by Paul Kite
“Kraven, come here!” the wizard waved at me. “Let’s look for the surviving villagers, and finish off the wounded enemies.”
“Yeah, but how do you know who the enemy is?”
“With the help of that thing,” the wizard pointed to the cloud hanging above the other orc. ’It identifies them without any problems. We’ll do the rest. By the way, do you know what they were looking for here? Why did they attack the village?”
“I wish I knew,” I shrugged.
“Well, okay, then we’ll find out.”
Having finished with wounded enemies and peaceful orcs, we returned to the house of the local shaman. Kirk was talking to him at that very moment.
“Thank you for freeing us,” Ir-Zan said and shook the captain’s hand.
The orc children and the surviving adults began to leave. They looked at people warily. However, I soon noticed a familiar boy peeking out from behind the shaman. He also saw me and waved his hand happily.
“There’s no reason to thank us,” Kirk sighed sadly. “We were late, and this is my fault. I was afraid of losing people; they were so tired after the last battle with drow at sea.”
“You shouldn’t blame yourself,” the shaman protested. “I understand you perfectly. You didn’t leave us to die and you helped. Although, if you arrived an hour earlier, then our totem would remain safe and sound, and his heart wouldn’t leave the village. But…”
“Totem?” Lsaeros showed his interest in some unceremoniously way, despite the captain’s warning.
“Yes, the totem,” Ir-Zan confirmed. “It will be very hard to live without it. Apparently, it was their goal. They knew perfectly well what to look for!”
I also tensed, hearing the familiar and rarely used word among both players and NPCs. For some reason, I was also interested in all possible information on totems. Very few of them remained in the realm of Noria. I guessed that, but I didn’t know for sure that intelligent creatures still had totems. I couldn’t talk to goblins about this. I thought it was possible to discuss this ticklish topic with these peaceful orcs.
“Seizing the totem’s heart, they immediately sent five warriors and a young shaman back to the mainland,” the shaman continued to tell.
“When was that?” Kirk asked.
“About half an hour ago. You’ll help my village greatly if you bring the totem’s heart back!” Ir-Zan said insistently.
Available task: Help the island orc settlement to return the ancient relic-totem
Reward after performing the whole task chain: Unknown
Refusal: Unknown
Accept Refuse?
“I’ll be happy to help you!” I blurted out before the captain could answer.
“Kraven! Shut the hell up!” the captain swore and the wizard piped in.
The orc listened with a smile from ear to ear a skirmish between two people. Then, patting me on the shoulder, he pulled me to the porch of the house. His relatives just began to disperse around the village, assessing the damage caused by the players.
“Wait!” Kirk shouted, catching up with me. Lsaeros also followed us hurriedly. “This young man is always in a hurry. I wouldn’t refuse to help you either. Do you remember my father?”
“Of course, Kirk. I don’t think I’ve seen him in a long while…” the shaman said cunningly.
“There are some family problems,” the captain evaded a direct answer. “I’ll tell you about it later. Now I’m going to gather my people and give them instructions. We can hit the road to retrieve your relic. Tell me everything you know. Most importantly, where did they come from? And where did they go with this totem of yours?”
“Do you have a map?” Ir-Zan asked.
“Sure,” Kirk took out a folded cloth from his pouch and unrolled it right on the porch under their feet.
“So, we’re right here,” the orc leaned over the map, unmistakably pointing at the group of islands. “Here, a little further, is a small neighboring clan. There’s a crossing between the islands, we often use it. They came from there. That’s also where they got away with the totem’s heart.”
“Maybe we can sail along the shore to intercept them?” I suggested.
“You better go through the island,” the shaman shook his head. “Rowing by boat will take too long, because the coastal waters are full of shallows. Go on foot. Most of the islands are connected by bridges. In other places, you can wade. Well, if you hurry, you can catch up with them quickly. They’re not expecting a search party. I’ll give you two local guys. They know every path here.”
“I won’t go with you. I’m going to stay here,” Lsaeros said unexpectedly. You know I’m too old to play catch-up with young warriors. Moreover, I think we can find something to talk about with the honorable orc.”
Hmm, the wizard has shown interest in something once again. I was afraid that he was surprised by the totem of the local islanders. Now he definitely needed to learn something from the shaman, obviously without unnecessary witnesses. It was very suspicious that he should complained about his age. I haven’t noticed this weakness before, especially not when we ran through the Harit-Hodor forest.
“Sergan, Hotar,” the captain beckoned two sailors. “Find Turgen and run back quickly. We’re leaving soon. Let’s help get the totem back until those beasts get too far.”
“I’m glad you agreed to help, Kirk!” the shaman smiled broadly. “I always knew that the Corazal family are the most honest, bravest and kindest people!”
“Dirk!” captain Kirk called the navigator.
“Yes, captain!”
“While we are away, help the villagers in rebuilding the village. Collect all the weapons and supplies, organize the sentinel... Well, you know perfectly well what needs to be done. Don’t forget to send a man to the ship. Tell them everything, but don’t let them go ashore for now,” Kirk added. “At least until the evening. Who knows what else can happen?”
“Got it,” Dirk nodded in agreement.
Sergan and Hotar returned with Turgen soon. Captain Kirk took two more shaman’s orcs under his command. They were supposed to be not only guides, but also soldiers. After that, our small detachment started chasing the players.
Chapter 23
Why did I respond so hastily to Ir-Zan’s request for help? To get his respect! This was despite the fact that he’d already felt a sense of gratitude to everyone who participated in saving the village, including me. However, when we return the totem’s heart, I want to chat with the shaman more closely, preferably in private. I had an unusual interest in totems! Of course, I didn’t think that the orc one looked like mine, but still... Ir-Zan should know a lot about totems, at least I hoped!
Well, judging by the tracks, the group of players came from the neighboring island, crossing the ford. Although it was a very shallow ford. It was fifteen feet at its deepest point.
However, the old shaman forgot to mention, or he might not have even known, that the neighboring settlement was wiped out.
We began to suspect something strange, when we stumbled upon the first orc woman lying dead on sandy shore. Then, coming closer to the village, we saw a dead male orc and a child. They were killed quickly, with precise blows and without unnecessary blood or noise.
We entered the village quietly, but we knew perfectly well, what was waiting for us there. Not a single living orc. Corpses in homes and on the street. The players passed through the village simply destroying everyone in their path with knives and swords. The shamans didn’t use magic or spells, not wishing to show themselves too soon. Judging by the number of dead orcs, the massacre began from the center of the village. Most likely, the players didn’t show their intentions right away. They must have behaved friendly and gathered around almost all the NPCs in the same spot. They began killing them later. Some, like those two orcs with a child, tried to escape, but they were caught. Then... we knew very well what happened afterwards. The orc players crossed the ford and attacked Ir-Zan’s village.
The captain sent Og-Ken, one of the two orcs that the shaman had given us, back so that he would tell the villagers the sad news. We ran further. The second young orc named En-Dig led us along the trail confidently. As it turned out, the small detachment of players with the totem’s heart decided to leave by a completely different route, turning immediately after the village. I began to suspect that as soon as the killed players were reborn, they warned their allies about the possible danger through personal messages. Therefore, they could have already known about the death of the whole group and the possible pursuit, and were fully capable of accelerating.
A series of islands and islets. A couple of clashes with local predators who decided to try us and, of course, broke their teeth. At last, after three hours of chasing, we finally began to catch up with the group of players. Of course, I was neither a hunter nor a ranger, but En-Dig said that the tracks were becoming fresh and clear. They were literally ten minutes ahead of us.
“This is a very large and elongated island,” the young orc suddenly uttered. “I recognize this place. I used to come here with my father when I was a boy. We often hunted here, because there are a lot of wild animals and many edible plants and fruits. If players don’t have boats, they’ll go over the bridge at the farthest end of the island. Otherwise, there’s no way out.”
“Is the bridge long?” Turgen asked.
“Yes, about sixty steps,” En-Dig replied immediately. “It spreads across a wide and deep strait.”
“Captain, if we continue following them, they’ll surely notice us,” one of the sailors addressed Kirk.
“I know,” he agreed gloomily.
“I can burn them along with the bridge when we catch them,” the combat wizard suggested.
“It’s a bad idea!” Kirk refused the quite sensible suggestion immediately. “The heart of the totem will fall into the water. Who will dive after it?”
“Yes, you’re right! You can’t do this, the current is strong there,” the orc interjected and thought for a moment. “However, we can go around them. If we turn left now, to the thickets of reeds, we will get to the neighboring island. Then we should cross the ford to another island and then we’ll reach the bridge.”
“Why didn’t they go that way then?” Turgen squinted.
“Few people know it’s only waist-deep in the center of the undergrowth,” the pathfinder began to explain. “And besides, there’s a very dangerous path! It’s a narrow mound under water, washed over by the flow. You take a wrong step and …” the guy waved his hand, “... a painful death by drowning awaits you! Algae viscous like octopus’s tentacles!” En-Dig shrugged in disgust. “They twist the unfortunate person’s legs and pull him to the bottom. These algae react to touch, they compress, like a bow after firing an arrow.”
“Let’s go!” Kirk declared resolutely. “We need to be on that island before they cross the bridge. We’ll ambush them.”
Yeah, but it was odd that the players were in no hurry. The messages from the other players should have reached them a long time ago. Was there a special zone? There were places like that in the realm of Noria where communication didn’t work.
We could have had time to be on the other side earlier because the orcs that took the heart of the totem didn’t suspect anyone was chasing them. They moved slowly, like they were taking a walk. They certainly shouldn’t be relaxed. The players clearly felt they were masters of the situation, thinking that their back was covered by the raid group remaining in the village. We were going to take advantage of their mistake.
We came on time! We appeared on the other side of the bridge before the five soldiers and the orc shaman. The shaman was carrying something like a small stone glowing in a dull green light — the heart of the totem. Kirk ordered us to hide in thick bushes on both sides of the road. Thickets of flowering shrubs gave off a cloying sweet smell. One part of the group, two sailors headed by a captain, was waiting closer to the bridge. The combat wizard, the orc, and I lurked a little further.
The captain didn’t allow me to wait for the detachment of players in stealth right on the road. Kirk ordered me lay low, deciding that I should join the battle at the very end. Let them still believe that there were five of us, as well as them. Of course, there were six orcs, but the shaman shouldn’t be taken into account.
The players were crossing the bridge slowly. They were having a fun and carefree conversation. Soon they stepped onto the road, completely unaware of the ambush. The shaman, carrying the heart of the totem in his hands, walked at the end of the detachment.
As soon as the first orc came close to us (by us I meant myself, the young orc and the wizard) Turgen launched a huge fireball from the bushes and it flew straight into him. The wizard attacked without unnecessary frills. It was a powerful fireball, inflated with mana to the limit! The spell was simple and, most importantly, effective — the player didn’t even have time to squeak, falling to the ground like a charred piece of wood and immediately crumbing into dust. The second ball, of a faded gray color, ripped the ground before the opponents and exploded with a loud bang. It formed a deep hole and covered the players with soot from head to toe, blinding and disorienting the enemy. I couldn’t say what kind of spell our wizard used this time, but it was very similar to the one he practiced in the village. I liked this magical grenade!
Immediately after the explosion, Kirk appeared behind the squad of orcs, and together with the sailors attacked the soldiers silently. These were strong warriors! At least one of them was a level 100, and the other three were close to level 70. Instantly, En-Dig and Turgen entered the battle. The wizard didn’t forget to remind me of the captain’s words that I shouldn’t stick out yet.
However, for some reason, none of our people noticed that a few seconds after the explosion the young shaman-player broke an amulet and, diving into the bushes by the side of the road, purposefully ran off somewhere.
“Well, you won’t get away from me!” I hissed, angry with the members of my group who didn’t notice the shaman’s escaping practically under their noses. I activated invisibility and rushed for the player fleeing the battlefield.
After three dozen steps, I caught up with the speedy shaman and jumped. My hands reached his neck and I abruptly yanked his collar. With a startled cry, the young orc fell to the ground and dropped the heart of the totem. I got on top of the shaman, materializing the dagger of chaos in my waving hand.
“A pla...” the shaman’s surprised exclamation broke off before he finished his thought. It was even somehow pitiful to kill such a weak opponent. I didn’t need an enemy behind me either. He was only a level 25. How did he get into the raid group?
I picked up the small stone glowing with a dim green light.
Is this the heart of the totem?
The system instantly replied to my mental inquiry. The characteristics of the thing, which seemed ordinary, popped up before my eyes.
Artifact: The Heart of the totem Gray Cat Ilu Li Ro
Quality: Outside categories
Material: The flesh of the embodied totem
Binding: Territorial or personal
Activation - level restrictions: absent
Activation - restrictions on the class: a shaman
Additional restrictions: impossible to put it into inventory
Right there, after I skimmed the description, an alert appeared.
Attention, player!
You’ve become the owner of a rare artifact - the heart of the totem. We remind you that only a shaman is able to bind it (territorially or personally)!
If the shaman activates a territorial link, the totem will protect the specified area.
If the shaman activates a personal binding, the totem will only protect a certain person.
Don’t pass the heart of the totem into the hands of a player if you don’t completely trust them!
Don’t forget that even your closest friend can betray you to get a hold of such a thing.
Use the help of a non-p
layer character by signing a written contract and securing him with an oath before the god patron.
Make the right choice, because the totem’s heart can only be activated once!
Good luck to you!
Wow! If this totem was at least somewhat like mine, then you could understand why so many players wished to get it. The most interesting thing was the ability to tie Ilu Li Ro to my character. This happened despite the fact that I already had one totem! However, it was scary to imagine the consequences of such a decision.
I remembered well the old warning:
You’ve been impacted by power of the divine Vegor, the patron of the dark elves, and Onarkis, the patron of the light elves. The Gods’ magic is strong, but even it cannot keep the insane Black Wolf beyond both worlds forever.
As soon as the half-god half-beast gains its strength, after a long stay in the realm of Noria, it’ll be able to return home. It can answer your call. However, the Gods warn you, don’t do this if you’re afraid of the wrath of higher entities!
I, of course, was not going to activate the heart of the totem. It would be better to return it to shaman Ir-Zan. After all, I needed information! First, I would deal with my own totem and then collect the rest.
Well, it was time to go back. Unfortunately, I couldn’t put the totem heart in my inventory, but it wasn’t a big problem. Squeezing the gray stone under my arm, I rush into the battle that, by the sound of it, was already ending. I assumed that our team were winning... Well, not ‘assumed’. I didn’t doubt it at all!
When I came to the bridge, Kirk was just standing over the last living and disarmed enemy. He was holding his torn stomach.
“We’ll be back,” the orc player spat bloody saliva. “We’ll kill all of you!”
“We’ll see!” the captain grimaced furiously and swung his saber.