I left Honor's Stand at first light, the inquisitive looks Molly threw me the whole night grated on my nerves. No, I didn't feed on anyone there, while the Empire might be gone, I still lived by the rules I had created long ago. So while once sense of my body's hunger was sated, another part of me was far from sated at all.
Within three hours of Falcon's Rest, I found my first Quest and problem. A half burned-out caravan appeared on the road, and based on the flames and smoke, as well as the still cooling bodies, it had happened recently. Based on the road they had turned on and the fact the vast majority of the dead were Dwarves, they had been traveling home.
Alert...
Quest Alert: Honoring the Dead!!
Description: Some of your ancient allies have been slaughtered. While they might no longer call you ally, you have never forgotten your friends or allies. Seek out the perpetrators of this assault and end them. Follow the distinct tracks the bandits left and find out where they are located.
Quest Class: Personal, Rare
Quest Difficulty: Moderate
Success: Find the Bandit Camp
Failure: Do not find the Bandit Camp or Die
Rewards: 500 Experience
Accept? Yes or No
Alert...
To hold onto the past or not...I accepted the Quest and moved through the convoy looking for anything to use. I only had an Orc knife, while serviceable, I didn't look forward to tackling a group of bandits with just a knife, no matter how sharp it was. Then again, I didn't have a Class yet, and I hadn't even looked at the Divinity Skill Trees or my own Blood God Skill Tree yet. Stupid, but time was of the essence now, and I had to track these guys before the trail disappeared.
The bandits had done a thorough job of looting the corpses and wagons though and I found little. However, I did have one small stroke of luck and found a crossbow with some bolts. While the robes I found were laughable, they at least provided some protection. Beyond that, I found a shovel, pickax, and some rope, nails, and wood. Nothing fancy, but it was all serviceable and usable.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Armor Name: Acolyts Robes
Armor Type: Light Armor; Wool Robes
Class: Common
Base Defense: 10
Primary Effects...
--- +5 Intelligence
Weapon Name: Well Made Crossbow
Weapon Type: Engineered Weapon; Crossbow
Class: Uncommon
Base Damage: 20
Primary Effect...
--- +5 Dexterity
--- +5 Intelligence
I shouldered the crossbow after cleaning it of a little gore and grime before I started following the tracks. Now I wasn't a Ranger or Scout by any means, but the bandits didn't care who followed them it seemed based on the blatant tracks I followed.
Thirty minutes later moving deeper into the woods east of the road revealed a small set of caves with a small camp built outside them. No fortifications though, so I didn't have to worry about towers, walls, and they only had a few sentries about. The group was made up of Humans mainly, but there were some Drow, and Orcs as well.
I crept slowly around the camp dispatching one sentry after another, while I had no Class and I was a Level one nobody again, a crossbow bolt to the head or chest ruined anyone's day. It also gave me a good amount of Experience, some silver, a couple of uncut gems, and some gear I planned on selling. Nothing special, but it would earn me a few silvers at least.
As I moved deeper into the camp, what I found troubled me more and more. They had symbols of the blood-red dragon, but it was bloody and broken, a twisted version of the symbol of the Empire of Night. A part of me, a darker part was thrilled at what I could see, the greater part of me hated the sight of it. "Ahh, a late joiner. Have you come to join the others in worshipping their twisted Blood God?" I looked over to see a beaten and bloody Dwarf that was chained to the ground.
I grimaced in distaste, "No, I have no part of what these people are doing and the Blood God I know would never sanction unwilling Blood Sacrifices in his name. Willing yes, unwilling no, not even a little." I told the Dwarf who snorted in amusement.
"So you are a nice cuddly Blood worshipper." the Dwarf snorted in amusement as I approached and pulled out a Healing Potion and tossed it to him.
"I think people, whoever they might be, should be allowed to worship whom they choose. Freedom includes the right to choose their Deities, Blood God, or otherwise.' I told the Dwarf who eyed me and then the potion before downing it. 'As long as that worship doesn't infringe on other people's rights to choose, and no dark shit like forced sacrifices. However, a little cut and a couple drops of blood, what's the harm in that?" I asked the Dwarf and he snorted in amusement as I got to work cutting him free.
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"Well if what you say be true, then you don't mind helping me kill the Blood Cultists and freeing my Kin?" the Dwarf asked as I offered a hand up and he took it.
I smiled and nodded in agreement, "If they have twisted his worship, I would gladly put them down like the rabid dogs they are!" I told him in return as a notification appeared in front of me.
<<<>>>
Quest Alert: Honoring the Dead
Notice: You tracked the Bandits back to their camp and discovered that they are not bandits, but twisted worshipers of the Blood God, you. You have managed to free one of the captured Dwarves and killed several cultists along the way, the question is what will you do now?
Notice: You have received 500 Experience
<<<>>>
Quest Alert: A Dwarf in Need!
Description: A captured Dwarf has asked for your assistance in rescuing his kin that is going to be sacrificed in your name. Save them and kill the Cultists.
Alternative: You can lead the Dwarf into a trap and assist the Cultists in sacrificing the captured Dwarves. This will further your Divine power, but do you want to become a Dark God? The choice is yours.
Quest Class: Ultra-Rare, Faction, Divinity
Quest Difficulty: Hard
Success: Kill all the Blood Cultists and free the Dwarves
Failure: Do not kill all the Blood Cultists or allow all the Dwarves to be sacrificed
Rewards: 2,000 Experience, Increased Reputation, Unknown
Alternative Reward: 500 Divine Experience, Increased growth of the Blood Cult, Unknown
Accept? Yes or No
<<<>>>
I gave him a nod as I mentally hit 'Yes' to accept the Quest. "Yes, I will help you kill the Cultists and free your Kin. Do you have any armor and weapons?" I asked the Dwarf who snorted in amusement as suddenly he was decked in heavy plate and chainmail armor with a large double-headed axe strapped to his back.
"Yes, I have a few things. Let me guess, you prefer to shoot things from a distance? Won't have much room for that in the caves...but long-distance support is always welcome. I am Gareth Shieldreaver, and for doing this I owe you a debt. Come on old man, let's go kill some cultists!!" the Dwarf stated cheerily as he stomped off towards the caves.
I quickly followed the Dwarf as we moved towards the entrance. "You got any Stealth Skill?" I asked the Dwarf as the ruckus his armor was making was sure to draw attention quickly.
The Dwarf smirked as he swung his axe a few times, "I don't hide, I am no Rogue in any form." Gareth responded with disgust on his voice.
I snorted in amusement, "If you are alive and your enemies are dead...If it helps you stay alive, is it that bad?" I asked him, curious at his response.
The Dwarf gave me a stink eye, that was for certain. "There are rules every man should follow. Rogue types tend to ignore those rules and have no problem sneaking up and killing people. However as you said, people should have the right to choose, that includes being sneaky gits that should have their heads bashed in." the Dwarf responded earning a snicker from both of us. I quickly loaded the crossbow and checked to make sure I had at least one Healing Potion handy as we entered the yawning cavern and started our slow descent into the gloom. While the cavern was lit by torches, there was enough darkness for my Dark Eye Racial to kick in casting the cavern into blue and grey hues.
"If you need me to guide you, just hold onto my shoulder, but let go if I tell ya," Gareth commented and I smirked in amusement as we moved deeper into the caverns, the trail leading deeper under the surface but before long I sighted the first of the Cultists.
"There is a group of four of them up ahead, let me take out one of them before you grab their attention," I whispered to the Dwarf as I cocked the crossbow and took a deep breath as I sighted down the shaft as I aimed carefully. I squeezed the trigger and the bolt shot off into the dark and the large Orc that had been telling a story suddenly clutched at his throat as a crossbow bolt sprouted from his throat as his health bar appeared and disappeared just as rapidly. The three surviving Blood Cultists let out shouts of surprise as the looked around.
The two Humans charged us while the Drow darted further down the tunnel as Gareth met them head-on. I quickly reloaded and fired again, but I didn't get kill shot, but the bolt slammed into the back of the running Drow causing him to stumble and fall. I darted forward leaving the crossbow behind as I drew my dagger. One of the Humans moved to intercept me, but I rolled under his desperate swing and charged headlong after the Drow that was scrambling to his feet.
I jumped on top of the Drow and drove the dagger into his spine then twisted it, cutting his backbone and crippling the Drow. We were in the darker part of the caves so I took a gamble and yanked the Drows head back exposing his throat before burying my fangs into his exposed throat taking a deep pull of blood and finally sateing some of the Thirst. The Drow weakly fought but he was crippled and weakened between the bolt and knife wound, both sapped his strength and before long he died. I snapped his neck and slammed his head against the cavern wall before wiping my mouth and looking back.
Both Humans were down and the Dwarf was pulling his axe out of the head of the Human that had tried to stop me. "Your one quick old man. Are you a Rogue?" Gareth asked and I chuckled.
"No, I am not a Rogue or have a Rogue Class," I told him honestly. I didn't have a class at all, but it didn't mean I wouldn't use their tactics when necessary. I quickly retrieved the bolt from the Orcs throat and looted him and studied the papers with the propaganda on it and snorted in disgust at what I read.
"What? You don't like the Blood God's words?" Gareth asked and I tore the paper up in disgust.
I glared at the Dwarf and got my temper under control, "The Blood God is not all about what they are pushing. Its self serving lies from men and women wanting power from a God that will never give it to them as long as they twist what he represents!" I told the Dwarf as I cleaned the bolt and shoved it back into the quiver.
"What is the message the Blood God is trying to send?" the Dwarf responded and I sensed genuine curiosity in his voice.
I smiled at him, "Blood is life, without it we would not be alive. So enjoy life every day to its fullest for tomorrow, we could die.' I told Gareth as he finished cleaning his axe. 'Also from willing sacrifices how much blood do you think he would get if you had two people, one giving up a small cup every couple days, or sacrifice with a slit throat? Which one do you think the Blood God could get more from given time?" I asked Gareth and the Dwarf considered my words as we dove deeper into the cavern.