Stella, Ripley, and I continued our trek through the modest town. We stopped at a general store, filling our water skins, and adding another week’s worth of rations to my bag of holding. We found a nearby jeweler’s shop and sold off the ruby and gold earring we got from the gnoll cave. Sadly, the owner only offered three gold pieces, but every bit helped. My inner greed nearly had me turning back though as I was nearly certain we had been swindled. Stella couldn’t offer an opinion as to the value, so there was little I could do unless I wanted to hold on to them.
Stella got a good laugh at my expense when we approached a stall with a woman selling what I took to be herbs and cooking ingredients. Pulling out one of the gnoll potions, I was certain that the older merchant was going to be more than interested in the rare substance. After she uncorked the bottle though, we were told, in no uncertain terms, to never return to her stand.
“Well, that was a bit rude,” I said as I adjusted my cloak, my face flushed red. “A simple, ‘no’ would have sufficed.” Turning back to offer an apology, the words were lost in my throat from the daggers the shopkeeper was staring at me.
“It may have gone better if you had warned her before she uncorked it. That stuff is quite foul,” Stella said as she shook her head in apparent amusement. “The poor lady nearly splashed some on herself. You’d probably have the guards called down upon us had that happened.”
The intense reaction was somewhat understandable, I supposed. “Well, I know that now. Okay, note to self, let a merchant know beforehand.”
Not five minutes later though, my smug grin was directed to Stella when I found an alchemist who was more than willing to buy several of the foul concoctions from us. When I warned him of the horrid smell, the man nearly fell over the counter as he leaned forward. Though I was willing to only part with three of the bottles, we did net an additional three gold coins.
The man’s eagerness to get his hands on the brackish liquid had me worried for a moment, but in the end, what he did with the stuff was not my concern. Stella must have noticed the gleam in my eyes as I was mentally debating going back to try to collect more of the stuff when she flew in front of me, shaking her head even as she spoke. “No. We’re not going back.”
“Bah. Fine,” I said with a dismissive shake of my head.
Thankfully, with the sale, we were able to purchase several more health and mana potions and add them to my inventory.
“What about sharing with me the location of where you got them,” the middle-aged alchemist inquired. “I would be happy to pay for the knowledge.”
Before I could utter a reply, Stella grabbed a fistful of my tunic and pulled me out of the store. “For his own safety, and possibly his neighbors, I don’t think that would be a good idea. Shouts and promises of more riches from the man peppered our backs as Stella helped me along, leaving the store far behind us.
No other shop caught our attention in what I took to be the merchant’s quarter of the town, though my keen ears started to pick up snippets about a ‘kidnapping’ from whispered conversations of nearby villagers. When I caught the word ‘Hunter’ a second time, my interest was piqued. Inquiring with a plate-armored town guard, we were directed to seek out the town’s mayor and offer our assistance. A few probing questions informed us of a Hunter who may have kidnapped the man’s daughter only earlier in the day. When I inquired about finding the mayor’s residence, my map updated with a glowing blue line leading towards the middle of town.
Stella had grown unusually quiet since hearing a Hunter had forcibly taken a villager and it took several attempts to assure her that it was highly unlikely to be Duke. “He was looking for you. Duke wouldn’t give a second thought to a random villager. This seems like another Hunter to me. More than likely, Duke doesn’t even know yet that we are hunting him. From what you’ve said about some of the vile Hunters who join the game, I’m ninety percent confident this is someone else.”
“Yes, you’re probably right. I’m just worried that you are not ready yet to face Duke. I don’t want what happened to Stouter to happen to you,” Stella finally said as my words reached her.
Stella moved from Ripley’s broad shoulders to my own, clearly wanting to be closer after fearing what the powerful Hunter could do to me. Reaching up to her, I gently stroked her soft ebony hair. “If it turns out to be Duke, I won’t rush in,” I said before pausing to ensure Stella was with me. “Still, I don’t think it’s him. Either way, we’ll be careful. I promise.”
Stella seemed to feel better after that, going as far as nuzzling my neck with her forehead. In a couple of minutes, it was clear we were approaching the center of town and the mayor’s place. The number of patrolling guards had been steadily increasing around us, all the men bearing sharp, hawk-like gazes directed at everything around them. Approaching a fenced residence, a richly decorated three-story house within, we spotted a pair of guards stationed outside what looked like the main entrance. Standing before an iron gate, both men in chain and plate mail were sporting fresh bruises on what little skin was exposed. It was clear that the men offered at least some resistance when the Hunter we heard about tried making his way out with his captive.
As we approached, they held out their hands. “Hold. Who are you and where do you think you’re going?” The anxious man had a black and nearly swollen shut eye. His compatriot held a shaking hand over his sheathed sword, looking ready to draw it at the slightest sign of aggression. Both men were clearly expecting another fight to come at any minute after suffering at the hands of the last Hunter who came around.
“My name is Xaz, the Just,” I added the last with a quick thought. I wanted to defuse the situation before it could escalate. Knowing that these non-player characters could easily identify me as a Hunter, it was important for them to know I was not a threat. Keeping my hand clear of any weapon or sudden movement, I motioned to myself and Ripley. “We’re here to help. We heard that someone may have kidnapped the mayor’s daughter, and we want to offer our services to help bring her back.”
Both men looked at each other, hesitation evident in their expressions. The guard who had his hand on the pommel of his blade tightened his grip. This was about to get ugly fast if I didn’t do something.
“You both look to have been injured,” I said in as calming a voice as I could muster. “May I cast a healing spell on you both?”
Warring emotions played over the first guard’s face. Apprehension soon gave way though, to a look of hope. “You may, but I warn you, no funny business.”
Nodding my understanding, arcane words came softly from my lips as I directed minor regen on him. After the one-second cast time, cooling and rejuvenating power flowed into the wary man. After a pair of deep breaths, a sigh of relief escaped the man’s lips. “Thank you,” he said when the spell’s power faded from his body. His swollen eye disappeared and the bruises that we so clear before faded to nothingness.
Motioning to the other guard, asking for his permission, the man nodded at the unspoken question. He had loosened his grip on his weapon after seeing his friend sigh in relief. Rattling off the words to another regeneration spell, he too soon was fully healed without a mark left on his body.
“My thanks,” this first guard said and pushed open the iron gate behind him. “I’m sure the mayor would be more than happy to accept your offer of assistance.”
Walking past the two guards, we found an elegant home that towered above all others we had seen in Nemmil thus far. Red slate roof tiles contrasted well with the thick wooden beams of the home. Unlike the plain homes nearby, the mayor’s house was far more artistic in design. The place was lined with dozens of windows, each outlined with horses, animals, and heroic figures carved delicately into the wood.
The third floor was taller than the others and had much taller panes of glass. Walking towards the main entrance, we were greeted by a wide double door painted a matching red to the home’s roof. Standing under the supported overhang, I used the large steel knocker on the door to announce us to those inside.
It didn’t take long for a man dressed like a butler to open the door. The willowy man wore an immaculate dark suit, a white button shirt, and an elegant bowtie. Giving us a bow, his cultured tone gave the impression that he had welcomed thousands of people over the years. “Greetings, fair Hunter. I am called Maxwell. Are you here to see the mayor?”
“Yes, I am. My name is Xazorus the Just. We heard that the mayor’s daughter was kidnapped and would like to offer our aid.” I said with a bow of my own. Given the formalware of the man, I opted to use my full name.
“That will certainly be welcomed news to Mr. Olodore. Please do come in.” He held open the door and we proceeded inside the wide entryway. “May I inquire the name of your comrades?”
“Of course. This is my friend, Stella, and our guardian, Ripley,” I said as I waved to each in turn. Stella gave a courtly bow and Ripley, well, she remained motionless.
The butler didn’t seem perturbed by Ripley’s lack of decorum as he closed the door behind us. We were in a long hallway adorned with richly framed paintings. “My lord has been rife with worry since Ms. Lailah’s abduction. Please follow me, I will take you to the study where Mayor Olodore will be happy to greet you posthaste.”
The butler’s mannerisms and language were more formal than I had expected so I only responded with an awkward nod. Maxwell led us to a nearby study that was covered, wall to wall, with books and thick tomes. The smell of parchment reminded me of a library. A large ornate table in the middle of the room was surrounded by a half-dozen handcrafted, sturdy chairs that had me guessing were more expensive than some of the houses we passed on our way into town. The butler waved us to the padded chairs which were heavier than expected when I pulled one out. Ripley, though, naturally declined instead opting to stand behind me and to the side before returning to an unnaturally still position, as if she was nothing more than an armored statue.
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After bowing once more, Maxwell exited through a pair of decorative doors on the opposite side of the room, closing it behind him with an audible click.
Stella glided down to the table and inspected several open books before us. “Daughter of the Phoenix, The Crystal in the Mist, Paladin’s Oath, some interesting titles here.”
As Stella was about to pull one of the tomes from the bookshelf, approaching footsteps and talking could be heard beyond the door the butler previously left from. Stella flew through the air, landing gently on my shoulder. The doors opened and in walked a tall, middle-aged man with wavy, white hair and a gaunt appearance. He was clean shaved with long sideburns that ran down to his well-defined jawline, but he had bags under his eyes and looked to have not slept in days. He wore a fancy green overcoat that went all the way down to his dark leather boots. The coat was trimmed with gold filigree showing a flower pattern, including what looked to be rose petals running down both sides of his collar to run down to his belt. His starched shirt was complimented by a narrow black tie that completed his ensemble. He gave off an air of nobility, but one glimpse of his shaking hands belied his composure.
Mr. Olodore approached the table, taking the seat opposite of me. His butler, Maxwell, paused after coming into the room with the mayor, standing next to the open door.
“My friend has told me that you are here to offer aid in these desperate times. I had nearly given up all hope.” The mayor paused to compose himself, visibly swallowing and wetting his lips. He closed his eyes for a moment before arching his shoulders back. “I beseech you, Hunter Xaz, please help find and return my daughter. I… cannot lose her.”
Quest Received: Lailah, my heart, and soul.
The Mayor of Nemmil has pleaded with you to help rescue his beloved daughter, Lailah. She was abducted while tending to the manor’s garden by a wandering Hunter. Will you do whatever is necessary to bring her back safely? Will you bring justice upon the offending party? Time runs short, so make haste and save the fair lady.
Objective 1 – Find out where Lailah Olodore has been taken.
Objective 2 – Negotiate Lailah’s release or slay the Hunter who holds her captive.
Objective 3 – Return Lailah to the mayor.
Rewards – Experience & a rare magical item. Note – Rewards are variable, depending on Lailah’s health and well-being.
Failure – Lailah’s death or failure to return to the mayor. Loss of reputation with the Mayor of Nemmil and city guards. Possible banishment from the city. Accept: Yes/No?
The desperation and hopelessness wafting off the father was obvious to everyone in the room. My heart ached for his suffering in that moment. I didn’t even consider selecting ‘no’ at that moment. “Tell me, who has taken her and where can I find him?”
“His name is Adom. Adom the Savage,” the mayor spat contemptuously.
Shortly after leaving the mayor’s residence, we made our way to the northmost gate of the city. We learned that the hunter who had taken Lailah was seen exiting through that gate even as a handful of city guards attempted to stop him. From what we learned, nothing the guards did was able to slip past his considerable defenses. It wasn’t armor that stumped the men. Instead, the Hunter was able to flow like the wind, easily dodging or side-stepping any attack. Unfortunately, no one was able to identify how he was able to do that so we would need to determine that for ourselves.
Inquiring more about the Hunter from the guards, we learned that Adom lived up to his name of being a savage. His main attacks, and not to mention his blazing fast counters, were all done weaponless. Using his hands alone, the man applied pressure to certain parts of the guards’ bodies which either immobilized them or caused excruciating pain. Thankfully, no one had been mortally wounded. One guard told us that he felt like Adom was more interested in causing pain than anything else. That didn’t bode well for Lailah.
“This Hunter seems to get a kind of twisted pleasure from the pain he causes others. It sounds like he does it for that sake alone.” I hurried our pace once we were outside of town. Thankfully, my tracking skill helped us along as it outlined the path the two had taken. Their footprints were spaced closely together, indicating they were not moving with any particular haste. “Our quest rewards are linked to Lailah's well-being, and with how this man has acted towards the town guards, we may find her in terrible condition.”
“Torture. Unfortunately, a depraved trait for far too many Hunters that come to this world.” With our fast pace, Stella moved to fly next to me instead of trying to find purchase on my rolling shoulders. “Thankfully though, you should be able to heal any physical wounds she may suffer, but we can only hope that she’s still alive when we find her.” Stella was biting her lips and was moving around in the air restlessly. “This hunter reminds me too much of Duke.”
My eyes ranged ahead of us, returning to the rocky ground fast passing underneath our quick pace, ensuring we were still on the right trail. “I doubt he will kill her based on everything we’ve heard about the man,” I said between gasps of breath as we ran. “At least, not right away. The bastard loves pain too much to end things that quickly. Wait, if Lailah was dead, our quest would get updated, wouldn’t it? I doubt the System would give a quest when the objective of the mission was already dead, right?”
“Hmm, I think so, but then again the quest could still reward us for bringing that unfortunate news back to the mayor,” Stella replied. “Though, based on the fact the quest being failed has such negative consequences, I doubt that’s the case.”
“Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Miles passed underneath our steady pace, my tracking skill showing its worth as it kept us on the right path. The realization of actually fighting another Hunter had a question popping out of my mouth, “What happens if we do need to fight him – this Adom the Savage?” I couldn’t help but sneer when I said the man’s title. Based on my own experiences with titles, the man must have done something incredibly heinous to earn the moniker. A part of me hoped that at least some hunters were not naturally evil in this world, but from everything I had learned, that was not the norm.
“You probably already know, but it’s called player versus player or PVP for short,” Stella answered.
“That’s what I figured,” I said with a nod of the head. “Back on Earth, with many popular video games, player versus player combat was a frequent feature for many. Let’s find this Hunter,” I spat out the word. “And get stronger for it.”
Stella nodded at my words.
“So, when we do run into Adom, and if it comes to blows, what happens?” Tilting my head, I was quite curious to know the rules here.
“It’s combat like any other that you have experienced so far. Although the spoils to the victor are far more lucrative. In the World, PVP spoils are far more… lucrative. Instead of receiving just the gear and items, you receive far more. It can vary from one battle to another, but it’s always impactful to the victor,” Stella said as I slowed us for a small break. My eyes continued to scour the ground looking for clues as Stella continued. “For example, you could receive a skill, a spell, or other valuable knowledge. The rewards granted by the System can even be increased or decreased depending on the interaction between the two hunters.”
Before asking my next question, I made eye contact with Stella. “Did Stouter engage in any player versus player?”
“No, other than what you saw with Duke,” she replied hesitantly. “He felt he wasn’t ready or strong enough when the opportunity presented itself. While Player versus Player battles are not common, they are far riskier and deadlier than fighting against regular mobs.
A part of me wanted to end the future threat this Hunter posed to the people he would come into contact with in the future, but passing judgment on another was not something I would take lightly. “From the quest’s perspective, do you have any idea what would happen if we simply negotiated for Lailah’s release without a fight?”
“Probably nothing out of the ordinary. You’d likely receive a regular quest reward and a little more. But be wary, just because you may want to negotiate doesn’t mean he will. Some Hunters revel in fighting other players, Duke is a perfect example of that, but most realize the dangers involved. Skills, spells, and just about everything can vary widely from one Hunter to another.
We didn’t talk too much after that as we once again picked up the pace. Adom and his captive were making no attempts to hide their trail, which didn’t surprise me based on how Adom toyed with the city guards. I took him as a man who welcomed a fight. My hope that I would be able to peacefully return Lailah to her father seemed unlikely. It looked like our fast-approaching confrontation would inevitably lead to battle. I would need to hope that I was strong enough.
“Hope for the best, plan for the worst,” I said softly between my teeth.
“What’s that,” Stella asked, catching my words above the rush of wind as we ran onwards.
“Just a saying from back in my world,” I replied without clarifying more than that. Stella didn’t inquire further, seeing the determination and resoluteness in my strides.
Finally, the tracks we were following deviated from the rocky road. It was clear from the agitated soil and grass that Lailah was no longer cooperating. She must have had some courage bloom when Adom moved them off the main road. A little while ahead, two tracks merged into one, though the single set landed heavier, pushing slightly deeper into the earth. Someone had been carried, and it was obvious who it was. Thankfully, there was no sign of blood, so I could only take that as a good sign.
“He’s carrying her now. She must have been putting up too much of a fight.” I mulled over, speaking my thoughts aloud. “Stella, Ripley, be ready, I couldn’t imagine he would want to carry her long. I suspect we’re approaching them soon.”
Skill Increase: Tracking has increased to levels 3 and 4.
Through your diligence and attention, your tracking ability has increased. You are more likely to see hints visible within the tracks of those you peruse.
I engaged Stealth, crouching lower in my stance. There was no feeling of pressure, indicating no one was aware of my presence. As we continued onward, my eyes looked to Ripley as I was curious about her own capabilities of moving silently. I was pleased to see that Ripley had gone deathly quiet although she wasn’t crouched as low as I was. Smiling at her, I was thankful she could at least mirror my desire to go undetected. A part of me had been worried that any attempt at stealth would be impossible with her following closely behind.
It didn’t take much longer before the smell of burning wood filled the woody area around us. We were close, though nothing could be seen beyond the dense pack of trees. My alarm spiked when a feminine voice cried out in sharp pain. Knowing a battle was likely only minutes away, I quietly recast my shield spell, giving me the highest armor rating I could.
Whispering to Ripley to flank left, I continued my silent approach. The forested area parted ahead into a wide clearing as wide as a small house. In the center of the clearing was a fire pit, spit, and a makeshift tent. Small wisps of smoke rose lazily into the air. Looking to the left where I sensed Ripley was, I mentally commanded her to approach the edge of the clearing and then hold her position. Hopefully, she would act as my backup if it came to a fight. She would be my ace up my sleeve.
My eyes took in the scene, pausing only a moment as I noticed a gruff humanoid shape looming over something on the ground. A man’s fist was raised high in the sky, as if about to crash down to whatever lay below. Who could only be Adom, was facing away from me and had not detected any of us based on the complete lack of pressure from my stealth skill. The man held his hand high as if it was a threat. When the hand started downwards, I couldn’t wait any longer.
“Stop!” My shout rang clear across the clearing, pausing the fist from completing its descent. My axe was already in my hand as I barged out, causing the man’s hooded face to turn slightly in my direction. Stella was hovering to my left, the corner of my eyes saw her bare her canine teeth as she took an aggressive stance herself.
The hooded figure lowered his fist to his side before standing at his full height. He was a head shorter than I was, but the menace of his presence hammered in the air around him. With deliberate care, he began to turn in our direction.