by Troy Osgood
Cresting the steep path, the keep was before them. The plateau was wide, the keep in the back half. The roof sloped down, almost to the ground, long posts extending into the ground past the roof edge. Green shingles with three small dormers near the top. A two-story section cut into the roof, breaking up the plane. Doors were set into the bottom, up a flight of wide stairs. A large window was above. More guards, four of them, stood on either side of the door. Looking up into the window, Hall could see another guard through the glass.
The building was as Hall had remembered, just larger. The green shingles, tightly fitting logs. The green-cloaked guards. The two at the top of the path were new, but everything else was the same. So far. Just larger. Stone formed the western and northern walls of the plateau, cliffs the south and east. Built right up to the mountain, the keep had a commanding view over the land around. Hall looked up the mountain that surrounded the keep, the peak lost in the clouds. Steep, with jagged cliffs, he thought he saw a small watchtower built on a higher shelf, wondering how anyone got up there.
They followed Dain up the wooden steps. The first step was long, the next less, each step getting shorter as they rose to the landing. At the end of each of the thick wooden planks was a small totem standing about three feet tall. Each was carved to look like a different animal. Bear, wolf, eagle and others. The landing was just wide enough for two guards to stand on either side of the large double doors. Made of thick slabs of dark wood banded in iron, the doors were fairly plain, just a single iron ring, which the left-hand guard grabbed and pulled.
The immense door opened just enough for them to walk through single file.
Hall found himself in a large room two stories high. Above him was a catwalk level with the large window, which let in the light. Torches lined the wall. The floor was a dark wood, a different shade from the door, made of planks laid diagonally. Stairs on either side led up to the catwalk that ringed the entire room, doors and openings off of it. A set of double doors led off the three walls of the room.
He realized that the room didn’t take up the entire footprint. It wasn’t as deep as the exterior walls.
Spaced between the torches were trophies, stuffed animals mounted in various poses reflecting attacks they would make in the wild. There were tapestries, scenes of animals and nature, and maps mounted to the walls.
In some ways it reminded Hall of the Explorer’s Guild house, but without the overdone opulence.
Bones hung from the ceiling. A gray dragon in flight.
The shadow, from torches mounted in the ceiling, fell into the middle of the room, casting the shape on the floor.
Dain led them across the room, boots echoing against the wooden floor. He walked under the hanging dragon, stepping through the shadow. Hall and the others followed. There were a lot of changes to the keep’s entry hall. Bigger than before, which Hall had come to expect. More trophies, art and maps. And the dragon, that was new.
There was no one in the room, which Hall found surprising. Pre-Glitch, there had always been NPC Rangers moving about the place. They were there for immersion, to make the place look busy, having no real purpose. But now, no one. The room was empty, their steps echoing.
It made some sense, Hall realized. A group like the Greencloak Rangers wouldn’t just have random people wandering around. Any member would be doing whatever it was they did, not wasting time. Throughout the day people would wander through the room, just not in the numbers Hall had been used to seeing.
He looked over his shoulder and up, seeing a single guard standing near the large window. The guard was looking down into the room, leaning on his bow, looking bored. Which he wasn’t. Hall knew the guard could lift the bow and draw an arrow in a heartbeat.
Dain stopped at the doors on the far end. He knocked, hitting a pattern. Stepping back, he waited.
It was a minute before one of the doors opened, a gray-haired man stepping out. He was dressed in fine wool pants and shirt, no weapons. Tall and thin, he looked more like an administrator than a Ranger. Brown eyes, sharp nose, the man held himself stiff and formal.
The man didn’t look happy to be interrupted. He glared at Dain, turning his gaze on Hall and the others. Looking them up and down quickly, his eyes widened on seeing Leigh.
“The Custodian is here,” Dain said.
“I will inform the council,” the man said, disappearing back into the room.
Dain sighed.
It was a couple more minutes before the door opened again. The same man stood there, looking impatient. Dain stepped past, into the room beyond. Hall followed. The door closed behind them.
The new room was decent sized. Glass lined the wall opposite the entrance, looking out onto the plains to the south. Like the other room, the walls and floor were hardwood planks, torches set in braziers along the wall. A large chandelier hung by a chain from the ceiling.
Dominating the room was a large square table, four chairs to a side. Carved into the top of the thick tabletop was what Hall recognized as the northern territories of Edin, from Hadrick’s Wall all the way to the northern edge of the island. It was beautifully carved and appeared to be accurate to scale. The chairs were high backed, carved from a shiny dark wood. Simple looking, no flair or decorations.
Even though there was room for twelve, only four people sat at the table, one to a side. Two men and two women. They ranged in age. A gray-haired woman sat at the chair across from the entrance, her back to the glass wall. Long hair tied in two braids that hung down her shoulders, she stood. She didn’t move like she was old, her eyes full of life.
But wisdom as well, just beneath the surface. Hard-earned wisdom.
She had the pale skin of a Gael. Dressed in exceptional-looking leather armor, a light tan, engraved with swirling designs, she had the ever-present green cloak. A dagger, ceremonial looking but Hall knew it would be functional, was on her belt. No other weapons were visible.
“Greetings and welcome to Timberhearth Keep.”
She gave a slight bow of her head.
Dain stepped forward, moving so he and his guest would be visible without the four chairs at the end of the table in the way.
“Councilors, may I present the Druid Leigh, Custodian of the Grove on Edin. Also Lord Hall of Skara Brae, and the Shaman Sharra from the Jaden Empire.”
He stopped talking, shifting in surprise when a tiny voice coughed.
“And Tulla, the fairy,” Dain muttered.
“Thank you for coming, Custodian,” she said, focusing on Leigh. If she was shocked at seeing Leigh, someone so young, the Greencloak Ranger didn’t show it. “I am Leandra, the High Bow of the Rangers. You as well, Lord Hall.”
Hall bowed his head, nodding as much as Leandra had. He wanted to set off this gathering on the right foot. He was an equal to her, the High Bow being the leader of the Green Cloak Rangers. He didn’t want them trying to control him or Leigh.
“Thank you for making such haste in coming here,” Leandra continued.
“We thought it would just be the Custodian,” one of the other Rangers said. His tone wasn’t friendly.
He sat to the right of Leandra, along one side of the table. Long black hair tied with a strap of leather, gray streaks throughout the hair and beard. Sharp eyes and nose. He leaned forward in his chair, turning slightly to look at Hall.
“If we had known the lord of Skara Brae,” he continued, his lips curling in a sneer, “would be paying us a visit, we would have set a proper reception.”
“Tavis,” Leandra said sharply.
The man ignored her.
“And who is the other?” he said, studying Sharra and the staff she carried. His eyes seemed to flash at the sight. Hall wasn’t sure if it was surprise or recognition. Either way, it was a strange reaction. “I have not heard of the Jaden Empire.”
Only a couple of sentences and Hall already didn’t like the man.
The man, Tavis, glared at Dain as if it was his fault for bringing others.
“From what Dain h
as told us,” Hall said, ignoring Tavis and concentrating on Leandra, “we have some knowledge of what you might be facing, and Sharra has much more experience.”
“We do not even know what exactly we face,” Tavis growled. “How would you?”
Hall bit back a sharp retort. Now wasn’t the time. These were meant to be allies. “Demons you haven’t seen or heard about before? New allies for the Expedition Lumber Company?”
Leandra nodded to Hall’s questions.
“We encountered unknown and new demons a couple of months ago in a lost Dwarven outpost far to the east. New types we hadn’t ever seen or heard of, including a succubus. We also encountered the new race that was summoning and controlling the demons.”
Tavis looked like he wanted to reply but stopped. His sneer dropped, turning contemplative.
“This new race is called the Desmarik Republic,” Hall continued. “And they came from very far to the east. Lands that we didn’t even know existed.” He motioned to Sharra. “The Jaden Empire is one of those lands, and their people, like Sharra, have been at war with the Desmarik for decades.”
Leandra looked at Tavis, then the other two Rangers, who had yet to speak.
“It is good that you came,” she said, looking back at Hall. “And we would welcome any knowledge you may possess.” She motioned to seats in the corner of the table, not near Tavis.
Hall took one in the middle on the side facing Tavis, sitting next to one of the silent Rangers. Leigh took the corner next to him, Sharra on the other side at the corner. The Shaman laid the staff with Tulla against the table so the cage hung over it, letting the small fairy see everyone. Dain took a seat on the same side as Tavis, just not next to him.
“Allow me to introduce the rest of the Rangers’ council,” Leandra said, taking her seat. “Tavis, Amelia, and Jordavgr.”
Amelia, a seat between her and Sharra, was the youngest. Light brown hair, freckles on a pretty face. Jordavgr looked to be the same age as Tavis, across from him. Blond hair, cut short, a scar across his cheek. His beard was impressively thick and long, enough to make a Dwarf jealous.
“What is this corruption?” Leigh asked. “When did it start?”
“Two months,” Jordavgr answered, his voice deep. By his size, name and blond hair, Hall thought him to be from Storvgarde, wondering how he had found his way to joining the Rangers. “That was when we first noticed it. To the north, a month’s ride. There’s a large valley that has been contested with the Expedition Company for a long time. They’ve held most of the land beyond, having built a small city to handle their enterprises.” Jordavgr practically spit out the last word. “Our scouts found evidence of dying plants and trees. Diseased, but nothing they could identify. We sent for the Druids from a small Circle in a village five days northeast of here. They could not discover what was wrong or what was causing it, only that it was spreading and was wrong.”
“Wrong?” Leigh asked.
“Their word,” Jordavgr replied. “They said the land just felt wrong.”
“And the demons?” Hall prompted.
“The area has been one of conflict for years,” Amelia answered. “Neither the Company nor we have been able to push the other away.” She paused, shaking her head sadly. “To be honest, the Expedition Company has had the better of us for years. We just manage to keep them contained, but that is how they managed to build a small city.”
“Thorgard Port,” Jordavgr growled.
Hall recognized the name. It had existed pre-Glitch. The area they were talking about had to be Ironbark Valley. It had been a major quest zone, an area he had gone to a lot because of the repeatable quests. There had never been anything corrupt in the zone. That was new.
“But now they have been pushing us back. The addition of the demons has changed the stalemate in the area,” Amelia finished.
“Have you ever caught sight of these new allies of the company?” Sharra asked.
All of the councilors shook their heads.
“We have not,” Jordavgr answered for them. “None of the Rangers have. We only know they exist because we captured a company man and questioned him. He told us it was these new allies who brought the demons. And no, he had not seen them either.
”Can you describe the demons?”
“There have been three types that Rangers have encountered,” Amelia said, looking over her shoulder at the man who had let Hall into the council chambers.
The well-dressed administrator walked swiftly over to a cabinet against the wall. He pulled out a few rolled parchments. Walking back to the table, he laid them out in front of Hall and the others. Rough drawings filled the papers, showing three different types of creatures. Sharra reached for the drawings, pulling them closer.
She lifted one, studying it before looking at another. Each drawing she held before Tulla, letting the small fairy get a good look. The first looked like a large dog but one covered in beetle-like armor, with a longer head and larger teeth.
“Bargha,” Sharra said, sliding the drawing into the middle.
The next showed a short but bulky creature with long arms, looking like it was covered in fur.
“Mosic.”
Last was taller, as bulky, but instead of fur, it looked to be made of large chunks of rock.
“Stontle.”
The drawings were very rough, but even to Hall the shapes of the demons were unmistakable. Hall wondered why the Rangers couldn’t use the Identify skill on the demons.
“We encountered these types, along with others, in the Dwarven outpost. All were controlled and summoned by the Desmarik.”
Leandra and the other Rangers looked at the drawings spread out on the table.
“You can tell us about these Desmarik and demons?” Leandra asked. “Their powers and abilities? Strengths and weaknesses?”
“Yes,” Hall said, echoed by Sharra.
“And you will look at the corruption?” Leandra asked Leigh.
“Of course.”
QUEST COMPLETE!
You have met with Leandra, the High Bow of the Rangers, and the other Councilors. They have told you more about the threat of the demons and the corruption, showing evidence of demons associated with the Desmarik Republic.
THE GREEN CLOAK RANGERS II
Meet with the Councilors of the Green Cloak Rangers 1/1
Rewards: +200 Experience, +300 Faction Reputation with the Greencloak Rangers
Your willingness to aid the Green Cloak Rangers has gained you Faction Reputation with them. You are now Known and Friendly with the Green Cloak Rangers.
“Thank you,” Leandra said, relief in her voice. “We will take any help you can give.”
Leandra, High Bow of the Green Cloak Rangers, has asked for your help in teaching the Rangers about the demons and aiding in the defense of the Northern Territories as well as ridding the lands of the corruption.
THE GREEN CLOAK RANGERS III
Teach the rangers what you know about the demons 0/1
Aid in the defense of the Northern Territories 0/1
Rid the land of the corruption 0/1
Rewards: +300 Experience, +300 Faction Reputation with the Green Cloak Rangers
Accept Quest?
Hall accepted the quest, seeing the text disappear from his vision. A glance at Sharra and Leigh, he saw the vacant look as they read the quest. Both blinked, Leigh first, as they accepted it. The quest was pretty vague and covered a lot of ground. He was disappointed with the rewards, as there was a lot to the quest.
That was when a flood of notifications filled his vision. He sat back, startled, seeing nothing but text in front of his eyes. It took a bit of time to get it all sorted out.
There is a corruption spreading through the Northern Territories. The Green Cloak Rangers believe it is tied to the recent demon incursions. Investigate the corruption to determine how it is spread and its origins.
THE NORTHERN BLIGHT I
Meet with the Northern Druids in Loch Hedn Grove to l
earn more about the corruption 0/1
Rewards: +300 Experience, +100 Faction Reputation with the Green Cloak Rangers, +200 Faction Reputation with the Druids of the Grove
Accept Quest?
Demons are attacking the Northern Territories. Help the Green Cloak Rangers defend the lands under their protection from the Expedition Lumber Company and their new demon allies. Discover who is summoning the demons and either destroy the means of summoning or kill the summoner.
NORTHERN DEMONS
Discover who is summoning the demons 0/1
Defeat the summoner 0/1
Rewards: +300 Experience, +200 Faction Reputation with the Green Cloak Rangers
Accept Quest?
The Green Cloak Rangers need help in defeating the demon menace. Your aid is appreciated.
CULL THE DEMONS
Kill demons in the Northern Territories 0/100
Rewards: +300 Experience, +200 Faction Reputation with the Green Cloak Rangers
Accept Quest?
With the addition of the demons, the Green Cloak Rangers are losing ground in their ongoing battles with the Expedition Lumber Company. They could use some aid in regaining ground they have lost.
RETAKING THE NORTH I
Kill members of the Expedition Lumber Company 0/150
Retake the village of LakeEdge 0/1
Retake the village of Cliff’s Walk 0/1
Retake the Gray Tree Farms 0/1
Retake the South Graymalkin Lake Lumbermill 0/1
Rewards: +800 Experience, +200 Faction Reputation with the Green Cloak Rangers
Accept Quest?
Hall accepted all the quests, happy to see the notifications disappear from his sight. It was shocking. There had never been that many quests at once in the game, before or after the Glitch. He wasn’t sure about the last. Were the mercenaries of the Expedition Company worth killing? In the pre-Glitch world, the Rangers were the good guys and the Expedition Company the bad guys. It was pretty clear-cut. But was it the same here?