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Posted by “Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.” - Mahatma Ghandi
Whispering Mountains - Entrance
Rien glanced briefly at the party trudging behind them. Though they had not advanced into a core class like him or Blue, he had judged them to be fairly skillful. By the time he could’ve rounded up an advanced party, he was sure his current group would have leveled up anyway. News that simply discovering a Guardian’s location would give such a large reward spread like wildfire within Sanctuary. Soon after, parties were formed and groups of adventurers spread out to unexplored areas of Halcen looking to get an edge on the competition.
“Is it too late to say I don’t like this plan?” Blue yelled over the howling wind. The walls of the mountain were shrouded in deep mist, making it impossible to see how far it went. They could only assume it was a long way up.
“You can say it whenever you like,” Rien bellowed back at her, “Long as you climb up there afterward!”
“Buttface!” Blue yelled back, eloquently as she began her climb. It was a pretty steep climb, though Blue was probably the only one in the group both capable of making it, and surviving the fall should something happen.
The eight other spheres, Rien had guessed, were themed around each of the elements found in the game. Following that logic, the entrance to Terra, the sphere representing the elemental of earth had to be in the mountains right? It just made sense. Or so he thought, at least. As he watched Blue disappear into the thick mist, he began to doubt his plan more and more. He hoped she would make it safely to the top.
A few minutes of waiting later, he heard her shrill scream.
“Crap,” Rien cursed as he saw the source. Despite the thick mist these monsters were large enough to see from the ground level. The flickering of their status windows disappeared and reappeared as they flickered in and out of vision range. Each of them read “Roc Lvl 10”. Rien pulled out his bow and fired and arrow at one of them flying overhead, narrowly missing its shoulder.
Rien shouted to the party, “I don’t care how you do it, but get rid of those monsters.”
Valley of Heroes - Aral Pass
“When will they be here?” Button asked.
Midas sat slumped against a tree with his legs crossed and a large tome propped on his knees. He might have almost seemed asleep had his eyes not been flickering over the writing beneath heavy lids. “I’m fairly certain clerics can’t predict the future in this game. In fact, I think that applies to everyone involved.”
Button frowned at the surrounding rocky terrain. He didn’t much care for this place. It made him feel as though he was being watched.
“What’s the book?” he asked.
“It’s the tome they give to you when you attain your first class advancement. The spells in this game require you to memorize their words. It’s rather obnoxious really.” And Midas licked the tip of his finger and used it to turn the page.
Button frowned off into the still valley. “Did we have to come so early?”
“The battle is usually won by the side that gets there first.”
“I thought we were negotiating a deal?”
“Negotiating a deal is my battlefield.”
Button gave a sigh that made his lips flap. He perched himself on a stone at the edge of the clearing, a cautious distance away from Midas, slipped out his knife and the chunk of iron-wood he’s already roughly shaped. The game applied his high crafting skill rank and the figurine he carved was looking great.
“This new world gives us many options,” murmured Midas, without looking up from his book. “We can slay monsters or craft masterful works of art. I will admit you have a talent for it, but are you sure you want to be like me?”
“You know I do…”
“Then pay attention. The first lesson is patience.”
Footsteps, coming toward them through the valley. A man stepped from behind a large boulder, fully clad in armor, a large sword on his back. He had a harsh face that Button did not trust.
“You are early, Ryder.”
“Not so early as you.”
“I have always felt it was poor manners to come second to a meeting.”
“Pft. Hope you forgive my rudeness then.”
“That depends on what you have to offer.”
Ryder raised his chin. “Information regarding the location of the Guardian to Terra, in exchange for 10,000 gems as we agreed.”
Button started as he heard more footsteps coming from behind, then in front. “Unfortunately,” Ryder grinned, “I have no such information.”
And now the men appeared. Button counted six, and heard two more at least behind him, and forced himself not to turn.
“PKing? Do you know what will happen, then?” asked Midas.
Ryder shrugged. “This’ll be a first then won’t it? Either way, your gems and equipment are mine.”
Midas snorted. “So be it then.”
Ryder looked confused and angry. “It’s two against nine. How do you expect to win?”
Midas shut his book and sighed. “With foresight.” He signaled his party, which had stationed themselves on the cliffs above. “Kill them.”
Ellin Forest - Waterfall
The wheel on the cart turned slowly round, and squeaked. It turned around again, and squeaked. The annoying noise broke past even the heavy pitter patter of the rain outside. Koala scowled at it. It seemed ridiculous that a virtual world could make her feel so cold and wet. Destiny strolled along the muddy road, boasting new wheels and a new roof, freshly customized and re-equipped. It would’ve been quite an imposing vehicle, had it not been for the picture of its owner’s avatar plastered along its side, winking and giving onlookers a thumbs up sign. Not that there was anyone around to look at it, at that moment. Though Koala was miserable outside in the rain, the party inside the wagon somehow seemed even worse for wear.
“They seem to be a…” Koala always tried her best to find a pretty way to put things but even she was stumped. “Varied group.”
“Try fearsome!” Ellie gave her a fierce grin. Though the full screen name displayed above her was PrincessEllie, Koala would never call her that. She couldn’t help but feel she was, once again, being roped into one of her friend’s horrible schemes.
“Why did we need to collect so many party members anyway, we were doing fine on our own. They’ll just slow us down-“ Koala began her usual scolding, but was interrupted with a flick to her forehead.
“Ah, it’s just a game! How did that hurt?”
“It’s the power of love!” Ellie grinned, steering the wagon along. “And stop lecturing me, I know what I’m doing. The guys I picked are the best. I know they are, because I’m the one who picked them!”
Koala sighed. Who could argue with logic like that?
The rain came down in sheets, dousing the endless forest and everything on it with icy water. The fat drops stung on the Koala’s skin like tiny stones, nipping at her exposed hands, the tops of her ears, the back of her neck. Koala shivered and clutched the collars of her coat together with one hand. A pointless gesture, she was already soaked to her skin. That damn NPC shopkeeper back in Sanctuary had assured her that the coat was entirely waterproof. At least she knew now that even the AI couldn’t be trusted.
“How are you so sure there’s a Guardian in this forest anyway?” Koala shivered.
“Well, because of the name. Duh.” Ellie responded as though she had actually answered the question.
“The…name?”
“Yeah. Ellin. It sort of sounds like Ellie, which is great. Which means there’s obviously got to be a Guardian here.”
“Are you freaking seri-“ Koala began to give her friend a thorough reprimanding, was knocked over by Ellie. A long tongue speared past her, narrowly missing, before being reeled back to its owner. The giant blue toad gave an angry croak. The status window above its ugly head displayed the words “Giant Raintoad Lvl 12.” Another appeared beside it from the mud below. Then another until there were a total of five surrounding the wagon.
“To battle!” Ellie yelled loud enough for the party inside the wagon to hear.
OOC
- Fatal Blood, Unbelievably Majestic and Wandering Rogue like this
