Chapter 75: End of the Line

Dear Dundy,

I am writing today to ask you about a sensitive situation in my guild. Recently we accepted a quest from an NPC in Tangamar concerning collecting coconuts whilst fighting some flying fish. It was fun, and in the end we prevailed, but here is the problem: I was not given any of the items we won. Instead of distributing the items fairly, my guild leader gave them to the players who did the least. I am a level 6 Warrior and most of the combat fell to me. The others collected the coconuts and in the end they got all the items! I know that they are recent spawns but shouldn’t I be entitled to what I have earned? Is this fair?

-Torn in Tangamar

Dear Torn in Tangamar

Without more details, it is difficult for me to gauge what is right and wrong about what your guild leader did, but consider this: you did not get any items from the quest because you already have what you need. You said that your guild mates who received the items are recent spawns, meanwhile, you are a modestly leveled Warrior. I am sure you have plenty of items already whilst they are still struggling new players trying to get a foothold. Though it is common guild etiquette to evenly distribute the items won from a quest, did you ever stop to consider that your new guild mates need these items more than you? Do not look at it as your guild leader unfairly favoring the others, look at it is a chance to make your guild better.

-Dear Dundy, longest running Guild advice column in Esem

Chase’s face was in the dirt. The laser had come so close to him that he thought some of the hairs on the back of his head were likely singed. Amid the cackling laughter of their attacker he took a deep breath and slowly raised his head. The man who had tried to hit them was still laughing as he pointed at them, his face still hidden within his hood.

“You guys okay?” Said Chase, looking at his fighters.

Fortunately they had all avoided the laser, but looked shaken. Alex gingerly picked himself up from the ground and looked like a squirrel wanting to run.

“I’m okay,” said Alex finally. “Guys?”

Brent and Claire followed his lead, never taking their eyes off of the man in the dark hood. Claire nodded but Brent, ever the resistor, spat on the ground and glared at the man.

“What’s the big idea, punk?”

The man stopped laughing. He suddenly threw his hood back and revealed the face of a man who looked in his mid twenties. He had coal colored hair that fell to his shoulders and was tall and slender. His eyes were bright blue and his mouth twisted into a strange pout.

“You shouldn’t speak like that to your betters, boy,” said the man. “I still got two more blast I can send your way if I want.”

The man suddenly raised his hand and a light appeared at the tip of his pointer finger. It looked like a burning star far away in the night sky.

“Yeah?” Said Brent. “Well you shouldn’t be trying to kill us when we are only doing what Markon told us to do.”

The man pfft’ed and then also spit on the ground.

“Markon wouldn’t care if only three of you arrived. I could easily vaporize you on the spot.”

“You’ll do no such thing, Bill,” came a voice.

Now another man appeared from around the wagon. He was dressed similarly to the other but was much older. His beard and hair were light grey and his skin wrinkled and spotted. Despite his age he walked with a straight back and his eyes were hard. He crossed his arms.

“Is anyone following you?” Said the old man.

Chase shook his head.

“We told no one—just as we were asked.”

“As you were told, fool,” said Bill, his eyes gleaming. The older man raised his hand for him to stop talking.

“Enough, Bill,” said the old man. He looked at Chase again, seeing to size him up. “So you’re the leader. Chase, right?”

“That is me,” said Chase.

“My name is Ethan. Ethan the Incorrigible, if that means anything to you. If we find out that anyone is coming to help you I will melt them on the spot.”

Chase had most certainly heard of Ethan the Incorrigible. Though he had never met the old man in his past life, tales of Ethan had been around for years. He had spawned in Esem at the late age of 55, and became well known for his ability with the Mage 2 class. Last Chase had heard, he was on his 6th contract, and was signed as a Geomancer. Of course, if he had signed with the Antagonista, who knew what his powers were now.

“Well, we don’t want to be melted, that’s for sure,” said Chase, shrugging his shoulders. “No one is coming for us.”

“Better not be,” muttered Bill. He tossed his hair arrogantly and then beamed a smile. “Enough chit chat, Ethan. These fools must be missing their friends.”

“Follow bill,” said Ethan. “I’ll be behind you three. If anyone runs, I’ll kill you.”

“To the point,” muttered Claire, standing beside Chase.

“Yeah, whatever,” said Chase. Suddenly he felt indignation at this entire situation. That he had survived far worse then these two mid level monsters and now was to die to them was almost too much to take. “Let’s get this over with.”

Without another word, Bill signaled them to follow behind him. There was a small path which led into the forest, and soon the six of them were marching through the trees. Occasionally Bill would raise a hand as he listened to the sounds of the forest, and then, being satisfied at Chase did not know what, would motion for them to continue. Chase figured it was well past noon as this point, and likely the tournament for the females was well underway.

“Chase,” said Ethan after they had been walking for twenty minutes. They had stopped again but this time Bill had wandered off into the forest to look for something. Clearly he had no worry that the four guild members would be anything but fleas on a horse if they tried to attack Ethan.

“What,” said Chase. They had not spoken a word since they had started off. Alex had decided to lean against a three whilst Claire and Brent whispered amongst themselves.

“Is it true you defeated Lady Xemnara?”

Chase stared at the old man. Unlike Bill he did not like throwing his weight around. Any arrogance he might have had was long gone before he spawned. Here was an old man with an insatiable curiosity. Anything Chase said he was sure Ethan would carefully listen to. He wondered how to answer the question.

“In a manner of speaking,” said Chase.

Ethan produced a pipe from his pocket. It was already packed, as though he knew that Bill was going to stop them and venture out alone for a time. He snapped his fingers above the pipe and suddenly it was lit.

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“Pyromancer perk,” said Ethan. He sucked on the pipe stem and blew out a cloud of smoke. Claire wrinkled her nose and coughed slightly as the smoke moved her way. “The best thing about that class is I didn’t have to buy any more lighters.”

He pointed the pipe at Chase.

“Tell me, Chase. There is no need to be vague. What happened with Xemnara?”

He could feel the other’s staring at him. How was he to answer this question? The wrong information could mean death for their captured friends, or for themselves.

Death is a foregone conclusion, thought Chase to himself.

“We beat her at her own game,” said Chase slowly. “That is all. Even though she tried to break the rules,” he added under his breath.

“She broke the rules and yet still you all survived?” Said Ethan curiously. “Forgive me if I don’t see the logic in that.”

“Well, it’s true.”

“You must have had help,” said Ethan, blowing out more smoke.

“In a manner of speaking, perhaps we did.”

“Go on,” said Ethan.

“AION stepped in when she cheated. He blasted her to smithereens.”

A brief look of shock crossed the old man’s face, and his bushy eyebrows rose.

“Curious. AION himself?”

“Don’t think it’s possible?”

“Oh it is possible,” said Ethan. “But strange, don’t you think? Why would he interject himself to help your guild out so? What makes you so special?”

The same question had been plaguing Chase for days. Why had the god of Esem helped them?

“It’s a new event,” said Chase, shrugging his shoulders. “And clearly this Xem lady is out of control. He probably was just being fair.”

“Fair?” Said Ethan. For the first time he frowned. “AION is not fair, Chase. Nothing he has ever done is fair. Was it fair he spawned me at 55, nearly an old man already? Was it fair to spawn a child of 8, like your friend Thomas into this uncaring world of his?”

“Fine, he wasn’t being fair by helping us, but he did it anyway.”

“And you are not even curious why that is?”

“Honestly, I never gave much though to AION and his brood. They can all rot.”

Claire gasped and Brent hid a laugh. Chase was sure Alex was smiling as he leaned against his tree. He hadn’t spoken much about his thoughts concerning AION to them. When he was younger it had been all he wanted to talk about, but as AION himself was so cagey and Esem seemed to refuse questioning of any kind he had given it up as impossible.

“I’m glad to hear you say that,” said Ethan. “AION can rot. He is unfair and cruel. Why else did he make this world? He only wants to watch us suffer for his amusement, and he only helped you because he wishes to continue being entertained.”

“Let me guess,” said Alex. “And Xemnara is the way? She is kind instead of cruel and also fair and loving?”

“Loving? Not really,” responded Ethan, seemingly unfazed by Alex’s mocking tone. “Love is not fair. If love were fair then all would love all there would be no need for fighting. Lady Xemnara wants to make a world in which we are all equals, unlike AION who only wants us to dance like monkeys for his eternal entertainment.”

Alex was about to respond, then then he shut his mouth. He frowned at Ethan’s words and remained silent.

“Ah well,” said Ethan. He tapped his pipe clean over his hand and the ashes fell to the ground. He stamped them out which his foot and scattered them with a swift kick. “Perhaps I will be proven wrong today. If AION does want to see you four to succeed there is nothing stopping him from interceding again.”

“And if he does, will that change your mind?” Said Chase.

“Nope.”

“Of course, and what are you getting out of this thing with Xemnara, Ethan? You’re a well known player, and any guild would be happy to have you. You should be spending your years in comfort, not throwing in with a sadistic NPC who only wants to cause trouble.”

Ethan stared at Chase for a full minute. He seemed to be carefully considering his words. Chase had a strange moment of dejavu as he remembered the Guide on training island, standing before him with his pipe.

“I suppose what I really get is the knowledge and the satisfaction that I am fixing this fallen world. Something which AION has failed to do for a thousand years.”

“Is that so,” said Chase flatly.

“It is said that AION originally designed a perfect world for us humans, but that we ruined it and so he began anew with Esem. Have you heard this story?”

“It’s an old one, but yes.”

“If it is true, then why leave us to our own devices? Humans are clearly incapable of fixing themselves.”

“That is a question for a philosopher, I stopped worrying about these things years ago.”

“Years ago?” Ethan frowned.

Oops, thought Chase.

“You know what I mean,” said Chase quickly.

Ethan opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by Bill.

“Let’s go,” said Bill. He had returned and was standing beside Alex who jumped when he spoke. “Guess these losers were telling the truth. There ain’t a soul around. No one is coming to save them.”

And with that Chase felt the last of the hope he had of surviving wash away. As they fell back into line behind Bill and marched to their deaths Chase thought about all the events which had led to this moment. Clearly he had misstepped along the way and led his friends into this situation. All of the blame could be placed squarely on his shoulders. A better leader would have steered them away from danger, not ran them straight into the dragons mouth. He wished he had never broached the idea of making a guild in the first place. They would have been far safer than they were now.

And I would be on a boat somewhere, he thought, remembering his original plan. Of course, the Emissary had been the one who pushed him to form a guild. Though for what, he was still unsure. Had it really been so important that he be with these young players? It wasn’t as though they were going to be able to fight the Antagonista anytime soon. That would be done by powerful guilds and Deadly Solo’s coming together, just as all the events in the past had been. A thought came to him.

Emissary, can you hear me? Chase flung his thoughts out into the abyss, hoping for some kind of response. Emissary, you helped me before. I don’t know if you can hear me, but if you can, please help us. We have been captured and Xemnara is going to kill us all. Please, if there is anything you can do, send us some help.

Silence.

She did not come, and Chase was left with feeling hopeless and alone.

Not alone, he realized. I am with friends. All I can do now for them is to be brave.

With those final thoughts echoing about his mind he resigned himself to what would come.

After some time, the path ended and they emerged into a clearing. Markon’s hulking figure along with Astor’s bright red hair were the first sights he saw. He saw another pair of players in dark clothes flanking them. He desperately looked around the clearing for signs of his guild.

“Chase!”

“Thomas!”

The little boy was tied to a tree. He wiggled his legs and beamed a smile despite his predicament.

“Took long enough! I would stand up to greet you but this dumb gorilla needed to tie me up.”

“Quiet, boy,” rumbled Markon. The large player came to his feet as Bill and Ethan led them to the Followers. Astor grinned manically as they came near and the other two eyed them as they approached. Chase did not recognize them but they appeared to be battle hardened warriors, and were likely far beyond their first contracts.

“Where’s Amelie?” Said Chase.

“She’s taking a walk,” said Markon. He spit on the ground. “Anyone following them?”

“No,” said Bill, shaking his head. “I doubled back twice to make sure.”

“It was only once,” said Ethan. “But yes, they seemed to have not told Christie what has happened.”

Bill bristled and seemed about to say something but Markon thundered over him with his gravely voice.

“Argo was supposed to report back by now, did you see that little schlub?”

“No,” began Bill. “He’s probably-.”

“Argo’s dead,” said Chase. “We found him spying on us and I broke his neck like a twig.”

“Dead, is it?” Said Astor. He look surprised and for a moment his mania seemed to slip from his face. “Didn’t think you had it in you, Chase. Well done.”

“Well done?” Said Markon, casting a withering look at the red haired man. “We needed him. No bother, I suppose. I imagine he died pleading for his life.”

“No,” said Chase. “He was brave about it. I asked him where Xem was but he wouldn’t tell me.”

“Fancy that,” said Bill. “That NPC went to the grave protecting her.”

“You can ask him once he respawns, but of course he won’t remember.”

Markon’s face changed in that moment. He seemed to grow more somber and his mouth twisted into a small frown.

“No, he won’t be.”

Markon punched Chase in the stomach with the force of a bull. Thomas cried, and Brent tried to lunge for Markon, but Bill threw him to the ground and pointed a finger threateningly at him.

“Ouch,” said Chase, once his breath had returned. He slowly straighten back up and then spit on the ground. “Now where is Amelie?”

Markon gave a half smile and then motioned to the right. Amelie had entered the clearing and was being accompanied by another cloaked figure. She looked haggard and sick but her face lit up when she saw them.

“Chase! Claire! Alex! Brent!” She said. She sounded like a child being given a toy for her birthday. “I’m so happy to see you all! Oh, um, sorry about being kidnapped and all. I really tried to escape.”

“Don’t sweat it,” said Claire. For the first time ever Chase did not detect an ounce of sarcasm in her voice.

Amelie wandered over to them and the hooded figure came along with her, walking haltingly. Was this another player escorting her? But why allow her to roam around while Thomas was tied up?

“Did it work?” Said Markon to the hooded figure.

“No,” rasped a voice from within the hood. “She’s just as stubborn as ever.”

“I see.”

“No matter,” responded the person. A pair of slender hands threw back the hood to reveal a face which was deformed and ugly. It looked as though it had been melted by a fire and then sloppily put back together.

Chase felt a chill go up his spine.

“Surprise surprise,” said Xemnara. Her eyes shone wickedly and her once beautiful smile now only managed a weak grimace. “You didn’t think I’d let you all walk free, I hope.”

End of Volume 3