“Yeah, it’s a bright wave of white light, expanding all around me,” I replied.
“Then you stand behind me,” ordered Trinico, joining us. She looked different or rather her clothes did, she wore bright white robes and hood, both had an ethereal glow.
“Why?” I asked.
“So, they do not know you were the source. As long as they think it was a Citizen that cast the spell, maybe they will be more cautious in the future,” Trinico answered.
“A bluff,” Olaf said, grinning slightly. “If the PK’ers think a Citizen cast the spell, it will create a ripple doubt in the PKer community.”
“Exactly,” said Trinico, a comforting smile present, as always, on her face.
“Still missing 20, but Doc B and his people just entered. The raiding party will know something is up soon,” interrupted Sergeant Butters.
I looked for the scout to see he was gone and cursed. “The scout is gone, sorry, I lost track of him.”
“It is fine, we are pretty much ready to go now anyway,” the sergeant said, trying to reassure me.
I scanned our surroundings but didn’t see anyone on the peripheral. It was a few more minutes of waiting before the red aura returned. The raiding party was coming as one giant group, laughing and talking loudly as they walked up.
“Are they stupid?” whispered Olaf. “Surely they must know we have some kind of trick by now.”
“PK’ers are idiots. They probably think this is our way of surrendering or something even stupider,” I offered.
The group stopped about a hundred yards back. Then one man walked forward, the level 47, the highest-level player of the bunch. He stopped about fifty-yards away from us then motioned us to join him.
“I’ll go,” I volunteered.
“Are you sure that is wise?” asked Sergeant Butters.
“Yes, worse comes to worse, my spell is instant. If he swings on me, I’ll trigger it. That close it will hit all of the raiders,” I answered.
“Have faith,” said Trinico. “The gods and goddesses are with us.”
As I walked toward the waiting killer, I half expected the obligatory tumbleweed to go rolling past. But it wasn’t high noon or an old western and there was no tumbleweed to be found.
I swallowed once and took a few calming breaths before taking the last dozen steps to parlay with the murderous PKer. Walking toward him, I took a moment to observe my enemy. He was probably a few inches shorter than me, but between his boots and overly large hat, he was nearly the same height. He wore a bright red leather jacket and had a cutlass sword strapped to each hip. The curly mustache and small goatee finished the man’s look. The more I looked, the more I was sure he was going for a pirate look, it was very cliché.
“You got guts kid, I’ll give you that. Not much for brains, but plenty of guts,” he greeted me, smirking as if he was ultimately superior to me in every way. He had 376 judgments against him, if I accomplished nothing else today, I would kill this man.
I shrugged, trying for nonchalance. “Probably more along the line of, I’m expendable.”
The man laughed. “What’s your name?” the PKer asked.
“Can’t read?” I asked him, pointing above my head.
Apparently, he didn’t appreciate my joke, his hand twitched toward one of the swords at his waist. “I was trying to be polite before I kill you and all the people behind you. If you don’t care to observe the niceties, I can just kill you now and see if the next guy they send out will,” the PKer retorted.
“Fine, calm down,” I tried to placate the man. “I’m Bye-bye.”
“Six Fingers,” he introduced himself.
“So, why the parlay?” I asked.
“I wanted to see what was happening. What would cause the people to gather like this? Maybe, I hoping to get a little explanation. I know you can’t be planning to fight back. All you’ve got is an old level 38 NPC warrior and I’m guessing a level 36 NPC priest. So please, enlighten me,” Six Fingers replied, his gaze directed behind me.
“We’re going to kill you to the last man,” I replied, smiling as friendly a smile as I could muster.
Six Fingers just laughed. “Kill us? And just how do you plan to do that?”
“The Goddess Issara is angry,” I responded, trying to sound confident.
“Oh, which impotent wet blanket is that?” asked Six Fingers insultingly.
Thunder boomed loudly above me before my vision was filled with white light, as lightning struck all around me and Six Fingers, but not actually hitting either of us.
“The Goddess Issara is the goddess of Justice and Retribution. She has this thing about murderers like yourself. I mean, you have killed 376 civilians, and players whose levels are more than 20 below your own.”
Six just shook his head, clicking his tongue. “Like I said, an impotent wet blanket doesn’t even have the power to strike me down.”
Thunder sounded above and more lightning arced from the sky this time hitting the tip of my spear causing it to glow white hot. When I saw the ‘Divinity’s Touch’ buff applied, I wondered what it would do, but I didn’t think I’d have much time to look for a description.
“Ooh, fancy light show,” taunted Six Fingers.
“Huh, you have no idea what you’ve brought down upon yourself and the others, do you? As they say, you can’t help stupid,” I said finally hitting the limit of my patience. “Justice Bringer,” I stated clearly, causing a pulse of white light to explode from me and spread like a giant shockwave of light, doing no damage at all but placing the debuff ‘Scaled Justice’ on all those present.
“And what was that supposed to do?” asked Six Fingers.
“This,” I said, reaching my spear forward and gently touching it to the unsuspecting man’s chest. Lightning arced from the point of contact and continue through his body, shooting into the mass of murderers behind him. His body literally disintegrated into ash as did those who were struck behind him, cutting the raid in half in an instant. There was no damage listed, the men were just dead and gone.
When the light faded I could hear cheering behind me along with the stomping of feet, the sound of a charge, but I saw the looks of utter silent shock in front of me, the murderers, for the most part, looked horrified and scared with few exceptions.
“Charge!” called Sergeant Butters, leading the way. As soon as they caught up to me I joined the charge, picking a target ahead of me and running with the pack.
The raiding party was already broken after watching their leader so ruthlessly extinguished, along with half their group in a single attack. Most of them turned to flee. A few of the stubborn ones tried to fight, only find out their level advantage meant nothing as they were fallen upon by guards and the braver citizens, like locusts to a crop.
In the end, I’d kept my word, they died to the last man. The party following our victory would be the talk of the town for at least the next week, and the story would no doubt travel to Root City and the other provinces, spreading a wildfire of rumors. As for me, my secret, or at least part of it, was out now and there was no going back.
Chapter 14
“Three cheers for Bye-bye,” shouted Gavin, raising a pint of beer into the air. The area in front of the townhall had become a massive celebration. All of the town turned out to celebrate, or at least most of it. There were torches set up and lanterns slung between buildings, lighting the entire boulevard leading up to the townhall. A band had materialized at some point along with a makeshift bandstand. Dogson and a man that went by Doc B set up a makeshift bar. Kids were running about with sparklers and playing games. Girls flirted relentlessly with me, which was both a blessing and a curse.
“Hip-hip-hooray,” chorused three times from the revelers.
“Did you shee it?” asked Micaela, yet again. “It was all like, whoosh-crackle-kaboom.”
“Yes, I saw it,” said Olaf. “I was even closer than you were.”
“God, how aweshome was that?” she asked
, giddy as can be and also getting pretty tipsy.
I could only laugh, my mug clanking against anyone that came near, not getting a chance to actually drink my beer.
“I have to say, Bye-bye,” said Olaf, his voice taking a more serious tone. “That might have been the most awesome thing I have ever seen.”
“It was pretty cool,” I commented, trying to downplay it. “It was more my Goddess’s work, than my own.”
“Yeah, and we’re never getting on the bad shide of her . . . ever,” said Micaela.
“No, we are not,” agreed Olaf. “Did that idiot actually say that about her?”
“Well, I don’t think the man had ever truly faced off with a god or goddess, Six Fingers had no idea what he was starting,” I answered. Honestly, I hadn’t given much thought to what it meant to be a god or goddess, or what kind of power one might wield in this world. I knew I would have a healthy amount of respect toward her, or any god for that matter, going forward.
“Right, so we also will never speak badly about a god or goddess. I know Maggie gave us that warning about being careful with what we say regarding gods and goddesses, but I never imagined that could happen,” commented Olaf, the man then hefted his large mug and started guzzling.
It seemed to me, he also now had a healthy amount of respect.
“I’m going to take a walk,” I said, standing. “I need to clear my head.” I moved quickly to depart before anyone could protest. I just needed to get out of there.
My walk carried me down the street and away from the loudest of partygoers. Eventually, they carried me inside the temple. I didn’t know where to look or which altar it was I should visit, but I needed to pay my respects and give thanks.
There were all kinds of statues, altars and representations of gods and goddess spread throughout the temple. I don’t know how long I wandered around inside the temple when I stopped in front of a small altar. On the table stood a small statue of a woman, she wore armor but no helm. Her head instead bore bandages, wrapped around her head, covering one eye. She held a torch up in one hand, glowing with an otherworldly light. In her other hand, she held the pommel of a sword that had its tip stabbed into the ground.
“The Goddess Issara, I see you have found her,” said a voice behind me, startling me.
“Trini, you scared me,” I said, looking to her and giving her a small smile before looking again at the statue.
“Have you come to pray?” asked Trinico, stepping up beside me.
“Maybe,” I replied. “I don’t really know how to pray. Is there any specific format here?”
“Some gods and goddesses require certain niceties be observed. But for the Goddess Issara, as her only priest, only you would know if there is something you are supposed to do.”
“She didn’t exactly give me an instruction manual,” I retorted, joking lightly. I was rewarded with a thump to my head by Trinico’s staff. “Sorry.”
“For you, I would just try talking to her,” suggested Trinico. “I will leave you to it.” With that she walked on, doing some kind of check of the temple or maybe offering evening prayers to different gods.
“Hello,” I said lamely. I did not expect a reply.
Greetings my little Warrior Priest.
That shook me, even more than Trinico sneaking up on me. The fact that I now heard a light laugh coming from nowhere and everywhere, did not make me feel any better about it. Looking around, the room also seemed brighter somehow.
“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” I groused before realizing what I was doing. “Sorry, didn’t mean to offend.”
You worry too much. I chose you for a reason, it had nothing to do with your etiquette or lack thereof.
“Why did you choose me?” I asked, a kernel of self-doubt rearing within me.
I gave you a chance because you wanted justice that was deserved. I chose to keep you after you followed through and earned much-deserved retribution on that thug. I was proud of you then. Even knowing you had little hope of winning that first fight, you still went to face him. You had faith in me without knowing me or what I represented. You have earned your place as my Warrior Priest.
Sadly, my faith in you was shaken. I started to have doubts about you as you tried to keep your link to me a secret. You were even willing to put people at risk to protect yourself. I did not make you my Warrior Priest, so you could hide and watch injustice flourish.
But tonight, you proved yourself to me yet again. Tonight, you chose to serve justice and to protect the innocent. You even did so, over protecting what you felt had to be a secret.
I felt pride when she said that, but also shame. I was still worried about what would happen to me now, my being a Priest of Issara would begin to spread throughout the World Tree.
You worry too much. What will come, will come? Tonight, you dropped a pebble onto still waters. You cannot yet see the waves for good or for ill.
“So, I should just hope this doesn’t backfire?” I asked, feeling heat creep into my cheeks. Maybe it was the alcohol giving me the courage to speak to her this way, but I had to speak. “What about all the people here that are now at risk? You think the Adventurers I slaughtered here won’t come back looking for revenge? That some other guild won’t take this as a challenge? I’m selfish you know, I just want to have a grand adventure. I want to explore and see everything the World Tree has to offer. I can’t do that if I’m constantly having to protect towns and villages, or even ‘villes’, from raiding parties similar to what happened tonight.”
You exist, that is enough. You may not understand everything just yet, but the fact you exist is a deterrent. And as you have already experienced, not only will the citizens stand with you, but so too with the adventurers.
“I think you underestimate how much hate and anger those murderers possess,” I snapped, feeling angry now. I guess I was feeling trapped after everything that happened tonight. That earlier feeling of not minding that my secret got out, had long since vanished. It would have been one thing if tonight had actually been a fair fight like we’d originally planned for, but after Issara interfered the way she did, it would cause a backlash. Players would be in an uproar over this. I could hardly believe the developers hadn’t already stepped in to undo it all.
I supposed I expected Issara to get angry with me now, maybe take away my class, but she didn’t. She actually giggled a light tinkling laugh.
You are such a silly boy. Look upon that statue meant to represent me. What do you see?
I wanted to rage, how could she laugh at me, to make light of my fears and concerns. Didn’t she understand the dangers she created tonight? Still, I indulged her. “An injured Goddess looking for a way to escape responsibility,” I snarked and was rewarded with thunder rumbling around me and shaking the room. I guess I had finally pushed too far.
What do you see?
Her demand sounded much harsher this time, her humor gone. It served to stifle some of my resentment and anger, replacing it with the temporarily forgotten respect she deserved.
I looked at the statue again and tried to take it in again. To really see it. “The bandage on your head does speak of injury. The covered eye is reminiscent of the idea that justice is blind. I think, maybe it means justice was hurt or injured, or that justice could not be blind to those injured by it.” I felt this ring too close to my own beliefs regarding justice.
Continue.
My eyes were drawn to the armor and sword. “Justice should be used to protect others, but it must also be prepared to fight.” Finally, I looked at the torch. “The torch is the light, a guiding light to follow forward. Maybe where law and order are light, and the darkness is chaos.”
Close, what stands behind me?
I looked again, I hadn’t looked behind the statue before. When I did, I wasn’t sure what to think. There were people, droves of them stretching to the wall of the alcove. The wall was painted to look as if the line of people went on forever. “It’s more than just a guiding l
ight. It’s about being the light, showing the people the way forward. You set the example for the people to follow.”
Who are you?
“If I represent your power in this world, then I am also the light. I am also to set the example.”
Can you?
“I don’t know,” I answered, my previous fear and concerns, about what she expected from me, reared up again.
Nor should you. The hero is made in the moment. Tonight, you acted as the hero, ignoring any possible consequences. When the next moment comes, will you be the hero again? Only time will tell, but know this, I have put my faith in you. I believe you can, and will, be the hero I thought you could be when I gave you that first chance.
“I’m afraid,” I replied. And I was afraid. It was so much responsibility and now so many people would be gunning for me. And those who couldn’t hurt me would hurt those I’ve come to care about, the overly real NPC’s in this village for example.
Fear not, for I am with you always. Now, I charge you, share your knowledge and protect the World Tree.
Class Quest Alert: Share your knowledge and Protect the World Tree
The Goddess Issara has charged you to share your knowledge to protect the World Tree. Speak with Priestess Trinico to begin.
Reward: Experience, Hidden
Share my knowledge, what knowledge? I’m only a Novice Warrior Priest. What knowledge could I possibly have to share?
The room seemed to dim on me and I knew Issara had gone. Part of me wanted to lash out and smash that stupid statue, but a larger more rational part of me knew it would be wrong.
I finally sighed, not defeated, but certainly worn down. I had been standing there, lost in thought, for far too long. I went in search of Trinico, hoping to resolve whatever the goddess wanted from me with this latest quest. When I found her, she and the sergeant were sitting in one of the pews talking to each other in hushed voices. As much as I wanted to speak with her, I knew I should leave them to their time together, the quest would wait until morning, or afternoon, depending on when the party broke up.
The Curse of Hurlig Ridge_World Tree Online_1st Dive Page 24