Quillian lead the way. "It's just up here"
"Yeah you'll love it, it's such a big house." Rosan added.
Quill shrugged. "More or less."
Their footsteps tapped lightly on the stone path, the earth under them slowly brightening up with every passing minute. Trees past by in the tens, hundreds and eventually what felt like thousands as they marched on. Though Quill did his best to make it pass faster with his whistling.
Rosan was much quieter, his long blonde hair swaying side to side every other step. Compared to Quill he seemed like an in-game member of the noble class, despite his barely above average clothing. He was sorting through one of his menus for most of the walk, not the least bit mindful about his partners whistling.
Eventually they took a hard right off the path and into the dense forest. Going from a paved road to trail of dirt. From there they winded their way through a mess of trees and small animals like squirrels and rabbits. Players could kill them if they wanted, but Maia always felt bad about doing it. Thankfully the two men in front of her didn't pay the critters any mind, or anything for that matter. Both had their character screens open while neither had their eyes on the road. Maia felt the sudden urge to get her weapons back.
How the hell have they survived this long?
Before she knew it they had reached their destination, Maia only knowing by the fact that she bumped into Quills back as he did the same to Rosan.
"Oh look were here." Quill made a note of.
"It's big right?" Rosan turned back to Maia with a broad smile on his face
The "here" in question was a hut, not a house or an inn, just a hut. I've seen dog houses bigger than this. She couldn't imagine anyone using that for anything besides an outhouse.
An old hooded woman emerged, she couldn't have been taller than the average ten year old girl, her back hunched and a mess of small canyons covering what visible skin she had.
Hilda the Delusional Maia read. The woman seemed like any other old hermit, only well, female.
"We killed Galmur, Hilda" Rosan said, initiating conversation with the NPC like he would any real person. Next to him was Quill, his arms were folded and he was listening intently. Maia watched from this side.
"You've slain Galmur?" she blurted, in between clearing her throat.
"Yeah that was kind of the thing we went there to do." Quill said with a shrug.
"Nothing big, really." Rosan added in.
"A fine strapping duo of lads you are, we are forever grateful for your help in the matter" Hilda cut in, reminding Maia that they never actually gave her a party invite. "Come, Eladon would like to speak to you"
The old woman then motioned the two men into her tiny hut. Maia stood baffled as they all began to squeeze into the tiny wooden room. "Uh, what are we doing?"
"Come on Maia don't be rude, she invited us in." Rosan said with a smile. After Hilda went in he crouched down and followed, Quill right behind.
Maia sighed. Following a few seconds behind, to her surprise there was a stairwell going down just after the entrance. "What the…"
"He should be just up here." Hilda lead the three down the long set of stairs, illuminated every few feet by a new pair of lamps on each side. Eventually they hit the flooring, and the town revealed itself all at once.
All around them was people, going about their daily business happily. Some even waved and spoke informal greetings to the travelers. Above them, hanging from the high rocky ceiling of the cove was a sign.
"Welcome to Vadoma" Quillian said as Maia read those same words, the poorly dressed man cracking a Rosan-like smile of his own that time.
"Finest wares in all of Albion, guaranteed!" one man yelled from one of the many stalls near the entrance. Maia found it easy to ignore, the phrase as familiar as her own heartbeat by that point.
Though many more NPC citizens hollered at the travelers, desperately trying to sell them food, clothing or weapons. There must be at least a hundred NPC's in this camp. Maia thought as she followed the two men and Hilda along the dirt road of the underground gypsy camp. They passed a giant stone carved fountain in the main hub of the village, at its peak was a small nest of birds that overlooked the underground town from their vantage point.
Oh….wow…. They approached a two story rock house, carved into the very walls of the cavern itself. Images of a certain pre-historic family flooded her head immediately upon sight of it all.
Oh….dark….They entered the complex through a large doorway, the light from the outside not following them in.
"With an entrance that high you'd think they'd have trolls living here". Rosan said with what Maia could only assume was a grin hidden by the dark.
"Welcome my friends, welcome!" A deep, raggedy voice hollered with an echo as simultaneously the room was embroiled in a vibrant and overwhelming light. From the insides of a just opened pair of doors was what a sort of throne room.
"A throne less, throne room". Maia thought, before her was a fat dark skinned gypsy man equipped with the longest beard she had seen thus far in the game. He sat upon a flat throne of carpet, his legs crossed at his seat and his belly hanging out to his knees. He wore a large smile on his face.
Quillian and Rosan strode forward without a flinch, once again leaving Maia confused and standing awkwardly in the back. Even Hilda seemed to have disappeared once they passed through the double doors.
"We killed that Galmur fellow for Hilda…" Quill began, Eladon let out a hearty laugh. The title Eladon the Wise moved up and down as did his belly with each heave.
"We just here for the reward." Rosan added.
"So news has reached me that you town have slayed the mighty Galmur?" Elador said with a wide expression on his face. "Tell, my friends, is this true. Have you really slain that insufferable oaf?"
"Well we did just say that yes." Rosan added.
"Your courage knows no bounds, I am truly impressed!" Eladons voice boomed, the fat man clasped his hands together. Rosan and Quillian groaned. "They shall tell tales of your accomplishment for years to-" Quillian clicked the "skip" button on the dialogue menu, silencing Eladon while Rosan gathered their reward.
"Fifty-fifty?" Rosan asked, slinging the bag of gold over his shoulder.
"Like always." Quill was already out of the room when he answered. Eladon had quieted down and sat back into his chair. It took Maia a moment to figure out where to go.
"Hey wait!" She called to Rosan and Quillian, the two already out and about into the camp. "Where are you guys going?"
Rosan stopped and looked at the young blonde girl. "Not sure." He looked at Quillian. "Another quest I guess?" Quill shrugged and the two then continued walking. Maia was dumbfounded.
"Wait, wait. You're just gonna leave me here?"
Rosan stopped a second time and turned to her. The bag of gold slung over his shoulder making several clinking sound. "Yeah why?"
Maia pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head. "Well, it's just that I'm kind of stranded out here without my guild mates or anything." She looked down at her clothing, her lack of weapons. "Or any weapons. You think I could maybe go with you guys until I find them, or at least something to defend myself with?" Rosan looked at Quill, and Quill looked at Rosan. The two shrugged.
"Sure." Quill answered that time, have stopped further ahead of Rosan. "But we're still not going to share our quest rewards with you."
Maia sighed, at her left and right were several gypsies hollering at her to buy their wares. All NPCs, no other places in sight. She walking towards only two left in her world. "Sure thing, whatever works. Let me just get a sword before we go."
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Ryuu pulled his gun from his right holster and aimed its barrel down at the face of the last bandit. With a the familiar pop sound that he had grown all too used to the man fell to the ground, the last of dozens that laid dead around them. His black felt as if it would catch flame in the heat, the sun baring brightly down upon them from above. He turned around to see Ellie still unconscious behind him, sprawled out in the grass. He squinted at her health bar.
Low, but not gone. He thought as relief washed over him.
"Knockouts can last pretty long in this game depending on the severity. Really was an unlucky hit your girl go there." Ryuu turned to face the man. He was of a large build, overweight but still light enough to be mobile. At least in this world. He had skin as dark as Ryuus hair with long, blue robes. His name tag said FistOmen. "Ya'll are lucky we saved you-"
A squeaky voice interrupted FistOmen. "Ah damn this one dropped an iron sword too."
The wizard stuttered. "Damn it Herman, what've I told you about going and interrupting me like that?" He glared at the smaller character next to him.
"But they gone and dropped like five iron-"
"I don't care what they dropped! Imma trying to talk here so just get our loot and shut your little ranger ass up." FistOmen turned back to Ryuu, mumbling to himself. "Interrupting me like that…." The black man shook his head.
Ryuu feigned scratching his head behind his back.
FistOmen cleared his throat. "What was I saying?" He looked down at Ellie. "Oh yeah, that ambush. So what're yall doing out here anyway?"
"Just on a quest from that gypsy camp called Gallinero by the lake. Looks like it turned into a trap though."
The black mans eyes widened. He shook his head again, though with a much different tone from before. An excitement. He looked at the little boy next to him, still shifting through the former bandits belongings on the ground. "Herman, you here that?"
"Here what?"
"What this boy was just saying?"
"I thought you told me not to listen-"
"Damn it boy he's ten feet away how could you not here?" FistOmen shook his head again, accompanying the motion with an exaggerated sigh. He sure does that a lot. "He mentioned Gallinero. The place we're trying to get to, remember? "FistOmen looked at Herman and Herman looked at FistOmen. The younger boys eyes were wide open, and his mouth slightly open. Both were quiet, both were still.
Herman, screenname HermansTheBest, looked at Ryuu.
"Gallinero?" He looked back at FistOmen.
"Gallinero." The older man confirmed.
Herman looked back at Ryuu. "Ya'll going to Gallinero?"
"Well….um…" Ryuu nudged Ellie with his foot, the girl still didn't respond. "Yeah we'll probably need to figure this all out. Not really sure on the specifics though, might have to wait until my cousin wakes up."
"That's all good man, that's all good. We were just about to head up there ourselves. From the look of things it seems like it's gonna get a little more difficult up ahead." FistOmen smiled and crossed his arms, from beside him Herman stood up and did the same. The resemblance quickly became evident to Ryuu. "Like I said, knockouts can last for a while in this game. Hours I've heard. As strong as you are I don't think you'd be able to keep your cousin safe alone, at least not in this part of the woods. How about we team up? You take us to Gallinero and we'll help you guys incase another ambush comes up?"
Ryuu exhaled. Taking in the area around him, the some two dozen bodies that littered the surround grass and tree line. He looked at his own, much depleted health bar and the numerous cuts and bruises the game produced on his avatar. "Yeah…." He began slowly, finally resting his eyes upon the unconscious body of his younger cousin, the low health bar flashing with a hint of red. "Yeah…that'd probably be for the best."
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Apollo sat upon a large stone, marred deeply into the grass below. He ran his hand through his long bangs, pulling his hair and the sweat mixed with above his forehead. The virtual sun had begun its descent, but the heat still remained in full effect. Why'd I have to pick the only spot away from the shade.
"Armored plate and a kite shield." TankGod stood before the other melee fighter, eyes widen open. "Mate, you've got to be kidding me."
Apollo looked up at the others and saw the TJ Luther crack a smile in response. The height between him and the other warrior could not have been more noticeable. He looks like he could be an actual soldier in real life. No wonder he's got all of these people following him. They all stood in the center of the wreckage of the bandit camp, all of the NPCs that fought had died and not a single player had joined in. Jason and the rest of the group stood eagerly in front of Luther.
"Luck of the draw my friend, I'm sure they'll become more widespread as the game goes on."
"Yeah but by then you'll probably have a flaming dragon or something cool like that."
Apollo watched Luther smile and again refrain from any full on laughter. "Australian I'm assuming?" Luther asked, addressing TankGod and the rest of the short warriors group. "I don't think I've met any of you in game as of yet."
"Just here to add variety." Lightweight joked.
"Global release doesn't just meant he Yankees and British!" Neontiger added in with a laugh.
"I'm impressed though. Not many had made it this far in the game yet, especially in such a small group."
"Wasn't us." Rich quickly added. TankGod nodded as well, pointing to his right. "We're just following our new high leveled friend we've met recently."
Apollo felt the eyes of several characters staring at him. Luther most noticeably.
"You're the one leading them?" The armored warrior asked, his head titled in curiosity.
Apollo stood up, trying to force a smile. "No, no, no we're just teaming up for a little bit. Just doing some quests together."
"What're you talking about mate? You're level twenty-one!" I'm only level fourteen! There's no way we could be doing this quests without you." Lightweight shouted. Luthers eyes widened. Apollo heard the others around the camp gasp. Oh boy.
"You're level twenty-one?" The tall man from beside Luther called, Apollo read his name as Skittles. "Jesus….just who else have you been questing with?"
Apollo wondered if he was the only one to scratch the back of his head so much. "Um not really anyone else really…just kind of...well…..you know….by myself."
"You've been questing alone?" Skittles looked at Luther, giving his friend a slight nod. "We need him."
"Need me?" Apollo asked.
"Need him?" TankGod asked.
"Not just him, all of you would be good in fact." Luther interjected. Apollo looked at Jason, confused. "Let me explain." Luther assured. With a wave of his hand the armored play opened the 2D menu screen, swiping for a few moments before finally settling on certain quest screen. He rotated the screen.
"Oceanus….the first….?" TankGod read slowly. "What's that?"
"It's a global quest. Something that's in all of your quest logs. It's basically a quest the entire player population is doing." Luther explained.
"What about it?" Apollo asked.
"Have you check it lately?" Luther asked.
"No, why?"
"See for yourself."
Apollo squinted and read the writing on the floating 2D screen. Oceanus, the First. Defeat Oceanus's two sons, Metis and Titus, before assaulting the great god. Current Completion…..33%... Apollo looked up at Luther, eyes widened.
"Someones already beaten one of the Gods sons?" TankGod asked, incredulous.
"Right you are. And if they done it once, then they'll do it again. We need to meet whoever did this. With as much force as we can preferably."
"But, how will you guys know how to find him?" RICH asked. Luther responded by pointing at the screen. From what Apollo could see it said only the name of one the lakes largest outposts. Docktown.
"According to the quest log Titus can only be awakened at Docktown. Afterwards a bridge will be opened to the center of the lake, to Oceanus. Our goal is to be there when that happens, and to assist whoever is doing this the best we can." Luther took a deep breath. "So will you help us?"
TankGod looked at RICH and the others, the group collective shrugging in response. "I don't see why not."
"Good to hear" Luther seemed visibly relieved, he turned to Apollo. "And what about you? You're the highest leveled out of all of us, we could sure use your help."
Once again Apollo felt the eyes of the entire encampment upon him. He felt his face flush a bit of red. "I don't really know If I could be of much help, I'm usually just good on my own."
"Oh come on kid." Skittles said. "You're the highest leveled person here, you've probably been in this region longer than any of us. At the very least you could just show us around."
Jason looked at Apollo. "Come on, we can't lose with this many of us."
Milo found himself twiddling his thumbs. "Well I guess I could tag along for a bit, just to see what all of this is about."
Lightweight laughed, slapping Apollo on the back. "Thata boy!"
Luther smiled. "This is good news. We'll leave soon then. If I'm right then we should be able to make it to Docktown before dark."
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
The pub was small in comparison to the others in game. Yet the distinct lack of players around made it feel much larger than any he had seen in Bowerstone or elsewhere. They'll be here soon enough. He told himself, taking a large sip from his ale and leaning back in his wooden chair. Soon…enough. Hands behind his head he closed his eyes, a nap would be nice at the moment.
"You."
Kungen opened his eyes, looking around. He could've sworn he was alone, yet just above him there she stood. Dressed in all red was one of the few players he could recall actually meeting since the start of the game. He yawned.
"Me…"
Uloveme took her seat in front of him after he spoke. She pulled the hood down over her face, revealing long brown hair and a pair piercing green eyes that Kungen could never seem to hold long against. He often wondered what kind of past came with a look like that.
"So you actually went and did it then." Uloveme smiled. "I thought even someone as crazy as you would know better. But yet there you went."
"Sure did." Kungen took another sip of his ale, raising his cup at the large tentacle mounted above the pubs fireplace. A fine reminder the NPCs gave of his victory at the end of the quest.
Uloveme ignored his gesture, she put her hands on the table. "That victory has already appeared in the Global Quest Log of all one hundred thousand players in the game. Now that they know we can win, all the players in the region are going to come to Docktown to see what happens next."
"So…?"
"So what happens next?"
Kungen rested his hand upon his steel katana. The weapon laid upon the floor, leaning up against the wall behind the player. "The same thing that happened to Metis will happen to Titus."
"And then what?"
"The same thing that happened to Titus will happen to Oceanus." Kungen unsheathed his katana and held it in his sword hand, eyeing the blade. Along its razor sharp steel edge the bright aura of the flame augment coursed along the weapon. "It's pretty simple really."
"You're going to do this alone?"
"No. I got my quest companion Edward over there." Kungen smiled nodding over to the NPC seated across the room, Edward Gwynne. "He uses a freaking long bow. How cool is that? According to the quest log he's supposed to follow me until Oceanus is slain so it's a pretty sweet set up don't you think?"
Uloveme sighed. "When?"
Kungen re-sheathed his blade. "Tonight. At midnight. It's the only time he'll appear." Uloveme rose from her seat rather sharply and began to walk away. Kungen felt a bit taken aback. "Aren't you gonna stay for the show?" He couldn't help but ask.
The woman stopped at the door, turning her face to the warrior. "You're the most powerful player in the entire game and you're still an idiot." She smiled, pulling her hood up over her head. "I'll just make sure the inevitable horde of players get here safely."
With that Kungen was alone again, Uloveme gone just as quickly as the woman arrived. He again let his head fall back and his eyes close shut. Rest wasn't something he did much of in-game, but for what he was doing next he was sure he would need a lot of it. I have a good ten or so hours. He told himself as he drifted off.