Chapter 22: Reunion
Stuck between the need to report the Abyssal assault as fast as possible, and the need to tread carefully due to Vanessa’s hunters, we decided on a cautious jog.
Twice we were ambushed by small packs of tundra wolves, but Vanessa was capable of dealing with several of the creatures at once, so with our might combined the animals stood little chance. The first signs that we had arrived at Terris were not its sturdy wooden walls, but rather the clash of steel, and the shouts of battle.
Our pace quickened as we hurried to lay eyes upon the conflict. A force of around twenty Ratfolk was engaged with Terris’s guards outside the city's walls. Alongside the Ratfolk fought several strange creatures I'd not yet encountered. With a start, I realized they looked vaguely similar to the creatures of the Abyss. Instead of the purple skin that nearly all of the Abyssians I had seen so far had, a mottled blue colored the hides of the ogre-like creatures fighting alongside the Ratfolk.
“Have you seen those blue creatures before?” I asked, turning to Vanessa.
She slowed her run to a jog, and squinted at the battle.
“Nope. They were definitely not with the ratties when I left.”
She actually looked excited when she said that.
Without warning, she fell into a dead sprint towards the battle. I followed, albeit at a somewhat more cautious pace.
When Vanessa and I joined the fight, I was surprised to see the town's guard had already mostly wrapped up the battle. The bodies of one or two guards lay on the ground, but compared to the enemy losses, it seemed like the battle had been a one sided slaughter.
As the town's portcullis rose and the tired defending forces began to make their way back inside, I noticed several people that looked somewhat “off”. Some made gestures or spoke in ways that I recognized from reality. Others moved in the way that those new to VRMMO’s always did for their first several hours of game time. I inspected each of the dozen or so people I suspected were players, and stopped as I read the last name.
The last standout I inspected was not a player, and I was unsurprised to see Sev’s name pop up in the inspect window. Back turned to me, the man wildly gesticulated to a player.
I sighed, and walked up to the strange guard captain.
“Hey, Sev. You look significantly less dead than I would have suspected” I said.
He whirled around, seemingly not at all surprised to see me.
“To a few rowdy pups? I thought you knew me better than that Locke!” He replied, smile not dimming for even a fraction of a second.
I ignored pointing out the fact that we’d known each other for less than twelve hours, and allowed him to continue.
“And look at you! It seems you’ve gone and gotten yourself a wielders glow!”
He stepped back, gesturing at me with both hands.
Several others near us turned at his words, and I felt more than a little uncomfortable.
I sighed internally at the man's constant cheer, but it wasn’t a big deal. Eventually everyone would know about my status as a wielder, considering the fact I literally glowed.
“You sigh a lot, that can’t be good for your heart.” Cal said.
I rolled my eyes, focusing back on Sev mid sentence.
“-alright, isn’t it? What matters is that we’re all safe!”
“Carrie is alright then?” I asked, a weight I'd not realized was there, vanishing.
“She is! In fact, she regaled me with tales of your heroic sacrifice! Truly, the student takes after the master!” He said, voice rising to a shout near the end.
Someone elbowed me, and I realized Vanessa had finished killing the remaining enemies, and had snuck up behind me.
“Yo, captain, My new friend here has something to tell you.” Vanessa said.
Before I could ask how they knew each other, I realized that she was right, I’d totally forgotten our purpose for rushing back to Terris.
“Oh, yea. Sorry Sev.”
I figured he’d appreciate honesty as well as humor.
“I may have removed a lock inside the Anathi ruins, allowing a horde of Abyssal creatures to pour out in the Cairos.” I said, glancing at Sev’s face to see how he’d take it.
His cheerful demeanor vanished in a breath. The muscles in his jaw clenched, and I could see his fists ball into fists.
“You. did. WHAT?!” He roared, spittle flying.
Several nearby people took steps backwards, alarmed. Vanessa’s staff creaked under the pressure of her grip, and her spine straightened.
“Just kidding.” He said, waving a hand.
In an instant, his expression lapsed back into a calm smile.
“Terris Farseers spotted a separate, unknown, group of Abyssians gathering about a kilometer.. that way.” He said, pointing in vaguely the same direction in which we’d just come.
Vanessa wore an expression like she’d just found out her least behaved pet was responsible for yet another destroyed piece of furniture.
“Oh, so it's fine? Terris can handle the Ratfolk incursion as well as the new threat?” I asked, hopes rising.
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Sev coughed, glancing up into the sky.
“Ah.. well it's best we not chance that.” He said, smile faltering.
His smile restored itself in a heartbeat.
“But that’s ok, it just means we all get to go on another adventure together!”
I shuddered, remembering how our last adventure had turned out.
Heavy footsteps crunched in the well trodden snow behind me, and Sev’s expression lost some of its joy.
“You’re not going anywhere, Sev. You’re going to be here, defending Terris from the mess you helped cause.” A deep, familiar voice said.
I turned to see the other guard captain Grouwth approach from the city's open gate.
“But Sir, surely you see the need to quell the flow of Abyssians from the frostlake!?” Sev said, feigning indignance.
“I do, but we don’t need to send a captain to do it. I’m not letting you sneak off again, especially not during a crisis.” Grouwth said, his tone not allowing for debate.
“Just group those three that have been helping out the last few hours with these wielders, that should be more than enough manpower.”
Sev mumbled something that sounded like “yes sir”, and turned to face us.
“So! What do you think, are you both up for the challenge?”
New Quest: From the source (Chain, Timed: 6 hours)
Description: Find some way to seal the Abyssal portal beneath the Anathi ruins.
Rewards: 5 gold, Reputation with Terris, Reputation with Terris City Guard.
Accept or Decline
Eyeing the massive payout, I accepted the quest. And I wouldn’t decline a quest to solve a problem I'd created.
“How noble of you.” Cal said.
I glanced at Vanessa, and she nodded.
“Very Good! Oh, Locke, Siegfried had a message for you.” he scrunched up his face, and attempted a German accent, “should he survive your insane quest, send him my way, is what he said, I believe.”
“Let's meet back here in thirty minutes, I'll go gather your other teammates. Now, go! There’s no time to waste!” Sev said.
I thanked Sev, and we turned to walk inside Terris.
“Not you, my rune-etched barbian! You and I are going to go talk to the alchemist. Perhaps we can procure something to help you on your quest.”
Vanessa stiffened and turned around.
“I’m not your anything, captain.” She said, brandishing her weapon.
“Just a joke, just a joke!” Sev said, backing away.
She sighed, but trudged over to Sev.
“Alright, see ya in a bit Locke.”
I returned a goodbye, and made to walk into Terris.
“It would be wise to hide your glow while you remain in the town. At least while you’re able.” Cal said.
I looked around, making sure no one was currently watching me, and activated Fade.
I raised my hand to knock on the Runesmithe’s door, then remembered the prickly man's outburst last time.
I quietly entered, unwilling to antagonize the man any more than was needed.
As I crossed the threshold, a sharp whistling noise rang out, and I heard a familiar cursing from a nearby room.
Siegfried rounded the corner, walking into the store's front.
“Steal from my shop, will y-”
He cut off as his eyes landed upon me.
“Oh, so you lived after all? So. What are you doing, sneaking around my shop like some thug.” He said.
I didn’t understand what he was talking about, then realized I had tried to enter the store while invisible.
“Ah. Sorry, I forg-”
He held up a hand, then gestured for me to come closer.
He peered at something a few inches from my head.
“Oh, so you’re a wielder. Well at least you have the good sense to not let every muck-coated thief in the city see you walk about with such a treasure.”
I started to explain, but he held up his hand again.
“Don’t want to know.”
“I like this man, so intolerant of stupidity.” Cal said.
I glowered internally at my supposed partner.
“Carrie brought the essence she harvested back. Do you have any?”
I handed over the essence of Abyss I'd harvested.
“Not what I asked for, but not a bad find. Cairos experiences the most Abyssal incursions out of any other continent, but finding Abyss essence reliably is still often challenging.”
“You may keep the anchor.”
I thanked him, and he mumbled something I couldn’t quite make out.
“Believe it or not, I didn’t call you here to chat. The guard captain told me about his plans to send you to seal the portal below the frostlake.”
“If the Abyss dwellers overrun Terris and everyone flees or dies, I’ll have no customers. So really, It is in my best interest to help you succeed.”
He handed me three small engraved steel disks.
You have received:
{Lesser Rune of Durability} x1
{Lesser Rune of Sharpness} x1
{Lesser Rune of Efficiency} x1
“I consider this an investment, not a gift. So stay alive, and bring me back more essence.” The lithe man said, before waving me away.
I thanked Siegfried, who did not respond, and left. I paid Arcis a visit, and we chatted for a while before I told him I needed to go for another mission.
While I walked back to the gate, I examined the runes the Runesmithe had given me.
{Lesser Rune of Durability}
Type: Rune.
Compatibility: Head, Chest, Legs, Feet, Hands.
Effect: +15% Armor.
{Lesser Rune of Sharpness}
Type: Rune.
Compatibility: Weapon
Effect: Attacks penetrate +5% Armor.
{Lesser Rune of Efficiency}
Type: Rune.
Compatibility: Weapon
Effect: Spells cast consume 12% less resource.
“Can I use a rune on a soul tethered item?” I asked.
“You may.” Cal said.
I was considering which runes I should use, and which would best suit Vanessa, when she greeted me.
I looked up to see her standing by Sev, as well as three very familiar faces.
“It’s great to meet you, Locke. I’m Thomas.”