Homeland: Ingame 2
Page 29
I nodded, it could not be helped, I would look at my interface later and see what I could do to hide who and what I was. Turning to look at the men I said, “Are they here to attack me or to thank me?”
Ingar strode forward and said, “They will not attack you but runners have already been sent to and returned from the village, you have been summoned to answer to the Mayor and council.”
“What about you Ingar, where do you now stand with me?” I asked softly.
Ingar bowed his head and then stiffly said, “I owe my life to you as do us all, yet the King’s commands are clear, you are not to be recognized if you should ever return, in addition, you are declared personae non gratae within the Kingdom of men.”
I could hear one of the villagers ask, “What does that mean?”
Turning to him I said, “It means I am to be considered a person not appreciated within the Kingdom. So be it.” My face was grim as I looked at the people I had just saved who were now turning their backs on me.
I thrust out my hand at Ingar and said, “The provisions within our deal are now active, Reona and Tasia are now your business partners. In addition, I expect that they will be given all honor and dues as your partners. Am I clear.”
Ingar looked at my eyes and then looking away he said, “Yes, of course, I would never think otherwise.”
I relaxed, I knew he was a good man and would not default on the girls. Turning to Reona I said, “I am sorry Reona, it would seem my usefulness to you is now at an end.” Leaning closer I whispered, “I would encourage you to continue onward with Tasia acting in my place.” Seeing her nod, I gave her a quick hug and then said, “I will be close by, it seems the Dwarven Kingdom is the only place I might be welcome at.”
I then looked back over at the place of my battle with the Dark God, there was only some jagged stones of bedrock brought up from the depths by the Diggerduggers when they had attacked. I knew that they had not survived, but the sacrifice they had made had allowed my victory to happen.
I walked over to the stones and observed that they were now black and seemed to absorb the light. Kneeling down, and placing a hand on the largest pile I softly spoke, “Some give everything for others, and no one knows or appreciates the sacrifice that has been made, I won’t forget you.”
With that, I felt a wave of power come from me and I realized that a new spell had become available to me as the interface window opened and I read,
You have received the essences of non-ascended beings along with that of
the Dark God, by giving their lives for you freely you have received their gift
of earth magic.
Earth magic now flows within you,
Spells,
Earthmover,
The ability to move large amounts of earth dependent upon your mana.
Earth guardian,
The ability to create a Gollum of Earth that is alive and will follow your
leadership.
Dig Deep,
The ability to go deep into the earth to bring forth and shape the living rock
for your benefit.
I stared in amazement and then suddenly I knew what to do.
With my hand on the stones, I cast Earth guardian and closed my eyes, pouring out as much mana as I could and willing the stone to receive a small measure of myself within it. With my eyes still closed I felt the ebb and flow of power between the earth and myself.
Finally opening my eyes, I stared at what I had created, on a pillar that stood 5 meters tall and one meter thick was a Dragon, made of pure black stone, he stood on top of the pillar and gazed off into the distance. Suddenly he turned and looked down at me, his eyes were as mine are, made of living flame. I could hear a gentle voice in my head speaking, “Master, you have brought us to life and we will continue to serve you.”
I was startled for a moment, for the thoughts and feelings belonged to that of the Diggerduggers. I recognized them and was certain that I had somehow transferred some of their essences back into the Golem, the living stone Dragon I had created.
The pillar was warm to the touch and then with a huge down blast of hot air the creature was flying, how something that must have weighed over 3 tons could fly was beyond me. The magic of the game, I thought as I stared at the receding Dragon.
Turning I glanced at all the men, most were pale and a few were clearly keeping their distance from me. This kind of thing is not scripted in the game world I guessed. They would recover and have an amazing story to tell their children. I gestured up the hill and began to walk with the men forming a loose circle around me.
Ass we crested the hill I thought, it had only been yesterday that we had arrived, so much had happened since I had sung at the wedding. I consoled myself with the fact that I had managed to save the village with only two causalities. It was small consolation as I knew what would come next.
Standing in the middle of the village square was the Mayor and Council with the rest of the village residents standing behind them. They stared at me with curiosity and fear, some with loathing and hatred. I stopped in front of the Mayor and waited, he had summoned me so he could begin this charade.
Clearing his throat, the Mayor looked at me and asked, “You who we have known as Torn, are you the Demon Tor come to afflict suffering upon mankind and despair throughout the human kingdom?”
I stood in silence, no matter what was spoken here I already knew the outcome. If we were in a large enough city I would have been imprisoned and tortured but here in this small village, I was about to be cast out.
The Mayor looked at me then nodded and said, “Bring the wine, the salt, and the oil.” I stood there waiting for a small table that was hurriedly erected in front of me, on it were placed flagons of wine and oil and a bowl of salt.
Walking over to me the Mayor lifted the wine and said for all to hear, “This is the wine that represents peace and prosperity for home and hearth, what all men desire.” Then pointing to me he said, “May this man have none of these blessings,” and with that, he poured the wine out onto the ground. Grabbing the oil, he lifted it high and said, “This oil represents our connection to this land, to our King and to our Gods. May this person never be anointed with the oil and welcomed into the fellowship of the Kingdom of Man. Then he poured out the oil onto the packed stones of the courtyard.
Finally, he grabbed the salt and lifting it he pointed at me and said, “This salt represents the toil of a man who by the salt of his blood and the toil of his sweat has worked the land and brought forth abundance.” Then dumping the salt onto the ground, he stared at me and said, “May this man never have success in the Kingdom of Man. You are an outcast and runners have been dispatched to the nearest town with a guard detachment, I expect your head will adorn the King’s walls soon enough.”
Turning his back to me he began to walk away from me as did all the villagers and Ingar and his men. I turned to the girls and smiled as I blinked back an angry tear or two. “You two better join them or the damn King well be after you too.” I ignored their protestations as I walked towards the road, I knew that they had to shun me also or they would be under suspicion.
I finally stopped and taking a chance I gave them each a hug and a kiss then said, “Go back, Ingar is a good man and will help you, we will meet in the Dwarven kingdom.” Stepping into the Shadows I faded from view and then making my way around them I went back towards town.
I had noticed that the Mayor had a lot of gold jewelry on, far more than someone who collects and pays the taxes and tithes for this small village could be expected to have. The monies to pay for all that bling-bling had to come from somewhere and I suspected he had a nice little chest full of stolen taxes.
I had just been thrown out of the Human Kingdom with nothing, and I was thinking that some of that stolen gold was going to be useful to me after I acquired it, which should be easy, after all, my class is the Thief.
land: Ingame 2