Joe hurried with the others and was quickly joined by a rush of human fighters. He watched as Iona stopped for a moment and called forth her armor, but not the armor he was familiar with. This was a full set of plate armor that looked specifically tailored to her in the very noticeably chunky dwarven style. It was large bronze plates with dull gray chain mail at the joints. Altogether it made her look like an engine of destruction, especially with the golden shield and Winter’s Bite in hand. Rory’s armor did not seem any different, however his hammer sported some new glowing runes carved into the stone head. Kier had a new set of chainmail and leather armor, but it looked very similar to his old set.
As they all exited the building, Joe was stopped in his tracks at the changes that had taken place while he was getting his Class. The front area that had been ringed in stacked abandoned cars was gone, In its place was what looked very much like a fortified medieval village. There were streets, or maybe lanes was a better description, with small homes and shops lining them. The main County Building and some of the houses had a fortified, wooden wall built around them with a large wood and metal gate that was open, and people were streaming through it towards the sounds of combat. As Joe passed through the gate, he saw that the enormous parking lot with its abandoned cars and trees had been cleared and replaced with more lanes and buildings. It looked like a proper village complete with cobblestone streets and oil lamps on the street corners.
Joe was continually surprised as he made his way along with the others. He knew that the land contained in the newly made City extended beyond the swamp which was where everyone was running to. In the distance, Joe could see a tall, fortified wall of stone, maybe twenty or twenty-five feet high with battlements at the top and towers spaced apart at one-hundred-foot intervals. The defenders at the top of the walls were casting spells and firing arrows down as the sounds of bestial roars flooded the area. The roars were punctuated by loud booms as something pounded on the outer walls.
From behind, Joe heard music. It was an acoustic version of Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”, and Joe received a notification.
Status Update
Larry Doyle has cast Courageous Inspiration upon you and all allies within hearing range. While active, Courageous Inspiration grants you and nearby allies a +10% bonus to all attack speed and damage and applies a +15% bonus to resist Fear and Route.
That dude’s useful! Joe called his armor and Bixby took off like a shot then blinked out of existence. Joe did not spare a glance at his friends, trusting that they could handle themselves and he too cast Haste and Blink Stepped onto the battlements. He appeared next to a young man with a bow that was firing arrows from a quiver that never seemed to empty. His shots were fluid and unceasing until Joe appeared, causing him to flinch in surprise.
“Shit! Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” Joe apologized as the archer shook off the shock and then continued to fire over the wall. Looking past the crenelations, Joe looked down to see the wall being attacked by several dozen large humanoid creatures up and down its length. They ranged from twelve to just over fifteen feet tall. They were dressed in ragged leather and furs and wielded crude wooden clubs as they battered the walls. Their roars were hideous and when they looked upwards towards the defenders, Joe saw that they had a single eye in the center of their faces flanked by two much smaller eyes on either side. Their skin was thick and reminded Joe of Gharak’s rhino-like skin.
Triclops (30)
HP: 4000
Status: Angry
Weak to Cold and Lightning damage
And yet again with the big ass monsters. Joe shook his head and then watched in a mix of shock and wonder as Bixby appeared about fifty feet down the wall, behind the Triclops’. He let out a horrendous howl that shocked a large portion of the Triclops’ into fear induced panic. He then tore into the monsters. As Bixby slammed into Triclops after Triclops, his Void Fang spell caused large chunks of flesh to spin into nothingness as his Corrosive Claws also tore terrible wounds on them. At one point, several tentacles of void energy emerged from Bixby’s back and managed to capture limbs or block massive blows from the creature’s weapons. The experience counter in the periphery of Joe’s vision continuously spun upward as Bixby killed one beast after another.
With a predatory smile, Joe leaped over the battlements and into the fight. He chose a target, but as he was about to swing a sword, the Triclops was wreathed in lightning and began to twitch as another one was awash in a blizzard like fall of cold. Looking up, Joe saw his sister, a grim look on her face and both arms extended out and pointed at each monster. Within a few seconds both beasts were mortally wounded. Joe, proud of his sister, ignored the dying creatures and cast a spell at several of the beasts that had begun to shake off the effects of Bixby’s howl. Ropes of solid darkness erupted from the ground and ensnared the feet of four of the Triclops, causing them to lose their mobility and one of them fell onto its side. Joe leapt in swinging his swords doing atrocious amounts of damage. None of their blows able to land as he either moved too swiftly for them to hit or their clubs passed harmlessly through his shadowy form.
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Down the wall a bit a small door opened and the dwarves along with Ronald and Kyle dashed out and into the fray. Kyle hung back a moment focusing on something while the rest engaged the attacking monsters. Iona’s axe and Kier’s mace did fantastic damage to their opponents, while Rory yelled and carried on like the madman he was. Ronald, his shield held before him and his sword a bright blur stood his ground next to Iona, cleaving large wounds into the enemies before him.
Joe spun on his heel and with a scissor-like attack, removed the forearm of a Triclops before he plunged the swords into its stomach, fatally wounding it. A bestial roar from where his friends were fighting caught his attention and an enormous bear matching the size of one of the Triclops’ was in the midst of several of them, lashing out with claws and a fearsome bite. Bixby joined the massive bear and the two of them cut a swath among the remaining monsters.
After a few minutes, more defenders came out of the door and helped finish off the last of the three-eyed creatures. Joe walked up to one and stared at it for a moment. He looked around at the swampland and then strolled up to Kier. “These were not a horde or an invasion. So how come there were so many of them without being classified as either of those things?” Joe stood there looking down at one of the dead creatures. “And how did they get so far into the city limits? No monsters are supposed to be able to spawn inside the Sanctuary Zone and our current zone is freaking huge.”
“I donnae know. Tis a strange thing indeed. Mayhaps they were already spawned when you made the city.” The dwarf answered.
“Do you have to question everything lad? These scunners were worth a fat pot of experience and gold. And check the loot! Why complicate things with questions you’ll n’er have answered?”
Joe grunted and shook his head, “It just bugs me that I don’t know all the rules and that even the ones I do know seem to get broken a lot.” He threw his hands up, “It’s frustrating.”
Once everyone had looted the bodies, the defenders made their way back into the walled part of the city and headed back to the main center. This time Joe took the time to really look at what had been done to the area while he was getting his class. It seemed as though Edward had wasted no time in making the city defensible and livable. Ronald strode up next to Joe, “It’s fascinating to watch the place build itself. If you get a chance, you should try and see the next batch of changes. Things just spring into being and if you’re in the way, it nudges you aside almost like surfing the ground.” Joe could see the wonder in Ronald’s eyes.
“How do you cope? I mean with all this craziness. Doesn’t it mess with your religious views?”
“Heh.” Ronald smiled, “Not really. The Lord works in mysterious ways, right? This is just more mysterious than normal.” He shrugged, “I’ve been a Christian all my life. I’ve been a pastor and I’ve had more discussions about faith and the bible than most and I still cannot say that I comprehend the mind of God. No one can. The system doesn’t prove or disprove the existence of a divine being. Arguments that insist on proof fail to truly understand what faith means. I can summon power that courses through me that certainly feels divine, but I cannot say for sure that it is God doing it. I like to believe that it is, and I will continue to pray and hold my faith as an umbrella for all those who wish to worship with me. For those that do not. Well, that is their path to walk, and I will not deny them their right to do so.” Ronald smiled brightly, “You yourself came to us in a desperate hour of need and look at what you’ve done for all these people in less than a day. Personally, I’m going to call that divine intervention and thank my maker that he guided you here.”
Joe nodded. “Ron, I don’t know that I was sent by anyone, but I am certainly glad that I managed to get here.” He stopped and looked Ronald in the eyes, “Just promise me that you won’t be one of those people that look at me like the second coming, alright? This system enhanced world is already messed up enough without people turning me into an object of worship. I’m just a regular guy that has some irregular abilities.” Bixby barked and Joe laughed, “And a not so regular dog.” He patted Bixby’s ruff as they continued walking.
Ronald narrowed his eyes and was serious in answering, “I completely understand and have no worries about me. I’m not about to start the Cult of Joe.” He glanced at Bixby, “Or of Bixby.” He added. “I’ll also do what I can to run interference for you with the rest of the population. I plan on having a church built and those that come, I’ll make sure they understand.”
Joe shook Ronald’s hand as they found themselves back at the County Building entrance. “Thanks man. I appreciate it.”
“I’m going to excuse myself and get cleaned up. I and the council still have a lot to do. I’ll see you in a few hours.” Ronald then entered the building as Joe’s companions came close.
“Well, you better go shopping a’fore you get called away to go slay another dragon or save the world from an invasion of randy badgers.” Rory quipped.
Kier clapped Joe on the shoulder, “While you were gone, the three of us spoke and we’re going to head back to Stoneshear Camp while you’re in the Shoppe. We need to speak with our kin and start the wheels rolling for trade. We’ll be back soon with a few others to speak with your council and check back in with you lad.”
Joe shook hands with the siblings and watched them march down a side street, assuming they were heading to the New Santa Cruz travel stone. Iona, tossed over her shoulder, “I promise nae to bring Hamish.” She smiled and waved and continued with the others.
That left Joe with Bixby and Holly. He put his arm around his sister’s shoulder, and they took the steps into the building. A handful of strides later and they were in front of the Shoppe door. Joe let out a long breath. “You want to come with?” he said gesturing at the ornate door.
Holly smiled and hugged Joe, “Not this time. I need to check on Matty. He gets nervous when I’m away for long, especially after I’ve been fighting monsters.” She popped up on her tip toes and placed a quick kiss on Joe’s cheek then gave Bixby an enormous hug. “You watch out for him alright?” Standing fully upright, Bixby’s eyes were in line with her own and she marveled at how large and dangerous looking the dog had become.
Bixby let out a deep throated woof that caused passersby to scramble away from the trio. Joe translated, “He says that’s always been his job.” He let a small smile play across his face, “We’ll be back soon and come find you and Matty. There is a lot to talk about.” He gave Holly one more hug and then opened the door. He gestured for Bixby to precede him, “After you, sir.” Then the two of them disappeared into the Shoppe.