Chapter 1-Slugs and Dissociation

This would make it five times this week that I’ve saved a stranger’s life. All I wanted to do was get to the capital and find work, but apparently this was “I want Lloyd to cut my head off” week. I’m on the road, minding my own business, and then someone calls out for help. I can’t just leave them, so I get into a fight and usually leave with some wounds, dirty clothes, and no compensation.

Today I was walking along the road, admiring the grass, when I hear the screams of some poor old wagon driver. A group of four had overturned his wagon, stolen his tomatoes, and decided to stick around to throw rocks at him. They’ve already taken his stuff, why are they still here? When you do something like this you need speed, efficiency, or this will happen to you.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I approached them with my sword drawn and resting on my shoulder. They drew theirs and walked towards me. They must think they’re intimidating, but all I see are four human sized pieces of shit. The biggest one out of them all spat in my direction.

“Fuck off unless you wanna die.” He said.

“Yeah sure just let me pass through.”

My making light of them wasn’t winning me over to them. They moved in closer, and I kept on. I started walking with a spring in my step as an insult, but they didn’t notice. When the big guy was close enough, I grabbed my sword with both hands and swung down as fast as I could. The blade cut from shoulder to hip in one motion, but now it was also stuck in him. The others recoiled at the sudden death of their friend, but moved close when they saw that I couldn’t get my weapon back.  They came at me from both sides, one got close first.

Using as much strength as I could gather, I wrenched the sword out of the big guy, cut right through his hip, and swung at the one to my right. The attack was quick and strong enough to cut all the way across his abdomen. I spun all the way around to face the last guy, who tried to run, but I caught him. I stabbed through his chest, but didn’t kill him. He’ll live for a few more minutes. I hope you enjoy that last bit of pain.

“How are you doing?” I said to the wagon driver.

“You...thank you.” He’s afraid of me. Understandably. “Who are you?”

“Lloyd. I’m headed for Jupiter.” I glanced over to his wagon,” Want some help with this?”

I helped the old man lift his wagon (I did most of the work). He asked me why I was going to Jupiter, and I explained my current predicament.

I’m homeless and unemployed. After the war ended six years ago, I’ve been struggling to get good work. The DCA (Deborah’s Common Army) didn’t teach me much other than how to fight, cook, and fix weapons. So when I got back home, there was almost no work I was suitable for. I took a job as part of the town guards, but that was more like volunteer work than a real job since it payed so little. They gave me a book that explained the laws and told me to read it. That was all of my training. As it turns out, defending a small town like mine isn’t a very labor intensive job, nor is it well paying.

Sadly, that was all I could do. The town had no need for chefs, and no one was willing to eat the food I could make anyways. DCA teaches how to cook survival food, not real food. So I worked as a guard for two years while living with my parents. Not a very proud life for a soldier, but it was a life and was grateful for it. Truth be told though it was very boring. I’m not the kind of person who needs constant excitement, but two years of standing sentry in front of the town gate, staring at the rest of the world, it made me anxious for a better life. One where I could use my skills for a real cause, a good one even.

Then I met Sigmund Lowjeys. He was a noble scion that was passing through town. He talked about how he wanted to go exploring, but going alone would be too dangerous. It took me a while to realize what he was doing, but when I did I jumped at the opportunity. Sigmund and I traveled around the Lowcountry (The part of Deborah that isn’t the capital, Jupiter)-searching for caves and mysterious places.

It was fun, well paying, and most of all satisfying.  A rich man traveling around tends to attract attention in the LC since they don’t usually leave Jupiter. Needless to say, we were constantly attacked by bandits, crazy people, and crazy bandits. Sometimes crazy townspeople, and one time a bandit town full of crazy people. Nobody back home attacked him, so there’s that.

I didn’t mind it really. The fighting let me hone my skills. Practice makes perfect, but training on thin air, or a dummy, is nothing like being in a real death match. Again, needless to say, I perfected the fighting style the DCA taught me. I fought in the war against the Heracles, yes, but none of us new recruits finished training before being sent off to fight. We were two years into the war, and we were losing. They had started drafting any boys over 16, and by year four of fighting, when we were definitely going to lose, they started drafting girls too. I was one of the year two boys, and so were my 300 fellow recruits. We trained for about half a year before being sent out to fight. I was 18.

The war went on for another four years after I was recruited. We were losing the whole time. The only thing that kept us from being destroyed were us recruits. We were thrown at the Heracles as cannon fodder to hold them back, and we did a hell of a job. The war ended on its sixth year, and most of us were dead by its fifth. I was in a group of 500 that was tasked with defending one of the border towers during the last year. When word of our victory finally arrived, we were 15 strong. You can’t begin to understand the relief we all felt when news of our victory reached us.

It was Argyle Dashwood, a lieutenant who I had fought alongside with, and who had become my best friend, that won it for us. He, along with 50 other lieutenants, were given teams of 100 each and sent off to capture the king of Hera. They were gone for a year and a half, and we didn’t get any word of their progress for most of it. It was a last ditch effort really, no one expected it to win. The Heracles were killing us in our own land, how would a few thousand soldiers push through their land? And yet, despite all odds, Archie pulled it off.  He alone returned home on the last day of October with Garsh, King of Hera, in shackles and begging for his life. The Heracles surrendered that same day, and a ceremony was held for all the soldiers who had given their lives, with special mentions to Archie’s team. Archie himself was nowhere to be seen, and no one’s seen him since. I hope he’s okay, wherever he is.

Six years later, I have 50 dollars to my name, and am traveling to Jupiter in hopes of finding work. A year ago, Sigmund decided his adventuring days were over. He fell in love and was going to start a family. Lloyd (me) was fired. The people in town, especially my dad, had always told me stories about how absolutely awful Jupiter was. Dad called it “Deborah’s sinkhole.” He had a way with words that one.

“Sounds like the perfect place for someone like me to make money.” I thought, “If it’s really that bad, I’m sure they’ll pay high for bodyguards.”

I left home with 400 bucks in my pocket and set out. What I didn’t take into account was the distance, food supplies, and how often I would find a place to restock. My travels with Sigmund, who was rich and had a seemingly endless supply of food, spoiled me. I packed a week's worth of food, expecting to get more in other towns. I did find other towns, eventually. Only problem was that Deborah’s Lowcountry is mostly large stretches of farmland, with a couple dozen large towns strewn about. The towns in between were mostly small townships like mine. Small townships aren’t too keen on selling off their limited food supplies to strangers that often looked like trouble. Remember how I mentioned all those people I saved? That happens all the time, and blood doesn’t wash off well. If I could even find a river to wash in the first place that is.

My country sucks is what I’m saying. Deborah, you’re kind of a piece of-Oh god not this.

“Are you okay? Do you want me to stop the wagon?” The old man asked

More headaches...too much… The pain was blinding, why won’t it stop?

“Buddy are you alright?”

“Yeah. I’m fine, just a headache is all. Where was I?”

“Traveling to Jupiter. Do you need some rest?”

“No, no. It’s fine. This happens to me all the time recently.”

They started a year ago. These headaches come at random, and hurt like nothing else on earth. The doctors I visited couldn’t see what the problem was, and the medicine didn’t help. It made it better, but that’s like saying a stab wound is better than a bullet to the head. Guns. Guess old fashioned bows and arrows are going to be outdated soon. All that sword training would be pointless if some idiot just points and shoots me huh? If I recall correctly, the first official, combat-ready rifles were introduced seventeen years ago. I don’t carry a gun with me, don’t like them much. Fighting from far away is smart, yeah, but I trained so long with my sword that anything else just feels wrong. A gun would’ve actually been great during this trip though. Bandits like to use them, and that’s made this travel even worse.

It’s been three weeks now. I haven’t eaten in about six days, but at least now I have a ride to Jupiter. Walking is great for my constitution, but its hell on my body. Food…

“You selling tomatoes in Jupiter?” I asked the old man

“Yeah. Want some?”

“How many can I get for fifty?”

“A dozen.”

It was a rip-off, but starvation would be worse. You’d think Mr. Almost got stoned to death here would offer me a discount, but no.

Two days later we arrived at Jupiter. The old guy booted me off the wagon. No, really. He put his boot on me and pushed my off. “Get off already kid! I’ve got product to sell.” He said.

“You’re welcome.” Dirt bag.

Jupiter is like nothing out in the Lowcountry. The roads...their paved. I haven’t seen paved roads since...ever. Mom told me they were a myth, but I knew dad wouldn’t lie to me. I spent the next few minutes admiring the pavement. So beautiful. Definitely don’t miss grass and dirt roads.

As for the city itself, well it’s a whole new world for me. Back home all our houses were one or two floors, but it seems to me that every building here is at least four. The homes are actually well painted too, and the bricks aren’t old and moldy. This is what a country should look like. Strong. The people were all well-dressed. I looked out of place in my dirt covered, poor people clothes. No one here wore boots either; they had real shoes. The old guy gave me new, not blood stained clothes, but they were farmer’s clothes. The people here have actual clothes.

Nonetheless I went out in search of work. I walked around the city for a few hours to no avail. It was hopeless. What kind of idiot assumes he’ll just trip and fall into a job. Me. The city guard it is.

That was when I heard people scream. I ran towards their screaming and found the body of the old man, cut in half, lying on the floor. A giant man, clad in a full suit of armor and holding a sword almost as tall as he stood over his corpse. He was yelling orders at his subordinates, who were stealing the tomato crates.

“What kind of person kills a man for tomatoes?” I asked

“Quiet! They’ll hear you.”

“Who are they?” I made no effort to hide my voice, and was shushed. “Fine.”

I walked right up to the steel giant and asked who he was. Other than a dead man of course. In response, he swung his giant sword down at me. I jumped to the side to avoid it.

“My apologies.” I said. I turned and started walking away when a woman in the crowd yelled out.

“A thousand dollars to anyone who brings me that monster's head!” Well I was planning to kill him anyways, so this is a bonus. I gripped the hilt of my sword and yanked it out as I spun back around. Due to a lack of force, it bounced off the giant’s steel. He began swinging wildly at me, and I effortlessly danced around his slow swings. All that armor keeps you safe, but it must weigh a ton.

I jumped back and away from him to start the battle more properly. The giant signaled his men to back off. He wants a duel. Good.

I moved forward, slowly, waiting for him to attack first. Surprisingly, the giant took a defensive stance. I didn’t want this to be a keep away fight, so I rushed him. The giant made no effort to dodge, choosing to parry instead. My swings were faster, but too weak to pierce through his armor. The giant walked forward as he swung, so I made for his side. Eventually we had switched positions, with my back facing the wagon. I led him closer to it and let him swing as hard as he could. I ducked under it, and his blade got stuck inside the wagon.

I faced the edge of my blade towards the giant and thrusted forward. It pierced through his armor and fatally injured him. He went into a frenzy as the blood started gushing out, and eventually fell to his knees. With one clean swing, I took his head.

“Who wanted this?” I asked the crowd. A beautiful young woman in a white dress came forward. A disbelieving smile appeared on her face when I lifted the giant’s head.

“God in heaven…” she said. The rest of the crowd stared at me in disbelief too, and continued to do so as I gave her the head. The rest of the giant’s men had all run off by now.

“This is the perfect place for you Davon.” she said, “Burn in hell for all eternity.”

“What did he do?” I asked

“This demon murdered my father and brother. He killed more too, but now he’s gone. Thank you.” She tossed the head aside.

“You don’t have to pay me. I didn't’ do it because you asked me to.”

“Then why?”

“Tomato guy was a friend.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” She bowed her head, “Would you walk with me?”

I followed the young woman and listened to her talk about her life here in Jupiter. Her name was Miriam Grey. Her family is very rich, and tends to attract a lot of unwanted attention from assassins. They’ve hired over a hundred just this year alone. Most either quit outright, or are killed. She and her family are constantly fearing for their lives, but the death of Davon will give them a bit of relief. If nothing else it’ll give them some revenge.

“If it interests you, my family could hire you as a guard.”

“Seriously? I’ll take the job.”

Miss Grey escorted me to her house, a three story mansion, and introduced me to what was left of the family. Her grandfather, Miles, and her sisters Brea and Melissa. The sisters took a liking to me immediately, but the grandfather, of course, was skeptical.

“Killed Davon did you? You must be a great warrior.” Don’t brag. Be humble, but confident. Remember what Archie told you.

“I can handle myself sir.”

“Even against assassins? Could you keep my family safe against those killers?”

“Yes.” Plain, simple, stern.

Miles didn’t say anything after that, he had one of the house workers escort me to my room. The other guards don’t have rooms, so I guess that makes me special. The room they gave me was actually just a large closet with a bed inside, but it was better than nothing. Much better than sleeping on the ground. Ahh…. The headaches started again when I sat down. Go...leave me be.

Someone knocked on my door. Standing up was a challenge, and moving felt like death. I inched my way to the door and opened it.

“Clothes for you sir.” A maid

“Thank you, but these aren’t mine.”

“A gift sir. From Master Miles.”

“I see, thanks.”

Dress clothes. Miles sent me a white dress shirt, black vest and tie, a pair of slacks, and dress shoes. I changed into it straightaway and ditched my old farmer’s outfit. Fighting in this wouldn’t be optimal, but I could pull it off. I went outside to look for the maid, and found her in the main hall cleaning the stairs. I asked her if the Grey’s had a whetstone I could sharpen my sword with. As it turns out, there’s a smithy not far from here. I told her to tell Miles I’d be out and visited it, not realizing I had no money to pay for it.

I made the walk of shame back to their house and asked Miriam for money. Pretend its payment Lloyd.