War Journal Day: 340 "Voodoo Magic"
Met the new Vice-commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath Guild can't say I envy her being up on the frontlines being second in command. No I definitely prefer it down here helping the mid-level players. At least down here I can stay by Sam's side. She's a good player but with the huge level difference I know if something happened I would only blame myself.
End of Entry
"Through early morning fog I see, visions of the things to be, the pains that are withheld for me, I realize and I can see..." Echoed the low voice through the town centre. A crowd of players had gathered around the stone fountain listening to the singer. "Who this is guy an NPC?" The vice commander asked and Simon shook his head. "No that's Jason 'Voodoo' Vodoun the last bard in the game. Probably was the only one to begin with though," said Simon.
When Voodoo finished his song Simon gestured for him to walk over. "Mornin' Ranger what can I do for ya?" Voodoo asked in his Australian accent. Voodoo was a relatively short Aborigine carrying an acoustic guitar and a black mace. "Well Jason I was hoping you would know of any single players left in the area," said Simon and Voodoo smiled.
"Maybe I do maybe I don't what's it worth?" Jason asked and Simon put his arm around him.
"Well it'll get you breakfast," said Simon and Jason laughed.
"Alrigh' ya got ya self a deal," said Jason and the group went into the nearest restaurant.
"So why do you want to know about tha' single players?" Jason asked as he stuffed his face with bacon and eggs. "She's lookin for new recruits for the Knights of the Blood Oath guild," said Sam indicating the vice commander. "It's nearly impossible to recruit new members on the frontlines so we have to start looking for slightly lower level players," said the vice commander.
"So I see. Well there's about five single players in the area," said Jason and he started to check them off his fingers. "The one they call 'the Swede' big fella uses an axe apparently 'e's got a special skill up 'is sleeve as well. There's the beater Kirito but 'e wouldn't be interested. Maybe Scotty would be interested but the guy's real bad luck most call 'im Periapt. Then O' course there's Hans 'e could be interested. 'E's a tall fella as well uses a lance," said Jason and then he started drinking from his cup of coffee.
"I thought you said there was five single players," said the vice commander and Voodoo nodded. "Yeah an' there's me but I don't fancy a guild like yours too flashy an' stuck up if ya ask me," said Jason and he found a sword blade under his chin. "You dare dishonour the Knights of the Blood Oath guild," said one of the vice-commanders guards. Simon put up his hand and pushed the sword back down. "This ain't the place gentlemen if you want to settle this take it outside otherwise sit down," said Simon and Jason gave a cheeky smile.
"So you said there were two that would be interested," said the vice commander and Jason nodded. "Yea' 'the Swede an' Hans you'll find both O' them out on the south side mountain takin' on it," said Jason and he looked at Simon. "Oh no," whispered Simon.
"Oh yea'," said Jason and he smiled cheekily and the others all looked confused except Sam.
"What? What is it?" The vice commander asked.
"'It' is a dungeon an' a pretty tough one up until ya reach the boss then it gets even harder. Only one fool aroun' here I know who's tried to complete the quest. Ain't that right Ranger," said Jason and Simon nodded. "I tried to complete the quest a while back wasn't exactly difficult and I was counting on help from Sam to take on the boss later on but…," said Simon.
"But what?" One of the guards asked.
"I couldn't help out I was busy with a custom job at the shop so he took it on his own," said Sam and Simon nodded. "I tired but that dragon was a mean son of a bitch with a tail like an axe. I tried to dodge but I was too slow and it cost me my bow," said Simon.
"Wait your moping around because you lost a bow," said the vice commander and Simon nodded.
"I couldn't get close enough to hit it and I realised without a bow no one could take it down so I advised the other players to stay away."
"You were using a bow the other day like all weapons their replaceable if you have the money."
"Yeah well this weren't no ordinary bow. This was the Archer's fiend the best bow on this floor. I was using my old bow from the 22nd floor the other day."
"This is why I said I'd try and make a bow," said Sam but Simon shook his head.
"Although I have no doubt in Sam's skill she's a bit too busy at the moment with the shop and I wouldn't want to bother her," said Simon.
"You people got a serious personality conflict. Just make a new a bow or go one better 'ay," said Jason and Simon raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean go one better?" Simon asked.
"Well word is that there's some black powder up on the fortieth floor. Some on the sword-smiths are saying tha' you could make a weapon from combinin' the powder wi' a couple of other things."
"Is that so? Sam would you accompany me to the fortieth floor to get these materials?"
"Hold it aren't we forgetting the two solo players in the dungeon we don't have time. We have to go help them or they could die," said the vice commander and Sam agreed.
"Looks like we'll need some transportation I got just the thing," said Jason smiling.
The wooden wagon bounced up and down like a boat bobbing on the ocean waves. The dirt road was filled with stones and pot holes and it didn't get any better when it turned into the mountain path. "How in hell did you manage to get this thing?" Sam asked from the back of the wagon and Jason laughed. "I bought the horses off Scotty and the wagon off an NPC. Scotty's the guy if ya wanna get good strong horses," said Jason and he slowed down the horses to a walking pace. "I think we're walkin' from here on in," said Jason and the horses burst into coloured pixels.
"What happened?" Sam asked as everyone else got down off the wagon.
"The horses timed out. You can only use them for a certain amount of time that's why you won't find many players using them let alone selling horses," said Simon and he helped Sam down.
"It seems your quite the knowledgeable player Ranger somethin' you wana to tell us?" Jason asked as he started to walk up the road.
"Fine you got me I was one of the beta testers for this game. If it wasn't for me there wouldn't have been any bows put in the game at all. But can we focus on the matter at hand were goanna have to run if we want help those players in time," said Simon and he set off running up the mountain path past Jason. The others sped up and ran up after Simon.
The mountain path became smaller with snow lying on the large blank rocks. "We're almost there keep it up," shouted Simon to the others. The snow got thicker and then on the path a large crystal archway appeared. The group stopped in front of it. "Well gents welcome to south-side mountain dungeon," said Jason.
The group started to walk through the dungeon weapons up and ready. Dwarves short, bearded grimacing, red eyed, men armed with pickaxes and hammers jumped up from behind large crystal formations at every corner of the path. Eventually the group reached the boss area. It looked like a large crater jittering down into the top of the mountain
"Well tie me down and call me Bruce, that's one big 'ole," said Jason after spitting down into the crater.
"Well ladies first," said Simon and the vice commander and her two guards walked down a smaller path leading into the crater.
"Watch ya selves mates I can 'ear somin'," said Jason and the sounds of a battle could be heard deep down in the crater.
"Let's move," said the vice-commander and everyone started to run.
The group reached the bottom of the crater. Giant crystals grew up out of the ground all around. The guardian of these crystals was a dragon called The Amber Queen. The Amber Queen was on the opposite side fighting two players. Both were tall. One was wielding a single bladed axe the other a long lance. The lance user was Hans dressed in all black heavy armour. The axe wielder was the Swede dressed in red heavy armour.
"Sam aim for the head," said Simon and the two took out their bows and shot at the dragon. It screeched in pain and then turned on the archers. "That was probably a bad idea," said Jason and he grabbed his mace and his shield. The dragon ran at the newcomers and Sam dropped her bow and grabbed her sword and shield. The dragon's tail whipped round knocking down Hans and pushing back Jason. Simon fired an arrow at the dragons head before jumping to the side as it hit the wall of the crater. The Swede jumped onto the dragon's back and swung his axe into the monster. It screeched and knocked the Swede to the ground. The vice-commander and her guards slashed at the legs only to have the dragon's tail swipe them away like annoying bugs.
"Someone remove that tail," shouted Simon as he continued to shoot at the dragon. Sam threw her shield at the dragons head and then slashed down on the dragon's tail. A bright red line appeared along the tail. The end fell off and disintegrated leaving a small brown bag in its place. The dragon roared in pain. Two of its four health bars were now completely empty.
The vice commander ran up the dragons tail and slashed at its head before jumping off and landing next to her guards. Hans had now got up and he charged at the dragon's underbelly. His lance forced its way into the dragon so far all that was left outside was the handle. It roared and it knocked Hans back and crushed his lance. The Swede ran in front of Hans and he threw his double bladed axe at the dragon. The axe lodged itself in the dragon's underbelly.
The dragon roared in pain and started careening backwards. It gave out one final cry and fell onto its side and disintegrated. A white message bar appeared in front of all the players saying congratulations. Hans got up and threw his helmet into the air as he cheered. The two guards sat down and laughed. Sam went up to Simon took hold of his hand and the two just smiled. The vice-commander helped Jason back to his feet. While the Swede picked up his axe and looked down at a message box that had appeared in front of him.
"It looks like you got the bonus item," said Simon after he and Sam had walked up behind the Swede. "The Emerald Cape oh this increases your camouflage skill and your nature resistance. So are you going to take it or just look at it?" Sam asked and the Swede nodded his helmeted head and pressed the accept button. The Swede's entire heavy red armour including his helmet was replaced by a long green cloak that had a hood which covered his head. The cloak had an embroidered pattern of a dragon on it which glinted in the sunlight.
"You're a very secretive person Swede. Well I'd like to offer you and Hans a special opportunity," said the vice commander walking over. "Oh ya and vat is that?" Hans asked in his strong German accent. "I want you two to come join the knights of the blood oath guild and fight on the frontlines with us," said the vice-commander and Jason gave a load snort from behind her.
"Vell I'll happily join but Zvede says no," said Hans looking over at the Swede who blatantly shook his head.
"May I ask why?" Simon asked looking at Swede and he shook his head.
"Vell this is goodbye Zwede it was gut to party vith you," said Hans putting his arm on the Swede's shoulder who copied the gesture.
"Vell what are ve vaiting for let us go," said Hans and he turned around and walked off with the vice-commander and her guards.
"Well this is an odd group. A blacksmith, a bard, an archer, an a guy who looks like King Kong. One more nut case and we got the makin's of a great guild," said Voodoo and Simon thought about it for a moment.
"You know your right Voodoo," said Simon.
"I am?"
"We a have good variety of skills here and we've already proved we're capable of taking on a boss monster. One more player and we could even take on the frontlines."
"You're crazy ya know that."
"I think it's a good idea. People are already calling us the woodland rangers so why don't we make that our guild name?" Sam asked and everyone agreed even the Swede nodded.
"So Voodoo your friend Scotty. Do you think he'd be interested?" Simon asked and Jason laughed.
"The idea's so crazy ya know I think he would be," said Jason.