"Well You're our only hope did you happen to snag one before you took it to the incinerator?"

This caused everyone to look over at the girl which did not help her trembling and the other slave girls began distancing themselves from her slowly as the price for theft was not only a beating within the legion but could be death Even for the entire group if the legion wants to set an example. The girl slowly unhooked the keychain from her necklace and removed it from her dress and holding it up to me slowly as expecting me to yell at her. A little off topic but now that I had a chance to look at the dress that she and the other slaves were they barely came down below her thighs and it was all patchwork mostly it looked like burlap but other fabrics and such were thrown in when needed. I took it slowly so I didn't scare her more than she already was considering she looked like she was about to pass out or piss herself or both. Of course it didn't help that Lanius was now looking at her like a viper about to strike a mouse and Caesar had a look on his face that you just couldn't discern whether he was angry or indifferent or relieved that we still had one keychain to experiment with.

"Thanks, you might have just saved the day if this works." I said as she looked at me with confusion.

"Y...you're welcome." she said Just staring at the keychain as I held it to my weapon and of course she jumped being as skiddish as she was when it suddenly disappeared in a light show and was absorbed into my weapon.

I open the status window not really sure how to do this, however I couldn't find any slots on the weapon to put the key chain into and there was no where on the weapon to really attach it so the only thing I figured is that I had to do something internally. I saw on the inventory screen that it was inside of the melee weapon however I didn't know how to access it and put it on. after a minute the idea hit me but I haven't really tried weapon customization yet so I tapped on the tab and to my own surprise It brought up a 3D model of the tribal spear and right beside it were several options one of them being accessories. Sure enough inside the accessories tab there was the small keychain I just put in which was in the shape of a flower and after selecting it I was able to place it anywhere on the weapon it could be either hanging from the weapon by the chain or implanted directly into the spear at any point I chuckled at the fact that this system actually allowed me to accessorize. I placed the flower keychain onto the spearhead and removed the chain part that connected it to a bag or a key ring. without any other material to really do any further customizations I hit the okay button and found the head of my spear which was in my hand this whole time engulfed in light and then as the light faded the flower was fit firmly into the center of the stone spearhead.

"Well it seems I figured it out, now to see what you do." I say more to myself as I look at the weapon screen to see that there is the words poison-30(10s) next to the accessory slot and where there was once an empty dot now there was the flower charm.

If I'm reading this right it says that anyone struck with The spear would take 30 damage over the course of 10 seconds. I can't deny that's pretty good for your standard opponent I mean any kind of poison's pretty good but one that did an automatic 30 damage in 10 seconds and if you poison them multiple times you could kill them quickly enough that they won't become a problem. Of course I really don't want to kill humans however this is the fallout game or at least a world similar to it if I kill someone here doesn't mean that I just committed murder I mean I guess self-defense it's necessary but I'd rather avoid going on a killing spree. Now that I understood just how useful these accessories could be I looked over to the slave girl which caused her to flinch.

"Excuse me but was there only one kind of accessory in that box that the quartermaster told you to incinerate." I asked the girl.

"Huh?"

"Was there only these flower keychains or was there other kinds of keychains."

"Well... there were some duplicates but most of them were all different kinds." she said after thinking about it, "Now that I think about it there were a bunch of different kinds from flowers and trees to animals and even people and I think places."

I cringe with every word she said the idea that all these keychains could have acted as accessories for me was infuriating enough, but more than that the flower in video games usually represents some kind of poison or paralysis status effect so it wasn't a surprise that I got poison attribute on my spear for equipping it however a person or a place or an animal I'm actually interested in what would have happened if I put them onto a weapon and more importantly I haven't tried the sharpening fan yet but first I think I need to test this poison effect. Looking over at Lanius and Caesar I could tell they were thinking of a punishment for the quartermaster considering not only did he seem to think he knew better than Lanius himself but we all have to waste more time to gather keychains when there is only 3 weeks left until this wave of monsters arrives somewhere in legion territory.

"Hey it says there's a poison effect on my spear because of this accessory." I said causing everyone to look at me wide-eyed I mean it sounded pretty ridiculous putting a flower ornament on a weapon and turning it poisonous but I didn't say anything else I just looked at the quartermaster.

Caesar and Lanius both got my meaning when Lanius walked behind the quartermaster and held his arm firmly while forcing him to the ground. He looked terrified as I began walking towards him and Caesar simply stared while pointing his thumb to the ground signifying that this was his execution. Even I could feel the irony of it I was just contemplating not going on killing sprees and yet here I am using this guy to test my weapon I suppose my rationale is that this guy was clearly not a good man although a part of me wanted to at least give him a chance to fight back in the arena but I was only level one so the odds of me beating him were slim even if he was just a quartermaster.

I look over to the slave girls all of them were kind of smiling except for the girl who kept the accessory this guy must have been pretty abusive, "Hey ladies as far as a taskmaster goes how bad was this guy?"

They all started yelling everything that he did everything from raping them to simply using a whip to abuse them and if they refused any command or hesitated he would threaten to kill them. The more I listened the more I realize this guy was just like my mother who had no problem abusing others but can't take any abuse himself and tries to weasel his way out of it by begging and offering apologies. I couldn't look at this guy as a human anymore so I took the spear and poked him in the shoulder as Lanius held him to the ground It was only a poke It didn't even go an inch into his skin however the poison took effect quickly and he clutched his shoulder and screamed. As Lanius let him go the quartermaster ripped off his armor and then revealed the wound had turned purple and was leaking a certain purplish smoke. For 10 seconds he just clutched his shoulder on the ground and seemingly right at the 10 second mark the purplish smoke subsided and his skin returned to normal. Although he was no longer in pain he stayed on the ground kneeling before Caesar not risking angering him further.

"You all right?" I said to the accessory girl, "you seemed a little conflicted about his punishment."

"Well he did deserve it, but he really didn't hurt me personally, I mean I've only been here for about a week and a half."

The other slave girls looked over to her as one of them practically yelled, "but he just took you into his tent last night Are you saying he didn't do anything to you?"

"Well I was blindfolded but I think he used the whip but it didn't really hurt and he didn't rape me afterwards either." Accessory girl said not really sure of what else to say considering when you looked at the other girls they had lashes all over their legs and arms from the whip and there was one girl who wore I guess it would be a crop top made out of the same material as the others dresses that stopped right below her boobs and you can see her whole midruff that was covered in old marks and the accessory girl had just been in his tent the night before and had no scars at all anywhere seemingly.

Everyone there from Caesar and Lanius and myself to the praetorian guard and the other slave girls and the few legion members that showed up to watch the execution just stared dumbfounded at her. The quartermaster then confessed that he had in fact whipped her for several hours but he couldn't harm her in the slightest so when asked to give a demonstration he went and got the whip and surprisingly accessory girl just put her hands behind her head and turned her back I guess she was confident that it wasn't going to hurt. Like stated the whip didn't do any damage in fact it's almost like metal on metal because Sparks flew and a metallic clang was heard despite the whip seemingly being made of leather and obviously the rags she wore would offer little to no protection from that, considering the only thing damaged was her clothing as every time the whip came down on the rags they split more and more eventually she turned around and he started whipping her front. I guess she realized how exposed her back was but she soon ran into the same problem on the front before Caesar commanded the quartermaster to stop, To be honest though I don't think the quartermaster needed to be told he was out of breath and sweating profusely. I almost laughed looking at him considering he was the one doing the whipping and he looked more tired and in pain than the one who was being whipped.

I don't even know what the hell her stats are and already I want her as a party member so I went back to the status screen and decided to try the party tab and sure enough I was able to add people to a group. So I sent her an invitation which caused her to jump and fall backward causing everyone to stare because to them it looks like she just got scared of her own shadow. She looked at me and I nodded so she accepted the invitation and I could see her name appear right below mine in the corner of my vision, which I admittedly just noticed because of the sudden change however it was impressive that I actually had a sort of HUD showing my health and status effects. To my delight there was an option for me to check her stats and as I open her stat window my jaw dropped.

Level:9

Strength:7

Perception:7

Endurance:8

Charisma:5(-2)

Intelligence:8

Agility:4

Luck:3

available points:12

"What the actual fuck." I yelled causing everyone to look over at me, "How the hell did your fucking stats get so high accessory girl."

"I...I don't really know what you're talking about." she said and I could tell she was being serious by the look of confusion, "and what do you mean by accessory girl?"

I look over at Caesar and Lanius and they shrugged and admit that they have tried to keep the status magic hidden as well as possible due to the fact that several slaves have escaped after learning they have high enough stats to overpower their captors. I couldn't deny there was some logic in that I don't exactly like the suppression of vital knowledge but I couldn't deny their whole legion would be destroyed if they made it public that everyone could know just how good they were. I look back at accessory girls stats she was only level nine so she shouldn't have this kind of power so there had to be other factors. After asking her what she did before coming here it turns out she worked with her uncle at his blacksmith shop where he put her to work making horseshoes and even some weapons which got Caesars attention as this was technically illegal for a woman to hold a weapon even if they're making it, that part was never in New Vegas I don't think, but this isn't exactly like the video game I guess.

"How did you end up here? If he actually was making a profit using you there why did he sell you to this place?" I'm still not sold on the idea of slavery but I understood the principle as an act of viewing someone is less than human as an object more or less so this guy would have no reason to sell his niece if he was making a profit.

"My uncle said I was getting too good and he was embarrassed that his niece was becoming so masculine that even our lecherous governor didn't want me." she was clearly getting upset at the topic.

All I could do was turn to Caesar slackjawed and blank faced, but all he could do was recall that the shipment this girl came in on was from the umbra lupus region which was actually only a few days travel from this camp. The governor of the umbra lupus region was in fact Even by Caesars standards a piss poor human being who like his women to be young and fragile, but worst still this governor apparently told Caesar once "a woman's real charm comes when she breathes her last ecstatic breath after a night of passion." That line alone sent a shiver up my spine, this guy sounded like he needed to be put down like a dog I don't think I'd have any issue killing someone like him and in hindsight it's actually lucky she was too masculine for his taste or she might not be standing here right now.

"I can't say it'll be an easy journey but would you like to come with me." I asked her.

Accessory girl looked at me with shock expression before saying, "but I'm just a woman, a slave I can't possibly fight beside you I mean we've all heard the rumors and seen the vision, you're the hero correct One of the ones who are summoned."

It's not really a surprise that she noticed given that her intelligence is eight and her perception is seven but even still the others stared in shock realizing it of course. I looked over at Caesar and Lanius they seemed to be in deep thought so I figured I'd ask, "any objections?"

"I suppose you could say that, for starters having a woman parading around in armor with weapon in hand would send a bad message to other slaves." Caesar said, "showing equality could insight rebellion and that is something we can certainly not afford especially with the second battle for Hoover dam right around the corner."

Lanius crossed his arms and nodded his head before saying, "not to mention you are still level one and new to this world I doubt one slave girl and you could fight off a deathclaw if you're unlucky enough to encounter one."

A chill ran up my spine, I knew I might run into something nasty but a deathclaw is like one of the worst case scenarios given that their namesake claws could tear through power armor like they were can openers to a can and on top of that they often live in packs. Lanius raised his hand and looked towards a group of soldiers dressed differently from the rest instantly recognizing them as an executioner squad that they would send after you for crimes against the legion. As the squad reached Lanius the four of them about their heads awaiting their orders.

"Your orders are as followed." Lanius said with authority oozing from his voice, "your mission is not to execute anyone for this mission you are to be bodyguards to the melee hero and his slave girl."

The executioner squad looked shocked as they stared at me and accessory girl, which made me feel awkward I mean I guess I'm grateful for the special treatment however I can't say I'm proud to work with the legion giving my stance against them. I could tell they were sizing me up these men were the most well trained in the entire legion sent specifically to execute criminals and dangerous adversaries that pose a threat, so the idea that they would take orders from someone who's supposed to be from a world that's nothing but the old world as they would put it probably didn't sit well with them. Then they looked over at accessory girl and I could see their eyes go from judgmental to lecherous It was then that I remembered that she was basically naked at this point with her clothes torn to ribbons as if it went through a damn paper shredder, and to my own shame I couldn't help but notice that she was attractive being fit and muscular but still being if I had to place it lady like and delicate looking with smooth skin. I quickly look away a little embarrassed which a few of the pretorians and the execution squad chuckled at and this was also noticed by accessory girl who put her arm over her boobs and a hand over her crotch to try to cover herself.

"You've got to be joking legate Lanius." The leader of the execution squad said while laughing, "You want us to protect this virgin while he carries on with his business."

"Who's the virgin." I say catching their attention, "I mean for real the only reason any of these women fuck you guys is because they're obligated too, but I've actually put in some work and gotten a girl the old-fashioned way so who's the real virgin here."

It might not be one of my proudest moments but I did feel a bit of gratification from the looks of realization and anger on their faces, however they backed down except for one of them that actually drew his own spear and requested a dual. Lanius drew his sword as if to say are you really questioning my orders and even though no words were spoken the display was clear enough and the execution squad all bowed their heads and agreed to be my an accessory girls bodyguards. I took accessory girl with me and Caesar and Lanius and I could tell that she was uncomfortable walking through the camp basically naked but that was our next destination was to get her some clothes and me some actual armor.