Jazmel had raced across the hills towards the fort. It had taken him close to forty-five minutes, but his stats and tempered body had made it feel like a twenty-minute sprint. He ran through the opened gates and took in the sight.
Monsters lulled around the open grounds and tried to break down doors that clearly led deeper into the fort. Defenders lined the walls and were trying to defend from the inside and out. They were under siege both internally and externally. Jazmel was not going to fail on his first faction quest.
“Hey!” he yelled, flaring his Mana, all the monsters snapped to attention, and he drew his sword slowly. Beckoning them to challenge. They rushed him and he welcomed it, flaring his Mana again, but directing it through his eyes.
PETRIFYING GLARE OF THE DRAKE!
ALL WEAKER MONSTERS ENTHRALLED FOR 3 SECONDS!
Great rumbling dragon!
He swung his sword and the dragon head materialised around his blade. Like a wraith, he let it fly from his sword and the dragon head soared around the courtyard, buffeting all. Some monsters crumbled from the infused Mana and others were merely roughed and bruised. But he was alright with that, he could manage the rest.
Lacerate!
He waved Daishinkan like a wand and his skill cast about. Cutting through creatures, he drew them in and then slaughtered them all, he didn’t even stop to check.
DING!
X40 TIER II BLOODY KNOLL KILLED!
+1 STR
He sighed and looking at his unused stats, he split them between his lowest stats currently.
+5 WIL
+5 AGL
+5 DEX
The knoll was an odd-looking creature, he hadn't seen anything like it before. It looked like a small troll with the tusks of a boar and the eyes of a toad. They weren’t strong and they carried wooden clubs and other large and bulky forms of things that were fashioned into maces. But they were not strong or clever, he wondered what they really were.
He killed the creatures inside the courtyard, and he couldn’t see a way up onto the wall. so he walked back towards the gates, that which had been broken and stood there. Watching for his faction. They had all followed him, Mary leading them with her flag and commands. It was another full hour, but soon the entire faction made it into the fort’s courtyard and its defenders on the wall made their way down after realising Jazmel wasn’t a foe.
Their leader was a young man, probably in his early twenties. He was short and rugged, but Jazmel could see he had kind eyes and the other defenders looked to him for leadership.
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“Thanks for the support then, they broke the gates down and I don’t have enough men to hold the wall and the gates.” He said, he offered his hand and Jazmel shook it, introducing himself as Lysander.
“We are here to help; the system has told us what we need to do, and we will help. So put us to work?” Jazmel said and Lysander nodded, Jazmel could see the weight release from his shoulders, and he breathed with relief.
“We have a lot of wounded in the granary, it’s the only place where the doors lock from the inside.” He explained and Jazmel nodded understanding.
“Elai and Wendy, go and see what you can do please.” Jazmel said and the girls took their group and was led away by one of Lysander’s men.
“We need to know where the monsters are held up.” Jazmel said and Lysander nodded.
“We have an idea, but we never had enough men to actually go and check.” Lysander explained and Jazmel simply looked over at Bannerman and he was already talking to one of the defenders of the fort. Trying to get directions of where the monsters might be.
“Patton and Gilmore, check the fort. See what we can use and what we need. We have enough supplies, but I don’t want to need something and find out later we don’t have it.” Jazmel said and Patton and Gilmore broke off from the main group and began looking about the foundations of the fort.
“Mary set up points of guard and patrol on the walls. I also want someone at the gates, we cannot put them back up without wood. But we can guard them with our bodies right now.” He said and Mary, raised her flag and through the system put the retainers to task.
“We will go and get wood, vanguard!” Gelth said, and him and his hundred good seekers, left through the broken gate and back outside of the fort.
Lysander watched the faction as they split off to do their tasks and then turned to Jazmel who was standing with Katie, Sadé, Baek and Corin.
“Thank you, your help is such respite for my people.” He shook Jazmel’s hands, encasing them in his own and Jazmel could see just how meagre he was.
“Katie and Sadé should we hunt?” and before he could even gain their answer, Baek stepped forward and from his ring, he pulled out another ring. It was smaller and duller, but he handed it to Jazmel.
Jazmel let his Mana creep into the ring, and he found it filled to the absolute brim with food and drink, from fish to other meats. Water in flagons and jars, there was enough for a feast for a month. He smiled at Baek in thanks, who merely blinked slowly at him. He handed the ring over to Lysander.
“Go and feed your people, we will watch the walls tonight.” Jazmel said. Lysander took the ring and in a moment looked into it, seeing its content. Tears streamed his face, and he honestly didn’t even try to hide them.
“Come lets go and set up for dinner.” Katie offered and Sadé left with her, supporting Lysander who was just too emotional to do anything but weep. Corin followed her charge but this time as she left, she inclined her head in respect to Jazmel, it caught him off guard and awkwardly he returned it.
“The system cannot make a leader through tasks or quests; it is a gift from the heart. You have it in abundance, you will make a fine leader one day.” Baek praised Jazmel and he smiled suddenly feeling shy.
“Thank you, but the others are what allow me to do what I need to. I can rely on them.” he said and Baek agreed.
“What are we if we do not have the support of our friends and family.” Jazmel had to agree with that too.
“What will you do now?” Baek asked Jazmel.
“I will wait until Gelth, and the mountain breakers return, then I will check in on everyone. We are going to hold this fort and when we find where the monsters are hiding. We will destroy their nest.” He explained his thoughts and Baek simply smiled.
“A good idea, I on the other hand will go inside, I would like to sit and enjoy some tea.” He said walking after Katie and Sadé. Baek did seem to love tea and Jazmel hadn't seen him eat or drink anything else.
Jazmel stood at the gate and simply waited, watching his people move around the fort, busy with their orders and tasks.
Food? Paldane sent him, suddenly away and stretching like a lithe cat.
“All I saw were cores from the knoll’s I killed. Sorry Paldane.” Paldane huffed but curled back up and went back to sleep. Jazmel stood at the entrance and began to meditate, waiting for the return of Bannerman and Gelth.