The goblin city had a similar wooden wall around the city as our player city did. One difference was a row of wooden pikes stretched out to meet any intruders, lining the entirety of the base of the wall. The tops of the wooden wall were also sharpened making a very convincing argument not to climb over the fencing.
The majority of the players had caught up to us.
Peter quickly made his way to the front and started waving his hands for us to move back into the tree line.
A thunderous horn called out from the city, causing a stir among the goblins still outside. They left their carts and fled to the city gate.
Two fully armored hobgoblin guards exited the city. They were armed with genuine breastplates and vicious horned helms. They took their place to either side of the gate as the traveling goblins rushed in. Instead of standing there on guard, they started bashing their huge clubs against their overly large wooden shields. The clamor was heard clearly with nasally taunts. They dared us to come.
No one had to say anything. It was time to go. I trembled, but it was not from fear. The fog of my anger started to rise.
I spat and turned, the last of our party to return to the tree line. Kline met me there and gripped my shoulder. He looked me in the eye for a long moment then nodded.
We all silently formed up in our groups and fled. If there was any chance that the goblins weren’t going to attack tonight, then we had just forced their hand. We now knew where they were, and that there were many more of them than we ever imagined.
As we hurried away, a thunderous gong sounded. Over and over again it proclaimed doom. When we were a mile away, I could still hear it even though I hadn’t toggled on my enhanced hearing ability.
Chapter 17 – Preparation
The only stop we made on the trip back was so that the man whose group had been attacked could loot their loot piles. There was no way they could safely come back here now.
After a mile or so, we slowed to a fast march. With armor on there was no way most of us could keep the pace and navigating the forest floor increased the difficulty. With an inventoried spear and shield, I kept close to Victoria’s side.
I checked a popup I hadn’t realized was there.
Level 14
You have reached Level 14!
Ability Points +1!
Your Creature Indicator range has increased by 2 to 34 meters!
It wasn’t anything special, but my range was getting fairly useful, and I was closing in on level 15 already.
Tapping Kline on the shoulder, I showed him as I spent my ability point.
Group Leadership!
Can now set loot distribution for a group!
One group member must be selected as the leader.
***
When we broke the tree line on our return to Willingham, a number of groups surged forward, thinking we were being pursued. They had been ready to back us up.
We slowed, allowing them to see things weren’t that serious. Meeting them in the middle of the field, over a hundred players herded around us, expecting some kind of explanation.
Peter held up a hand to quiet the inquisitive players.
Placing two fingers into his mouth, Oliver whistled like a siren, finishing the job.
That did it. The crowd gathered in closer. Stepping back, Peter allowed Victoria to step up and address everyone.
“We have found the goblin city!”
Before she could continue, a number of voices shouted their approval.
“Spread the word! Tell all the group leaders to meet at the head of the barricade! Hurry!”
There were plenty of nods and pats on the back as the word spread among them. They set out as heralds of the news, splitting up along the player line.
***
I found myself wielding my shield to hold back not an army of goblins, but the crowd of players. Victoria stood upon an overturned cart at the very peak of the barricade. It was too much to hope for that only group leads would come. Though there were some large groups, even the beginning stages of guilds forming, not everyone was a group player. Hundreds of people on either side of the row of carts packed in to hear the news.
Too bad there wasn’t some kind of shout ability that allowed us all to speak via a chat channel. On the other hand, much of the thrill of the announcement would have been lost without a real gathering of people. The murmur of excited voices filled me with a heart pounding electricity. The only drawback was that so many people were trying to get into hearing distance that there was a real danger they would tip over the cart Victoria stood on. Hence my shield.
It wasn’t only our group, but Harrison’s group as well, that helped to make a wall on either side of the cart.
Perhaps there would be guild announcements after the Survive Week One event was finished. That would be more efficient at least.
The only other people at Victoria’s side, standing over everyone, were Peter and Harrison. Harrison had been busy and had become one of the better-known leaders, lending more credibility to our announcement. Not that we would need it after this.
Deciding there were enough players present, Peter and Harrison began hushing the crowd. In less than a minute the hum had reached a minimum.
Victoria called out with surprising clarity. It was clear she had probably done this before. “As you have probably heard, we were able to successfully track down where the goblins are coming from!”
As if she was a conductor of a massive orchestra, the mob roared.
She waited. A few moments later they gave her room to continue. “Two hours east of here is a goblin city, larger and better fortified than our own! Not only did we learn where their city is, but they saw us as we discovered it! We are not safe! There is no longer any doubt that their army is far bigger than anything we have faced!”
A defiant cackle resounded from the crowd.
She pressed on. “There are hundreds if not a thousand players in Willingham that have yet to participate in the city’s defense! They are seeking to be crafters and merchants or trying to get stronger before they help, but we need their help here! We need it now! Talk to your friends! Spread the word! We don’t know how far behind they are, but we know the enemy is coming! We must be ready!”
A thousand voices filled the afternoon air with their exuberance. The city gate opened, just like a fortress of old following the command of their queen.
I wanted to laugh. Her effect on people bewildered me.
That wasn’t the end of it, but the majority of people started to disperse as Victoria dismounted from the cart. After the crowd had thinned, about fifty players made their way to the front of the barricade.
So many familiar faces of professional athletes and gamers, but they were quickly overshadowed when I saw Cornelius up close for the first time. He was taller than Oliver and thicker than Chewme, and his leather armor seemed unable to hold his bulging mass of muscle. His hair was dark and cut nearly to the scalp. His neck was a pillar and his jaw chiseled granite. The other group leaders made way and formed in behind him.
I stepped to the side to let Peter and Victoria pass to greet him. With a nudge from Kline at my side, we joined Peter. Oliver, Harrison, and Wilson were also there.
“Well said, my lady,” Cornelius spoke first in a gravelly baritone. “If you wouldn’t mind filling in some details, I think we have some planning to do.”
“Your wisdom will be very much appreciated,” Victoria replied. Her tone was relieved.
His weathered eyes became slits as his grin widened.
***
“So you think Survive the Week means a five-day or seven-day week?” Kline asked as we sleepily trudged home from a late dinner at the tavern diner.
“I don’t even see how either could be possible. If the goblins are going to attack in force pretty soon, the two to four days doesn’t seem realistic. The walls here really aren’t much. We will either be overrun in a day, or defeat them in maybe two days tops. These high-level goblins ar
e much better trained, but also have a tendency to run in a losing battle,” I replied while savoring the aftertaste of roasted chicken.
“Yeah. The more the better. With so many of them, I’ll make it to level 18. No, maybe even level 20!”
“Okay, something’s wrong.”
“What?”
“Kline, you’re talking like a gamer.”
“Ha! Who said I wasn’t a gamer?”
“If I remember right you didn’t even know what a group was a couple days ago.”
“Yeah well, you don’t need a group in a mystery game.”
“You? Oh. I can see that actually.”
“So I’m a gamer after all!”
“No. You’re a fighter that likes mystery video games. It’s different.”
“Whatever. Just remember to thank me after I solve your murder thanks to my mad detective skills.”
“I can’t thank you if I’m dead.”
“Some gamer you are. Didn’t you know you don’t really die if you die in a game?”
I whistled. “Nice recovery.”
“Thanks. I’m yummy, remember?”
“No. I purposely try to forget that.”
Rounding our stalker’s corner where we had overheard Victoria and Peter, we once again were the last to arrive. The plan was to sleep tonight and man the defense tomorrow. Whether Victoria would wish to sneak out again, I didn’t know. We hadn’t gotten any chance to speak with one another all day. Regardless, I was tired enough now that I would try and sleep. If she needed me she would have to wake me.
***
Sleep. I slept maybe three hours before I woke up and it was only midnight. My couch had welcomed me like a mother’s embrace. Wink had curled up with me like my own little bad-breathed teddy bear and only gotten down when I turned from my side. I think she was already getting bigger.
I lay there admiring the wooden beam that ran down the middle of the ceiling. There were other beams running deep through the floor into the dirt that braced this beam along its course. It was so simple, but the grain of the smooth, light wood was beautiful. If only facing hobgoblins was as simple as the design.
My fan base was only growing. Sixty-three million and counting.
Setting Wink to invisibility mode, I sat up and stretched. Checking my stats real quick, I saw that the little sleep that I had gotten had been enough.
Character Status
Player Name: Lucius
Level: 14
Health Points: 255
Endurance Points: 390
Combat Level: Unknown?
Strength: 30
Dexterity: 45
Endurance: 39
Strength +1, Dexterity +2, Endurance +2
My stats had increased across the board this time more than ever before. Was it all the running? No complaining here! If what Kline had said was true, then the harder I worked the more my stats would increase. That was worth experimenting with.
That was the first time I noticed my body was actually changing. My muscles were tighter and the little chub I had around my gut was almost gone entirely, revealing a six pack. I had probably lost a little weight.
Kline was sleeping with Lulu curled up between his feet. I don’t know if cute could ever be used to describe him, but this was as close as he would ever come.
It seemed Victoria wouldn’t have to wake me after all. Perhaps I should wake her?
On second thought, I couldn’t see sneaking into her room ending well. There were too many ways to die a painful death.
If Peter or Oliver caught me, then I would probably be tortured for a week.
Surprising Victoria would likely end in me getting beaten in a variety of ways as she defended her chastity. Or maybe she was a sleepwalker. During which time her hidden inner ninja assassin would be awakened. Anyone who dared to enter her room would find her bed empty and a knife in their back. The last thing they would hear was her reciting mathematical formulas from her studies. Yeah, it’s probably the last one.
I found myself outside taking slow deep breaths of the clean night air. The smell of it mixed with escaped kitchen fragrances, lingering trampled grass, and dew covered wood in a single breath. A breeze pushed gently against my long sleeves and chilled my cheeks.
Within a few minutes, I saw Victoria’s blue dot on my local map leave her room then approach the front door. As it shut behind her, I waited until it was secure before saying anything.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“We should head straight for the goblin city, sneak in, and kill their leader, all before getting a late night snack and returning before we get caught.”
“That’s pretty ambitious.”
“We’ve got nothing better to do. Unless you are still thinking of getting me drunk?”
I stole a glance as she rolled her eyes. “Mostly dude… I’ll pass.”
She shivered with the chill. “It’s colder tonight.”
Pulling out her cloak, she put it on, then walked over to me and leaned up against my side for body warmth.
“We don’t have to sneak out tonight if you prefer,” I said. “I have a feeling we are going to have plenty to do in the morning. There’s always tomorrow night.”
“No. I don’t really sleep much anyway. Are you having second thoughts?”
“I…” I was cut off by a black streak of movement only a block away. A red dot on my local map proved that I hadn’t just been imagining things.
“Enemy.”
“What?!” she hissed.
I immediately equipped my gear, and she didn’t hesitate to do the same.
We stalked forward. If it was some kind of rogue character I doubted I would out-sneak it, so the moment I caught a glimpse of it again…
Tiptoeing to the corner of the building I had seen the streak go behind, I peeked around the corner and there it was. I had seen this creature before. It was a Goblin Sneak-Thief. This one was still living.
It was examining a window to the home. If its intentions were as I expected, then there was no time to waste.
I leaned my spear against the log cabin and drew my sword as I charged. I was able to reach full speed before it started to bolt.
Smacking it across the back with my shield, I thrust down, easily piercing its thin leather. Looting took no more than a second. I whipped my blade across its back, then sheathed it. Victoria retrieved my spear for me.
“Where there’s one…”
“There will be more,” she finished my thought. “How did they get in?”
“No idea. Climbed the walls?”
“I certainly hope not! There’s no one watching the wall, only the gate! We need to warn people!”
We walked back out from the alley between two homes. I scanned the area carefully.
“Should we sound the alarm?” I asked.
“Yes, but there! One’s behind our house.”
We ran.
“You go inside to warn the others. I’ll come at it from behind,” I commanded.
“Got it.”
She didn’t slow as she threw the front door open. It banged against the side of the house.
I didn’t slow either. Speed had worked the first time.
The sneak-thief wasn’t up the alley of our home, so I shot through it. Rounding the corner, I caught movement from the corner of my eye. The ugly snorter lunged, knife aimed at my throat. My spear took up the space it wished to occupy, so it had to settle for glancing my arm below the shoulder with its blade.
-11 Damage
My vision flashed white. You little green gerbil!
Enraged, I kicked out, forgetting my spear and shield, and launched it against the rear of the house. It stood there dazed, so I happily rammed my spear through its chest and into the wood behind it, pinning it there.
You just hang out here for a while.
Level 15
You have reached Level 15!
You have gr
own closer to your Pet. Closer to unlocking the Teen tier.
+50 pounds carrying capacity.
Your Creature Indicator range has increased by 2 to 36 meters!
That’s what I’m talking about! Now those are some needed improvements.
“You’re hurt?” Kline asked, running up fully armed down the alley between homes.
“Nothing serious. There are more of them.”
Leaning down, I looted this one too. Another dagger, but both also had carried an unusual number of gemstones. Three each. Score!
The rest of the group soon joined us.
“We must warn everyone,” Peter said. “Let’s head to the front gate.”
“Shall we make some noise?” Kline asked.
“Let’s.”
***
We jogged toward the main road, banging our swords and shields together. The only people that wouldn’t wake from such a commotion would have had to know Treetop.
Not even a few blocks away we spotted another Sneak-Thief. It was running after hearing our commotion. The chase began.
It rounded nearly every corner it came across like it had something against going straight. We just happened onto another Sneak-Thief that was climbing out of a shattered window.
My stomach dropped. Had it finished its evil deed?
Oliver was the first to see it. He launched himself forward, skewering the goblin through the side before it even hit the ground. With insane strength, he raised it up, impaled on his spear, and tossed it behind him and out of the way. He didn’t bother to loot it.
I don’t mind if I do. Skidding to a stop, I knelt, took it all, and caught up in seconds.
“Silly gamers,” Kline chided.
I winked. If I remembered I’d give it to Oliver later.
When the Sneak-Thief stopped he wasn’t alone. Three other Sneak-Thieves and four Warriors were raiding a line of carts on the side of a house.
“Form a line!” Oliver demanded.
Codename: Freedom: Survive Week One Page 20