As the first light of dawn seeped through the trees, casting long shadows over our makeshift fireless camp, I sat with Ike and Kevinar, tearing through jerky and hardtack. The morning air was slightly warm for a change, and Jeldorain whined inside of me, wishing for the cool of his home dimension.
I scarfed down my food quickly and wiped the residue of crumbs and small sheen of grease from my ham-sized hands, before clearing my throat to break the silence. “We need a solid plan to reach Harric without raising any alarms. Any ideas?”
Smash and kill, Jeldorain suggested.
Kevinar, his brow furrowed in concentration, leaned forward. “Stealth is key. We can’t afford to alert the goblin patrols. Or the orc patrols for that matter. Not until we have them on our side in this. Maybe we use the forest cover to our advantage, move now during the day while the sun is bright.”
Ike nodded, chewing a wad of jerky slowly in the crook of his cheek. “The patrols yesterday, at least one of them ran outside of the camp and through the forest. Could be that we listen in, grab a group that doesn’t like goblins, and talk them up same as we did Harric?”
I pondered for a moment. “What about distractions? Could we create diversions to draw the goblins and orc patrols out? Maybe use that as a way to contact Harric?”
Kevinar stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Possibly. I can set up a few magical traps that’ll make noise or light in the opposite direction. But we’ll have limited time once they’re triggered.”
My eyes shot to him, the mention of trap ability ringing in my ears. “I think, if I’m going to become the great general the magic says I’m supposed to, I might need to get a list of all of the things everyone is capable of doing. It would really help things out a lot.”
Ike smiled. “Great idea. I should have thought of that myself.”
We moved out and spent the rest of the morning preparing. Kevinar meticulously drew symbols in the dirt at various points around the camp, explaining their functions and how they would activate. Ike sharpened sticks and set up his own bevy of booby-traps, an apparent aspect of his Dirty Fighting skill. I watched as his blades carved branches into death, assessing the traps and determining that they were only 1 to 4 damage apiece, but they added hobbling debuffs depending on where they struck the enemy and how well the area was protected.
As we moved, we snuck, and by the time to activate our plan came, the sun rising to its zenith in the sky, I had actually gained +3/10 to my Stealth skill. Our movement was so quiet, and so exacting, that the birds themselves chirped above our heads, unknowing of our presence.
I apparated my armor to being, feeling its familiar weight. The Titan-Ax-Icearigama lay cold and heavy in my hands, its presence comforting, the feel of it setting Jeldorain on an excited edge. I looked at Ike and Kevinar, both ready, their faces set in grim determination.
Kevinar nodded at us, his face a mask of focus. “I’ll lead. Follow my steps.”
Ike scooped a handful of soil into his left hand, his blade ready in his right. “I’ll bring up the rear. Keep an eye out for my signals.”
And with that, we slipped into the forest. As we moved through the forest, every rustle of leaves sent a jolt of adrenaline through me. Kevinar marked out enemy traps on our way forward, then stopped us as we neared the perimeter, in sight of the main pathway in and out. He turned and faced the direction we had come from.
“Haera,” he spoke. Immediately his magical traps, set far behind us, erupted into a cacophony of light and sound. A horn sounded from the camp as orcs and goblin rallied together, setting out in a horde not unlike the one we’d fought back in the ravine.
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“Come on, Apes, do you wanna live forever?” I asked. My companions stared while Jeldorain, catching the reference streaming from my mind, laughed and laughed. “Nevermind,” I said, scowling. “Let’s do this thing.”
Skirting the edge of the forest, we made our way in the direction of where we’d encountered Harric previously.
Kevinar led the way, his movements silent as a shadow, while I tread carefully behind him, the Titan-Ax-icearigama clasped tightly. Ike constantly scanning his surroundings, ran up his rear.
After half an hour, we reached the place we had met Harric before. Kevinar signaled us to stop, crouching low behind a bush. He turned to me, his voice barely a whisper, “This is it. I’ll check the perimeter. Wait for my signal.”
As Kevinar disappeared ahead, moving into the camp. into the darkness, Ike and I huddled together, ready for combat. Minutes passed in silence before Kevinar reappeared, gesturing us forward. “It’s clear but stay alert. I’ve talked with Harric. He is waiting for us just ahead.”
We moved into the clearing, high noon lighting everything up equally over the scene. There, seated on a fallen log, was Harric, his eyes narrowed against the sun. He looked up as we approached, his expression wary.
“I talked with some of the others and suspected you might come to see me again. What is it that you are planning to do?”
I took a deep breath, Kevinar stepping away and disappearing into our flanks, Ike turning to watch where we had come from. If Harric wasn’t trustworthy, this is where we’d find out about it.
“We’ve found something in the camp that we think is going to get in the way of our rescue operations. We’re going to have to save the chieftains and the families at the same time, but there is a circle of runes that we believe allows the goblins to cast spells over the dwarven kingdom, allowing them to be bullied and controlled just as you orcs have been. And definitely allowing them sight into the kingdom. If you and your people could break it, we would be able to sneak into the kingdom and save the people there, while another group of ours sneaks into the tents and gets your leaders out safely.”
Ike pulled out his map, pointed to the circles. Harric leaned in, examining them. “If I do this, my people will suffer. Likely I’ll be killed.”
I nodded. “And if you don’t, you and your tribes will be. From the way I see it, and from everything I know about the goblins, this blackmail situation they have you in isn’t going to end well.”
Harric was silent for a moment, his eyes flickering between us. Finally, he nodded slowly. “Alright, I’ll do it. Be sure that you succeed in your quest, Vanguard. It will have been oiled with my blood.”
I stared, unsure of what to say. Jeldorain flicked my consciousness, and I stepped aside, letting him take control over our body.
“Your sacrifice is valiant and honorable, Harric. Your cause is just—in the Hells, none ever lay down their own existence to save others. Here too, it seems rare. But no greater a sacrifice can be made. Truly, your gods shall reward you in the life after, and your tribes shall forever know your name.”
Harric nodded, a small smile playing over his lips. “That almost makes it worth it, infernal. I will gather my group. Don’t fail.”
Quest Complete: Learn the Layout
Reward: +1000 XP
Quest Chain: The Orcs
Quest 3: Infiltrate the Dwarven Kingdom
Difficulty: Hard
Objectives: Enter the Dwarven Kingdom and secure the hostages in a safe place
Rewards: Possible Alliance. 1000 XP
Penalties: The Annihilation of your people
He turned away from us, and we retreated from the camp. Assuming Harric’s success, we’d be able to penetrate into the subterranean kingdom of the dwarves and set up safety for the families within while Brandosyeus and the NPCs took care of the chiefs above, securing them and hopefully instigating a revolt by the orcs against their goblin rule.
Kevinar rolled up the map, a small smile playing on his lips. “Of all the hopeless plans I’ve been a part of, this one is the most disorganized.”
“Sometimes, that is the only way forward,” Ike observed. We left the camp and moved back into the wilderness, skirting its edge towards the secret entrance of the dwarven kingdom. The sun above us was now starting down its track, shadows edging back over the track as we pushed forward. Kevinar led the way, hidden as usual, while Ike took up a silent rearguard, his mind clearly working through the details of our plan.
After some time, we stopped, and Kevinar took the opportunity to Message Brandosyeus, his mystical once a day weavings giving him the intelligence he needed to know before we entered.
“Brandosyeus has met approval and is marching with the NPCs into a hidden position within striking distance of the camp. They will strike when I give the word.”
“We’ll have to get this done fast then,” I said. The others nodded, and we picked up our pace.