Ernie clinked her glass. “Only seems fair since you’ve basically been working for free.” He smiled. “But we’ve been closed for so long that people might not even remember us.”
“Oh, I don’t think that will be a problem,” Tim intoned sagely. “Not with what I have planned.”
“Here we go again,” Cassie chided. “When our fearless leader gets something stuck in his head, let’s just say it’s better to get out of the way.”
A man in a white chef’s coat appeared at their table with two pitchers of beer. He set the pitchers down and looked at Ernie. “It’s been a long time.”
Ernie jumped up and pulled the man into a hug. “Indeed, it has.” Ernie kept one arm around the man’s waist as he introduced him to the table. “This is Wyatt. He got his start at the Blue Dagger.”
“All of Ernie’s friends are always welcome at my place. Without this guy’s help, I would have never been able to start this restaurant.” He looked at all the customers. “I better get back to the kitchen. I just came by to say I’ve comped your meal, and I hope you stop by to catch up sometime.”
“More beer, then,” Gaston roared. “Free beer is the best beer.”
Cassie elbowed him. “It wasn’t like you were paying anyway.”
Tim gazed at Wyatt and Ernie. They were obviously very old friends. It was good to see that Ernie had someone in his life who appreciated him. Seeing the chef’s reaction to the innkeeper let Tim know he had judged the man correctly.
Tim stood and went over to shake the chef’s hand. It seemed rude not to thank him for such a kind gesture, and one kind gesture deserved another. “The food is fantastic. Thank you for having us.”
Wyatt waved away the compliment. “It was my pleasure.”
“At the very least, let me leave a generous tip for the staff.” Tim pulled out four gold coins and slipped them into Wyatt’s hand. “Make sure everyone has a great night.”
Quickly tucking the gold into his coat, the chef smiled at him. “Happy Transcendence Day.”
Tim crossed his fingers over his heart. “May the goddess’ light shine down upon you.”
“Enough of that crap. More beer.” Gaston roared as he finished another glass.
“I can see you have your hands full.” Wyatt beamed at Ernie. “Some things never change.”
Ernie pulled the man into a hug. “And some things do. Thanks for taking care of an old friend.”
“Anytime you need anything, all you have to do is ask.” Wyatt patted him on the back and headed for the kitchen.
They all sat back down at the table. When everyone had a beer in hand, Tim decided the time was right to bring up his next plan. “So, I noticed in the system menu that there is a guild tab.”
“Are we really going to form a guild?” Cassie asked.
“I don’t see why not,” ShadowLily replied. “Normally, there are bonuses for guilds, and it would probably help with recruiting later on.”
“Oh, I was just worried about the name. You know a cool name can make or break a guild’s rep.” Cassie grinned across the table. “I vote for the Fearsome Four.”
Gaston laughed, earning himself a nasty glare from Cassie. “Fearsome Four is an absurd name. I want to be called the Flying Violinists.”
Liz sprayed her beer over the table as she started laughing. “Why?” she asked between sputters.
“Because no one would know what it means. A name like that garners interest.” Gaston sat back, eyeing the table. The burly assassin had a smile on his face, but his eyes dared anyone to take a shot at him.
ShadowLily nudged Tim. “It was your idea. I’m sure you have a suggestion.”
Tim looked around the table, wondering if his name for the guild would go over better than the last two had. I mean, people had to like it better than Gaston’s name, at the very least. “Since we are based out of the Blue Dagger Inn, I thought it would be cool to do a play on that and called ourselves the Blue Dagger Society.”
Tim waited for them to laugh, but instead, they looked thoughtful. Ernie smiled and gave him a thumbs-up. Liz gave him a subtle nod.
ShadowLily went one better and pulled him into a kiss. “I love it.”
Cassie made a retching sound. “That was for the kiss, not the name. Just show me where to sign.”
“I guess the name has a certain appeal. Not as good as the Flying Violinists, but it seems I’ve been outvoted.” He clinked his glass against Tim’s. “I’m in.”
Tim went into his menu and created the guild. He sent invites to everyone at the table and smiled as they accepted them. This was it, the foundation for everything they were going to do in the game. The group was primed for success. All they needed to do was find a fifth member for their team, and they’d be ready to conquer The Etheric Coast together.
While they were looking for that elusive fifth member, Tim would find someone to help him purchase more of the properties by the inn. He’d get them fixed up and rent them out to the shop owners. Once he had the cobbles in place and the market kiosk driving people to the inn, this section of the slums would become a gold mine.
The recurring income should be just the thing he needed to be able to send a constant stream of money home to his parents. Depending on how much Tim could make, he might even be able to give up his job and become a full-time adventurer. He knew that was the path ShadowLily was on, and he didn’t want her to do it without him.
And how many grandmasters had made it there by not taking a few risks? None, that was how many. You didn’t get to the top of any profession without taking a chance or two. Only this time, he was playing with his future on the line.
Those student debts wouldn’t pay themselves, no matter what the politicians promised, and leaving the game without a guaranteed income scared the shit out of him. Being scared wasn’t going to stop him from making the right choices. Turning the slums into his little money-maker could set him free to follow his dreams.
Tim looked around the table at all the smiling faces, and it dawned on him that he didn’t know what the rest of them wanted from their time in the game. For their group to be successful in the future, he had to find out what motivated each of the party members. The last thing he wanted was for the group to feel like they always had to follow his lead. He was sure all of them had their own agendas.
He’d found a way to get Ernie his inn. Maybe he could help the rest of them. All Tim had to do was put the time in. Taking a sip of his beer, he sat back and thought about how bright the future looked.
One day, the people of Promethia would hear their names and run to the window to get a glimpse of them as they passed by. The players and NPCs would all know the name of their guild. Together, they were…
The Blue Dagger Society.
List of Tim’s Current Stats and Skills.
“Tim” Level eight magic user
Primary Stats
Strength 12
Endurance 12
Dexterity 16
Intelligence 16
Wisdom 30
Perception: 5
Vitality: 3
Revitalization: 3
Luck: 5
Notable Gear
Circlet of Wisdom +1
Simple Dagger of Dexterity +1 (X2)
Level Ten Class Change Token
Boots of Wisdom +2
Robe of the Everlasting: Wisdom +3
Belt of Wisdom +2
Gloves of Wisdom +2
Skills
Healing Orb: Apprentice rank nine
Dodge: Novice rank two
Flame Burst: Apprentice rank three
Cleanse: Apprentice rank seven
Appeal to the Goddess: Novice rank one
Infiltrator: Novice rank three
Sneak: Apprentice rank two
Small Blades: Apprentice rank six
Appeal to the Goddess: Novice rank one
Throwing Knives: Apprentice rank two
Sneak: Apprentice rank three
Ni
ght Vision: Novice rank five
Back Stab: Novice rank seven
Flame Burst: Apprentice rank three
Open Quests
Tim has been directed to seek out the High Priest for his next quest.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
“What kind of guild name is this anyway?” Cassie shouted as she took cover behind a boulder.
Tim pressed his back against another of the large rocks surrounding the farm. “You said you liked the name. What’s wrong with the Blue Dagger Society?”
“That was before people started singing The Reaper to me everywhere I went,” the tank snapped as she peeked around the boulder.
“It’s not my fault idiots don’t know the difference between the Blue Oyster Cult and us. And I’m sure people have shouted way worse things at you.” Tim grinned at the exasperated look on her face. “Plus, once I get the shirts made, you’re going to love it.”
“Shirts? You’re making shirts?” Cassie shook her head. “We’ll be laughingstocks.”
“Hey, you don’t have to wear it, but they are pretty cool. It’s this skeletal hand cut off at the wrist holding a blue dagger. Then there’s blood running down the edge with a single drop at the tip.”
Tim couldn’t help but laugh as he thought about the shirt that inspired the design. When he was a kid, he went to a military surplus store with his friend. He found a shirt of a skeleton cutting a guy’s throat in the water, and the shirt said Navy Seals, a cut above the rest.
He wondered what the guys at the printing shop thought when they saw the Navy Seal shirt. Their expressions couldn’t have been as priceless as the seamstress’ face here when he ordered the guild’s new design. “The lady I found to make the shirts thought it was crazy, but she’s a whiz with a needle.”
ShadowLily popped out of stealth. “Maybe we should talk about this later. You know, when our deaths aren’t on the line.”
“I second that,” JaKobi agreed, as he ran a hand down the front of his bright red robes.
“New guys don’t get a vote,” Cassie snapped.
“My name’s JaKobi,” he grumbled.
“Ah, I almost forgot we brought along our new sparkplug,” Tim snarked.
ShadowLily patted their newest member on the back. “Don’t mind these two. They’re just on edge. We’ve been through a lot these last few days.”
It was true. Over the last few days, they had beaten their first dungeon, and Tim had taken out the man in the orange sash, not to mention all the work the guild accomplished at the inn and on his healing shack. Add in his full-time job, and this adventure was the most relaxing thing Tim had done all week.
Although the look on his girlfriend’s face told him he was too hard on the new guy. It was tough enough being judged on your skills. Every group he’d ever joined had its own way of doing things, and when it was different than a player’s norm, it took them some time to get used to things. So he decided to save the shitty jokes until they were better friends.
Otherwise, their newest recruit might just think he was a dick.
“JaKobi, you ready to show us what you’ve got?” Tim tried to look reassuring, but after the hard time he’d given the guy, he wasn’t certain he pulled it off. “I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
The mage held out his palm, and a little blue ball of fire appeared in it. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” JaKobi looked around the landscape and noted the lack of monsters. “What are we even here for?”
Gaston appeared behind their newest member. “The bounty, of course.”
JaKobi jumped, and the fireball in his hand spluttered out. He glared at the assassin. “Stop doing that.”
“When it stops being entertaining, I’ll let you know.” Gaston turned his gaze on Tim. “It’s almost time.”
“Time for what?” JaKobi asked as he looked around worriedly.
The ground shook. Tim imagined this was what it felt like when a herd of buffalos ran across the plains. A buffalo would have been an easier kill, and they also didn’t burst from the ground with giant razor-sharp claws.
Large chunks of dirt flew in all directions as the monster they’d come to hunt dug its way out of the field. A head appeared in the hole, and the beast’s nose twitched as it scented the air.
Tim glared at Cassie and mouthed, “What the fuck?”
Cassie shrugged her shoulders. “The Bounty Board did say ‘giant.’”
Peeking around the rock he was hidden behind, Tim took one look at the gopher and shook his head. “When you told me it was a giant gopher, I thought it’d be like ten times as big as a normal one, not a hundred.”
“Well, the contract wasn’t specific but it did say it was a quest for a group of five.” Cassie grinned. “We’ve got five. What’s the big deal?”
“Oh, I don’t know. The two-foot-long claws on the end of its massive fucking paws or those sharp-ass teeth.” JaKobi grimaced before pressing himself against the rock and doing his best to be invisible.
“I’m with him.” Tim laughed.
ShadowLily smacked him on the shoulder. “Don’t be such a baby. All you two do is stand in the back and splash people with water. I’ve got to get up close to that thing.”
“The work of a master assassin is never done.” Gaston winked at the party before setting his eyes on Tim. “Same plan as usual?”
“Sounds about right.” Tim smirked. He was tired of working all week and ready to let out a few of his frustrations. “You two drop into stealth. Cassie will get the beastie’s attention, and we’ll do our part from range.”
“See? Nothing to worry about.” Cassie adjusted her latest additions from Ironbeard’s shop before pulling her bō staff from her back. “Just say the word.”
Tim walked to JaKobi and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “It’ll be fine.” He shifted his gaze to Cassie. “Go do your thing.”
Cassie snorted and twirled her staff around in a way that would make Bruce Lee jealous. She took a quick peek around the boulder to check the positioning of the giant gopher, then stepped from behind the rock as if she didn’t care about the giant furball of death waiting in the recently-tilled field.
“Hey, you overgrown hamster!” Cassie shouted as she strutted out alone onto the field. She banged her staff on the ground like she was signaling lunch at a farmhouse. “Come and get it.”
The gopher’s head snapped toward the tank, and his beady little eyes lit up. Pulling itself the rest of the way out of the hole, the giant shook the dirt off. It pawed at the ground and prepared to charge. Its bluster didn’t mean much to their tank. Cassie stood up straighter, determined to meet the hulking monster head-on.
With a battle scream that would make any dwarven warrior jealous, Cassie charged at the gopher. Tim watched as the beast took her in, but then it did something unexpected. The fucking thing turned and dove back into the hole.
Tim wanted to chase the rodent down there, but he’d seen Caddyshack and knew better than to screw with a gopher on its own turf. The hole was only slightly larger than the gopher itself, not a lot of room to maneuver in a fight. Then a single thought hit him in the head like a ninety-mile-an-hour fastball.
What if the gopher wasn’t running away?
“Shark!” Tim screamed at his tank.
Cassie stopped running. “What?”
“You ever see Tremors?” Tim began casting a healing orb. This was going to hurt.
Cassie's face went blank for a second and then his bizarre references hit her. “Oh, shit.” She started to run as she scanned the empty field for something solid to stand on.
The gopher exploded from the ground like a Great White stalking a seal. Chunks of dirt exploded around it as Cassie was sent flying.
Tim watched as she turned her body in midair and managed to land on her feet. “Well, that’s new.” She was always sent flying by these giant bosses, so maybe their tank had earned some kind of tumbling or recovery skill.
The monster-sized rodent twitched its cu
te cheeks. Yeah, they were cute if you could get past the big-ass teeth ready to rip you apart. Its eyes roved the ground, looking for its target. It wouldn’t be long before it found Cassie.
Not that their little tank gave the beast a chance. She roared as she crossed the distance between them in a single leap. Her staff crashed into the gopher’s head, and the gopher spun and used one of its paws to bat Cassie away. The tank flew through the air again, but this time she didn’t quite manage to get her feet underneath her.
“This feels more familiar.” Tim leapt into action and cast healing orb. Cassie was still climbing to her feet. They needed to buy her more time. “Light 'em up, JaKobi!”
When no burst of flame hit the gopher in the back, Tim turned to look for the mage. He found him huddled against the boulder, shaking like a leaf in the wind. “Well, at least we figured it out before a more serious battle,” he muttered.
Cassie got her staff up in time to deflect the gopher’s claws, but the force of the blow sent her sliding backward, her heels digging into the freshly-plowed earth. The gopher tensed its back legs, ready to pounce, then Gaston appeared and slashed a deep wound into one of them. The creature spun to attack the new threat, exposing its flank to their team’s thief.
ShadowLily screamed like a warrior princess straight out of the age of Vikings. Her daggers sank into the gopher’s back, and she used them like ice axes to climb the monster. Her body bumped the gopher’s as it tried to shake her off, but she didn’t let go.
Cassie used her hook to secure one of the beast’s legs, and Tim finally remembered the spell he’d never used. His fingers moved slowly through the snare spell, but he managed to activate it. The gopher’s movements slowed, and a split second later, Gaston took full advantage of the situation.
Ducking under the gopher, he slit its belly before rolling out the other side. The monster hit the ground, but ShadowLily wasn’t done yet. She reached the giant creature’s neck and thrust her daggers in. Blood sprayed from the wound, and its whiskers twitched once before the gopher fell on its side.
Tim rushed forward to make sure none of his party got crushed. He rounded the gopher’s body to see the three of them standing there smiling. At least no one had been seriously hurt. He tossed a couple of healing orbs in their direction, erasing any scratches or bruises they might have picked up during the fight.
Rise of the Grandmaster Page 44