Henry stood on the front wall, his eyes scanning the horizon as the first light of dawn broke. The distant rumble of the Feline Army’s advance reached his ears, growing louder with each passing moment. His heart pounded in his chest, but he steeled himself, knowing that his people were counting on him.
“Archers, ready!” John commanded, his voice carrying over the battlements. Bearkin warriors, their faces grim with determination, nocked arrows and drew their bows.
A dark cloud appeared on the horizon, rapidly growing larger. Henry’s eyes widened as he realized it was a massive barrage of arrows. “Shields up!” he shouted, raising his shield just in time.
The sky darkened as the arrows rained down, thudding into shields and the stone walls with deadly force. Cries of pain and defiance filled the air as some found their mark, but the Bearkin held their ground. As the first volley ended, Henry peered over the edge of his shield.
“Return fire!” John bellowed. The Bearkin archers unleashed their volley, sending arrows arcing towards the advancing enemy. The Feline Army, undeterred, pushed forward with siege towers and battering rams.
“Prepare for the assault!” his uncle called out. He glanced to his left and right, making sure his warriors were ready. The surviving refugees, now a vital part of their defense, were tending to the wounded.
The ground shook as the battering rams smashed into the gates, and the siege towers inched closer. The Bearkin defenders braced themselves, knowing that the real battle was about to begin.
Henry grasped his weapon and prepared to encourage those standing next to him, a familiar chime sounded.
System Message: Defense Quest
Conditions for completion:
1. Kill 0/1,000 enemy NPCs.
2. Defend Ursa Kingdom capital 0/96 hours.
Quest Completion: Cadet Branch
Quest Failure: Lost Territory
‘I lose territory if I fail, and I earn a cadet branch if I succeed. What’s a cadet branch?’ Henry wondered. But he didn’t have time to think for long as the first siege tower reached the wall.
The enemy swarmed out, leaping onto the battlements with fierce growls and flashing blades. Henry met them head-on, his axe cutting through the air with deadly precision. When he analyzed his opponent a message popped up.
System Message:
Enraged Rabitkin Scout Lv. 64
The clash of steel and the roar of battle surrounded him. Despite being outnumbered he fought with every ounce of strength, his axe a blur as he cut down one enemy after another. The Bearkin warriors around him fought with equal ferocity, their loyalty to their kingdom and each other driving them forward.
As he fought more and more system messages popped up. So much so that he silenced notifications.
System Message:
Congratulations you have reached Level 65. You have 5 Stat Points and 2 Skill Points to allocate.
System Message:
Congratulations you have reached Level 66. You have 5 Stat Points and 2 Skill Points to allocate.
System Message:
Congratulations you have reached Level 67. You have 5 Stat Points and 2 Skill Points to allocate.
“These opponents are weak; they are simply trying to overwhelm us with numbers. Let’s show them the mettle of a Bearington!” John shouted,
As the battle raged on, Henry saw an opportunity. One of the siege towers had been damaged and was teetering precariously. “Follow me!” he shouted to a group of warriors, leading a daring charge to topple the tower.
Henry and cast [Arrowhead] repeatedly at point-blank range, as they fought their way through the chaos, reaching the base of the tower. With a concerted effort, they hacked at its supports, bringing it crashing down with a thunderous roar. The sight of the fallen tower gave the Bearkin renewed hope, and they fought with even greater determination.
System Message:
Congratulations you have reached Level 68. You have 5 Stat Points and 2 Skill Points to allocate.
Hours passed, and the sun climbed higher in the sky. The Feline Army’s assault was relentless, but the Bearkin held their ground. Finally, as the day began to wane, the enemy began to retreat, their first wave repelled.
Around him, the defenders tended to their wounds and gathered their fallen comrades. The cost had been high, but they had survived. Henry leaned against the wall, his chest heaving with exhaustion, and checked his messages.
System Message: Defense Quest
Conditions for completion:
1. Kill 64/1,000 enemy NPCs.
2. Defend Ursa Kingdom capital 18/96 hours.
Quest Completion: Cadet Branch
Quest Failure: Lost Territory
“I’m alive,” cried a Bearkin, he didn’t recognize. Her voice filled with a mixture of relief and sorrow as she tended to a wounded warrior.
Henry nodded, his gaze sweeping over the battlefield. “This was just the beginning. They’ll be back, and we need to be ready.”
As the sun set, casting a blood-red glow over the land, Henry and his warriors prepared for the night. They knew that this was only the beginning of a long and brutal war, but their resolve was unshaken. The Ursa Kingdom would stand, no matter the cost.
…
With the first wave repelled, the Bearkin warriors took stock of their situation. They moved the wounded to the back lines where the Bovain woman and her team could tend to them more effectively. The dead were laid in neat rows, their eyes closed by comrades who whispered prayers for their safe passage to the afterlife.
Henry moved among his kin, offering words of encouragement and comfort. He stopped at a young warrior who had taken an arrow to the shoulder. “You fought bravely today,” he said, kneeling beside the injured Bearkin.
“Thank you, Cousin Henry,” the young warrior replied, grimacing as the Bear woman extracted the arrow and applied a poultice.
Henry’s gaze softened as he looked at the young warrior. “Rest now. We’ll need your strength in the battles to come.”
The Bear woman approached Henry as he rose to his feet. “We’re running low on supplies,” she said quietly. “We need more bandages, more herbs for the poultices. And food. The men need to eat.”
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Henry nodded, his mind already racing with solutions. “I’ll let my uncle know. We’ll send a supply party to soldiers. And we’ll ration what we have left.”
As the night deepened, John gathered his trusted lieutenants for a council of war. Due deaths of lieutenants, Henry was promoted to the position, against John’s best efforts. They met in a small, dimly lit room within the fortress, their faces etched with fatigue and determination.
“We need to anticipate their next move,” John said, spreading a map on the table. “The Lion King may come attack again tonight; we need to be on alert for a night raid.”
“We should repair the wall. It’s our weakest point, and if they breach it, they could flood into the city,” Henry advised.
John nodded. “Agreed. Nephew, you’ll lead the fortification effort. Can you also build additional towers?”
“I can but, it will exhaust my magic,” Henry replied.
Another lieutenant, a sharp-eyed Bearkin named Wren, spoke up. “What about their magic? Those druids caused havoc today. Their spells should be on cool down too.”
John’s expression darkened. “We’ll need to carefully protect our druids while looking for ways to counter or disrupt the enemy’s magic. In the meantime, everyone do your best.
As the meeting continued, they discussed strategies and contingencies, planning for every possible scenario. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and determination, the weight of their task pressing down on them.
When the council finally adjourned, Henry made his way to the gatehouse. The night was cool and clear, the stars shining brightly overhead. He leaned against the stone wall, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of movement before he cast [Rock Wall].
“You fought valiantly today,” came a voice from behind him. Henry turned to see the Bearkin woman approaching, a weary but proud look on her face.
“The clans fought well,” Henry agreed.
“Koda,” she said standing beside Henry and looking out over the darkened landscape. “I’ve fought in many battles, but this one feels different. The stakes are higher. The enemy more determined.”
Henry’s gaze hardened. “Yeah?”
“We’re fighting for our home, for our people. We can’t afford to lose.” She placed a hand on Henry’s shoulder. “And we won’t. As long as we stand together, as long as we fight with everything we have.”
Henry could feel his magic repairing the damage done to the stone wall and gatehouse. As he fixed the last bit of damage, he felt hopeful. “We’ll make it through this.”
As the night wore on, the Bearkin warriors took turns on watch, their eyes ever vigilant for signs of the enemy. Henry knew that sleep would be scarce, but he also knew that rest was crucial. He forced himself to find a few hours of sleep, knowing that he would need his strength for the battles to come.
The following day dawned with a tense quiet. The Bearkin worked tirelessly to reinforce their defenses, repairing the damaged weapons from the previous day. Scouts were sent out to gather supplies and gather intelligence on the enemy’s movements.
Henry moved among his new platoon of soldiers, offering encouragement and overseeing the preparations. He spoke with Koda, ensuring that she had the resources she needed to tend to the wounded. He met with the druids, seeking their counsel on how to counter the enemy’s magic.
As the day progressed, the sense of impending battle hung heavy in the air. The Bearkin knew that the Feline Army would return, and they steeled themselves for the next wave.
In the late afternoon, the scouts returned with grim news. The Feline Army was massing for another assault, this time with even greater numbers and more siege equipment.
“They’re bringing everything they have,” one of the scouts reported, his face pale. “Siege towers, battering rams, catapults. And more druids.”
John’s jaw tightened. “We’ll be ready for them. Spread the word. Every able-bodied warrior to the walls. We’ll hold them off, no matter the cost.”
As the sun began to set, casting a blood-red glow over the land, the Bearkin warriors took their positions on the walls. Henry stood at the forefront, his axe in hand, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
The distant rumble of the Feline Army’s advance grew louder, a dark tide sweeping towards them. The Bearkin warriors stood resolute, their hearts filled with fierce determination.
“Today, we fight for our home, for our people,” Henry called out, his voice ringing through the air. “We fight for the Ursa Kingdom. Stand strong, and we will prevail!”
The enemy emerged from the darkness, their ranks a seething mass of fur and steel. The siege towers rolled forward, and the catapults were loaded with flaming projectiles.
“Archers, ready!” Henry commanded. The Bearkin archers drew their bows, their arrows aimed at the approaching enemy.
“Fire!” Henry shouted. The arrows flew through the air, striking the enemy ranks and setting the siege towers ablaze. The Feline Army pressed on, undeterred, their archers returning fire.
The first of the siege towers reached the walls, and the battle was joined. The Bearkin warriors met the enemy with a roar, their weapons clashing with the invaders. Henry fought at the front, his axe a blur of motion as he cut down one enemy after another.
The enemy’s druids began to chant, their magic crackling through the air. The Bearkin druids responded with their spells, the air filled with the hum of arcane energy.
The battle raged on, the walls of the fortress shaking with the impact of the catapults and battering rams. The Bearkin fought with everything they had; their determination unwavering.
System Message:
Congratulations you have reached Level 69. You have 5 Stat Points and 2 Skill Points to allocate.
As the night wore on, the enemy’s assault began to wane. The Bearkin had held their ground, repelling the second wave of the Feline Army.
Henry stood on the battlements, his chest heaving with exhaustion. Around him, the defenders tended to their wounds and gathered their fallen comrades. The cost had been high, but they had survived another day.
As the sun began to rise, casting a golden glow over the land, Henry looked at his stats sheet. Since arriving in the Ursa Kingdom his stats continued to climb. If this continued, there was a chance he could enter the ranks of the top 100 players.
Name: Henry Bearington Brown
SKILL NAME
SKILL LEVEL
Race: Human/Bearkin
Earth Magic
54
Bloodline: Bearington Bearkin (Rare)
Guardian of Nature
1
Class: Artisan
Two-Handed Axe
15
Sub Class: Druidcraft
Lumberjack
81
Titles: Pioneer/ Baron/ Clan 4th Grade
Analyze
76
Level: 69 (69,001/70,000)
Surveyor
52
HP: 5,412/5,412
Field Dress
14
MP: 627/627
Woodworking
101
STR: 81
Cooking
16
AGI: 75
Leatherworking
72
VIT: 66
Tailoring
60
INT: 34
Forging
74
WILL: 20
Smelting
66
CON: 82
Toolsmith
75
Charm: 9
Architecture
15
Free Attribute Points: 25
Wagoner
6
Free Skill Points: 10
One Handed Axe
57
Fame: 55
Cleave
50
RACIAL SKILLS:
Bash
51
Oversized Weapons
Fast Slash
41
Nature Affinity
Growl
34
SPELLS:
Druid Grove
8
Rock Wall
Polymorph
68
Erosion
Fletching
5
Arrowhead
Herbalism
9
Rock Dome
Track
9