The Path to Peace

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Quest: Kill twenty Arcane Undead

  Reward: Two hundred fifty gold and increased rep with Brightgrove Wardens

  Quest: Kill twenty Plated Deathwalkers

  Reward: Two hundred fifty gold and increased rep with Brightgrove Wardens

  Quest: Kill five Colossal Brutes

  Reward: Two hundred fifty gold and increased rep with Brightgrove Wardens

  “Is there nothing else in the area to do, sir?” Gerald asked.

  “There is, but it’s been difficult for the others who’ve attempted it,” the Gunso said. “If you can find the Necromancer’s Lab and stop his experiments, it would be appreciated.”

  Quest: Find the Necromancer’s Lab and destroy it

  Reward: Six hundred gold, increased rep with all Brightgrove factions, and an item from the Quartermaster

  “Very well,” Gerald said, saluting again. “We shall do our best.”

  “Good hunting, Alpha Company,” the Gunso saluted back. As the group turned to leave, his eyes drifted over them and he nodded knowingly.

  “You think they’ll be able to do it?” the other Gunso asked.

  “I’ve heard some rumors about them,” the first answered. “They’re known for getting things done, even if it takes them a few days. I wonder if they or the Delvers will finish it first?”

  Fluff’s ears twitched as she listened to the two Gunsos before the party got too far away. “They think the Delvers might beat us to the Necromancer’s Lab,” she told them softly as they exited the main building.

  “We’ll prove them wrong,” Karen said, pulling out her daggers and spinning them on her palms.

  “Damn right,” Gerald said. “Let’s go find and break us a lab.”

  “You guys ready?” Alburet asked his minions, who were all watching the two guards.

  “We are,” Tiny said, standing up to his full height and saluting the guards. “Protectors, your job is worthy.” With that, Tiny stepped towards Alburet.

  “What the…” one of the two Elven guards said.

  “He has more manners than I do,” Bob chuckled. “Sad, isn’t it?”

  “He nay be wrong, though,” Kitten said as she moved to flank Alburet and Stacia. “We be ready, master.”

  Alburet grinned at the flummoxed guards. “Good day, gentlemen.”

  Gerald shook his head as he led the group back out the main archway. “You just love to make people acknowledge that Infernals aren’t all bad, don’t you?”

  “We nay be bad,” Kitten said.

  “You’re one of the sets of mobs in the world,” Gerald said, “which makes it seem like you are to most.”

  “Fair enough,” Stacia said. “We do that to gain our own levels, though—it be the Dark Lord’s will. I do nay know why he wanted it so.”

  “We can ask when we meet him again,” Karen said as she entered Stealth. “I’m not bothering with poisons, since undead aren’t affected by them.”

  “Marysue,” Alburet said as they approached the trail leading into the dim woods, “do you still have that idol from the sunken temple?”

  “Yes,” Marysue replied. “I was instructed to invoke it when I felt like I needed extra help. I don’t know what will happen when I do, so I thought it might be best to hold that in reserve.”

  “Sound thinking,” Gerald said. “I think it might call in a favor from Peace, kind of like the ones we have from the Dark Lord.”

  “Hmm,” Alburet rubbed his chin. “That could get interesting.”

  “That’s what I thought,” Marysue said. “I doubt she can help with the Assassins, so I’m holding on to it for now.”

  Chapter Seven

  The woods were dim, but beams of light coming down through the branches provided enough light to see by. The light had an odd, greenish tinge that made them all feel a little off, as if the very air might be able to spread sickness.

  “This is blargh,” Karen said, barely visible as a shimmer beside Fluff.

  “Remember the bell tower?” Marysue said. “I think it’s the overlay for anything plague related.”

  “Oh, the demented necromancer,” Fluff nodded. “That seems so long ago now.”

  “It really wasn’t,” Alburet said. “I guess it was about a month ago, but a lot has changed for us in that time.”

  “Right?” Karen snickered.

  Bob and BJ were flying from tree to tree on either side of the path. “It’s hard to tell what might be a threat out here,” Bob called down to them. “There’s a haze up here that makes it hard to make out details.”

  “Just stay on overwatch,” Alburet called up to him. “You’re our air support.”

  “Master,” Tiny rumbled from in front of the group. “I think there is movement off to the right.”

  “I can’t verify,” BJ said, “but maybe.”

  “Okay, same as we’ve done countless times before,” Gerald said, drawing his sword and readying his shield.

  “I’m going to get in a damaging spell or two early,” Marysue told him.

  “That’s fine, just wait for me to establish aggro,” Gerald said.

  At that point, four mobs stumbled out from behind trees and onto the road. Two undead Elves in plate armor were followed by a pair of mostly skeletal undead with glowing green hands.

  “TJ, stay back in case they stun Gerald and go for Marysue,” Alburet said.

  “Tiny, take the casters. Be ready to taunt, if needed,” Gerald said, getting an affirmative grunt from the Destroyer.

  “Focus the casters first?” Karen asked, just to make sure.

  “Yes. We don’t know if they’ll be able to heal.” Gerald Charged, suddenly appearing before the four undead mobs. His shield slammed one of the Plated Deathwalkers, while his sword crashed into the hip of the other. “Go ahead, Mary.”

  Tiny ran forward to engage the Arcane Undead as Marysue’s spell finished. Glowing white light surrounded the undead, burning bits of flesh from the zombies’ heads and charring the bones of the skeletons.

  The Arcane Undead finished their spells. A freezing wind whipped around the group, along with the debuff Frigid Wind, which was an attack speed reduction. The other spell was Plague Rot, which left them all feeling queasy and did damage over time. Alburet was horrified to see black spots spreading across Marysue’s face.

  Fluff landed on the Arcane Undead that Tiny had hit first, her claws raking across the bones of her target. Karen appeared a moment later, her blades skating musically across the ribs of the same mob, the flame dagger leaving a trail of small flames dancing in its wake.

  Stacia stood between Alburet and Marysue, waiting to heal either if needed.

  One of the Plated Deathwalkers bashed Gerald with its shield, stunning him, and the two mobs turned toward Marysue. Tiny roared, just close enough to catch them both with Savage Roar.

  Alburet cursed as he ran forward, flames bursting into being in his right hand. His Fire Blast hit the Arcane Undead that the women were focused on, and he hoped they could get it down quickly. Bob and BJ were both throwing Fire Blasts as fast as they could. When the four mobs surrounded Tiny, they switched to Fire Bursts.

  Tiny slapped one of the attacks away with his shield while the second Plated Deathwalker used his Shield Bash to stun the Destroyer. The Arcane Caster not under attack whistled sharply and blocks of ice encased everyone within ten feet of it. Alburet had just cast Demonic Vitality on Tiny when he, Fluff, Karen, and Tiny all froze in place.

  All four undead turned their attention to Marysue with evil grins. TJ stepped into their line of sight and slapped the flat of his axe against his shield. “I’m her bulwark. You must get past me.”

  The two Plated Deathwalkers blurred as they Charged him. TJ used his Demonic Shell, allowing him to stop most of their initial damage, then he Bashed one to stun it. Marysue stepped back, a little worried, as the two Arcane Undead began casting again.

  Gerald’s stun wore off, and he rushed the two Arcane Undead. When he got into range, he sla
mmed a foot into the ground, stunning the two casters and ruining their spells with Ground Stomp. Then he Charged at the two Plated Deathwalkers, bouncing from one to the second as he managed to hit them both. “I got them,” Gerald said, Shouting to taunt both of them to him.

  “Tiny has the casters,” TJ said, remaining in his place near Marysue. Tiny established aggro on both of his opponents again when the ice melted off the frozen group. “For the master!” Tiny roared as he hammered the Arcane Undead with his shield, his eyes starting to spark flame.

  Marysue made sure her heals were going as the two skeletons began casting again. She knew they had this fight, now that they had a measure of their enemies.

  Stacia stepped in next to Gerald and used her dual blades to whittle at his target. Karen’s hands blurred as a wire went over the head of one of the casters and cinched down on its neck. “This one is silenced for ten seconds,” she said, then slapped a hand over the other skeleton’s eye sockets. “Blinded,” she called out.

  The blind undead stopped casting, no longer able to see its target. The real effect, though, was that all attacks landing on it for a full second became critical hits. Fluff took advantage of that to dig both of her claws into the mob’s ribs and yank, leaving deep scores over every rib on its chest.

  The first Arcane Undead collapsed under the assault of the group. The second one, which Karen had Garroted, was reduced to punching at Tiny, doing minimal damage to the armored Infernal.

  “Tiny, be ready to help Gerald if they stun him again,” Alburet said as he renewed Demonic Vitality and added his other buffs to the Destroyer. “Go now, we’ll cut this one down.”

  “Hamstrung,” Fluff called out as she raked the legs of the caster, “in case it tries to follow.”

  The rest of the fight was nothing special to the well-oiled machine that the group had become. The Plated Deathwalkers got off another stun on Gerald and TJ, but Tiny had been there to pick them both up.

  Chuckling as he looted the bodies, Alburet shook his head. “It always seems easy with our group, doesn’t it?”

  “Three tanks, at least five DPS, a healer, and crowd control in some fights,” Gerald shrugged. “It’s definitely easier for a group than solo, and our group even more so. Alburet’s minions give us a huge advantage.”

  “I’m beginning to think Summoners are broken,” Alburet said. “The whole mini-group really makes things a little trivial outside dungeons.”

  “I don’t think the early Two-souled took that into account,” Fluff said softly. “They were looking at raw damage, mostly. Also, before, minions had happiness that had to be balanced and the most loyal weren’t as strong.”

  Bob nodded, “Yeah. Can I say how happy I am to be stronger now? I knew master was going to keep me happy, regardless, so that was never an issue.”

  “Master has always wanted us to be happy,” Tiny nodded.

  “Oh, aye,” Stacia giggled, “tha’ he has.”

  “I’m sure Mindblown knows, by now,” Marysue said. “They keep an eye on Al, after all.”

  “Fair point,” Alburet said, looking away from her. “I’m sure they’re well aware, which makes me wonder when the nerf bat is going to hit me.”

  “Nerf bat?” Stacia asked as the group moved on down the path.

  “A saying from our other world. I expect the gods to somehow rein in the power of my class.”

  “Ahh,” Stacia nodded. “Aye, it has happened in the past. Paladins used to be able to shrug off even Dragon Breath, it be said.”

  “Wow, that would be overpowered,” Karen whistled.

  “The gods reduced their strength long ago,” Stacia replied.

  Silence fell over the group for a minute as they walked. “You think the Colossal Brutes are going to be Golems?” Marysue asked the group.

  “Almost certainly,” Gerald said. “We’ll be fine though, we have the best healer anywhere.”

  Marysue smiled, her cheeks tinting pink, “I’m only as good as my protector.”

  “Thank you,” Tiny rumbled before Gerald could reply, earning laughs from everyone; even Gerald, after a moment of shock. “Gerald deserves the praise as well.”

  “I meant him,” Marysue chuckled, “but you and TJ do a great job, too.”

  “Heh, so funny,” Bob snickered from the trees.

  Gerald patted Tiny on the shoulder as they walked. “I can say that, even with our difficulties in the beginning, I’m glad you’re here. You are indeed a powerful protector.”

  Tiny’s grin grew wider. “You help protect the master, so you have my thanks, too. You are almost as powerful as a Destroyer Lord, though you are Human.”

  Gerald frowned at what he perceived as an insult. Before he said anything, Stacia spoke up, feeling the spike of anger from Gerald. “Destroyer Lords be the Dark Lord’s personal guards in his home. Only Demon Lords outrank them.”

  Gerald closed his mouth and nodded. “I see. So, you think I’m worthy of protecting the Dark Lord?”

  “Yes,” Tiny nodded. “I cannot give higher praise.”

  “Thank you,” Gerald said with all sincerity.

  Alburet smiled, glad to see the two of them growing fonder of each other, yet another thing making them a better group. Stacia took his hand with a grin, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks,” he whispered to her.

  “Aye. He did nay understand, was all,” Stacia whispered back.

  Chapter Eight

  Further into the woods, they found multiple paths. Following Gerald’s lead, they found and killed the Arcane Undead and Plated Deathwalkers they needed for the quests as they ventured deeper into the forest. The sun was on its long dive towards the horizon by the time they found their first Colossal Brute.

  The twelve-foot-tall golem was bulging with muscles, scars clearly visible where it had been stitched together. Facing the group, the Brute slammed its arms into the ground and lumbered at them.

  “Okay, there’s only one. We’ve got this,” Gerald said, stepping in front of the mob. Triggering Charge to start the fight, Gerald was shocked when the Colossal Brute didn’t stop, but knocked him aside and continued approaching the group. “What the hell!?”

  Tiny stepped before the others and waited until it got to him, then slammed his shield into its face. The Brute again ignored the attack, throwing Tiny a few feet away without stopping. “My stun did not work,” TJ said, frowning.

  “Scatter, let’s see if he has a specific target,” Alburet said, stepping away from the others.

  As they moved away, the Brute tracked Marysue, shifting to follow her. “Help?” Marysue asked uncertainly as she backed away.

  TJ grunted as he ran forward, but instead of attempting to attack the Brute, he ducked down, slamming his shield into its legs. A loud crash echoed as the first knee hit the shield and slid TJ back a foot. Then the second leg hit the shield and the Brute came to a stop. Growling, it punched down at TJ, driving him into the ground.

  “I’ve got him,” Gerald said as he and Tiny rushed towards the now stationary mob.

  Karen appeared behind the Brute, her daggers digging into where its kidneys should be. “Hurry up please,” she said as the undead began to turn on her.

  Fluff landed beside the mob, her claws cutting deep into its side. “I think he’s going to be a problem.”

  Bob and BJ started tossing Fire Blasts at it as Gerald reached the Brute and slammed his shield into it.

  “Okay, I got him,” Gerald said.

  He was mistaken though, as the Brute ignored him and grabbed Karen, who wasn’t expecting to be targeted. “Gah!” Karen managed as she was hoisted into the air and thrown into the trees. A painful sounding thud reached the group as the Colossal Brute turned towards Fluff.

  “It doesn’t have an aggro table?” Gerald asked, shocked. He hadn’t been expecting that.

  Fluff slashed at the palm grabbing at her, which didn’t seem to faze the undead, even when blackish fluid began dripping from its hand. Grabbing her by the
torso, it lifted her and threw her into the woods the opposite way from Karen.

  “We’re barely hurting it,” Bob called from the trees as another round of Fire Blasts hit the mob in the head.

  “If it turns to you, get away from it,” Gerald said. The Brute grabbed TJ, who had only just gotten back to his feet, and threw him after Karen. “Even tanks,” Gerald added.

  “Fuck,” Karen exclaimed, ducking under the flying Destroyer. “Well, this is different.” She sighed in relief as Marysue began to heal her. “Thanks, Mary. Didn’t think I’d take that much just from being thrown.”