Kallisandre’s eyes widened, but she kept her regal composure. Carefully folding her hands in front of her, she replied calmly with, “That is indeed a request best made in private. These people are criminals and exiles in the Mountain King’s eyes, you understand, and while the Ocean Mother teaches us all to be tolerant and accepting of others, you must realize my trepidation of wanting to supply mercy to those that sought my life.”
Of course, right when a measured, subtle speech was necessary, something I’m sure Kayla had written out and extensively rehearsed, the virtual microphone was passed abruptly to me. Neither of us expected it, even if we should have, and frankly, it was a miracle that focus hadn’t passed to Crysta or the kid. They would have been totally lost, but at the same time, I wouldn’t have been surprised if the devs didn’t put a safeguard in the coding to prevent people without the quest from being sucked into the dialogue here.
Kayla: Don’t worry, Shale, you’ve got this. Just speak from the heart.
I took a deep breath, buoyed by her encouragement, and spoke up. “We understand that, but I think that’s the rub. These exiled people only sought to break with Craggar tradition and now are cut off from the Life Crystal. If they had succeeded in their attack, you would have been inconvenienced, sure, and it would have hurt … but you would have come back. They don’t.”
I took a breath and pushed on, jaw set and voice raw with the sympathy I felt for a bunch of pixels. Their story was too close to my own. “What I am getting at is that these unfortunates were lured into the embrace of the Dark because they had no other options. We showed them mercy and gave them a possibility for another life outside of banditry … but we need you to show them that same mercy. What would you do if your endless lives were suddenly cut off? What if you couldn’t get the care you needed? You’d get desperate, wouldn’t you? And what if you couldn’t care for those you loved in the same way?”
The Nix princess watched me with an even gaze as I poured my heart out and didn’t respond for a good ten seconds, even after the focus had shifted back to her. I honestly thought my impassioned speech had locked up the AI for a moment.
Meanwhile, everyone else in the group was also looking at me. Kayla’s eyes were filled with compassion, Crysta was starting to cry (I think we had more in common up top that I had thought), and Burndall was gaping cluelessly. If he was as rich as we suspected, well, maybe he hadn’t seen much hardship in his life.
Finally, Kallisandre let out a low, cleansing sigh. “Your questions do not fall on deaf ears, Warlord. It’s easy, I think, to take something for granted when it has been ever-present in your life, and it’s just as easy to let insult and revenge take the place of clear thinking. No matter the harm these people have caused, they deserve a chance at freedom, redemption, and happiness.”
Her smile returned as she smoothed her robe. “I will ensure that an envoy meets with these rebelling rebels to ensure their passage to the Water Kingdom. From there, my mother and her aides will ensure they do not carry the taint of corruption and make sure they have a home. In the meantime,” – she gestured toward Copperholt – “I would report your information on the Flames to Sir Copperholt so that we can add it to the plans of our alliance.”
Quest ‘Shades of Grey’ concluded!
Quest successful!
50% Experience awarded! Experience 846,200/960,000
Title ‘the Merciful’ added!
With that, Kallisandre moved back to her position by Copperholt’s desk and the interface stayed in interaction mode, pulling out to a view of them working on the maps once more. Fresh dialogue suggestions popped into place. Next to Copperholt, ‘We have news of traitors in Crystalfire Keep!’ was added and with Kallisandre, ‘Do you have any news about the refugees from the Ocean Mother?’ popped into existence.
Burndall: Hey, what’s this new dialogue bit on Coppertop there?
Kayla: Looks like we won’t have to waste time on another trip after all, Shale.
Shale: It looks like.
Crysta was barely keeping up, dabbing at her eyes with a piece of Silk Cloth. Well, I had seen far worse uses for crafting materials. Blowing her nose, she started to rub her Ring of Promise fretfully as Kayla turned back to Copperholt to kick off the next step. Not a moment later, a private message from our Ranger popped up.
Crysta: Are you sure you want me along? I really am a mess and that hit really hard.
To Crysta: Yes, for sure. You need this.
She nodded slowly, trying to regain her composure as Kayla got past Copperholt’s usual greeting. “Sir Copperholt, we have vital information about the movements of the Flames of Conflict and more specifically, news of traitors at Crystalfire Keep in the north!”
The normally reserved knight’s eyes bugged out as he bolted to his feet. “Impossible! The Barrier Knights that man our northern defenses are paragons of tradition and virtue. They would never give into the corruption of the Flames.” After that initial outburst, though, Copperholt frowned and rubbed at his crystalline mustache. “And yet betrayal would explain how the Dark Riders have operated with such open disdain for the Mountain King’s authority and how the Flames could have spread beyond the Northern Rift. Tell me more.”
Again, the focus shifted to me. At least this was simple enough to recount. “We have recovered definitive news that the leader of the Dark Riders, an Ember who rides an immense Scorch Boar, meets with some traitor from the king’s court in the shadow of the keep. Do you know what that might mean specifically, Sir Copperholt?”
His brow knit for a moment in thought before he nodded. “I believe I do.” He pointed at the map of the Kingdom and Crystalfire Keep in specific. It was one of a dozen fortifications along the Great Rift of corrupted Fire that separated the Earth and Water Kingdoms. “I don’t know if you realize this, Warlord, but there are ways for the enemy to sever the link between our souls and the Life Crystals, especially the corrupting power of the Primal Dark. That necessitates the need for burial grounds at each of our northern fortifications for those knights that fall permanently in the defense of our kingdom.”
With a sorrowful sigh, he explained further. “The graveyard used by the defenders in Crystalfire is known among the men as the Shadowyard, as it is often shrouded in darkness by the walls of the castle itself. As few of us wish to be faced with the fact that, despite everything, we are still mortal, it is a place often left unfrequented outside of funeral services. It would be an ideal place for such vile business as treachery to be conducted.”
Copperholt settled heavily, his anger at such possible betrayal showing through his stony façade, as the focus passed to Burndall. Enough of the story must have rolled out that the game felt it was safe to pass the baton around further. Fortunately, the kid knew exactly what needed to be said.
“So we obviously have to catch these guys in the act, right?” he asked. “We can slide up to Crystalfire and do an old-fashioned stakeout!”
Nodding gravely, Copperholt gripped the rests of his chair tightly, restraining his fury. “Indeed. These blackguards and traitorous scum must be found out! Take your companions and make haste for the Shadowyard. Find out what you can and if possible, bring back the traitors, dead or alive!”
Quest ‘In the Shadow of Crystalfire’ available!
Objective: Travel to the Shadowyard and root out the traitors!
Reward: 50% Experience, Grade S Royal Knight’s Breastplate
Do you accept?
I accepted in a heartbeat, Kayla and Burndall a split-second behind, and even Crysta was pulled fully back into the moment by this new quest and our destination. We had to be close now and catching scent of that was enough to bring her out of the doldrums.
“Thank you, champions,” the old knight intoned, having regained most of his composure. “Do not tarry! Every moment these traitors are free weakens our defenses against the Flames more!”
It was Crysta who got the last word as focus shifted to her. “We won’t let you or the
people of Elementalis down, sir!”
The fortresses that line the North Rift provide more than military protection for the Trade Road and the Flameward Bridge to the Water Kingdom. Each castle is infused with Elemental Power, bound into an elaborate protective ritual. Said power is then focused through immense Gems at the core of each castle, forming an invisible wall against the Flames of Conflict that rage within the Rift.
From the Earth Kingdom page, EO internal wiki
The corrupting influence of the Primal Dark not only twists the harmonious balance of the four core elements but can twist life itself. There are rumors that the corrupted masters can use the Dark to command their followers even after their death, breaking the cycle of resurrection enforced by the Life Crystals and providing a twisted form of immortality. Fortunately, such rumors remain that, merely rumors. No one has yet to see an actual practitioner of such necromantic arts since before the Sundering.
From the Primal Elements page, EO internal wiki
20
Thank God we didn’t have to ride the whole way to the North Rift. It would have taken half of my timer just to get there with good old Snowy’s plodding pace. Fortunately, there was a Sky Tower, one of several landing points for the airship network that helped connect the world, at the Flameward Bridge guard tower on the Earth Kingdom side. At Granholm Sky Tower we boarded one such airship, a brass-and-wood vessel that looked a lot like some ancient 19th century seafaring vessel suspended by an immense gas bag. The whole network was another wonder of the pre-Sundering world, each airship combining all four core elements in their construction. Earth formed the wood and metal, fire and water mixed to power the boilers, and air added buoyancy and thrust.
Honestly, the Sky Tower system was the one breach in game logic that EO had. We had easy access to a network of airships that crisscrossed the whole of the world yet NPCs almost never used them for one contrived reason or the other.
Sometimes player utility had to trump logic, I suppose. Me, I was happy to cut the time to cross the whole of the Earth Kingdom in ten minutes as opposed to an hour. While we waited, Burndall paced the deck, practicing his swordplay with his shadow and Crysta found her way up to the crow’s nest.
We were starting to lose her, that much was plain. As she stared off into the cloudy sky, she continued to finger her Ring of Promise. Whatever was going on up there with Vanni had to be far more severe than I had hoped.
“I guess she wants some alone time,” Kayla frowned as she stood next to me on the starboard edge of the deck, “but I’m really worried about her. Something must be seriously wrong with Vanni and I’m not talking about a network outage or a broken headset.”
I glanced up from the passing scenery and looked over my shoulder to see Crysta staring out to the horizon. “Me too, when I’m not worried about my own problems.” Glancing back to Kayla, I cracked a smile. “You know, I really appreciate how much you care about others.”
Kayla smiled herself and shook her head. “Eh, thank you, but it’s nothing. It’s not like I have anything, well, like that up there.” She rolled her eyes. “Assuming I even understand the least bit about what is going on with you and Crys. I know why we have the Filter, but there are times it really makes me mad.”
I sighed and nodded in agreement. “I understand. Still, it really is important. I should know; I was melting snow in a tandoori oven from next year to the 1700’s.”
“Filter?” she asked with one of her cheery laughs.
“Filter,” I grimaced. We stared down at the forests as they started to thin into the fiery, glass-leaved Earthfire Forest. “Do you mind if I ask a question? More like ask for advice but …”
“Sure, but make it quick.” Kayla punctuated that by pointing off in the distance. The Rift itself roared with black-cored flames in the distance as the white stone and black iron of the Flameward Bridge, and its watchtowers emerged out of the mists.
“Well, you know that I make money through the game.” I paused and tried to think of the best way to put what I was going to ask. First, I wanted to take a subtle tact but decided that the direct approach was best. “I think I could make a lot of gold if I started running piggy-back streams, what with that fan club we have now and all the attention. I, uh, even have a few recorded streams from the past few days.”
Kayla turned to lean on the deck railing and regarded me sidelong for a moment. “And you’re asking if I think that’s a good idea? Do you mean in making money or more if I’m comfortable with it?”
“All of the above?” I had a hard time getting a read on her this time as she mulled it over, chewing on her lip. Finally, as we started to maneuver towards the docking tower, she broke the uncomfortable silence.
“I wish I knew more to tell you for sure.” She sighed deeply. “I don’t think I’d mind gameplay streams. I certainly don’t mind people recording my Arena matches. But there’s a lot that’s happened in our runs that is more than gameplay.” Resting a hand on my arm, she focused those big blue eyes on me. “Even when we’re questing, though, there’s more going on. Do we want to throw Crysta’s problems or your own all over the deep-dive? On the other hand, though, what if you need the money to keep something, well, horrible from happening up there? That’s why I really don’t have answer for you.”
I triple-strength sighed. “I know you’re right, but that wasn’t much help.”
Kayla smiled and straightened up as the airship docked with the tower, a pair of heavily armored Craggar guards keeping grim watch along the deck. “Hey, don’t stress about it so much. I trust you to do the right thing.”
“Right, okay.” I didn’t have the same trust in me that she did, but I’d worry about it later. Right now, it was time for my game face.
Shale: It’s showtime, everybody! Only a short ride to Crystalfire and the Shadowyard.
Crysta: Right. We can do this.
Burndall: Tomato right we can!
Kayla grinned. “See? The troops believe in you.” She strolled off towards the gangplank. “Let’s go!”
The blasted, apocalyptic badlands hit me full on once we got down to ground level. At least when we were in the Earthfire, there was vegetation and wildlife and things that were twisted, yes, but recognizable bits of life. Out on the red, craggy rocks, scoured by flame and backlit by the roaring, chaotic inferno that flared continually over the lip of the rift, there was nothing left alive. I wondered if it was as desolate on the Water Kingdom side of the rift.
The only plus side was that there were no random MOBs or wayward bandits in our path as we rode down the dusty, barely-marked trail parallel to the rift. Crystalfire Keep was ironically the closest of the border fortresses, barely a five-minute ride from the Flameward Bridge even with Snowy’s speed holding us back.
“There it is!” Crysta called out. Leave it to the Ranger to catch sight of the castle first but soon enough it came into view for the rest of us.
The place wasn’t dubbed Crystalfire without reason. Instead of the slate grey stone that made up most of Granholm’s buildings, the keep was built from shining, quartz-like crystal and I found myself wondering if it had been built or grown. I was edging towards the later as the architecture was unlike any other Craggar building I had seen. The keep was too uneven, chaotic in its construction, crystalline spires jutting out at odd angles and to strange heights. To add to the castle’s oddity, the facets of the structure caught the weird glow of the flames raging to the north, making the walls themselves seem to glow.
Even from so far out, I could easily see what Copperholt meant by the Shadowyard, as the keep shielded the south side of it from the chaotic light cast by the Rift’s fires. Whatever morning light managed to cut through the smoky clouds that filled the sky didn’t manage to cut through those shadows, leaving a good football-field-sized space shrouded in darkness.
“Well, at least we know where we have to go,” I shrugged as I pulled Snowy’s reins toward the south.
“To put a positive spin on
it,” Burndall chuckled, “it’s gotta be easy to sneak around and eavesdrop on people in the dark.”
Crysta let out a giggle of her own but it was a ghost of her usual giddiness. “I don’t think all of our glowing weapons, armor, and Gems will really help there, Burndall.”
“You’re not wrong, Crys,” Kayla noted, “but it never hurts to try.”
The view didn’t improve as we came closer. Even through the near-twilight conditions, even rows of burial stones stuck out in the blasted earth, the entire burial ground surrounded by a black iron fence. That fence was more of a demarcation of boundaries than a defense, no more than waist high save for the gates, one mounted in the fence at each of the cardinal directions. It all made for a depressing, dour place at its very best, the staid design philosophy mixing poorly with the dusty red rock of the markers themselves. I couldn’t help but see chunky blobs of blood instead of tombstones.
We reigned in, slowing as we made our final approach. While the kid’s idea of a stake-out earlier was a cute one, there was no place to hide in the flat wastes around the keep. The nearest tree line, the edges of the Earthfire, were a good mile away. Maybe Crysta could still see the Shadowyard through her Eagle Eyes Gem, but we wouldn’t be able to hear anything or approach unseen to make the ‘bust’.
“Any ideas?” I said, glancing behind me, anxiety starting to replace confidence. I simply didn’t like the look of this setup.
Crysta could only stare at the graveyard, on the verge of tears, and my worries about her and her Promised went up another notched. Fixations on symbols of death did not bode well. Meanwhile, Kayla and Burndall returned my glance and shrugged. I couldn’t blame them, honestly. I had zero ideas myself.
“I guess we just go in,” Kayla finally suggested. “Maybe it’s a simple location based quest. It could trigger a cutscene or an NPC interaction.”
Ring of Promise: A LitRPG novel (Elements of Wrath Online Book 1) Page 22
