Our situation was much better. The little fellow ran at us with a wave of his saber, shouting some words in a language none of us knew. Far buried two arrows in his back before he got anywhere close to us, and, unlike our friends off to the side, we had time to brace ourselves. Two swords met him as soon as he got to us. One—Uncle Fedor’s—was blocked, though the second—mine—landed with Bloodletting to boot. Rufus’ health started slowly draining. We alternated hits that began wearing him down, and Far kept up his stream of arrows. As a result, by the time Reger died and left Olgerd to handle the pirate leader on his own, we were about done with Rufus and his surprising amount of health. Olgerd called over.
“We lost another one!”
“You finish him off,” I told Uncle Fedor. “I’ll help Olgerd.”
Uncle Fedor nodded and jabbed his sword into Rufus, who was already on his knees and barely putting up any resistance.
I dashed over to the pair still locked in combat and buried my sword in the back of Silvio’s legs.
“Sword of Retribution!”
Silvio collapsed to his knees. Another arrow thudded into his chest, while Olgerd cried out and sliced into his neck. I decided to add my contribution and stabbed him with my sword. Judging by the result, mine was the finishing blow.
You completed a quest: Get Rid of the Land Pirates.
To get your reward, talk to Neils Holgerrson.
“Finally,” said Uncle Fedor.
“We did it,” added Olgerd in relief.
I turned to him. “Boss, go ahead and loot him, then I’ll take the ring.”
“Sounds good,” said Olgerd. “Just so long as he doesn’t respawn—I don’t want to deal with all that again.”
He bent over the dead leader’s body.
A message popped up asking me if I wanted to participate in a lottery for warriors’ pauldrons. I was about to say yes when Olgerd jumped in. “If nobody minds, I’d like to give them to Reger. He sacrificed himself, after all.”
I agreed with his gesture and declined the invitation. Once everything was done, I went over to the body myself.
You completed a quest: Horala’s Signet Ring.
To get your reward, go talk to the Supreme Vila.
“Okay, I got it,” I said with a sigh of relief.
“Great,” answered Olgerd. “Then I’m going to go see what I can find in the cave.”
The raid was, in sum, a success. I finished with 270 gold in my pocket, not to mention the quests I’d completed.
“Good work, everyone,” said Olgerd. “Let’s head for the city before they can respawn. Hagen, are you coming with us?”
A thin voice interrupted us as Bulkins scrambled down the cliff and ran over to his belongings. “Hey, I’m back!”
“There you are,” Uncle Fedor said cheerfully. “We’re about to head back. I’ll send a message, so Reger knows to meet us in the city, and I can grab his things, too.”
“Thanks, guys, it was a pleasure doing business with you. I’m headed to the marsh so I can finish my quest for the vilas.”
“Tell your bride I said hi,” asked Olgerd. “She’s a cutie.”
“And from me, too,” Bulkins said.
“Will do. Nobody minds if I send friend requests, do they?” I asked.
Uncle Fedor answered for everyone. “Go for it.”
Elmilora was waiting for me by the tunnel.
“Have you done anything the last two days besides sitting around waiting for me?” I felt bad.
“At least you come back,” she responded. “Soon, you’re going to sail away, and then I have no idea when I’ll see you again.”
I tried to cheer her up. “I don’t think it will be that long. Anyway, let’s go talk to the Supreme.”
We soon arrived at the familiar clearing, and I belted out my request. “I’m here to see the Supreme Vila on important and secret business.”
With satisfaction, I heard the rustle of wings somewhere above me. It was a sound I’d already grown to appreciate.
“So, you did what I asked you to do? And faster than I expected.” Her voice was deep and dripping with sarcasm.
“Anything for a friend,” I said impertinently.
“Don’t forget who you’re talking to,” the Supreme replied. I quickly sobered up. “Where’s the ring?”
“Here you are, your highness,” I said with a bow.
You completed a quest: Horala’s Signet Ring.
You killed the pirate leader and got Horala’s signet ring from him.
Reward:
900 experience
Captain Gul and his sailors will be released from the vilas’ island.
10% affection for you from the Supreme Vila
The Supreme turned and quietly spoke to one of her guards. “Bring the four here, the ones who came a few days ago.”
At the same time as she was speaking, I got another, no less heartening notification:
You unlocked Level 32!
Points ready to be distributed: 5
The Supreme looked back at me. “Also, by way of, oh, I don’t know, a reward, let me tell you something. Maybe even a piece of advice. Be careful with the dryad quest. I’m not talking about the danger, though it’s incredibly dangerous. Just be careful. There might be something going on that has nothing to do with what you were told, and you could end up with something completely different than what you’re expecting.”
I had no idea what she was talking about, and so I drew the only conclusion I could: that 10% affection bonus had already kicked in.
Four gloomy-looking men in jackets were brought up.
“Captain Gul?” I asked the gloomiest of them.
“The one and only,” his deep voice answered.
“Great. Supreme, are they free to leave?”
She nodded. “Just as we agreed.”
You completed a quest: Find the Captain.
To get your reward, go talk to Neils Holgerrson.
“Serafina,” said the Supreme to one of the guards behind the throne. “Take these fools to Mettan. It’s getting dark, so they’d get lost on their own.”
“I can take them,” I said.
“I don’t doubt it. No, you go say goodbye to your bride. And don’t forget, you have six months. When that time’s up, I expect you back here.”
“I’ll be here. What choice do I have?”
It took us about twenty minutes to say goodbye. But finally everything had been said, cheeks had been kissed, vows had been reaffirmed, and I was back at the Mettan gate. Once there, I was shocked at how many dwarves were on their way in.
“What’s going on?” I asked Bulkins, who I found nearby.
“Their clan is going over to the other side, to Merastia. They want to kill the king and take his sword,” he answered as he munched on an apple.
“They have nothing better to do?” I shook my head.
It was true. The dwarves were all from Hew Orcs, My Axe, a clan I’d already come across, and they were dragging wood around, building rafts, launching some kind of ships, and loudly arguing about who would get to the other shore first. Two of them, Artemi and Partavi, were standing by the pier and arguing especially loudly.
“You have no idea how cool I am,” shouted Artemi. “Do you know how much money I get? I milked two clans for all they were worth.”
“And you’re proud of that?” shrieked Partavi. I couldn’t tell if it was a he or a she since dwarves all look the same without their beards. “Who cares about money? It’s all about being cool!”
“I’m trying to tell you how cool I am! I could take out anyone. You set them up, I’ll knock them down.”
“Set them up? Knock them down? I have a butt made out of bones!”
It was completely true. He (or she?) had a bone plate attached to the seat of his (or her?) pants in an apparent attempt to ward off more shameful wounds. I imagined it also made sitting in wet or cold areas more comfortable as well.
Unfortunately, as they argue
d, the first group set off in search of the Skeleton King’s sword. It was followed by the second, and then even the third.
I shook my head, looked at the quickly darkening sky, and turned to Bulkins before leaving to see the port master.
“Dwarfs—what can you do?”
Mr. Holgerrson was celebrating the end of the workday by chugging away at some ale.
“A-a-ah, it’s you, bowsprit and boatswain. Good work. Old man Gul came by and told me about your adventures.
You completed a quest: Find the Captain.
Reward:
700 experience
Significantly discounted passage on the Firefly
“You kept your word, so I’ll keep mine.” Niels pounded his glass back onto the table. “Want some ale? It’s fantastic, by the Kraken!”
“No, thanks. So what kind of discount do I get on the boat?”
“Seeing as how you found that drunk, oh, and that cuttlefish Glopkins came by—”
“I have the cutlass you gave me, too.”
“…plus the cutlass. A day’s passage on the Firefly will cost you, let’s say…2500 gold.”
“How much?” I thought I must have heard wrong.
“Why that cheap? Well, you’re a good person, even if you are a landlubber.”
“Cheap? I thought we’d agree to 500!”
“You’re no bastard of mine! Seventy-five percent is a huge discount.”
“No, it isn’t!”
“Watch your mouth,” Neils said soberly and quietly. “That’s as cheap as it goes.”
I realized that there was no bargaining with him. Fine. I had enough gold for a few days, and then I’d see. On the other hand, maybe I wouldn’t go at all. The game was fun and all, but I didn’t really have much left to play for. My articles were written, and nothing else was keeping me there.
“Fine, you can be greedy if you want,” I said, deciding to throw a parting shot at Holgerrson. “And I even took out the pirates for you!”
“You did?” The port master shouted for joy. “Well done yet again!”
You completed a quest: Get Rid of the Land Pirates.
Reward:
1100 experience
800 gold
An item from Neils Holgerrson’s storehouse
+10% to your reputation in Mettan
“You’re incredible. Fine—2000 gold a day. And here, I’m happy to give you this.”
Ice Helmet
Protection: 210
+11 to strength
+14% protection from cold
+7% to dodge ability
Durability: 220/220
Minimum level for use: 32
“Thanks, Neils. I’m out then.”
“Drop by when you’re around these parts.” The sailor waved. “Maybe you’ll stay for a bit of ale after all?”
I declined and went outside. It was almost completely dark. The first of the dwarves’ watercraft had reached the other bank, and their first ranks were already fighting. It was about time for me to head back to reality, but I didn’t want to leave with all the hustle and bustle around me. Instead, I decided to go about 300 meters outside the city and log out somewhere nice on the bank of the river.
I left the city and was shocked by a notification:
Attention. Euiikh, a player you blacklisted, is nearby.
Well, that was the last person I expected to see, but see him I did. To be honest, the only feeling I could muster up for Euiikh and his henchmen was pity. They looked something like how I imagined the French in 1812 and the Germans in 1941 must have looked when they got to Moscow: miserable, impoverished, and pathetic. They had each dropped maybe three or four levels.
Each of the henchmen had one piece of equipment, while Euiikh himself had all of three. He even had a sword, though it wasn’t much to look at. The other two were armed with sticks.
“You killed someone and split their stuff between the three of you?” I asked them.
One of the orcs nodded, though Euiikh had a question of his own.
“You turned all of us in to the Hounds?”
“No, not all of you; just you, Euiikh. I didn’t say anything about your boys.”
The orcs exchanged a quick glance behind Euiikh’s back.
“How did you get here? It’s quite a ways from where I last killed you.”
One of the orcs took the time to explain. “We got a port scroll from someone. Lucky find. Everyone was after us back there, so we figured there might be fewer people here. And now you…”
“What are you talking to him for? You two surround him,” hissed Euiikh as he advanced toward me.
“You really want to do this?” I asked. “I’ll take all three of you out in a minute flat with those rags and sticks. Maybe not earlier, but now it’ll be a piece of cake. What do you get out of this?”
“I’ll make sure everything’s fair.” A voice wafted in out of the darkness. “I don’t like when it’s three on one.”
A player in a cloak and hood walked out of the forest onto the road.
Euiikh howled in frustration. “This again? Who are you? What do you care? It’s not fair!”
“I’m nobody, just a passerby,” said the player, whose name was Wanderer. “And I told you, I don’t like when it’s three against one. What don’t you understand about that?”
“Hey,” said Gryk, one of Euiikh’s friends, to me. “So the Hounds only care about him?”
“Yep,” I said. “You should have just surrendered to them.”
“Come on, man, let’s get out of here,” Gryk said to the second orc, who nodded in reply.
“We’re cool with you?” asked Gryk, this time talking to me.
“What’s done is done. We’re even already.”
“Where are you going, you swine?” roared Euiikh. “You rats!”
“Screw you!” Gryk yelled back at him. “All we got with you was one problem after another. And don’t come after us, or we’ll kill you, too.”
The orcs turned and sprinted down the road in the direction of the forest.
“You should leave, too,” I said to Euiikh. “You’ve been getting on my nerves these past two weeks. Why should I waste any more time on you?”
He looked at me, glanced at Wanderer, thought for a second, and disgustedly walked off in the opposite direction as his former companions. I could tell he meant to give Mettan a wide berth.
“I was going to go watch the river in the moonlight,” I told Wanderer. “Want to come sit with me?”
“Why not?” he answered. “The Great River at night is a thing of beauty.”
“We walked to the river bank and sat down on a log a few paces from the water. It was completely dark, though the sky was littered with stars. Fires burned on the far shore, and the sound of battle and dwarf curses drifted toward us.
“If this were real life, we’d have mosquitos eating us alive,” I said thoughtfully.
“What’s going on over there?” asked Wanderer with a glance across the water.
“Dwarves going for the sword.”
“How many?”
“A hundred and fifty or so.”
“They won’t make it to the palace,” said Wanderer placidly. “Three hundred or three hundred and fifty might, but a hundred and fifty definitely won’t.”
“They’re tenacious,” I said dubiously.
“Not tenacious enough.” Wanderer obviously knew what he was talking about.
“Why were you looking for me?” I asked him.
“You have a crown belonging to the dead landlord, and I really need it.” His explanation made it sound like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Why couldn’t you get it yourself? I mean, I’m not being rude; I’m just asking. The quest isn’t hard.”
“No, it isn’t, but the chances of getting the crown are really low. It’s just random, really. I’ve killed him a hundred times already and still haven’t gotten it. He just doesn’t want to give it to me.”
&nb
sp; Well, wouldn’t you know? I’d gotten lucky! Isn’t that how it happens… “I figured it was something like that.”
“How did you guess?” asked Wanderer.
“It was strange how Marion responded when I said the word ‘wanderer,’ and she was also weird about the crown. When you came out on the road, I figured it out.”
“Yes, she’s helping me. So what about the crown?”
“Open your exchange.”
I waited for the exchange window and gave Wanderer the crown.
“What do you want in return?” he asked. “Money, items?”
“Nothing,” I said with a laugh.
I couldn’t always be looking out for myself. Some things I needed to just do for other people.
“Oh, come on. I don’t believe in people like that.”
“And rightly so, but I like nonconformists. Okay, let’s do this. I’ll reserve the right to ask you one question and request help one time. You have to answer truthfully, and you have to help me. How does that sound?”
“Deal.”
I thought I could tell that Wanderer was smiling under his hood.
“I ask Mesmerta, the Radiant Goddess, to bear witness to this agreement,” I said quickly.
Besides a shooting star falling from the sky, nothing happened.
“That’s one way of doing it,” grunted Wanderer. “Look at you go.”
Wanderer wants to add you as a friend.
Accept?”
I accepted.
“You know, Wanderer, this isn’t any of my business, but I want you to know.” I decided to do one more and maybe my last good deed in Fayroll. “They’re looking for you.”
“I know. The Hounds.”
More Than a Game Page 33
