The only person on hand that seemed to not be completely flat-footed by this turnaround was Burndall. The kid stepped a little away from where we were standing, in between our group and the little cluster of nervous-looking recruits, and turned back to face us, a hand on one hip.
“Well, no offense at all to your folks, Nahma,” he said, “but I can’t blame them, not with what I’ve heard.”
I took the obvious bait. “What did you hear? I’ve been busy with stuff … up there.” I gestured vaguely up towards the skies.
“I think most of us have,” Kayla agreed.
Burnie nodded and smiled. “I figured, which is why I’ve been using my, uh, independence to keep an ear to the ground, er, Internet.” That smile faded a bit, turning more into a faint scowl. “And what that ear’s heard isn’t good. The fact is that biscuit burner Thadivus has been throwing massive shade all afternoon since we turned him down.”
My gut was already sinking. “Why don’t you spell that out for us?”
“It’s straight-forward enough. Maybe an hour after I logged, I got a blip on my news feed,” he explained. “Old Thaddy did an interview in the deep dive with representatives from the big gaming blogs as soon as he was done with us. A lot of it was what you’d expect, talking about Crystalfire and what El Rec’s plans for it, but he added on a good ten minutes to bash us. You know, take the basics of our little talk and twist it to make us look like a bunch of idiots. He said that we obviously didn’t know what we were doing, that we had gotten this far purely on luck, and as proof, he used the fact we turned down the help of El Rec and the Sisters.”
Burnie scoffed. “Naturally, he failed to mention how much of a buffalo him and Ammy were being and the demands they tried to put on us.”
Nahma practically gasped. “Wouldn’t they vet the story? Ask one of you all if this was true or not?”
“Why would they?” Crysta sighed as she flopped onto the hard-packed earth, leaning back on her hands. “Thadivus is, like, the biggest media start our server’s got. Sure, they might get around to asking us what happened, but they sure aren’t going to stop from posting the interview everywhere.”
“Which means that a ton of players have already read it and a ton more are going to,” Kayla added as she glanced over at Nahma. “No offense intended to your guildies but they strike me as the kind that really pays attention to the server news and the blogosphere. With how much influence Thadivus has, it would explain everything.”
The Ember facepalmed, hiding his mortified expression behind his leather-gloved hands. “This is horrible, simply horrible.” A sigh penetrated through those hands. “I’m so sorry. I thought we would finally be able to help you Firsters out, but it looks like we’re going to fall short.”
This was bad, not only because of what it was doing to Nahma’s guild but because it meant that Thadivus would only be a continual problem in the future. I tried to contain the onrush of panic and focused on keeping morale up.
“Look, it’s okay, Nahma. Don’t beat yourself up over something that isn’t your fault.” Taking a step toward the trio of possible candidates we did have, I planted my hands on my hips. “If you’re willing to join us, that still makes four champions. That’s almost a second group and only one short of the number we need.”
There was no need to go over the thousands of ‘ifs’ that I should have tagged along with that and I sure as heck wasn’t going to go over just how much higher the stakes had been raised now.
At least Burnie was eager to back me up. “The boss is right. We’ve still got over two days to get one last one and I’m sure you brought us some really kick petunia recruits!”
“Yeah, they have to be,” Crysta chimed in as she rose back to her feet. There was a certain desperation in her voice, the kind that you get when you’re scraping for any last bit of hope in a bad situation. “Let’s meet them and, like, we can figure it out from there, right?”
“We should,” Kayla added. Her tone was the most even out of all of us, but I could swear I felt her eyes boring into the back of my head. I couldn’t think why so I chalked it up to my considerably worried nerves. “Thanks for explaining things, Burnie. Maybe we can put together some sort of counter-information, get our side of things out there.”
“Hey, if you can put together the story or, even better, if maybe you and Shale are up for some of these guys to interview you, I’ll be happy to set things up,” the Sorcerer nodded. He joined up with me, as did the others, and we all walked across the snowy outpost to our potential new allies.
Those few moments gave me a chance to take a closer look at the three of them. With a glance, I could see names, guilds, classes, levels, and chosen roles, which was a start. I scanned through them, trying to add my visual assessment to the facts I already had. They were all in the FFC-WUSA guild, obviously, but from there, it was quite the variety.
The first was a Nix woman named Merina whose pale skin reminded me of Kayla, but that was the only similarity. In fact, in every other way, Merina was almost Kayla’s opposite outside of an intrinsic gracefulness. Kayla was short and slight while Merina was tall and stocky, with the build of a gymnast or ballet dancer. Considering her chosen class was Dancer, there might have been more than some truth to that assessment. Again, unlike Kayla’s floating blue mane, Merina’s hair was green and wet, woven into kelp-like strands before being tied back into a high ponytail, and her green eyes were so dark, they were almost like a storm-darkened ocean.
Unlike the other two, Merina was level 60, maxed out, and her garb of flowing scarlet dancer’s silks made me think more of the Fire Sultanate than the Ocean Mother’s court. Oddly, her role was set for Support, something that Dancers normally didn’t do, being proficient more as tanks and damage-dealers. Despite that little oddity, she seemed nonplussed, one hand resting on her hip as she swayed slightly to a beat I couldn’t hear.
Next was Vindril, an Aurum Vanguard, the prototypical knight-in-shining-armor class. Probably the oldest person here, he was mostly bald, with a crown of stringy, storm grey hair sticking out to all sides and a wispy beard off his chin. It was hard to tell how much of his size was bulky plate armor and how much was the man underneath, but he was almost as wide as I was in my Craggar body and a few inches taller. While Vanguards were versatile warrior-types capable of both tanking and dishing out the pain based on their builds, Vindril had obviously focused his build on damage if the pair of heavy flanged maces at his sides were any indication.
Though he wasn’t maxed out like Merina, only being level 23, Vindril carried himself with a rigid, disciplined bearing, his gold eyes sparking with lightning. My first guess was that he had a past with the military or law enforcement, something that infused some unbending iron in his backbone. That sort of discipline and knowledge could be a real boon, but it could also be a problem if that discipline kept him from being able to think outside of the box.
An Ember girl was last in line and I don’t mean that in some pejorative way. If Vindril was the oldest by far (in his fifties or sixties by my guess), Dunya was younger than even Burnie. She had to be in her teens but past that it was hard to tell. A Bladesaint by class, Dunya was also the shortest among us, no more than five feet tall if that, and it was hard to see much of her features past her blazing red eyes, her face and head covered by an elaborate white headscarf with a golden crown. Like my own gear, her armor and clothes were a motley patchwork, green silk robes mixed with blue-pained spiked plate boots, black lacquered chain mail sleeves poking out of the robe’s short sleeves to run into white silk handwraps embroidered with mystic sigils.
Though I couldn’t read much from Dunya, her impatience shone through, her fingers rapping against the cross guard of her massive scimitar. Oh, yes, I forgot to mention the golden bladed sword that was almost as tall, maybe taller, then the girl who carried it. I didn’t know my DPS drops as much as I should, it still looked awfully impressive for the level 48 Dunya to have.
Nahma practical
ly bounced ahead of us, his good humor returning as quickly as it had fallen, to make proper introductions. “Guys, I’m so sorry to keep you waiting!” he told them as he swept his arm back at us. “I don’t need to introduce the Firsters, I know, so I’ll just introduce ourselves.”
The Shadow took his own place in the line-up, something that raised his stock in my eyes a little more. “I’m Nahma, which I guess is a little stupid to say because you all know me.” He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “Uh, anyway, I’m ready and willing to do everything I can to help you get through the Keep! I’m nowhere near raid level but I’ve done well in the dungeons I’ve had a chance to try out.”
While Nahma gestured Merina on his right, our group chat perked up as we began to make our sentiments vocal.
Burndall: We need deeps, for sure, and Nahma is a good guy.
Shale: He’s only in his thirties level-wise but that isn’t what’s important.
Kayla: My only worry is that he might be too eager to please. The whole idea is to, well, think outside of the box. What if he sticks too close to what we say or isn’t willing to challenge us if we are going down the wrong path?
Crysta: You might be right, Kayla, but, like, beggars can’t be choosers at this point. He totally deserves a shot.
Wazif: You all gave me a shot and Nahma’s just as passionate.
“Here’s Merina,” Nahma continued. “She’s one of the most experienced folks in the FFC and she’s been super handy in helping people out with quests and dungeons this past month.”
The Dancer smiled as she made an elaborate, flourishing bow. “My pleasure, Nahma.” Her eyes passed over us. “I hope you give me the chance to be as helpful to you as I’ve been to the FFC … and don’t try to hide the fact that you’ve all quirked an eye at my choice of role. I know Dancers are usually tanks or maybe damage dealers, I know, and you’re probably concerned whether I can actually do the support job or not.”
“We aren’t the kind of folks that judge like that,” I assured her. “Come on, I’m a Warlord. Who am I to judge anybody on their choices?”
Crossing her arms defensively, Merina tutted. “Sure, but at least Warlords are supposed to be tanks.”
“Maybe I’m wrong, but it sounds like you’re trying to argue against yourself,” I pointed out. “Look, if you say you can do it – “
“We believe you,” Kayla finished … or maybe it was Crysta or Burnie or Wazif. My friends all chimed in more or less at the same time. Looked like there was no need for a group chat conference on this one.
Merina’s guard faltered a little as her smile brightened a hair. “Well, okay, if you’re sure. If you said no, it wouldn’t be the first time so don’t feel bad if you change your mind later.”
“For now,” I concluded, “consider it settled. You’re in. You too, Nahma.”
Nahma looked like the kid who got free reign in the candy shop while Merina gave me a solemn nod. “I won’t let you down, Mr. Shale!” The Ember moved down the line to the older Aurum. “This is Vindril. He’s only been in the FFC for a week but he’s really smart and great in a fight.”
Vindril saluted, his armor rattling at the crisp, clean motion. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all in the flesh, so to speak.” Returning to that sort of at-ease posture, he cleared his throat. “Now, I’ve only been in the game for a couple of months now but that’s been long enough to hear people like Thadivus and all those raid guild folks talking as if they’ve been through wars or something. As someone who shaved wombats in the Sierra Mountains, that sort of talk gets my gander or whatever it is you young folk say to express your frustration.”
He tugged on his beard, grumbling. “I don’t know how you deal with that Filter. Just when you want to get to know someone, it butts its stupid head in.” He shook his head. “As for what I think I can bring to your little strike team, I have a cool head in tough situations and I’ll give you every bit of loyalty you show me. I won’t be letting someone doing a smear piece turn my mind is what I’m saying.”
Kayla: Those are solid points in his favor. I think we can all read between the lines on what he’s trying to say.
Burndall: Yeah, I guess. Hope dude knows how to have fun though. I know we’ve got this big important thing to do, but this is still a game, right?
Crysta: Some days, I wonder, Burnie.
Shale: I think we’re in basic agreement then because I don’t have anything to add. Wazif?
Wazif: Vin’s a good man and it will be great not being the old fart on the team.
I nodded to the old man. “I think you can ask any one of us, but loyalty is how we roll. We’re friends more than gaming partners at this point, so if you’re willing to try, we’d like to be friends with you too.”
Vindril grinned a bit and snapped another salute, this one a little looser. “I won’t let you down, sarge.”
That nickname felt odd, something I certainly didn’t deserve, but I figured it’d offend Vindril not to accept it. I smiled and turned to the little Ember girl. Nahma was stepping beside her about to open his mouth when she cut him off with her own words.
“I’m Dunya and there’s nobody on this server that can deal damage better than me.” It was the kind of cocky thing I would have said when I was her age and she wasn’t done, hanging from the cross guard of her scimitar as if they were a fancy jungle gym.
Burndall: Dude, I take offense at that!
Kayla: I’m not quite where Burnie is but that is a big claim she’s making. Be careful, Max.
Between Dunya’s bold as brass claim and the chatter in my mind, I was caught off guard for a moment but only a moment. “You won’t find me arguing that, but to be fair, I’ve seen some pretty impressive DPS players in my time.” Dunya’s eyes blazed and before she could fire off a blistering retort, I pushed on, “But most people think Bladesaints are bottom tier just like Warlords. If anyone knows better, I think it’s me.”
Her hooded head quirked to one side and I think she was grinning like a cat under her mask. “You should, yeah. After hearing about how you Firsters beat the raiders up to now, I knew I had to meet you guys and offer to help. If there’s any way to show the whole server how awesome my class can be, this is it.”
Crysta: I’m behind Shale on this one. Like, Rangers aren’t full Supports either, but I found a way to make it work.
Burndall: North Dakota, I kind of want her in the group just so I can prove her wrong!
Kayla: Well, I’m still on the fence about her claims but a little friendly competition in the raid can help spur everyone on to do better.
Wazif: Besides, friends, Dunya’s still a teen. She’s a good kid under all the storm and fire. She’ll do fine by us, Shale, trust me.
Mentally acknowledging the group chat, I matched her probably grin with my own. “That’s as good a cause as any. Welcome to the team, Dunya.”
The girl dropped off her scimitar and wrested it up by the proper handle, spinning the massive weapon with a grace and power I would never have expected. However, she had gemmed and geared, it looked to be working out fine for her. If these folks could back up their claims, the rewards from the Crystalfire quest chain should be enough to get them up to snuff.
Of course, that was assuming it didn’t go south. On top of that, there was a critical issue in our new line-up outside of the lack of a tenth member. It rattled around in the back of my mind as I went around and invited everyone into the extended raid group, but it was Crysta that pointed it out first.
“Like, I know you guys are going to do totally awesome,” she said with a measure of her usual perkiness, “but you’re the only tank we’ve got, Shale. That’s cool and all, and I’m not asking anyone to change anything, but – “
I finished for her, saying what had been whirling in my mind. “Two groups should mean two tanks, right? I may not have done any raids myself but I’ve done my research.”
As the new members popped up in my raid UI, added arcs of color across my visi
on, Merina spun artfully as she settled down into an elegantly seated position. “I’m not going to say that you’re wrong, not from the few little alliances I’ve been with that would bother giving me a shot at raids, but we don’t know for sure how Crystalfire will be, do we?”
“To add to Merina’s point, sarge,” Vindril added, “superior tactics and force deployment can counteract conventional weaknesses in a battle. Even if we get into a fight that would usually call for two defensive units, we can think of a way around that, I would assume.”
Nahma looked a bit lost but smiled anyway. “There’s always the good chance, Mrs. Crysta, that your show of support to the FFC by bringing us into this may change the minds of others, bring more recruits out.”
The Ranger paled visibly (a true feat with how pale she already was) at Nahma’s use of that particular honorific and glanced off and away. “Maybe,” she murmured.
I glanced sidelong at Kayla to see her looking back at me with a vague frown. We both knew what was wrong and we were both worried. All I could do, though, was what I did, sending a private message to Crysta.
Shale: She’ll be okay. After today, I’m surer of that than ever.
Crysta: I hope so. I’m sorry. I’ll try to focus.
Shale: No need to be sorry. We’ll talk more later.
Kayla, I was pretty sure, was offering the same platitudes, if a little more generically, at the same time. Part of me wondered if what I was doing was the right thing to do. Experimental treatments could mean anything and while I was certain about Dr. Fontaine’s expertise, I often questioned her motives. Still, it was for the best to keep Crysta’s hopes high, right?
Our new friends didn’t quite notice the sudden turn or at least didn’t make a deal out of it.
“As long as you don’t ask me to tank, we’re good,” Dunya declared. “Besides, with me on the team, we’ll burn everything down faster, so we won’t need two tanks.”
Burndall scoffed. “We’ll see, short stuff. You haven’t seen what yours truly can do yet.”
Crystalfire Keep Page 10