Last Horizon: Beta

by Daniel Schinhofen

  They found and destroyed small group after small group for at least thirty minutes.

  “Who like green ham and eggs,” Felton asked chuckling, as they found a larger group of orcs with a level ten guard. “This might be more challenging,” Felton began when he was cut off by a player stabbing him in the side as the orcs charged. “Fucking hell, got a PvPer as well.”

  An Icebolt hit the PvPer as Dumadin used Iron Blood and Anger Howl to pull the orcs to him. “I'll hold these for a second or three. Kill that idiot then help.”

  Kittish began to cast Healing Light on Felton, with the mark already on Dumadin healing him at the same time. The rest of the group turned on the player who had sided with the orcs and quickly cut down the level three stealther. Turning back as Kittish cried out for assistance they could see Dumadin's life bar slowly ticking away even with the heals being cast.

  A fireball exploded into mass of them, and Amythyst was thankful that it didn't hurt allies. Em singled out an opponent and began to engage her Dirty Fighting to keep it an even fight for her. Terets jumped into combat with her to kill them faster and take some of the pressure off Dumadin.

  Felton charged in next to Dumadin and triggered Crippling Shout, which brought down the accuracy of those attacking Dumadin. Felton then stepped to the side and began helping Terets kill the ones that Em was peeling off the group.

  Fireball after fireball pelted the mob and a short time later the group was dead and the friends were panting. “Fucking hell, that was close,” Dumadin gasped. His life bar had dipped below 10%, causing a moment of worry.

  “Yes, it was. Hang on while I drink this juice,” Kittish muttered and started drinking from a skin. Amythyst echoed the motion from a skin of her own.

  “Good to know we still got it though, right?” Felton chuckled. “Like a dungeon pull gone wrong and we reacted flawlessly. If they make it possible to make a guild in this game I am so remaking the Bananas.”

  The group cheered and made sure they were ready to go. No sooner had they gathered themselves when a howling mob of thirty orcs came around a corner and charged into them.

  “Fuck, this is going to suck,” Dumadin cried out, once again triggering his abilities.

  A few moments later the group of friends were all dead and the remaining fifteen orcs went on to find more. Two seconds later Dumadin, Amythyst, Terets, and Kittish all stood back up and quickly drank a few potions to regain a chunk of health and aether.

  They looked down as the bodies of Felton and Emelia faded, “Fuck, thirty minute log for them. Okay, let's back out a bit and keep to the edge a bit longer.” Dumadin motioned his friends to follow as they retreated to the outskirts, again taking down small groups.

  Twenty eight minutes later the group noticed orcs fleeing back down the road faster than their pursuers could run. “Is that it?” Terets asked.

  Event completed!

  Evergreen town was saved.

  All players who helped the village will be given small gifts in the square in thirty minutes.

  All players who sided with the orcs can find an encampment of the savage greenskins to the north. Find them to receive your gifts from them.

  Two minutes later Emelia and Felton appeared in the town square and found the others walking towards them. The sounds of the wounded crying for aid could be heard everywhere, along with people asking for help with bucket brigades to fight some fires. The group reformed and went to aid where they could.

  Twenty minutes later all that could be done was done and the group found themselves along with maybe thirty other players in the town square. People were telling tales of how many each had killed and the more unusual ways people had killed an orc or other player.

  The town speaker came forward from the Inn and spoke to the crowd. “Adventurers from near and far, we thank you for your aid today. Some of our numbers have fallen and we pray for the spirits to bring them back to us. In thanks for your efforts we have a few gifts for you. Each of you will be given one week's worth of rations from the general store, collect at your convenience. Also, I will be having my staff give each of you ten gold in thanks. This is a big payment for our small town, but without you none of us might have made it. We have special thanks to give for a few who did more than most.”

  The town speaker named a few individuals to come forward and gave them special documents to receive discounts or free items from various stores in town. As he was doing so, the crowd was buzzing about the documents not being bound and able to be traded, which set off a bidding war in some cases.

  “Finally, we come to the end of the gifts, for now that is. The threat of the orcs cannot be overstated and we are in dire need of brave souls to help push them back. The two bravest adventurers will be rewarded with steeds from Evergreen Stables.” The town speaker declared to an urgent murmur from the crowd. “Bring back the tusks of the orcs as proof. In two days we will reward the most prolific slayers and have a feast in their honor.”

  Quest: Orc slaying.

  Bring as many orc tusks back as possible.

  Reward: Reputation with Evergreen Hills.

  Special reward: be one of the top two tusk collectors and receive a mount from Evergreen Stables.

  This quest is timed and expires in 47 hours and 58 minutes.

  The group noted the clock in the quest UI was actually counting down and accepted it. The crowd got louder as people started trying to make pick up groups and head out right away. The group of friends eased their way out of the crowd and stood off to the side for a moment as people started going north.

  “How far from the dungeon is it?” Felton inquired watching the players start to leave.

  “About eight hours of walking for us, or four if we mount up and ride for it. We could do that and log out up there, get a good four hour break in then log back on. That would give us plenty of time to get the dungeon done and get back here to turn in the fangs for you and Em.” Dumadin said while looking over his map.

  The group thought this was a great idea as Mike and Amy would be able to stay logged out for eight hours. “Oh, I want to try something. If we have one of us stay logged in can we lead the other horses with the owners logged out?” Kittish suggested to the group.

  “Might as well try it,” Terets grinned nodding, “if it does then it makes group travel even more effective as then you don't rely as much on the roads.”

  “Let's get to it then,” Felton replied and mounted up behind Kittish and logged out. Emelia mounted behind Amythyst and did the same.

  “Let's try it,” Dumadin said, “give me your reins, dear and log out for a few minutes as we get going. Once we know it works the others can log out and we can do one hour stints leading the horses. Me first, then Terets, Amythyst to follow him, and you to get the last leg. Once you get close to the village log out and we'll meet up four hours after that.”

  They started out and were happily surprised that it did in fact work. They also tried to test a person not grouped setting the horse to walking and a person trying to get the reins and lead the horse astray, which did not work. After the brief test they started the agreed upon schedule of riding and leading.

  ORC VILLAGE

  Four hours later Kittish had reached as close a spot as she felt comfortable with and logged out for the next four hour break. Almost four hours later the group logged in and reformed the party, taking stock of where they were. After a few moments the group noted a wood palisade not that far away from them, maybe five minutes of walking through some undergrowth. Listening, they could hear orc voices talking to each other in close proximity.

  Whispering, Dumadin began to speak, “Okay, I would bet that palisade is going to wrap around to an entrance. So we need to get a good look at what is nearby and that should give us a good idea of our plans.” Amythyst and Terets nodded and stealthed up, moving to the wall. “Until they get back let's just stay quiet and hope we don't get mobbed.”

  After roughly fifteen minutes Amythyst and Terets re
appeared. “Okay, about five minutes to the left is the black abyss that is the opening of the instance. There are a few small groups between here and there and a few patrolling guards. I checked- they pat between the groups every two minutes. So I was thinking pull the closest group as the patrol gets to the far group. Lead them back here to die, then go back and grab him as he gets to the empty camp, then move on to the next group. We do that one more time and we should be able to get into the village.”

  Agreeing with the plan, the group set up as Terets stealthed forward to pull the first group with his bow.

  A few heartbeats later the group heard a howl of rage and the sound of many feet rushing towards them. Terets came sprinting into view and ran past Dumadin, who was waiting. A moment later the four orcs broke through the undergrowth and right into the middle of the group.

  Less than a minute later Terets stealthed off again to pull the next set of orcs. The group quickly looted the corpses and waited. A few heartbeats after they finished they heard another rage filled howl. Terets came pelting back down the growing path of destruction with an orc guard hard on his heels.

  The orc guard had a shield and was wearing a helm over leather armor. The group quickly pounced on him, only to find that the guard was using Iron Blood and negating half of their damage. He still died quickly, but it left them with something to think about going forward.

  “If all the guards have that ability, then it is going to be a war of attrition to kill them,” Dumadin frowned.

  “Yes,” Kittish interjected, “but he wasn't hitting you hard so it should be fine. They can wait ‘til last to die as far as I am concerned.”

  Nodding, the group moved on after looting and repeated the series again with the next camp and patrol. Then they stood at the gateway, a black oily smoothness which cast back no reflection.

  “Okay, that is seriously creepy,” Felton stated watching it.

  “I agree. That is freaky as hell,” Em agreed with her husband. “Remind me to suggest they change the instance portals to something else.”

  The group chuckled and informed them that they had felt the same and had suggested a white mist instead.

  “Yes, a white mist while still kind of spooky, isn't that,” Em stated and nodded at the black stillness.

  “We did this once before, it will be fine. Follow me when you can,” Dumadin stepped through the portal into the orc village.

  Kittish followed right after as the others stood there.

  “It really is fine,” Terets said and stepped through.

  Amythyst smiled at them and nodded, then stepped though as well.

  “If they can all do it, so can we,” Felton said without much conviction, and grasping his wife's hand they stepped through together. They emerged an instant later in darkness with their friends nearby.

  “Wait, wasn't the sun just out?” Emelia inquired looking back at the black oily stillness.

  “Yes it was, guess it is a night instance which is fine with me. Hopefully it means less patrols.” Dumadin whispered and watched the nearby buildings.

  “Give us a moment to go scout for you guys,” Terets whispered and stealthed away with Amythyst following him.

  The rest of the group pulled back to a darker patch of shadow out of the flickering torch light. The group looked around as they waited. The palisade had torches spaced at regular one hundred foot intervals. There were scattered crude huts that formed a circle around a large round hut in the middle.

  Around thirty minutes later Terets and Amythyst returned with the scoop. “Okay,” Terets began, “Here's what we noticed as we worked our way around the wall.” He began to draw a map in the dirt. “There are six distinct clusters of huts. Guards patrol in both clockwise and counter clockwise directions. There seem to be six going in each direction, and they cross over at the halfway mark between the huts. Which means we attempt to have perfect pulling or we will end up with at least two guards with a set of huts.”

  Looking over the rough map in the flickering torch light as they pondered what they should do. “Hmm,” Felton started, “why don't we ambush the patrols at the halfway mark and drag them back?”

  “I have considered that but we don't know if they pull the closest set of huts with them or not. I'm leery about trying and getting two sets of huts and two guards in one go.” Dumadin responded and looked at Terets, “Did you get a look at what types might be in the huts?”

  “Not really. I did see one shaman before he went into a hut so,” shrugging Terets trailed off. “Figure a diverse group to get us ready for the big chieftain's hut. Probably one healer, one or more casters, and I would think one or more guards besides the patrols.”

  “We're near the portal. We can always try to run if it goes too horribly wrong,” Emelia stated. “Unless you can't leave while in combat.”

  “No idea. We didn't try last time,” Dumadin grimaced, “okay, let's just wait for both guards to get to the closest huts and pull them and see what we get. Felton, once you get your debuff on the guards, try to step out and see if you can. After that just jump in with the others and burn the casters as fast as you can. It goes without saying Kittish, mark me with the necklace and do your best to keep us alive. After you toss off the buff and quaff an aether potion that is.”

  Kittish nodded, “Go teach your mother to suck eggs.” Smirking, she already had an aether potion in hand.

  “Yeah yeah, love you as well dear,” Dumadin grinned at his friends, “okay, let's do this.”

  The group got into position and waited for the guards to get close. As they were about to enter the torchlight of the huts Kittish used Heroic Cheer to buff them. Right as she got the ability off Amythyst tossed an Icebolt onto the clockwise guard and Terets used his bow to plink the counterclockwise guard.

  The two guards let out outraged howls and charged at the two, who were standing just behind Dumadin. Orcs came running out of the huts, one shaman along with two acolytes and three more guards all level ten. All the guards charged at the damage dealers, the one hit with the icebolt lagging behind the others. Dumadin stepped in front of the one after Terets and hit it with his hammer, out aggroing the arrow and causing it to turn on him.

  Dumadin took a hit in return as he waited for the slow one and the other three to reach him. As soon as they were in range he triggered Anger Howl, followed quickly by Iron blood. Holding the five guards who had also triggered their Iron Blood abilities, he waited for his friends to go to work.

  Felton rushed in once the taunt was out and used Crippling Shout on the guards fighting Dumadin, lowering their chance to hit the dwarf. He quickly turned and sprinted for the still blackness of the portal and bounced off it like it was soft rubber. Frowning he turned and ran back to the combat to assist the group. “Can't leave in combat, so no soft resets this way.”

  The group nodded at his announcement, all they had time for as they were busy trying to kill the two acolytes who seemed to be healers. The Shaman was casting DoTs onto all the group one by one, making Kittish’s job difficult. The three enemy casters stood together, allowing Amythyst to use her Fireball on them. Sadly, the acolytes seemed to have a group heal that they were using. Fortunately, Emelia and Terets were finally able to kill one of them.

  Felton got there as the first healer died and jumped into the fray as Amythyst switched to Icebolts for the lower aether coast. Just as the group dropped the second acolyte and turned to the shaman two more guards came charging in with angry howls of rage.

  Cursing, Dumadin ran at the casters, allowing the guards he had been holding to take a chunk of his life away as he turned his back on them briefly. Reaching the dps as the two new guards added in, he Anger Howled again and backed away to get all seven orc guards in front of him as best he could.

  “This is getting bad, guys,” Dumadin panted watching Kittish struggle to keep everyone okay with the DoTs on them and the guards beating on him.

  A few seconds later the group had dropped the shaman and turned
to help Dumadin with the guards. Kittish grimaced as she drank a second aether potion, she was almost depleted due to the sheer number of heals. She kept healing, with her necklace also healing Dumadin with every heal she cast.

  One by one the group started to kill the guards. Amythyst ran out of aether and decided to jump into melee with her staff instead of using an aether potion. Emelia, Terets, and Felton were low on aether but still good as they dropped a third guard.

  Just as the group seemed ready to take a breath of relief, two more angry howls sounded and two more guards came rushing in. “Fuck my life,” Dumadin groused, re-upping his Iron blood as it came off cooldown and Anger Howled to grab the two new guards. “Kill the old ones first, then help with these and if we can get out of combat we need to pull back to the wall.”

  Scattered acceptance of his idea was sounded out as they group kept focusing on killing the guards. They dropped another four guards and were panting with exertion and starting to think they were going to be okay.