by Galen Wolf
Ajora shook her head in disapproval of the banter, and sipped more mead from her colored glass, the rosehip stains on her lips making her look slightly demonic. "Boys, boys, boys," she muttered.
Birog had noticed our little conversation and had politely paused her speech to let us finish. I looked up, embarrassed and she continued.
"So, as I was saying. Tonight, is the birthday of our illustrious guildmaster, Rohan. He's been guildmaster here since I started playing The Greenwood, and he's presided over the growth of the Druids’ Guild and increased the health of the forest. Particularly our realm of Avalon but also the forests in general. We have tried to extend our healing magic northwards towards Horrabia but past the Ford of Dreams the Forest of Nightmares is still poisoned by their evil influence and a home to foul monsters."
Birog gestured to Rohan to come into the full light of the circle, but he held back as if embarrassed at the attention. Once again, I noted the distant gleam in his eyes as if he'd seen things that most people would never experience. Birog stepped over and caught at the sleeve of Rohan's white robe, gently tugging him towards the centre of the Grove. I thought he was blushing, although it was hard to see in the strange light.
Birog tried to get Rohan to speak, but he protested. I noticed that a sprite fluttered at his ear as if talking to him. His branching antlers looked strange and wonderful in the dancing light. Then he stepped into the circle, extended his hands and the guests became silent. He paused while above us the stars burned as silent witnesses to this ceremony of Midsummer.
Then Rohan began to speak. "On this holy night, my friends, I'm so pleased that you've come here on the occasion of our Midsummer festival. We have held one every year, while peace reigned in The Greenwood."
"We've also come for your birthday!" Achilles called through cupped hands.
Rohan blushed again as if he was too unassuming to accept that all these people had come even partly to see him.
Waving Achilles to stop, Rohan continued his speech. "But friends, you will know that times darken." There was a pause and the guests listened intently. "For several game years now the city of Horrabia has been leaderless. And that has been a good thing, because as long as they squabbled among themselves it meant they couldn't direct their aggression outward and attempt to bring the whole of the land under their control as they have done before."
Rohan frowned. "But you may know that Attila is back.”
Muttering went around the audience. I didn’t know who he was, I nudged Ajora who hissed at me to be quiet.
Rohan continued. “It looks like he has seized power with the support of his lieutenants Loki and Elrick.”
Achilles leaned over and whispered, “Bad dude.”
“I got that.”
Ajora pushed me to shut me up.
Looking past Ajora, once again, I thought I saw something moving outside the grove, slipping from shadow to shadow. Once again, I dismissed it. Probably some woodland creature. Avalon was hooching with them.
The druid continued. "For those of you who have never met him, Attila was president of Horrabia many years ago, but after a falling out within the leadership at that time, he left the Greenwood to go and play other games. He returned only a month ago. I heard the rumor that he was back but hoped that it was just that."
Of course, the monarch of the cities was an NPC - King Praxis in Horrabia; Pallas, king of Vinab. The President, who really ran the city, was a player.
Rohan frowned and went on. "Attila was the worst and cruelest of them all. There are some players in Horrabia who are decent, despite their evil alignment. They have some knowledge of honour and limit their cruelty to those weaker than themselves. But not Attila. He was known for breaking young players by repeatedly killing them and driving them down the levels until they quit the game. I heard that his departure was at the request of the developers. But you will know now that the developers themselves have changed, that the company that created the Greenwood was taken over by a more mercenary and ambitious multimedia company, and they seem intent on squeezing every buck out of the players. It may be that, or it may be a coincidence, but either way Attila has returned."
Achilles shouted out. "More mead!"
Rohan smiled and said. "More mead for the rogue with the diamond in his tooth."
A dryad came over and filled Achilles' outstretched glass. Ajora said, "I'll have more too."
Once my companions had shut up, Rohan smiled again. "But tonight, is a special night. Tonight, light and goodness still rule over Avalon and most of the Greenwood." He gestured to the fireflies and fairy lanterns that floated above our heads. "I want us to enjoy ourselves here whatever is to come. Because the reason that I keep returning to the Greenwood is because of the companionship and friendship of you all assembled here tonight." Despite his words, Rohan seemed troubled and I sensed a shadow fall over the assembled company.
Birog stepped forward from the shadows, placing her hand on Rohan's shoulder. "So, there will be some entertainment – some music, some mead – and I hope that it is improving your charisma scores even as we speak. At least subjectively!"
Everyone clapped and there was a ripple of laughter around the audience.
I noticed that Parzifal Sturmwalzer and Astral Bob had kept quiet while Rohan spoke of the growing danger from Horrabia. I guess that it was down to Vinab as it always had been in the past to be the main resistance to the aggression of Horrabia. As to the position of my own Rangers’ Guild – the Rangers’ Guild was officially neutral, but when the Horrabians advanced they burned the forests, and the Rangers’ Guild would inevitably end up having to side with Vinab or face being crushed, seeing their beloved forests in flames. The peril was even worse for the Druids’ Guild because at least the Rangers’ Guild could defend themselves, while the Druids’ Guild was sworn to pacifism even in the face of the naked aggression of Horrabia.
People were chatting and laughing again. Achilles was flirting with Ajora. Parzifal and Astral Bob spoke in serious whispers.
I looked around. Still no sign of Elfhair. Maybe she wasn't coming. I shrugged and took a sip of mead. There it was again. That shadow within the shadows. I decided to investigate, standing, and placing my half empty glass on the bench.
"Give us a fire show!" Achilles called from behind me as I went to the edge of the grove and peered into the dark.
Rohan shook his head at Achilles' comment and muttered in embarrassment. But the call of, ‘give us a fire show’ was taken up by the people in the audience. Apparently, Rohan was famous for his fire shows.
There was definitely something out there. I stepped out of the light and slipped on my stealth. I had a high spot skill but there were characters who had higher hide, than me and I wouldn't see them. I touched the ground and used my track skill. I got senses of dryads and druids passing this spot within the past hour, but no one else. That shadow had been no dryad, nor druid. It was a player using the trackless skill. Whoever had gone this way had deliberately expunged traces of them passing by.
I walked further into the wood, but I could find no trace of whoever had been there. No one who meant well would have skulked round like this. It had to be our enemies paying us a visit.
Behind me I heard Rohan succumbing to the pressure of the audience. "Very well."
I returned to sit with my friends, picking up my goblet again.
Rohan clicked his fingers and a red flame appeared on his thumb. With a rushing sound, flames billowed up into the sky accompanied by clouds of multi-colored smoke that writhed and spun into the shapes of magical creatures. A winged Pegasus rose with flapping silver wings, and an electric blue dragon twirled on a column of orange flame, its head surrounded with crackling lightning. Then they vanished and fiery salamanders slithered and sparkled in showers of fire in the air above the Grove.
The spectacle was wonderful, and when the fiery shapes dissipated, Rohan clicked again and the whole of the Glade was enveloped in a silver rain like glittering di
amonds. As I watched, the rain turned and lifted and formed itself into a soaring magic castle. There was spontaneous applause around the Grove. Then more fantastical beasts swooped down from above - butterflies made of fire, blue and yellow and gold; a unicorn in silver and white ran through the Grove, leaping over the bonfire and vanishing. There were more things like that and each new illusion conjured by Rohan drew delighted gasps from his audience.
"What skill set is this?" I turned and asked Ahn. The black bearded Ranger whispered, "Rohan is beloved of the god Apollo. You know, in the Greenwood the developers sometimes walk among the players in the form of gods. Genesis and Apollo were the original developers. They were bought out but Apollo was the god of light and Rohan was one of his premier followers. Apollo doesn't appear much these days, but Rohan is still chief of his Order. Apollo granted him a separate set of skills in light and fire magic."
"Check your XP," Ajora said.
I looked up to my HUD, which I had been neglecting until then, and I saw that I was slowly gaining XP.
"Oh. That's nice."
Ajora nodded. "As long as you stay here and observe Rohan's fireworks you'll get a slow XP gain."
"And how long is it going to go on for?"
Ajora pointed at the fey, who was grinning all over his face as he conjured more fiery illusions to please his audience. "He seems to be enjoying himself. I'm guessing he could go on all night."
"Fantastic! Well we'll just sit here and enjoy the show, drink the mead, and get the XP. Sounds good to me."
Ahn shook his head. "Unfortunately, we have something else to do so we need to take half an hour away from the festivities." He stood, dusting himself down. Ajora stood with him and I noticed Astral Bob and Parzifal also got up. Achilles remained seated.
I frowned. "Where are you going?"
Ahn reached and took my hand. "You're coming with us, junior."
I stood hesitantly and looked at Achilles who gazed at me with a smile on his face. "I'll be fine little Barcud, you go with the big guys. I think they've got something to ask you."
I was bewildered. I walked off, looking over my shoulder at Achilles, who waved me away. Then I turned and caught up with my two guildmates, the Vinab spymaster and the head of the Knights’ Guild of Vinab as they walked along a forest trail away from the Grove.
Ahn knew where he was going and he led us to stone seats that stood illuminated by starlight above the waters of the great river. The river bank plunged down in a cliff from just in front of the bench and I could hear the water rushing in the darkness below.
I was deeply puzzled. "What's this all about?"
Ajora said, "Away from listening ears and prying eyes."
I nodded. "There's been a thief around tonight. Someone from Horrabia, I'm guessing but in deep stealth."
Ahn nodded. "Achilles spotted him too but we didn't want him to know we'd seen him.” I blushed hoping the Horrabian spy hadn't noticed my blundering after him.
Ahn said, "He planted this." He held up a small silver object between her thumb and forefinger.
It was a ball of silver.
"Silver?"
"It was a listening rune."
I knew what magic runes looked like but I didn't recognize each one or the powers they had.
Ajora said, "This was one of Harald Runestorm's."
I shrugged. "Who's he?"
"He used to be Horrabian but he's set himself up in a tower way out east. Doesn't belong to any city now. Still makes the best runes in The Greenwood though. He didn't plant this one himself I guess. I would imagine some Horrabian bought it from him."
"What does it do?"
"It's a listening rune. It was planted on the underside of one of the seats in the Grove. The Horrabians have been listening in on our little party. It had a Shock rune guard on it but Achilles took that off and he disabled it."
"So, you think they're preparing for war?" I said.
Ahn pulled his black beard. "Certain. And soon. That's what we wanted to talk to you about."
Parzifal and Astral Bob sat on one stone bench while the rangers, including myself sat on another. Astral Bob was staring. "Are you sure he's okay?
I realized he meant me. Parzifal was also studying me. His short blonde hair and his military appearance made him look unyielding and hard.
Ahn nodded to Astral Bob. "He's okay. Barcud took part in the raid on the Red Tower of Horrabia. He was with us all the way. He's completely trustworthy."
Parzifal spoke quickly to Ajora in German. She answered rapidly in the same language. She appeared to be assuring the knight of my trustworthiness. When she stopped speaking I said, "I didn't know you could speak German."
She laughed. "I'm from Berlin in real-life."
Parzifal said, "And I'm from Freiburg."
Astral Bob grinned. "For what it's worth, "I'm from London if we are admitting real-life origins. But no matter where we're from — here we're all for Vinab and what she stands for - tolerance, freedom from tyranny and justice."
Ahn said, "I agree, but to business."
"I still don't get what this has to do with me." I said.
Ahn sucked his teeth. "You heard what Rohan was saying about Attila returning to lead Horrabia."
I nodded.
"That's really bad news," Ahn said. "Attila, like his name suggests, is a vicious bastard and he hates Vinab. He commanded the Horrabian armies when they burned Vinab to the ground."
Parzifal scowled. "And that will not happen again. I'll make sure of that."
"But we mustn't underestimate the danger. "Astral Bob poked with his stick in the leaf pile near the stone bench. "At the moment, the government of Vinab is complacent. They have been at peace for so long they've forgotten the danger that Horrabia poses them. They like to kid themselves that Horrabian citizens are as decent and kind as themselves."
Ajora said, "The government of Vinab is lazy and unfocused." She gestured impatiently "The players in Vinab don't currently have the backbone to fight Horrabia. If Attila begins to raise armies those fools who sit on the Vinab Council and who are too focused on mining and trading will be caught napping."
Astral Bob said, "I have valuable information from my sources that Attila is already beginning to raise troops in his barracks. But secretly. As soon as he came back to the Greenwood that would be his aim. He would want to remind the citizens of Horrabia of their former glories. And by doing so, cement his control of the city."
"Who is in the government of Horrabia?" I asked.
Ahn said, "As we've mentioned – Attila is President. Loki is their Spymaster. Elrick is their Quartermaster and there is a new guy called Samwise who they are grooming as their general. But Attila is in charge and Attila will teach and train Samwise. There are some others but these are the important ones that we need to worry about."
"But what has this to do with the Rangers’ Guild? Aren't we neutral?" I was looking at Ahn and Ajora both.
"Ach," snapped Ajora. "The Rangers’ Guild is neutral in name only, and everyone knows it."
Ahn said, "She's right. The Horrabians would never ally with us and we would never ally with them. Their first act is always to burn the forest plus, most of us have sympathies with the alignment of Vinab - different shades of good."
Parzifal cleared his throat. "It will take us some time to persuade the other ministers of Vinab that Horrabia is really a threat. The last thing I want is for us to look like the aggressors and give the appeasers on our side an excuse to cave in. If we begin to raise armies straightaway Horrabia will use that as a pretext to attack us, and we cannot afford that until we have mobilized the full support of the players and city for war. So, it is a balancing act between not mobilizing too quickly to provoke Horrabia to give them an excuse to attack, and not leaving it too late. And that is where the Rangers’ Guild comes in..."
I was listening.
Ahn said, "What we propose is the Guild founds a new village at the edge of the Old Forest. Strategically the
best place would be at the Ford of Dreams, where Ermine Street crosses the Great River. There used to be a ford there but someone built a bridge. I can't remember who it was."
"It was Captain Krill," Ajora said.
"Ah yes. Good old Krill. Long gone now."
I knew the Ford of Dreams, the spot they were referring to. If you went along Ermine Street northwest from the Old Stone Cross and past the Jeweled Tree, eventually you arrived at the Ford of Dreams. An elegant stone bridge spanned the river there. Any army attacking from Horrabia would prefer to cross that bridge rather than use the ford, which after heavy rain was often impassable.
Ajora said, "The Ford of Dreams marks the north-western extent of any territory the Rangers’ Guild could claim. Beyond that is the Forest of Nightmares and Horrabia considers that her own. If we were to build a village in the Forest of Nightmares that would be an act of war.
Astral Bob snarled, "Then let it be an act of war. War's coming anyway." He glanced at Parzifal. "We might as well bring it on."
Parzifal shook his head. He put his hand comfortingly on Astral Bob's shoulder. "I agree with you that war is coming, but we need it to happen at our time. If we can ask the rangers to found a village at the Ford of Dreams and begin to raise troops and set up a fortification there that will buy us time. Also..." he gave a sheepish grin. "It will provoke the Horrabians. Then as Horrabia begins to threaten the Rangers’ Guild, we can use that to our advantage to persuade those of our citizens who do not yet see the full aggressive ambition of Horrabia."
I knew that the Rangers’ Guild had one village. The village of Woodheart in the centre of the Old Forest was where we gathered resources such as stone, wood, and iron ore which we sold, then used the funds to spend on the Guild house and supplies for our players, helping us nurture new recruits.
"So," I said, looking at Ahn. "When are we going to do this – set up this village?"
Ajora said, "It's not us little Barcud. It is in fact you who'll be running this show. You remember that discussion we had when you talked about how you always liked strategy games? Well I have no head for those kind of games; I'm a fighter pure and simple." She pointed at our guildmaster. "And old Blackbeard here is busy running Woodheart. So that leaves the new village to you. You were boasting about your prowess at these games. Now is your time to show it."
