Kyle blinked, “Excuse me what?” The look on the large man’s face was one of astonishment.
Kier answered, “If Joe activates the core and creates the Camp, he can then upgrade the Camp into a City right away. But he has to be the one to do the deed.” He gave Rory and Iona the side eye and both nodded their heads in agreement. Joe felt that they were up to something, but he did not know exactly what.
Even Mirabella added a quiet, “That is correct.”
The humans in the room all began to speak at once. Disbelief and fear were evident in the tone of voice of most of them. They began arguing amongst themselves and Joe felt like he had just kicked a hornet’s nest. He made note that Alan and Edward were against handing Joe the keys to the kingdom, so to speak, while Kyle and the surprisingly quiet Konrad were for agreeing without delay. Finally, Ronald yelled loud enough to command everyone’s attention. When the furor had died down, he spoke, “Mr. Sherman.” He paused and smiled, “Joe. What you are offering is amazing and is truly a gift. I apologize for the reception your proposal has brought, but please realize that we have fought tooth and nail to get what we have and to be where we are and what you bring, frankly, seems too good to be true.”
“Gentlemen!” Holly spoke with a firm, commanding tone that Joe recognized as the voice she used when either Matty or Bixby got out of hand. It got the attention of everyone in the room. “While you all argue about whether or not to trust my brother.” She put the emphasis on the words, “my brother” then continued, “Have you all forgotten who is out there in the halls and worse, what’s out there in the world?” She stood with her hands on the table and leaned forward, straining to make sure she was not only heard, but understood. “We have a duty to protect those of us that still live. We have children to care for and a society to rebuild. Right now…” She punctuated her words by tapping an index finger hard on the table, “Who cares if it’s Joe or Ronald or Alan or whomever that gets us the protection we desperately need? The minutiae can wait. The leadership debate will continue long after we’re safe behind walls. Do you really want to wait for something to spawn in on top of us or another monster invasion to kill more of us before you decide if Joe is trustworthy enough to give us a fucking City?” She gestured to the dwarves, “And allies?”
The room became quiet as she sat down in a huff. Quiet enough that everyone jumped, and weapons sprang to hand when the office door was thrown open. A young man in dirty robes that may have once been colorful, but were now grimy and dirt stained came barging in. He stopped as the entire room was suddenly armed to the teeth and staring at him. With a breathless but quiet,” Oh shit.” He took a second to compose himself and catch his breath. As he did so, Joe Inspected him.
Harrison Lowe
Level: (B) 22
Race: Human
Class: Arachnomancer
H: 410
S: 540
M: 1320
Ronald, slightly annoyed asked, “Harrison, what is it?”
The young man that Joe, now seeing him more closely realized was a teenager, blurted out, “We need you outside! There’s something coming!”
With weary but resolute expressions, everyone made for the door as Alan softly cursed, “What fresh Hell is it now?”
Joe and the dwarves followed along as Bixby let out a few soft woofs. Joe answered, “Let them take the lead.” He glanced at the dwarves, “If they need help…” He let the comment trail off.
Iona put her helmet on and said, “We’ll step in and help.”
“No worries on you, lad. We’ll kick the arse of whatever threatens your kin!” Rory added.
The entire group made their way outside and to the end of the makeshift barrier of cars. The atmosphere was tense, and Joe motioned for his group to hang back to allow Ronald and Kyle to assess what the threat was and act accordingly. Joe stood on his toes to try and catch a glimpse of what was coming, but there were too many people in the way. At that point, Ronald said something to Kyle and the big man began barking orders. Almost instantly the survivors reorganized themselves into a defensive line with the front-line fighters blocking the entry and the mages standing on tree stumps and desks to be able to see over the barricade.
Joe stepped up onto one of the desks and peered over. From his vantage, he could see movement coming through the trees closest to the road fronting the County Building, close to where the saurians had been coming from before. Chanting began and from behind, Joe heard an acoustic guitar begin playing “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor. Joe felt a wave of Mana wash over him and a notice popped up.
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’s awesome! Joe thought before his attention was taken by the group that slowly marched out of the tree line. They were tall. At least seven feet. That was the immediate takeaway for Joe. Why the hell is everything gigantic? Joe shook his head but continued to stare at the oncoming figures. There were seven of them. All of them armored in what looked like layered scales of metal and leather with armored arms and legs like the knights at the Renaissance Faire that Joe had seen. Five of them wore identical armor with conical helmets that had armored faceplates with a stylized face covering the warrior’s actual visage. These guys, Joe considered, are probably guards of some sort. Each had a shield strapped to one arm and long curved swords sheathed at their hips. Their armor was adorned with trinkets and flashes of colored cloth. A couple had necklaces of either claws or teeth.
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The other two were definitely the leaders, with one that Joe could tell was a woman. Tallest woman I’ve ever seen! Whoa! She was wearing a leather corset studded with metal. It had an intricately carved and painted design incorporated with it along with many colorful tassels and beads woven into cloth belts that wrapped her waist. Her arms and legs were covered in heavy armor much like the guards, but hers had sigils and other designs etched into the silvery metal. Her shoulders were obscured by a ridiculously large fur collar that surrounded her head which was topped by a small head dress with gemstones and feathers. Her angular features had war paint in stripes dripping down her forehead. She looked fierce and her face was unreadable.
The last person in the group was more than likely the leader. His armor was the most ornate of the bunch. He had golden scaled armor that flowed down to cover his thighs. He had armored arms and legs much like the others but the metal was golden and had the same style of etchings as the woman’s did. However, the number of tassels and ribbons on his armor were a bit much. He looked massively ostentatious. His conical helmet had a plume of fur or hair hanging from it and a coif of golden chainmail covered his neck. His face was bare, and Joe could see a dark, thick moustache that flowed past his chin with beads woven into the ends.
Next to him, Joe heard Rory spit, “Bugger me running! Elves!”
Joe stepped off the desk, made his way to the front of the barricade and stood a few people behind Ronald and Kyle. Both men were cautioning their people to stand fast but make no move unless they said so. The nervous energy among the humans was almost physical as the elves strode up in lock step and halted about ten yards away.
The leader surveyed the survivors and the dwarves standing among them with an obvious look of disdain. He briefly gazed at Kyle but finally locked his eyes on Ronald. He pursed his lips in thought before speaking. “Greetings unto you from the Kingdom of Alantria and the Eldaerie people. Our beloved King, my father, wishes you good health and fortune.” The words that were meant to sound reassuring came across as anything but because of the haughty tone of voice the elf employed. “I am Prince Ta’Aladar, do you speak for your people?” The elf’s accent reminded Joe of the Russian sounding Jotun language. It made him wonder if there was a common linguistic ancestor.
Ronald took a step forward, his sword sheathed at his side but his shield in hand hanging at his left side. “I do. I am Pastor Ronald McGee. What can we do for you your Highness?” Ronald’s words were sincere, and Joe was only slightly surprised at the etiquette that he used.
The Prince gave a curt nod at the honorific and politeness. “Your diplomacy, for one of a lesser race, is refreshing.” Joe felt the tension in the air increase with the Prince’s words. Apparently, the elves felt it too and the guards all shifted their stances slightly. Nonplussed, the Prince continued, “We are here to inform you of the King’s intention to claim this area and to give you notice that you have one day to depart.”
This started a clamor among the survivors which the elves watched with bemused detachment. As Ronald and Kyle tried to calm the angry group, Joe took a moment to Inspect the Prince and his companion.
Ke’han Ta’Aladar
Level: (A) 21
Race: Eldaerie
Class: Prince Regent
H: 2110
S: 2190
M: 2090
Titles: Prince of Alantria, Scion of the Eldaerie, Monster Slayer, Fiend Bane
Rainia Ta’Aladar
Level: (A) 22
Race: Eldaerie
Class: Eldritch Champion
H: 2355
S: 2710
M: 1525
Titles: Champion of Alantria, Monster Slayer, Sister of Battle, Sword Maiden, Defender of Loa’Nesh
As soon as Joe Inspected them, the Prince’s eyes tracked right to Joe. He raised an eyebrow and a moment later, his demeanor changed as Joe watched him completely lose his composure for a short second. It happened so fast that Joe was unsure if it had happened at all, but the elf’s gaze was riveted on Joe as he pointed, “You!” All conversation stopped as the Prince spoke loudly and everyone around Joe took a step away, leaving him open to everyone’s scrutiny. The Prince stepped forward and Joe felt Bixby bristle as the dog’s hackles went up and he began a low growl. Joe also heard weapons being readied around him.
At this point, the Prince’s guards all suddenly had swords in hand and flanked the lead elf, but with a wave of his hand they all sheathed their swords. “For one with such an array of impressive Titles, you show an appalling lack of social decorum.” His eyes wandered to Ronald and then back to Joe, “Why do you hide behind a lackey and allow a lesser being to claim to be in charge?”
Taken aback, Joe immediately became defensive, “I don’t hide behind anyone. And, I am not in charge, he is.” Joe pointed to Ronald. “As for social decorum, you can blow that right out of your ass. That went away as soon as the System came. We’ve been fighting for our lives far too hard to care about social norms that we know little to nothing about. So, you can take your threats and insults and shove them.”
At Joe’s response, the elf woman, Rainia’s, sheen of a calm demeanor quickly shifted to anger, “You will address the Prince as Highness and you will not use such vulgar language in his presence.” She took a step forward which caused the guard to draw their weapons once again, which encouraged Bixby to take a matching step with his teeth bared.
“Lady, I am in no mood to debate niceties and frankly I don’t give a flying fuck! Your guy here just insulted us and told us to leave our hard-earned shelter in the town most of us were born in, so excuse me if I don’t take kindly to bullies.” Holy shit! I am steamed! System, what the fuck are you doing to me? Is this really the way to react to this situation? “And if you take another step…”
The Prince interceded at this point. “Cousin, stow your ire. In his own way, he is correct. We are coming in and displacing he and his kind and I will forgive the lack of diplomacy this once seeing as you have all recently returned from the tutorial and have obviously not been educated about civilized etiquette.” The condescension in his voice made Joe’s teeth grind. “You are an interesting human, Joe Sherman. Perhaps in the future we may break bread and you can tell me your tale.”
“No thanks. I’ll pass.”
“Be that as it may, in deference to you Jotunkin Dragonslayer, I will grant you and your people one week to relocate before I return with a much greater force. At which point, if you are still here, I will force you to leave.” There was a steely threat in his tone as he locked eyes with Joe.
When he said Dragonslayer, Rainia looked shocked and then her eyes showed that she was using the Inspect ability. After a moment, she took a step back, the fire in her eyes gone, replaced with a moment of possibly fear, then the icy façade from before. Joe could not decide if she was scared, angry, wary or a combination of all three.
“Dude. You’re welcome to try.” Joe stood his ground as those around him were muttering. He could clearly hear some of the survivors complaining that he did not speak for all of them.
The Prince and his retinue turned on their heels as if by a hidden signal and began to march away. Over his shoulder, the Prince called out, “One week, Dragonslayer.”
Once they were out of immediate earshot, the crowd erupted in a frenzy of voices. Joe found himself surrounded by his friends who were trying to fend off the many approaching humans. Rory spoke out, “You’ve got a ball sack of Mithral and an interesting way of speaking to royalty. Not that the nobber didn’t warrant it, but I’d be careful, elves as a whole are arseholes and they hold a grudge.”
Kier added, “Tis true. They hold themselves to be the highest and mightiest of the chosen races. But mostly they’re bigots and arseholes.”
Bixby bumped Joe’s arm and by reflex, Joe patted his head, “I’m good Bix. A bit confused and still pissed off though. Thanks for having my back.” Bixby woofed and licked Joe’s hand.
Ronald, after fending off a wave of protests, turned to Joe. “Well, that was certainly interesting. I can’t decide if having you around is a grace or a curse.”
“Been asking meself the same question for days.” Rory grumbled.