[You have successfully completed the Courier Mission: Find and Contact the Order of Paladins.

You have gained 500 experience that may be allocated to skills used on the mission.

New Mission: Live through the night! ]

Ben knelt by Harmony's still form, helping the old man named Diego to care for her wounds. They wrapped her torso tight with bandages, and the bleeding was slowing, but the wound on her shoulder was getting worse as they watched.

"You fought an evil servant of the dark. Its bite is far worse than its claws. See how the skin is turning yellow and black around the punctures? Some poison or spell is at work here, corrupting the wound." Ben could see the glimmer of magic on the wound, and see the corruption spreading. This wasn't good and he'd used his only healing potion already.

"All these paladins? Don't they have spells, laying of hands, or all sorts of 'fight the evil' sort of magic? Why isn't anyone doing anything."

Diego sighed. "Because they are exhausted and wounded. They have been fighting constantly for the last day and night, and only that healing magic has kept them all in the fight. Two hours ago, they ran out of healing and the wolves slowly weakened us with each charge."

Green-tinged lightning flashed across the sky, and struck a nearby hill with a tall outcropping of rock, illuminating the silhouette of a large wolf. It howled in triumph. The thunder rolled over the camp and a foul smell was on the wind. Diego picked up two corners of the blanket Harmony lay on. "Quick, lad, help me move her under the wagon, the rain returns and it is a foul piece of magic."

They had just gotten under cover when the first drops came down. The rain smelled of rotten eggs and dead things. The Paladins kept it off them as best they could, but rotted cloaks and pitted armor were evidence of the rain’s slow decay. Diego explained, "The rain has followed us for days and grown in power as we grow weaker. It saps the spirit and putrefies wounds. Worse, it seems to empower and heal the undead."

Harmony moaned in pain. Her face was flushed and her skin felt hot. Ben felt furious at his inability to help. He hated ACME for making him so weak. He had been nearly useless in the fight with the wolves. He was angry at the Paladins for not being able to heal Harmony but had to be honest that at least they could fight where he could only cower under a wagon.

"Can you teach me a healing spell? I have mana, I could heal her. Or find some way I could give you my mana? Hell, put me in the Paladin club so I can lay hands on her." Diego said nothing, but a paladin standing near the wagon answered. "Look dude, it doesn't work that way. If you wanted to be a Paladin, you should have taken the class and done the quests like the rest of us. You can't just learn to Lay Hands by trying hard." Not a paladin, Ben realized, just a player. No help there; he'd probably charge for a Lay Hands spell if he had one.

"Not necessarily true, young one. Not all learning is from quests or study or a fee paid to a Guildmaster. Granted, it's a lot more effective that way, and quicker. But in the days of my training, they still taught the laying of hands in the old way. I'm willing to try if you are." Diego looked at the Courier beside him. He had little hope this would work, but the young man cared for his partner, and watching her rot away in front of him was eating him alive.

"Just tell me what to do," Ben whispered.

"Names are important, let’s start with that. I am Lord Inquisitor Diego Sebastian De Leon, if you are ready to learn, I will teach."

"I am Benjamin Franklin, the 7th of that name, and I am willing to learn from you."

That family was known to Diego. An old family. Half of them were madmen, pirates, and troublemakers. But the other half served the Emperor, and did it well. They were all a little crazy, but heroes often were. An event like today could break a man's spirit, but young Benjamin had good steel in him. It just needed tempering.

Diego placed Ben's hand on the putrefying wound, followed by his hand on Ben's. "Your hand will heal, mine will provide the spark. Put your left hand on mine now. And mine will go on top of that. My hand will stir your power, your hand will provide for the healing. This is a blunt way to learn. Use your love for her, your defiance of death, and your need to succeed. Use any thought that will help you take the spark of healing from an old man and use it to save her."

"And one last thing Benjamin Franklin, the 7th of that name. Will you pay a price if one is asked?"

"Yes. I don't care. Let's do this."

Diego nodded and concentrated. Ben could feel...something...coming from the old man. It was pushing through him and onward into Diego’s other hand. Diego's hands started to glow. Now Ben could feel a warmth entering his right hand that rested on Harmony.

"Think of healing her Ben. Think of the light driving out the corruption. Imagine it in the best way you can. And if you have a patron god or goddess who watches over you, invoke their name."

Ben tried. He did everything Diego said and a dozen other things. It didn't seem to make a difference. A god? He didn't worship a god. The closest thing he came to religion was sacking churches. He spoke, softly at first, and then louder. "I don't have a god, but there has to be one somewhere that will help me now. Help me heal her. I'll pay your price."

Lightning struck again, green and glowing, and the wind picked up. The foul rain thundered down.

Ben was never sure afterward, but he felt something touch him - like someone putting a hand on his shoulder. Something pushed hard and his hands glowed brightly. Diego's voice was a whisper "A good start son. We've managed a minor healing. You'll be getting tired, but press on. Do it again!"

[Someone has heard you and answered! You have Laid Hands upon a wound and managed a minor healing effect: +10 Health

Cost: 50 mana and 100 stamina.]

Again, Ben imagined the wound healing and again his hands glowed. Diego was surprised. He had hoped, but not expected anything to happen. Perhaps he needed more faith and less cynicism in his old age.

[You have Laid Hands upon a wound and healed it: +50 Health

Cost: 100 mana and 200 stamina.]

The wound was visibly healing, the flesh knitting and the color improving. Diego was tired but elated. "Once more lad. Big finish. Put everything you have into this one."

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Diego can be forgiven for underestimating the strength of Ben's resolve, and just how much mana and stamina the young man had.

Wolves were howling and the wind roared. But somewhere bells were ringing, the sound coming over the hills soft and clear. Ben poured everything he had into the healing. It was too much. No neophyte healer could handle the nearly 5000 stamina and mana that Ben pushed out of himself and into the spell. Nor could the old Inquisitor, he was strengthened by years of warring against the dark, but this was beyond him. The power exploded out of Ben and lit up the night as the feather in his hat burst into flames.

Like an angry giant, the wind lifted the wagon and tossed it to the side. Ben and Diego were sent tumbling. Ben lost his hat. It went tumbling on the wind and landed in the remains of the campfire. The phoenix feather exploded. The flames ignited the sodden wood and charcoal, and it blazed up hot and fierce, a pillar of white fire that reached for the angry clouds overhead, defying them.

The wind circled the fire, blowing fierce, but couldn't extinguish the flames. Nor could the rain quench them.

A woman stood in the fire, beautiful, with short hair and golden armor. She picked up Ben's hat and placed it on her head before raising her sword to the sky. Lightning flashed and rain came again, but a clean rain without the taint of the prior storm. It washed away the old stench and the Paladins felt their wounds closing and their spirits lifting. Every Paladin received her request:

[In another age, and another world, she died in fire fighting against the dark. Now, like a phoenix, the Maid of Orleans is reborn!

She asks that you smite the beasts who prey upon the weak, for they are foul in her sight!]

The rain and wind ended. The woman of fire saluted the Paladins and faded away as dawn broke on the far hills.

Fifty long-dead predators raced towards the camp, led by a monster four times as big. They were met by seven Senior Paladins, seven brothers newly knighted, two of the Emperor’s Couriers, and one old Inquisitor who found he still had a lot of fight left in him. This was the battle the Paladins had wished for. No tricks, just combat against the foe. The numbers were against them, but the battle wasn't. Each blow that landed was backed by holy fire and the wolves struggled against them, unable to break their formation or pierce their armor. The wolves were destroyed by the dozens.

Chartok knew he had to kill quickly. He had quests to finish! As he charged towards the combat, he saw a familiar human. This one!! This was one of those who had killed him before! A tie, technically, but that was enough for Chartok to hold a grudge.

Chartok charged at the human. Strangely the human was running straight at him. Convenient. But concentrating on the nearest target, he failed to see the woman further back. Harmony was pale and weak, but her aim was still good enough that two of the bolts she fired hit. One lodged in the beast’s neck, causing some pain and lighting the fur on fire. But the other went deep into the wolf's eye, blinding it on its left side.

Ben dived and rolled to the wolf's blind side as it leaped at him. Chartok completely lost sight of the human and charged at Harmony and Diego. Diego saw Ben roll to the side of the wolf, and grab hold of its fur, pulling himself astride the beast. His whip wrapped around the neck twice. Ben held both ends in one hand like the reins of a horse as he tightened the improvised garrote around Chartok’s neck. His other hand held tightly to the loop of tough leather.

The wolf was infuriated and mad with the pain of the blessed bolt in his eye. He twisted and rolled, even bucked like a horse. But try as he might, the wolf couldn't dislodge the stubborn human clinging to his back. Ben held on for dear life as the beast rolled over and over and snapped at him. He was taking small wounds, but avoiding the wolf's jaws. He couldn't do this for long, but he didn't need to.

Too intent on the horribly annoying human riding him like a hobby horse, Chartok failed to see Sir Gabriel and Sir Reeves charging toward him. Gabriel’s great sword swung low, severing a back leg at the knee. Reeves' strike came down across the spine just above the tail. Ben took no chances when he saw the sword swinging down and flipped over the front of the wolf, rolling as far as he could.

Chartok snarled and snapped at the men, but without the use of his hind legs, he didn't have the reach to get to them. They struck him again and again. The fight was over. His pack was being destroyed, and his mana was spent to conjure up the Storm of Decay. He had nothing left. With a last howl, he slumped on the ground, his body rapidly decaying in the sunlight; the last of his pack falling dead at the feet of the relieved Paladins.

[Quest Fulfilled. Diego of Brackerton Village has slain The Chicken Thief.

Reward: 50 experience, Increased respect from Farmer Brown, and an invitation to Sunday Dinner.]

Gabriel looked at Diego. "Chicken Thief?"

Diego chuckled loudly. "My first quest was when I was twelve summers old and hunting a nuisance of a wolf with my brothers. We never caught him, and I never finished the quest. Until today. I'll have to see if I can wander by some Sunday. Farmer Brown sets a very good table."

[Quest Fulfilled.

Chartok the Eternal Wolf has been driven from the lands surrounding the Holly Wood.

Rewards:

-Paladins, Couriers, and Inquisitors who survived the fight have gained the title 'Wolfbane'.

-All Couriers, Paladins, and Inquisitors receive 10 Enhancement points and 1000 experience points towards their class, along with 1000 experience that may be allocated to appropriate stats.

-A golden chest may be found nearby in a glade by a waterfall. Gifts for the victors await.]

Sir Reeves yelled at the junior brothers. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go find that chest! I'm sure a few of us can tidy up the camp and burn what's left of these wolves. "

Ben helped Harmony to a comfortable spot against a tree and they watched the sunrise. Both were asleep within a minute. Diego found a spare blanket to cover them with. Then the old Inquisitor pulled out a pipe and started to smoke while he pondered this new puzzle.

"Just who are you, Benjamin of the House of Franklin, and where did you come from? Such a conundrum. Untrained and without a spark of radiance, yet you healed the sick and were aided by a divine power."

"And what price will you have to pay?"

If he concentrated, he could just see a small fire burning in his soul. It hadn't been there when Ben had thundered into camp holding a dying companion.