Which left me going to the Bazaar and asking Zemira to also help us. I thought she wouldn’t have hesitated. Instead, she acted in the interest of the Bazaar, contrary to her personal desires. In the end, she did help . . . sort of.
“I am so going to end up banished from the Bazaar for this,” I grumbled, peaking over the ledge of a mudbrick rooftop. The squat building that rested against the wall of the Bazaar was made of mudbrick though I assumed the walls were much thicker considering the purpose of the building.
I ducked back down, having seen what I needed to. Two guards, that was all that protected the building. Or all that I could see, there may have been another guard or two inside.
Somebody shouted from below me. “Leonidas! Someone spotted Leonidas near the south gate.”
I looked back over the ledge, it was a third guard yelling as he ran toward his compatriots. “Lady Zemira has ordered every guard to move out. She wants him killed or captured.”
One of the two original guards questioned, “But the prisoners?”
“The prisoners are not going anywhere,” the newest arrival said. “This is an emergency situation. Besides, they will never know that the guards left them alone. It is not like they will be able to break out of their cells. Not when the cells are all magically reinforced and require a magic key to open.”
The second guard frowned but nodded anyway. “We should go quickly then. If Leonidas has returned, it will take all of us to subdue him.”
I very much doubted Leonidas was back, not this quickly at least. He’d just had his level reduced back to one, less than two weeks ago. If I was to guess, this was more help from Zemira.
“Goddess Issara, I hope you’ll forgive me for what I’m about to do,” I sent a small prayer to the heavens. I gave the guards a minute before I dropped off the roof and crossed the short distance to the brick jailhouse that currently held a large number of Slavers and one idiot Rhinoman. An idiot Rhinoman that I was about to help escape. I sent another prayer to my Goddess and heard a giggle in response. Either she was okay with what I was doing, or she was laughing at me for being so unbelievably stupid.
I opened the door with the key Zemira gave me and entered, closing it softly behind me.
Just past the entrance to the jail was a set of stairs going down a few steps to a landing. On the other side of the landing were steps going up to a closed door. And to the left and right were stairs going down.
“Left it is,” I mumbled, activating my ‘Stealth’ skill. I had no idea what was waiting for me in this place, but I wasn’t willing to risk getting caught unnecessarily. The doors each had a solitary barred window to look into the jailcells. Gazing down the hall, there must have been at least forty doors including a solid metal door at the end of the hall.
If I only had time to check one cell, it would have been the one with the solid dark metal door. But I did have time, I checked each cell, one by one. They were mostly filled with Slavers, a few of which I even recognized. There was the occasional thief or bandit, but no sign of Gofi.
When I looked through the eye slat of the door at the end of the hall, the cell appeared empty. I wasn’t willing to risk opening the cell just yet as it would tell the other prisoners that someone else was here. And some of them might make noise just to spite me.
Backtracking the way I came, I went down the opposite stairway, once again checking each cell until I reached the dark metal door at the end of the hall. This time, when I peeked inside, I saw Gofi, sprawled across the floor, dressed in a simple tunic and pants.
Very carefully, I put the key in the lock and turned it slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible.
“Has my transport finally arrived?” Gofi asked, unmoving.
“Gofi,” I whispered, stepping into the cell and dropping my ‘Stealth’. It seemed I was unnoticed by the other prisoners, but I couldn’t be sure that would last.
Gofi rolled up to a sitting position to face me. I could see the look of recognition on his face, then he asked, “You? What are you doing here?”
I quickly put a finger to my lips and attempted to get him to quiet down. “I need your help,” I whispered.
“With what? And how did you get in here?” Gofi asked, his voice lowering but still far too loud.
“Zemira gave me the key and is creating a distraction on the south side of the Bazaar,” I answered. “I’ll explain everything as soon as I can, but first we need to get out of here.”
“You . . . are breaking me out?” Gofi asked, still clearly confused.
I cringed at that. I was seriously worried my Goddess would be less than pleased with me over this already. I really didn’t need him reminding me of that. “Let’s call it . . . taking a walk,” I said, praying my Goddess didn’t just smite me, then I got another disembodied giggle. I really hoped that was an amused giggle.
“And where are we walking to?” Gofi asked, climbing back to his feet rather noisily.
“Out the north gate and then to the northeast to meet up with the Hunter’s Union,” I said, my voice turning cold at the mention of the Hunter’s Union. “Look, I promise to explain everything, but right now, we need to go.”
Gofi frowned but nodded. “My sister-in-law would not have given you the key nor created a way for us to escape unless it was for a very good reason. Even knowing that, I need a reason.”
“The Slavers took my friends, I’m going after them,” I said.
“Very well, I will follow you,” Gofi said, nodding after having worked out his own reasoning.
“Great, let’s go,” I said, reactivating my ‘Stealth’ skill and started leading the way out of the cell.
Unfortunately, Gofi seemed to have no understanding of the concept of quiet. He slammed the cell door open causing a loud bang as it hit the surrounding stone wall.
“Time for me to leave,” Gofi stated loudly. “May all of you Slavers hang.” He then started walking proudly with his head held high toward the stairs that would lead out of the prison. Unfortunately, instead of leaving the jail, he went up the other stairway, the one I hadn’t explored. Again, loudly, he stated, “But first, my armor.”
I would have smacked myself in the forehead if it wouldn’t have broken me from ‘Stealth’. It felt like a poorly scripted cutscene from an old Role-Playing Game.
Gofi, of course, was determined to kick the door down, never mind that I had the key. After a few failed attempts the Rhinoman stopped and rubbed his chin. “Hmm, it would seem there is a powerful magical barrier preventing me from opening this door. We will need to find a guard and take his or her key.”
“I have a key,” I hissed, breaking my ‘Stealth’.
“Ah, that is good. Please open this door for me,” Gofi requested, clearly missing my ire at his blundering about.
I opened the door quietly as I could. And once again, I reactivated my ‘Stealth’ skill, praying to my Goddess for forgiveness.
Gofi entered through the door into what looked like a storage space filled to the brim with mismatched weapons and armor, most of it probably taken from the prisoners. Gofi knocked over crates and boxes and almost an entire shelving unit as he rifled through the equipment looking for his own.
“Ah ha, found you,” Gofi shouted, as he pulled a very large crate out into an open area of the floor space. I waited while Gofi put on each piece of armor, adjusting the straps and buckles repeatedly to get the fit just right.
The idea was for us not to stand out. Wearing a full set of heavy Rhinomen armor was not inconspicuous. Then my gaze caught on what I thought was a tarp. I was very thankful when I discovered it wasn’t a tarp but an oversized cloak, one big enough to cover Gofi from view . . . mostly. His horn would still be visible but hiding it would have been nearly impossible.
“What is this?” Gofi asked when I draped the cloak around him.
“We need to sneak out of the Bazaar, if we get caught, we’re both dead,” I said, letting my ‘Stealth’ break again.
; “I hate sneaking about. It lacks honor,” Gofi complained.
“You have no room to complain about honor,” I snapped. As far as I was concerned, Gofi lost any possible honor he had when he committed the crimes that put him in this jail, waiting to be transported to the Deep Dark.
Gofi flinched and lowered his head, pulling the cowl of the cloak over his head, leaving his horn exposed. I forced him to remove his armor from the horn as an added precaution. Hopefully, he looked like any other Rhinoman.
“Good, now let’s go. Straight to the north gate and out. Do not stop for anything and if anyone recognizes you, run,” I said, activating my ‘Stealth’ skill yet again.
Gofi led the way, each footstep like a hammer being dropped. I kept worrying that the guards were going to return, and we would be caught, but no one ever came.
Outside, we followed the wall to the north gate and exited without the gate guards giving Gofi a second look. The pair of guards stationed there seemed more interested in dozing off then performing their assigned duties. I wasn’t sure if this was just another setup from Zemira, but I wasn’t going to question our good fortune.
Rose
Rose skid to a stop just in front of the entrance to the Cheetahmen Village. It was only thanks to ‘Body Control’ and the subskill ‘Sprint’ that she made it with just over three hours remaining on the timer.
Quest Alert: Rescue Operation 1 (Recommended Level 25-30)
Your friends have been taken by the Bandaka Slavers. Unfortunately, there operation is much too large for just the three of you to take down. You’re going to need help if you want to have any chance at succeeding. Recruit any help you can find within the next 03:19:15.78. Meet up at the rally point northeast of the Bazaar before time runs out.
Reward: Experience, Allies to assist in the rescue of your friends
And even then, she was forced to stop multiple times to refill her SP. But she made it. It wasn’t a place she ever wanted to go again but she went anyway.
“I need to see Tikka,” Rose finally said after catching her breath again. She ignored any questions the guards had. “Hurry!”
Both of the guards frowned but one of the two Cheetahmen guards ran inside the village, returning a moment later with Chief Tikka.
“Rose Thorns, what do you want?” Tikka asked, looking rather wary of the adventurer.
“I need your help,” Rose said. “I need as many fighters as you can muster, and I need them to come with me right now.”
“And why would we do that?” Tikka asked.
“To save your sister from a life of slavery for a start,” Rose said, hoping the direct approach would work.
“I have no sister, Chosi, my former sister, is dead to the Tribe,” Tikka answered, though Rose could clearly see it pained her to say that.
“Don’t give me that crap,” Rose replied. “I know Chosi was banished, but she is still your sister. If it was my sister, I would do whatever it took to keep her safe, even in banishment. Now, do the right thing and help me.”
Tikka looked truly torn. Rose could see the desperation in Tikka’s eyes. The desire to save her sister from such a horrible life. “I cannot help,” Tikka repeated, sounding slightly pained by the words. “As the Chief of the Cheetahmen Tribe, I must put their interests above my own. Risking their lives to save my former sister is not only selfish, but foolish.”
Rose frowned. “Fine, then how about to put a permanent stop to the Bandaka Slavers. They’ve taken some of our friends and we intend to take them back. Consider this a chance to put right what your former sister damaged,” Rose tried the second approach. Rose had been warned. Jack told her plainly. By law, Chosi was considered dead to the tribe and no matter how much her sister Tikka may have wanted to help, she couldn’t. Jack also said she would need to use the ‘stop the Slavers’ phrase to get Tikka to help. Obviously, Rose disagreed. To Rose, it didn’t matter what a culture or law said, Baby would always be her sister and no matter what evil she committed, Rose would still be there for Baby. Rose bet that Tikka would feel the same. Rose hated that Jack might have been right about this.
“And the Bandaka Slavers, they have . . . taken your friends?” Tikka asked, sounding suddenly hopeful.
Rose fought the corner of her mouth from upturning. Maybe Rose was right after all. Maybe Tikka just needed an excuse to help her ‘former’ sister. Either way, it seemed Rose was about to get all the help she needed.
“That’s right,” Rose said. “If we hurry, we can still save them.”
“Assemble the Warriors,” Tikka ordered loudly. “It is time we end the Bandaka Slavers once and for all!”
Rose smirked as the cheers went up. Within 20-minutes, Rose and thirty Cheetahmen Warriors, including Tikka, were running across the savanna, heading for the rally point.
Baby and Titan
“You know, I could probably take them all out myself,” Titan suggested.
“I know you can,” Baby replied, holding on to the railing of the new and very incomplete platform Titan was building for Perses. In truth, Baby was conflicted about asking her fiancé to just save her friends. Part of her wanted him to. Another part of her knew he wasn’t always going to be there to help when Baby and her friends got into trouble. Plus, as they had proven in the past, sometimes it’s for the best if the people of the province help to resolve the problems of the province. Was she cheating a little bit to get Titan to help her travel to the Meerkatmen Village? Maybe, but only a little. However, once she was there, it would all be on her to convince the Meerkatmen Battle Riders to help her. “This is something we need to do ourselves,” she finally answered with finality.
“Alright, but if you change your mind, I’m here for you,” Titan said, looking back over his shoulder from the driver’s seat that sat just behind Perses’ head.
Baby smiled back at him, then added, “As it is, I’m sure Bye-bye will have something for you to do.”
“Can’t wait to see what that crazy Priest comes up with,” Titan said.
Baby blushed a little at the name Titan called Bye-bye. The first part of the trip was spent with Baby relaying the grootslang fight, including what Twill, the traitorous scum, called Bye-bye during the fight. “You shouldn’t call him that. His Goddess can be really . . . sensitive,” Baby chided her fiancé.
“Alright, alright,” Titan conceded. “I still think it’s funny, but you’ve told me enough about Bye-bye’s interactions with his Goddess to believe you when you say that. But you can’t deny, Bye-bye sure does get up to some crazy stuff. I can’t help but wonder how much crazier it’s going to get?”
“We’re riding to the Meerkatmen Village to recruit the Meerkatmen Battle Riders to help fight off an army of Slavers. Do you really need crazier than that?” Baby asked.
Titan laughed loudly and snapped at the reins. “Come on, Perses, pick up the pace. We need to see just how much crazier its going to get and I don’t want to be late.”
With a lurch, Perses’s speed increased.
“Yo, Taj,” Titan greeted the leader of the Battle Riders. They ran into him along one of the patrol routes that Titan had become familiar with over the last few days.
“What brings you by so late?” Taj asked, but before an answer could be given, the Meerkatman continued. “I suppose it does not matter. I was just about done with my patrol anyway. Feel like grabbing some grub?”
Titan blanched at the suggestion of grabbing some grub. The Bearfae had found out far too late that the Meerkatmen subsisted mostly off grubs, as in the larva that eventually grows into a beetle or other insect. “I appreciate the offer, but Baby here has a request of the Battle Riders,” Titan said, then shuddered and mumbled under his breath, “Slimy yet satisfying my furry backside.”
Baby spoke quickly, just in case Taj heard Titan’s grumbling. “Slavers have taken some of my friends. We need your help to get them back.”
“Hmm, I see,” Taj said, rubbing his chin. Leaning forward to scratch the top of his
mount’s head, he asked, “What do you think, Nenda?”
The warthog squealed unintelligibly but Taj seemed to understand as he chuckled.
“Yeah, knocking around some Slavers does sound like fun,” Taj said. “Alright, I will volunteer. You will need to ask the others if they are interested. I will not order anyone to take part in this fight, nor will I leave my village defenseless. Sounds like things are going to get dangerous.”
“Thank you,” Baby said gratefully. “We need to hurry. We are under a time restriction.”
“Follow me to the village,” Taj replied, then added, “If you can.”
Titan barked out a laugh, “Let’s go Percy!”
* * *
“Bye-bye, what are we waiting for?” Gofi asked yet again. “You said there are Slavers to destroy and Beastkin to rescue. And yet, we are just standing here. Doing nothing.”
“First, I never specified it was Beastkin we were out to rescue . . . though technically true,” I said. “Second, we are waiting for my friends and hopefully a lot of back up.”
“I thought I was your back-up,” Gofi complained.
Goddess Issara give me strength. I did my best to ignore his complaints. I checked the quest again to see how much time remained.
Quest Alert: Rescue Operation 1 (Recommended Level 25-30)
Your friends have been taken by the Bandaka Slavers. Unfortunately, their operation is much too large for just the three of you to take down. You’re going to need help if you want to have any chance at succeeding. Recruit any help you can find within the next 01:47:59.03. Meet up at the rally point northeast of the Bazaar before time runs out.
Reward: Experience, Allies to assist in the rescue of your friends
Another hour and forty-seven minutes. I could have cursed. I did curse fifteen minutes later. Mercifully, Titan’s giant blue bear appeared on the horizon about ten minutes after that. More beautiful than that giant blue bear were the eight warthogs being ridden by Meerkatmen.
World Tree Online- the Endless Savanna- 3rd Dive Page 44