“Can I get some help here? Will these things ever quit!” Screamed Justin. He had been fighting the ants off for the last hour nonstop. This was in part his punishment from yesterday and in part because the class was now alternating sleep in the carriages. Because of this the train had to slow down as to not be too bumpy and out of control. The path was wild and untamed, though with these levels they could just blast most things out of the way and smooth down the earth to make a road.
But it wasn’t all his fault either. The ants had grown more crazed and aggressive since they slowed down. Because of this they were not able to kill the last group before the next group arrived. What was even more surprising however is that the members of the class were able to pass out within the bumpy carriages with but a few blankets and their bags as cushion.
Micky and Prin were passed out right now, it having been their turn in the carriages. Though calling them all carriages would be a grand over gesture. The one that Micky and Prin were in right now was nothing more than a glorified wagon. But some of them were indeed valuable carriages made by the dwarves and elves. These long lived races had the ability to make many wonderful innovations that humans just weren’t able too. Not that Micky and Prin were able to taste the fruits of that knowledge at the time.
Unbeknownst the those two, or at least not aware of it while passed out. The lines were getting worse and worse. The adventurers had underestimated these monsters. They had been getting past the front lines more as they piled up, and the inner groups were having trouble keeping up. So far there had been no casualties but this couldn’t keep going the way it was. The group had sent Delsa ahead in order to request they speed things up to the leader of the party.
At the same time the class was barely able to stay on their feet. They had been on the move for the better part of a day and a half, and had been on rotation inside the dungeon since the day before. They were basically ready to fall over. Clearly things had been underestimated even if they had not thought so at the time. The emergency order had gone out and scrapped the bottom of the barrel with this company that was burgeoning on a battalion.
But even that was not enough, there had been some talk about condensing the lines, or speeding things up, Delsa was currently in discussion about this very topic with the leader of the company. That was when the decision was made for them. The ants had gotten through and attacked one of the carriages.
Micky and Prin were rousted out of their sleep. They were abandoning their carriage, and anything that might slow them down like loot. They were going to cut the horses and all of the faster animals loose. One might ask what they were going to do to the slower animals. One might ask, but they would not receive and answer, at least not a satisfactory one.
Micky had decided to keep his pack however. He knew that it would cost him, but he wanted to at least try and keep it. He also asked if they could make a detour. There was a friend in the woods that wouldn’t make it out alone with all these ants crawling around. The primitive soldiers that could switch between four legs and two, would be a terror for a lone alchemist. Even if he was pretty sure she could handle herself under normal circumstances.
Justin and Helsa figured that while they could mention it they wouldn’t put their hopes up. Though a rescue would be optimal. However if they did perform the rescue it would also be an all or nothing thing. Just by passing by, they were sure to bring the ire of the [Antolion]s down unto whoever they were near. The town had think walls that could handle it. Even climbing monsters couldn’t climb the enchanted walls. The patterns on the walls prevented them from climbing or scaling the walls in multiple and varied ways. They did not have the anti flight enchants of the cities though.
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Micky understood, and acknowledged. Oddly it was Prin who had the most reservations, about both rescuing and not rescuing the alchemist. But the decision was out of their hands now.
The group cut loose all the horses. It was still Micky and Prins turn to rest, however they chose not to ride. Now that they were up they couldn’t be blamed for not wanting to go back to sleep. They were not exactly awoken gently.
As it turned out they did indeed decide to rescue the alchemist, along with a couple of villages that were on the way. These villages would not last what this onslaught was turning out to be. These monsters were relentless. And the monsters were becoming more of a hazard as they approached the baron’s town. If it wasn’t obvious by now that this was orchestrated than it was now.
Micky watched the slower mounts try to keep up. People were even trying to encourage the beasts. But they were not. Some of the students even tried to cut the animals loose. They did not deserve this. They were simply asked to come along, and now. But they couldn’t, and didn’t. Not because they were slower, but they were less reliable than the horses or other mounts. Even the monster mounts that could not be trusted were slain on the spot. Some pompous noble had even attached a [Teranadon] to their gaudy dwarven carraige. This was quickly slain, they may still get the carriage though. The dwarves and elves had been known for their make that was beyond human kin.
Each piece of equipment, and each beast of burden would disappear into the black as they were released from the train of adventurers. Never to be seen or heard from again, mostly. They did seem to attack the dwarven and elven carraiges but not be able to do much. Of course now it was easy to see the fakes from the real. As the fakes were easily torn up.
They came across the first village, already under attack. The adventurers sent the forward group out. The rest now forming up around the walls. The dead ant carcases forming around the walls from the advanced group surrounding them.
“We’re here to rescue and evac you, let us inside so we can help, and then come with us.” Said the leader of the adventurers. She was a galant woman in elvish battle armor, it must have cost her a kings ransom.
“From here it looks like you’re all the ones in need of help, we gots it handles just fine!” Yelled back what seemed like an authority figure, at least by his gaudy bright colors.
“We will either help you, or help you by force. Your village cannot hold against what we are already seeing, and we have reason to believe it will get worse before it gets better.” Said the galant beauty. However, Prin thought she sounded like a bit of a bitch. Micky didn’t really blame her, considering but she had a point.
“I don’t think...” said Mr. Gaudy.
“No, you don’t now will you let us in, or will we be making our way in?” Said Ms. Prissy (It’s what Prin said, Micky thought she was galant with and athletic figure and legs for...)
“Fine, but you may not take anything from us!” Said Mr. Gaudy.
“We will not take anything, but we may give you your lives!” Said Ms. Galant.
They opened up the doors so that the adventurers could enter. The adventurers performed a fighting retreat and helped closed them back up again. Ms. Bossy didn’t allow them the option of retreat and ordered them to come with us. Of course this did not go over so well. But Ms. unwavering did not give them the opportunity to refuse. Of course Mr. Gaudy had his retainers bring along some valuables with them. He doubted Ms. ‘I’m Getting A Headache’ would allow them to keep them, since it appeared they would be trying to bring along the carpeting too. But she would at least allow Mr. Gaudy to think that until she made him dump his family heirloom chair in the middle of the road.
The second village was more accommodating. Apparently, a large group of ants were amassing around the village. This also confirmed their fears. The ants were arranged to take the baron’s town. Micky was just glad that they were not near his own village. He was pretty sure there were places that would have to deal with these monsters on their own, and wouldn’t be able too.
Similarly they Didn’t have trouble with the alchemist, though she had yet to be attacked. When she left she clicked a stone and her whole home sunk into the ground. After that, Mr. Gaudy and a few of the other ‘What Have Yous’ ordered her to raise it back up so that they could dump their shit in there. She pointedly ignored them. They weren’t sure that she heard them, so they spoke louder. Their shit did get dumped in the area at the end though, but not inside her home. She almost got pissed and threw an itching potion upon them for turning her home into a dump.
Finally they found the [Town] and as they guessed it was under attack, though luckily a minor one. They flowed through the gates with all the people intact. Then the gates shut, and who knew when they would be open again...