“Who is it, then?”
“An Undead Lair has risen somewhere near this town. It must be destroyed and its Master must be slain.”
“And you know where this Lair is?”
Patros hung his head. “I don’t have the location, unfortunately. I believe two young Adventurers in the town may know more, however. Their names are…”
“Tava and Gosto?” Hawke said.
“Of course, you have met them already.”
“I’m going to see them later.”
“They came to me yesterday evening and told me about the vampire they slew. They also mentioned you. And they spoke of a plan to follow the tracks of the vampire back to the Lair.”
“I definitely need to see them, then.”
Before they go off on their own and get themselves killed.
“They wanted me to join them,” Patros said. “I… I cannot. I have but one apprentice, and he has only risen to the first level of power. The town needs me.” He hesitated and looked down. “And I am afraid, may Shining Father forgive me. I have prayed for guidance but He has been silent.”
Hawke could see the priest’s shame; he couldn’t even blame him. Now that he’d come face to face with violence, he knew it wasn’t something to take lightly.
“But you are here now,” Patros went on. “Will you help them? Will you help all of Orom?”
You Have Been Offered a Quest: Stop the Vampire Threat
The vampires plaguing the town of Orom are the offspring of an Undead fiend dwelling in a nearby Lair. Patros the Priest has asked you to find the Lair and destroy it.
Rewards: 350 XP. 5 gold. One Random Item (Good Quality).
Penalties for Failure: -100 XP.
Accept? Y/N
Nice to have a choice for a change, Hawke thought as he accepted the quest.
Twenty
Hawke shrugged and kept looking around as he followed the narrow path through the woods. He’d been on edge the moment he left the safety of Orom’s walls. Relative safety, sure, since the place was infested with vampires, but his record when dealing with vampires was 4-0 so far. The bear had freaking eaten him. Dire Bear 1, Hawke 0.
According to a helpful gate guard, a path that branched off from the main road and went up a hill led to the Kinto homestead. He followed the dirt trail, barely wide enough for a wagon, that skirted the side of the hill. When he was halfway there, he caught glimpses of a wooden wall above him. The path curved, following the contours of the land as it wound its way up. It was on a pretty good incline, too; Hawke found himself working up a sweat as he walked. He soon learned that wearing metal armor meant he couldn’t scratch his back or sides, and that the mid-morning sun was slowly turning the breast plate into an oven. Fun.
Before leaving town, Hawke had spoken to the priest about Dorrham’s quest and the idea of talking to the Prefect. Patros had been reluctant to intercede, although he said that a party of Adventurers would be a huge boon to the town, “provided that they are lawful and behave themselves,” as the Priest had put it. However, he sounded doubtful that Felix would agree.
“The Prefect does not wish to stir trouble,” Patros had told him. “He has not been himself lately. A tragedy is to blame. His wife and daughter died on the same day, not too long ago, and grief has made him turn inward, ignoring Orom’s needs.”
“That does suck. I mean, it is terrible, to lose your loved ones.”
“It is. I hope that eventually he will recover from his grief.”
“Maybe after I clear the Lair, we can talk to him.”
“After you vanquish the Lair, I will speak on your behalf.”
And now I’m off to clear the Lair, Hawke thought as he walked up the path and drank in the sights.
He noticed the remains of stone walls alongside the path; only the foundations remained, large blocks of stone too large for the locals to cart away. The blocks were eroded with age, but they still showed that a thick and likely tall fortification had once ringed the entire hill, turning it into a castle or fortress.
“That’s nice,” Hawke said. “How long ago was that?”
As the sword spoke, she showed him images from the past. Hawke saw a large army arranged in neat blocks of soldiers, with magicians on flying beasts hovering overhead. A horde of demons washed over the deployed legions. The monsters suffered horrendous casualties from arrows, war engines, and spells that exploded like heavy artillery, but they overran the square formations and brought down the mages. The fleeting images were so gripping that Hawke almost walked off the hill.
Maybe save the cutscenes for when I’m not walking, he asked Saturnyx.
“The townies don’t seem to be getting a lot of imperial protection.”
Hawke smiled and nodded while he kept an eye out for any wildlife. The slope to the right of the road was lightly wooded; to the left the hill was mostly bare rock and very steep. Either way, he was pretty sure the Dire Bear wasn’t around.
Somebody else was, though. As he neared the hilltop, Hawke heard shouting and the barking of dogs. He rushed towards the sounds, making sure Saturnyx was loose in her scabbard. He didn’t want to jump to conclusions – not after the last time – but he wanted to be ready for anything.
The hunting lodge was behind a wooden wall, about eight feet high, with a swinging gate that was currently wide open. Hawke saw Tava yelling at an older man. The guy had the tanned and weathered physique of someone who had spent most of his life outdoors. Despite his beard and scraggly hair, the family resemblance to Tava and her brother was unmistakable. The hunting dogs Hawke had seen earlier were barking at both of them, upset at the sight of their loved ones fighting.
“Someone has to do something!” Tava yelled.
“And why in the gods’ names does it have to be you, girl? I go away for a few weeks – to ‘do something’ about this, as a matter of fact – and what do I find? My children playing hero and crossing the Prefect!”
“I am not a child! I am of age!”
“Not until you marry or raise your own household, you aren’t!”
Tava began to say something, but she and her father noticed Hawke standing by the gate. He waved feebly at them. The dogs stopped barking and began growling at him. As the man turned towards Hawke, his stats appeared above his head.
Kinto Primes (Human)
Level 8 Hunter
Health 94 (236) Mana 79 Endurance 74 (186)
The Hunter was the highest-level person Hawke had seen, but his age had severely reduced his Health and Endurance. He must have been death on wheels in his prime, though. Getting old sucked.
“Who is this, then?” the old man – Kinto – said. “A stranger at my door, bearing sword and shield? Tell me this has nothing to do with you, Tava.”
“He is a Paladin of Light, father.”
“Oh, is he?”
“He is,” Hawke said, raising his right hand by way of greeting. “I am Hawke.”
“A fatherless paladin?” Kinto said, and Hawke belatedly remembered everybody around those parts introduced themselves with some
surname that often included their father’s name.
“Son of Hector, actually, and called Lightseeker,” he added. “Patros sent me here.”
“Patros,” Kinto said. “Patros the drunkard. Patros the coward, who would send children to do his bidding.”
“Not a child,” Tava said, stamping her foot on the ground, which sort of ruined her claim. Hawke knew some people tended to revert to their childhood habits when around their parents and managed to keep a smile off his face. She was cute as hell when she was angry.
Kinto turned towards her. “A stupid child. I was met on the road home by Guard Captain Brunes, child. He told me to put a leash on you and your brother, if I cared for your lives.”
Hawke realized that, beneath the anger and bluster, the Hunter was worried. Maybe even afraid.
“I’m not scared of Brunes,” Octava replied.
“You should be, girl. He is no mere fighting man. He’s an Adventurer.”
“So are we, Father. So are you.”
Kinto shrugged. “Yes. I was young and stupid, so I did stupid things. Lost many a good friend along the way, too, before I wised up and retired. I’ll not lose my children, either to vampires or the Prefect’s thugs.”
“I don’t fear that cowardly bastard.”
“Fool child of mine. Brunes is a Warrior and Gladiator of the tenth level. Conquered Dungeons and walked away with items of power, much better than mine. You are not match for him. Neither am I, for that matter.”
“We haven’t broken any laws. We tracked a vampire yesterday.” She lowered her head for a moment. “It was Kora. My friend, until some fiend turned her into a monster!”
“Kora was a fine lass. I am sorry such horrors befell her. I will be sorrier if the same doom befalls you.”
“Gosto and I tracked her a good way into the Highland Forest, north of the Auric River. I know where she was headed. Back to her master, in the Lair he’s made.”
“That’s why I’m here,” Hawke said.
He wanted to leave – walking into a family argument made him feel uncomfortable – but he had a quest to fulfill.
“Patros asked me to deal with the Lair,” he added.
“And you’d be doing that all on your own, Paladin? At the third level of power?”
“Well, I’ve killed four vampires so far,” Hawke replied.
Having people speak of levels and classes like that weirded him out a little, but it sort of made sense. The Realms seemed to be divided into normal people on one side, and Adventurers and Arcane Professionals on the other. It was as natural to them as electric lights were to him.
Kintos laughed. “You are barely past the beginner’s stage. You won’t live to see the Lair; the wildlife will have your carcass first.”
Hawke wanted to protest, but the fact was, the wildlife had already had his carcass. Of course, unlike normal people, he’d gotten better afterwards, but he wasn’t eager to let anyone know he was an Eternal.
“We will help,” Tava said. “Gosto and I.”
“If you were but two years younger, you’d be having your backside warmed, and sent off to bed without supper, child,” Kinto growled. His shoulders slouched and he shook his head. “But you’re not. If your mother were here…”
“But she’s not,” Tava said, and now there was sadness mixed with the anger in her voice. “And she was also an Adventurer.”
“That she was, daughter of mine. That she was.”
Kinto went quiet for a second, considering things, and nodded to himself.
“It is decided, then. We will all go with this Paladin.”
Tava gasped. “What?”
“Do you think I would let my children, my foolish children, venture into a Lair on their own? Oh, no. Without you, I have nothing, so with you I shall go.” He turned to Hawke. “We will see to this Lair together, Hawke, son of Hector. May your gods and mine protect us. Age has slowed me down and robbed me of much of my strength, but I can still string a bow and wield a spear.”
Gostos came out of the house, where he’d been hiding during the argument. “You mean it? We’re going to the Lair?”
“Don’t sound so happy, foolish fruit of my loins. We won’t be having horses or wagons on this trip, so you’ll be our mule. Fetch my spear and load our packs for a week’s worth of traveling! I’ll be in the house, donning my armor.” The Hunter patted his midsection. “And hope it still fits me.”
“I’ll go get ready, too,” Tava said, sounding happier than anybody else, and all but ran into the house, leaving Hawke alone with Kinto.
“I fear no good will come of this,” the older man muttered before speaking to Hawke: “A Lair is no trifling matter, Paladin. And the Highlands Forest is full of dangers.”
“I know. I met Tava and Gosto there.”
Kinto shook his head. “They’ll be the death of me, my foolish children. But they are mine, Paladin. If you let either of them come to harm, you’ll have to deal with me.”
“I won’t,” Hawke said.
“Swear it, Paladin. On your goddess, swear it.”
The words of the oath came to him instinctively, part of his ingrained knowledge. “I, Hawke son of Hector, will protect Gosto and Tava Kintes when we venture into the Lair. I do so swear. On Gloriana Lumina, my power, life, and soul, I swear I will do everything in my power to keep them alive and uncursed by Undeath. By strength of arms or incantation, I swear I will allow no permanent harm to come to them.”
Quest Accepted: Kinto’s Children
You have sworn to protect Tava and Gosto from harm while clearing the Vampire Lair. If either of them dies, becomes Undead, or suffers a crippling injury in the course of the Lair expedition, you will fail this Quest.
Rewards: 300 XP. +200 Reputation with Kinto Primes
Penalties for Failure: Broken oath: -100 to Global Renown, -1,000 XP, Kinto’s Blood Enmity
I didn’t do it lightly, Hawke replied. And I meant what I said.
Death was permanent for everyone in that family. Hawke wasn’t going to let any of them die.
Twenty-One
Kinto’s gear was fairly impressive.
Hawke’s True Sight allowed him to see the stats behind the fancy armor and weapons. The Hunter had discarded his simple garments and was wearing a set of shiny green leather armor, with a burnished corselet protecting his torso, a helmet with cheek guards, and vambraces and shin guards for his limbs. The armor was burnished and shone brightly when he was out in the open, but when Kinto wanted to, it would blend in with his surroundings, making him hard to spot.
I have to get me one of those, Hawke told himself.
Garb of the Ranger Set
Damage Absorption (All): Physical 15/40% Elemental (All) 10/20%. Agility Penalty: 0. Stealth Bonus: +20%. Speed Penalty: None. Durability 55/55. Requires Light Armor Skill.
Helmet Bonuses: +2 to Perception and Willpower.
Corselet Bonuses: +2 to Constitution and Spirit.
Vambraces Bonuses: +4 to Dexterity
Leggings Bonuses: +10% to Running Speed
Boot Bonuses: +5 to Stealth Skill
Garb of the Ranger Set Bonuses:
Camouflage: The armor’s coloring changes to fit its surroundings. -35% to spot, +50% bonus to Stealth tasks. Works only on forest and jungle terrain.
Earth Healing: Once per day, the armor can heal its wearer by up to 50 Health.
The man’s weapons were equally impressive: a spear whose bronze head was covered in runic inscriptions, and a bow seemingly made of ivory, intricately decorated with scenes of tall Elves hunting mammoth and other large beasts. He had given the bow to Tava, much to her surprise.
Spear of the Onyx Legion
One- or two-handed. Damage (Physical): One-Handed: 21-26; Two-Handed: 28-38. Thrown: 21-23. Durability: 45/45. Requires Spear Skill.
Special Abilities:
Enhanced Attributes: +2 to Strength, Constitution and Spirit.
Bow of the Elven Scout
Two-handed. Damage: 15-20. Durability: 20/20.
Special Abilities:
Enhanced Attributes: +4 to Dexterity and Perception
Not bad at all, Hawke thought.
Saturnyx said in her usual snooty tone.
So what is the deal with Adventurers? Hawke asked his sword as he and his new allies walked towards the Highlands Forest.
Sounds a lot harder than rolling up a character onscreen, Hawke mused.
A world that works like a sandbox MMORPG. This setup can’t be a coincidence. And it’s been that way for thousands of years?
Hawke shook his head. It was too much to think about. All he wanted was to find a way back to his reality, but it was clear that it was going to take a long time, if it was possible at all. The galaxy in the night sky weighed heavily on his mind. How far away was he from home?
As he usually did with things he couldn’t change, he set his worries aside. Don’t waste your energy on big picture stuff, his father had been fond of saying. Worry about the stuff that’s in your power to affect. If – when – he reached a point where he could do something about the big picture, things would be different.
Twilight Templar (The Eternal Journey Book 1) Page 12
