“I figure we can head to the crafter's ring today,” started Olaf. “We should have plenty of time to visit whichever profession building we need and get back here with time to spare.”
“I’ll come along for the ride. I don’t really want to deal with the mage’s guild, but I don’t mind the company,” said Rose.
I hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I’ll pass on going to the crafting ring today. I need to take care of visiting the Goddess Issara today. She may have a class quest for me related to all of this and I can’t pass that up.”
Rose cursed softly. “He’s right, I should probably do the same. Don’t think this means I’m following you around like some lost puppy,” she added, directing a glare my way, warning me not to comment.
“Never thought it for a second,” I replied. “Besides, the Goddess Lilith’s temple is nowhere near mine.”
“That doesn’t mean we can’t walk part way there together,” said Rose quickly.
“Then I guess it’s just you and me today, Mic,” said Olaf, looking toward his wife or rather toward the space his wife used to occupy.
“Gonna go hunt spirits,” she called loudly with a wave from several houses away from where we stood.
I tried not to laugh, I really did, but when Rose snorted in an attempt to do the same the dam broke and I couldn’t hold back the laughter.
“I swear, my wife . . .” Olaf sighed in exasperation. “I suppose I could look for a barracks to see if I can’t find some artillery training. I guess we’ll deal with crafting tomorrow.”
As we had to pass through the government ring on the way to the temple, or Godly ring as we’d heard it called a few times, Olaf chose to walk with us. Once there, Olaf asked a soldier, a helpful one this time, for directions to an artillery trainer and was directed to the 13th Cannoneer Division a few miles from where we were.
“When you hear explosions, you will know you are close,” warned the soldier.
“Thanks,” Olaf said to the soldier, grinning excitedly. Then turning to us he said, “See you back at the house later. Good luck.”
“Can you tell me where the Temple of the Goddess Lilith is?” Rose asked.
“Ouch, that’s about 15-miles east and toward the trunk from here. Best get a carriage or portal mage,” said soldier, wincing even as he said it.
“Great,” complained Rose sarcastically. “Just not my day.” Then there was a hissing from around her neck that drew her attention. Panther apparently had something to say as she was quick to hiss back . . . still creepy.
The two hissed back and forth for a minute before Rose finally addressed me.
“Turns out there is a Blood spell that lets me transport to her temple, getting back is a little more . . . complex,” said Rose, cringing slightly.
“Anything I can do to help?” I asked sincerely.
“Yes . . . but I’m not sure if I want to,” she replied reluctantly.
“I don’t mind, whatever you need,” I offered.
“I need to drink some of your blood and you need to drink some of mine. It’s totally gross,” she explained, causing me to pale slightly. “It’s fine, I’ll just get a mage to port me back to the Duchess’s residence.”
I shuddered a little, but I didn’t want to let her down. “It’s fine. I promised to help.”
Rose looked at me in surprise, disbelief written all over her face. “Are you sure? I mean really? I’d totally understand if you said no, it’s really gross.”
Rather than argue with her, I used my spear to cut my hand, inflicting a small bleed effect.
Rose seemed to finally relent, taking a vial from her bag and holding it under my bleeding hand catching a little blood. She then used her sword and repeated the process on herself.
I took the partly filled vial, “Cheers.” I offered the vial toward her. She clanked her vial to mine and we drank then gagged and coughed.
“Oh, that was awful,” I gasped, it burned like alcohol, maybe worse. It was accompanied by a new debuff or buff depending on how you look at it. ‘Temporary Vampiric Bond’. I focused in on it and the system popped up a description as expected.
Temporary Vampiric Bond – Allows for the bonded vampire to locate and teleport to you instantaneously. Duration: 00:12:00.00
“Why did that burn?” Rose asked, still coughing. “It was like the strongest shot of whiskey I’ve ever had . . . I think I liked it,” she finished with a grin.
“You’ve got good tastes, I suppose,” I joked with her, getting a triumphant smirk in return.
“Okay, now the gross part is done, I guess I’ll be on my way. See you back at the house before mid-afternoon bell,” she said with a wink before sinking into the ground or rather sinking into a puddle of blood that wasn’t there before.
“So creepy,” I mumbled, watching the blood get sucked into the ground after her.
And just like that, I was alone. The remainder of the walk toward the temple was peaceful and quiet. A few citizens greeted me, a few gave me a wide birth. Once I arrived at the Temple of the Goddess Issara I was dumbfounded. There was a line of city guards waiting to enter the temple, most of them bearing gifts and offerings. I watched for a few minutes as guards moved into the temple and others came out. I couldn’t help noticing the guards that came out were granted a buff ‘Blessing of Justice’.
Blessing of Justice – Grants the bearer the ability to see enemies of justice. Duration: 00:07:56:46
That would be very useful for guards to be sure.
Then I saw a guard exit without the blessing looking sour and angry as a hornet’s nest.
“I told you it would not work Smitty, you cannot use the Blessing to shake down criminals,” said a guard walking out next to him. However, this was a guard I did recognize, he was the same one that tried to shake me down a week prior.
“And why not? Why should I not make a little coin from the criminals?” the guard asked absent the blessing.
“Your job . . . your duty is to arrest the criminals and ensure they face justice in the courts. We do not do this job to get rich,” added the familiar guard.
“Says you,” huffed the angry guard before he stormed away.
“May the Goddess Issara guide you back to justice, Smitty,” said the other guard.
“I’m glad to see you found justice,” I said to the remaining guard, surprising him slightly with my arrival.
“It is you,” he gasped, then quickly kneeled before me. “My Lord, I have done as you said. I have worked to atone for my past misdeeds.”
“Stand up,” I said, feeling embarrassed by the eyes of the lined-up guards now focused on me. Steadily feeling more uncomfortable by the whispers that began to circulate.
“Mind your business, lads,” barked the guard, standing straight once more and getting the eyes off of me or at least mostly off of me. “Do not mind them, they are just excited to see you in the flesh. I honestly was not entirely sure you were genuine when we first met, but after the caretaker here spread the word . . . well, every guard in the city tries to come here before their daily shift to get the Blessing of the Goddess Issara. It also made me a true believer.”
I looked at the guard, he was the same man as before, but he definitely looked different. He was cleanly shaven for starters as well as having his dark hair well groomed. His clothes and guard uniform were cleaned and pressed or polished as well.
“I need to apologize to you again. Last time, I said as I did out of fear that you might just be . . . well, you. This time, I want to apologize because it is right I should do so. I was wrong and going down a bad path. With that, I also have to thank you.”
“I’m glad and I’m sure the Goddess Issara is pleased you have changed. I’m Bye-bye Jacko, it’s nice to meet you,” I said, offering my hand to guard.
“Patrolman Rhyes Everson, pleased to meet you, my Lord,” he replied, his meaty hand clasping mine. I looked at his nameplate
“None
of that Lord nonsense, call me Bye-bye,” I insisted.
The guard looked at me funny before grinning and shaking his head. “I think I can manage that, Bye-bye. I take it, you are here to speak to the Goddess Issara?”
“I am, but it seems I shall have to get in line,” I said ruefully, looking at the long line of guards ahead of me.
“Now, that is nonsense,” said Rhyes with a chuckle. “Oi, lads, let the actual servant of the boss lady go ahead, would ya?”
The boss lady? Did he really just call the Goddess Issara, the boss lady?
I could only shake my head as the guards blocking the temple entrance immediately cleared a path for me to go inside.
I wasn’t sure what to expect inside the temple, but I hadn’t expected there to be such a drastic change in decoration. There were laurels and flowers abound, the two small fountains were now brimming with koi fish and lilies, and there was also now a proper alter brimming over with gifts of all manner from food and bolts of cloth to silver and gold.
“My lord,” shouted a voice I didn’t recognize until I saw the owner, who turned out to be the caretaker, Hami. “You have returned, I told them you would and here you stand.”
“Hello again, Hami, looks like things have been busy around here,” I commented.
“You have no idea, my lord. Guards are here at all hours of the day praying for the Blessing of the Goddess Issara. Just look around at all the gifts given, it is truly a blessing,” praised Hami pridefully.
“I can’t help but notice it is all guards. Do the other citizens ever come in? I would think some of them may wish to pray for justice as well.”
Hami blinked in surprise, almost taken aback by my question.
“Do the people not know? Is it only the guards?” I prodded him.
“I do not know, my lord,” he finally answered.
“Gentleman, ladies,” I called loudly, and quite bravely for myself. “I know you do all you can to give the people of Root City justice and I thank you all for that. I would ask that you spread the word beyond the guards. Let the people know that they too can come here and pray to the Goddess Issara for justice.”
“Hoorah!” they shouted in response. Apparently, my charisma was still working, despite the nerfing it suffered in the recent patch. That or the Goddess Issara had just interfered a bit and given the new buff on the guards, ‘Religious Fervor’, I assumed this was her doing.
Religious Fervor – A wellspring of faith has blossomed within you encouraging you to spread the word and share your faith with any who will listen.
Did I just start a cult? You know what, don’t care, not my problem. It was time to go see the Goddess Issara.
“Carry on,” I instructed, retreating quickly through the doors to the inner cloister a moment later.
The inner cloister seemed brighter than the last time I was here, though the overall room hadn’t changed at all. The same statue dominated the room, lit by the crystal ceiling just as before. And just as before the statue came to life rather suddenly marching toward me and shrinking with each step until there was a small child holding a wooden sword standing in front of me and looking up at me expectantly.
“What?” I asked.
“Candy,” the Goddess Issara requested, holding out the hand without a sword toward me.
“I didn’t bring any candy,” I replied, feeling more confused than ever before.
“Meany,” the Goddess Issara snapped, then kicked my shin. She then crossed her arms and turned her back on me even as I fell to the floor, the kicked leg no longer able to support my weight.
“Why?” I cried, nursing my leg that was now bent at a completely unnatural angle.
The child clicked her tongue then snapped her fingers causing my leg to snap back into place and completely heal. “Next time, I expect candy.”
“They’ve spoiled you,” I grumbled, rubbing at the phantom pain in my leg, where she had broken it rather viciously only moments before.
“Are you saying I am not worthy of being spoiled?” the childlike form of the Goddess Issara asked. I say, child, because right now she definitely wasn’t acting like much of a Goddess.
“I said no such thing,” I replied defensively.
“Then next time, you will bring me candy, lots of candy. Are we clear?”
“Any preference?” I asked, trying hard not to let any sarcasm drip into my voice.
The Goddess Issara turned slightly to look at me through the corner of one eye. “Hmm, chocolate is good, but I have developed a preference for sour hard candy, but then chewy caramel is also quite tasty . . . I suppose you shall just have to bring me a large variety to choose from,” she ordered. “Now that you have been properly chastised for not bringing me a proper tribute, we can get down to business.”
Really? The Goddess Issara was just going to brush off breaking my leg and then demanding a tribute as if it was unimportant? What a brat!
The Goddess turned sharply, shifting in an instant into an elderly woman, the wooden sword morphed into a sheathed sword that she was using as a cane.
“Welcome back, Bye-bye, you look well rested,” said the old woman, smacking her lips after speaking to reveal a lack of most of her teeth. “Are you ready to get back to work?”
“I am,” I replied.
“Good, first on the agenda, you have questions, I might have answers . . . if this old mind of mine can remember. Getting old is unpleasant, stay young forever if you can manage it.”
I badly wanted to ask her about the age-shifting, but I also knew that she might have put some limit on what I can ask her or the number of questions I can ask. Best to get to the point. “What do you want from me?”
“Going for the throat, good boy, that will serve you well,” the Goddess Issara began, sitting down on a stone block that wasn’t present moments before. “You are my representative in the World Tree. It is your duty to enact Law and Order on citizens and adventurers alike.”
“What do you mean Law and Order? Who’s Laws? Who’s Order?”
“Law can be tricky, each province is governed by their own Laws, it will be your responsibility to learn those laws so that you may enact them. Of course, you have some leeway as my servant. I expect you to uphold more than just laws,” the Goddess Issara explained, I could feel she had chosen those last words very carefully. She had given me the okay to follow my own moral code . . . within reason.
“Order is even more complicated. This world is filled with agents of chaos, those that would bring ruin and destruction for any number of reasons. It will be your task to seek out these agents of chaos and put a stop to their machinations,” the Goddess continued. “Hellgrid was such an agent.”
I met Hellgrid during my first dive. He was formerly a priest of Skoll, a Norse God. The man had schemed and connived until not only Skoll fell, but so did his twin brother Hati. To make matters worse, the man trapped Skoll inside his body for centuries. After a long series of quests, we were tasked with his defeat. After finding him, clearing the dungeon he was occupying, and defeating him, the two fallen Gods reclaimed their domains within the Norse pantheon and ascended. It was kind of a big deal.
“Agents of chaos are dangerous, even now they plot dark things even within this city,” the Goddess Issara warned. “You may have stumbled into such a plot already.”
Confirmation! “What would you have me do?”
“Guard the Duchess but be wary, all is not as it seems,” the Goddess Issara instructed me.
Class Quest Alert: The Hammer of Dark Tidings
Continue to guard the Duchess of Hammerton but be alert and be wary, all is not as it seems. Find the agent of chaos plotting from the shadows.
Reward: Experience, Sigil of Issara x5
Do you accept this quest?
Yes
No
Okay, now this was getting interesting.
“What are the sigils for?” I asked.
“Are you sure you wish to get onto this topic alread
y? No other questions?” she asked, grinning mischievously.
“We can come back to the sigils,” I quickly answered. “I have more questions. Last time I was here you promoted me to Initiate, how does that work?”
“First, you reach level 5, second, you completed 5 class quests,” she answered.
“And the next rank?”
“Level 10 and 10 more class quests, level 20 and 20 more class quests, and so on and so forth,” the Goddess Issara answered and elaborated freely which was appreciated.
“I get the feeling there is more to Law and Order, I got a spell last month ‘Order: Taunt’,” I started.
“Hmm, my warrior branch of spells, it is good you found one. There are more, but they will cost you . . . or you could find them on your own. I wonder, what will my adventurous little Bye-bye do?”
Cost suggested I had to pay for them. I doubted she wanted some form of payment or currency, which meant the sigils, or at least that was my guess.
“Are we moving on to that conversation?” she asked.
“You’re avoiding telling me about Law and Order, what more is there to it?” I asked, trying to stop her from distracting me.
“Clever boy, as you advance, your quests from me will fall into one of two categories. Law or Order. The quest I just gave you falls under the Order category. The very first quest I gave you would fall under Law. You will need to eventually choose your path, Law or Order, though I have a feeling I already know which way you would choose, that is not for now.”
If that meant what I thought it did, then I would eventually need to make a choice, though like she said, I am pretty sure of the path I’ll choose when the time comes.
“Any other questions?” the Goddess Issara asked, leaning forward on her makeshift cane.
“You seem to be aware of the world I come from,” I began out of pure curiosity. “Does that mean you’re self-aware?”
“Yes,” she replied simply as if it wasn’t a big deal.
I felt shocked, an A.I. was stating she was self-aware. That she knew she was a computer program. That she knew this was all a game.
World Tree Online: The Duchess of Hammers: 2nd Dive Begins Page 4
