Quest—Uncover Orc infestation
Objective: Kill 10 orcs.
XP Reward: 200
Our steps were measured as we approached the decrepit Victorian house, eyes scanning for any sign of orcs. My pulse quickened. Each moment heightened the anticipation, adrenaline flooding my veins.
"Steady now," Wesley's calm voice pierced the quiet. "Let's not rush in blindly."
Jayden's normal grin was gone, replaced by hardened focus. His grip on the sword tightened, ready to unleash warrior fury. "I've got your back, Wes," his tone laden with resolve.
"Just make sure I don't have to bail out you knuckleheads," Hanna jabbed.
Sarah nodded, focus etched on her face. "We watch each other's backs. Stick together."
Emily flashed a confident smile, rapier poised. Having her near fortified my courage, though her safety concerned me above all. I hefted my rifle with care, duty weighing heavy.
Without warning, ten orcs burst from the shadows, movements precise in coordinated attack. This cunning was new, catching us off guard.
"Focus, everyone!" Wesley commanded. "Take them one by one!"
My rifle cracked as I dropped orc after orc with clean headshots. Emily's rapier slashed in lethal arcs, her grace mesmerizing amidst the chaos. I wish she was always by my side.
Jayden's sword hammered an orc with unmatched strength. Hanna's daggers flew swift and true, affirming her scouting mastery. Sarah's fireballs sizzled through the air, scenting it with charred orc flesh.
In the heat of the battle, Steve Jr. and Mark Wilson fought side by side. Steve's growth was evident; his fervor was matched only by the improved precision with which he met each orc assault. Each swing of his sword was more assured, each block more instinctual.
Mark, however, was a wild card. His arrogance and swagger seemed almost reckless amidst the grave danger we faced. He confronted the orcs fearlessly, a boldness that verged on unnerving. A question lingered in my mind: Was this bravado or true confidence backed by skill? Doubts gnawed at me, but the urgency of battle allowed no room for pondering.
Meanwhile, amidst the chaos, Matt, our impromptu medic, moved with an almost eerie calm. Weaving through the battlefield, his healing spells danced from his fingers, finding their targets with an accuracy that was hard to believe. Despite his lack of experience, Matt had an uncanny ability to anticipate where his help was needed most. He might've been an amateur, but in the heat of battle, you’d have never known.
The air rang with clashing steel, whizzing arrows, and crackling magic as we threw ourselves into the fierce battle. We may have been outnumbered, but our bonds of loyalty proved stronger than the orcs' bloodthirst.
Wesley rallied our warriors into a spearhead formation, coordinating our efforts. What felt like hours must've only been minutes before they drove back the remaining monsters. My rifle picked off one orc just as a fireball from Sarah engulfed another.
I sagged in relief as the final orc hit the dirt, the threat eliminated. Sweat dripped down my face as I scanned the scattered bodies for my friends. Spotting Emily, I breathed easier - she was wiping her blade clean, unharmed.
"We did it," I exhaled, relief and triumph surging through me.
Wesley moved among us, praising our teamwork with pats on the back. "That's how it's done - fighting as one."
Before we could relish our victory, the familiar ping of a System Message interrupted.
You successfully completed [Uncover Orc infestation]
You are awarded 200 experience points.
Would you like to accept the next quest in the Victorian Mansion Series?
I accepted the quest.
Quest—Clear the house of orcs.
Orcs have overrun the Victorian Mansion. Clear the ground and second floor of orcs.
XP Reward: 200
The ramshackle Victorian mansion loomed before us, its crumbling facade casting foreboding shadows. The orcs that had attacked us earlier had emerged from within its walls. Now it was our turn to clear out the threat inside.
Sword gripped tightly in his hand, Jayden strode up to the front door. With a mighty kick, he battered it open, the crash of splintering wood shattering the heavy silence within the foyer.
Cautiously, we stepped over the broken door into the foyer, which split into two doors on either side. Choosing the one to the right, Jayden led the way into a dimly lit room crawling with orcs. His warrior instincts took over as he charged with a fierce battle cry, weapons clanging violently as he dueled his opponent.
Across the room, Wesley raised his shield to deflect savage blows while striking back with furious swings of his sword. Each of his movements was controlled and deliberate, focused on protecting our party.
Hanna darted through shadows, blades flashing as she exploited gaps in armor. Her skill had grown exponentially since the System changed everything. She moved with lethal poise through the chaos.
An orc attacked me, all frenzied eyes and brute force. I tried to dodge but it barreled into me. We crashed to the floor, grappling fiercely. My heart raced as I struggled to gain advantage, refusing to be overpowered.
It pinned me down, its crushing weight nearly suffocating. Summoning my resolve, I grabbed my revolver and fired into our clenched bodies. The orc slackened and I fired again, finally shoving the lifeless beast off me.
As I caught my breath, Mark dispatched an orc looming over me. He smirked and extended a hand, mock camaraderie in his eyes. "Not bad, newbie..."
I clasped Mark's outstretched hand, forcing a thin smile despite his condescending tone. My brush with death had left me rattled, any clever comebacks stalled on my tongue. As the post-battle haze lifted, I realized we had cleared the room.
Emily approached, her eyes flashing with concern and frustration. "Just ignore Mark," she muttered, disgust lacing her voice. "He's nothing but an arrogant ass."
Her words centered me, reminding me what really mattered. Once our casters had recharged, we cautiously crossed the foyer. Anticipation hung thick in the air as we approached the next closed door.
Ever the joker, Jayden tried to cut the tension. "Let's see what's behind door number two!" His mock game show host routine echoed through the empty hall. With a swift motion belying his underlying tension, Jayden flung open the door, only to reveal a seething mass of waiting orcs.
They poured out in a relentless swarm, catching us off guard. Jayden fell back a step as his sword became a blur of steel, desperately parrying endless attacks. Blood bloomed on his arms where orc blades had slipped through.
Wesley moved to support him, shield pushing back the tide while his sword carved openings for Jayden to exploit. Hanna leapt to her brother's side, daggers striking with uncanny precision. "What'd I tell you about being a knucklehead?" she jabbed, though her tone held an undercurrent of concern.
Meanwhile, Sarah and I hung back, raining ranged attacks on the horde. I scanned for priority targets, noting a smaller orc muttering in the back, twisted branch held aloft - likely a spellcaster. Trusting Sarah to manage crowd control, I took aim with my pistol and dropped the orc with a clean headshot, its garbled spell dying on charred lips.
Off to the side, Mark faced off against two burly orcs, struggling to hold his ground. His swordplay was impressive but the orcs' brute strength slowly gained advantage. A blade slipped past his guard, piercing his leather armor, and stark fear flashed across Mark's face.
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Though he rubbed me the wrong way, I couldn't leave him unaided. Stepping forward, I swiftly activated my ranged skill, dropping both orcs with clean headshots.
Maybe it was petty, but I couldn't resist a taunt as our eyes met. "Not bad, Mark. But you might learn a thing or two from this sharpshooter."
Mark's expression soured, embarrassment warring with anger at needing rescue. "Yeah, sure," he muttered, bumping my shoulder roughly as he passed to loot the bodies.
I frowned, wondering if I'd made an enemy. Before I could dwell on it, Emily appeared at my side, leaning in close.
"Forget Mark," she said softly. "He's just a jerk."
Her nearness made my heart race for reasons beyond battle. I rubbed my neck, cheeks warming. "You're probably right. I should know better by now."
Emily smiled and playfully slapped my chest. "You're learning, newbie." Her hand lingered, tentative, before slipping away. "Come on, let's collect our share."
I watched her graceful form, realizing that if this world held one bright spot, it was her.
[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0f/4e/ff/0f4eff84d946f90575e6b4138efc4b00.gif]
You successfully completed [Clear the house of orcs.]
You are awarded 200 experience points.
Would you like to accept the next quest in the Victorian Mansion Series?
I accepted the quest.
Quest—Take down Urghok the Unyielding, Boss of the Victorian Basement
Urghok the Unyielding is expanding his dungeon. Stop him or risk the land becoming overrun by an orcish invasion
XP Reward: 200
The temperature plummeted as we descended into the mansion's basement. The dirt floor now split into several winding tunnels that hadn't existed before. This place was changing into a sprawling dungeon before our eyes.
Eager as ever, Jayden examined a tunnel entrance. "This'll be perfect for farming XP and loot!"
I eyed the shadowy passages uneasily, thoughts straying to Emily. Part of me wished she had stayed above, but suggesting so would only hurt our relationship. I held my tongue.
Wesley pointed to a tunnel, speaking with calm authority. "Likely a dungeon boss down here. Let's check this one." Ever the fearless guide, he showed no hesitation venturing into the unknown danger.
The tunnel narrowed as we pressed on, our footsteps echoing eerily. A thunderous roar shattered the silence, seeming to shake the very walls. An immense orc emerged, nearly ten feet tall and rippling with muscle, clad in enchanted armor that glinted ominously.
I quickly inspected the monstrosity - Urghok the Unyielding, a Level 6 rare elite. This foe matched anything we had yet faced.
Undaunted, Wesley charged forward, though his hammer glanced off the orc's thick chest plate. Grinning cruelly, Urghok swung his massive runeblade at Wesley, knocking him back several feet despite his shield.
As Jayden rushed to engage the orc, Wesley shouted, "Careful, his hits could kill you instantly!"
Jayden ducked as Urghok's massive blade sliced the air above his head. Seizing the opening, Jayden swung with all his might, but his sword clanged uselessly off the orc's enchanted chestplate.
Cursing, Hanna tried to slip around the side, but the cramped tunnel gave no room to maneuver. When she dashed forward, Urghok's sword nearly cleaved her in two, forcing her back.
"Go into the dungeon, he said. Fight the orcs, he said. Fucking dumbass idea," she spat.
I shared her frustration. The tight space played to the orc's advantage, giving us no way to flank him.
Urghok battered Wesley's shield, the force splintering the wood. "My arm's broken!" Wes yelled through gritted teeth.
Before I could react, scrawny Steve Jr. leapt forward, raising his shield against the towering orc. The kid had guts, I'll give him that.
Matt knelt by Wesley, mana glowing around his hands. "Let's hope this spell can set bones too..."
Mark stepped up beside the scrawny teen warrior, interlocking their shields against the raging orc. "Keep him contained, kid!"
Mark slashed out fiercely, but Urghok batted his sword away like a toy before countering with a swing that nearly shattered Steve's guard.
"Damn, this ugly bastard hits hard!" Steve yelled through gritted teeth, boots sliding back from the force.
Sara hurled a crackling fireball, splashing flames across the orc's exposed arm. He barely flinched. "All that did was piss him off more!"
I fell back, swapping my revolver for my rifle. Adding extra mana, I took aim at the orc's head. The confined space made it nearly impossible to miss his hulking frame. I had to pierce that magical armor.
Exhaling, I squeezed the trigger. The rifle kicked against my shoulder as the bullet exploded from the barrel. It struck Urghok square in the forehead, and he reeled for a moment before unleashing a bellow of rage.
The enraged orc threw himself against our shield wall, his strength nearly overwhelming us. Our shield fighters braced together, boots sliding in the dirt as they strained to hold the line.
"Don't let him break through!" Wesley shouted, face twisted in pain and effort.
Seizing the momentary distraction, Hanna slipped silently along the wall behind the preoccupied orc. With catlike grace she pounced onto Urghok's back, her dagger finding a weak spot in his armor.
Urghok howled as she struck something vital. I fired again, and the staggering orc crashed to his knees, dark blood streaming from his torn throat under Hanna's relentless assault.
With a final gurgling gasp, the monstrous orc collapsed.
System alerts were flashing in the corner of my vision.
You successfully completed [Take down Urghok the Unyielding, Boss of the Victorian Basement].
You are awarded 200 experience points.
Congratulations! You have cleared the Victorian Mansion Quests.
The dungeon resets in [6] days, [18] hours, [13] minutes.
We had each accumulated six hundred experience points for the quests. There was another alert. I selected it.
Combat successfully completed.
[10] level 2 orcs killed 150 XP
[16] level 3 orcs killed 320 XP
[12] level 4 orcs killed 300 XP
[1] Level 6 rare elite Orc, Urghok the Unyielding killed 3850 XP
4620 party experience points.
Your portion of damage—15%, adjusted for level [5].
You are awarded with 700 experience points.
Not a bad haul, and we hadn’t even checked the loot yet. Thirteen hundred experience points for the dungeon. And we could do it again in a week. Before I could access the loot notification, I received another.
Congratulations! You have leveled. You are now level [6]. You have received +1 to Constitution.
You have multiple classes that may be leveled. You may only pick one class to level.
Every level of sharpshooter seemed to give me a bump to my firearms skill, which was already at plus three. Without thinking too much about it, I leveled up my sharpshooter, to level four.
You have leveled up your firearms skill: +4 to your Firearms skill.
I hadn’t expected to level yet, but I wasn’t going to complain. Before I could access anything else, Jayden piped up, “Damn, he dropped a load of gold.”
Another alert popped up.
Your raid group looted [21] gold coins. Your portion, [2] gold, [33] silver, [34] copper have been added to your money pouch.
Then what I’m sure Jayden was happiest to see finally appeared in my vision. Loot!
Urghok's Chestplate
Equipable at
Level 5
Quality
Rare
Durability
100%
Constitution
+1
Strength
+2
Defense (ranged)
+1
Defense (melee)
+2
Defense (spell)
+2
As the monstrous orc's corpse faded, it left behind a shining chestplate engraved with arcane runes. Jayden's eyes lit up with excitement as he knelt to examine the armor, practically drooling. Wesley stood close behind, eyeing the prize appraisingly. His own armor was merely standard issue from the System shop, making this a clear upgrade.
Young Steve watched the chestpiece nervously, fidgeting in place. His basic gear paled in comparison to this magical find. Then there was Mark, leaning against the cavern wall with an arrogant grin. He acted as if the armor already belonged to him.
"Check out this sweet chestpiece!" Jayden could barely contain his enthusiasm. "It'd improve my stats big time."
Wesley nodded thoughtfully. "No doubt, a fine upgrade for any of us."
Steve piped up shyly, "I've been hoping for gear like that. It looks amazing."
Mark scoffed, "Well, if you ask me, I'm clearly the most skilled fighter here. That armor should go to someone proven, like me."
Tension grew as everyone awaited a decision. I traded a knowing look with Emily - dealing with Mark was tiresome.
"Let's have Sarah decide," I suggested, trying to sound authoritative. "She's always been fair."
Hanna smirked. "Not me, huh?"
I grinned roguishly. "We both know you're biased when it comes to your brother."
She acknowledged the truth of that with a chuckle.
"He doesn't really need it anyway," Hanna added. "Jayden already scored some magic armor in the hospital."
Nodding, I replied, "Exactly. That's why Sarah should decide. Let's leave it to her."
The suggestion was met with hesitant nods and murmurs - all except Mark, who stood scowling with arms crossed. Clearly Sarah was the logical choice to settle this dispute.
Sarah stepped forward, surveying our eager faces. "Thanks for trusting me with this big decision. Let's weigh everyone's skills, contributions, and needs to determine who would benefit most."
As she deliberated, anticipation swirled within the cramped cavern. I hoped Sarah would choose fairly and consider our team's cohesion, not just individual benefit. Certainly not for Mark, in any case.
After an agonizing wait, Sarah finally spoke, voice calm yet firm. "I've decided Steve Jr. deserves the chestpiece. The kid has drive, enthusiasm, and frankly needs an upgrade the most. It's only fair he gets this boost."
Steve beamed with surprise and delight. The rest of us nodded, acknowledging the wisdom in Sarah's choice. All except Mark, whose face twisted bitterly.
"This is bullshit!" he spat. "I'm clearly the best fighter here! That armor should be mine."
I traded disappointed looks with the others - Mark's attitude was predictable by now.
"Is he always like this?" I whispered to Emily.
"The self-proclaimed hero of every quest," she sighed.
Wesley spoke up, projecting reassurance. "Let's not let this ruin our celebration. We're a team who succeeds together. More loot will come in time. For now, we've got each other's backs."
The mood remained awkward as we headed home, most of us congratulating Steve while Mark sulked behind. But Wesley was right - we would endure Mark's ego or we’d just leave his sorry ass behind next time.