The Followers of the Path

By: Bubbajack

Beta: IcySnowSage

Disclaimer: I do not own BtVS, DnD, Pathfinder, or any other game mechanic based work that makes it into this fic. Be they LN, Anime, or Korean Comic of some sort.

Ch.1: Steep Learning Curve.

'Okay…' Xander thought to himself as he started at a screen floating a foot from his face which said, "Welcome to the Path. We here at Janus industries hope you enjoy your experience [Player], and welcome to the Janus Industries Family."

'This is new, but not the weirdest thing I've come across on the Hellmouth,' Xander decided.

"To continue, please tap the X at the bottom of the screen," Another message prompted.

"What happens if I hit the X, will I be signing my soul away or something?" Xander asked no one in particular.

"No, but we can't explain what's going on if you don't dumbass," The Path retorted.

Xander quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, snarky huh? I don't hate that. Ok Path, let's see what your offering," Xander hit the X at the bottom of the screen.

"Congratulations on being able to complete a basic motor function as well as follow simple instructions like a common ape. Your distant simian ancestors would be so proud of you if they could see you now, I'm sure."

Xander rolled his eyes and snorted before he rolled out of bed. "Get to the point, jackass."

"Point is, you are now the [Player] and can level up like a video game character."

"Shit… seriously?" Xander asked.

"Seriously," The Path said, "To see your current stats, say Stats."

"Stats?" Xander said aloud. Causing a new screen to pop up.

Stat Sheet:

Name: Alexander 'Xander' Levlle Harris

Race: Human (Male)

Level: 5

Class: Survivor (5)

Starting Stats:

STR: 13 bonus of +1

DEX: 12 bonus of +1

CON: 11 bonus of 0

INT: 10(-2) bonus of -1

WIS: 16(-2) bonus of +2

CHA: 15(-2) bonus of +1

HP: 110

Mana: 100

Movement Speed: 10 ft per sec.

Carrying Capacity: 65kg/143lbs

AC: 11

Xander stared at the Stat Sheet for a moment then said aloud, "This is Dungeons and Dragons. Like seriously… you're totally ripping them off."

"Any supposed affiliations to existing games will summarily be noted and ignored by the [Player]," The Path replied promptly.

Xander shook his head and grinned. "Fuck you too buddy," He then asked, "So you gonna explain how this works or…" He was suddenly bombarded with information in pop up screens.

Indeed with tomatoes since it seems your intelligence is just average.

STR: The measure of your physical might. Ex: throwing a tomato at a bad performance

DEX: The measure of your agility or dodging. Ex: Dodging a rotten tomato

CON: Your endurance to withstand pressure from any source physical. Ex: Withstanding eating a rotten tomato.

INT: The measure of your memory and reasoning. Ex: Knowing a tomato is a fruit.

WIS: This is your measure of perceiving the world and insight into its secrets. Ex: Knowing that a tomato does not fit in a fruit salad.

CHA: the force of your personality. Ex: Convincing someone a tomato is a vegetable.

HP: Determined by Con score times ten and the hit die size.

Movement speed: Dex Score times five divided 6 = 12 feet per sec.

Mana bar: Int+Wis+Cha Scores x 10/3

Damage Reduction: Armor Class + Damage reduction given from class

"Gah, Jesus!" Xander swore.

"He can't help you now," The Path told him.

"That's not ominous or anything do I have to hit X on all these screens? It'll kinda stand out if I do that in public you know? Also you must really like tomatoes."

"You can dismiss screens by merely thinking 'dismiss' or waiting ten seconds and tomatoes are delicious thank you," The Path informed him.

"Could've said that the first time," Xander muttered to himself as he got dressed, in his usual garish hawain shirt and long pants.

"Where would the fun have been in that for me?" The Path retorted via screen.

'Dismiss,' Xander thought.

"Now, about your level, as you can see, your already level five and have maxed out the Survivor Class would you like to go over the gained skills from this class?"

Xander shrugged, "Not sure how I got the Survivor Class but ok."

"You didn't die on a semi-sealed portal to various Hell Dimensions for over a decade and a half?" The Path retorted the dryness of its tone could be seen even in text.

Xander paused and nodded, " Okay point. Alright, what does this Survivor Class do. I'm only really familiar with the basic D&D classes."

The info for Survivor popped up on a screen.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex): A survivor gains the ability to react to danger before his senses would normally allow him to do so. He retains his Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) regardless of being caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker (he still loses his Dexterity bonus to Armor Class if immobilized).

At 3rd level, the survivor can no longer be flanked; he can react to opponents on opposite sides of him as easily as he can react to a single attacker. This defense denies rogues the ability to use flank attacks to sneak attack the survivor. The exception to this defense is that a rogue at least four levels higher than the survivor can flank him (and thus sneak attack him).

Evasion (Ex): At 2nd level, a survivor gains evasion. If exposed to any effect that normally allows a character to attempt a Reflex saving throw for half damage (such as a fireball), he takes no damage with a successful saving throw. Evasion can only be used if the survivor wears light armor or no armor.

Improved Evasion (Ex): This ability, gained at 4th level, works like evasion, except that while the survivor still takes no damage on a successful Reflex save against spells such as fireball or a breath weapon, he now takes only half damage on a failed save. The survivor's training allows him to get out of harm's way with incredible speed.

Damage Reduction (Ex): At 5th level, a survivor gains the ability to shrug off 5 points of damage from each blow or attack. Subtract 5 from the damage the survivor takes each time he is dealt damage. Damage reduction can reduce damage to 0 but not less than 0. This damage reduction stacks with any other damage reduction of the "x/—" type

Xander read it over as he made his way into the kitchen trying to scrounge up something to eat. He found some milk that didn't smell expired yet and he found some cereal too, "Damn not bad, not bad at all, at least now I won't be totally thrashed by the vamps."

"Indeed. Speaking of actual classes would you like to Gestalt Class? This option can only be accepted at the start and if taken will double the EXP required to level up but you will gain the benefits of two classes on each level up. You will have less levels overall but will unlock class bonuses at a faster rate with this path.

Yes/No"

Xander thought about it. He considered calling Giles and telling him something weird was going on with him, that his life had become a cheap knockoff of DnD, but then he considered it. 'Why the hell should I? With this, I can become strong, and useful like Willow is. Like Buffy is. If I told G-man he'd just try and get rid of it, and that wouldn't be doing me any favors… now to this gestalt class thing… if its running on DnD then that means I get an attribute bonus every four levels and depending on the classes I combine I could get a shit ton of feats this way. Not to mention Bonus Feats…' Xander decided to ask a question, "Can I Gestalt Class multiple times?"

"Yes, provided you've unlocked the classes beforehand. Also no need to talk out loud and risk sounding like a crazy person," The Path informed him. "You can do pretty much everything via thought."

"Cheeky bastard," Xander muttered to himself. Xander weighed the pros and cons to himself as he munched on his breakfast before finally nodding. "Right then."

He clicked the yes button.

"Congratulations on finally coming to a decision!" The Path told him in what was clearly faux-cheer. "By Gestalt Classing you have chosen to take the more difficult path but the rewards will be summarily greater… You have also been granted five attribute points for suriving so long on the Hellmouth due to nothing but sheer dumb luck… might we suggest putting them into INT so as to be smart enough to get the hell out of town?"

Again, Xander rolled his eyes. He liked this game it was snarky and a bit of a shithead. Just like him. "Ok, so five attribute points to spend, for every two in an attribute I get a plus one bonus if I recall. Xander looked at his base stats and quickly came to a decision. Putting two into Intelligence, one Constitution, one into Strength, and one into Charisma that would give him extra bonuses in everything. Happy with his decision, he confirmed the change and decided to look at this Gestalt Class.

"New Gestalt Class Unlocked [Fighter/Ranger]"

Xander blinked in surprise, "Huh,a Fighter Ranger huh? I mean, yeah I used to go bow hunting with dad before the drinking got real bad but… eh, I probably shouldn't question it."

"No you shouldn't," The Path told him.

Xander finished his meal and put his bowl in the sink. "Ok so if I'm a Fighter that means I get a bonus feat at level one, two, and every other level plus every fourth level. So since I'm level six. I got some feats to choose from, don't I?"

"Correct, but you're technically a level 0 fighter/Ranger at the moment. You do however get Disciplined for free due to being a survivor."

"What's it do?"

"Say or think Feats and find out for yourself."

'Feats," Xander thought to himself.

A screen popped up showing him his chosen feats.

Disciplined

[Regional, Level 1 only]

Lore: Your people are admired for their single-minded determination and clarity of purpose. You are difficult to distract by spell or blow. Your hardships on the hellmouth combined with fighting possession from a primal hyena spirit allowed your mind to stay focused and unwavering when others would falter.

Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on Will saves and a +2 bonus on Concentration checks.

Xander gave it a once over. 'Okay, can't complain about that. I'm gonna assume that Willpower, Fortitude, and Reflex saves are just things that happen in the background?'

"Indeed," The Path replied.

Xander nodded as he headed out the door, 'Fair enough. So am I gonna get quests and stuff?'

Daily Quest: Complete this quest within twenty-four hours or suffer a penalty.

Do 100 pushups. 0/100

Do 100 sit ups. 0/100

Do 100 squats. 0/100

Run 10km. 0/10km.

Rewards: 4 EXP, and +1 to STR, +1 to DEX every ten successive completions in a row. Limit to 30 in DEX and STR

Failure: Penalty Quest.

'Okay, I'll bite, what's a penalty quest?' Xander thought as he started to run deciding to get some of that ten km in before school.

The Path was quick to explain, "A penalty quest is similar in scope to an ex-cleric or paladin going on pilgrimage to atone for affronting his deity. Failure to complete the daily quest will result in the player needing to undertake a difficult trial in order to continue to walk The Path."

Xander too a moment to digest this before nodding. "Okay, bring it on Mister Programmer. Challenge accepted."

Xander proceeded to run to school, ready to take the game his life had become by the horns.

~FotP~

Willow had been watching Xander closely ever since he'd arrived, slightly out of breath from running to school of all things. Last night was wiggy. Well, even more wiggy than normal. She'd been turned into a ghost, Buffy's personality did a total one-eighty and she became a damsel in distress, and Xander… well she really had no idea what had happened to him. When the spell hit, she only caught a glimpse of him sprinting off into the night, bow in hand.

He didn't seem any different from her usual Xander-shaped crush, which she was thankful for, yet that left her, and Buffy with so many questions. For a lot of piles of dust had been found the other night with an arrow in the middle of them. Now, neither of them were certain it was Xander but… well it was possible considering the spell had turned all three of them into their costumes. So the two girls watched him closely Yet they didn't notice anything particularly off about him. The only thing Willow took note of was that he seemed more attentive in class than usual. Not that, that was a bad thing in her opinion.

Come lunch, Xander didn't sit with them like he usually did, instead he got what the cafeteria called food and headed towards the doors, going outside. Curious as to what he was up to the hacker and the Slayer followed behind him.

~FotP~

"God this food sucks," Xander said to himself as he picked at the rubbery 'salsbury steak' and grey mush called 'mashed potatoes' before shrugging, "Beggars can't be choosy I suppose." Xander wolfed down his food with a grimace and chugged down the carton of milk his meal came with to get the taste out of his mouth.

His 'meal' finished, the boy turned video game protagonist proceeded to check his Feats as since he was level five he should be able to get another one for free, and if it was available, he knew just the one he wanted.

'Feats,' he thought before adding, 'Vampire Hunter.' He grinned with he saw the feat show up.

Vampire Hunter:

Lore: Your knowledge of vampires has given you the extraordinary ability to detect subtle signs of their presence and to resist their dominating gaze ability. Your hatred of these undead body stealers grants you a form of power to resist and detect them.

Benefit: You have a sixth sense that unfailingly determines whether a vampire or vampire spawn is within 30 feet of you.

In addition, you are immune to the dominating gaze ability of vampires and vampire spawn.

'Wait, Xander thought, 'Since I'm human, I also get a bonus feat at level one right?'

"Correct," The Path confirmed.

'Why didn't you tell me?' Xander complained mentally of course as he started doing push ups.

"Not my job to hold your hand all the time, this 'is' just the tutorial you know?" The Path retorted via popup. "Once it's complete you'll be on your own for the most part."

Xander was starting to feel the burn in his arms as he replied, "So that's how it is? Well, that's fine. I'll manage."

"We'll see Player," The Path said it's tone coming off as slightly mocking. "But for now, you should check your Status Screen."

'Status,' The teen all but growled in his thoughts.

On the Hellmouth Debuff:

Lore: Despite years of survival, living on the Hellmouth has some negative effects for you.

Effect: It costs 2x the amount of EXP to Level up while in the vicinity of a hellmouth-

"What the fuck?" Xander swore under his breath before he kept reading.

"-Additionally, any creature, be it demon,vampire or being of the evil alignment, has its level quadrupled with a plus 2 bonus to all physical stats while any creature of the good alignment takes a penalty to mental stats while on the Hellmouth due to the natural absorption of demonic energies."

"What kind of fuckery is this?" Xander swore to himself. "So then, because I chose to Gestalt Class I need four thousand EXP to level up even once… bullshit! Straight up bullshit." Xander swore to himself taking into account that apparently the hellmouth also messed with his mental functions.

A popup screen told him he'd completed one hundred pushups, and he proceeded to do squats as he perused through the list of available feats he could choose at level one. He finally chose Ironwill, which gave him +2 on his Will saving throws. Having more willpower couldn't hurt. He was pleasantly surprised that thanks to Ironwill and Disciplined he no longer took a debuff to wisdom.

His legs were burning by the time he got the notification that he'd completed the exercise. He was tempted to start doing the sit ups but held off when he noticed people filing out of the cafeteria, meaning that lunch was over. So he picked up his tray and headed back inside. It was time to stick his nose back to the grindstone.

~FotP~

Jennifer Callendar aka Janna Kalderash kept flicking her eyes back and forth from her computer screen to one of her pupils, one Alexander Lavelle Harris. She could see and feel the Chaos Energy rolling off the boy, but he didn't seem to notice it, nor did any of his friends… she was tempted to confront him as she knew something happened last night that involved chaos magic and while some it still clung to some of her students, it practically shined off Alexander like light from a lighthouse.

'I shouldn't be sticking my nose in this,' Jenny told herself. 'It's my job to monitor the Accursed One not do something about a potential Janus Worshipper. But, as a teacher, don't I also have a duty to my students as well? Even if it is just a cover?' The computer teacher asked herself. In the end she nodded to herself, 'I'll ask him what's going on, who knows, maybe I can help.'

As the bell rang and everyone started to collect their things and head for the door, Jenny called out, "Mr. Harris, if you would stay behind for a moment? There is something I'd like to discuss with you."

Xander turned and gave her a disarming smile. "Sure thing Miss C," He turned to Willow Rosenburg who looked between the two of them worriedly. "Go on Wills, I'll catch up in the next class yeah?"

The redhead nodded meekly, then left. Leaving the two alone Xander approached the desk holding his hands up. "Look Miss C, if this is about that computer project, I swear, I'm working on it."

Jenny shook her head, "No Mr. Harris, it isn't about that."

He held up a hand, his face souring. "Please, call me Xander Miss C. Mr. Harris is my dad, and we… don't get along."

Jenny frowned. "I… see. I'm sorry to hear that Xander. Please call me Jenny then. What I wanted to ask you about was the strangeness of last night."

"Ah, that," Xander rubbed the back of his head as he gave his answer, "I can't really remember much about last night. I know a really weird flash happened and everything becomes pretty hazy after that." He wasn't lying. Xander tried but only recalled a few brief flashes of what happened last night. The sound of a tensing bow string, the scent of steel and oil, the image of a terrified game-faced vamp moments before its head was lopped off… other than that, he couldn't remember anything.

Jenny nodded. "I see. That's all then?"

"Yeah sorry Miss… uh Jenny," Xander quickly corrected.

The older woman pursed her lips as if in thought for a moment before she spoke again. "Is there anything strange going on with you Alexander? Anything at all?"

"Uhh… besides hormones you mean?" Xander said, doing his best to deflect the question with humor.

Jenny giggled, "Yes, Xander, besides teenage hormones."

'Should I tell her?' He asked The Path.

"You now have the option to form a Party. Would you like to send a Party Invite to Jennifer Calendar? Party members have access to leveling, exp gain, and it makes it possible to take on higher level areas then if one was alone," The Path declared.

"I'll take that as a yes, send party invite," Xander said under his breath.

"Xander what are you…" She was cut off when a screen like that in a video game popped up in front of her.

"Greetings Janna of Clan Kalderash. You have been invited to join the party of the [Player], and take part in the Open World Roleplaying Game known as The Path. Do you wish to worship the same deity he now unknowingly finds himself bound to?

Yes/No

Note: Any attempt to tell the [Player] about his association with said deity will result in immediate and severe consequences. Sincerely, Janus Enterprises."

Janna said nothing for a moment before she looked to Xander and asked, "What… is this Alexander?"

The teen shrugged and replied, "Welcome to my life as of this morning Jenny."

"So if I click yes… I'll become an RPG character?" the undercover computer teacher asked.

Her student nodded, "Yep, it's based off Dungeon and Dragons mechanics by the way."

Jenny was familiar with the game and sighed with relief, "Ah well that's a reassuring. At least its something familiar."

She tapped yes.

Immediately a bunch of screens popped, she skimmed them then dismissed them as she already knew how DnD functioned. "Okay so how do I check my stats?" She blinked. "Nevermind."

"Just say, or think stats," Xander said with a smirk. "What's yours?"

"You can see a party members stats at anytime by checking party stats."

'Party stats.'

Name: Janna Kalderash

Race: Human (Female) Romani Blood

Level: 10

Class: Witch (5), Technomancer (5)

Feats:Spellwise (regional), Skill Focus (knowledge [engineering], Technologist (pathfinder), Accursed Hex (pathfinder), Night Sky Hex (pathfinder)

Stats:

STR: 13 bonus of +1

DEX: 13 bonus of +1

CON: 11 bonus of 0

INT: 18(-2) bonus of +3

WIS: 12(-2) bonus of +0

CHA: 12(-2) bonus of +0

HP: 110

Mana: 310

Movement Speed: 12 ft per sec.

Carrying Capacity: 65kg/143lbs

AC: 11

Xander looked at the stat sheet and quirked an eyebrow, "Janna Kalderash?"

"I… don't suppose you'd be willing to keep quiet about that, would you?" Jenny asked him pleadingly.

"You keep my secrets, I'll keep yours. This isn't something that's gonna come and bite me in the ass later though is it?" The brown-haired teen asked getting that 'gut feeling' he got whenever something was gonna screw him over. This time it wasn't vamp related.

"I… don't think so?" Jenny replied before deciding if he could trust him her with his secret which apparently was being blessed by a god, she could do the same with hers. "I'm here to monitor Angelus, you know him by his moniker Angel."

Xander immediately became serious as this involved Captain Hairgel. "He was cursed with a soul… I'm guessing your family did the cursing?"

Jenny was impressed he pieced it together so quickly, "We did,almost a century ago now."

"Wow, you Romani can hold a grudge."

"A Rom never forgets Xander… though sometimes, I think it would be for the best if we did," Jenny admitted. She then glanced at the clock and exclaimed, "Oh dear, we've been talking for fifteen minutes! You've missed a quarter of your next class!"

"You don't hear me complaining," Xander retorted. "Getting to talk videogames with a pretty lady? I'd take that over history lessons anyday."

"Charmer. Still, your education is important," She wrote him a note and shooed him out of her class. "So off you go. Come see me after school and we'll talk more about… all of this."

"Yes ma'am. See you soon," Xander sprinted off to his next class leaving a perplexed Romani in his wake.

~FotP~

Willow kept trying to get his attention all throughout history class but Xander kept ignoring her. Instead he did something he usually didn't. He paid attention in class and took notes. Xander wanted to test and see if he did this if it would give him a rank in a history skill. 'Probably not but Jenny is right, it wouldn't hurt for me to actually give a shit about my grades I suppose.'

He didn't get a skill rank up by the end of class like he'd hoped, but then again, he knew it was a long shot to begin with. Once he collected his things he was going to head back to the computer lab, only to be sandwiched between a faux-blonde and a redhead, both of whom grabbed one of his arms and forcibly steered him towards the library.

"Umm ladies, not that I'm not happy to see you both but we've got this thing called personal space, and your kinda invading mine," Xander complained.

"Quiet buster," Willow told him. "Something's going on with you and we wanna know what's up."

Buffy nodded right along with her, "Yeah, your acting very… unXanderlike."

"Oh really? So I can't suddenly give a shit about my grades? Is that what this is all about?"

"And paying attention in class," Willow added.

Buffy hammered the final nail in the coffin, "You were even exercising during lunch, we saw you out in the courtyard."

Xander waited for a pair of seniors to pass them by before he spoke. "Okay firstly, Buff. Vampires try to kill us every night. Of course I'm gonna try and get my ass in shape. I don't wanna end up as some fledgling's midnight snack."

Buffy would rather Xander didn't fight vampires at all. He was the normal one damnit! Couldn't he see how lucky he was that he didn't have to kill demons and zombies and vampires? 'But no, he just has to keep coming out night after night… not that I don't appreciate the support, but I'd appreciate it a hell of a lot more if I knew he was safe at home,' Buffy didn't say any of this though, instead she said, "Well, I guess you have a point there, it wouldn't hurt to be in shape, you'll be able to run away quicker if the vamps get past me."

"What about you suddenly paying attention in class then?" Willow inquired, not so easy to convince as the Slayer.

Xander ignored the sting to his manly pride as he answered Willow, "Miss C gave me a stern talking to after class. She said if I didn't get my grades up soon, I might have to repeat this year."

Willow's eyes bugged out, "Oh no!"

Xander nodded. "Yeah but don't worry, she was kind enough to offer to tutor me. I'm supposed to be meeting her right now but you two decided to make a Xander sandwich."

The two girls stopped just outside the entrance to the library. Then looked at one another before nodding and letting go of their Xander-shaped friend. "Sorry Xander," Willow apologized. She didn't want her crush to be held back a grade because she was being paranoid.

"Yeah our bad. Good luck with the tutoring though," Buffy told him honestly, while secretly pleased as this would keep Xander out of the line of fire of many a vampire. Oh if he only knew

"Thanks, you're the best friends the son of two barely functioning alcoholics could have," Xander said giving the two a hug before he rushed off.

Buffy blinked and scrunched her brow up in consternation. "Was he joking just then or..?"

"No," Willow said shaking her head sadly. "Xander's homelife isn't… all that great."

Buffy looked downcast, "Poor Xan, he has a shitty homelife, and he's going out and killing vamps with me? Now I kinda feel worse."

"It's not your fault Buffy, it's been going on since… since forever. If it's any consolation he really likes being around you and your mom. He really likes her cooking. His mom, as you can imagine, doesn't do that much."

This caused the Slayer to smile a bit. "My mom is awesome," Buffy bragged just a little. "C'mon let's go see who we've gotta go stake tonight."

~FotP~

Xander knocked before he entered the computer lab for the second time that day. He found Jenny, 'Is it really okay for me to call her Jenny?' Xander asked himself, Sitting at her desk.

"Hey," she greeted upon seeing him arrive "I didn't know if you were going to show Alexander."

"Sorry got held up by a couple of friends," Xander apologized. "Like literally, they tried to hold me up and drag me to the library."

Jenny seemed amused by his misfortune if the smile was anything to go by. "Miss Rosenberg and Miss Summers I presume?"

Xander nodded, "Yes. Do you happen to know what the Slayer is?"

Jenny nodded, "Yes, a Chosen One always female meant to fight… one of your friends?" she asked in realization.

"Buffy," Xander affirmed.

"So that would make Giles her Watcher then," Jenny guessed.

"Yep, just thought you should know before you get too involved with the G-man, what with your closeness to Angel after all," Xander said.

Jenny gave a bitter smile. "Thank you for your concern, I'll… I'll need to think about it. But we're not here to talk about my love life, we're here to talk about the fact that our lives have become a videogame or rather, yours has, against your will, I might add."

"There are worse things that could've been done to me against my will," The teen replied with a shrug, thinking back to his brief stint being possessed by a hyena spirit.

"True," Jenny conceded. "But let's get down to brass tacks shall we?"

"Sure also if anyone asks, your tutoring me so I don't fail my classes… hey, I needed an excuse to come see you regularly. It sounded pretty good to me," Xander defended upon seeing the look the older woman was giving him.

"It'll do I suppose. So you're a Gestalt class huh?"

"Yep, what about you? What did you put your points into?"

"Arcane knowledge, Spellcraft, Bluff, Engineering and Use Magic Device mostly. You?"

Xander raised a finger and said "I… haven't spent mine yet, actually."

Jenny rolled her eyes. "Well, if I might make a suggestion? Put a fair bit of points into Hide, Move Silently, Listen and Spot checks then in Dungeoneering. Since those are your primary skills."

"Fair point. Skills," He said bringing up the skills menu."

Skills (Immune to Hellmouth debuff due to Feats in WIS)

Climb rank: 0+2(bonus STR)= 2

Concentration rank: 0+3 (bonus CON plus DIsciplined feat)= 3

Craft: 0+0(bonus INT)= 0

Handle animal: 0+3(Bonus CHA)= 3

Heal: 0+3(bonus WIS)= 3

Hide: 3+1(bonus DEX)= 4

Jump: 0+2(bonus STR)= 2

Knowledge (planes): 4 +0(bonus INT)= 4

Listen: 5+3(bonus Wis)= 8

Move Silent: 3+1(bonus DEX)= 4

Profession: 0+3(bonus WIS)= 3

Ride: 0+1(bonus DEX)= 1

Search: 0+0(bonus INT)= 0

Spot: 5+3(bonus WIS)= 8

Survival: 5+3(bonus WIS)= 8

Swim: 0+2(bonus STR)= 2

Use Rope: 0+1(bonus DEX)= 1

Ranks remaining 52

"Jesus that's a lot of ranks," Xander said to himself after looking everything over he came to a decision. "Wisdom for the win."

Climb rank: 0+2 (bonus STR)= 2

Concentration rank: 0+3 (bonus CON plus DIsciplined feat)= 5

Craft: 0+0(bonus INT)= 0

Handle animal: 0+3(Bonus CHA)= 3

Heal: 10+3(bonus WIS)= 13

Hide: 12+1(bonus DEX)= 13

Jump: 0+2(bonus STR)= 2

Knowledge (planes): 4 +0(bonus INT)= 4

Listen: 12+3 (bonus Wis)= 15

Move Silent: 13+1(bonus DEX)= 14

Profession:0 +3(bonus WIS)= 3

Ride: 0+1(bonus DEX)= 1

Search: 9+0(bonus INT)= 9

Spot: 12+3(bonus WIS)= 15

Survival: 5+3(bonus WIS)= 8

Swim: 0+2(bonus STR)= 2

Use Rope: 0+1(bonus DEX)= 1

"That'll do… though next time I level up I'm putting more points into Survival," Xander said to himself more than Jenny.

"I'm surprised you gave so many skills tens," Jenny commented. "I thought you would've spaced it out more."

"You put all of yours into five skills, shut up… I mean, don't judge me for my decisions Miss C. Not cool," Xander backpedaled upon remembering who he was talking to.

Jenny giggled at his faux-pas, "No need to be so uptight Alex, do you mind if I call you that?"

"Most of my friends call me Xander?" The teen replied.

"Are most of your friends being drawn into real life RPGs too?" Jenny asked eyebrow quirked in askance.

"No Jen just you… for now."

The computer teacher smiled, "Good then Alex it is then, and you can call me Jen or Jenny when its not during school hours. Agreed?"

Xander smiled, for a teacher in this hellish nine to five prison called school she was pretty cool. "Fair enough Jen, I do have one question though?"

The Romani smiled a bit. "Yes?"

"How are my grades doing at the moment? I'm genuinely curious."

Janna of the Kalderash shook her head. "Well, let's have a look, then we can go find a quest."

"Oh that reminds me, I need to do a hundred sit ups and finish a ten km run… how far is ten km anyway?"

Jenny blinked in astonishment . "Xander… that's six miles."

"What…? Oh bullshit! C'mon that's not fair! Uh sorry, pardon my French there. It's just that this game wants me to do that every day?!"

"It's a daily quest? Is it giving any kind of reward?" Jenny asked.

Slumping Xander replied, "Well, every ten days in a row I complete it I get a plus one to my Strength and Dexterity."

Jenny got up from her desk, "I'd do it if I were you. Attribute gains don't come along everyday. I'll do it with you if you like?"

"Umm you really don't need to do that," The teen said while his hormones really didn't mind the idea of her getting all hot and sweaty with him around, but his chivalry certainly did.

"No it's fine. I saw you during lunch doing pushups and squats I even noticed you running to school this morning. I haven't gotten this quest yet, but I'm assuming I'll get it tomorrow or something similar to it anyway."

"Do you always keep such a close eye on your students?" Xander couldn't help but ask.

"Just the cute ones I find with wooden stakes in their bags," Jenny said giving him a pointed look.

Xander flushed and looked away, "I'm not sure if I should feel flattered that you called me cute or embarrassed over the fact you saw the stake I keep in my backpack."

"I'm flattered that your flattered. Now, are we going for a run and possibly looking for a vampire den?" Jenny asked grabbing her coat.

"I guess we can, but I have like, no gear except for a single stake in my bag."

"Alex, I have magic. I looked it up and we as a party, share experience points for kills equally."

"Huh cool but here's a thought. We stop by one of the many local churches and get some blessed weapons Jen?"

Jenny nodded, "A good idea. No reason to go into a fight half baked. Any church in particular you'd like to go to or…?"

"Well there was the guy who presided over Willows Bat Mitzvah. Rabbi Joseph is his name was. I remember him 'cause he treated me really nicely. Gave me a well, not a rosary but the jewesh equivalent, said it would keep me safe. Didn't know at the time how right he was."

"Star of David?" Jenny supplied for him.

"Yeah, believe it or not, Willow may be Jewish, but her folks are hardly around so you'd never know it," Xander replied as they walked into the parking lot and into the woman's car. Before Jen could even put the key in the ignition a quest alert popped in front of both of them.

Purge the Damned. (Repeatable Quest)

For too long your town has suffered under the plague of undeath. Kill ten vampires before the sun rises to help aid your fellow townsfolk from their unknowing terrors of the night.

Reward: 40 xp per vampire slain plus 50 xp bonus for every extra slain

0/10 Vampires Slain

Failure: None just you have to live with the guilt that someone else was taken by the vampiric scourge.

"Well so much for going back to your place for a nice candlelit dinner," Xander joked.

"Another time perhaps. It seems we've got other plans tonight," Jenny said before she turned the key, bringing her car to life and drove into the sunset.

~FotP~

The synagogue wasn't too far from Xander's house he found out. He noted its location and made sure to come back here in case he was ever in need of holy water or blessed stakes. From said thought, he brought the one stake he had in his bag out, and tucked it into his waistband as he got out of Jen's car. The temple was quiet and mostly dark. The pews were empty, but there were a few candles lit here and there, showing someone was here.

"Hello?" Xander called out to the mostly empty temple. "Rabbi Joseph, you home?"

"I am, just a moment," An elderly man came from the back room, his face covered in grey and white stubble with one of those little hats on his head. Xander couldn't recall what they were called at the moment, but he knew they had something to do with the Jewish faith. That, and rye bread. He knew both were important, that, and the fancy candelabra. Menora, that was it.

"Can I help you? The rabbi asked coming to a stop before the two.

In response, Xander asked, "Do you do blessings Rabbi?"

The man nodded. "I do indeed young man… you look familiar. Have we met before?"

"Alexander Lavelle Harris sir, you presided over my friend Willows Bat Mitzvah oh, four years ago now?"

The Rabbi pointed a finger at him and smiled. "Ah yes, I remember you now. Such an inquisitive young lad you were asking so many questions. I gave you a Star if I recall correctly?"

"Yes sir, I've still got it in my room back home," Xander replied.

"You should wear it," The priest gently admonished while looking out a window at the setting rays of the sun. "It'll keep you safe especially in this town."

Xander shifted uncomfortably. "I don't want to risk losing a gift. I've been given so few," The young man said by way of explanation.

The Rabbi clapped Xander on the shoulder and smiled. "You're a good kid Alex. But faith does a man good when it's always with him. Not just left at the hearth. Now, you asked about blessings do you and this lady need one? Your not… expecting are you?"

"Wait what? No, God no!" Xander denied freaking out more over the fact that the priest thought he could even get a woman to look his way in the first place, much less an older woman like Jenny. 'I mean, in my dreams maybe, but only there,' Xander pulled the stake out of his waistband. "This is what needs blessing."

The kohen looked at the carved stake for a moment. "I… I see wait here a moment."

The kohen went to the back and came back out carrying a large traveling suitcase. He placed it on one of the pews and spoke, "Before I was a Rabbi, I too fought the darkness like you are now Alexander." The man flipped the latches on the case open revealing the interior. Inside the suitcase were several silver lined hunting knives, a handful of smaller wooden stakes that looked like they were meant to be thrown, and laying at the bottom, disassembled was a compound bow, with several silver tipped arrows set into the bottom of the case. The Rabbi looked to Xander. "I do believe this will serve you well," He then reached into his coat and pulled out what looked like an old weathered journal. "As will this."

"What is it?" Xander asked taking the book from the man.

"Item Gained: Hunters Codex I. You have gained a skill book. Read it to gain a bonus to a skill or skills."

Joseph replied, "It is all the knowledge I've gained during my life hunting creatures of the night. Perhaps it'll be of use to you."

The teen smiled, "I'm sure it will sir, as will all this."

Joseph calmly inquired, "Do you know how to use a bow?"

Xander gave a devilish smile, "You could say I'm an old hand at it."

The holy man took his word for it. "I'll bless that stake for you if you want me too, but my old things were consecrated a long time ago and their power still holds. Trust me, I've tested it."

'I always did wonder why some nights we would go out on patrol and find nothing. Now I know,' The teen thought to himself. "I think I'll stick with yours all things considered."

Xander started taking the weapons out and found leather holsters for everything. The knives went around his waist, the throwing stakes attached to arm guards on his wrists and the bow came with a quiver that had room for more than the dozen arrows it now carried.

"You look ready, but for my own peace of mind, might I say a blessing for you both anyway?"

The two would be hunters shared a look and shrugged. "Go Joe," Xander said after a moment.

"Lay us down to sleep in peace, Adonai our God, and raise us up, our King, to life; spread over us the shelter of Your peace. Guide us with Your good counsel, and save us for the sake of Your Name. Shield us from foe, plague, sword, famine and anguish. Remove wrongdoing from before us and behind us, and shelter us in the shadow of Your wings. For it is You, O God, Who protects and rescues us; it is You, O God, Who are our gracious and compassionate King. Safeguard our coming and our going, to life and to peace from now to eternity."

"I'll admit, I'm not Jewish, but that sounded badass,"Xander complimented once it was done.

Joseph smiled. "Thank you Alexander, now go, live up to your name as you have been, and continue to be, the protector of mankind."

Xander snapped off a salute, "Sir yes sir, a dozen or so dead vamps coming right up in the name of God, amen." He looked to the suitcase. "Should I just come back for the rest later or?"

"Alex sweetie," Jenny said, "I have a car, remember?"

"Oh right car," He pushed the lid closed. "To the car! Then to the slayage!"

The teen raced out of the Temple, suitcase in hand.

"Your going to have your hands full with him," Joseph noted.

Jenny just smiled. "He's a sweet boy really."

"The way you two interact reminds me of myself and my wife," Joseph said fondly.

"R-Really?" Janna said surprised. "How… how old were you when you?"

"I was eighteen, she was in her early twenties when we first met… do you know why I became a Hunter Miss Kalderash?"

For the second time today, Janna had been called by her last name. Yet she didn't react she just shook her head. "No."

"My wife was killed by a vampire. I haven't seen my Andrea in… oh, almost thirty years now. But the fifteen I spent with her were the best of my life."

"What was your wife's maiden name if you don't mind my asking?" Janna asked as a sense of foreboding building in the pit of her stomach.

"Kalderash, Andrea Kalderash Joseph. I helped her understand hatred will only hold her back," as he said this Janna noticed a number tattooed on his arm. A look of horror and understanding appeared on her face.

"After all, if I can forgive the Germans for everything they took from me. Andreea believed she could forgive Angel and let go of her clans' hatred. Alas that did not save her from the monsters who do not hide what they are," Rabbi Joseph finished while giving Jana a look of pleading to do what was right and let go of her clans' agenda against Angel.

."I would if I could but I've been sent here for a reason, sir. If it was up to me, I'd leave Angel alone but…" Janna shrugged. "It's not up to me."

"We all have our crosses to bear," The man said knowingly. "Just know that if it gets too heavy, there are others here to help carry the load."

Janna nodded, "Thank you sir, for everything."

"Good luck Janna and know that tonight, you do God's work."

~FotP~

Jenny and Xander drove around waiting for Xander's vampire sense to go off. After about twenty minutes, it finally did. Near an abandoned two story house. The windows were covered in black plastic bags, and various graffiti was spray painted painted on the walls. Right before the two were about to get out of the car, a message popped up in front of Janna

"Warning: You have not yet chosen a familiar and are about to enter a combat zone. It is highly suggested you do so now. Would you like to choose a familiar now?

Yes/No?"

Janna clicked yes and looked at the very short list of available options.

Fey Dragon- A small blue dragon with butterfly wings.

Caypup- A young hound from the Feywilds. This large, regal canine looks like a juvenile mastiff. It has red fur and vibrant blue eyes.

Lyrakien Azata- This tiny woman has a lithe form with delicate butterfly wings. She is surrounded by sparkling lights and gentle rainbow arcs.

Pseudo Dragon- This housecat-sized miniature dragon has fine scales, sharp horns, wicked little teeth, and a tail tipped with a barbed stinger.

Janna went with the obvious choice that wouldn't stick out like a house on fire. Moments later a two foot tall copper red dog appeared on her lap with an audible pop. Just from the feel of him he couldn't weigh more than eighty pounds and he looked up at her and wagged his tail, panting happily. His bright blue eyes shining.

Then, it spoke.

"Hullo Mum."

"You can talk," Janna said surprised and pleasantly pleased it sounded like a british chap.

"Course I kin talk, you kin talk can't ya Mum?"

Xander grinned as he scratched the "little" pups ears. "It' almost like he's trying to speak. Who's a good boy huh? Who's a good boy?"

"I'll be whatever you want as long as you keep scratchin' my ears like that govna'," The pup told Xander in English that he clearly couldn't understand.

"He needs a name, you can't just go around calling him dog," Xander said

"Too right I do," The Caypup agreed. "So, what'll it be Mum?"

Janna gave it a moment's thought, "Umm, how about… Cavall?"

"Cavall eh? Has a nice ring to it, I right like that," the Caypup said, wagging his tail to show his joy. "Where'd you come up with that?"

"Nice one Jen, where did you get that from though?"

"I asked first," Cavall said given Xander a look that to him looked adorable.

Jenny just chuckled and replied, "It's the name of King Arthur's hunting hound in some of the more obscure Welsh myths."

"Cool," Both Xander and Cavall said at once. "You ready for this Jen?" Xander asked.

The technopagan nodded, "Ready as I'll ever be."

Xander grinned. "Then let's do this. We're gonna start by going real quiet like and once that inevitably fails we break out the big guns. Savvy? Whatever happens don't let em get close to you. You're a spellcaster so you're kinda squishy."

Jenny couldn't help but note how their roles had been reversed from earlier this morning. Now she was the student and he was the teacher. "Right."

Cavall growled, "If they get too close I'll just bite their bits off, yeah?"

"Good dog, who's gonna keep Jen safe from the vamps, you are. So let's get hunting everyone," Xander said getting the idea that the pup would protect Jenny.

~FotP~

The group of three crept towards the house, Xander making use of his Hide ability to sneak as close as he could to the front door. He then tried the handle and found it was unlocked. 'Stupid undead didn't bother to lock the door.' he thought as he drew a silver hunting knife with one hand and motioned Jenny and Cavall forward with the other.

The trio scoped out the livingroom and funnily enough found nothing. Cavall sniffed the air then pointed towards the kitchen silently, prompting the teen to give a silent nod as he moved quiet as a ghost into the next room. In the kitchen, he found a vamp rummaging through the fridge. His back was turned to Xander and he was completely unaware.

Not one to waste an opportunity, the teen rushed forward and stabbed the blade of his silver knife home into the vampire's heart, dusting it instantly.

"+65 EXP," A popup said in his peripheral vision Followed by "Quest Update 1/10 Vampires Slain."

He also noted the weapon didn't dust when the vampire did. 'These really are blessed,' Xander thought as he moved towards the basement steps where he thought the vampire had come from and his vampire detection pinged multiple times. 'Six downstairs, three above.'

Xander pointed up and then held up three fingers, then pointed down and held up a hand then a finger before pointing down. Getting the message, Jenny pointed up first. Xander nodded better to take care of the easier threat first. The small group made their way upstairs, Xander pushing open doors and checking them one by one. What they found in one of the rooms made them grimace. A woman handcuffed to a bed completely drained of blood. Her eyes wide open and her face stuck in a horrified visage. Janna saw Xander tighten his grip on his knife so much his knuckles turned white. She gently touched his arm silently giving him support, while also urging him to move on. Cavall released a low growl showing he too was displeased. Xander stalked throughout the house, full of righteous fury. He pushed open another door to find a vamp feeding on another innocent with his back to them. Xander abandoned all pretense of stealth and ran at the undead, burying his blessed silver weapon in its back before it could react. He missed the heart but still wounded it quite a bit. Drawing the second knife as he tumbled on the ground with the possessed corpse, Xander stabbed up and under its jaw so it couldn't call for help, stabbing the demon through its mouth and from their its brain. He then pulled his first knife out of its back and stabbed it in the heart, ending it.

"+65 EXP"

"Quest Updated: 2/10 Vampires Slain."

He was drawn to the sound of clinking metal. The woman on the bed was looking at him with shocked half glazed over eyes. Wasting no time Xander stabbed the tip of the knife into the keyhole of her handcuffs and wiggled it around, quickly undoing one arm, then freeing the other and repeating the procedure with her legs. He then hauled her to her feet but her legs were like jelly from the blood loss. He looked to Jenny or Janna, whatever she chose to call herself and asked, "Can you get her outside while I deal with the last one up here?"

Jana nodded. "Can do, just don't go downstairs without me alright?"

"I won't as long as you hurry," the teen replied in a serious tone.

With a worried look accompanied by a swift nod, Jana pulled the woman to her and started maneuvering her down the hallway towards the steps, while Xander searched the remaining rooms for survivors and the last vamp. He knew the room the last one was in was at the end of the hall on his right, so Xander checked the door on his left first.

He found a bathroom with a torn up corpse in the bathtub. That just caused his fury to burn hotter than ever. Finding a pair of ripped up and bloodied pants he searched them and found a wallet. No ID but there was a hundred dollars in cash. Xander pocketed it. This poor soul couldn't use it anymore anyway.

"+$100."

He then made his way into the final room at the end of the hall. He readied his bow this time, drawing it taut before he abruptly kicked the door in. The brutish looking vamp in the room looked up from the bed where he was feeding game-faced, only to get a silver arrow between his eyes. Dusting him.

"+65 EXP. Quest Updated: 3/10 Vampires Slain."

Xander heard a light thunk of something hitting the floor, and moved forward to investigate. In the dim light of the hallway, a small bag lay on the floor next to the bed.

"Enemies will often drop loot when slain. Don't forget to pick up item drops," A popup window randomly said.

'Note to self, go back to the other dusted vamps and look for drops,' Xander thought to himself. Hearing a noise from downstairs Xander drew another arrow and pressed it up against his bowstring. Yet didn't draw. Instead he slowly moved backwards into the room since there was no better place to make a standoff point than the one that gave him a clear shot at the end of the hall.

He glanced at the woman chained to the bed. She was topless and her eyes were already filming over. She was clearly gone. Since his vampire sense wasn't going off, it meant she hadn't been turned. He placed his arrow back in his quiver so he could close her eyes. She deserved that much. Xander silently hoped that vamp had just been feeding off of her when she passed, but considering vampires lack of inhibitions he knew it was a vain hope. It seems this night is eye opening in more ways than one.

Seeing a shadow pop up on the wall down the hall, Xander quickly nocked an arrow and pulled his bow to a full draw.

When a man came around the corner, he loosened.

"Hey Chad what the hell was tha…" The vampire didn't get to finish as an arrow was lodged in its heart, slaying it instantly.

"+65 EXP. Quest Updated 4/10 Vampires Slain."

Well, that should be almost half right there," Xander muttered to himself.

"Steve," Another voice called. "What was that noise from Chad's room? Was he getting too rough with the juicebox again?... Steve?"

Xander heard some lumbering footfalls begin their ascent up the steps. He readied another arrow. When the vamp turned the corner he loosened. Yet this time his aim was slightly off. He stuck the undead in the chest but in his left pectoral instead, causing it to growl in pain and assume its game-face while also ripping the arrow out. And tossing it aside.

"We got trouble up here!" The vamp called as he ran down the hallway.

Xander knew he had a few seconds at best so he drew both of his knives and lowered his stance preparing to take the vampire on. He smiled when he saw the undead's wound burning on its chest, and outright grinned when he saw the thing lower itself into an obvious spear tackle from over twenty feet away. 'These guys have to be fledglings. That's the only way they can be this dumb,' Xander thought to himself as he stepped aside the obvious attack and rammed his knife into the walking corpses guy.

"Gah! That fucking burns! Why the hell does it burn?!" The vampire asked as it writhed in pain on the blessed silver weapon.

"Tell me, how does this feel you damn bloodsucker?!" Xander asked as he stabbed the fledgling in the heart.

"Ouch!" Was all the damned creature could say before its whole body turned to dust. Hearing the sound of breaking furniture and a growling that could only come from Cavall, Xander dashed down the hallway, and took a running jump down the stairs, landing with a thud right behind a hulking mass of muscle. Xander didn't think. He didn't have time. He just stabbed both blades into either side of its neck and pulled back. The vampire dusted as if its head had been cut off, which it mostly had.

"+130EXP. Quest Updated: 6/10 Vampires Slain."

'Okay, just need to sever the spinal cord, that's good to know,' Xander thought to himself as he looked over the scene.

Jenny was causing storms of blazing ash and cinder to appear in the midst of the vampires, laughing like a real witch as they stumbled around, unable to see anything due to the sudden influx soot clouding their vision. Xander took this as his cue to rush forward, and stab the closest body he came across in the chest.

"+65 EXP. Quest Updated 7/10 Vampires Slain."

The sound of Cavall tearing at flesh with his teeth was heard. And the screams of the vamps as they burned from the burning rocks until finally they dusted.

"+860EXP. Quest Updated: 16/10 Vampires Slain. Quest Complete!"

"Secret Objective complete: Save an Innocent from the vampiric scourge. +500EXP"

Once the ashes finally learned Xander looked around at all the dead vampires. "Holy shit Jen… looks like you could've done this without my help."

The Witch smiled. "Don't be ridiculous Alex. You took out six of them by yourself. That's impressive."

Xander still couldn't help but shake his head, "Yeah but you just cleared a whole room full of them with what? A level two spell?"

"Level three actually, and remember, Vampires are weak to fire," Jenny reminded him.

"Weak or not you totally creamed them," The teen complimented. "C'mon, we should search this place, and the dust piles for drops."

"The vampires drop items?"

"Apparently," Xander started running a foot through the dust piles and found the occasional bag much like the one the vamp upstairs dropped. Picking it up, he got a message saying, "You obtained small coin pouch containing one hundred twenty gold."

"Holy shit!" Xander swore.

"What is it?"

"These guys are dropping bags of gold!"

Jana's eyes lit up, "We should thoroughly search them then."

"Agreed… two way split on everything we find?" Xander asked.

"Sounds fair to me," the Romani agreed. "Let's save the basement for last, just in case something else is hiding down there."

Xander nodded as he began poking through dust piles.

"You found small coin pouch with a hundred twenty gold inside!

"Your companion found a small coin pouch with a hundred twenty gold inside!"

"Your Companions Familiar found some jewelry worth five-hundred gold."

Between the three of them, they managed to collect five small pouches totaling six hundred gold, some jewelry worth about a grand and a half, and on one corpse an old key.

Xander held it up at eye level it looked old and made of solid iron. "How much you wanna bet this goes to the end of the dungeon chest in the basement?"

"I don't take suckers best Alex," Janna said as she led the way downstairs prepared to cast volcanic storm again should any other vampires be lurking down there.

In the basement, they found an old steamer trunk, made of solid wood and banded iron, and as big as Cavall was tall. On its front was an iron faced lock plate. "I do believe we've found a use for our key."

Xander took a knee and inserted the key into the lock, but before he turned it, he checked the old trunk for any sort of traps. He didn't find any wire mechanisms, see any place spikes or darts could shoot out to kill him, or where gas could vent to poison him, so he assumed it was safe. He turned the key and heard an audible click.

He pushed the lid back and gazed within, "Wow."

"What is it?" The Romani asked, curious.

Xander reached in and pulled out a masterfully crafted leather cuirass. On its face was carved a caricature of a vampire bat. Fangs flaring out in brilliant silver.

"You have gained Cuirass of Undead Dread. This raiment when worn inflicts a fear status in undead within thirty feat of you. Making them less likely to inflict critical hits due to fear."

Xander reached in again. "There's also this book."

"You have gained Wizarding for Dummies. Allows one to treat any spellcaster class as an equivalent Wizard Level and learn spells from the Wizard Spell list. Only takes effect if the entire book is read by the next level up, which takes up to forty hours of study. Is destroyed upon successful use by a single individual."

Janna was quick to say, "I'll take the book if you don't mind. Witches have few offensive spells so it'll help a lot."

"Have at it," Xander said tossing her the book. "I've got some new armor… well I've finally got some armor I should say."

Reaching in for the final time, Xander pulled out a large bag of gold.

"You found a large bag of gold containing 1000 gold and one ruby worth fifty gold."

"Do you want the ruby and I'll just keep the gold?" Xander said. "I'm only offering this cause I know you might need rubies for a spell at some point."

Janna had to admit, the young man had a good point, "I'll take the ruby thank you Alex."

He tossed her the red stone and pocketed the bag.

"Should you find yourself over burdened, just say or think "Inventory" and you'll be granted access to a hammerspace like area that you can store excess loot. Note that you can only store as much as you could naturally carry however."

"Inventory," Xander said getting a little annoyed at getting these tooltips after the fact. A window full of squares opened up into his field of view and He stored his gold there. They stacked on top of each other, making a symbol of golden coins piled on top of each other and said x1500.

"I wonder how much that is in cash?"

"I'll check the paper when I get home, and give you a call if I can get your number that is?"

"Wow, a girl is asking me for my number, and she's a hot older lady… pinch me I'm dreaming. Ouch!" Xander complained when Cavall nipped him on the leg.

"What, you asked," Cavall retorted causing Jenny to giggle hoping that hid the flush from Xanders flirting.

"I swear this dog can talk," Xander said as he rubbed the flesh of his calf where the dog and nipped him. "Ready to get outta here Jen?"

"Yeah, I… just wish we could've done more," She replied frowning slightly.

Xander gave a grimace of a smile before he patted her on the shoulder. "Believe me I go to sleep every night feeling exactly like that… try not to let it get you down okay?"

"Do you need a ride home?" Janna offered him.

Xander thought about it but shook his head. "Nah, there's something I gotta do first. I'll make my own way there."

His admittedly hot teacher frowned in concern, "Are you sure? We've cleared out this place but there are still plenty more where that came from."

"I'm sure," He picked up a shovel and rested it on his shoulder. "There's something I need to take care of before I can head to bed anyway."

Janna nodded, seemingly understanding what he was getting at. "Do you need any help?"

Xander shook his head. "Nah. I'm good, you and Cavall should head on home though." The fledgling vampire hunter did his best to suppress a yawn, "Seeya tomorrow Miss Calendar."

The boy was surprised to find himself wrapped in a hug. "Be safe Alex, and seriously, that number? I want to know you made it home alright."

"Gimme your phone."

After inputting his cell number Xander let her do the same to him. He looked and under his contacts it said Jan. "Jan huh?"

"I'd much rather be myself around you, because your the only one I can be myself around. With everyone else I need to… Put up a front. Call me when you get home," She said giving him a stern look. "I don't care what time it is when you get there, you call me when you do, understand?"

"Yes ma'am," Xander snapped a mock salute.

Janna just rolled her eyes and smiled as she walked away. Cavall followed in her wake, but not before giving the other human a nod of respect. Once the two had left a screen suddenly popped up in front of him.

"Hidden Quest activated.

Remorse for the Fallen.

Sunnydale is a town bathed in darkness and innocent people pass away without a soul knowing about them. You on the other hand do know. You not only saved an innocent life you are giving the last rites to those lost to the taint of demons in your town. Your deeds shall be remembered for what you have done.

Reward Title: Torchbearer."

"I would've done this without the promise of a reward you know?" Xander said as he made his way upstairs to collect the corpses.

(...)

'Dragging corpses is hard. Digging graves in the middle of the night is harder,' Xander thought to himself as he had hauled a sheet filled with two dead bodies on his back to the nearest graveyard and proceeded to dig a hole to put them in. Not the most ceremonious of things to do, but hey, at least they were being buried on holy ground. The only consolation he got from this is his run ten km daily quest had gone up over half while dragging them around, as he was forced to keep to the alleyways to prevent anyone asking questions.

Once he was sure the hole was deep enough, he rolled the two corpses into it. "Sorry you two, wish I could do more for you but… this is all I can do," He proceeded to bury them and once that was done, another screen popped up.

"Hidden Quest Complete!

Title Torchbearer awarded!

Description: You carry the hopes and dreams of those fallen to the darkness. This title gives a bonus +4 to spot and listen when doing righteous deeds and lets those with a hint of good in them know you are here to help them. Thank you Alexander."

"Like I said," Xander muttered to himself as he dusted his hands off on his pants, "I didn't do this for a reward," He then ran to the Temple of Rabbi Joseph.

(...)

By the time he arrived he'd completed his ten km run. "Rabbi, you still here man?" Xander said a little breathlessly.

"You return, what happened to your lady friend did she… fall in battle?" Joseph asked worriedly.

"What, no Jan is fine. She just went home for the night," Xander told the man. "You have a tendency to assume the worst you know that?"

"Comes from a lifetime of seeing terrible things happening to good people, myself included, I'm afraid. But tell me, how did you fair in the night's hunt?"

"Sixteen bloodsuckers dead and one innocent saved… I just finished burying two people in the graveyard up on eighth and main."

The elderly man looked down in sadness and said a silent prayer for the deceased. "I see, that is a common sight in this thankless line of work I'm afraid. People will die Alexander. You won't be able to save them all. It's an inevitability, I'm sorry to say."

The young man nodded, his face grim. "I know Joe, I know. But I'll be damned if I don't at least try to save as many as I can."

Despite the bad news delivered with the good, the holy man managed to smile, "Still a blow was struck against the forces of evil tonight and an innocent saved. For that, you should be proud my boy."

"Couldn't have done it without your gear Joe, which is why I'm here, to give back," Xander picked up a collection plate, opened up his inventory and dropped ten gold into the plate. "Please don't ask how I did that, you'd just get a headache if I tried to explain."

"Alexander… I… I can't accept this," Joseph said upon looking at the golden coins.

"Sure you can, just use them to fix this place up hold a fundraiser, do something. And if you need convincing… consider it a bribe for information."

The rabbi quirked his salt and pepper colored eyebrow. "Information on?"

"Where you got your gear. In case some get lost or destroyed and need to be replaced," Xander said shifting the offering plate back towards the preacher.

Joseph smiled and finally gave in. "Now that, I can help with. A man named Bobby Singer has a contact who crafted my arrows and my knives. I can put you in touch with him. Should you require it."

Xander smiled. He did manage to recover all of his arrows, and the knives were nice, but he would prefer something a bit… longer to fight with. Like a sword or two. "How much would a couple of silver swords cost me? Don't get me wrong, I like the knives but I'd prefer to have a bit more steel between me and the undead."

"Completely understandable," Joseph said with a nod. "Did you have a preference on a type of sword?"

"Umm something I can dual wield? Like a saber or something Not a rapier obviously but…"

"Two one-handed slashing weapons… yes a saber, falchion, or scimitar would suit you just fine."

Xander was half tempted to go for scimitar if only because the most famous ranger of all time Drizzt Do'urden used them. But then he really gave some thought to it and decided on something else. "Falchions sound cool to me."

"Right, I'll call Bobby tomorrow and he'll get in contact with his guy who'll make them for you and he'll get back to me with a price."

"Cool, I'll stop by after school tomorrow and you can tell me how much I owe this Bobby guy. Provided you have a price by then."

"I should. Now get to bed son, you look beat," the rabbi all but demanded.

"I'm on my way. Seeya tomorrow Joe," Xander began a long walk home. He still had a couple of things he needed to do before he could go to bed.

~FotP~

Xander made it to his room with no problems. His parents were both so drunk they could both be robbed blind and not notice it till morning. Once he got to his room in the basement, he started doing the last bit of exercises he needed to do to complete his daily quest.

"Daily Quest Complete! +4 EXP!"

With that done, Xander picked up his cell phone and dialed the newest number on it.

The person on the other end picked up before the first ring even finished. "Alex, did you get home alright?"

"Yeah Jan, I just got in. I'm about to go to sleep."

A sigh was heard on the other end of the line, "Oh thank goodness. You had me worried you know?"

"Sorry, didn't mean to do that," Xander said contritely. He meant it too. "Did you stay up waiting for my call?"

"Of course I did, I wouldn't be able to sleep otherwise. I'd just be worried sick about you."

This was the first time in living memory Xander could recall anyone caring about him quite this much outside of Willow and Jessie of course. "Thanks Jan… for caring. Now get some sleep you have a class to teach tomorrow."

"I know, your in it remember?" She joked tiredly. "Goodnight Alex."

"Night Janna."

He hung up the phone and all but collapsed in his bed. Day one of his life turning into an RPG, complete. Now he has to wake up tomorrow and do it all over again. Oh joy…

~FotP~

Janna Kaldarash's alarm clock went off much sooner than she would've liked the next morning. She was exhausted after dropping the poor vamp victim of at Sunnydale General Hospital last night. She was also greeted by a quest notification proving that yesterday was not some weird dream.

"Daily Quest: Cast twenty spells within twenty four hours. 0/20

Success: +4 EXP, ten successive completions of Daily Quests will result in a +1 to Int and Con.

Failure: Penalty Quest"

The witch turned computer teacher sighed as she turned off her alarm. "Well that seems easy enough, just stick with cantrips and I should be fine."

So she got up out of bed, and after letting Cavall out to do his business, got ready for the day. As she got dressed she kept using the simple prestidigitation cantrip to change the color on her clothes. Doing so twenty times in a row made her feel even more mentally exhausted than she already was but she figured it was nothing a cup of coffee couldn't cure.

"Daily Quest Complete! +4EXP" The screen said as she made her way into her kitchen.

"Well that was easy, it's a shame Xander's Daily Quest is such a hassle," Janna said to herself letting Cavall back in when she heard him calling.

"Thanks Mum, it's a nice day out there it is. But I see folks walkin' around wearin' jackets and the like."

"This is California Cavall, they don't know the meaning of the word cold. That's why some people are crazy enough to think Calafornians are lizard people," Janna said as she sipped on her coffee and made some eggs for herself and her canine companion.

"Wouldn't surprise me Mum, not one bit it wouldn't. The eggs smell good got any rashers to go wit em?"

"No we don't have any bacon I'm afraid. Before I forget are you allergic to anything like chocolate, onions, or garlic like a normal dog?"

Cavall cocked his head to the side, "I don't know what any of that is Mum, sides garlic of course. I know it's good for killin' vamps that."

"Tell me Cavall, what did you think of Xander last night?"

"The Alpha did a damn fine job leadin' the pack last night Mum, a damn fine job. You an him work together real nice by the look ah things… Why, I reckon the two of you could have some nice lookin' pups if you put your mind to it."

Janna flushed. "Cavall! He's my student. I'm his teacher! We… we can't be in that kind of a relationship. I could go to jail!"

"Bah," The cayhound complained as he sat on his haunches and scratched his ear. "We both know no prison could hold you Mum, especially not with me around. Since I can teleport and everything."

Janna just sighed. Now her dog was trying to convince her to get together with her student. Her life just kept getting more complicated. First she came here to make sure he families ancient foe kept suffering, then it became a videogame, now she's got a talking dog and said dog was shipping her with her student. 'I do hope Alex's morning starts out less hectic than mine.' She thought before looking at the clock and her eyes widened. "Speaking of hectic, I need to get going soon." She looked at Cavall and said, "Stay here, be good, stay out of the trash?"

"What do I look like a dog?" Seeing the dry look he was being given, the Caypup chuckled. "Oh wait, I am a dog aren't I? I forgot for a minute there. Can you at least turn the tellie on for me Mum?"

Alright any particular channel?"

"You don't happen to get the skin flix do ya? What? I'm a guy too ya know?" He retorted upon seeing the glare he was being sent by his mistress.

"Watch That 70's Show there running a marathon."

"The hell is this… Who's the skinny knob? And what's with that idiots hair?" She heard Cavall say as she left her house.

~FotP~

Xander awoke to the sound of his alarm going off. 'Wait, alarm? I don't have an alarm clock.' Xander thought to himself. Opening his eyes, he found a screen in front of him.

"Daily Quest: Complete this quest within twenty-four hours or suffer a penalty.

Do 100 pushups. 0/100

Do 100 sit ups. 0/100

Do 100 squats. 0/100

Run 10km. 0/10km.

Rewards: +4 EXP, and +1 to STR, +1 to DEX every ten successive completions in a row. Limit to 30 in DEX and STR.

Failure: Penalty Quest."

"What time is it?" Xander groaned in annoyance.

6:01am. A small screen informed him.

"Your not gonna stop bugging me till I get up are you?" He didn't get an answer but the fact the buzzing continued was answer enough. With an annoyed groan, Xander rolled out of bed. Getting dressed in some sweats and eating a quick bowl of cereal, Xander made a mental note to go out and buy actual food for himself if he was going to start working out before he began his morning run.

He started running from his driveway and just ran. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as the quest pop up for the km tracker kept updating.

"Daily Quest Updated: 1/10km ran."

"Daily Quest Updated: 2/10km ran."

"Daily Quest Updated: 3/10km ran."

"Daily Quest Updated: 4/10km ran."

"Daily Quest updated: 5/10km ran."

Once he got to the halfway point with his lungs burning and sweat both drenching his clothes, and beading his brow, Xander stopped, bent over with his hands on his knees, and caught his breath, saying, "Time."

6:35am

'I ran three miles in thirty-six minutes or so. Not bad. That's not bad right?' Xander asked himself as he kept trying to catch his breath. Wiping the sweat from his brow, Xander turned around running back to his house to take a shower and consequently finishing his ten kilometer run for the morning. He made sure to keep his armor and weapons in his inventory in case he needed them on short notice before he left the house.

~FotP~

The teen arrived at school with his muscles feeling loose from his morning run. He greeted Buffy and Willow with a wave as he ran past them into school. Leaving the two startled women in his wake. Willow looked to Buffy and spoke, "I guess he's taking this workout thing seriously."

The Slayer nodded. "Sure looks that way. Can't say I blame him though."

Willow nodded silently. Still, she knew Xander, working out, paying attention in class threats of being held back or not, just wasn't… wasn't Xander. She knew something was up. The redhead just couldn't put her finger on what it was.

Buffy placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Everything okay Will?"

"I… keep getting a feeling that something is up with Xander. Is it just me? Am I being paranoid?"

"Well, you have known him longer than me." Buffy admitted. "That could be both a good and a bad thing. Since you've known him so long, you know how he thinks, which would let you know when something is… off. But that can sometimes backfire since… well he's a guy, and sometimes they just do stuff that doesn't make sense."

Willow nodded. "True."

The Slayer continued being unusually insightful. "What he's doing right now? Working out and working on his grades does make sense to me at least. We live on bus stop to hellsville for one, and for another getting held back a grade just isn't a good look."

Willow mulled it over, and decided Buffy had a good point. "You're right Buffy. When did you get to insightful?"

Buffy gave her friend a light playful shove. "You know I dye my hair right?"

"Yeah, sorry," Willow apologized.

"C'mon, let's get to class before Snyder comes sniffing around," The Slayer said leading the way indoors.

~FotP~

Xander did his best to take notes on history class, but school felt so… underwhelming compared to the fact that his life had become a videogame. 'I could be out there right now, dusting vamps, gaining some much needed EXP. During daylight hours is the perfect time to do it, I'd have home field advantage for once. Instead, I'm stuck here, listening to some guy who's likely underpaid to put up with teens like me yammer on about ancient history. History which makes we wonder how much of it has been influenced by the people behind the scenes. People like the Watchers and Vampires and Demons. What's true, and what's even a lie?' Xander thought to himself as he waited for the bell to ring.

Once it finally did Xander grabbed his bag and headed for the cafeteria. He was stopped in the hall when someone grabbed his arm. Xander turned ready to punch whoever had grabbed him. He stopped himself when he realized it was his computer teacher. "Sorry about that Miss C, I'm a bit… wired today."

"That's alright Alexander. I needed to discuss your tutoring so if you could walk with me to the cafeteria please?"

"You need tutor Harris? Why am I not surprised? Just wait till everyone hears about this."

The two turned to see Harmony Kendall behind them. Janna fixed the girl with a glare. "You will do no such thing Miss Kendall or I'll know who to fail from my computer class for the rest of the year. Am I understood?"

The blonde of the popular clique blanched, "Y-Yes Miss Calendar."

"Good, now off you go," Janna said shooing the girl along with her hand.

After Harmony stalked off red-faced, Xander said to his partner in hunting, "You probably shouldn't have done that Jen. She'll get you back for that, somehow."

"I'd love to see that," The Romani said with a bit of heat in her tone, "What did you bring for lunch?"

"Money for the slop they call food in the cafeteria," Xander replied sounding a bit glum.

Jenny wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Well, you can just come back to the computer lab and share my lunch with me."

"You don't need to do that Miss C…" Xander began to protest only for the woman to lead him away by the hand. "I'm… not getting out of this am I?"

"Nope," Janna promptly replied.

~FotP~

Xander sat awkwardly at a desk while his computer teacher put a piece of tupperware in a microwave. In order to make himself feel less awkward he asked. "So, what're we eating?"

"Ardei umpluţi, or if you prefer English, stuffed peppers," The Romani replied placing a green pepper stuffed with what smelled like pork, rice, spices and something tomatoey on a paper plate and handing him some plastic utensils before she dug into her own meal.

He stared at the stuffed pepper and smiled. Once again Janna Kalderash was being kinder to him than most. 'She really is nice.' Xander thought to himself as he dug into his freely given meal. On the first bite, his hazel eyes widened.

"Do you like it?" His teacher asked worriedly.

"Not like it? This is awesome!" Xander replied as he dug into his meal with relish. "Beats the frozen meals I usually eat at home by a mile."

Janna smiled then frowned. This was the second instance she'd picked up that something might be wrong at home with her fellow demon hunter. 'Am I just reading too much into things or is something really going on?' Janna thought to herself.

"Companion Quest: Behind the Facade: Try and find out what, if anything is going on with Alexander, and help in anyway possible.

Success: +10 Bond with Xander, +50EXP, and a secret reward.

Failure: Nothing changes, no increased Bond with Xander, and you'll just have to keep wondering if something is wrong now, won't you?"

'Increased bond? Does this game also come with dating sim elements now too?'

Janna received no answer but if the Path and the deity behind it thought it was pertinent that Xander's homelife be looked into, then who was she to not look into it? She looked at the young man and then thought about the name of the quest. Behind the Facade. If Xander was just pretending to be a happy-go-lucky teenager then… well this could be all kinds of bad.

'Well his parents don't seem to be starving him at least,' She watched him last night as he fought and killed vampire fledglings. It was from stealth and she had no doubt a stealth crit modifier was somehow in play somewhere, but the point stood, Alexander was capable. A half-starved boy wouldn't be. Still, there were other kinds of abuse he could be suffering from.

"That was great Miss C. Best meal I've had in awhile," Xander complimented once he finished his meal.

"I'm glad you liked it… Alex, I'm going to ask you a question and I need you to be honest with me alright?" Xander gave his teacher and hunting partner a confused look but nodded, prompting her to ask. "Your parents… they don't abuse you in anyway do they?"

The teens eyes widended then he blinked rapidly a couple of times. "What? My parents abuse me? No, no don't be ridiculous Jenny."

"Lie Check Failed."

Neither said anything for a moment as they looked at the screen that popped up before them both. Janna fixed her student with a hard look asked. "Neither I or the Path believe you it seems Alex. So, would you like to try again?"

Xander sighed and fixed his gaze on the floor, running his hands through his dark brown, almost black hair, he spoke, "My parents, don't really abuse me… they don't mean to anyway… They just drink. A lot."

"Alex, they're alcoholics. They need help, and you need to get out of that house," Janna told him firmly.

Xander shook his head, "I can't leave, I can't tell you how many times I've had to stop my parents from choking on their own vomit, or get ice for my mom after my dad hits her."

"Your father physically abuses your mother?" Janna's voice was like ice. As a woman there was no lower a man could sink than sposal abuse, next to child abuse, and from the sounds of it, this man had done both.

"He did, when I was younger. I don't know if he does it anymore. Now they both just tell me how stupid I am, how useless I am… how I'll never amount to anything… how…" Xander was taking deeper and deeper breaths. It was the telltale sign of a panic attack.

Janna got up and rubbed Xander's back saying, "It's okay, your going to be alright, just breath. You are none of those things they said Alex. You go out every night, of your own freewill and fight vampires. Even though it's dangerous, even though you know you could die any minute you keep doing it. That makes you very brave, and far, far from useless."

"Thanks… thanks Jan. Appreciate it," Xander smiled and waited for the roiling in his stomach to pass. He really didn't want his lunch to come back up the way it went down. "I dunno if I believe it, but I appreciate it nonetheless."

Janna shook her head, for the poor boy had actually started believing the bullshit his parents kept telling him over the years. 'Well, that stops today,' She decided. "Alex, your coming home with me after school today," Janna spoke in a tone that would brook no arguments. "If your parents," she spoke the word like it was poison, "Have a problem with you disappearing then they can file a police report and I'll happily bring up the years of abuse you've suffered under their hand and we'll see who gets arrested."

Xander just stared at the woman. He'd never seen an adult this pissed before. Well, his dad whenever he ran out of beer, but he was used to that. This was different. Janna was pissed, not drunk, and to top it all off, she was pissed for his sake. He couldn't ever recall anyone getting upset for his sake before. Maybe Willow and Jessie a couple of times when they were younger but that was it. "I...I don't know what to say? I mean, this is nice of you and all… but all my stuff is at home and…"

"We can stop by to get your things, but I can't in good conscious let you stay there any longer Alex. Not when your already putting yourself at risk on a nightly basis. Alright?"

The teen silently nodded his mind so awhirl with thoughts he was incapable of forming a proper response at the moment. Janna patted him comfortingly on the arm. "Don't worry Alex, everything is going to be okay, you'll see."

~FotP~

Xander meandered through the rest of the day in a fugue state. He was going to move in with his teacher and away from his parents… he didn't know how to feel about all this. On the one hand, it would be nice to not have to hide anything about the slaying, and getting actual cooked meals would be a plus too. On the other hand, he really wasn't kidding earlier when he said he'd stopped his parents from choking on their vomit multiple times. Also, if he wasn't there, there would be no one to recycle the cans and beer bottles his parents left lying around. His 'allowance' Xander called it whenever he recycled the cans.

'But she's just trying to be nice. I'll just stay for a couple of days and then go back home. I'm sure by then I can make her see reason,' Xander thought to himself. 'Besides, I'm sure after a couple of days with me at her place she'll get sick of me and want me to leave by then. She already has a new roommate in the form of a dog. Two's company and three's a crowd after all.' Xander nodded, this seemed like the best course of action for him to take.

He met Janna in the parking lot after school by her car. She smiled at him encouragingly. "Ready to do this Alex?"

Xander shrugged, "I guess so? You're not exactly giving me much choice in the matter Jan."

This caused the Romani to frown a bit. "True, but this really is for the best Alex, you'll see. C'mon, let's go get your things."

~FotP~

When they pulled up to Xander's house Janna was surprised to see how well kept the lawn was. Her surprise must've shown on her face as Xander said, "My parents make me do the yardwork. Not like I mind."

Janna got out, noticing some flowers growing next to the house Janna decided to comment, "Did you grow these amaranths too?"

Xander rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah? Don't tell anyone though. People find out I've got a green thumb and I'll just get made fun of at school."

"When you get to pick your profession you should choose herbalist. You have a knack for growing things," Janna suggested.

"I'll think about it," Xander replied as he fished around for his keys. Finding it he unlocked the door. Xander held out an arm in welcome speaking in a glum tone, "Welcome to casa del Harris."

Janna made her way inside. The scent of sour beer was the first thing she registered. Next was the fact that it was very dark in the house. All the blinds and curtains were drawn. 'Of course they are if his parents are either drunk or hungover constantly, they wouldn't like bright light. They might as well be vampires themselves.' The further she walked the more Janna shook her head, an inch of dust covered the counters, upon which were entire three dimensional pyramids of empty beer cans. She looked back at Xander in askance.

Said young man shrugged before speaking in a whisper, "I get bored."

Janna rolled her eyes and mouthed, "Your room?"

Xander pointed downstairs to the basement.

"They make you sleep in the basement?" Janna said furiously.

Xander waved his hands towards her frantically. "Shh, shh, you really don't want to wake my dad."

"Alex dear, I'm a witch. I can handle your half drunken father just by pointing at him," Janna reminded him patiently, adding for good measure as she pinched his cheek, "You have no idea how much more powerful I am now thanks to your help, dear."

"Um, sure yeah no problem. My room right? Right this way," He lead her downstairs.

~FotP~

There was a cold clammy chill in the air that Janna couldn't quite shake while she was in the Harris family basement, it was also fairly dark too. Hearing the sound of a chain being pulled, the room was filled with yellow light coming from a singular bulb over head. Looking around, she saw Xander had a bed, some plastic bins that held some memorabilia and what looked to be a cobbled together wooden closet that had several hawaiian shirts hanging from it, and several pairs of pants and socks in their own little cubby holes.

'This is it? This is Xander's 'room'?' Janna thought to herself incredulously. 'He's sharing a wall with Christmas decorations.'

Her thoughts must've shown on her face again, because he gave an awkward smile. "Yeah, I know it isn't much, but hey, I built that closet myself. Sturdy too."

Janna gave the makeshift closet another once over, it was rather well made if simple. The wood was smooth and varnished, and had a metal pole going through it to hang his shirts from. "You did a good job on the closet Alex."

"Thanks," The teen said, a bit of pride tingeing his tone. It was the first time she'd heard him take pride in anything except for maybe the bushes outside of his home. "So I should probably just put everything in my inventory so we can leave real inconspicuous like huh?"

"That's a good idea actually. That way, no one will suspect anything is going on," Janna praised hoping more of these positive and intelligent thoughts.

'Inventory,' Xander thought before he plopped his shelf full of clothes, which weighed 36lbs and both of his boxes of comics which both weighed ten, into his inventory, bringing the max weight up to 87lbs/39.5kilos. He still had plenty of space.

The last thing he did was grab a silver Star of David which hung from a simple nail from its leather cord above his bed. Instead of putting it in his inventory, he put it around his neck tucking it into his shirt.

"Item Gained: Star of David! Effect: Wards off undead and evil outsiders within 1m/3.2ft."

"Huh, guess the Rabbi was right, I really should've been wearing this thing the whole time," Xander said to himself.

"What did it do?" Janna asked.

"Wards off undead and evil outsiders within one meter."

Janna nodded in agreement, "That is useful. I'll need to get me a holy symbol myself. It's a shame you don't have access to cleric level magic or that could likely be used as a catalyst."

"Yeah, shame that," Xander said, "We should probably get going."

Janna agreed, now that they had his things there was no further need to stay here any longer. "Let's get going then."

~FotP~

Having left the Harris Residence without incident, they arrived at Janna's home. It was a nice two story house, made of brick, with a picket fence lining the property and a pathway leading up to the front door lined with stones. The second story even had a balcony. Xander turned to his teacher and asked, "How in the hell can you afford this place? It has to cost a cool million easy."

"My Clan is… very well off financially," Janna replied evasively.

"I'll bet… your grass could use some watering, it's getting brown and patchy," Xander noted as he walked down the walkway towards the door.

"You really enjoy yardwork don't you?" Janna noted.

Xander nodded. "Yeah, it was one of the few times my folks would just leave me alone. It used to just be a chore, then it was an… escape I guess?"

"Well if you want to keep my lawn nice while your staying here, I certainly won't complain. Lord knows I don't have time to do it, what between planning lessons and grading schoolwork."

Xander was quick to nod. "I could do that, it just needs watering I think. I don't suppose you have a sprinkler system in this place?" Xander looked closer at lawn for the telltale signs of black sprinkler heads.

"No it doesn't unfortunately."

"That's fine, I just need… a hose," Xander said trailing off as he stepped through the door. The floors were all solid wood, there was a long white table just off a small kitchen that was big enough to seat ten people, and not too far away was the living room full of leather furniture that had a wall mounted forty inch TV that had That 70's Show going with Cavall barking every now and then at the show.

"Kelso you fucking ponce. You kissed a girl behind the dumpster? And you expect Jackie not to find out about it, when every Dick, Todd, and Jimmie already knows? You daft nitwit! Oh, hello Mum, welcome back! An' I see you brought the Alpha wit you too. Welcome lad, welcome!"

"He's happy to see us I think. Hey Cavall buddy how are you?" Xander said to the Caypup.

"I'm grand, just grand. I been enjoying That 70's Show since this mornin'. I love Red Forman! He calls everyone a dumbass when they do stupid shit! Shows great wisdom that one."

"No dumbass!" Red told his son Eric.

"Ha! See what I mean? Ah love it!"

"Red, never change," Xander said with a grin as he rubbed Cavall's head. He turned to Janna asking, "Where should I put my things?"

"Second floor, first door on your right, first door on your left is the bathroom."

"Things? Is the Alpha movin' in Mum?" Cavall asked his tail wagging at the prospect.

Janna waited for Xander to head upstairs before she replied to her familiar. "Yes he is Cavall. It turns out, his parents have been verbally and quite possibly physically abusing Alex for years."

"What?!" Cavall growled. "Lemme at 'em! Lemme at 'em Mum! I'll tear their bits off I will!"

"Easy Cavall, easy. Alex is going to be staying with us from now on and we're going to show him what a real family's like," Janna said as she soothingly rubbed her dog's flank.

"Too damn right we are Mum, too damn right," Cavall said, letting out lighter and lighter growls. "I'll go check up on the lad, be right back.

~FotP~

Xander looked around the room he was being allowed to stay in. It was huge compared to his room back home, and it had a window, one that got natural sunlight. He walked over to the bed he had. It was a queen in a wrought iron bed frame. The closet took up the wall directly in front of the bed, its doors were mirrors set into sliding tracks. There was a small chair next to a lamp for reading and his room had a french window with a window seat. The window itself looked out into the front yard.

"Like wow… this place is huge. A lot bigger than my room back home," Xander said to himself. He felt something cold and damp press against his hand, and looked down to find Cavall pressing his nose into Xanders hand, his tail wagging gently back and forth.

Xander scratched his ears. "Hey boy, Come to check out my new digs with me?"

"Aye, it's a nice room," Cavall opined as he jumped up on the window seat. "Nice view too."

"That your bunk buddy?" Xander joked.

"Maybe? What of it?" Cavall shot back playfully cocking his head to the side.

Well, at least I've got a nice roommate for a bit."

"For a bit whatchu mean for a bit, Alpha? Your stayin' right?" Cavall asked, gettin' down from his perch and jumping up on Xander.

Xander figured he could tell the dog his secret plan.' After all, what was it going to do? Tell Janna? Yeah, right. He's a magic dog but he clearly can't talk,' So gently pushing the dog off him, he squatted down and whispered to the dog. "I'm not planning on staying Cavall. I'll stay a day, maybe two, but then I should probably head back home."

"No, don't leave! We want ya to stay you blasted idiot!" Cavall said, but all Xander heard was whining.

Xander patted Cavall's side, "There there boy. We'll still see each other when we go hunting and stuff."

"I'm putting a stop to this! You ain't goin' nowhere boyo!" Cavall barked before he left the room.

Xander watched as the dog left his room abruptly. Huh, maybe he had to go to the bathroom?" He shrugged. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to do the rest of my daily exercises."

Xander started with the pushups, he stared at his reflection as he worked out, and weirdly, it helped. He soon finished the pushups and moved onto the squats. That was also done quickly he finished off his daily exercises with the crunches today.

"+4 EXP! Quest Updated: Completed Daily Quest 2/10 days in a row."

"Alex?" Janna called, "Could you come down here please? There's something I'd like to discuss with you before dinner."

"I'll be right down." Xander called, wondering what she wanted to talk about.

~FotP~

The smell of something good cooking on the stove met Xander's nose as he came downstairs. He saw Janna sitting on the couch seemingly lost in thought, absentmindedly stroking Cavall's fur as she thought about something. Xander was tempted to leave her be, but she said she wanted to talk to him before dinner, and it smelled about done to him. So he cleared his throat, snapping the Romani out of her daze and saying, "You wanted to talk to me about something?"

"Yes, have a seat," Janna motioned to the other end of the leather couch. Xander sat down wondering if she was going to set down some ground rules or something. Turning to face him, the witch said instead. "Alex, can I ask why you want to go back to your parents?"

Xander's eyes widened. "How did you? Did you use magic to spy on me or something?"

Janna shook her head. "No nothing like that," She patted Cavall on the head. "Cavall here is my familiar. That means I can understand what he's saying even when you can't."

Xander scowled at the red furred canine. "You ratted on me."

"She's the one who feeds me mate, not you. I owe her more than you no offense," Cavall said as he yawned.

"What'd he just say?" Xander asked, "I know he just said something."

"He knows where his loyalties lie," Janna translated for her familiar. "Could you answer my question for me? At least, as best as you can?"

Xander shrugged. "I mean, their my parents you know? It's my job to take care of them, isn't it? That's the deal right? They looked after me when I was younger and now I return the favor since I'm older, right?"

"Xander dear," Janna said gently reaching out and taking his hand, "You are still a teenager. Your parents should still be looking after you and making sure you're doing well in school and making the right decisions. While its admirable what your trying to do, you shouldn't be doing it yet. You shouldn't be doing this for another twenty or thirty years yet fourty even. Certainly not now. Does that make sense?" Xander slowly nodded, prompting Janna to continue, "Good. Now, I can't force you to stay, as that would be kidnapping of a minor, but I'd certainly like it if you'd stay, and your more than welcome to, as long as you'd like."

"Damn straight!" Cavall woofed, tail wagging.

Xander was silent for a time before he finally said, "Thanks Janna, I think I'll take you up on that offer, for now at least."

Hearing this caused the Romani witch to smile. "That's great! Dinner is almost done, I made goulash."

"That dish that has elbow macaroni with spaghetti sauce, meat and cheese in it?" Xander asked.

"That's the American bastardization of it yes. Sorry but you yanks do that to about everything," Janna teased.

"We invented some things Like the hamburger., and we're the unrivaled kings of steak preparation."

"Point. But a proper goulash is more akin to stew than… whatever it is you yanks turned it into."

"Well, I can't wait to try a proper goulash then," Xander joked. Before he said, "You know, I just realized something." He said as he set the table as helped set the table for dinner.

Janna put some potholders on the table and proceeded to carry a large pot to the table and put it down. "What's that?"

Xander filled his bowl with a spicy smelling stew filled with chunks of beef, peppers, and onions that had a tomato based broth. "We never chose our extra languages. You should be able to choose four, and I should get one."

Janna served herself. "Oh, true."

"Hey, what about me Mum?" Cavall complained.

"We don't even know if you can handle spicy food Cavall," Janna chided him.

The Caypup grinned at her. "Well, better to learn now then eh?"

Janna nodded. Worst came to worse he'd have to spend the night outside with the runs and it would be his own fault. She got a third bowl and filled it with some stew, but before she put it on the floor, she said, "Don't blame me if you get diarrhea."

"Wouldn't dream of it mum. Mmm, good stuff this goulash," Cavall complimented.

"Well, I guess he can eat it," Xander noted watching the celestial hound scarf down his portion of food.

Janna gave her familiar a sideways look, "We'll see how he's feeling in a little bit. How is it?"

Xander took a bite and gave a thumbs up. Once he swallowed, he said, "Amazing! Just as good as the peppers earlier. What languages are you going to pick? I'm picking Celestial so I can understand Scooby Doo down there."

"Who you callin' Scooby ya bloody yank?" Cavall retorted while licking his chops. "Please Mum, may I have some more?"

Janna rolled her eyes, but against her better judgement refilled her dogs bowl but only halfway this time. She then replied, "I don't know, it depends if its only offering DnD based languages. There are several magic related human languages I would like to learn. Latin, Welsh, Summerian are the main ones, but they might also fall under certain DnD languages.

"Let's look. Stats languages."

"Welcome to the Language selection screen! Here you can learn various languages based upon how high your INT (Intelligence) Score is. Having an INT of Ten allows you to pick two languages. For every two points above ten, you can pick another language to speak. Below is a list of Languages you can learn to speak:

Abyssal (Persian and Egyptian)

Celestial (Enocian, Latin, Spanish, Portugese, French, Italian, Romanian)

Common (English)

Dragonic (Thu'um)

Druidic (Ancient Welsh) Barred

Dwarven (High Norse/Runes)

Sylvan (Norse, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian)

Elemental (Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Cantonese, Tai)

Elven (Quenya)

Giant (Gaelic)

Gnome(Germanic)

Halfling (Olde English)

Infernal (Sumerian)

Orc (Dark Speech)

Undercommon (Sign Language)

Xander immediately picked Celestial along with Elemental as he recalled Rangers being able to summon elementals using the "Summon Nature's Ally" line of spells. So he figured it would be helpful if he could talk to them. He also had a hunch that Celestial and Elemental would also let him speak the corresponding language next to the first choice. So, if he was right, He should be able to speak thirteen different languages now. 'But how do I test it? Well, Jan is Romanian and I chose Celestial so... ' He cleared his throat and spoke, "Am I speaking Romanian right now?"

Janna blinked. "That's… amazing! I was wondering what the languages in parentheses meant. You picked Celestial didn't you?!"

"I did," Xander effortlessly switched back to English, now sporting a shit eating grin on his face. "This is so cool. And hey, it looks like you get to learn Sumerian after all."

"Yes it does, but it looks like I won't be able to learn welsh as I'm not a Druid. Still, Sumerian and Latin, not bad."

"And you get to pick two more," Xander reminded her.

"Right, Undercommon, and Sylvan I think."

Xander blinked. "I can understand Sylvan what with being able to speak Norse, Finnish, Swedish, and Norwegian. But why Undercommon? I doubt we'll be running into any Dark Elves anytime soon."

"It's just a precaution in case the school ever gets a deaf student. It wouldn't do to have no one on hand who could understand them," Janna replied evenly.

The teen nodded, he supposed he could understand that. "Your in this teaching thing for the long haul, aren't you? I mean, it's not just part of your cover here is it?"

Janna took a moment to think over her response, "I do enjoy molding young minds I admit. But more than that, I actually get treated with a modicum of respect here." Seeing the young teens questioning look, Janna indulged his curiosity. "We Rom aren't treated well everywhere we go Alex. When we travel in a lot of places, especially in the United Kingdom, we are treated with suspicion and sometimes hostility. A lot of the time people even break the wheels on our wagons as a way to tell us to get out of town."

Xander frowned, "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"Thank you, and its past, I'm actually respected for my technological knowhow here, and I get paid to teach it."

The teen scratched the back of his head. "Well I'm glad you know how computers work. I mean I know the basics like keyboards and how to surf the web and stuff but I can't do all the fancy hacker things you and Willow can do. Like coding and all that."

Janna nodded. "You're not the book learning type. I don't mean that as an insult." Janna said quickly upon seeing Xander frown. "You are in no way dumb Alex, its just you learn by doing, rather than reading or seeing. It's called being an experiential learner, while the system used in most schools in America are geared towards formal learning or memorizing facts via study. It's probably why you are good at construction, gardening, and hunting monsters. These are all things you learned by experiencing them, interacting with them physically. In fact, thinking about it this way, it makes you the most dangerous of the two of us as there's no limit to how far you can go with the Path. As long as you keep trying new things… who knows how far you'll go."

"Don't put me on a pedestal Jan, I might fall," Xander said sounding bashful.

"I'm just saying this RPG, this Path, is geared towards your way of doing things. Ah, before I forget, gold goes for $288 an ounce.

"Umm, how much money did we make last night then?" Xander asked confused.

Well if I recall correctly one gold coin weighs one-tenth of a pound. You have fifteen hundred gold on you correct?"

"Fourteen ninety, I gave ten to Rabbi Joseph… Holy shit, I just gave him a pound of gold!" Xander said to himself. "I don't regret doing it but damn… no wonder he kept refusing to take it."

Janna smiled. "It went to a good cause. And the math should be simple right?"

It was clear from her tone she was waiting for him to answer. "Let's see ten to a pound so that one-hundred forty nine times two-hundred eighty-eight… forty-two thousand nine-hundred twelve?"

"Very good Alex, that's correct," Janna praised.

"Holy shit… I have almost fifty grand to my name after a single night of slaying… And who says community service isn't lucrative?"

"Indeed. We both made about that much last night since I kept the jewelry that Cavall found."

"Yer welcome Mum," Cavall said laying down on the couch lazily after eating his fill of dinner.

"You can talk!" Xander said, pointing a finger at the copper-red hound.

Cavall looked towards him boredly, "Course Ah kin talk ya twit, now be quiet, Red Forman is talking."

"Did that dog just tell me to shut up?" Xander asked no one in particular.

"Too right I did, now shush! My show is on," Cavall demanded.

Janna just laughed, and after a minute, Xander joined in, chuckling at his own expense. "Dinner was great, thanks," Xander said after a moment.

"Not a problem. What are you going to do now? Have you completed your daily quest?"

Xander gave her a thumbs up. "Already done, oh, what was your daily like?"

"All I had to do was cast twenty spells in a day," Janna admitted with a sheepish smile on her face.

Xander had a deadpan look on his face. "You've gotta be kidding me."

Janna gave her head a little shake. "No, unfortunately not, but if you think about it, because your a Ranger/Fighter gestalt class, it makes sense that you need to be physically fit. Both of those classes require extreme feats of strength and dexterity."

"What do you get by cast cantrips like its nothing?" Xander asked petulantly.

Now Janna was feeling worse. "An increase to my Intelligence and Constitution?"

Xander ran a hand down his face and sighed. "I feel like the game is gypping me." His face rapidly took on a shocked expression when he realized what he had just said, and more importantly, whom he'd said it in front of, "Um, I uh… Shit, I'm so sorry."

Janna was more than understanding though. "It's alright Alex I know you didn't mean anything negative by it. The fact you even apologized means a lot to me, thank you. Here in America it's just another term for being swindled. In other places though, people call people like me gypsies, swindlers."

"Well, we also have terms like having a gypsies' soul meaning you never stay in one place too long," Xander added. "Still, I really am sorry if I offended you."

"You're fine Alex, really," Janna assured him, "So what are you going to do now? You don't have any homework, I checked with the rest of the staff before I left today."

"Umm do they know about this... arrangement?" Xander asked warily.

"They do, Snyder doesn't because he's an asshole," Janna swore.

Xander heaved a sigh of relief. The last thing he needed was Snyder of all people knowing his teacher was taking him and away from a less than stellar home life. "Thank God… what do they know exactly?"

"That you admitted you me your home life was getting too difficult to bare and it was adversely affecting your schoolwork," Janna replied. "The fact your still maintaining a C+ average is nothing short of impressive considering you go on nightly patrols and come from a…" Janna trailed off uncomfortably.

"Abusive home?" Xander finished for her. "It's okay to just say it Jan, I… don't like it, but trying to avoid saying it altogether just makes it seem even worse."

Janna nodded in reply, "I understand Alex. But yes, the fact you go on nightly patrols and come from an abusive home make it amazing that your able to do as well as you do in school."

"Thanks, I may not be a superbrain like Willow, but I do alright," Xander said sounding a bit happy with himself before he asked, "How… how did the other teachers react?"

"I had to stop Ms. Litto from finding out where you lived and Dr. Clarke told her she was being too overt and suggested cyanide. Rupert was… well I've never seen him so angry before."

Xander blinked. "G-man was upset? Is that even possible?"

The Romani nodded. "It didn't show on his face, but I could see a vein in his temple throbbing. Plus he kept making subconscious clenching motions with his hands like he was strangling something… probably your father if I had to guess. Mrs. Tishler said she always wondered if you were really happy-go-lucky or if there was more to it than that."

"Oh no, not that fruitloop," Xander said with a sigh."

"Alex, she means well," Janna chided. Even if she can be a bit much at times."

"She tried to make me give up Twinkies. That's not gonna happen… Ever," Xander said resolutely his arms folded.

Janna shook her head. "They really are terrible for you, you know? There's a damn good reason only twinkies and cockroaches can survive a nuclear explosion."

"Not you too Jan!" Xander cried as if betrayed.

"Every once in a while isn't bad, but certainly not daily. It would defeat the purpose of your workout."

"True, true. Can't be vamp dusting ready if I'm Twinkie stuffed. Speaking of being vamp ready, I'm gonna head off and read the Rabbi's old journal. The Path said it was a skill book, but I never looked it over," Xander said getting up and rinsing off his bowl and Cavalls before putting them in the dishwasher.

"Good idea, I should start reading Wizarding for Dummies as well," Janna shook her head in amused disbelief. "I still can't believe that such a powerful item is called that."

"I know right, whoever is in charge of this game has a sense of humor. Night Janna."

"Night Xander, don't stay up too late, we both still need to be at school tomorrow," the Romani reminded him.

Xander nodded. "Yeah, no problem. If I'm not around when you wake up don't worry okay? I'll just be going for my morning run."

With that, Xander returned to his room.

~FotP~

Xander lay on his bed and pulled the Hunter's Journal out of his Inventory. He got a popup window saying, "This is a skillbook, would you like to read it now?

Yes/No?"

Xander clicked on yes, and got another popup. "You have gained the Skill [Favored Enemy]. If you have a class that would already give you this skill you simply get one additional choice to choose from in your favored Enemy List. Favored Enemies are listed below:

Aberration

Animal

Construct

Dragon

Elemental

Fey

Giant

Humanoid (aquatic)

Humanoid (dwarf)

Humanoid (elf)

Humanoid (goblinoid)

Humanoid (gnoll)

Humanoid (gnome)

Humanoid (halfling)

Humanoid (human)

Humanoid (orc)

Humanoid (reptilian)

Magical beast

Monstrous humanoid

Ooze

Outsider (air)

Outsider (chaotic)

Outsider (earth)

Outsider (evil)

Outsider (fire)

Outsider (good)

Outsider (lawful)

Outsider (native)

Outsider (water)

Plant

Undead

Vermin monstrous

Xander automatically picked undead. Anything that would make killing vamps easier was good in his book.

"Congratulations, by choosing Undead as your [Favored Enemy] you gain a +2 on bonus on Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival checks, and a +2 bonus on weapon damage against this enemy type."

"Well that's useful. Is there anyway I can tell how much damage I'm doing or what level my enemies are?"

"The ability to see enemy levels is determined by your Perception which is a combination of your Listen and Spot Skills plus your Wisdom Modifier. This feature must also be turned on in the options menu," A popup told him.

"Options," Xander growled out. Xander checked the box that showed everyone's levels and nodded to himself. Then he looked at the other things in the options menu, and something else caught his eye. "Enable journal mode?"

"Journal mode grants you a magical indestructible journal that you can use to prepare your spells, keep track of quests, and comes with a map that you can use to direct you towards objectives. The Options and Settings menus can also be reached via the Journal as well. A journal can only be used by its owner and cannot be destroyed by any means. It returns to its owner upon a mere thought."

Xander turned on Journal Mode and was promptly hit in the head by a dark-brown hard leather book that was held shut by a brass clasp.

"Very funny jackass," Xander said as he unlocked it and began looking through it. Xander noted it had tabs sticking out the top and in fancy script. They read:

Information

Inventory

Map

Options

Quests

Settings

Spells

"Cool," Xander said to himself. Xander double checked his Listen and Spot stats. "So since I've got twelve in both Search and in Spot with my Wis mod added to them both I should be able to tell people's level up to level thirty. Thirty-eight if my Torchbearer title affects this too. I'm a Ranger so it's my job to identify and take out hostile threats. Time?" Xander called out.

"10:36pm"

"I bet this damn game is gonna wake me up at five in the morning again tomorrow, so I'd best get to sleep now. Tomorrow night though, I'm going on patrol again," Xander said to himself as he changed into his sleeping clothes before turned out his bedside lamp and went to sleep.

~FotP~

Spike was drawn to his sires room by her unending sobs. Grabbing a passing minion and tossing him into a cement wall with enough force to crack it, Spike game-faced and growled. "Why is my Dru crying? If you've done something to her, I promise, you'll live just long enough to regret it."

The minion a beefy looking biker he'd decided to sire a few days ago for want of extra muscle rapidly shook his head. "Nah, it wasn't me boss. I dunno what has the missus so distraught. I was about to come get you. She keeps rambin' about kittens and stars. She's making less sense than she usually does."

His face going back to normal Spike muttered to himself. "Kittens and stars?" He turned back to his newest minion, Fred, he thought his name was. "Alright Fred, you tell everyone else to piss off right? I'm gonna go have a chat with my gal."

"Sure whatever you say boss… and it's Jim by the way," The biker corrected.

"Just get going… fucking ponce," Spike said as the vampire lumbered off. He then tapped gently on his sires door and said, "Drue love, can I come in?"

"Of course William. The stars are speaking to me loudly tonight."

Getting an invitation, Spike let himself into his century long lovers room. It was decorated with various expensive dolls, with white christmas lights strung up everywhere to represent the stars of the night sky. Sitting up in a large four poster bed propped up on many pillows with Miss Edith, her favorite doll by her side, was Drusilla. She had been weakened ever since she was tortured earlier that year in Prague. He'd hoped bringing her to the Hellmouth would fix her but even its influx of evil energies could only do so much it seemed.

"What's wrong poppit?" Spike said taking up a chair next to the bed and taking one of the madwoman's hands in his.

"William oh Willam the stars! They scream at me!" Drusilla said as she gripped his hands tightly, her own eyes not leaving the twinkling Christmas lights.

Spike gently patted Dru's hand and said, "What are the stars tellin' you love?"

"Kitten, he has sharp silver claws now, William, and fangs of sharpened oak. He sleeps now, but earlier he was on the prowl, hunting. Hunting us and any others who he sees as prey. He was once prey but now he is the predator."

"Kitten? Do you mean the Slayer love?" Spike asked. 'No she said he.'

Drusilla shook her head. "Kitten follows the Slayer around like a lost little puppy. Forlorn, forevermore… or maybe not?"

"So the Slayer has friends does she?" Spike said with a smirk. "Interesting tidbit that is. Stars tell you anythin' else love?"

Drusilla said, " Just that Daddy's in town."

Spikes eyebrows rose to his hairline. "Angelus? Yeah we've bumped into each other a couple times already. Fucking prat. Some granddad he is."

A tentative knocking came at the door. "Ah, Mr. Spike, sir?"

"What is it Dalton?" Spike yelled in annoyance. "I asked not to be disturbed."

"Y-Yes, of course I'm terribly sorry but I-I do believe I have a lead on curing Miss Drusilla's condition? And you told me to tell you if I found anything immediately if you recall?"

"Right, right, get in here then," Spike turned to Drusilla, "You don't mind a bit of extra company for a moment do you love?"

"It's fine dear," Drusilla replied.

A studious looking balding vampire with a goatee covering his chin meekly stepped into the room. Wearing a white shirt, vest and slacks. His attire only added to his nerdy air. He sent Drusialla shy smile, "Pleasure to finally m-make your acquaintance miss. Lovely doll collection. A majority of these are original Elizthian unless I miss my guess?"

"Enough with the chit-chat," Spike said, shooting Dalton a glare he continued, "You said you found something yeah? So out with it."

"Y-Yes of course. I have found reference to an ancient tome, called the Du Lac Manuscript that was written by a heretical excommunicated Catholic Priest of the same name. In it, he was said to have written down ancient spells and rituals that could either bring a vampire back to full strength, or destroy them utterly."

Spike grinned as he rubbed his chin, "Right sound promising… where do we find this book?"

"I-I'm not a betting man sir, but if I had to place a bet, such a tome would likely be in the personal collection of the current Slayer's Watcher."

Right, so we just gotta break into Slayer HQ, get passed the Slayer, and her Watcher and steal a book? I… think we can manage this with a dozen guys or so."

"Spike," Drusilla grabbed his arm. "You'll need more than that if you want your book… trust mummy."

Spike nodded seriously. It wasn't often Drusilla gave out such serious warnings, but when she did, he knew better than to not listen. "Alright love," He turned to Dalton who was silently waiting for orders. "Dalton, go round up the boys. We've a heist to plan."

"Y-Yes sir!" Dalton rushed out of the room.

Spike the Bloody was going to get his hands on that book, even if he had to go through the Slayer to get it.

Word Count: 21,218 Number of Pages: 81 Date Completed: 1/10/2020

AN: Welcome readers one and all to yet another new fic of mine to kick off the new year with. Followers of the Path is a Gamer-esque fic using Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 Edition/Pathfinder as a basis. This is going to be long, fun, fic everyone. So strap in. Snowy who cannot be reached for comment at the moment, is handling 'most' of the technical aspects while I handle the actual story. So it is a hard and difficult job for both of us, so if you could review and let us know what you think, that'd be great. Till next time everyone this has been a Bubbajack and IcySnowSage Production. Till next time, I'll leave you all with our glossary.

Glossary: This is an in-depth look at how stats and things are going to work in this fic, for everyone interested. Aka where all the technical jargon will go.

STR: Effects melee damage, Jumping, Swimming, Climbing, and Carrying Capacity. Plus 5kg Carrying Capacity per point of STR. The measure of your physical might.

DEX: Effects Ranged damage, including those for attacks made with bows, crossbows, throwing axes, and other ranged weapons. Armor Class (AC), provided that the character can react to the attack. Reflex saving throws, for avoiding fireballs and other attacks that you can escape by moving quickly. Balance, Escape Artist, Hide, Move Silently, Open Lock, Ride, Sleight of Hand, Tumble, and Use Rope checks. These are the skills that have Dexterity as their key ability

CON: Determines HP, is CON score times ten. It also provides poison, and other bodily resistances and affects Concentration checks.

INT: Intelligence determines how well your character learn and reason. This ability is important for wizards because it affects how many spells they can cast, how hard their spells are to resist, and how powerful their spells can be. It's also important for any character who wants to have a wide assortment of skills. The number of languages you number of skill points gained each level. (But your character always gets at least 1 skill point per level.) Appraise, Craft, Decipher Script, Disable Device, Forgery, Knowledge, Search, and Spellcraft checks. These are the skills that have Intelligence as their key ability.

WIS: Wisdom describes your willpower, common sense, perception, and intuition. While Intelligence represents one's ability to analyze information, Wisdom represents being in tune with and aware of one's surroundings. Wisdom is the most important ability for clerics and druids, and it is also important for paladins and rangers. If you want your character to have acute senses, put a high score in Wisdom. Every creature has a Wisdom score. You apply your Wisdom modifier to Will saving throws (for negating the effect of charm person and other spells). Heal, Listen, Profession, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival checks. These are the skills that have Wisdom as their key ability.

CHA: Charisma measures a character's force of personality, persuasiveness, personal magnetism, ability to lead, and physical attractiveness. This ability represents actual strength of personality, not merely how one is perceived by others in a social setting. Charisma is most important for paladins, sorcerers, and bards. It is also important for clerics, since it affects their ability to turn undead. Every creature has a Charisma score. Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, Gather Information, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Perform, and Use Magic Device checks. These are the skills that have Charisma as their key ability.

Current Stat Sheets:

Xander:

Level: 5

EXP: 5,458/10,000

STR: 14 bonus of +2

DEX: 12 bonus of +1

CON: 12 bonus of +1

INT: 12(-2) bonus of 0

WIS: 16 bonus of +3

CHA: 15(-2) bonus of +1

HP: 150

Mana: 143

Movement Speed: 12 ft per sec.

Carrying Capacity: 70kg/154lbs

AC: 11

Base Attack Bonus: +0

Fortitude Save: +4

Reflex Save: +4

Will Save: +3+4+2+2= 11

Feats:

Discipline [Regional]: Your people are admired for their single-minded determination and clarity of purpose. You are difficult to distract by spell or blow. You gain a +2 bonus on Will saves and a +2 bonus on Concentration checks.

Uncanny Dodge: gains the ability to react to danger before his senses would normally allow him to do so. He retains his Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) regardless of being caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker (he still loses his Dexterity bonus to Armor Class if immobilized).

At 3rd level, can no longer be flanked; he can react to opponents on opposite sides of him as easily as he can react to a single attacker. This defense denies rogues the ability to use flank attacks to sneak attack the survivor. The exception to this defense is that a rogue at least four levels higher than the survivor can flank him (and thus sneak attack him).

Evasion: At 2nd level, a survivor gains evasion. If exposed to any effect that normally allows a character to attempt a Reflex saving throw for half damage (such as a fireball), he takes no damage with a successful saving throw. Evasion can only be used if the survivor wears light armor or no armor.

Improved Evasion: This ability, gained at 4th level, works like evasion, except that while the survivor still takes no damage on a successful Reflex save against spells such as fireball or a breath weapon, he now takes only half damage on a failed save. The survivor's training allows him to get out of harm's way with incredible speed.

Damage Reduction: At 5th level, a survivor gains the ability to shrug off 5 points of damage from each blow or attack. Subtract 5 from the damage the survivor takes each time he is dealt damage. Damage reduction can reduce damage to 0 but not less than 0. This damage reduction stacks with any other damage reduction of the "x/—" type (such as the damage reduction that is a class feature of the barbarian).

Vampire Hunter: Can tell if someone is a vampire or vampire spawn within 30ft. Additionally you are immune to the dominating gaze ability of vampires and vampire spawn.

Ironwill: +2 to will saves and Concentration checks.

Skills:

Climb rank: 0+2 (bonus STR)= 2

Concentration rank: 0+3 (bonus CON plus DIsciplined feat)=3

Craft: 0+0(bonus INT)= 0

Handle animal: 0+3(Bonus CHA)= 3

Heal: 10+3(bonus WIS)= 13

Hide: 12+1(bonus DEX)= 13

Jump: 0+2(bonus STR)= 2

Knowledge (planes): 4 +0(bonus INT)= 4

Listen: 12+3 (bonus Wis)= 19 (+4 from Torchbearer title)

Move Silent: 12+1(bonus DEX)= 12

Profession:0 +3(bonus WIS)= 3

Ride: 0+1(bonus DEX)= 1

Search: 9+0(bonus INT)= 9

Spot: 12+3(bonus WIS)= 19 (+4 from Torchbearer title)

Survival: 5+3(bonus WIS)= 8

Swim: 0+2(bonus STR)= 2

Use Rope: 0+1(bonus DEX)= 1

Name: Janna Kalderash

Race: Human (Female) Romani Blood

Level: 10

EXP: 5,454/20,000

Class: Witch (5), Technomancer (5)

Feats: Spellwise (regional), Skill Focus (knowledge [engineering], Technologist (Pathfinder), Accursed Hex(pathfinder), Night Sky Hex (Pathfinder)

Stats:

STR: 13 bonus of +1

DEX: 13 bonus of +1

CON: 11 bonus of 0

INT: 18(-2) bonus of +4

WIS: 12(-2) bonus of +0

CHA: 12(-2) bonus of +0

HP: 170

Mana: 140

Movement Speed: 12 ft per sec.

Carrying Capacity: 65kg/143lbs

AC: 11

Base Attack Bonus: +2+2

Fortitude Save: +1+1

Reflex Save: +1+1

Will Save: +4+4

Feats:

Spellwise [Regional]: You receive a +2 bonus on all Knowledge (arcana) and Spellcraft checks. You also get a +2 bonus on saving throws against illusion spells or effects.

Skill Focus [Engineering]: Choose a skill, You get a +3 bonus on all checks involving that skill.

Technologist: You are familiar with the basic mechanics of technology. You are considered to be trained in any skill used against a technology-based subject. If the skill in question requires training to use even against non-technological subjects, you must still have ranks in that skill in order to gain the benefit of Technologist.

Accursed Hex: When you target a creature with a hex that cannot target the same creature more than once per day, and that creature succeeds at its saving throw against the hex's effect, you can target the creature with the same hex a second time before the end of your next turn. If the second attempt fails, you can make no further attempts to target that creature with the same hex for 1 day.

Night Sky Hex: When you gain this feat, choose one hex that you can use to affect no more than one opponent. When you are in view of the night sky and use that hex, increase the save DC of that hex by 2.

Skills:

Craft:0 +3=

Bluff: 9 +0=9

Heal:0+0=0

Intimidate:0+0=0

Knowledge( Arcana) 17+3=20

Knowledge (engineering): 17+3+6=26

Linguistics:0+0=0

Spot:0+0=0

Listen:0+0=0

Spellcraft: 17+3=20

Use Magic Device: 17+0=17