we?" Justin asked.

At Lila's nod, they moved through the bustling streets. Justin ducked into a tavern to ask a pretty barmaid about Baron Valdrik. He noticed her brief surprise at the question, and Justin got the sense that the Baron was a well-known figure here, perhaps not in a good way. It made his stomach churn a bit, but five silver marks were five silver marks, and a delivery was a delivery.

Once Justin was confident he had the right directions, he and Lila headed to the slopes of the western mountain bordering Silverton.