AN: It's still Wednesday! Bet you all thought I wouldn't do it! But I did!
The answer to last week's riddle: Envelope. Congrats to... Guest... for guessing it correctly. Geez, I feel this is a first. You couldn't bother putting down a name other than 'Guest', huh? Alright. Enjoy your cookie and your acknowledgement Guest.
(::)
Puzzle: When I'm first said, I'm quite mysterious, but when I'm explained, I'm nothing serious. What am I?
Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I wouldn't name the main character Guest.
Chapter 106
Pen Pal
[Cobb]
It took most of the day to navigate the Gift Tree without getting spotted by guards or bounty hunters. Since ditching our maps, the guards lost their only means of tracking us. Not to mention, they'd really have to think outside the box to figure out where we were heading.
"Lenz, are you sure you know where your pen pal lives?" I asked as we climbed down some vines to bypass a patrol of guards. They were out in force, looking for us.
"I am certain." Lenz nodded emphatically, his glasses bouncing off his nose. "Our back-and-forth correspondences included, amongst charming redstone banter, a return address. Ines resides in the Root District, at the very base of the Gift Tree."
"Remind me. How did you two meet?" Soul asked as he touched down on a wooden platform. Jade bypassed the vines entirely, jumping down from branch to branch with an easy grace.
"Back at the Redstone College, they had a pen pal program." Lenz explained as we picked our way down abandoned paths. "Fellow redstone enthusiasts and college graduates from across the lands submitted signed books describing their interests, areas of study, and addresses. We were allowed to pick one to correspond with. I chose Ines because I was interested in what she was studying."
"And that would be…?"
"Ines specializes in redstone within structures." Lenz said as if we knew exactly what that meant. When he saw three blank faces, he let out a weary groan. "Redstone traps. Burglar prevention. Self-destruct switches, retractable floors, hidden passageways, arrow turrets that emerge from the walls. Honestly, you people are going to embarrass me with your ignorance! Ines will hardly believe you are my friends."
"We'll embarrass you?" Soul asked incredulously. "What sort of backwards dimension have we stumbled into?"
"Ha ha." Lenz faked. "Ines moved to Jolin to study the Jungle Temples. She is one of Minecraftia's leading experts in spawnable redstone. I have reviewed her research from her letters; it is quite remarkable stuff."
"Spawnable redstone?" Jade asked.
Soul dragged a hand over his face. "Don't encourage him to elaborate. He'll go an hour-long tangent!"
"Yes, spawnable redstone." Lenz beamed, ignoring Soul completely. "The Jungle Temples of Jolin crop up under a similar structure and design. Almost as if they have been cut and pasted. A sort of mold, if you will. Desert Temples and Ocean Monuments work much the same. What interests her, however, is the inclusion of redstone traps in these temples." Lenz looked back with a smile. "The redstone, while crude and minimalist, still follows a preset design. Somebody had to have made it, or done something to spawn a similar structure across Minecraftia. Ines suggests Command Blocks to have had a hand in it, but she does not have the proof of such."
I saw Jade's eyes glossing over and I immediately knew that Lenz lost her.
"Anyway, Ines studies the redstone traps of spawnable structures to analyze the extent of those preset traps and puzzles. It is quite fascinating."
"And… you think she'll be fine with harboring a couple of wanted criminals?" I asked skeptically. "I mean, this is absolutely the last place anybody would think to look for us. But she could just as easily turn us in."
"Ines would not do that." Lenz assured, though he pointedly did not look at me when he said it. "We have corresponded for a year… not lately of course, since I have been away from Daymonte—but she would never sell out a pen pal."
"Are we really going to act like being a pen pal is an ironclad oath of trust or something? What is this?" Soul griped.
"You have a better idea?"
"Yeah. We forget laying low and storm wherever the guards are holding Floyd." Soul pumped his fist. "We could have him out before dinner."
"Or we could get crushed since we have no idea who's guarding him or where he is." I countered. "Is that what you want?"
"Well the alternative is dealing with a female version of Lenz." Soul argued. "One was enough, but two of them? Just kill me now."
Lenz flushed. "Just because Ines enjoys a good discussion about multiplexers and relays does not mean she is a female me!"
"'Multiplexers'? Now you're just making up words to sound smarter."
Lenz let out another groan. "So embarrassing… Just try and pretend you know what we are talking about. It will save my pride as an engineer."
I guess to redstone nerds, we're the losers. I thought to myself as we kept walking down to the Root District. Jade walked beside me, the two of us gently bumping shoulders.
"Are you worried about his pen pal turning us in?" She asked, catching my thoughts.
"A bit." I whispered back, not wanting Lenz to hear me doubt the pen pal he vouched for. "Worse comes to worse, we can escape and find a different place to hide. I just want some place we can gather our thoughts and figure out how to free Floyd."
Jade accepted my logic and continued walking beside me in silence. All the while, I kept glancing at her face out of the corner of my eye.
Does she really like me? Or is it more admiration than anything else? I thought as we left the wooden platforms of the Gift Tree and descended into the hollow below. A crisscrossing network of thick roots and hovels greeted us upon arrival. The huts clung to the roots like fungi, and golden glowing blocks embedded in the wood served as lanterns. Even though it was still daytime, the Root District was so cut off from sunlight that it would have been pitch black without the glowing blocks. It was pleasantly cool; a far cry from the humid climate of the jungle. And such a dark, enclosed space felt safe and secretive.
Here, it was a lot easier to avoid detection. There was always a dark corner to hide in, or a thick root to hide behind. Though there were a lot more guards, there were just as many hiding spots.
We navigated the Root District, passing home after home, until we reached the base of a particularly gnarled and thick root that had itself buried deep into the ground. Attached to it were stairs leading up to a deck with a simple door. A sign hung with an address in bold letters.
"This is it." Lenz stated firmly. "I hope she is in."
"Why live down here?" Soul asked as he studied the ugly, gnarled root that was her home. "It's dark all the time. No view. And I can't imagine there's anything to do around here. Not unless there's a bowling alley nearby…"
"The space." Lenz answered. "From her letters, Ines appreciates the space. Citizens of the Root District have no building constraints. They can freely build into the ground."
We followed Lenz as he walked up to the stairs to the deck. He raised his finger to the doorbell, but paused to turn and address us.
"Now, let me remind you, Ines is a redstone engineer, like me. She knows me. She might even count me as a friend." He said, a little unsure. "So let me do the talking. Any one of you could insult her with your limited knowledge of redstone machinations."
Lenz looked at Soul pointedly.
"Any one of you."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll keep my trap shut." Soul conceded. "I just hope you know what you're doing. If this Ines person tries something—"
"We will be fine." Lenz assured as he turned and raised his hand to the doorbell once more. "Absolutely fine."
He pressed the wooden button.
The sound of retracting pistons followed.
Then the wooden stairs and deck fell out from under us.
"WAHHHHHH!"
The four of us screamed in alarm as we fell down a dark pit. The meager light coming from above was quickly closed off as the pistons slid the stairs and deck back into place.
"LENZ, YOU SCREWED US!" Soul shouted out as we fell further into darkness, only to land with a splash.
Cool water soaked my hoodie, making it cling to my body. I still couldn't see, but the pool we landed in was shallow enough that my neck was above the surface if I stood on my toes. I breathed in air and I felt around for my friends.
I grabbed something soft and a feminine moan sprung from somewhere higher. I quickly retracted my hand, but Jade reached out and grabbed my shoulder.
"Cobb, was that you?"
"Um… no, this is Soul who felt you up." I deepened my voice, hoping she wouldn't notice. "God I love axes."
"I don't sound like that!" Came another sputtering from my left. A hand reached out, splashing me, and grabbing my other shoulder. All the while, the tips of my toes scraped against the floor, meaning the water had a current and it was bearing us along. "I got the nerd. Though I think he's lost his mind."
Lenz's voice was laughing giddily in between sputters of water. "Comparators! That was one of the most cleverly disguised pitfall traps I have come across! So compact! I did not even notice it!" He cheered. "Perhaps Ines used slime blocks to retract the whole staircase? Or—wait! I got it! She used sequential sticky pistons to—Whoa!"
Lenz was cut off as the water bearing us along took a steep drop over some kind of waterfall. It was still too dark to see anything, but we could all still feel it. This time in the tumble, however, I felt a hand squeeze my butt.
"Jade!" I protested.
"This isn't Jade. This is Soul." Jade tried to deepen her voice to a masculine baritone. "I love axes!"
"Oh, screw the both of you!" Soul sputtered before another dip took us into a dimly lit chamber full of blocks with holes in them. "What are those on the wall?"
"Dispensers!" Lenz recognized easily. "Ooh, I wonder what they shoot!"
As soon as he said that, the dispensers clicked to life, showering us with splash potions of multiple varieties.
One of them hit me in the shoulder and I immediately felt more sluggish. By the dim lightning, I saw Soul fold beneath the water as two splash potions hit him back to back.
"Amazing!" Lenz beamed. "The dispensers are filled with Splash Potions of Weakness and Slowness. Judging by the time interval between dispensed potions, I would hazard a guess that Ines used a Switchable Repeater Loop brblbrbl…"
Lenz trailed off after getting nailed by the Paralysis Potion combo. He went limp and the lower part of his face dipped beneath the water. His mouth worked frantically—bubbles of escaping air breaking the surface.
Jade got hit next. Then me.
We were all helpless, paralyzed, drowning, and being borne along by the current.
But I didn't have to hold my breath long. After passing the dispensers, the water took another steep dip. This time, leading to a steeper waterfall.
The four of us floated over the edge and fell onto the lip of an awaiting wooden platform surrounded by iron bars. We formed a pile of bodies with Soul—much to his chagrin—at the bottom. I gasped for breath, trying to regain my bearings in the well-lit room we found ourselves in.
Though, suddenly, a bright flare erupted across from us, scaring the skin off of me. Two burning—literally burning—eyes belonging to a giant stone face.
"I AM KROZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL!" Came a booming voice from the giant stone face. "WHO DARES TO DISTURB MY BACHELORETTE PAD!?" Its mouth worked furiously, stone lips lifting and crashing together as its eyes blazed like twin infernos. Its eyebrows were a dark brown wood set into a vicious scowl. "INTRUDERS WILL BE SWALLOWED WHOLE BY THE GREAT KROZ!"
Good God almighty what was this thing!?
"No! Don't eat us!" I begged. "Please! We're too chewy! We'd taste awful!"
Beside me, Lenz let out an excited squeal. "Repeaters and redstone above! A fully functional redstone face! Do I detect fire charges on the eyes? And pistons on the mouth! Oh! And the redstone is so well-hidden! Truly a work of art if I have ever seen one!"
"YOU ARE TRES—wait a tick." The flames of its eyes went out like birthday candles. The eyebrows lifted up in mild surprise and the voice abruptly ended its intimidating tone, though the stone lips moved in sync with the words. "Lenzington? Is that really you!?"
"Ines!" Lenz called out happily. "Only you could make something this good!"
"Oh my lamps and plates, it is!" The booming voice slowly morphed into a feminine one as the giant stone face's maw opened wide. A hand slid out between the teeth, getting purchase on the stone lips before a Crafter crawled out of the mouth.
InesTheInsipid had a bob of ginger hair, square-framed glasses, and wore a simple white t-shirt. She had grey shorts, a white belt and backpack, black sneakers, and a happy smile as she walked up to us.
"By Jeb, Lenzington! What… what are you doing way out here? I mean, I guess this explains why you haven't mailed me back in a while, but still—" Ines' eyes suddenly widened after realizing why none of us were getting up to greet her. "Oh, shoot! Sorry about that. Eheheh…" She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "I think I have some milk somewhere…" She gestured vaguely towards a different room. "One tick…"
She hurried through a set of doors, but quickly returned holding several buckets of milk.
"Good thing I got that cow. Anyway, sorry again." She moved along a wall, flicking off several levers which promptly stopped the flow of watered that carried us here. Another lever opened the iron bars penning us in. "I don't usually get visitors, but when I do…" She trailed off while tipping a bucket of milk down Lenz's throat. "Anyway, how have you been? What's happening in Daymonte? And… who are these other Crafters?" She gestured to Soul, Jade, and me.
"I have been well. Daymonte had its annual Redstone Fair… I did not win."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. What happened? Your button-to-lever, lever-to-button invention sounded quite good."
"The self-automated oven was better, though." Lenz remarked sourly as he got to his feet and stretched his arms. "I made an error setting up the redstone, but they had no interest whatsoever. Honestly, it was like they failed to grasp the possibilities behind my machination."
"They would have had to juggle the issue of resources."
"Yes, there is that."
"Well, you'll get them next time. Have you given any thought as to what you'll make?"
"Actually, I am currently taking the summer off to travel abroad. Hence, my current traveling companions." He gestured to the three of us still paralyzed, but made no effort to ask Ines to get us milk. "I was able to complete a pitfall trap based off of DayCarts' Law of Signs."
"Oh! Yes, I remember that!" Ines gushed, practically bouncing on her heels. "The signs hold up the gravel, until…"
"Yes, yes. That is the one." Lenz nodded. "I also made some crude noise traps that were effective in distracting hounds."
"Oooh, devious. Were they chasing you?"
"N-no. That would imply we were wanted criminals being hunted down. Ah ha ha." Lenz chuckled stiffly while Ines quickly glanced aside.
"Speaking of criminals…"
"Two things!" Soul interrupted, raising his voice to cut through the nerd talk. "One: I don't want to be kissing the floor anymore, so get me something to cure this paralysis. Two: I just noticed a cage full of Crafters over there in the corner. Why is that?"
"Wait, what?" I said, both alarmed and confused. Confarmed, if you will.
But Soul was right. Over in the corner were eleven Crafters in an iron cage with the floor completely covered with water. Water that was most shallow at the center of the cage and was deepest at the edges. The Crafters were all huddled around the center.
"Ines?" Lenz asked, taking a half-step away from the ginger-haired woman. "Why do you—hang on…" Lenz adjusted his glasses as he peered at his pen pal. "Your face… this isn't the first time I've seen you…"
"…No, I guess it isn't…" Ines admitted a bit awkwardly. "Might as well get it off my chest now. You may have seen me on a wanted poster…?"
Lenz's mouth fell open! "What!? No! Wait… WHAT!? No!" The engineer grabbed his head. "InesTheInsipid! I saw that poster just yesterday at the barracks! If only I had read the text!"
"Are you telling me we ran right into a criminal?" Jade asked.
"Does this mean we aren't getting any milk?" I asked as I struggled to move my limbs.
Ines sighed. "I'll get you your milk. Just give me a second to draft a binding contract saying you can't give me up to the authorities."
"Er…" Lenz shuffled awkwardly. "I do not think you will have to worry about that…"
"Why not?" Ines asked before glancing at each of us in turn. Then she looked back at me. They she squinted, adjusting her square-framed glasses. "Wait… that stupid face looks familiar…"
"Why does everyone only remember my stupid face from those posters!?"
"Posters…?" Ines gasped. "Wait, wait, WAIT! You're that King_Cobb Executive from the Endward Cult! I saw your poster just the other day! A thousand emeralds left quite the impression and the Berserkers wanted it badly. So that would mean…" Suddenly, Ines' smile widened, becoming akin to a shit-eating grin. "That means you're just as much a criminal as I am."
"Whoa, at least I never kidnapped Crafters and kept them in cages." I protested while glancing at the eleven Crafters in the corner. "That's messed up!"
"I didn't kidnap them." Ines rolled her eyes. "There's a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this."
"Same here. I was framed by we-don't-know-who." I explained. "For reasons we're not sure about. You?"
"I was working on my latest redstone breakthrough." Ines explained, unashamed. "It consumed my every thought. Every breath I took, every waking moment, was dedicated to the design. I had a burning passion to complete it."
"What was it?"
"You're looking at it!" She stepped aside to show off the giant stone face of Kroz. "A working stone head, complete with adjustable eyebrows, flaming eyes, and a talking mouth! Tell me that isn't cool!"
"I cannot!" Lenz cheered, while the rest of us wished we could move to facepalm.
"But, little did I know, I was so consumed with finishing KROZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL," she momentarily boomed her voice, "that I neglected to pay my taxes."
"For how long?"
"A month."
Lenz hissed at that. "Ines, really? A whole month?"
"I know! I have a problem!" Ines moaned exaggeratedly. "The real world problems of a redstone engineer. Whatever am I to do?" She shrugged off the act quickly. "I didn't exactly have the emeralds to pay off the tax's accrued interest and they threatened to jail me if I waited a day longer. So I compromised."
"By kidnapping the tax collector!?" Lenz realized, which brought forth a laugh from Jade.
"I panicked! It was just until some emeralds came through!" Ines protested. "I didn't want to keep him for good. I just needed some time."
"Just let me out of here already!" One of the Crafters in the cell shouted out. Presumably it was the same tax collector. "I'll let you postpone your payments. Just let me out! I've been in this soaked cage for weeks!" The other Crafters all clamored for the same.
"Not happening." Ines called back. "Just yesterday you were all swearing to see me rot in jail should I ever free any of you. I'm getting mixed signals."
"Are you… even feeding them?" Lenz asked, though with a bit of worry.
Ines blew a strand of hair out of her eyes. "Of course I'm feeding them. What, do you think I'm a monster?" Just then, she flicked a lever on the wall and it started raining steak and mutton inside the cage full of Crafters. It looked like heaven. They didn't stop arguing, but they did do it while stuffing their faces. "See? Just like having pet goldfish."
"There are human beings in that cage."
"Lenzington, we both have glasses. We both can see that." Ines finally walked over to the rest of us, holding out milk for us to drink. "After I caged the first tax collector, Jolin sent guards to comb the Root District for the kidnaper and the kidnapee. Anytime one of them insisted on snooping in my home, I used the retractable stairs to drop them, paralyze them, and put them in the cage too. I made it for telemarketers and door-to-door salesmen, but it surprisingly works well on nosy guards too."
"So we would have ended up in that cage, huh?" Soul asked, to which Ines nodded. "What's keeping them from breaking through that iron fence? Do you just keep watch?"
Ines scoffed. "I have a million redstone things to tinker with. I don't have the time to waste babysitting nosy guards. My designs take care of them for me."
She pointed to the cage. "Iron takes a while to break through, but it's even harder when you're trying to break it while swimming. Without Aqua Affinity enchantments, they have to swim in deeper water to break the iron bars. They can only stand in the shallow parts at the center, or else tire while wading in the deeper parts."
"Brilliant." Lenz marveled, much to Ines' pleasure. "Even if they tried to break the cage, they would likely tire before making any progress. And you have already paralyzed them and stripped them of their weapons. Very meticulous of you."
Lenz smiled as he turned to us, but it quickly fell away when he saw us folding our arms and looking at him reproachfully.
"B-but you are going to let them go eventually, right?" Lenz asked in an effort to save face.
"Yes. I've had a new research opportunity come up, so after I wait for the emeralds to come through, I'll leave this Kingdom." Ines explained as she put her hands behind her head. "I'll free them then. I probably won't come back, so I don't mind being banned forever."
"What research opportunity are you talking about?" Lenz asked, to which Ines grinned.
"I don't mean to brag, but I wouldn't want to leave my pen pal hanging." She laughed. "You know I study spawnable structures like the Jungle Temples. Well, lately, there's been word of a new spawnable structure appearing smack dab in the Woodland Forest. The one east of Daymonte." Her smile widened. "A massive mansion. It's one of the newest additions of the latest Bounty Day, and a rich tycoon is organizing an expedition to scope it out. I'm just lucky to be counted amongst them."
"That is great news!" Lenz cheered. "You must be overjoyed to be a part of that."
"I'll be even more overjoyed if there are any unique redstone traps in it." She laughed. "Though the others on the expedition might feel differently."
Lenz smirked. "Well, do not presume you are the only engineer with big plans on the horizon. My compatriots and I are journeying to Zeppil to become proud owners of an airship."
"SHUT UP!" Ines blurted out, her face green with envy. "You are not! No way! You must be kidding!"
"Afraid not." Lenz held up his hands with a smug smirk. "And guess who gets to pilot it."
"Oh hoppers, you are the luckiest engineer alive!" Ines gushed, grabbing Lenz by the shoulders. "How? When? Why? Tell me everything! How can you even afford—you have GOT to let me pilot it for a spell."
"Oh, I do not know." Lenz teased in mock consideration. "Airships can be tricky without the proper training.
"Come on! Don't do this to me, Lenzington!" Ines whined. "We're pen pals. Best buds. You'll make me cry enjoying that airship all to yourself. Do you take pleasure in making a grown woman cry?"
"Alright, alright, that is quite enough." Lenz waved his hand. "I will be sure to allow you a test run should we find one another."
"Best pen pal ever!" Ines laughed, hugging Lenz. "No take-backs on that promise! I will draft a contract just to be on the safe side…"
The two engineers laughed jovially before getting into talking about past redstone exploits and things the three of us could barely comprehend. It was like they were speaking a whole other language. A dialect of redstone and repeaters.
"I can't tell. Is this meeting going well or not?" Jade leaned over to whisper curiously.
"It's…" I trailed off, not giving her an answer until she nudged my side. "I mean, they're smiling and laughing. That's probably good."
"So, this guy isn't a criminal?" Ines asked, suddenly pointing to me. "He's definitely not going to kill me or sacrifice me to some dark God?"
"Dark God?" Jade questioned.
"Admittedly, I don't know what cultists do."
"I assure you, none of us are cultists." Lenz said. "My compatriots and I just needed somewhere safe to hide from the guards. Would you be so kind as to offer us sanctuary here?"
"Well I'd be a pretty lousy pen pal not to." Ines said without a second thought. "Besides, turning you in would just expose myself to the guards and Berserkers."
"Thank you for your hospitality." Lenz nodded. "We shall leave as soon as possible."
"Enough of that. You don't need to thank a friend." Ines dismissed with a wave. She glanced to the rest of us before jerking her head to one of the doors leading out. "I got a cozier room where I usually hang out. You guys look like you could use some food… and some drying off."
Well, we were only soaked because of your doorbell trap. I wanted to say, though I kept my mouth shut. She was offering us a place to stay. And food. That was good enough for me. All was forgiven.
Ines seemed a lot different from Lenz. She wasn't as stiff and had no problem using contractions in her speech. Then again, it didn't look like she ever left her home. She went a whole month without paying her rent. So was she an introvert? She sure didn't act like it.
"So… care to introduce me to your friends?" Ines asked as we walked through the doors.
"Oh, of course." Lenz turned to us. "King_Cobb, you already know. Though I refer to him as Cobbert. Beside him is… AceOfJades—ah, a new friend, I suppose." Jade smiled at being called that. "And lastly is Lost_Soul. Be careful around him." He added in a whisper. "He is prone to violence when angered."
Soul grumbled something unintelligible. Ever since escaping those bounty hunters, he'd been sullen and scowling. Something must have happened.
"Are they engineers?" Ines asked with a tilt of her head. "They didn't seem as impressed with Kroz as you."
"Er… no… they are not as adept at redstone as I am." Lenz replied carefully. "But they are good people. They protect me. Actually… we formed a guild. The Beginners."
Ines' eyes widened. "You? Joined a guild? That doesn't sound like you; you were always focused on your studies and that structure you kept writing about. How did that go by the way? Did you find anything related to Jeb's lab?"
"No…" Lenz muttered, tilting his tinted glasses to lock eyes with me. "It was a dead end. Nothing worth mentioning."
I got the message. After witnessing that Creeper abomination in there, it made perfect sense why he didn't want to share the information. That lab was better off buried.
"What structure is he talking about?" Jade asked.
"Nothing." I answered a bit too quickly. "It was nothing. Really."
"Anyway, I have… changed, I suppose." Lenz continued. "I am not the same engineer I once was. My machinations have done some real good." He said proudly.
"Is that so? Hmm." Ines replied mysteriously before we made our way into a comfier room.
It was carpeted with chairs arranged together in the center. Some labeled levers and buttons clung to the wall opposite us—and some of the labels were a tad disconcerting. Some strange redstone devices hung suspended from the ceilings. Lenz wasted no time admiring those. But there was a kitchen attached, complete with furnaces, chests full of foods, a cauldron to wash up. And there were other doors that undoubtedly led deeper into Ines' home.
Lenz was right. Root District citizens could expand without confinement. And now I knew where Lenz got his penchant for building secret underground bases.
"Make yourselves at home." Ines gestured to the chairs. "Gosh, it's been a while since I entertained guests. I guess I better serve snacks or something?" She almost sounded unsure, and tentatively walked off to do just that.
The rest of us sat down in the chairs. Some of us took in the room's surroundings while Lenz just focused on the redstone hanging above him. When he got talking about redstone, the best thing to do was tune him out.
"Alright." I began with a clap of my hands. Now that we were safe, we could move on to business.
"Now, how to rescue Floyd."
[Floyd]
Exiting the Root Cellar with my armed escorts, I almost didn't realize I was on the outside. Dense roots tangled together in a hollow that must have been the base of the Gift Tree. It was dark, with no signs of natural light, but that could have been because we were so far down the tree. The foliage could have blocked out the sun, or it could have been night time.
I was still paralyzed and carried between the two Berserker grunts while Dahlia walked in front of us. They had splash potions at the ready to renew the effects the second I showed a twitch.
But I had already formulated a plan. Before, I had been knocked unconscious, unable to discern where I was being taken. One of the reasons I couldn't run because I had no idea what the layout of the Root Cellar was.
Now, I was taking everything in. The paths going up the Gift Tree, the turns, the landmarks, the buildings. I was watching it all carefully. This time, when I activated my Hack, I would know exactly where to run.
We broke through the tangle of roots onto a wooden pathway I recognized after entering Jolin yesterday. And it really was dark. The sun was setting to the point where we would be hit with a glare of sunlight every time we circled the tree.
At a certain height, however, we traveled across one of the suspended bridges. I noticed the guards shooting the Berserkers sour looks while the Crafters just hurried away, likely not wanting to draw attention to themselves. So far, everything Enyeto had told me about the Berserkers' reputation seemed true. They were despised.
And yet, Dahlia didn't mind it one bit. I heard her humming to herself as we passed a throng of resentful guards. They could have even been the ones that caught me before.
As we continued to cross the bridge, passing wooden huts and houses along the way, the two goons holding me up splashed me with potions to renew the effects. One of them broke the potion hard atop my head.
"Hey! Easy!" Dahlia chastised, causing the goon to falter. "He's not going anywhere. No reason to be overly cruel."
The goons reluctantly agreed and kept dragging me along.
After a while, we reached one of the other trees surrounding the Gift Tree. This one, however, had a large wooden building that almost seemed to be carved from the tree itself. There was a billowing banner proudly displayed atop a giant set of doors. The banner depicted the face of a bear with a glimmering emerald clenched between its jaws.
And outside the building was a crowd of Crafters standing besides signs and holding up banners. With red X's over them.
Dahlia let out a groan. "Oh, here we go again."
As we made our way up to the crowd, I noticed a makeshift stage where one of them stood to address the gathered masses.
"My friends!" The man shouted. "The Berserkers have tainted this Kingdom long enough. They are a cancer to our peaceful community! And they must be dealt with immediately."
The crowd shouted their assent and I noticed the two goons holding me clench their fists.
"The Berserkers may pretend to be this Kingdom's saving grace, but we know the truth! They steal! They pillage! They abuse the power the King has so foolishly given them! How many lives need to be ruined before they see the error of their ways!?"
"I lost valuable enchanted gear to one of them!" A Crafter in the audience shouted over the din. "And they claimed it was necessary to catch a mere pickpocket!"
"The Berserkers are a menace!" Another Crafter, female, shouted. "At least criminals don't pretend they're doing you a service!"
"To hell with Desideratum!" Another shouted. "To hell with the Berserkers! To hell with Dahlia!"
"Alright, that's enough of that." Dahlia stepped forward, somehow getting the entire group of protesters to quiet down. "Would you all mind clearing off? You're making it difficult to get back to our base."
Instantly, the protestors voiced flared to life.
"Dahlia!"
"That woman is a demon!"
"Nobody crueler!"
"WITCH!"
Dahlia's frown deepened as she bore all the insults. Though she placed a hand on her hip and glanced to the sky, looking rather bored by it all.
"No more Berserkers!" The Crafter at the stage bellowed, and I watched as the other Crafters moved to bar our path. They didn't take out weapons, but they spread their arms out wide. "END DESIDERATUM!"
"END DESIDERATUM!" The crowd chanted.
"BERSERKERS BE GONE!" The head Crafter yelled.
"BERSERKERS BE GONE!" The crowd repeated.
Those two lines kept getting repeated, the protestors blocking our way into the Berserkers' base. Dahlia shook her head in exasperation before waving her head at one of the windows above.
At her command, the doors of the base flung open, revealing fifty Crafters clad in iron and diamond armor. They had sticks in their hands that glowed with enchanted energy. The protestors turned to face them and grew tense, though they continued their shouts.
"This is your last warning!" Dahlia called out, making sure they could hear her. "Disperse now before we make you! This is our base you're messing with!"
The crowd took a half-step back away from the approaching riot squad, but they regained their voices quickly and yelled even louder.
"BERSERKERS BE GONE! BERSERKERS BE GONE!"
"So be it!" Dahlia threw her hand down and the riot squad moved forward.
The protestors had no weapons and merely stood and shouted abuse at the oncoming Berserkers, but the Berserkers only had sticks as weapons. They weren't normal; one of the protestors got hit and flew back a good distance. They must have been enchanted with Knockback.
And some of the diamond-clad Berserkers demonstrated more skill with the sticks, batting the protestors back ten at a time. They must have been more prominent bounty hunters. I saw Splash Potions paralyzing the crowd. Dogs weaving between to bite and claw at the protestors. Even Iron Golems pouring out of the base to help shepherd them out. But, through it all, nobody died.
Neither side could kill the other. If a protestor got killed, Desideratum would be broken. A Berserker could not kill an innocent. And if a Berserker got killed, they could play off as the victims and cause Jolin more problems. The King would be in a difficult situation.
Slowly, but surely, the Berserkers pushed the protestors enough to clear a path for Dahlia. She clicked her fingers and I was dragged towards the base, passing angry, screaming Crafters.
It was a lot to take in.
But Dahlia… she acted like it didn't matter.
We entered the Berserkers' base, the cries echoing behind me as the large doors swung closed. Even then, I could hear the muffled shouting as the protestors were pushed away by the riot squad.
"The guards really need to keep them under control." Dahlia groaned as she stretched her arms and fixed her lavender twin tails. "Shouldn't it be their job to break up protests like that? Like I said, Enyeto can be petty when he wants to be."
Was she talking to me? It didn't look like she was discussing things with the other two, but she didn't even know me. I remained silent anyway, and she eventually gave up on getting a response. I wasn't going to sympathize with her.
As we walked through the base, I saw the same insignia plastered all over banners. The same bear with the emerald in its mouth.
Like before I took notice of every room and hallway, making a mental path between me and the door. The building wasn't too big, so I could probably speed out of there and find a safe place to hide well within thirty seconds. And if I pushed myself, I could really get some mileage. I tracked our movements, making sure not to miss a single thing.
It looked like the base wasn't spared any of the wealth the Berserkers accrued over the years. Statues of gold and emerald blocks flanked the halls, and ornate chandeliers and paintings hung from the ceiling and walls. Most everything in Jolin was built from wood, but it looked like that only applied to the outside of this place. The inside had a bit of everything.
The floors were a polished stone I had never seen before. Iron and diamond clad Crafters hurried through the halls, probably still dealing with the protestors. I passed some laughing at some great joke while others showed off newly acquired armor or weaponry. Others were more subdued, leaning off of walls and giving an air of cool indifference.
Finally, Dahlia brought us to a set of double doors on the third floor of the building. Opening it up, we were greeted by a dark-haired man with mismatched eyes and a flaming-haired brute. The two had been in conversation, but instantly went quiet when Dahlia entered. Since she didn't knock, I assumed this was her office.
"Put him in the chair and leave us." Dahlia told the two goons, who quickly complied, lowering me into a chair in front of Dahlia's desk and between the two new Crafters. They left soon after.
Dahlia walked over to her desk before sitting down. It was a nice office. Behind her was a fish tank with a pair of Guardians swimming around. It was like I was sat before a spy villain.
The rest of the office looked to have every available luxury. Carpeted floors, a series of armor stands clad in enchanted diamond armor, weapons hanging off the walls by item frames, a chamber sealed by iron bars containing blocks of diamond, emerald, and gold, fine paintings, a door leading off into a large bathroom with a private tub and shower, an enchanting table in one corner, a brewing stand in the other.
And above the head of her chair was a simple sign. It read:
'In Desideratum We Trust.'
Why did Dahlia even need Cobb's bounty? It looked like she was already doing well for herself.
"I thought I gave you two a clear mission." Dahlia spoke to the pair of Berserkers. The burly one grumbled, but the dark-haired one, Ciro, said nothing. "What happened?"
"Hey, we were kicking ass." The burly one, Brandr, started. "I had that deadbeat right where I wanted him. It was Ciro and Hunder that got in the way."
"Don't even start." Ciro growled through his facemask while my eyes darted at the name. Hunderprest? He was here too? "I had the archer subdued. You were just showing off your new gear. Hunder tried to kill one of them for his dogs."
"I show off too much!? What about you and that boom bow you flaunt around? Hmm?" Brandr countered while I realized the archer they meant must have been Lenz. What did they do? What had happened?
"Enough." Dahlia raised her hands, ending the bickering before it could really begin. She rubbed at her temple. "I had hoped you would have brought forth the others like I had wanted. That way I wouldn't have to say this twice."
Dahlia took a deep breath before flashing me a smile. "Sorry for the treatment, Floyd. Can I get you anything to eat or drink? You may have to be here a while and I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable."
Again, what was going on here? What did she want from me? Why bring me to her headquarters?
"Well… I guess since I'm not going anywhere…" I tried to move my arms, but I was still paralyzed. Dahlia chuckled at my joke.
"Ciro, fetch us some food." Dahlia waved, making the dark-haired man scowl.
"I'm not a butler…"
"So you can't fetch food or fetch people?" Dahlia teased, causing Ciro to clench his fists. He made no comment as he slowly walked to a chest to procure food.
"Thank you, Ciro." Dahlia nodded before turning to regard me once more. "You're probably wondering why I've brought you here. After all, it's not every day you get to see the leader of the Jolin branch of the Berserkers." She held out her arms wide, bathing in the attention. "Anywho, I have a proposition for you, Flawwed_Floyd. One I hope you will sincerely listen to."
If the ominous wording wasn't a clear indication not to test these people, I saw Brandr get up and stand behind me, one hand resting on my shoulder.
I nodded to show I understood.
"Good." Dahlia smiled, gratefully accepting the food Ciro had brought out. Brandr tore into his steak with gusto while Ciro was left holding up cooked fish to my mouth. Seems he was wordlessly delegated to the task of feeding the paralyzed prisoner.
"You can just shove it in my mouth. You don't have to hold mphht." He took the offer easily, cramming a cooked fish into my mouth and then backing off to eat his own meal in the shadows.
"Forgive Ciro. He's just upset because he couldn't hold up his end of a bargain." Ciro scowled. "Let's hope you won't make the same mistake."
After chewing and swallowing the fish, my mouth was clear. "What sort of bargain."
"I'll get right to the point then." Dahlia rested her hands on the desk. "Jolin is in a transitional period at the moment. A major crossroads is coming up and the Kingdom is torn. As you noticed from those protestors outside, the people blame the Berserkers and Desideratum. Princess Alaqua and Captain Enyeto are also firmly against us."
"The Law of Desideratum will be put into consideration at a Review a few days from now. If the law is repealed, it would mean the end of the Jolin branch." She spoke grimly. "Hundreds of bounty hunters would be forced to leave the Kingdom. And all because of the actions—unavoidable actions—of a few unsavory bounty hunters."
Behind me, I heard Brandr give a contemptuous snort.
Sure. Unavoidable actions. I mused sarcastically. And I'm sure you need that vault full of emeralds in order to apprehend criminals.
"At the Review, King Ahote, the Jolin Council, Princess Alaqua, Captains Enyeto and Burmish, and a few representatives from our guild—myself included—will attend to discuss whether or not the law is necessary anymore. See, when it first was passed, it was at a time of great turmoil. Jolin would have certainly perished had the Berserkers not stepped in. However, I argue that things are just as—if not more—tumultuous now than during the tail-end of the Age of Heroes."
She leaned forward to look me in the eyes.
"Would you agree with that statement?"
I probably should have been more careful with what I said… but I couldn't resist antagonizing her. Soul must have rubbed off on me.
"Well, the Jolin guards caught me pretty quickly—before any of you even had a chance to, really." Dahlia's smile fell. "I mean, like, they were instantaneous."
"King_Cobb got away though." Dahlia reminded. "So the guards still fumbled their job. A Berserker wouldn't have done that."
"Three Berserkers would've though. Since, well, they already have." I smiled as I heard Brandr growl. "Don't you have less excuses, being trained and with all your amazing gear?"
"Why you little—"
"Brandr!" Dahlia warned, stopping the brute from saying anything. The lavender haired woman narrowed her eyes at me. "Most of the criminals in that Root Cellar I saved you from were caught by our guild. We have better results than those guards because, as you have said, we are better trained with such great gear." She stressed the word almost sensually as she got up and walked over to her armor stands.
"Just take a look at these. A myriad of enchantments gathered over the years. And not just by me, but by every past leader of this branch. Protection, Blast Protection, Fire Protection, Projectile Protection." She snatched up a diamond helmet and tossed it before her. "These are decades worth of hard work. And hard work merits a reward, no? Guards get paid. Bounty hunters get paid." She chuckled. "Why without pay, nobody would stick their neck out for another."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ciro bite his cheek. The arms folded across his chest tightened.
"There aren't any heroes anymore." Dahlia continued. "And thank goodness, because otherwise we wouldn't have work. Can you imagine? How could we possibly compete with the heroic sorts who save lives for free? They'd run us out of business."
"Sadly, Enyeto, the princess, and the rest of Jolin don't feel the same." Dahlia sighed. "They think bounty hunters aren't needed in this day and age, but they're wrong. The guards, alone, cannot protect this Kingdom. They still need us. They just can't see past their petty grudges…"
She placed the helmet back on the stand and walked over to stare into the fish tank. The Guardians swam around, fixing their stares upon the Berserker branch leader.
"I refuse to let the Berserkers end here. Desideratum will not be repealed. To that end…" She clenched her fist. "…I would do anything."
She placed her hands behind her back as she gazed into the fish tank. "And anything… is quite the broad term."
"I wanted you and your fellows here for one reason, Floyd." Dahlia spoke coldly. "I needed a group of resourceful criminals tied to the Endward Cult. Whether it's true or not. Hunderprest told me about how you bested him. I need that kind of determination to pull this off. I need people to think you're part of a bigger threat. Just the start of a bigger threat on the horizon. Maybe that the cult themselves ordered the attack."
"…What attack?" I questioned tentatively.
"The attack, Floyd." Dahlia answered with a dark smile reflected on the tank. "The attack in which a group of trained killers will break into the Review and slaughter Princess Alaqua and several councilmen."
My eyes widened and I saw Ciro push off the wall, looking alarmed. Brandr's smile mirrored Dahlia's.
"It was to be expected." Dahlia continued. "With Enyeto's incompetent guards as security, criminals would surely break in. They think their lives are safe in the hands of the guards, but the council will learn firsthand how naïve that faith is. They'll learn who to really put their trust in… when the Berserkers swoop in to save the day." She shook her head with mock sadness. "How regrettable we won't be in time to save Alaqua."
"You… you want me to kill the Princess?" I asked incredulously. "But… but that's…!"
"It's drastic, but unavoidable." Dahlia conceded as she turned to face me once more. "This isn't just about the Review or swaying the council. One day, King Ahote will die or retire. And when that day comes, Queen Alaqua will do away with Desideratum faster than blinking. This attack will just kill two birds with one stone."
"Dahlia, what in Notch's name are you saying?" Ciro stepped forward, his mismatched eyes narrowed. "Killing the Princess is far too drastic. And this plot of yours—"
"Oh, what? Have you grown a moral code lately?" Dahlia questioned before patting the ender chest beside her. Ciro swallowed his words. "Desideratum needs to stay, Ciro. To protect everyone's interests. Our wealth. Their lives. And if you don't wish to side with us, then I guess I might as well flush that Journal Entry you desire so much down the toilet."
Ciro clenched his fists and glared at the floor, though he probably bit his lip to refrain from shouting. I felt a bit of movement return to my fingers. The potions were wearing off.
"I'll make this easy, Ciro." Dahlia leaned over the table. "You're either with us or against us. You help make this attack a reality, and I'll grant you your Journal Entry no questions asked."
"…That wasn't the deal." Ciro hissed. "You said I would only have to catch them—"
"And you didn't!" Dahlia shot back. "So you can consider the deal changed. Take it or leave it."
Ciro's mouth was still covered by the facemask, so I couldn't tell what expression he was making. But, after a while, he nodded his head curtly. Even so, his eyes looked to be clouded with remorse.
"You must be crazy to think me and my friends can assassinate anyone." I spoke up as Dahlia turned her attention back to me. "How do you expect us to do this?"
"You won't be alone." Dahlia assured. "A few disguised Berserkers will be with you. Just some low-leveled thugs with masks. So low-leveled, they won't even be recognized as Berserkers. They'll get away. The important thing is that you kill the Princess and get recognized as a cultist."
"And you don't think Enyeto will suspect something when the 'cultist' he handed over to you leads an attack against the voice of anti-desideratum?"
Dahlia smiled. "It's sweet of you to worry about us, but don't. That's where your other friends come in. We can always claim that they broke you out. Nobody knows how many cultists there are, so it would have worked, even if Brandr and Ciro had succeeded.
I felt Brandr tighten his grip on my shoulder, and that was the point. I could feel it. The paralysis was wearing off.
"Then what happens to us after?" I asked to stall for time.
"Like I said, the Berserkers will swoop in and control the situation. Sure, a few councilmen will have to die to hammer home the message: Jolin isn't safe and the Berserkers are still needed. But after that's established, nobody will ever think of repealing Desideratum ever again. In exchange, we'll catch you, keep you alive, and release you and your friends outside of Jolin where we'll part and never see one another again." She sat back in her seat, folding her hands neatly before her. "We have no need of your bounty; do you see how rich we are? We'll even sweeten the deal with a few emeralds for the road."
"…You realize this sounds crazy." I said, my legs regaining feeling.
"Perhaps, but desperate times call for desperate measures. To protect Desideratum, we can't show any mercy. Alaqua taught me that." Dahlia smiled knowingly. "Now, I'll need your answer soon, since your paralysis is about to wear off."
My eyes widened. "You mean you planned this conversation to coincide with my paralysis running out?"
"Pretty good, huh?" She smiled, just as the potion effects wore off. "So? What do you say?"
"What do I say?" I spoke with mock excitement. "How about… Hacker Powers Activate!"
Smoke rushed out of my eyes to cover my whole body as I felt that familiar sense of exhilaration. Dahlia was taken aback as I leapt to my feet and sped off under Brandr's outstretched arms. Smoke trailed in my wake as I crashed out of Dahlia's office, Ciro aiming an arrow behind me.
He fired and the walls and doors of her office exploded outward into the hall. But I was far ahead of them.
I had memorized the entire layout of the base. I knew how to escape. I had thirty seconds to do that and find a good hiding spot. Then I would worry about finding the others.
However, as I sped around the corner, rushing past confused Berserkers and leaving a dark trail of smoke in my wake, someone lobbed a set of splash potions down at my feet.
My body seized up, but in a different way. My body was still smoking—my Hacker Speed still in effect—but it was conflicting with the Slowness and Weakness potions that had been thrown at me. I was moving at normal speed now.
The next instant, I was tackled to the ground by several dogs, their teeth biting into my legs and making it impossible to run. They were making me waste my thirty seconds!
I kicked one of the dogs off me before Hunderprest delivered a kick of his own to my chest. I gasped painfully and my Health whittled down as the dogs tore at me more and more.
Footsteps echoed across the hall as more Berserkers showed up, pointing their blades at me. One of them snatched my hands and pulled them behind my back before pressing my face into the floor.
But that was nothing compared to the whispers. The lines over my eyes may have been a secret, but there was no mistaking the smoke pouring out of me.
"It's… a Hacker!"
"Hey, get off him! You want the Clan to come for all our Heads!?"
"All the more reason not to let him go!" Hunderprest growled, his dogs doing the same.
Dahlia, Ciro, and Brandr were the next to show up. My Hacker abilities must have come as a surprise to the branch leader, but she hid it well.
"So… this is your answer, Flawwed_Floyd?" Dahlia said. "A pity. I had hoped we could be friends."
"Your plan is crazy." I hissed before my smoke finally petered out. My thirty seconds were up. "You dug your own grave abusing Desideratum, and I'm not going to bail you out."
"Glad to hear it." Hunder grinned savagely. "I was worried I'd have to let you and that dog-killer go. Now you can all die together." He raised his sword and held it above my neck. "Bounty be damned."
"We can't kill a Hacker, Hunderprest!" Dahlia grabbed his arm before he could end my life. "We'll be calling down much worse from the Clan if we kill him here. If they get word that the Berserkers killed a Hacker, all branches of our guild would be razed to the ground!"
Hunderprest gnashed his teeth. "So we're just supposed to let him go? He'll run back to them anyway and tell them—"
"We'll think up a solution." Dahlia assured, though she sounded a bit nervous. She also made sure to keep at least two Berserkers between me and her. "Take him… take him to the holding cells. Have round-the-clock guards hitting him with Paralysis Potions. Don't let up for a second. And for God's sake keep this to yourselves!" She snarled to the surrounding Berserkers. "Hackers are what doomed Jolin in the first place. We can't be tied with him."
"And what about Cobb and the rest of his sorry bunch?" Hunder asked.
"…Keep on the lookout. Maybe Cobb will be more willing to take our deal… if he thinks it'll free Floyd."
So she was still going through with the assassination on Alaqua. And the worst part was… she was right. Cobb would cut a deal if it meant rescuing me. Even if it also meant…
But, as I was carted off by Hunderprest and a few other Berserkers, I let out a laugh.
"You know Dahlia, Cobb might not like how you're making threats to his friends." I hinted.
Dahlia scoffed. "I've dealt with all sorts of criminals AND annoying Captains. Frankly, I'm more worried about your Hacker friends. Why should I worry about King_Cobb?"
"You shouldn't underestimate us." I warned. "People that do usually get burned. I would think you'd know that… from Hunderprest."
The dog-owner snarled and crashed the pommel of his sword into my neck. His dogs barked in assent.
I fought unconsciousness just long enough to spot Dahlia turning back to her partially destroyed office, Ciro and Brandr flanking her.
Dahlia's words flashed across my mind.
'Why without pay, nobody would stick their neck out for another.'
Cobb would.
Inventory (Cobb): 1 Fishing Rod {Backlash} [Knockback II, Luck of the Sea III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 1 Iron Sword, 1 Golden Shovel [Silk Touch I, Unbreaking III], 54 Cobblestone, 19 Grass Blocks, 20 Torches, 37 Coal, 12 Jungle Wood Logs, 64 Jungle Wood Planks, 16 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Clock, 11 Cooked Porkchops, 1 Water Bucket, 9 String, 1 Iron Helmet, 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green, Mending I, Unbreaking I], 1 Iron Leggings, 1 Iron Boots, 5 Emeralds, 2 Gunpowder, 8 Rotten Flesh, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Jolin Entry Pass}
[EXP: 23]
Inventory (Floyd): {Empty}
[EXP: 29]
Inventory (Lenz): 1 Bow, 1 Shears, 2 Levers, 1 Flint and Steel, 1 Stone Button, 5 Redstone Torches, 9 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 28 Redstone, 18 Blocks of Redstone, 2 Hoppers, 3 Pistons, 2 Sticky Pistons, 21 Cobblestone, 25 Dirt, 1 Minecart, 1 Compass, 25 Gunpowder, 1 Leather Cap [Dyed Green], 1 Chainmail Chestplate, 1 Chainmail Leggings, 1 Chainmail Boots, 58 Arrows, 18 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Crafting Table, 16 Sugar Cane, 18 Cooked Chicken, 11 Paper, 6 Ink Sacs, 4 Leather, 9 Emeralds, 1 Book {Airship Piloting 101}, 1 Book {Notebook}, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Jolin Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}
[EXP: 12]
Inventory (Soul): 1 Diamond Axe, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 64 Iron Ingots, 57 Iron Ingots, 12 Gold Ingots, 2 Ender Pearls, 1 Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Milk, 1 Diamond Helmet, 1 Diamond Chestplate, 1 Diamond Leggings, 1 Diamond Boots, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Anvil, 1 Bed, 1 Furnace, 35 Torches, 2 Cooked Chicken, 37 Dirt, 64 Cobblestone, 34 Cobblestone, 50 Coal, 38 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Jolin Entry Pass}, {Ringwood Entry Pass}
[EXP: 40]
Inventory (Jade): 1 Iron Sword, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 35 Baked Potatoes, 29 Cooked Porkchops, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 24 Coal, 47 Torches, 38 Jungle Wood Planks, 20 Cobblestone, 1 Water Bucket, 1 Lava Bucket, 1 Compass, 1 Clock, 17 Emeralds, 3 Ender Chests, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Jolin Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Dover Plains}, 1 Paper {Lazuli Entry Pass}
[EXP: 16]
Inventory (Noman): 1 Diamond Chestplate {Severe Shield}, 1 Diamond Sword [Sharpness I], 1 Black Shield {Slight Shield} [Blue Cross], 1 Bow [Infinity], 34 Birch Wood Planks, 35 Iron Ingots, 19 Sticks, 13 Torches, 1 Bucket, 1 Crafting Table, 9 Beetroots, 10 Bread, 40 Cooked Mutton, 1 Birch Fence, 1 Bed, 1 Book {Notch Mission II}, 1 Book {Artifact List}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Book {The Art of Peace}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Dover Plains Entry Pass}, 1 Map {Dover Plains}, 1 Map {Mesa}, 1 Compass, 64 Arrows, 2 Glass Bottles, 5 Sugar, 7 Enchanted Golden Apples, 1 Diamond Helmet, 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Blue] {Weak}, 1 Diamond Leggings, 1 Diamond Boots, 64 Emeralds, 64 Emeralds, 64 Emeralds, 60 Emeralds, 2 Bones
[EXP: 7]
Beetroot the Horse
AN: I have to admit, I had to trim this Chapter down to meet the deadline. Yeah, there was supposed to be more, but I just couldn't fit it.
But it's consistent, at least.
Next Wednesday, I'll try for three consistent updates in a row.
And no, that doesn't mean I'll post three Chapters. I'll just post something on Wednesday.