by Jason Cheek
They reminded me of Hollysharp. Basically the Gnomelings were just a bunch of hardcore engineers, smiths and gearheads without any filter or an understanding of socially acceptable behavior. Also, none of them particularly liked or respected the Wind Dancer Gnomelings, which I found peculiar since it seemed to evolve around their lack of engineering skills. Overall, definitely not a positive in my book since we’d just spent the time and effort to raise the lot of them from the dead.
“It sounds like he’s offering you your lives and that of your clans!” A small Gnomeling woman named Blolnat Irontouched shouted out with a snarl as she rose up into a crouch to glare at the rest of the survivors. Before anyone could comment on her words, Sub-Captain Windcoat’s voice cut through the sudden silence.
“I wonder what Prustine Hollysharp would say to that?” she asked, cocking her head at Grahorn with a raised eyebrow. I noticed more than one sharp look from the surviving clan leaders at the mention of the pink-haired engineer.
“She’d probably laugh her pretty little head off, especially after they beg for her to let them see her new inventions.” Captain Lightouch said with a laugh. “Can you imagine missing out on a whole new ship and weapon design that will revolutionize ocean going as we know it?”
“And to think, she was given the designs and technical plans to complete from a Half-Elf of all people.” Sub-Captain Windcoat added, giving me a sly wink as the survivors’ eyes, human and Gnomeling alike, turned to look at me in confusion. As I climbed unhappily to my feet, I saw several of the Gnomelings’ faces blanch as they suddenly realized who had been helping them this entire time. Before I could comment on the disrespect they’d shown to me and my people after helping them, I saw a familiar face come running up to me on nearly silent feet. Taking one look at the situation, the Gnomeling stiffened as she came to a stop before me and saluted with a fist to her chest.
“Lord Ironwolf, you’re needed at the main gate immediately.” She announced officiously. Ignoring the ripple her words sent through the survivors’ ranks, Neristhana hurriedly continued. “Sir Hemmet has returned and is near death. Fylreh is doing what she can, but his wounds are severe.”
“Just give me a second to finish up here and we’ll be on our way.” I said, nodding to Neristhana, before addressing Sub-Leader Butcher and Old Man Fortner. “I fear this means our time is running short. Get our people loaded up and ready to depart as soon as possible. I want fall back positions setup around the city to slow down any assault, so that the ships will have the time needed to clear the docks.”
“Yes, Lord Ironwolf.”
“Lord Ironwolf,” Tony hesitantly called out, rising to a knee as he waved the rest of his sailors to follow suit. “Please accept our oaths of service before you go.”
“That was my plan all along, Tony.” I said without hesitation. “It was nice having a chance to get to know you on a more personal level.”
“Lord Ironwolf, let me pledge my life to you too!” Blolnat Irontouched exclaimed as she dropped to her knee before me. “You have avenged my slaughtered clan and I am in your debt. Please … accept my life bond.”
Blolnat was the only Gnomeling that had been respectful to my people and appreciative of the aid that I’d rendered. Her blood-red, braided hair was pulled back into a single pony tail that highlighted her pale face and light-amber eyes that seemed to look into my soul. Unlike the other Gnomelings, the skin of Blolnat’s face was covered in blood-colored runes. They’d appeared as soon as her spirit had returned to her body, giving her a haunted look. I bowed my head in acceptance to both Tony and the Gnomeling.
Almost as one, the human sailors and Blolnat pledged their lives to me. It was unfortunate that I didn’t have the time to make the mini-ceremony more personable, but time was of the essence. As always, in response I dropped to a knee and offered my own oath in reply. “I accept your oaths and pledge my life, my fortune and my sacred honor in return to all of you.”
Rising to my feet, I asked my new vassals to work with my representatives as to the duties that needed to be completed. Turning to head off, I heard an outraged squawk from Radbaic Domehead and Bellbor Stouthack. “What about the rest of us? You can’t just leave us here for the Orcs or the Dread Pack to slaughter!”
“You can do whatever you want.” I growled angrily at their indignant faces. “Your ships paid the cost of resurrecting your ungrateful lives. As far as I’m concerned, you can stay in the city, head out of the city on your own, or find the humility to make my representatives believe you should be given a chance to become part of the House of Kayden.” Pointing towards Captain Lightouch and Sub-Captain Windcoat, I continued coldly. “After your rude behavior and lack of honor, as far as I’m concerned, the lot of you can fuck off.”
With that, I turned around and took off down the dock at a run with Neristhana, Helgath, and Neysa at my side. Before we even reached the cobblestone streets of the city, Helgath had swung onto Neysa’s back and was riding like a pro with her hands buried in the Silver Dire Wolf’s thick fur. Ignoring the jealous twinge in my chest, I focused on pounding feet as I headed left to race around the base of the wall.
Except for a momentary look of surprise, Neristhana shrugged and followed. While the distance was about the same, the going was much easier and bypassed climbing the hill and passing through the Warden’s fortress. Approaching the main gates, I saw all of my companions waiting for me next to Fylreh. Well, everyone accept Zinn, Alanah, Mugorlorth, Old Man Fortner, and Valith who were staying behind in Darom. Seeing my surprised looked, Neristhana shook her head.
“You think your companions would let you face the wilds alone?”
“Thank you,” I replied back, blushing at my companions’ concern for me. As I came to a stop, I saw that Fylreh looked haggard from continuously casting back-to-back heals over a bloody and bruised Sir Hemmet. The Guardian Knight’s iron armor was missing along with his sword and his black Cuttle leather was a shredded mess, while several of the blood-soaked rags that he’d used to wrap the worst of his wounds had long ago bleed through. How he’d made it back to Darom was a wonder in and of itself.
With a thought, I hit the man with a Regeneration as I knelt by his side, while the centauride dropped to her knees in utter exhaustion. The older man’s red rimmed eyes stared at me in a feverish haze as I removed the makeshift bandages. Underneath the bandages were ugly deep slash wounds in the man’s chest, shoulders, and back. All were infected with some type of poison that seemed to be rotting him from the inside out. Digging in my inventory, I pulled out a Potion of Antidote and forced it between the man’s lips, before hitting him with a Minor Mend Bones as he clutched at my chest guard with a death grip.
“You must save her!” He gasped as the feverish look began to leave his eyes. “The mercenaries betrayed us at the gates of the Telrain. They backstabbed us as newfar poured out of the gates. All of my brothers in arms were slaughtered to the last.” The veteran knight said, as he closed his eyes and shuddered at the memory.
“She wouldn’t listen to me.” He gasped, sagging back to the ground. The Potion of Antidote had done its job as the man’s health slowly began to increase on its own accord once again. With a thought, I hit him with another Regeneration. This time, his Hit Points quickly began to fill back up. “I knew entering Telrain was a gamble after the battle we’d had with the Dread Pack, but she wouldn’t hear of waiting. I’d bad mouthed you too much over the last few days for her to be open to reason once you refused to help her on her quest.”
“I didn’t refuse her quest.” I snapped angrily. “I said she had to wait until I’d raised the troopers and townsfolk of Darom as I’d promised. Besides that, I told her I wouldn’t go rushing into Telrain without scouting the situation out first.”
“You had the right of it,” Sir Hemmet stated, his face flushed in embarrassment. “Not just about scouting the city either. A noble or lord’s responsibility is to protect their people first and foremost. That has long been missin
g in the Kingdom of Kader.”
“Forgive me for my disrespect when you freed us from our imprisonment, I unjustly accused you of being a country lordling. Yet, you did what I couldn’t.” Scrabbling to his knees, he groveled on the ground before me. “There were so many things I did wrong. Don’t let my pride and my arrogance stop you from saving Princess Reeva’s life now!”
New Quest! Rescue Princess Reeva from Telrain so she can take her rightful place on the throne to rule over the Kingdom of Kader!
Princess Reeva was taken prisoner in Telrain and accused of the assassination of her father by the new King. Her execution has been set to commence in forty-two hours where she will be beheaded for her crimes against the Kingdom of Kader. Save Princess Reeva and clear her name so that she can take her rightful place on the throne and remove her younger brother who has betrayed the Kingdom to the Northern Orc tribes and the Chaos Storm guild.
Objective: Remove the new King, place Princess Reeva on her rightful throne, and prove the Chaos Storm guild’s betrayal to the Kingdom of Kader.
Time Remaining: Forty-two hours.
Difficulty: Nightmare.
Reward: Unknown.
Accept: Yes / No
Looking down at the Guardian Knight, I took a deep breath to calm my mixed emotions. If I successfully completed this quest, would Princess Reeva and the Royal Knights be on my side? Or, would it be more of the same shit I’d been forced to deal with ever since I’d rescued these ungrateful fucks? Even more messed up, was this some sort of elaborate double-cross crafted by the Chaos Storm guild leader, so they could take out my people like they’d managed to do with the Princess and her Royal Knights? Pressing my fingers to my closed eyes, I tried to think clearly.
“On my word, Lord Ironwolf,” Sir Hemmet said, his voice full of emotion, “the Royal Knights and all the Royal Forces will swear an oath to be vassals under the House of Kayden. I’ll swear to you here now if you’ll have me. All that I ask is that you save Princess Reeva from her unjust fate.”
If Sir Hemmet was willing to swear to me, then it probably wasn’t a plot as far as he knew. The man was too singly focused on honor to sell a lie like this. At the same time, I’m sure the Chaos Storm guild leader was expecting me to come. There was no doubt in my mind this was a trap. While it set them up perfectly to take out the only person that could challenge their rule in the Kingdom of Kader, it would also be the perfect time to take me and all of my forces out of the picture. If that was the case, then how could I turn this trap back on them?
Slowly, a plan began to take shape in my mind. It wasn’t pretty, but, if it worked, it would knock the Chaos Storm guild and their alliance back on their heels. Even if it wasn’t some elaborate plan to fuck us over like I thought it was, it would just take some extra work in putting the contingency plans in place. First off, I’d have to talk to my friends and see what they could figure out. Then, I’d have to get an oath from Sir Hemmet and find out how he made it back to Darom after everything he’d been through.
Startum Ironwolf: Yo, AJ, did you get my email this morning?
Akrix Ragen: Sup Jay! About time you messaged me in-game.
Startum Ironwolf: About time I messaged you?!? Am I speaking to Jill or is it Kris? Because, I didn’t expect my friend AJ to be such a high maintenance little-
Akrix Regen: Suck it, Jay! Or, I’ll let you pass your requests through Hefe.
Startum Ironwolf: I’ve missed playing with you guys so much.
Akrix Regen: What you need man?
Startum Ironwolf: Have you guys had a chance to check out the situation in Telrain?
Akrix Regen: Dude, this place is so fucked! The Princess was just arrested and accused of treason by a bunch of players in guard uniforms. It was brutal as hell man. They slaughtered everyone but the princess. Then they dragged her through the streets in chains. If not for the fact that they dismissed the Royal Army and have two thousand players walking around the city acting like guards, I’d swear the whole city would’ve blown the fuck up!
Startum Ironwolf: What did they do with all of the Royal Knights’ bodies?
Akrix Regen: They have a massive pit where they’ve been tossing anyone who complains about what’s going on. It’s some Genghis Khan level of brutality going on around here.
Startum Ironwolf: Can you do me a favor? Can you ask Krystal to start resurrecting everyone up that she can, while you find where the surviving leader of the Royal Forces are hiding? Also, I have some friends coming from the southeast who should be hitting the outskirts of the city around seven this evening. If you could be on the lookout for them and help them get settled in, that would be awesome.
Akrix Regen: Sure, no problem. We’ll take care of raising the dead and helping your friends. Although, I’m not sure how much help unarmed and naked NPCs are going to be in a fight.
Startum Ironwolf: Hopefully, they don’t need to be if my plan works out.
Quickly, I laid out the details. We talked back and forth tweaking things for a good five minutes before AJ was satisfied. As we wrapped it up, AJ started bitching again.
Akrix Regen: You’re going to be owing me for running roughshod over Bonnie Jean and Hefe.
Startum Ironwolf: Don’t you mean Bonnie Smash?
Akrix Regen: Yeah, Bonnie Jean is her IRL name.
Startum Ironwolf: Well damn, Hefe has an IRL girlfriend.
Akrix Regen: That’s yet to be seen. She still has to meet him IRL yet.
Startum Ironwolf: Aright … alright, I’ll owe you if you can pull this off with those two lending a hand. Okay, I’m going to be OoT until I reach Telrain.
Akrix Regen: OoT?
Startum Ironwolf: Out of Touch, fool!
Akrix Regen: TTYL
Startum Ironwolf: Later man.
Looking down at Sir Hemmet, I accepted the quest and met the man’s hard eyes. “Swear your oath and then tell me how you made it back to Darom alive.”
Rising up to one knee, Sir Hemmet swore his life to me. There was no hesitation in his eyes as he swore to serve me until death. I accepted his oath and pledged my life and sacred honor in return. While it didn’t have the fanfare that our first oath taking had, it was simple and from the heart. Upon completion, I sat down in front of him on the cobblestones and handed him some food and water to recover his strength as he launched into his story.
It started from when they’d emptied out the Royal Stables in Darom. Shortly upon entering the woods, they’d run into Milo Hawkin and his Mercenary unit. The Iron Falcon leader had expressed his concern about what was going on in Telrain with their families, explaining that they were headed to Telrain. Due to the level of the mounts, the horses could ride double, so they’d agreed to join forces.
It had taken only five hours to reach the outskirts of the city. Before entering the gates, they’d taken the time to freshen up and prepare their gear. Thinking back over it now, that’s when Sir Hemmet thought Hawkin had betrayed them. They’d mounted up to ride into the city a half an hour later, but before they’d even passed through the gate, the mercenaries had attacked.
Everyone but the Guardian Knights and the Princess had taken a Backstab. In the confusion, the majority of the Royal Knights had been dumped from their saddles. Before they even knew what was happening, hundreds of newfar came streaming out of the city gates. The battle was over before it had even begun. Sir Hemmet had been knocked unconscious at the beginning of the fight. He’d come to hours later, stripped of his gear and buried under a pile of corpses in some pit of horror outside of the capital.
Climbing out from under the dead, Sir Hemmet had managed to slip away during the middle of the night. That’s when he’d realized his health had been halved. Whatever the injury was, it hadn’t let his body heal further. Knowing he had to get help, he’d taken off through the forest back to Darom. That was where the rest of his injuries had come from. He’d fought through several wolf packs, but it wasn’t until he’d been attacked by poisonous spiders, that he’
d run into any real trouble. Even though he’d slaughtered them all, he’d been fatally poisoned and had barely reached the gates before collapsing, which was when Fylreh had started healing him.
Looking over his injuries, it all made sense. He’d probably had a skull fracture from the battle that couldn’t heal naturally, I thought, looking at the dried blood on his scalp and face. The shredded arms and legs on his armor from the wolf attacks were clear enough to see. Even the part of the story about the spiders and their poison fit. He could still be lying, but honestly, I didn’t think so. Either way, we wouldn’t enter the city without being prepared.
Standing up, I held up a soul stone nodding to my companions and Fylreh. “Use only newfars for your zombies.” Double checking to make sure everyone had heard me, I began raising my own pets. Less than thirteen minutes later we were ready to go. That is to say, everyone else waited on me to raise my twelve pets, since only Keela and Neristhana had more than one pet slot. Including Neysa, we were a force of ten with a group of twenty-two zombies. Waving to the Kayden Troopers guarding the gate, we headed out of the city at a run.
I directed Sir Hemmet to lead the way, asking him to follow the same path he’d taken to reach Darom. As the Guardian Knight led us across the frozen field that sat between the city’s walls and the temperate deciduous forest, I signaled for Neysa and Helgath, who was on her back, to scout ahead for trouble. The fields outside of the city held no structures, but were set up as a straight up killing field a hundred yards wide. Perfect for taking out attackers on foot.
The forest ahead of us was somewhat deceptive. At first look, the trees looked far enough apart that we could easily see deeper into the woods, especially since most of the trees had lost their leaves and were covered in frost. As we neared the edge, the perspective quickly changed. There was so many densely packed trunks that the light began to fade into a twilight as soon as you entered into the forest. There were enough oaks, maples, and beeches to almost fully block the sunlight from overhead. In-between the base of the trees were frost covered shrubs and young sprouts that blocked ones’ sight for more than anything beyond twenty feet out.