Chuck watched as the sobbing goblin was led away. While his expression was calm, blue flames flickered around his body. With one last glance around the room, he stepped out of the healer’s building and into the goblin village.
“Never thought I’d have to console a distraught mother,” he said to the Death Knight, who had been waiting outside.
“Conversely, it didn’t have to be you.”
The Architect shrugged and gestured for them to walk. “I’m supposed to be the guardian of this world. If I hide away in my ivory tower, people will start losing faith.”
Humphrey grunted. “Reports come through?”
“Between Edward and Bella’s kidnapping, we have been able to put together some pieces of the puzzle. Our target isn’t using ‘System power’ to teleport, but somehow harnessing the empty space of the sea to warp back and forth. We currently have no way of detecting such odd energies.”
“There’s no way of locking down Sanctuary either?”
Chuck shook his head. “You know better than most of us. Sanctuary was barely built to combat threats from within… enemies from the STAR system were unthinkable to the original Creator.”
“So, what is the plan?” The Death Knight stopped and looked back at the village. While most of the System-created goblins were going on as normal, there were a few groups of Players and Uniques discussing things amongst themselves. “I’d hate to think we will just be twiddling our thumbs."
“No.” He stopped too, but didn’t look back. “The plan is actually in motion already, but it’s a…”
“Gamble?”
Chuck gave Humphrey a tired smile. “Outsiders are all about that going full speed and things working in their favor, right? We will find out tomorrow how lucky I am.”
----------------------------------------
Borin stumbled back, dropping to one knee. Sweat ran in trails down the sides of his head. He looked up to see the vampire just standing there, twirling his hammer around. “Why are you not pressing the advantage?”
“Just need to cool down - my arms do actually ache from this.” How long had he been doing this now? Five days? Three months? Two hours?
The giant stood back up to his feet and worked his shoulders out. “You are progressing at an unprecedented rate. It is concerning.”
“Yeah. Well, the System gave me [Charged Swings] which increases crit rate and damage based on attack speed… and my bugged [Novice Strike] lets me attack faster with every strike. Eventually, I become overwhelming - even for you.”
“I cannot match your pace. Your win is all but set in stone.”
Theo rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so melodramatic, Borin. I told you I have no intention of killing you. Let’s just spar until… well, you’ll see.”
Borin grunted. “As you desire, vampire. Then a short break until we resume?”
A bow was returned, and the two parted ways to rest.
[Dent: Just letting you know you’re basically set for power.]
[Dent: Chuck needs time to do the acquisition.]
[Dent: Hold out until tomorrow?]
[Theo: I’m sure I’ll find something to do~]
[Theo: There won’t be a problem bringing Borin over too, right?]
[Dent: No - the new player area is WIP still, but we’ll keep him safe.]
[Theo: Thanks dental~]
Theo sighed and deflated onto the stairs. He was pretty sure he was starting to lose it. Judging by his conversational skills, it must only be one missed sleep - so it was day two. One more sleepless night should be fine. He’d be a lot looser around the edges, but mostly put together.
Assuming nothing weird or untoward happened to him, of course.
----------------------------------------
Sally clenched her teeth together. “Cross! Where in the heck are you going?”
The goblin hadn’t stopped at the next dungeon, or even the one after that. Instead, his small legs had enabled him to scurry away at surprising speed, much to the chagrin of those trying to keep up. Every time one of them got close enough, he seemed to vanish amongst long grass or other convenient piece of scenery, to appear further ahead again.
“Better not be leading us into a trap,” Claude grumbled, his face flush from the exercise.
[Poppy: If that were the case, he could have done it in the mine!]
[Poppy: This is just something important.]
[Poppy: …I hope.]
Sally tried to ignore them. She’d had her daily update with Dent, and things seemed fine. Progress was being made, but they were nowhere near getting this System to merge. She was rather homesick already, so the prospect of slowly churning through dungeons for another week or more had been a wet blanket on the joy of having a little zombie breaking things just as she had back in the day.
As patchy grass gave way to loose rocks and gravel, they came up to the edge of a steep hill - two trees clinging to life on the edge providing them some stability and cover. They watched as Cross slid down the steep incline and face-planted a large rock en route to the bottom.
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That wasn’t the most interesting thing on display, however.
[Poppy: GASP]
[Poppy: KRISTOV IS ALIVE??]
Sally narrowed her eyes at the man at the bottom of the hill. Encased in something like amber - he was in some manner of stasis. Sharp features and a pointed blonde goatee, his overt garb gave a hint to what Class he might be. Around the chains holding this block of amber in place were four humanoid guards in dark green armor. Singular red eyes glowed from the center of their full helmets.
[Poppy: We have to go save him!]
The knight stepped down gently, sliding at a controlled place down to where the goblin was still laying prone.
Sally raised an eyebrow at Claude, who put a heal into Cross. “You don’t seem as excited to find another Player?”
“Mmm. While it warms my heart to know another soul is safe…” the healer turned tired eyes towards her. “Kristov is… well, you’ll see.”
They went down the hill too - but Sally’s descent was much less controlled than she had hoped. Going too fast to stop by the others, she instead used the momentum to barrel into combat. Sword flashing into her hand, she shot out [Chain] onto the closest Monster.
It dug its heels into the loose gravel, but slid toward her anyway - a long halberd brandished in their hands.
“Oh, balls,” she said, pulling the large weapon towards her. Releasing the skill, she dropped to the floor to avoid the swipe of the bladed weapon. A loud grinding noise came from behind, before Poppy slammed into her attacker, knocking them to the ground as the other three came towards them.
The pair then worked side by side, supporting each other. Poppy using her shield and wider swings as the main force while Sally covered her weaknesses with more agility. Between them, they made quick work of the guards. No brains to be eaten, but as the last one dropped to the floor, Sally flourished her sword.
[Poppy: That was a lot of fun - you’re good in that role!]
“Used to do that with my pops.” She smiled. “Usually with a dagger through, a longer blade takes getting used to.”
[Poppy: So how do we free Kristov???]
They both turned their attention to the large block of amber. Killing the guards hadn’t seemed to prompt it to melt away or anything. Now that they were closer, she could definitely tell the man was a Bard of some kind. Floppy hat with a large feather in it. Stripes of muted colors down his baggy-sleeved jerkin. It was almost too cliche to be believed.
She looked to the side to see Cross once again going full pelt down the rest of the hill, before stumbling for a comically long amount of time - only to slam straight into the hard surface of the amber prison. Where his dark blood had left an imprint of his face against it, a swirl of amber light formed.
“Maybe I should hit my head on things more often.” Sally sighed and crossed her arms. “Although, they’d start calling me… ah, I don’t have a thing for that yet.”
Yellow cracks ran up the chunk of semi-transparent material - and then it burst, sending shards clattering to the rocks below.
The man dropped to his feet and wavered in place as the knight ran up to him. Grabbing him by the shoulders and giving him a little shake, Kristov came to - his head rising slowly as his eyes opened.
His brow furrowed as his brain tried to catch up, before the expression completely melted away, turning to elation. “Poppy! My most knightly friend, I feared this terrible prison would be my end!” They exchanged a tight hug.
Sally furrowed her brow. No… it couldn’t be…
The bard’s eyes opened again and went over to the gathered Party. “Still alive, old Claude? Tough as old boots, from what you’ve endured.”
“No,” Sally whispered, as the healer just grunted in response. “No, no, no.”
He beamed at the zombie. “And who is this maiden who hath escaped a hearse? I’m afraid dear, my flowered diction is not choice… but a curse.”
“Noooo!” Sally crouched down beside Archie. “Quick, switch to the B plot.”
“What B plot?” He wagged his tail back and forth.
“You know, with the problems going on at Sanctuary.”
He winced. “There’s… nothing wrong back home.”
Sally narrowed her eyes and exhaled. “Arch, you know that there are two things I’m really good at. Getting distracted, and…” She scrunched up her face, before standing and turning back to the Bard. “How does the rhyming thing work if the System is translating what you’re actually saying?”
He shrugged.
“And is it always rhyming couplets, or can you switch it up?”
“While I believe tradition should be tip-top, like an amateur gymnast, I often flip-flop.” He gave her a low bow as if it deserved applause.
It didn’t really answer her question in a way that felt reassuring. She caught Claude’s look - now she understood what he meant. A little shared disdain for the wordsmith might give them something to bond over. Looking back at the pair, she relented to giving him an invite.
[Kristov has joined the Party]
“Sally,” she said. “Long story short, I’m here to save the world. I’m a zombie and I eat brains, but I’m on your side.”
The man grimaced, but nodded. “If these two have no issue, then I too trust in you.”
“Gross.” She stuck her tongue out and waved them away so that she could go and tend to Cross.
[Poppy: It’s so good to see you Kris!!]
[Poppy: We had thought you long dead.]
[Poppy: There aren’t many of us left.]
[Poppy: Virgil is injured…]
[Poppy: Joshua, Lia, Fester… all gone.]
“Such sad news to my ears. How long has it been? Months, years?”
[Poppy: Eight months I think.]
For as much as it annoyed her, Sally couldn’t scowl at the man any longer. If he was truly cursed to talk like that, it wasn’t really his fault. Plus, it looked like he was good friends with Poppy, and it made her feel good to see the woman happy. She hoisted Cross up over her shoulder, carrying him like a sack of potatoes. Poor thing was still dazed.
She opened up her Chat, if only so that she could tune out the Bard.
[Sally: Theo, I’m going to die.]
[Theo: What, why?]
[Sally: new party member talks in rhymes]
[Theo: oh]
[Theo: Your one weakness. Poetry.]
[Sally: I feel you’re being sarcastic, but yes.]
[Theo: Say the word and I will end him.]
[Sally: You always know how to cheer me up.]
[Sally: <3]
She could endure the man for as long as she needed in this world. Maybe even get used to it. Well, no. Miracles were unlikely to happen - perhaps they could find a way to end the curse instead. Despite being a Bard, Kristov was probably tired of talking that way. She wondered if he had to type in rhymes too - or he could just use Chat like Poppy, but she didn’t have the stomach to ask.
Claude was also over by the wreckage of the amber prison now, his brow furrowed as he read through runes that she hadn’t noticed before.
“What does it say?” she asked, cradling the small zombie and rocking him back and forth.
“Hmm? Oh.” The healer stretched out, casting an exhausted glare at the Bard having a conversation with the knight. “It’s not exactly clear… but I think it details something about Kristov’s imprisonment.”
“Anything about the curse?” She grinned, full of hope.
“Afraid not.” Claude rubbed at his eyes before sighing. “In releasing him, we have also set something else free on the island.”
“What is it?”
“A Monster that will track us down day and night until either it or we are dead.”