by Shawn Wyatt
You have defeated all three of the Waldgeist's strongest allies and the way has been cleared for you to defeat the monster himself.
"Thank you," I said. "It's nice to be welcomed somewhere." I meant that, even if this place was nothing more than a creation of ones and zeroes in a digital world. Bastion and Evey nodded their agreement.
Cathbad, on the other hand, looked shell-shocked. I had thought all the residents of Nyfed knew one another, given their close knit community, but it seemed even in communities like this certain members stood above all the rest.
Althea looked at the Sylvan and held out her hand. "Cathbad, you have served your home with distinction and honor above and beyond your duty. As thanks, I elevate you to a new level of Nyfed. Choose one of the available homes on the upper level. It is yours."
Cathbad bowed so low his head almost touched the ground. "Thank you, Elder," he said. "It is my privilege to serve. I will not take this honor lightly."
Bell leaned down and whispered to me. "The higher levels of Nyfed are reserved for those who have distinguished themselves in honor to the forest. The higher view is granted with the traditional thought that they will watch over the community. The average scout will never reach those levels. Cathbad has done well."
Althea approached me next and placed a wrapped bundle in my arms. "This will serve you well," she said. "May it ever protect you from the dangers you face along your journey."
I unwrapped the bundle and examined the contents. Inside was a vest with treebark woven into the lining. The bark felt hard as steel--a huge improvement over the leather armor I currently wore.
Etz-Woven Armor
This leather armor seems custom made for you. The bark woven into the lining of the leather is as hard as titanium, capable of deflecting even the most savage of blows.
"Thank you," I said.
Althea nodded once more, then moved to Evey. "Your aim with a bow rivals that of our most legendary heroes," she said. "You need no improvement in skill, but a new weapon will serve you well." The Elder Seer reached out, and a guard handed her a bow. She passed it from the guard to Evey, who accepted the weapon and stared at it with admiration.
Next came Bastion. Althea stood in front of him, but offered no weapon or armor. Instead, she placed a hand on his shoulder and closed her eyes. "You have suffered a great loss. Those wounds follow and haunt you. But..." Her voice trailed off. "You keep the one you lost close to you through your blade. A physical weapon will do you little good. Allow me to bestow something less tangible."
She waved her hand, and light bloomed around Bastion's face. He closed his eyes for a moment, and then they snapped open in surprise.
"I feel...stronger," he said.
"I have given you the strength of the forest," Althea said. "Use it well, and may you endure as long as the trees themselves."
She turned next to Wish, and a motherly smile spread across her face. "Little Wish. You came to us as one lost in the woods, but you leave now a warrior. This gift comes not from me, but from the forest." Althea waved a hand, and a blue mist swirled and coalesced behind her. A pack of four translucent wolves appeared. "May these warriors of the forest go with you and keep you safe on your journey."
To my surprise, Wish teared up and threw her arms around the Elder. "Thank you," she said. "For everything."
"Child, you are always welcome." The Elder took a step back and looked at our group, then nodded. "You four are stand stronger together than apart. You are ready."
"Ready?" I asked.
"To face the Waldgeist. He is weak. Now is the time to strike, but know this: the creature fears. He knows your power, and protects himself against your coming."
Evey slung her bow over her shoulder. "What do you mean?"
Duneyrr lowered his huge head and spoke into our mind, a soft thunder that rolled through our minds. ::The Waldgeist has taken shelter within the airship landing itself. It has transformed the structure into a fortress.::
"Of course it has," I sighed. "Why can evil creatures never make life easy?"
::Hold.:: Duneyrr said. ::Discussion and battle tactics can wait for another day. For now, we celebrate. Nyfed tradition dictates that warriors must celebrate their survival after a battle. That feast begins now.::
With no visible signal, sprites began to buzz onto the dais, laden with an assortment of food and drinks. From somewhere in the boughs high above, musical notes boomed out.
The parade of sprites continued as more appeared from all over Nyfed. The sprites covered the grounds around the dais with palm fronds, each bundle arranged in circles several feet in diameter. Around these circles the sprites placed seating pillows, followed by golden candles in the center of each bundle of leaves.
Enough seats were set out to fit every resident of the Sacred Grove. The music above changed to a more jaunty tune as elves, sylvans, and sprites began to make their way from their treehouse homes to the ground below. The sound of chatter rose to a din that gripped the air with an undeniably cheerful attitude.
"This is our Buiochas Festival," Althea explained. "It celebrates our thankfulness for those that returned to us, and mourns those that did not. It is tradition to hold one after each major battle."
The Nyfedian society accepted life and death with such ease. Human society could stand to learn a bit from them, I thought.
Once all of the residents had arrived, the festival began in earnest. Day turned into night under the effects of full bellies and minds dulled with alcohol. The music changed its tune several times, from a somber melody to honor the lost, during which the Elders lit candles and spoke a prayer in a language I did not understand, to a jaunty dance tune that had kept us twirling until our feet ached.
The celebration became infectious. Evey grabbed my hand and hauled me to my feet. Bastion tried to extend a hand to Wish, but she decided to dance in a way that suited her character: she moshed. The whirlwind of her arms and hands discouraged any would-be offers to dance, so Bastion ended up dancing with a more welcoming partner: Boris.
The bear stood on his hind legs and shimmied like his back itched. I didn't catch sight of him until Boris tried to twirl like Evey did, only to tumble backwards. Our dance ended then, as neither of us could stop laughing.
The evening passed this way until one by one, residents crept back to their homes to sleep off the effects of the ale. I seized a quiet moment to escape the crowds and sneak away to one of the fires on the outskirts.
Despite the levity of the evening, I still had a lot on my mind that I needed to sort through. Duneyrr's words sat heavy in my mind. The Waldgeist had fortified himself within the airship landing?
In my mind, that meant only one thing: a raid. It made sense. This world was a game, after all. The final boss would place itself behind a maze of traps and enemies.
::You are correct.:: Duneyrr said. The forest spirit's voice spoke directly into my mind, and I raised my head and looked in the direction. Although he stood over the dais, his head was turned toward me. The light of the flames danced reflected in his eyes. ::His strongest lieutenants stand arrayed before him. They must be defeated before you can progress farther.::
"Can you read my mind?" I asked.
I received the distinct impression of a laugh. ::I can do as I need.:: Duneyrr said. ::But your body language broadcasts your thoughts. Ren, your friends look to you for direction. You must learn to control your stance. No matter how afraid you feel, you must stand strong.::
How exactly did he expect me to lead them when I still felt lost myself? The last battle had nearly cost both mine and Bastion's lives. Some leader I was shaping up to be.
Evey emerged from the shadows. "So this is where you went off to," she said, and sat down on the log beside me. "I'm beat! All that dancing wears you out." When I didn't answer, she peered closer at me. "What's wrong?"
I shook my head. No point in worrying her. "Nothing," I said. "Did you know Duneyrr can read minds?"
"I kind of sus
pected he could," Evey said. "I've made it a point to think as many weird things as I can since we arrived."
Again, I received a distinct impression of a laugh, somewhere at the back of my mind. I didn't know whether to admire the ability, or be offended at the invasion of privacy.
"Weirdo," I said. "Why would you try to taunt a forest spirit?"
"Because it's fun." Evey shrugged.
I laughed. "You have a point." Before I said anything else, Wish stumbled into the light of the fire, and then turned and shouted at someone behind her.
"You idiot! I told you to stay still."
"I did!" came the response. Bastion stepped into view. "Blame the bear."
Boris loosed an indignant huff from somewhere in the darkness, but did not come into view. Evey sighed. "Boris, buddy. You know I can track your location at all times, right? You can't sneak up on me."
A whimper from the shadows.
"What were you two doing over there?" I asked.
"Nothing." The reply was unanimous. At my raised eyebrow, Bastion shrugged. "I just didn't want to interrupt a moment."
"A moment?"
"Yeah, between the two of you. It looked like things might potentially become heated, so..."
"So the two of you sat in the corner and watched?" Evey asked. "Gross."
"And no," I said. "There was no moment. We were just talking. But since you four are here now--" I heard another huff from the forest. "Sorry, you three, since Boris is clearly nowhere to be found--there is something we should discuss."
"What is it?" Bastion asked.
"Duneyrr told me the Waldgeist has fortified itself inside the airship landing, along with its strongest lieutenants. In other words, a raid."
The eyes of everyone there sparkled for a moment at the word. Gamers at heart, even in this twisted reality.
"So we have to tackle a raid to get off this realm and to the next one?"
"Seems that way," I said. "But we have to figure out the group size. And once we do, we'll have to recruit other players."
"That might be hard to do," Evey said. "The idea of real death keeps most of them from taking risks. If we knew what to expect from the bosses, we could plan a strategy, but going in blind will be a problem."
"What if they had proper incentive?" Wish asked. "A quest?"
"We can't issue a quest," I said. "Even assuming a player could create one, none of us have the resources we would need."
"Perhaps I could be of assistance." The voice came from nowhere, and I realized my choice of hiding spots left much to be desired. Bell joined our group. "Nyfed could provide the reward. And if I am not mistaken, you need what you call an NPC to issue the quest?"
I nodded. It could work. "That's right," I said. "You'd be willing to do that for us?"
"It is the least I could do. After all, Nyfed has a vested interested in the elimination of the Waldgiest, as well."
"Then all we need to do is determine our approach," I said. I tapped a finger to my chin. "I'd argue that we four are the most experienced players in the game at this moment. Certainly the highest level, unless something drastic changed in Grenay."
"I think a group of 24 warriors will best suit this situation," Bell said.
I surveyed the group. Evey, Bastion, and I were all level 19. Wish was level 18. Our new equipment and abilities from Nyfed gave us an edge over other players. It gave us the ability to lead them.
I took a breath. I had just struggled with the realities of leading a team, but if we were to escape--if we were to beat this game--then we would all have to learn to do it. "I think we four should lead the raid."
Bastion's eyebrows darted up in surprise. "Are you serious?"
"It makes sense," Evey said. She drummed fingers against her knee, her brow furrowed in thought. "We know what to expect with Withered creatures, and there are bound to be more of that type in the raid than in other areas."
"I've never been a raid leader before," Bastion said.
I held up a hand. "I'll be raid leader. I've got some experience there," I said. Granted, it was in a different game where a wipe meant respawning at the front of the dungeon, not permanent death. "You will lead the healers," I said. "Just direct heals to each group. Evey, you lead the ranged DPS. Wish, do you think you can lead the Oracles?"
The girl nodded. "No problem," she said. "Though I can't promise I'll be forgiving for any mistakes they make."
"With luck, we'll have a chance to acquaint ourselves as a group before the raid begins," I said. "I don't plan to walk in there blindly."
"Who leads the tanks?" Evey asked.
"Cathbad," I said. "He's up for the job, and I trust him to do it well. His bear form is practically a tank."
Evey nodded. "And Boris?"
"Will stick close to you," I said. "His primary objective is to keep you safe, after all."
"So 24 players. That means four groups of six, or six groups of four. Mostly DPS." Bastion murmured to himself and ticked off points on his fingers.
"Four groups of six," I said. "One healer per group. Two tanks overall. We fill the rest with DPS, and split into smaller groups based on ranged and melee DPS."
We discussed our strategy for another hour before Bell cleared his throat. "The hour grows late," he said. "And it sounds as though you have may preparations to make. Might I suggest you rest now and continue these talks in the morning on your journey?"
Tomorrow we return to Grenay, I thought. It would be good to see human architecture again. "I agree," I said. "Let's get some rest. We've got a long walk tomorrow."
Tomorrow would mark the start of the final preparations to clear this realm and move to the next one.
CHAPTER TWENTY: THE GRAND DUKE OF GRENAY
The Forest Gate of Grenay loomed large in front of our little group. The guards there gave us surprised looks, and the two Sylvans that walked with us did little to counter their surprise.
We had set out from Nyfed earlier in the day. The Elder Seers had met us at the border to say their goodbyes and wish us well on our journey. Duneyrr had spoken to me once more, though he was nowhere to be seen.
The farewell had been short and bittersweet. Boris had made his goodbyes to the sprites--a lot of sloppy, wet bear kisses. In return, they had stuffed him so full of honey the bear could barely walk. Wish was reluctant to leave Nyfed, but I sensed excitement at returning to human civilization from Bastion and Evey.
The journey back to Grenay had taken significantly less time than the journey to Nyfed. The forest felt lighter, more welcoming. Danger didn't seem to lurk in every shadow.
Our efforts to defeat the corruption within the forest had already yielded effects, however little they might have been.
Though none of the guards raised their weapons, I sensed their tension. After everything they had seen emerge from this forest, I couldn't blame them.
One of the guards stepped forward and his face lit with recognition. "I remember you three," he said. "You set out just over a week ago."
I nodded. "You warned us about the shadows," I said. "Thanks for that. The information proved more useful than you know."
The guard grinned. "Looks like you made a few friends along the way."
"How have things been on this side of the city?" I asked.
"Less creepy crawlies coming out of the forest, if that's what you mean."
"It does seem like there is less of a guard presence here than there was before."
"Aye, that there is. Mostly because the guards have all been reassigned to the other gates," he said.
"Other gates? What's going on?"
"The forest has calmed, but the situation on the other side of the city, near the airship landing? That's a different story. Things there grow worse by the day."
It fit with what Duneyrr had told us, I thought. With the Waldgeist fortified within the airship landing, it would only be a matter of time before its forces overran the city. More creatures could be corrupted and Withered. Monsters respawn
ed. The guards and NPCs did not.
Bell stepped forward and bowed. "I may be able to assist with your troubles," he said. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Bellfinidan, Seer and future leader of Nyfed--the land your kind calls the Sacred Grove."
The guards' eyebrows darted up in surprise. I thought it likely most had never seen a Sylvan in their lifetimes, but Bell took their surprise in stride.
"I have come to speak with the Grand Duke," he said. "We would like to issue a quest."
The guard looked shocked, but shook off his bewilderment. "I'll take you there," he said. "Follow me."
The Grand Duke lived in a manor in the center of the city, topped with a Mansard roof and a blue-grey color scheme that made the home looked as if it had been plucked from the moors of England.
The haughty butler only added to that perception. He greeted us at the door. "The Grand Duke is waiting inside," he said. The man even wore a waistcoat.
"Thank you, Mr. Belvedere," I said. The butler gave me a strange look, but shrugged and stepped aside.
"Who is Mr. Belvedere?" Bell asked.
"A famous manservant from our world," I said.
"What was he famous for?"
I thought for a moment. "Vanquishing dust bunnies. No one cleaned up like he did."
Bell seemed to mull over the information. Just when it seemed like he might realize I was joking, he spoke. "These Dust Bunnies must be formidable creatures."
Evey snorted. I shot a warning look her way, but tears had begun to trickle down her cheeks. "Sorry, sorry," she said. "I just couldn't hold back any longer."
I sighed. No point in carrying the joke any farther. "Mr. Belvedere worked to clean a huge home," I said. "Dust bunnies are what we call bits of dirt and fabric that hide under furniture."
Until this point, the butler had a look of quiet pleasure on his face. When he heard the truth about Mr. Belvedere, his scowl returned. Thankfully, before anything more could be said, a maid appeared with a serving tray loaded with tea and snacks.
