Chapter 67: On The Hunt

After the defeat of Lord Oscuro by the Old Guard, there were many changes which came about Esem. Not least of these was the attitude towards the so called “Oscuro Patrolo” which was a large collection of human players who served him throughout his reign. During his time, these players were seen as the Dark Lords de facto enforcers. They ran the entrances to the Hub, and are the ones who collected the travel tax which Oscuro used to make himself wealthy. Though some, I am sure, were mild mannered players just in search of a job, the stories of wild and despotic enforcers reached across the entirety of Esem and soured any and all on these back stabbing players. With Oscuro no longer running Esem, the question as what should become of these players soon was asked. Should they be executed? Imprisoned? The Church of AION asked for rehabilitation and forgiveness, while the friends of the Patrolo’s victims demanded swift retribution. In the end, it came down to connections. Many of the players ended up in the dungeons beneath Dark Cradle castle where once they had banished others who could not pay the travel tax or who broke the laws of Oscuro. Others, of course, managed to find their ways to the sunny beaches of Tangamar and live out their remaining days. Whatever happened to these fortunate ones could fill several books, but suffice it to say that despite their relative fortune many were hunted down and assassinated by guilds, or put up as hits for the burgeoning Assassin class now allowed after Oscuro’s defeat. It was, as they say, a wild time.

-Legacy of Oscuro, Volume 2, Desto Darger, circa SD975

They gathered outside The Royal. Hackney had lost the game and so Alex, darkly satisfied to be among the party, stood at Brent’s side as they awaited the two guild leaders to join them. Finally, Meredith and Chase exited the inn, their bows strung across their backs along with their quivers bristling with arrows.

“The others are inside our room, as it is the largest,” said Meredith. “I told them to keep the door shut until we return. With hope there are enough players downstairs that we won’t have any problems with a counter attack whilst we are gone.”

“Good,” said Daniel. He patted his sheathed sword, a fire in his eyes. “Something wrong, Chase?”

The leader of the Seven Banes was looking up and down the darkening street, as though looking for something.

“The Innkeeper is gone again,” said Chase, looking at each of them.

“You think he is the NPC who attacked you?” Asked Alex.

“His voice is different,” said Meredith.

“True,” nodded Chase. “But if they got one NPC why not more?”

“It’s definitely a concern,” said Alex, stroking his chin. “I remember he was gone when Seb got attacked, too.”

“Right,” said Meredith, anger coming in her voice. “I forgot about that. He wasn’t here when I brought back little Seb.”

“Whatever the case,” said Chase. “Let’s run down what I am expecting out of each of you. Meredith and I are the hunters with the Nose of the Wolf ability. That means if we get close to them then the two of us will go ahead to scope out where they are. If we are lucky, then they are still together and camping out somewhere outside of town. When we find them, we will come get you and then the work begins.”

“Sounds good to me,” said Daniel. “What if they are still in town? Might cause a lot of trouble for us to fight them.”

Chase sniffed the air and a devilish grin spread across his face.

“The wind has changed, I don’t think they are in town. Smell that?” he said to Meredith.

“That I do,” she said, her head turning down the road. “That nasty stink is coming from that way.”

“Then let’s go,” said Chase, motioning to all of them. “And try to look casual, okay? Alex, put your sword up. We don’t want the townsfolk or the players thinking we are up to anything.”

Alex sighed and sheathed his sword. Brent snickered at his expression which earned him a withering look from his friend. Claire, who had been leaning against the inn wall and staring off into the darkness of the night, gently sighed but couldn’t hide her own bemused smile at Alex’s reaction.

The five of them set off down the empty streets of Birchtown. Though not a player nor NPC accosted them Brent could hear the lively chatter of companions drinking within inns and houses. Every building they passed he made sure to quickly spy the darkness within their alleys, making sure there was no surprise attack coming for them. He tried to keep his hand off his sword handle and appear to all the world that he was just walking with a group of friends to a location for a night of drinking.

Chase and Meredith finally led them outside of town, and Brent realized that they were coming close to the shrine which Seb had been attacked at. This is when Chase silently raised his hand and Brent felt himself come to a complete stop. Even Meredith paused and looked at Chase. His guild leader sniffed the wind again and had such an air of command that Brent felt himself growing proud to be along with him.

Still has some of the Old Guard in him, thought Brent with satisfaction. It was good to know that Chase was more than just uncle-like advice and the occasional training partner.

“I smell them too,” said Meredith under her breath.

“Alright guys,” said Chase. He turned around but kept his voice very low. “From here on out we do everything we can to remain silent. We can smell them coming down that path near the shrine. If they have a camp made, then perhaps they are all together, but if they do then they likely have a guard posted. Be quiet, and stay close.”

Brent nodded along with the others. Claire grimly smiled at him, none of her earlier trepidations remained. Daniel and Alex similarly looked slightly nervous, but there was still a conviction to their expressions which belied their nerves.

“Let’s go,” said Meredith.

This is it, thought Brent as they trekked past the shrine and down the path. What I’ve been waiting for. I finally get a taste of real combat. Not just in an arena with magical weapons that don’t draw blood.

The forest soon consumed the lights from Birchtown, and with every step Brent felt himself growing equal parts nervous and excited. He could hear the sounds of little animals in the brush as they scampered home as the last of the light disappeared above the canopy. The darkness was near total, and he was wishing that Amelie or Clark were there to light their way with a spell. Brent constantly checked to make sure his sword was at his hip and secure, and each time his fingers found his sword’s handle a sick thrill stretched across his chest and he felt his pulse pounding in his ears.

Chase raised a clenched fist, and all the players stopped, their bated breath the only sound to fill the silence. Brent’s guild leader turned around and placed a finger over his lips. He then motioned for the party to remain, and he disappeared into the trees. Brent could barely hear him as his footfalls vanished and for some time they waited for his return. Alex fidgeted beside him.

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Relax, thought Brent, placing a hand on his friends shoulder. In the dark Brent could only see the whites of his eyes as Alex glanced and then nodded at him.

After what felt like an eternity, Chase returned. He waved his hand for them to gather near and lowered his voice to a whisper.

“They are about 100 yards this way, around a small fire. I counted five of them, and they have no guards that I can see.”

“Good,” whispered Meredith. She had an arrow half knocked already.

“Here’s is what we are going to do,” continued Chase. “Meredith and I will go first and post up on either side of them. I want you three,” he pointed at the fighters, “to get ready to charge. As soon as I fire an arrow, Meredith, you do the same. That will be the signal to attack. I think the three of you will be more than a match for the remaining ones.”

Instead of responding verbally, Brent and the other two fighters nodded their assent. Meredith quietly cleared her throat.

“Sounds fine to me,” she said. “Let’s end these punks and get back for some dinner.”

At that Alex chuckled, and away they went. Being careful not to step on any sticks or trip over any exposed roots, the going was slow. Soon, Meredith and Chase began to push to either side and Brent had a memory of reading about pincer formations. The guild leaders were going to act as their support, but even if the masked men were stronger than they thought Brent trusted the skills of both Chase and Meredith to see them through to the end.

The going was slow. Five people trying to be silent in a forest at night was no easy task, and occasionally Meredith or Chase would signal to them through the trees to stop as they sniffed the air. Once they stopped for a full five minutes as Chase once again disappeared to scope out their prey. When he returned he motioned for the fighters to ready their blades with a hand gesture which mimed drawing a sword. Brent, Claire, and Alex did so slowly, but Daniel was too hasty and the sound of ringing steel dully echoed among the trees.

Daniel made a face that said “sorry about that,” and grimaced as the sound faded into the night. Meredith kept her hand out, motioning for them to remain still, until the sound passed. Finally, after no commotion was heard beyond, she signaled again to continue.

Idiot, thought Brent. Then he remembered a story about an assassin who always coated his blade in soot so that it could not be seen at night, and realized that would have been a good idea before they embarked. I guess after this my blade will be coated in red.

He wanted to laugh and tell Claire what he had thought, but knew better. It would have to wait until later.

After a few more minutes of their silent crawl through the woods Brent was able to see the dim flickering of a campfire, and he heard the dull tones of people talking. Now his blood began to really pump, and he was reminded of his fight with Hackney, and the way his body had longed to strike out and hurt him. In the arena, he had been ashamed of this intrusive desire, but out here, deep in the woods and far from town against a group of players who had attacked one of his own he felt vindicated. This was what he was meant to be doing.

Chase motioned once again, and then nodded at Meredith. They were already some distance away to either side but now they crept out alone, choosing theirs positions with care. Brent, Alex, Claire, and Daniel did likewise and moved until no one was blocking another for their upcoming charge. Now Brent could distinctly make out five shapes around a campfire. They appeared to be sitting in a circle as they ate some food. He could not make out what they were talking about but caught some short phrases.

“..could be a problem,” one said.

“Who cares we...find...” said another.

Brent strained his hearing but between the sounds of the night and the roaring campfire no other words found purchase in his ears. He lowered his body as much as he could, bending his legs so that he would be ready to sprint. Now all there was to do was wait for the guild leaders to make their shots. If they struck true then there would only be three players remaining to kill, and Brent swore to himself that at least one would be his, if not more if he were lucky.

Alex will be the last one to make it, he thought. He knew Claire was fast in a sprint over short distances, and figured that Daniel would also arrive quickly. He knew that he was the fastest one, as untold races on the training island had proven, and there was a chance that he might get two of the attackers before the others had a chance to fight them.

Morbidly, he wondered how much experience killing a player in combat would net him. He could almost taste the experience points pouring into his journal, bringing him beyond level 4. At level 6 he would unlock a new Class ability, and the anticipation of that had been driving him mad since he unlocked Stone Skin at level 3.

Amidst his fervent daydream, he heard a whistling in the air, shortly followed by a second, and a cry from the group of players.

THWUMP! THWUMP!

“What the—!”

“We’re under attack!”

Brent charged, not even bothering to see if the others were behind him. A fallen tree was before him but he leaped over it and hit the ground running. The clearing the players were in was small, and in a dozen desperate strides he was before them. One of the players was slumped over, an arrow sticking from his back. Another was on the ground, arms splayed out like he was stretching and his face cloaked in shadows. The other three were on their feet, grabbing for their weapons. None were wearing masks and all looked panicked and afraid.

“For the Seven Banes!” Cried Brent. He swung at the closest figure to him. His blade arched through the mans shirt, a trail of blood spurting from his chest as he fell upon the ground, a shout of pain and confusion coming from his mouth.

The other two, a man and a woman, had their swords raised, but the man seemed unsteady, and untrained in sword play. He held his hands out too far, pointing it at Brent. The woman snarled and lunged for him, trying to slash at his face, but Brent parried the blow and returned with another.

Now the others were with him, and their opponents stood back to back. They circled around the attackers and traded blows. Brent’s chance to kill more than one was past, but instead of being upset he could not take his eyes away from the man.

“It’s the innkeeper from The Royal!” Said Brent in shock.

The innkeeper looked desperately afraid as he flailed with his blade, clearly untrained in its use. Daniel was able to knock the blade away with a single heavy swing. The innkeeper looked ready to cry, but when the blade hit the ground he merely growled and tried to grab Daniel which ended in his ruin.

“This is for Meredith,” said Daniel. He grabbed the innkeeper by the shoulder and ran his blade through the NPCs stomach. The NPC gasped and then toppled over. Daniel withdrew his blade and stood over his opponent, a look of grim satisfaction on his face.

“Fools!” Said the woman. She was fighting off Claire, who was giving her no quarter. Alex was standing near, his sword raised and ready to intercede if Claire misstepped, but no chance was given to him as Claire was more than a match for her. Brent did not recognize her from Birchtown, and saw that her mask was hanging from her belt, it’s painted eyes gleaming in the firelight which cast them all in shadows as giants upon the trees.

Swish. Clang.

Claire parried a blow and neatly kicked the woman in the middle. The strike caught in his side and nearly unbalanced her. All it did was enrage her even more and she raised her sword high.

“You little—,” the woman said. But her last words were forever lost as suddenly an arrow burrowed itself in her forehead. A look of surprise crossed her face momentarily but then her hands, and the sword, dropped, and she fell over on her side.

“Hey!” Said Claire, spinning around. Meredith had emerged from the trees, only a bow in her hand. “She was mine!

“Not worth the risk, dear,” said Meredith with a shrug. “I had the shot and I took it.”

“But...But,” sputtered Claire.

“She’s right,” said Chase. Brent nearly jumped. How long as he been standing beside him? “We cant take chances out here.”

Claire huffed, but accepted the answer. Brent was sure he would hear about that later from her.

“If that’s all of them,” said Chase. “How about we check their faces and their bags? I want to see who attacked me. Hey...what’s…oh, that’s not good.”

Brent looked at the bodies and realized they were smoking. Dark smoke seemed to be issuing from their bodies like dry wood upon a fire. The faces of the innkeeper and the woman now appeared to be grinning in death as their faces were consumed in ash and smoke. There was a the sound of five poofs! and the bodies disappeared.

“Ambush!” Cried Chase. He knocked another arrow and turned to the forest. “Make a circle!”

For the first time in his life Brent felt the icy grip of fear clutch his heart as they did as he commanded.

A deep voice bellowed within the dark forest.

“Charge!”