Ultimately, we decided to go with the Priest Tree option instead of climbing the Rogue Tree higher to grab [Smoke Bomb]. The additional deflect from [Guardian Shield] was just too good and the ability to remove effects with [Peace of Mind] rather than just avoid them with [Smoke Bomb] seemed the more tactical choice.
We also agreed to publicly announce the winner of the Skill Comp as one of the Boon builds that was rated fourth by upvotes - the one Himie had suggested before rage quitting the Guild. This build would make me a force multiplier in large-scale engagements and would serve as a deterrent against Neck ambushes for as long as the facade held. Of course, we realized that eventually word would get out that my actual build was much different. But in the meantime, we had that trump card in our back pockets.
“When should we announce the results?” Kink had asked once everything was decided.
“Why not now?” Denise suggested.
Anxiety bloomed out of nowhere, my chest tightening. We intended to stream the announcement and I had initially been onboard with the idea. But faced with the prospect of turning on my stream right this minute and talking to millions of strangers, I was getting very cold feet.
“Well, uh-” I started.
“Yeah, that’s perfect!” Bart said, standing up with excitement. “Let’s do it now!”
All around the table, the members of the Council shared amused looks, and I finally picked up that they were fucking with me.
“Screw you guys,” I said, shaking my head. They all had a good-natured laugh at my expense, but an idea for revenge came to me in a flash of inspiration. “No, you’re right,” I said casually. “Now’s the perfect time for usto announce the results.” I let a smirk touch my lips as my words settled into the Council members.
Ryan was the first to pick up on the implication, a horrified look on his face. The Angels, Kink, T, and Jeremy all looked around in confusion for a moment before Jeremy grew sick of waiting for someone to explain what I meant. “What the fuck you talking about, Ray?” he blurted out.
I let my smile grow. “We’re all equals here, Jer. We’ll do this together…as a team.”
His eyes grew tight as surprised looks spread around the table.
“I’m not good on camera,” Ryan said, though he looked to Denise as if asking for her to save him. She just shrugged in reply, falling victim to her own trolling.
“You’ll be fine, sweetie,” she said with a pat on his arm. “You don’t even have to say anything. Just stand there and try not to faint.”
We all laughed at that.
“Fine, Ray,” Tear said. “Fair is fair. But I’m also not saying shit!”
“No one has to say anything,” I said, letting them all off the hook. “We’ll just do a quick announcement, thank everyone for their submissions, and cut the stream.”
“Oh, thank God,” Ryan said, exhaling a held breath.
“Why not pick the Path on stream?” Tear suggested. “Don’t show the skills themselves or anything, obviously,” she said quickly at our confused looks. “Just pick the stats and skills and show off your big health pool or something…?” She trailed off at our looks.
“Hmmm, probably better not to give any more information than we have to,” I said as kindly as I could.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
She nodded, tucking her head in embarrassment. “Yeah-yeah, makes sense.”
“Cool,” I said, clapping my hands in anticipation. “Let’s line up and get in the shot. I’ll just quickly announce…” I stopped as Denise made a sour face. “What?”
She looked around, a disappointed look on her face. “In here…?” she asked.
I scanned the room, trying to find what was wrong with it. “I mean, it’ll be a little tight…”
She shook her head and waved for us to follow her. I raised my eyebrows at the guys as she went through the kitchen and out the back without another word.
“It’s best to just do what she says,” Ryan said with a smile. “She’s pretty much never wrong.”
I shrugged and we all filed out the back door into the courtyard.
Denise spent a few minutes arranging us in a rhythm that only she could hear. She finally relented after Tear, Bell, and Jeremy all began to grumble about how we were spending more time finding our places than the actual video would take.
Finally, we managed to position ourselves in a way that was up to Denise’s high standards, and I positioned the streaming perspective to show the entire Council, with me in the front like we were in some V-formation.
“Everyone ready?” I asked, my finger hovering over the Live button.
“No,” Bell said.
“Fuck no,” Jeremy added.
“And we are…live,” I said with a smirk. I turned to face where the camera would be and turned my smirk into a smile. “Hello everyone! Ray Davis here. I just wanted to state for all of Damsels Gone Wild: thank you so much for your submissions…
“And to inform you, that a winner has been chosen…”
—
When that was done a few excruciating minutes later, we filed back into the Council room and Harold addressed all of us.
“With the Skill Competition completed, the next item on the agenda is the pub Raid,” he said. “MechLord11 got back to me this morning.”
“Oh, sweet,” I said. “What did he say?”
Harold coughed into his fist. “Ahem, well, he was non-committal on the prospects of leading a DGW Raid-” Sounds of annoyance and slight grumbles went around the table. “-But he did say that he would consider it…after meeting with you, Ray.”
I sat back in surprise. “He asked to meet me before agreeing to lead the Raid? Why?”
“Is he a fanboy?” Jeremy asked, his hackles rising. Jeremy took his buffer role very seriously these days - which I appreciated…usually.
“Ah, I’m not sure about that, SnotPuppy,” Harold replied. “It seemed to be more of a…vetting request, if anything.”
“He wants to vet me?” I asked. “Okay…” I couldn’t see why he would care about me personally. I planned to be just another body in the Raid.
“He wouldn’t specify exactly why,” Harold said. “But he was quite adamant that he wouldn’t even consider it without meeting you first.”
I shrugged. “As long as it’s somewhere safe, I don’t see an issue with that.” I looked around the table. “Anyone see a trap there that I don’t?” No one said anything, so I turned to Harold. “Set it up, then,”
“At the Guildhall,” Bart added. “With at least me there, if not all of us.” He looked to the other Angels in the room and they all nodded agreement.
“Do you really think he would take a shot at me?” I asked.
Bart shrugged. “Crazier things have happened. But better safe than sorry.”
I nodded at Harold who nodded back.
“Anything else on the agenda?” I asked the room. There were head shakes around the table. “Let’s call it for today, then. Harold, can you coordinate our meeting with Mech for later today or tomorrow?”
“Will do.”
“Thanks. I’m gonna go lay down for a bit,” I said.
Confusion spread across the table, and I stopped myself from getting up.
“Uh, aren’t you gonna pick your skills and stats now?” Bart asked.
Shit! I had been hoping they wouldn’t remember. The truth was, I wanted to consult with Al one last time before I locked it in. I was reasonably certain the math was solid and that this was the best pick. But it wouldn’t hurt to get a super A.I.’s opinion before making an irrevocable choice.
“I’m beat,” I said, trying to play up the exhaustion on my face. “Let’s do it tonight when I’m feeling a bit better.”
Another bout of surprise went around the table, but Bart was the first to give me a pass. “Okay, tonight then,” he said. “You guys up for a dungeon?” he asked the Angels.
I waved goodbye as they discussed which dungeon to hit up. Jeremy caught up to me as I stepped onto the stairs, his hand grabbing my arm.
“You okay?” he whispered.
I nodded, leaning in. “I wanted to consult a certain lawyer before finalizing it,” I whispered back.
His eyes went wide, understanding filling his face. “Be careful,” he said, slapping my back.
I gave him a thumbs up and went to my room. Before anyone could leave the Guildhall, I opened the window and climbed out, pulling myself up to the roof using the gutter. As far as anyone knew, I would be in my room sleeping. But I wanted to get away from the Guildhall before the Angels left. If they spotted me leaping away, they’d wonder what I was up to.
I paused a moment on the roof, waiting to see if my earring would heat up. It stayed cool, so I charged up [Bounding Leap] and leapt a couple of blocks away.
Now, I just needed to get Al’s attention…