Stolen Lives: A LitRPG/GameLit Novel (The Underhill Chronicles Book 1) Keith Ahrens (best e reader for epub txt) 📖

I confirm my stats one more time:

Cell# K4644

Prisoner# 5925

Multi Class Fighter/Healer

Name: Caleb Bastion

Race: Human

Class: Fighter/Healer

Level: 12 /1

Attacks/Round: 3

Hit Points, Max: 140

Hit Points, Current: 140

Special Conditions: None

Strength: 16 (+3)

Constitution: 14 (+2)

Dexterity: 12 (+1)

Intelligence: 16 (+3)

Wisdom: 16 (+3)

Charisma: 12 (+1)

Saving Throws For:

Fortitude: +10 Reflexes: +4 Willpower: +7

Armor Class: (Base) 10+1

Bonus Armor Proficiencies: All Light (+1 Dex), Medium (+1 Dex), and Heavy (+1 Dex)

Armor Class Total: 26

Armor Equipped: Helmet +1 A/C, Breastplate of Warding +8 (total), Greaves +2 (both legs), Pauldrons/Gauntlets +2 (both arms/shoulders), +2 Round Shield (Heavy, Wooden),

Ranged Weapon Proficiencies: Firearms, Specialized

Weapon Group: (None Equipped) Firearms, Specialized

Melee Weapon Proficiencies: +12/+8/+3 (3) attacks/round, +3/+3/+3 Damage (Str)

Unarmed Combat: +15/+11/+6 (Level + Str.) /+3/+3/+3(Str.)

Weapon Group: Maces/Hammers, Specialized, Focused

Mace, Iron: +16/+12/+7 Attack, 1d8+5/1d8+5/1d8+5 Damage

Weapon Group: Shield, Specialized, Focused

Shield, Heavy: +16/+12/+7 Attack: 1d6+5/1d6+5/1d6+5 Damage

Misc. Weapon Proficiencies:

Spear: +15/+11/+6 Attack: 1d8+3/1d8+3/1d8+3 Damage

Dagger +1: +16/+13//+7 Attack: 1d4+4/1d4+4/1d4+4 Damage

Magical Items:

Healing Stones (1 Full, 1 Depleted)

Rod of Lightning: 1d6-10d6+10, range 50 feet. (Unknown Charges)

Skills: Animal Handling 6, Profession (Medicine) 12, Driving 5, Swim 1, Sense Motive 6, Intimidate 5, Survival 7, Alertness 5, Toughness 5

Equipment Carried: Duty Belt, Trauma pack (Morphine, Epinephrine, Hemostat x2, Scalpel), penlight, Two-Way Radio.

Base Movement: 30 feet

Property of Lord Dullahan of Terram Caeruleum

I check the new blue tattoo again. It’s a lot shorter and somewhat less impressive than I remembered it would be, but I was a lot more excited the first time I looked:

Cell# K4644

Prisoner# 5925

Magic Abilities And Spells

Spells Known: Minor Healing 1d8 +1

Spells Available: None

Maximum Number of Spells: 1 Per Day

Number of Spells Available: None

Property of Lord Dullahan of Terram Caeruleum

I feel like I could use that same spell again if I really had to despite the tattoo being grey, but something tells me that would be a really bad idea. I remember what everyone said about using too much magic and how it could kill the caster if they pushed themselves too hard. How ironic would that be to kill myself using a healing spell?

We spend the next few minutes seated on the logs, trading stories about what happened during the last few hours.

“So, they will secure their side of the gate and wait for us?” I ask.

“That’s the plan. All we have to do is survive the next thirty days out here in the wilderness, with nothing we can eat, but everything that can eat us. Easy!” Olivia ends with fake optimism.

“Wait, I have an idea about that, but we have to move quickly before he wakes up or gets dragged into the lake,” I say, a plan forming in my head. “We might be able to grab that local I found and use his knowledge of the area.”

“Was this the elf that took flight with you?” Thirax asks, ears pointed forward.

“Yeah, he helped me kill one of the water dragons after we tried to kill each other several times. I left him unconscious on the road, maybe a half-mile that way,” I say as I point in the general direction toward the lake.

“Then we'd better go get him,” Olivia starts off. I hurry to put on my armor and gather my weapons again. I guess I'll have to wait on any more healing, but for right now, I am feeling a great deal better than before. I pocket the last healing stone.

Thirax easily follows my trail back to the lakeshore. The rising sun makes travel through the rough terrain a hell of a lot easier than it was just a few hours ago. We make it there in under half an hour; I can smell the water and the rotting dragon before we see them.

We stop and crouch once again at the edge of the forest to assess the road. Good news, bad news situation. Good news, the dragon is still dead and where I left it; the bad news, the elf is gone.

I gesture for the other two to stay where they are, and I step out onto the road. The middle of the wide path is hardpacked dirt, but the far edge is softer mud by the lakeshore. I go to the spot where I last left the elf and look around.

There! I spot a few footprints leading off into the tall grass by the lake. I pull my mace and move over to that point, but before I get there, the elf steps out of the reeds, tying his robe shut.

He's surprised but still manages to whip out a short dagger and raise it up between us. For a moment we both freeze, then he says, “Oh, it’s just you,” and rolls his eyes. Then he tosses the small dagger to the ground between us.

“Go ahead and hit me with that bloody big mace already. My magic is all spent, and I'm too damned hungover to fight you again.” He closes his eyes tight and pinches the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb.

Kicking the knife away, I lower my mace. “Heh, relax. If I wanted you dead, I would've killed you last night. Good news for you, you're just the man we're looking for.”

He opens one eye and looks at me suspiciously. “We?”

“Yup, we.” I aim a thumb over my shoulder, and right on cue, Olivia and Thirax step out into the light. Thirax does a pretty good job of looking menacing.

“Hmm, I guess this makes me your prisoner then, eh?”

“Nah. More like our host. Just one with handcuffs on.” Olivia steps forward and grabs the taller elf by one wrist and spins him around. She snatches his other flailing hand and deftly slaps a set of silver handcuffs on him. “Didn't think I'd find a use for these so soon.”

I assume they must have been in the equipment Thorn returned to her. I bet Olivia was as happy to see them as I was to have my belt.

Almost right away, a sizzling noise begins to rise from the elf's wrists, and he begins dancing around in pain.

“These are iron, you bastards! It burns! Get them off!” He