The house seemed to sutter as the Manor lord charged. It’s massive feet crushing any rats under foot. It’s hands grabbing and popping any rat that tried to flee. All the while rasping.
“This place used to be my pride and joy, but now I have to tolerate brats like you!”
“Move it!” Getting slide tackled by Le0n the two of them landed in the adjacent hallway, letting the Lord crash into the room behind them.
“Alright I’ll admit it, that was a horrible idea. Let’s not do it again, okay, okay. BREAK!” Le0n screeched, as three arms broke through the wall. A glass bottle flew breaking on impact unleashing a foam that quickly hardened.
“Guys, let’s get out of here!” Jazz yelled dashing over to them and grabbing the shocked men. More cracking could be heard as the solid foam began to crumble. Le0n seconds later shook his head and began firing arrow after arrow at the exposed arms.
“I’m sorry Jazz but how often do we get the chances to be in this dungeon. We’ve got to make this journey count.”
“We'll find out later if we can get out of here.” Jazz snapped back.
“Jazz, if we get this dungeon on our first go think of all the rewards we can get!” That comment gave her pause, long enough that the choice was made for her, as the lord broke the remaining foam.
Furious the lord stomped it’s foot causing the house to rain dust. Picking up a shattered wooden plank it threw it like a discus. With the plan shredding the walls down, like knife through butter.
Ducking the two of them narrowly missed the projectile. Grabbing Marlow they took off. Turning the corner they didn’t stop running until they made it to a door labeled stairs.
“Got any plans then, over wise leader?”
“I do but it involves getting lordy here up to the roof.” Sharing a grin Jazz load Le0n up on a few potions before climbing the stairs to the roof with Marlow shell shock body. Backtracking, Le0n rounded the corner he drew and fired another arrow. Landing it squarely in one of the lord’s mouths.
“Umm tasky, but not as tasky as you’ll be.” muttered the Lord as it ploud forward it’s body became too wide to comfortably fit in the hallway, but still being sturdy enough to break stone. Wood snapped as the lord moved.
“Oh I don’t think you’ll like me, I got more bone than meat.” Le0n quipped, knocking a few more arrows before retreating.
“It’s over your ugliness, I'll have the high ground!” Le0n smiled before taking the stairs. Only to get cut off by a thick hand around his leg. Getting pulled backwards and up, was horrendous, as the biggest mouth opened wide. Letting a few arrows fall in.
Pulling out his dagger he slashed across the knuckles holding him. Feeling the grip on him loosen he slammed the dagger in the lord's nose. Getting a second cry of agony from the monster. Clambering over the slice suit, Le0n made it through the door and up that stairs, barely making it to the second floor as the Lord came barreling in.
Taking the stairs two at a time he made it to the roof, bursting through the only to find Jazz fending off a garden ghost from Marlow. Notching an arrow he fired at the ghost, who took it in the shoulder.
Retaliating by causing the plants nearest to him to reach out to him, thorns moist with some kind of liquid. Dancing back, Le0n fired half a dozen arrows into the roses. Reaching into his quiver he found only two remaining. Suddenly the Manor Lord broke through the door already bulging out of his suit.
“Marlow, we could really use you right now!” Le0n shouted as this second to last arrow flew killing the gardener. Getting another difficulty increases notification.
“Jazz, I only got one arrow left, so now would be a good time to work your magic!” Le0n scrambled to the side as a pair of fists landed where he was just standing. Sending the shrapnel across his back and side.
“Give me a minute!”
“I’ll try!” Le0n rolled, popping the cap to a potion and downing it, only to get stomped on by a boot, which landed on his leg. Rolling over he fired his last arrow into one of the many mouths littered across the body.
Laying down le0n closed his eyes and fought as he was flatten. Opening them he found himself not in the usual respawn room, but the supply closet. Confused, he checked his notifications and found that he did die, but was brought here on the moment of death and couldn’t leave until the battle had ended.
Taking a deep breath he waited. Counting to ten. One, two, three. A body suddenly appeared right next to him, it was Marlow. Still not responding. Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. Another body appeared in motion, bonking Le0n with a broken glass bottle.
“Ah well, I guess sending him falling to his death didn’t work?”
“Nope, after killing you and Marlow it grew even more. I’m surprised that the roof didn’t collapse!”
“Umm, that’s unfortunate I’m sorry, I guess, I should have listened to you. Let’s try and sneak out of here. While we still can.”
“Ummm I’m not sure I don’t think the Manor lord can’t get down from the roof. I think that we can still take out the other rooms.”
“Are you sure? I don’t think the Manor Lord’s just limited to the roof; it could just climb around the building and attack us that way.”
“Then we simply just have to avoid any windows then, won’t we!”
“But I- ugh. Who will watch Marlow? I haven’t seen any of his pets since we met the lord.”
“That’s a fair point, but I’m guessing that no ghosts will respawn in this room as long as we don’t leave the manor. Plus if he dies we’ll just have to go and find which room he’s in when we’re done clearing everyone out!”
“I really don’t like you being the pervasive one.” Cracking open the door and peaking out. Motioning with hand the two of them took off. Stopping when they reached the first floor. The giant figure beyond the window at the other end of the hall obviously had different plans.
“Um I think now would be a good time to leave things, won’t you?”
“Oh yeah, diffenty.” Hustling down the stairs they grabbed and hauled the heavy tamer up and out to the main entrance of the manor, finding the floor with a rug thrown over the hole. While also hearing the lord move about outside of the haunted house.
Finding a large chest by the door Jazz left it to Le0n to hold the dumbfounded tamer. Throwing the lid open her face fell. Moving to the side she let le0n take a look, watching as his expression fell.
“Well, we can’t all expect stuff useful only to us. Might as well take it back to the guild and see who wants it. Yeah, it's a bummer, don’t give me that look I can’t carry both of them.” Oddly enough not finding the hulking Lord anywhere when they got out. With some time and effort they’d managed to find Marlow’s pony and get Marlow in a rider's potion. Strapping the chest onto his back, Le0n led them out of the abandoned town and back to the guild.
“Le0n bro-ski, where’ve you been man! Mom’s been worried sick about you, here let me help you with that.” Heavy voice intercepted them as they moved to the stables, with chicken in tow.
“Oh… Hey legi0n, we just went exploring the area. When we stumbled across a town and decided to loot the abandoned place.”
“Nice man. Oh hello there I’m Legi0n.”
“Oh, hi, I’m Jazz. Nice to meet you.” Jazz extended her hand and had it crushed as it was engulfed in the pancake hands of Legi0n.
“A pleasure to meet you! Sorry we didn’t make proper introductions, and you must be the tamer who has those rats!”
“Had...”
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“Excuse me?”
“They died…”
“Oh.” Legi0n carried on, easily lifted the chest off of Le0n’s tired back, and went in search of a place to put it down. Leaving the three of them to talk.
“Marlow, what happened?”
“The house ate my rats...”
“Are you okay, you know you can talk to us. That’s if you want to talk about it right now.”
“I know, I just want to go to bed.”
“Okay, let’s go to bed then.” Le0n said, patting the exhausted man’s leg. Letting Jazz take the lead, he hurried up to legi0n. Popping open the lid to the chest and taking out a bed sheet and blanket.
As he was walking back he was interrupted by a shout.
“You there, yes you with the bow and blankets. I have a proposal for you. If you’d be so kind to-” Whatever the man was saying he cut himself off as he tripped on his own cape. Choking himself he took a moment to compose himself before continuing.
“Thank you for stopping. I was hoping to catch you sooner, but you seem occupied. I heard that you were in the market looking for two new teammates to go out with and I was hoping to throw my hat into the ring.”
“Listen, I am but, I have something going on right now.”
“Oh that’s fine I’ll only take a minute of your time, I’m King. I’m a psychomancer, who’s specializing in more of the musical aspect of the class. My friends say I’m quite persistent.”
“Listen, King, I just got back from a mission and my party is tired. May we speak more tomorrow?” Getting a nod from the man he continued on finding Jazz, Marlow, and his three ‘champions’ in the stables.
“You never said we were looking for new teammates? Stand here Opal I’ll be back in the morning. Gwaner please keep an eye on these two. Buttercup try not to eat all the hay.”
“That’s because we're not. I like our group dynamic, for the moment. Here you go Marlow, let’s get you to our room.”
“Then why are there so many people here? Shouldn’t they be out adventuring like us?”
“That is a valid point, but we have to remember not everyone here wants to go on grand adventures like we do. Most people now just want some control in this new life. So they want to find a place to settle down in and call it good. Then again some people see us walking around without a care in the world. They also want that kind of power. Which is why they ask to join us.”
“Excuse me, sorry. But why don’t they just band together and go out into the wilderness?”
“Well if they did, they most likely would die, not knowing what’s out there. Respawning all the way back at the capital city. This trip alone took a few days, plus we haven’t found any way to set up a spawn point here, yet.”
“Then why don’t we just help them level up or teach them who to fight?”
“That’s where we come full circle, not everyone wants this life. They just find cruising for now since nothing actively tries to hurt them. Here let me get that for you.” Holding open the door Le0n let the rest of his party through, after letting a pair of ladies in first.
“I think there are different definitions of cruising.” Marlow muttered prompting a laugh from both of them.
“Sorry, hehe, sorry. What I meant to say was that they would try and reclaim their old lives. Are you feeling a bit better man?”
“A little. Could you guys keep talking?”
“Sure, let’s see. That dungeon was- I mean.”
“You never told us, your family is in this guild.”
“Oh, right, that. Umm my family is a bit clingy. My mom wasn’t always home with us when we grew up, but the times she was she wouldn’t let us go.” Le0n spoke softly making sure only the three of them could hear.
“She is also one of the guild leaders, more focused on the combat division, she’s also-”
“LE0N, IS THAT YOU SWEETY! OH, LE0N!” a short woman sang, with Legi0n right behind her.
“Crap.” Le0n whispered.
“THAT IS YOU! OH I KNOW MY BABY BOY FROM ANYWHERE! GET ON OVER HERE AND GIVE MAMA A BIG OL HUG!”
“Yes, mom.” Getting a small giggle from the two of them. Le0n stopped and walked back down the stairs bending over to give his mother a hug.
“Oh, sweetie, you made me worried. I was gonna send out a search party for you if you didn’t come back another day. Did your brother tell you that we have three new magic gizmos!”
“Yes, mom. He did.”
“Oh come on now, be happy! You can finally go learn something new, shooting arrows isn’t gonna keep you safe forever. AND WHO AT THESE FINE PEOPLE, Le0n I see you already getting your possy. Oh look at my little boy! Being all grown up!” Le0n’s mother said, giving a wink at Jazz.
“Yeah have. Marlow, Jazz, this is my mother L0le.” After shaking their hands. L0le led them down a different hallway, this one on a much more direct route closer to their room.
“You just have to tell me what happened, how did you all meet, were you safe, did you have fun! Please, tell me something new, politicking is so boring at times, I just want to strangle them sometimes.”
“We can tell you in the morning mama, Marlow here is quite tired.”
“Did you meet that handsome fellow I sent you, King. What a charmer that one. Or did the other guy get there first, Nolan, I think I forgot so many faces around here. I forget some. I also heard you went out with another girl. Already dipping your toes back into the dating pool is see.”
“MOM!”
“Oh hush now, sweety. You're always rushing off. I never get to see you anymore.” Blushing Le0n motioned for them to follow him as he ducked into a branching hallway.
“Bye mom, we really got to be going now!”
“Now where do you think you're going, you think I’m going to let you sleep in the common rooms like everyone else. Nooo, not my boys, I need them right by my side. That includes your friends, too. Ain’t no one messing with my family! Legi0n go with them and grab their stuff! I’ll be waiting right here.”
Grimusing Le0n turned around with a smile on his face and led the three of them up the stairs to their room. There wasn’t much since they had only been there for a day, but they grabbed what they could and brought it to their new room. Entering the room was like walking into a museum. There was so much space and dust everywhere.
“You can stay here for the night, I’ll talk to the housing director to try and get a room closer to mine. Good night!” L0le said, right before closing the door.
“She seemed nice.”
“She usually is. But once she gets you around her finger she never lets go.”
“So just how many guild leaders are there?”
“About five; housing, farming, supplies, banking, and adventuring. You’ve already met our head officer.”
“That’s our boss?”
“Yep.”
“Well I think that we could all use some rest after today.”
“I kind of find it odd that the only loot we got from that dungeon run was only bedding stuff. I mean not even some coin, just pillows, blankets, and bed sheets. Good night” Le0n spoke softly, handing the bedding over to Marlow. Taking out his sleeping roll the three of them went to sleep. The next morning was difficult.
As the sun spread it’s light across the room, through the dusty windows. Marlow laid there, probably having slept an hour during the night. Rolling over he closed his eyes trying to brush the horrible images from his mind. His rats which he had tamed and cared for suddenly were consumed by the wallpaper, floorboards. Only to be crushed by paintings and impaled by sudden ceiling spikes.
Twisting the other way he saw a ghost. The ghost was much more solid then the spirits at the manor. A cape and crown adorned this one, it’s face blurred around the edges. It waited there standing and stirred there, as if it was building up the courage for something. Shaking it’s fist it turned and flew away passing through a wall.
Getting out of bed he walked over to the wall examining it. Pressing on each brick to see if it was some kind of secret passageway. Of course with it being made of stone and him being exhausted it did not move.
“GOOD MORNING EVERYONE! I hope you didn’t stay up too late last night. Because I put you lot on guard duty today! Yep that right we are going to start cultivating the forest into farmland. That starts with protecting our lumberjacks. Oh don’t look so surprised I have a key to every door in the castle. Oh good news, our resident cleric has received a blessing to make a shrine in the courtyard!” L0le slammed the door while barging into the room with a broom in hand.
“Five more minutes please.”
“Nope, come on I promised our carpenters wood by night fall. And I always keep my promises. Go on get! You’ll get breakfast on your way out, now go on!” L0le forcibly whacked them, waking them up. Slipping on their shoes and gloves they took off getting away from the crazy coot with the broom.
Making their way up the stairs Marlow informed his friends what he saw, but brushed it off saying that he was tired from lack of sleep. Coming onto the courtyard they saw a simple statue of a figure's hands reaching for the sky, with Luz and her party standing right by it giving instructions on how to set their spawn point. Following her directions they received a notification telling them that this was their new spawn point.
Following the mass of people they made their way outside the walls and into the forest proper. Wood’s men had already been chomping at the nearest trees to gather firewood, but now it seemed as if the whole guild was pitching in to help with the effort.
Marlow had gone and got Buttercup to help haul lumber when the carts went to full. Putting his new skill to the test he then helped with loading the fallen trees into the weapons, finding each log a bit lighter than the others let on.
It wasn’t until noon that the first attack came. A band of panthers struck out killing a dozen lumberjacks before people could muster a defence, but by the time the guards arrived they had already fled back into the wilderness.
Guards kept a firm eye on the undergrowth and an even tighter grip on their weapons. Whispers flew that they should retreat back into the castle and have the adventures go clear out the forest. Axe men began looking over their shoulder before chopping down a tree.
Walking back to the group Marlow saw the same man from the night before talking to Le0n. This time dressed for the occasion, by which he meant having a smaller cape.
“Honestly I am amazed at what you guys are doing! I know I’m not the strongest or fastest by any means, but I can surely put up a good tussle! I-I-I-”
“King I get it, you want to prove yourself. But as of right now we need to keep an out for any wild life. How about tomorrow, well get out and see what you're made of. Alright?”
“OR how about I prove myself right now! You spear boy! I challenge you to a duel! Right here right now!” This caught people’s attention. Head’s turned and wandered over to the commotion. Anticipating a fight.