by Jason Cheek
Weight: 6 kg
+5 Strength
+1 Intelligence
+1 Spirit
-Summoned creature has 3% chance of receiving one of the killed creature's special attacks or skills.
Bonereaver Soulclaws
Item Quality: Superior
Item Type: Special
Slot: Hands
Defense: 190
Armor Type: Medium
Durability: 198/200
Weight: 1.02 kg
+3 Spirit
+1 Intelligence
-Increases the chance of dropping Soul Stones by 6%.
Bonereaver Goreplate
Item Quality: Superior
Item Type: Special
Slot: Waist
Defense: 190
Armor Type: Medium
Durability: 197/200
Weight: 2 kg
+3 Stamina
+1 Intelligence
-Increases the chance of dropping Soul Stones by 6%.
Bonereaver Corpseboots
Item Quality: Superior
Item Type: Special
Slot: Feet
Defense: 160
Armor Type: Medium
Durability: 200/200
Weight: 4.07 kg
+3 Intelligence
+1 Spirit
-Removes all root effects to the wielder and all summoned creatures.
Greatsword of Corruption
Item Quality: Superior
Item Type: Special
Attack: Two-hand Edge
Weapon Type: Sword
Damage: 150-150
Durability: 183/200
Weight: 12 kg
+10 Strength
+50 to Attack Power
-Blood Plague (Type: Disease) Target suffers 10 points of Dark Magic damage every second for 30 seconds. Area of Effect: 10 Yard radius from the caster. Cooldown - 3 minutes
For a long moment, the entire team stood around the pile of loot in shock when Unalia’s quiet voice broke the silence.
“I think this has to do with the accomplishment we received for being the first to clear the mine.”
“What accomplishment?” I asked in confusion. Ignoring Unalia’s knowing smirk, I began going through the numerous system windows that I’d unconsciously minimized throughout the fight until I found the one she was talking about.
Title Earned: Heroes of Delonshire Mine – You are the first to conquer the northern invaders that had taken over the Delonshire Mine.
+500 points to reputation for each party member.
50% increase in loot for being the first to complete the dungeon.
Permanent 3% increased damage to all attacks for all members of any team or raid you are a member.
Permanent 3% increased defense for all members of any team or raid you are a member.
“That’s freaking insane,” I said, half stunned by the bonuses awarded to each one of us. “Do you have any idea how important these kinds of bonuses will be for any serious guild wanting to PVP or complete end game content?”
“That makes me want to start hunting down all the newbie dungeons I can,” Tinyr said wide-eyed starring off into space as he read his system message.
“Yea, too bad all of the areas are so far apart to make that impractical for all intents and purposes. Otherwise, I’d be heading out to meet up with the rest of my people in their starting areas.” I said, shaking my head unbelievably.
“We could always take a cross-country run to another race’s newbie area,” Yun said as he rubbed his palms together excitedly.
“Yea, no thanks,” I said, grimacing distastefully. “Trust me, after World of Warcraft; I don’t run between newbie areas. Especially not with a 75% pain threshold to contend with.”
“You’ve been tanking with a 75% pain threshold? What the hell, are you a masochist or something?” Sarka looked at me like I was crazy. Seeing my rolling eyes, she held up both hands. “I’m at 25%, and it feels like I’m being beaten by a wiffle ball bat. I couldn’t even imagine 75%.”
“Eh, what can I say, I’m hardcore,” I said, giving her an unconcerned shrug. Seeing Sarka’s scrunched up face, I let go of the façade and explained. “Look, I said I was a pro gamer. If I’m going to get people checking out my media stream, I have to give them a good show. The Nightmare start was the only real way to do that.”
“You know guys. Once this gets out on the forums, we’re going to see more groups like The Syndicate trying to take over newly discovered dungeons.” Sarka said gravely. “This is going to make entering dungeons into a bloodfest.”
“Well, at least until someone earns the first completion,” Yun said frowning at his wife’s words.
“On the bright side, it’ll make you guys super popular for joining teams and raids,” I said, clapping Sarka on the shoulder.
“Woohoo, great,” Sarka said with a grimace. “I have a feeling that’s going to be more of a pain in the ass than anything. I can see it now, join our raid, or we’re going to murder you until you agree.”
“That’s just one of the many reasons why it’s a good thing we have each other,” Tinyr said with a wicked grin as he fingered his blade. “Cause I’d like to see someone try forcing us to be their bitches.”
“Okay guys, let’s get loot up and get out of here. I promised the NPC House of Kayden survivors I’d be back no later than tonight. I still have to complete my Nightmare start if we’re going to have any chance of unlocking a unique profession for our guild.” I called out as I followed my own advice heading to the next pile of corpses waiting to be looted. “And then we can decide how we’re going to distribute all of this phat loot.”
I got to work like the rest of the team circled up in a whispering discussion, before joining me in looting up the mobs scattered around the chamber. By now, we were old hands and stripping the dead of their goodies. In one way, I missed just touching a body to loot its contents. I would have thought I’d have been more disturbed with the whole ‘robbing the dead’ theme, but surprisingly enough none of us got the hebegebees. If anything, it just made getting good loot even that much more exciting, which made me wonder if there wasn’t something in the game that removed that grotesque aspect that I’d have expected from most players from first world countries. It’s not like any of us were accustomed to slicing up our own kills from a hunt. As we piled everything up in the center of the room, Sarka stepped forward with a shit eating grin.
“Hey Star, the rest of us have been talking and … well … I believe we have a plan for how to distribute the boss’ loot equally.” Seeing my confused look, Sarka hurried on as the team pulled out all the rings, amulet and charm. “The rest of us really need any boosts that we can get for basic stats. Just seeing the boost your stats give in fights makes that plain enough. Also …” Sarka hesitated as she looked around at the rest of the team. Getting an encouraging nod from Yun, Tinyr, and Unalia, she continued with a smile. “We’ve decided the rest is yours. I mean as long as you can use a Greatsword, that is.”
Seeing my stunned look, Tinyr stepped forward clapping me on the shoulder. “Dude, you’ve done so much for us. There’s no way we’d have been anywhere near where we are now without your help. It’s the least we can do.”
“We know you’re going to be busy finishing up your Nightmare quest after this, which is why you’ve been focused on collecting anything with summoner bonuses. We figured this was the least we can do to help. Besides, while you’re doing that, we can run this dungeon a few more times to get the loot we want and then maybe swing by and give you a hand with finishing up your quest.” Yun said giving me a nod to go ahead as Sarka wrapped her arms around his waist. “For us, it’s a win-win situation if you get awarded a profession.”
“Wow guys, I can’t thank you enough,” I exclaimed, excitedly picking up Vorgak’s gear. While I agreed with them in principle, it was something entirely different when the people you’ve befriended come through for you to make sure you're treated right. If
the Nightmare quest paid off as I hoped, this armor could return dividends for me. Excitedly I began stripping off my Marauder gear when I suddenly paused remembering my surroundings. “Hmmm ladies, how about turning around so I can change?”
“I … I wasn’t trying to … I mean I didn’t see anything.” Unalia stuttered turning three shades of red as Sarka laughed with a bark. “I thought this was just a bonus to giving you the best loot from the boss.”
“You can both turn around now,” I grumbled, picking up the Bonereaver DarkCuirass.
“And your point?” Sarka asked, raising a questioning eyebrow still looking.
“Yun, control your wife!” I shouted out over my shoulder. Turning around, I ignored Sarak as I shrugged into my new chest piece. The armor had three pieces. A darkened cuirass with shoulder straps attached to pauldrons along with a leather-bone mesh, long-sleeved shirt.
“Actually, I’m not sure if I’d call that the best loot. At least, not in the long run. It all depends on if he can use the special skills or not.” Yun said ignoring his wife’s antics as she smacked him on the arm hard. “Seriously Hon, the rings and amulet that the rest of us took should be good for quite a while no matter what additional loot we get.”
“Yun, my man, don’t be a killjoy,” Tinyr said rolling his eyes at the big man. “Loot isn’t all about what’s good down the road. It’s about what’s good here and now.” Pointing at the armored pants I was busy squeezing my ass into, Tinyr continued. “It doesn’t matter if the next dungeon’s loot is a whole lot better then what we’ve picked up today. What matters is that right here, and now it’s the best loot in the dungeon.”
“Thanks, Tinyr.” I gave him a nod as I pulled on my new boots. New to me that is.
“No problem, man. Either way, worst case scenario is you’ll have something to disenchant in five levels.” Tinyr said with a shrug.
“Shut up, Tinyr,” I replied nonplussed, rolling my eyes at his words. “Seriously though, I could use a break from these mines.”
“Says the man with all the uber loot.” Tinyr shot back with a laugh. For a second, I was worried I’d somehow offended the little thief, but one look at his twinkling eyes took the sting out of his words. He wasn’t serious. It was just my own discomfort with leaving the team before everyone had a chance to get what they needed from the dungeon.
“Don’t worry about it man, we all know you need to head back.” I was just giving you a hard time.” Tinyr brotherly clasped my fist, giving me a shoulder bump. “I think it’s time we got out of here.”
Heading back out was easy enough. No patrols were wandering the corridors, nor were there guards stationed at the various intersections we passed through on our way to the exit. To be honest, I was looking forward to a relaxing trip back to town to unwind after the difficult run. The plan was to pick-up whatever training and supplies I could, before heading back to Requiem village. We’d just stepped into the dungeon’s entrance room when Sarka’s voice brought me up short just before the shimmering portal.
“I think I know why we had all of those players coming after us in front of the portal this morning when we entered the dungeon.” Seeing everyone stop to look at her, Sarka continued. “It has to be about that First Kill accomplishment we received. I bet some of their guildmates cleared out a dungeon in one of the other training areas and told the rest of their people about it. Did anyone see if those teams were Syndicate Players?”
“No, but that makes the most sense,” I said with a brooding frown as everyone shook their heads no to Sarka’s question. “I guess we’d better be ready for anything than when we step through this portal.”
***
“What’s your freaking problem? Let us through so we can pick up our freaking bodies!”
A familiar female voice shrilled in outrage as we passed through the shimmering portal into the cavern before the dungeon. Standing before me in line with their backs towards me were a group of twenty players. A quick scan showed that they all had Syndicate in their names. Standing before them were almost twice the number of players in individual teams looking on uncertainly. The largest single group being ten Valkyrie players that were currently demanding to be let through of which I recognized Kyarina and four others.
“This dungeon is now owned by the Syndicate.” A condescending voice spat out in front of me. “Go level somewhere else before we send you back to the graveyard!”
Focusing on the speaker’s back in front of me, the player’s name appeared above their head. Blitzkill Syndicate, level 20 warrior. Just by the size of his Hit Point bar, I knew that he’d partaken in the P&M exam. It took only one look for me to understand what was going on. Focusing on my interface, I immediately sent Vardrid Valkyrie a quick private message.
Startum Ironwolf: Let’s form up a Raid to deal with these guys asshats!
I saw the warrior visibly flinch when my message appeared before his eyes. The wicked grinned that split his face a second later told me everything I needed to know as his eyes scrunch up in concentration.
Vardrid Valkyrie: Give me a second to get Kyarina and Demonslayerz caught up to speed.
Finding Kyarina and Demonslayerz in the crowd of players, I sent both Valkyrie players a join request to the Raid. As soon as both Valkyrie players joined, I gave them invite rights to the Raid and slipped into Stealth. To either side of me, the rest of the team followed my lead crouching down automatically as they triggered their own Stealth skill and took up positions behind the Syndicate players with higher Hit Points and Mana as our team interface suddenly expanded to fifteen players.
Demonslayerz Valkyrie: God these assholes are pissing me off. I had no idea they were camping the entrance to the dungeon.
Kyarina Valkyrie: Yea, we just found out they were here when we wiped. Someone said the Syndicate players are blocking access until they get the first kill accomplishment on the dungeon.
Startum Ironwolf: Well, that’s one accomplishment they won’t be getting.
Tinyr Nebril: Seriously, how many times do we need to kill these guys before they stop acting like dicks?
Sarka Dazd: Obviously, they’re slow learners.
Kyarina Valkyrie: What the hell, you guys took out the last boss?
Tinyr Nebril: Check out Star’s flashy new armor.
Vardrid Valkyrie: Holy shit!
Demonslayerz Valkyrie: How about we discuss this after we take these bastards down?
“Are you guy’s deaf or something. Get the fuck out of here!” Blitzkill shouted angrily at the Valkyrie players as he waved his blade in their faces.
“Why are we bothering to let them go?” I heard the familiar voice of Snufu Sevenfive speak up sourly. "We should just kill them and take their loot.”
Startum Ironwolf: Attacking now!
Reaching over my shoulder for the hilt of the massive Greatsword of Corruption strapped to my back, I drew the wide-bladed weapon and triggered my Sneak Attack ability simultaneously. With the inevitability of a guillotine, the huge chunk of steel rose above my head in an arcing strike that cleaved completely through Blitzkill’s body and armor like tissue paper as a system message briefly popped up in the corner of my vision.
You Sneak Attacked Blitzkill Syndicate with Greatsword of Corruption for 1500 points of damage.
Simultaneously the rest of the team struck with their Sneak Attacks as four more Syndicate players crumpled to the ground on either side of me in a spray of blood. In slow motion, I saw the rest of the Syndicate players whip their heads around in shock as their most powerful team of players were one-shotted in the middle of their Raid by an unknown force. Most of those shocked looks turned to horror as they instantly recognized the name of the group standing in their midst. Meeting Snufu Sevenfive’s incredulous look, I grinned menacingly planting my blade point-first into the ground at my feet.
“How about you suck a bagful of dicks instead!” I spat, releasing the greatsword’s AOE attack, Blood Plague. Instantly a heavy, red mist billowed out
around me into the air encasing the Syndicate players in its corruption as their raid’s surviving members health began to plummet. As soon as the AOE’s cast completed, I began blasting the Syndicate’s nearest healer with my Flurry spell as the Valkyrie players exploded into action. Melee battles broke out up and down the line as the mages from both raids let loose with their high damage spells. Waves of fire and ice exploded between the two lines like an artillery barrage as bodies on both sides began dropping. Unlike Blitzkill’s elite group that had already been taken out, the rest of the Syndicate players and their new friends with normal stats were cut down in seconds. The five to seven level difference really came into play as Yun joined me with his Flurry blasts against the healers and mages, while the rest the team laid into the Syndicate’s melee fighters. In less than a minute the battle was over.
None of our team had taken any damage during the fight, but the Valkyrie players had lost three out of ten of their people in the short battle. As soon as the last enemy fell, I selected the closest dead Valkyrie player and began casting resurrection. I had about five minutes to get them all back before they appeared at the graveyard amongst their enemies. I was halfway through the cast when I saw Kyarina and Vardrid step forward with a grim-faced Demonslayerz following behind.
“You guys are a sight for sore eyes,” Vardrid called out cheerfully clasping Sarka’s hand as Kyarina greeted Yun in kind. As Tinyr and Unalia returned the Valkyrie players greetings, Demonslayerz stepped up brusquely.
“You’all know, they’re just going to spawn camp the hell out of our people until we go get them,” Demonslayerz growled in helpless anger as his face turning beat red.
“Chill out man; it’s not anyone’s fault,” Vardrid said putting a calming hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Those guys are just a bunch of pricks. Snufu wasn’t going to let us leave without a fight either way, and you know it.” Seeing the concerned faces looking back at him, Demonslayerz let out a ragged breath.