“So, diligent deskmate, apparently it was true that I should not charge forward like that,” Manna greeted as she joined them to sit down and use healing items. “It seems what Bingo told you that time was true.”
“What is it?” Renma asked. He also joined them.
Manna didn’t answer. She looked at Tier as if asking him to explain on her behalf.
Tier only scratched his head and began to explain, “Basically, each tank has their own playstyle and focus. A guardian paladin shouldn’t charge forward to tank, but wait for attacks or enemies to come because their strength lies in buff and protection surrounding allies. Kinda different from a warrior that usually would just charge forward and immediately could draw attention to them, guardian paladins are designed to defend certain positions. Both serve different strategic approaches.”
“Sasuga loremaster.”
Everyone cheered teasingly at Tier. Even Manna joined to at least follow them clapping.
Tier snorted. “I’ll misdirect a lot of monsters to you guys later.”
“Anyway, playing alone had made me oblivious that I was playing more like a warrior with Unbreakable path rather than a proper guardian paladin,” Manna continued.
“How about the threat issue?” Nubram asked. He was definitely the one that would be worried the most about it since he could dish a lot of damage in such a short time, causing a huge amount of instant threat.
Mana sighed, “I apologise about that, a proper taunt ability will only be available after I reach level 58. And even so, it requires the target to focus on other people before I can taunt them. I might need to assign some points to Devotion path to generate more threat.”
“I think it’s pretty okay if you want to finish Safeguard first,” Tier suggested. “We’ll try to play around this threat issue for now.”
“Ah, how considerate of you, diligent deskmate.”
“Ahem.” Flick grinned mischievously. “Ain't that means the most effective partner for you before level 58 is a hunter?”
Manna nodded in agreement. “I certainly do not object to such a proposal in grouping. We can diversify after I reach level 58.”
While Tier was clearly looking away to hide his blushing face, the others just cleared their throat several times to tease the two. However, Manna was not giving any reaction and didn’t heed any of the signs everyone was throwing around.
Talk about dense as steel, paladin suits her.
Their next two fights against rock giants went quite well with a bit of change to their strategy. The deskmate duo started with Tier drawing his whole threat to Manna while the paladin stood her ground before her friends and waited for the attack to come.
Just before the giant reached her, Manna lunged with [Justice Wrath] to slightly increase her threat due to higher damage output. Renma also helped with [Fearless Shield of Faith]. Then, only after she gave the sign, the remaining three unleashed their full assault.
Renma was not sure why, but the current arrangement made it easier for him to heal allies. Flick was still reckless as ever, and even Rushvatte got hit much more often. Was there something about Mana’s positioning that changed the course of the battle?
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Nevertheless, beating down the remaining giants helped Renma reach level 43. On top of that, there were some rare items for them. Renma got a new mask in the shape of a stone giant’s face,
They proceed to submit the quest to the NPC that gave them the quest. From there, they were given three locations to report to and got more quests.
Manna mentioned that the best option was to continue to Dorakkal Forest to the southeast. Another option was to go southward to Wicked Spirit Forest, which might be beneficial if Renma was an offensive holy priest. She didn’t recommend Gudar Outpost at far east since the quests there were designed for level 41 players.
While the deskmate duo quickly decided where they were going, the others decided to think more about it. Especially Renma, who needed to talk to Ril’Dil. Who knows if the mad priest would tell him to go to Gugar Outpost.
When Renma submitted his items, Ril’Dil started rambling about the ingredients, “Yes, young one. This be what we need. Blood cherries have da power to pump blood, black wolf’s fang be helping you tearin’ da boundaries of spirit realm, dis’ citrus leaves reinvigorate da body, and da piece of sky crystal will empower Da Light. Dis ingredients, young friend, be helpin’ you in savin’ fallen friends.”
Ril’Dil nodded his head as if he was listening to reggae music while crushing the ingredients using mortar and pestle. He continued with seemingly ever so wise words, “No healin’ be stronger than bringin’ da souls of da dyin’ back to their bodies. We rakhs be different from other priest’, young friend. Lika da orc’s shamans, we be pleadin’ da spirits to help us. And we be usin’ herbs, spices, and earthy or celestial materials. Young friend, we be thankful to da orc fo’ dis’s knowledge.”
To be honest, before yesterday Renma never thought that he would need to deal with Ril’Dil again. When he got the option to talk to a priest trainer from another race, he always picked that option. Funnily, Ril’Dil was not present in Grandar nor in the Grand Savannah.
Not sure why. Perhaps dry weather is not good for Ril’Dil old skin.
“Dis’ be very important, young friend.”
Ril’Dil suddenly moved his face close to Renma’s, startling the player. The old rakhs looked very serious, his eyes carefully glancing to all corners of the main building.
“Wit’ dis’, you can easily resurrect multiple fallen brethren. Small things should neva’ be underestimated.” Ril’Dil gave a pouch of the concoction that he made to Renma. He grinned wide. “Dis be rakhs and orcs’ secret, don’t be tellin’ dis to da humans and elves.”
Madness!
Renma slammed his palms to his face as hard as he could. There was no point in keeping it secret if all information were available on the net. If he could find the person who designed Ril’Dil’s character, he would send a novel chapter worth of complaints. But then again, he would be too lazy to do that.
Also, Ril’Dil’s just an NPC doing its job, it won't be aware of the info being spread on the internet.
As Renma took the pouch, Ril’Dil talked again, “It be hard to bring dat’ all da times.” The he grinned slyly, “But dis’ old rakhs be knowin’ a small trick.”
As Renma had thought, Ril’Dil indeed had another mission for him. Then the old rakhs started to tell him the story about demons that were released by the rakhs far before the orcs did so. Ril’Dil also mentioned that rakhs finally found salvation by the help of the spirits.
Perhaps this was the reason there was no warlock class for rakhs.
“One of them be Arg’ish. He be lurking south from here. He imprisoned spirits of nature and poisoned da guardian statue. Nature be weeping, young friend, you be helpin’ da spirits and they be helpin’ you,” Ril’Dil explained. “One more thing, demons like da night.”
New quest acquired!
Renma sighed. The long rambling was finally finished. Thus he turned and walked away. But then, he heard something unexpected.
“Da spirits be with ya, young friend, and thank you for listenin’ to dis old rakhs.”
“Eh?” Renma looked at Ril’Dil whose gaze turned somber.
“My power had long be waned, young friend. There be no much I can do but tell stories. You be a rakhs priest, you be blessed by Da Light and da spirits. Help those be needing of your blessings, and never let hatred consume you like it consumed me. Be the change that dis’ old rakhs can never be.”
That was surprisingly touching. Renma couldn’t help but smile and waved at the old rakhs as he walked away.
Who would’ve thought they actually thought that much about Ril’Dil’s character? Instead of complaining, perhaps Renma was gonna write a nice review regarding this one NPC.