09

So many Achievements

Day 5 Default 5

Armaman rode his steed through the beautifully darkening forest. “Nights are so peaceful,” he said to himself with a sigh. He stopped to look through the tree tops at the colors of fading light as the sun casts it last rays of yellow and peachy orange into the sky.

There wasn’t much thought about it, today he was on a mission. There was a new member on the famed scoreboard of monster kills. Though it was a low figure and low level Imps, this new player could have potential. The reading came through that she had killed over 100 Imps, in decent time, and while alone. Why she had no friends or group was a mystery to them all. But, the High Elf King still had orders to find anyone and allow them a seat at the feast, giving this new player an irrefutable option to join ranks with the High Elves, and become a High Elf, after conditions had been met, of course.

Armaman valiantly steered his steed though the forest towards the little yellow marker on his map.

Else had been alerted for a pick up. Else was a tall fine women with fine black hair, pale skin, and an attitude that told one to stay back if they want to stay alive. A fair trait indeed, if one wants to stay alive, in her line of work.

Her own beginning wasn’t easy, but nonetheless, her do-what-I-say attitude, her adept use of skills and a quick mind led her through and to the top.

Though she had a quite a way before she could become clan leader, as a Vampire Scout, she was up there and not to be trifled with.

Finding new people to join the clan wasn’t easy, especially if they didn’t want to, meeting a Vampire in the woods, who is looking for you, and somehow knows your name, doesn’t always end up well. Declining such a “recruitment” request… thing can go south really fast.

That’s why she was chosen for this job, venturing through forest and other lands alone isn’t for the weak hearted… if only she had one.

The call had only shown that her target was over ten miles out of the village, hardly a one night trip.

But getting there might pose some problems. The village, being in the most dangerous part of the woods didn’t make it an ideal location for a vacation, not much time to relax when ogres, trolls and giants roamed nearby. But what better guards for those that try to get in?

She got up out of bed, squinting her eyes at the dusky sky. She knows the sun will be gone in less than an hour.

She headed southwest towards the blinking yellow dot on her map.

As mentioned before, getting there was the hard part. She only had to knockout a bear, give wide berth to an ogre eating a tree roots first, and kill a pack of white wolves before crossing the river and arriving within a mile of her target.

The river was the line that separated the dark woods from the rest of the forest of Nadir. From here it would be only a few Imps, but none had shown their face.

Now, less than a mile away, she would find the Player who had newly learned the skill of Bloodsucking.

KillPrinsX woke up a few hours later, feeling rested enough. There wasn’t a timer, nor anything else that told her how long she slept. There didn’t seem to be any limit, nor an automatic wake up call, governing how long she had to sleep either. She had simply woken up. No monsters had startled her. It seems that she had simply woken up, feeling well rested.

Charlotte was up in the ceiling. KillPrinsX called her down and started thinking about what to do next. She still had a debt that needed to be paid back to the Robery. There was still her personal goal of becoming better at using her skills. She still had a love for gaming, adventuring and finding exotic quests that would take her anywhere and give her ridiculous loot, not to mention needing to try out new spells and weapons.

She ate another poisoned steak, drank some more water and looked around, making sure there wasn’t any more loot to be taken. Notthing but more bone weapons and shields.

Having another thought, that durability may lapse eventually, she took an extra bone knife, placing it in her inventory, and found a decent bone shield that would probably come in very handy. Just what it might do to her ability to cast spells, she’ll have to find out. She found a hook on her newly acquired weapons harness and placed it over her newly acquired Greatsword of Weeping

She walked down the stone pathway leading out of the cave.

But she didn’t make it out. She heard voices, and they were arguing.

“It’s my quest, and if you think I’m going to let a stupid looking Elf hijack my quest line, your smoking something.”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

“I am not letting you cross my path unchecked. This is my kingdom’s grounds and you know it.”

“No it’s not! We’re in the middle of the forest of nowhere!”

“This is very much somewhere and you know it. You’ve crossed your bounds at the river.”

“So then it’s fair game! And if you don’t leave then I’ll fight you for it. You’re nothing to me after that troll I killed on the way here.”

“Ohhh, now I’m scared. You killed a little trolly poo all on you own. Doesn’t that make mama proud?”

“Shut up!”

And from there, there was the sound of high level magic being cast shuddering through the air. Simultaneously a shield went up and a sword was unsheathed.

KillPrinsX thought that this might be the time to watch a good fight. Elf and Mage… or whoever they were.

She crouched and walked forward to get a better view.

The Elf was coming down with his sword in a powerstrike, dashing forwards a good ten feet all at the same time.

The lady had evaded perfectly, disappearing and reappearing right behind him.

The Elf had seemed to predict it and came around, sweeping his sword back so fast you could hardly see it.

But the lady was under his arm and up in his face so close that she looked like she was trying to take a bite out of his neck.

The Elf pushed her back, but the lady had stopped. Her eyes wide open, and the fight stopped abruptly.

She was staring at KillPrinsX.

KillPrinsX, not knowing if she should run and hide, greet them, or take sides… froze.

“Uhh. Was I interrupting something?”

It took a moment for both the Elf and the lady to realize that their yellow dot on their map was standing right in front of them!

The lady spoke, “No,” she said, backing away from the Elf. “I’ve been looking for you, and we best be on our way to my village. My leader wants to speak to you.”

Not knowing what else to say than suspecting the worst, KillPrinsX said, “Are you going to eat me?”

She laughed, “No. Not this time. Due to a recent beacon, we thought you might be interested in joining our clan.”

“A beacon? Like I’m shining light into the sky?”

“No. You’ve recently gotten a skill… that best be unnamed in such company, which allows you to our ranks.”

The Elf man stepped in at this point. “But, per our records you are more than welcome to join our ranks at the High Elf kingdom, slaying monsters and beasts, becoming one of the finest, and fighting among legends.”

This was a bit too fast for KillPrinsX. “Sorry,” she said, “who are you guys?”

“I am Armaman, High Elf Prince, Orc Slayer First Class, Respectable Imp Killer, Goblin Slayer First Class, and the latest Slayer of the High Demon, Ranked number three in the kingdom.”

Else waved him aside and stepped in front, “I am Else, Vampire scout… and monsters fear me. I’ve probably missed a few medals somewhere along the line, I’ve killed lots of Orcs, Globlins and all that, not to mention a few Trolls, Werewolves, banished an Angel, oh and a few Demons learned how to die because of me. We keep the checks and balances straight in the woods.”

Just then, Charlotte stepped out of the cave from the ceiling.

“Ahh! A spider!” Armaman yelled and pulled out his sword.

“No. No, don’t kill her. She’s my pet.”

“Oh… You’re a Drow,” he said, not really asking a polite question.

“Umm… sure? I can cast magic and I have a pet spider. I guess that makes me a drow. I’m not really a Elf though.”

“But you will be,” Armaman said with love in his eyes again.

“No,” Else said. “She has Vampire written all over her. Just look at her, dark purple shining robe, a mage, bone dagger and an overly large sword…”

“But that Greatsword. It was made by the Elves! If she’s carrying that around there must be some Elvish in her blood.”

“Well if there is! I’ll suck it out of her!!!” Else nearly screamed as she was losing her patience. “Come girl, we’re heading off to the village!”

KillPrinsX was startled. They really were fighting for her.

She stepped back, resisting Else’s grip on her arm. She had to think. These kind of decisions aren’t always something you can just jump into without a good knowledge of both sides. She knows, she’s played many games.

“Can I think it over?” She asked. Else’s grip slackened.

“Fine, just make it snappy, I don’t want to be out when the sun comes up again.”

“It’s fine, I just stayed in this cave…”

“I’m not staying in a cave! Hurry up!” said Else.

Fine then. She thought it over.

Elves are noble, fight justly, for the good, killing Orcs and Goblins by the plenty. They’re competitive, but friendly and work well in teams… not a bad start to the argument.

Vampires suck blood, they’re night walkers, have magic apparently, and are good in close combat. They seems to be unaligned to good or evil, fighting Angels and Demons. Survival of the fittest, but would most likely be a formidable force in a group. Even two could wreak damage to a whole village before anyone could stop them. Then there’s the enemy, Werewolves… also not a bad start to the argument.

“If you don’t decide soon,” Else started, “I’m going to kill this Elf prince and take you myself.”

“Let the girl decide.” Armaman retorted calmly, “She can’t follow you to your village when you’re dead.”

“I already am dead. And you mean defaulted… but I still have ways around that.”

Ways around defaulting… Now that’s intriguing.

But looking at current circumstances. This game has no vibe that pulls you in one direction or the other, no “looming darkness” or “fight for the good side” feeling. But, she does have the Bloodsucker skill, she has a pet spider, she’s killed tons of Imps. Her Strength isn’t that high, but her Wisdom is. Swords, she’s not so good with. But not all elves use swords, there’s plenty who use powerful magic to overwhelm huge beasts. But the Bloodsucker skill, her Mage abilities and the fact that she’s a Psychic, not just a mage, put it all into perspective.

“I’ll follow Else.” KillPrinsX said with dignity.

Armaman threw down his sword. “God dammit! …Sorry my lord. Really, you don’t know what you’re missing. Elves are more than what meets they eye, though we slather your eyes with grandeur, expect more than that.” He was going down on his knees, begging her to change her mind.

Achievement unlocked! No pity! Bring a man to his knees.

+5 Charisma: Speaking: Arguing

KillPrinsX let out a coughing laugh, trying to hide it with her face in her hands. When she was done hacking she turned back around to the two. “Sorry, I’ll have to stay with my choice.”

“That’s great,” Else said. “Let’s go. I don’t want to be standing out here much longer.”

Else grabbed her arm and pulled her off. KillPrinsX didn’t resist, she ran and tried to keep up with the tall Vampire.

“Nooo!” Armaman screamed. “Come back! Please, you don’t have to go that way!”

Achievement unlocked! No forgiveness. Make a man beg for you to come back.

+5 Charisma: Speaking: Arguing