It all felt so overwhelming. Now not only did I have to worry about my own gear and levels but it seemed I had to worry about those in my squad. So instead of having to gear one character I practically had to gear four. Six when Ledric could find two others to bring the squad up to full strength.
Though the squad was plenty strong as it was. We had Ice the archer extraordinaire, able to hit a target as small as an apple at a hundred paces without breaking a sweat. Gamble, true to his name was able to crit more often. His stats were different than what I’d expect from a dwarf. He seemed more of a caster type than a melee. Oak however looked to be suited to melee.
“You three should head to the mess or stick around here for a bit, I’ll be back with your assignments and some gear for our new squad leaders.” Ledric spoke as he walked off towards a flight of stairs that led to the second floor of the barracks.
We decided to stick around. Well it wasn’t exactly a group consensus. Gamble tried organizing a betting ring on Ice shooting more apples off of people’s heads but had to give up after nobody taking the bets. Oak had deigned to rest among a group of trees nearby. Said he felt closer to home when he was among the trees. Ice continued her target practice and I chose to muck about in the squad’s equipment screen.
Amariah “Ice” Equipment
Head: Bronze Cap (not equipped) – Armor: +2%
Neck: None
Shoulders: None
Chest: Leather Chest – Armor: +10%
Hands: Leather Gloves – Armor: +2%
Belt: Leather Belt – Armor: +2%
Legs: Leather Leggings – Armor: +8%
Feet: Strong Leather Boots – Armor: +3%
Ring 1: None
Ring 2: None
Weapon: Basic Longbow – Damage: 15-25 Armor Penetration: 3%
Shield: None
Armor: 27% Physical damage reduction.
Resistance: 5% Fire 5% Water 5% Earth 5% Air 5% Poison
Kelon Stonebrow “Gamble” Equipment
Head: Bronze Cap – Armor: +2%
Neck: None
Shoulders: None
Chest: Bronze Chainmail – Armor: +15%
Hands: Leather Gloves – Armor: +2%
Belt: Leather Belt – Armor: +2%
Legs: Leather Leggings – Armor: +8%
Feet: Strong Leather Boots – Armor: +3%
Ring 1: None
Ring 2: None
Weapon: Iron Mace – Damage: 15-30 Armor Penetration: 10%
Shield: Bronze Buckler – Armor: +5%
Armor: 37% Physical damage reduction.
Resistance: 2% Fire 2% Water 2% Earth 2% Air 2% Poison
“Oak” Equipment
Head: Bronze Cap – Armor: +2%
Neck: None
Shoulders: None
Chest: Leather Chest – Armor: +10%
Hands: Leather Gloves – Armor: +2%
Belt: Leather Belt – Armor: +2%
Legs: Leather Leggings – Armor: +8%
Feet: Strong Leather Boots – Armor: +3%
Ring 1: None
Ring 2: None
Weapon: Bronze Spear – Damage: 10-15 Armor Penetration: 3%
Shield: Bronze Buckler – Armor: +5%
Armor: 32% Physical damage reduction.
Resistance: 2% Fire 2% Water 2% Earth 2% Air 10% Poison
So this is what a recruit’s equipment looked like eh? That would have to be improved in a hurry if I wanted my squad to live long lives. But first I would need to see to my own equipment. As I was now, what I wore was no better than rags. Still, I decided to humor myself and check my own equipment.
Geo Equipment
Head: None
Neck: None
Shoulders: None
Chest: Cloth Chest – Armor: +2%
Hands: None
Belt: None
Legs: Cloth Pants – Armor: +2%
Feet: Well-Worn Leather Boots – Armor: +1%
Ring 1: None
Ring 2: None
Weapon: Iron Dagger – Damage: 10-15 Armor Penetration: 5%
Shield: None
Armor: 5% Physical damage reduction.
Resistance: 5% Fire 5% Water 5% Earth 5% Air 5% Poison
Well at least my dagger was comparable damage-wise to Oak’s spear, though it had a fraction of the reach. I attempted to console myself by humming ‘The Sun Will Come Out’. It didn’t work too well. At least I could summon a Flame Elemental; that had to count for something. My mood improved considerably when I spied Ledric exiting the barracks’ second floor, arms full of gear. I did my best to conceal my eagerness as I approached him.
“Need help?”
“Yeah take this stuff.” He responded, dumping a load of gear into my arms.
You have obtained the following equipment:
Bronze Cap, Leather Chest, Leather Gloves, Leather Belt, Leather Leggings, Strong Leather Boots, Iron Short Sword, Iron Buckler.
“Thanks General.” I spoke while equipping my new set of gear. The sword’s damage upped my own from 10-15 to 15-20 with a longer reach than the dagger. The shield increased my armor by +8% bringing my total to 35% physical damage reduction. A huge difference from the measly 5% that I had before. Praise the Emperor.
“Get out here pops, Ledric is bringing gear.” I sent the message through party chat.
“Gear!” He yelled in my mind, causing me to clench my teeth.
“Musclewizard will be out soon to get his gear.” I explained to Ledric as I massaged my temples.
“Alright, good. I hate carrying this junk. Anyway I’ve got both of your assignments. You’ll be heading northwest out of the city towards a set of hills not far away. A den of Gnolls has shown up around there and they’ve been terrorizing a nearby set of farmsteads. Stealing livestock and such. They haven’t attacked any people yet, but that could change soon. I want you to wipe them out.”
I saluted, “It will be done.”
-Quest Accepted-
A Den of Gnolls.
Gnolls have been sighted in the hills nearby. Eliminate them to secure the nearby farmsteads.
Den Destroyed 0/1
Rewards: 1,000exp, +Gerheld Reputation.
Finally, some action.
“Be sure to bring your squad Geo, they’ll need combat experience as well. This will be their first taste of battle. Bring them back alive.”
-Bonus Reward-
An additional 200exp will be given per squad member returned alive.
Interesting, quests could have bonus rewards? Awesome! “Don’t worry General, they’re in good hands.” He nodded in response and turned to head into the mess hall only to see my dad burst out of the doorway.
“Gimmie da goodies!” He shouted, bounding towards Ledric.
“Got a mission to do pops, smell ya later!” I shouted to him and received a wave of the arm in response.
“Have fun pipsqueak!” he called back as he equipped some all-too-tight looking gear.
I jogged around to my squad and gathered them all up. “We got a job to do everyone. Ledric wants us to wipe out a den of Gnolls to the north west. Shouldn’t be too hard, but we’ll practice along the way.”
Oak nodded, “We could hunt some wolves, pack leader. They prowl the areas around the town in groups of two or more.”
“Och, those wolves have nice fur that goes on the market for a nice handful of coppers apiece.” Gamble spoke, rubbing his hands greedily.
“Alright Gamble, but no grabbing their furs until the area is clear, got it?”
“Aye.”
“Alright then, any input Ice?” I looked to the girl. She shrugged in response. “Let’s move out then.”
As we walked through the town I stared at the other players running about vendoring loot they obtained from killing beasts outside. Many looked to still be in their starting rags.
“I feel like we cheated getting equipment this nice this early.” I communicated mentally to my father.
“Many players will play this game like a normal MMO my boy. We are among the few who realize this isn’t a game of players but a game of nations. A guild allied to a country will have a far easier time than one who strikes out on their own.”
“Seems like we’re the first to join Gerheld then.”
“More will come once word gets out that this is the way to go. I’ve got my eye in more than a few private forums. Many of them organized to the point of being threats to our plan. Our saving grace is that a great many of them went to the Caldmor Empire, thinking that the Free Republic would be a quick conquest.”
“And it won’t?” I asked as my group walked out of the western gate of Orhu.
“Oh it will, no doubt about it. It’ll just take a handful of weeks. Once that continent is unified however is when the collapse will begin. It’ll be slow at first, until more and more guilds aim to take their own slice of territory. No worries boy, just sit back and enjoy the drama sure to unfold!” He laughed.
“I never took you to be the spymaster type dad.”
“Oh? Too much of a blustering oaf to notice happenings going on? I’ve done my share of cloak and dagger, boy. Now if you’ll excuse your dear old man, I’ve got some bear asses to collect.”
All around the city of Orhu were grasslands eye could see. Farms dotted the landscape growing all manner of crops. Players swarmed the fields, slaughtering boars and wolves as they appeared. “I don’t think we’ll get much practice here…” I trailed off as I witnessed a wolf be consumed by a large amount of fireballs.
“We should move to our objective, pack leader. Game will come as we travel.”
“All those beautiful furs…” Gamble groaned sadly, watching players not even grab their loot as they ran towards the next target in their field of vision.
“Don’t worry packbrother Gamble, our hunt has yet to begin.” Oak patted Gambles shoulder.
“Yeah, in a few days you’ll be able to collect all the wolf furs you want. Those Touched Ones will have moved on to bigger targets.” I explained.
Gamble lightly kicked the dirt, “Aye. Aye.”
We began our trek heading to the northwest. Nearby players eyed us as we marched, a few even came up to ask us where we got our gear. To which Gamble demanded a few coppers for the tip. Even fewer accepted the deal and ran back into the city to join the army. As we drew further away from the city the crowd of players lessened until they were an odd sight among the vast landscape.
“Wolves, packleader.” Oak point his spear off to the right. A group of three sniffed the ground a ways away.
“Good eye Oak.”
“Not eye, smell first.” He responded simply. His tongue flicked into the air in a quick motion. “Eye second.”
“Oh…right.” I didn’t know how to respond but noticed his smirk, you sly lizard. I targeted a wolf to gauge their health. Each had around 150hp, not too rough for us then.
“Right then, This’ll be good practice for us. But there’s no need for us to not be organized about it. Ice, when I give the signal,” I made a chopping motion with my hand, “hit them with arrows. Gamble and I will hold their attention as they come near. Oak you assist Gamble with his targets, hit them from the sides. Ice you can cover me. Everyone follow?” Nods all around. “Alright then, let’s bag us some pelts and experience.”
Ice immediately drew her bow with an arrow nocked, ready to fly. I chopped the air. Ice released, sending the arrow shot into the air with the precision of a master. Seconds later one of the three wolves had an arrow sticking out of its side. Direct hit. Snarling, the wolves turned towards us and began to charge. Ice fired arrow after arrow letting loose as quickly as she could load her bow. Each arrow sailed to their marks, hitting the wolf she had originally targeted. Her concentrated efforts took it down just as Gamble and I moved to intercept the other two.
Gained 25(100)exp!
Note: Your experience gained is reduced per squad member.
So my experience was shared with my squad members? Good to know. I closed the alert in a hurry as the other two wolves were almost at us.
“C’mere ye mutt!” I heard Gamble yell followed by a yelp.
I slammed my shield into the wolf that leapt at me. A whine escaped its mouth as it hit the ground. I rushed in and stabbed the beast with my sword, dealing a bit of damage. As I pulled back the wolf leapt to its feet snarling, its eyes frenzied. “Quick Strike!” In an instant my sword struck its mark slashing my target.
An arrow plunged into the beast’s side a moment later. The wolf growled menacingly and leapt forward. A surge of pain ran up my left arm like a knife as the beast bit deeply before releasing and jumping back. I swung my sword in retaliation but the wolf dodged nimbly. Once more it dove for me only to receive an arrow once more in the side. Ice was on top of her game.
Distracted by the arrow now in its side the wolf collided into me and fell down weakened. I stabbed it once more. It ceased moving, finally beaten. I turned to Ice and gave a thumbs-up before turning my attention to Gamble and Oak. Gamble bashed his wolf as Oak stabbed it with his spear. They finished soon after we had.
Our group had earned three wolf pelts and 75exp. For our first fight together things went pretty well.
“What do you think Rumblers? Shall we stick around and kill a few more wolf packs?” Everyone nodded, so that was how we decided to spend the next hour. Gamble was assigned to collecting the drops to later sell, Oak would pick our targets and Ice would pull for us. Money obtained on a quest would be spent on improving our squad’s gear, increasing our effectiveness.
In our hour of practice the Rumblers had advanced to level two and myself to level three. I decided to put my new status points into strength to help with my melee damage.
Rumblers Status
Name: Geo
Level: 3
Experience: 400/2000
Health: 200
Mana: 150
Energy: 100
Strength: 15
Agility: 10
Endurance: 10
Intelligence: 15
Name: Amariah “Ice”
Level: 2
Experience: 400/1000
Health: 180
Energy: 120
Strength: 12
Agility: 15
Endurance: 9
Intelligence: 7
Skills:
Eagle Eye- Increases the maximum range of ranged weapons such as bows by 5 meters.
Name: Kelon Stonebrow “Gamble”
Level: 2
Experience: 400/1000
Health: 240
Energy: 85
Strength: 11
Agility: 9
Endurance: 12
Intelligence: 13
Skills:
Lucky- Gains an extra 5% chance to land a critical strike.
Name: “Oak”
Level: 2
Experience: 400/1000
Health: 220
Energy: 110
Strength: 11
Agility: 12
Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 9
Skills:
Poisoned Strikes- has a chance on every hit to poison the target dealing an additional 10% damage over 5 seconds.
I closed the status window. It looked like NPCs only gained 3 stat points per level that were automatically distributed. I sighed, a part of me wanted to do the stat allocations myself. As I thought about their stats a new worry entered my mind; what if the NPCs were capped at a lower level? They’d never be able to put up a fight against a max level player if that were so. Being 200 stat points behind at level 100 would be gimped enough as is. I shook my head, a later worry for a later day.
We had gained a nice amount of pelts through our hunt. Gamble mentioned that we’d be able to get around ten copper per pelt. With our current stock of 36 pelts we had three silver and sixty copper in our pockets. Not a bad start to our funds, I felt better about our ability to collect cash than our combat ability though.
Not that my companions were terrible. In fact it was the opposite, they were great. I was the crutch. I absolutely sucked at sword fighting. My swings felt awkward and weak, my stabs left me overextended. It was bad. I had taken more hits than any of my companions. Not surprising to me though, as I had never held a sword before in my life.
Simple wolves were one thing, but I worried about the future when we fought more competent opponents. Or hell, even the thought of fighting other players gave me chills, and not the good kind. I couldn’t afford a single mistake. It could cost my companions their lives. I needed training and fast.
I steeled myself, we had a job to do and I wanted it to be done quickly so that we could return to the barracks. I sheathed my sword and motioned for my squad to follow. It was time for us to take on some Gnolls. Hopefully they proved no more difficult than a few wolves.
The scent of wild flowers wafted through the air as we trudged towards the mountains. I didn’t know much about flowers so I couldn’t say what they were. But they smelled nice. The smell and breeze wasn’t our only companion on our trip, Gamble had the generosity to grace us with a song as we marched; though it was sadly cut short when Ice gave him one of her glares.
The woman doesn’t like songs about ale and wenches buddy, don’t give me that look.
“Hey Oak, what can you tell me about Gnolls?” I asked our knowledgeable huntsman…huntslizard?
“Tribal dogfolk. Worship many spirits and make sacrifices to them to gain their blessings. Hunt in packs no bigger than our own but tribes grow to many times the size. Tribes led by Matriarch.” He stared off to the distance, his tongue flicking in and out of his mouth rapidly. “Big tribes hunt menfolk. These said to only hunt cattle yes?” I nodded, “Should be no more than thirty.”
So we were looking at a decent amount on our hands. “Any strengths and weaknesses?”
“Strong smell, like wolves. Jaws too, can bite through metal. Simple though, easy to predict.”
“Alright thanks Oak.”
“My honor, packleader.” He saluted.
We approached the base of one of the hills. As far as I could tell they spanned for miles. “Weapons drawn guys, let’s not be caught unprepared.” I drew my sword. I heard the readying of weapons behind me as I began to climb the moderately inclined hill. The top would offer a good vantage point. Not just for our eyes, but also Oak’s “nose”.
The hike proved uneventful, aside from the cursing uttered by Gamble about Dwarves and hills. Upon reaching the crest of the hill we could see for miles around. From our vantage point they hills looked to make a crescent moon shape with us on the lower tip and one of the larger hills. We didn’t even need Oak’s nose. Doglike creatures stood guard in front of a burrow dug into the side of a nearby hill.
I signaled everyone to get down, standing atop the hill made us easy to spot in the bright afternoon sun. I sheathed my sword and knelt, shading my eyes with a hand on my forehead. “Looks like two groups of two are guarding the entrance to the burrow. No sight on further targets, might be in the burrow.”
“Then let’s go get ’em!” Gamble exclaimed in a whisper, tightening his grip on the shaft of his mace. I hesitated a moment, attempting to glance into the burrow but I couldn’t at our current angle.
“Alright, let’s go get them.” I agreed.
I rose from my kneeling position and began my descent towards the burrow three hills away. The footsteps of my companions clomped along behind me. Going down a hill is always easier compared to going up. Especially when you’re used to walking on flat ground and your foot hits a rock or a root that sends you tumbling. One moment I was descending at a decent pace, the next the ground rose to meet me and the world started spinning until I hit the bottom.
Gamble’s guffaws accompanied me the whole way down.
Upon gracefully hitting the flat ground I pushed myself up, wiping away what dirt and grass I had accumulated in my spiraling descent. I looked like a homeless man down on his luck in leather armor. Not my proudest moment by far. Gamble didn’t even attempt to stifle his boisterous laugh. Bastard. Oak stood silent and respectful and Ice looked as she normally did, disinterested and distant. But there was that twinkle in both their eyes.
We Touched Ones aren’t infallible, sorry guys.
“What took you guys so long?” I asked sarcastically.
“We’re supposed to be Rumblers Geo, not Rollers.” Gamble spoke between bits of laughter.
“Maybe I’ll change the name, let’s roll.” I stated as I drew my sword before turning to walk towards the burrow. Our descent had not gone unnoticed however. How could it with the boisterous laugh of a dwarf bounding for miles around? Three of the four Gnolls we had scouted advanced towards us.
Gnoll Raiders with 200hp apiece. They wore scrappy armor that looked to be made of copper and wielded spears of the same material. They held their spears at the ready as they barked amongst one another, charging at our position all the while. Behind them another set of Gnolls emerged from the burrow and headed towards our direction.
That spelled trouble for us.
“Change of plans guys, rush these three and get ready for enemy support. I’ll take the middle one, Gamble the right and Oak the left. Ice rain down death!” I shouted as we upped our pace to meet their charge. Learning from my failures at fighting wolves, I decided to try a different style of fighting.
Arrow after arrow flew overhead, puncturing the Gnolls at random. As we closed the distance the Gnolls thrust out their spears to impale us. I battered away the attack aimed at me with my shield and slashed with my sword. Direct hit! Hitting a target that came up to your chest in height was far easier than bending awkwardly to hit at one that only stood up to your knees. But I had to dispatch my target quickly to prepare for the next wave of Gnolls.
“Quick slash!” I yelled, slashing my Gnoll once more. After the skill landed the Gnoll recovered, his spear poised to strike. He thrust once more, aiming for my chest. I dodged enough for the spear to graze my side; that was when I tackled the beast. The Gnoll struggled under my weight, snapping at the hand that held him down. A sharp pain assured me of his success, but I retaliated by raising my sword and stabbing down.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Yelps surrounded me as my companions fought their targets. Meanwhile I ripped my sword upward with a sickening schick before stabbing downward once more. There was no honorable sword fight. No fancy technique that left you breathless. Just pure, honest brutality; and before long the Gnoll ceased its struggle.
Gained 38(150)exp!
I jumped off my deceased target in time to see five Gnolls approaching where we fought. ‘Shit.’ Was my only reaction as I glanced to my squad. Oak had nearly finished his target as it was moving weakly. Gambles was almost to that point, Ice had switched her focus to his, launching arrow after arrow into the beast.
If things kept as they were their reinforcements would hit us just as Gamble’s target bit the dust. I needed to play for time. I stood in the path of the five Gnolls, hands sparking. A second later the sparks erupted into flames. “Fire Elemental!” I yelled as flames burst from the ground, coalescing into a single being of pure flame.
Name: Fire Elemental
Level: 3
Health: 240
Mana: 150
Energy: 100
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Endurance: 12
Intelligence: 15
Abilities:
Fireball- Launches a ball of flame at the target dealing 30 fire damage. 20 Mana
Cast Time: 2 seconds.
Fireblast- Instantly attacks the target with a burst of flame dealing 45 fire damage. 50 Mana.
Cooldown: 5 seconds.
Searing Strike- Instantly hits the target with a fist of flame dealing 50 fire damage. 50 Energy.
Cooldown: 5 seconds.
I closed the windows that popped up, “Attack!” I shouted. The elemental obeyed as it began conjuring a ball of flame before tossing it at the approaching Gnolls. The Fireball exploded as it hit the target in the center of the group, splashing the nearby Gnolls with flames. The main target’s health dropped by 30 but the ones hit by the AoE took 10 damage.
Right after the elemental cast the second Fireball it immediately cast Fireblast, searing the main target for 67 damage, a critical strike! An arrow flew overhead and struck a Gnoll a good sign. I turned to see Ice had switched targets to the approaching Gnolls and began to pepper them with arrows. For a second I regretted fusing Fireball, another ranged attacker would help here greatly.
But this Fire Elemental was just too cool, worth the tradeoff. I just hoped that my squad would be able to survive this encounter. I spied another three Gnolls emerging from the burrow. How many more would there be?
Another Fireball flew through the air, engulfing its mark in flames. Followed by an arrow that caused the Gnoll to fall to the ground dead. Another exp alert followed its defeat. But there were four more to go in this group. Luckily the AoE damage from the Fireballs had weakened them a decent amount. The Gnolls split into two groups of two.
“Gamble, Oak, Ice, handle the right group! I’ve got the left!” I shouted as I charged to the two to the side, seeking to distract them. Another Fireball sailed off into the right group accompanied by a Fireblast, weakening them further. I switched my summons’ target to the weakest of the two right Gnolls and commanded it to engage in melee.
The Elemental dissipated a second after reaching its target, but not before landing a Searing Strike and killing the weak Gnoll. Good, that mean my squad could take down the remaining one quickly while I distracted the other two.
I laughed silently, that’s what I became; a certified distraction. I charged towards the two Gnolls who readied their spears for a thrust. When their attacks came I knocked one away with a sweep of my shield, but the other sunk into my side.
Hp -39!
Jeez these suckers could hit hard. I was insanely grateful for the armor I had, a full hit would be 60 points of damage! “Quick Slash!” my blade struck and I blocked a retaliating spear thrust. I charged and stabbed before jumping back and moving to the left and right randomly. My goal to bide time working as the Gnolls eyed me warily.
One barked and the two spread out slowly, keeping me in the center of their vision. I rapidly turned my head, watching both as I backed away in an attempt to keep both in my line of sight. Another bark, I turned to the right Gnoll who uttered the sound and was hit in the left with a spear thrust.
Clever bastards.
I swung my sword at the now retreating Gnoll only to take another thrust in the right side. I couldn’t fight like this. I was already almost dead with 45 hp remaining. Another hit or two and I was a goner. Another yelp sounded and I jumped reactively backwards only to see an arrow stuck in the Gnoll who made the noise.
“Yer dead doggies!” A loud yell sounded as Gamble collided with the Gnoll on my right, pummeling it with his mace.
“Shaaaaaa!” Oak yelled, thrusting his spear and connecting.
The Gnoll turned to its new targets and was hit with another barrage of attacks before falling to the ground defeated. Now it was four on one. The remaining Gnoll didn’t last much longer. I slumped to the ground when it was finished.
“How ya feelin’ Captain?” Gamble inquired, tossing me a vial containing a red liquid inside. “Need a little pick-me-up? Costs about ten silver a bottle. Pay me back when we get back to the barracks aye?”
“You got that off the ground near one of our kills.” Oak mentioned, a twinkle in his eyes.
“He didn’t know that!” Gamble yelled.
I laughed and downed the drink. Tasted like bitter cherries, but my health rose back to 200. Not a bad trade. “Thanks Gamble, we make it through this and I’ll give you the silver.”
He brightened visibly, “Ya mean it? I mean…ya don’t gotta. Yer the squad leader after all…” I shook my head; my word is as good as gold. Or silver in this case.
The three Gnolls closed the distance towards us but had already received a helping of arrows courtesy of Ice. I rose to my feet and dusted myself off to prepare for our new guests.
“Ice your marksmanship is a thing of beauty.” I said truly grateful that we had an amazing archer with us. She made no reaction outside of releasing another arrow at the approaching Gnolls. Cold as Ice that one. I looked towards the burrow once more and spied two Gnolls running our way, far behind our nearest group of three.
“Shaman.” Oak pointed his spear at the furthest one.
“Bad?”
“Bad.”
I had to ask.
“Right, let’s take this group down quickly then. Ice’s center target looks almost dead so when it drops we’ll charge. Oak and Gamble to the right I’ll take the left with Ice.” Ice’s target dropped to the ground unmoving. I raised my sword and yelled, charging once more into battle.
Two arrows struck the target before I was in range of its spear. The Gnoll struck out in a frenzy but I battered the spear away easily. I was getting more used to combat. With a grunt, I thrust my sword into the beast’s shoulder. It dropped its spear with a yelp and I ripped my sword free. “Quick Slash!” Once my ability finished its blow I moved to the side, allowing Ice to launch an arrow directly into the target.
Soon we’d be like a well-oiled killing machine, spitting out bodies faster than we could pull them. I smiled, slashed the Gnoll twice more and watched it fall to the ground defeated. Just in time for me to hear a loud CRACK and be taken in the chest by a bolt of lightning.
The sky entered my vision as I was knocked into the air. A second later the ground greeted me with a thump. I decided right then and there that ‘fucking fuck’ was a perfectly acceptable way to say ‘ouch’. I rolled over, pushed myself to my knees and then stood up. I stared directly at the Gnoll Shaman. Small arcs of electricity shot from its fingertips. Another spell.
“Watch out!” I yelled a moment too late as Gamble took the bolt straight to the chest, knocking him back. I charged towards the Shaman but was intercepted by the Gnoll it had arrived with. It snarled and stabbed at me with its spear but I battered it away. I retaliated with a stab and Quick Slash combo I had grown used to.
Gamble recovered quickly and charged the shaman, leaving Oak to deal with a severely weakened Gnoll. The shaman’s hands began to glow with a warm-looking light. The distraction allowed my target to stab me in the arm with its spear. “Bastard!” I yelled as I lashed out in anger.
I looked back at Oak’s Gnoll on a hunch. My gut was right; the shaman had healed the gnoll back to full health. “Gamble! Get back here and take my target, I’ll handle the shaman!” I yelled as loud as I could. The Dwarf stopped in his tracks a few meters from the shaman before running the rest of the way and engaging it. “Damnit Gamble!” But it was no use. “Ice, hit Oak’s target with everything you’ve got!”
An arrow struck the Gnoll Oak was fighting in response. Good girl. Now I just had to deal with my target. My Gnoll snickered and barked at me, flashing its spear and teeth. I charged in while it taunted, catching it at an awkward moment. Dumb beast, never mock a target in battle with more than just words.
You could get seriously screwed.
Like an offensive lineman I plowed into the Gnoll and sent it to the ground with me on top. Like a berserker mad with blood rage I stabbed into the bewildered beast. The beast yelped, lightning popped in the background, a familiar voice yelled out and my downed target bit at me, but it was no use. It died quickly. Once finished I rushed over and stabbed the Gnoll attacking Oak in the back with a Quick Slash.
The shaman’s hands began to glow as it faced our direction, but Gamble shield-slammed it in the face, interrupting the cast. Our dwarf is a beast. Another set of stabs later our target fell. Ice sent a barrage the Shaman’s way. It snarled as Oak and I charged to support Gamble who looked ready to bite the dust in a moment. Sparks began to jump from my hands “Gamble, fall back!” I called, expecting him to stubbornly stay.
He ran towards us just as the shaman began casting a lightning bolt. I threw my hand out towards the dwarf just as it erupted into flames. “Fire Elemental!”
Flames leapt from my hands, dissipating and coalesced just behind Gamble, directly in the path of the lightning bolt. Immediately the Fire Elemental was hit with a large shock, but immediately retaliated with a Fireball of his own and a Fireblast right after. The cries of the shaman were music to my ears as we closed the distance. “Quick Slash!”
With the crisis under control we made short work of the shaman. I personally interrupted any casts by pretending to be a lineman once more. Between Oak’s spear, the Flame Elemental’s Fireblasts and Searing Strikes as well as my own Quick Strikes we took the beast down from 524/700 hp to 0 quickly.
We made it, with everyone alive.
Gained 200(800)exp!
And just like that, my squad leveled up once more.
Rumblers Status
Name: Geo
Level: 3
Experience: 1056/2000
Health: 200
Mana: 150
Energy: 100
Strength: 15
Agility: 10
Endurance: 10
Intelligence: 15
Name: Amariah “Ice”
Level: 3
Experience: 56/2000
Health: 200(+20)
Energy: 120
Strength: 12
Agility: 16(+1)
Endurance: 10(+1)
Intelligence: 8(+1)
Skills:
Eagle Eye- Increases the maximum range of ranged weapons such as bows by 5 meters.
Name: Kelon Stonebrow “Gamble”
Level: 3
Experience: 56/2000
Health: 260(+20)
Energy: 85
Strength: 12(+1)
Agility: 10(+1)
Endurance: 13(+1)
Intelligence: 13
Skills:
Lucky- Gains an extra 5% chance to land a critical strike.
Name: “Oak”
Level: 3
Experience: 56/2000
Health: 220
Energy: 110
Strength: 12(+1)
Agility: 13(+1)
Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 10(+1)
Skills:
Poisoned Strikes- has a chance on every hit to poison the target dealing an additional 10% damage over 5 seconds.
A few feet behind Oak, Ice and myself lay Gamble on the ground, breathing deeply and laughing. “Now that was a nice scrap! Whens the next one Captain?” I walked over to the dwarf and extended my hand. He grasped it and I pulled him to his feet.
“Same time tomorrow sound good?” He grinned,
“Aye, but first lets collect our winnings.”
As a group we walked around the area we used as a battlefield and collected a bunch of weapons such as bronze spears and bronze armor that wouldn’t fit any of us correctly. Vendor trash my dad would say. Spoils of victory was Gamble’s description. I preferred his. With his appraising eye he said we looked to have about thirty silver just from all our winnings. But the biggest prize was a Tome dropped by the shaman herself.
Tome of Lightning Bolt – Cost: 20 Mana
Cast Time: 2 seconds.
Launches a bolt of lightning that deals 45 air damage to your target. (Rank 0/3)
Though it didn’t fit my character theme, I learned the spell anyway. An additional ranged attack among our group would help tremendously.
After a bit of resting we had one last order of business to do, destroying the den. I marched into the burrow and ordered my squad to stay back, if I encountered trouble id be out screaming. The burrow was like a cave, a small initial passage led to a single room with another passage in the rear of that room. There was nothing of value in the first room, merely straw thrown about in clumps resembling beds.
The second room however was much larger than the first and filled with strange totems and the stench of decay. Corpses of cattle were strewn about around the edges of the room with blood covering the floor like a carpet. In the center of the room stood a massive totem that looked to be a crudely carved dragon. Before the totem knelt a single Gnoll.
“Redclaw pray to spirit. Spirit respond to Redclaw. Say to bring offering, Redclaw obey.” Unlike the previous brownish tan Gnolls we fought earlier, this one’s fur was a deep red, almost blood colored. On his back were two bronze swords. Armor that looked to be made of leather covered only his chest.
But why was he speaking to me? “Spirit pleased with Redclaw’s offerings. Not of blood like Matriarch brought, but of weapons. Spirit pleased with weapons, say war comes to tribes soon. Tribes must prepare.” He turned and looked at me, his lips curled into a snarl.
“We not prepared enough.”
I made no move to attack, he didn’t seem very hostile. “Redclaw weak compared to God-Touched. Seek no battle.” He took the pair of swords he wore on his back and stabbed them into the ground in front of him.
“And what is it that you seek Redclaw?” I decided to ask the obvious.
“Strength.”
“And why do you require strength?”
“To unite all clans for war.”
“War with who?”
“Titans. They come.”
“Why aren’t you attacking me like the others of your kind?”
“They follow Matriarch ways. Old ways.” His ears drew back and he growled, “Stupid old ways. Need change soon. Or all die. Spirit tell Redclaw to seek those who come. You are first.” The cave rumbled and Redclaw looked to the totem. “Spirit think you best choice. Say other Touched not feel right.”
He knelt before me, “Will you have Redclaw?”
“You want to join me? Why?”
“Is will of the spirit.” He said simply as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
I had to think for a moment. A Gnoll joining my squad would really make us stand out, exactly what my father wanted to avoid too much of. But it would bring us up in power, Gnolls were no slouches in combat. I wanted to see how strong this Redclaw could become.
“Very well Redclaw, welcome to the Rumblers.”
Redclaw has joined the Rumblers!
Name: Redclaw
Level: 1
Experience: 0/500
Health: 240
Energy: 160
Strength: 12
Agility: 11
Endurance: 12
Intelligence: 5
Skills:
Frenzy- User enters a rage, increasing attack speed by 30% and damage by 10% for 10 seconds.
Redclaw picked his swords from the ground and sheathed them on his back. He turned back to the totem and picked a small carving of the dragon attached to a string that hung from the massive totem. He then wore the carving like a necklace and walked towards me.
“We go now. Spirit will seal cave when we exit.”
Together we walked out of the cave that began to collapse behind us.
“Och, Captain what ya got there?”
“Everyone meet Redclaw, the newest member of the Rumblers.
It was an hour and a half later when my squad and I walked through the city of Orhu towards the castle. Ice, Gamble and Oak broke off and headed to the barracks for some rest while I turned in the assignment to General Ledric accompanied by Redclaw. Many people, both player and nonplayer watched us as we walked through the city.
General chat was going wild with reported sightings of a player with four companions. Ingame chats were always filled with crap so I rarely looked. Together we entered the castle and walked straight to Ledric and the constable.
“I see you’ve acquired a new friend Geo.” Ledric stated, unsure of what to make of my new squad member. “Is he tame?”
“Redclaw is no dog to be brought to heel.” He snarled
“He’s been well behaved so far.” I pointedly stated. Redclaw calmed down in a hurry. “My squad is worthy of him.”
“Indeed, he’s got a fire in him. I take it your assignment was a success?”
“Indeed it was General.”
The constable rose from his seat and spoke, “Then congratulations are in order! Well done captain Geo!”
“Thank you sir.” I bowed
Quest Completed!
A Den of Gnolls.
Reward: 1,600exp +Gerheld Empire reputation.
You have leveled up!
Current level: 4
Unspent Stat Points: 5
Unspent Talent Points: 2
The constable snapped his fingers and three guards stepped forward, each carrying a magic tome. “For your deeds, as well as bringing your squad back alive and well we reward you with a choice of one of the following tomes. Take your time to choose Sir Geo.”
I bowed once more, “Thank you, your grace.” I then moved to inspect the tomes.
Tome of Brutal Swing – Cost: 70 Energy
You instantly swing at your target, dealing 120% weapon damage and rending them for an additional 20% damage over 15 seconds.
Cooldown: 15 seconds.
Tome of the Iron Bulwark – Cost: 50 Energy
You focus on defending yourself with your armor, increasing armor rating by 20% for 10 seconds.
Cooldown: 2 minutes.
Tome of Stone Strike – Cost: 50 Mana
Cast Time: Instant
You instantly rip a large rock from the earth and hurtle it towards your target dealing 60 physical damage.
Cooldown: 8 seconds.
I immediately chose Stone Strike and learned it on the spot. Finally able to use my first Geomancy spell. I could not wait to let this baby fly! “The Captain seems eager Ledric.”
“Indeed he does, care to learn your next assignment Captain Geo?”
I turned to the General and Constable and shook my head. “Perhaps later, for now I must return to the barracks to recover. I shall return later to receive my new mission.” Ledric nodded,
“Then go and get some much needed rest, Captain. This next task will be far harder than your first. But I have faith you shall not fail Gerheld.”
I bowed once more and left the castle with Redclaw. I then showed him the barracks and helped him get settled among the squad. As soon as I was free I grabbed a bunk and logged out of Reckoning.
I awoke from my coma in my bed and looked at the time. 6:32am. Had I really been playing for just over six hours? Time really flies when you’re having fun. I stretched and yawned. My body needed sleep and I would do so soon. But first I had to do a little research on sword fighting and stances. I got about two hours of research in before I collapsed onto the bed, unable to keep my eyes from shutting themselves.
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Free talk zone
Alright heres chapter 4, fresh and largely unedited. But im going to be busy for the next few days so I don't think I'd get around to working on it until monday or so. So hopefully you all enjoy this unedited chapter that actually includes some fight scenes in it.
Speaking of which holy jeebus did I find fight scenes hard to write. I spent hours just staring at the page just going HOW DO I DO THIS?! I eventually got through that but any advice would be wonderful.
Once again, thank you for enjoying my work and I'll see you next chapter!
Also before I forget, an explanation of the armor system.
Say a character has 30% armor and takes a 100 damage hit.
They'll only take 70 damage since 30% of that 100 was negated.
Blocks with a shield negate it further, but at a flat damage reduction. So a small shield would block 20 damage where as a shield as big as a car door would block say 100 or more in addition to the extra armor % they add.
As for magical damage, that is only affect by resistances.
Thats all that I can think of at the moment, if you have questions ask away and ill respond as best as I can.