Location: Riviera – The Farmer's Guild

Li and Ivo stood at the head of the meeting table in the Farmer's Guild. Although originally a relatively small lawspeaking office, it had been significantly expanded with Alexei's funds and influence, letting it hold not only a meeting room, but also an audience hall for large scale announcements.

Its location at the heart of the city nearby the City Hall and the Adventurer's Guild also made it convenient for important figures in the city to access, and right now, a crowd of adventurers packed the meeting room.

A mid-afternoon sun streamed in through the windows of the second story room, casting the room in a warm, orange light. Beneath it, the shining armors, staves, and weapons of the adventurers sparkled in a vast array of colors.

"That is the threat facing Riviera," said Ivo with a decisive nod as he cast an observing glance to the adventurers. For once, the man had donned the uniform of the Farmer's Guild, and it was then that Li could notice how solidly built Ivo was.

With the dress shirt and jacket wrapped around his form, it was easy to see the build of his wide shoulders. His frame was stocky and solid, barrel-chested, and made to endure and fight. An extremely far cry from his fragile state as an invalid a few months ago.

"Hm," said Launcelot. His armor was now a beautiful blue – the same shade as the crystal-clear waters of Lake Riviera. Li recognized the armor set as the Water Warden Set that heavily boosted regeneration and resistances.

Perfect for a tank type fighter such as Launcelot, and one whose level requirements indicated that Launcelot had broken in the mid forties compared to the mid thirties beforehand.

"A force of fifty, you say? That will be quite…troublesome. Were the Gold-Ranked Triple Threat here, I would not worry, but as of now, my team Bulwark and Sword and Staff are the only two teams ranked Silver, and Spikeridge orcs would be a fierce foe even for us."

"Them orcs are a fightin' bunch. Tough old bastards, and they ain't done til' either they've torn yer throat out or you've taken theirs," commented Vahid, the massive Hinterlander that formed the 'sword' part of Sword and Staff, his mage partner providing the staff and support magic to back him.

The other adventuring teams of Riviera, of which there were now five in the room, looked at each other nervously.

"Don't worry so much," said Li. With a marble stylus in hand, he tapped a thin, rectangular slab of stone held up by a wheeled pedestal. The stone sparked with magical energy before turning completely black in color.

Li began to use the stylus to draw out an outline of the edge of the Winterwoods, and, beside it, a round circle indicating the gathering of orcs. As the stylus made its way across the smooth stone, it left a trail of glowing and bright white, creating a blackboard of sorts.

The contraption was called a Runeboard, and it was meant to teach runesmiths how to draw runes, but it also was often used as a general drawing board for plans, though its cost was prohibitive for the common person to use.

"The orcs are here," said Li as he tapped to the scribbly ball that represented them. He then cast the stylus behind the line of the forest. "But if our intelligence is correct, they are going to make way straight into the Winterwoods. That is our domain – the domain of the priests of the Old Faith."

"And we shall provide support aplenty," said Ivo. "I daresay we will rid ourselves of the orc scourge without needing even to risk shedding adventurer blood."

"If there is any way that we can be of assistance, we would be glad to provide it," said Launcelot.

"Ain't that right," agreed Vahid, though it was apparent that the other adventurers, being bronze ranked, were far more apprehensive. But seeing the confidence of their silver superiors, they too nodded.

Li understood the fear they were facing. A Spikeridge orc ranged from level 30 to 40, with warchiefs possibly going up all the way to the mid-fifties. In contrast, Bronze-ranked adventurers in this world were in the mid to late twenties level wise.

They would get slaughtered by a force of orcs in a direct confrontation.

"Speaking of, though," said Li with narrowed eyes. "Fifty Spikeridge orcs is what I believe would be considered a Gold-ranked threat, and is it not Rivieran policy that the Temple provides assistance for threats of this caliber?

I made certain to send a messenger to the Temple informing them of this as well, but their presence is notably lacking here."

"I hear that they are stalled in making preparations," said Launcelot. "With the abdication of the old Head Priest, the Rivieran Order has been greatly disorganized, to say the least."

Vahid snorted. "Damn em' robed pansies. Ain't the new head an old bigshot? Gael the Immovable? Why don't he get on the front lines with us."

Surprisingly, Ivo interjected. "Gael is an honored veteran of the Demon Wars, and I can personally attest to the strength of his character. Silly politics may bind him now, but whence time comes for battle, I am certain he shall arrive."

"In any case, that is not too much a cause for concern," said Li. He had hoped the temple of light would have sent a few witnesses to this, but at the end of the day, they were merely witnesses. Their power was not needed.

"For my order of druids will more than make up for the loss of light priests."

"Scuse', sir," came a meek woman's voice.

"What is it?" said Li as he eyed the owner of that voice – a short, young girl with twin daggers sheathed to her leather armor. A rogue, and one inexperienced at that – further attested by the bronze dogtag hanging around her neck.

"What bout' the golems ye faith has? They seem mighty big and mighty strong. So's that forest spirit. Never seen her like before, but my, she seems like she's had much to do with the ways of magic."

Her teammates, two other girls of similar age, nodded in agreement.

"Well, this is a strategy meeting for a reason." Li turned back to the runeboard. A sizable distance away from the forest line he had drawn, he created another scribble ball. He tapped it.

"This will be where you adventurers are. There is a wide clearing at the edge of the woods where a creek runs through, and to pass that clearing to get closer to Riviera requires scaling quite a sheer wall of rock and dirt.

You will all be stationed behind this clearing where it will be easy to see the approach of the orcs and pick them off from the cover of the forest should they manage to breach past the creek.

However-,"

Li tossed the stylus to Ivo, and the high priest grasped it deftly, immediately drawing with surprisingly good artistic skill a blossom in front of the adventurers to symbolize the presence of the priests.

"My priests and I, ten strong with five talented apprentices to our side, will lie hidden by the creek, disguised as trees in front of the wall, and when the orcs leap down into the creek, we will ambush them with all our might."

"An ambush fueled directly by the blessings of a deity," commented Li, his eyes flashing green. "It should be more than enough to wipe the initial wave of orcs out. If they send more, they too will perish. If they choose to run, then I will have Iona, the forest spirit and my golems stationed to intercept them."

"This plan only works if your druids are truly capable of fending against the ferocity of Spikeridge Orcs," said a suspect bronze-ranked adventurer, his basic iron armor looking a little too big for his yet to be muscular frame.

"Have you heard tell of the Spikeridge orcs? Brutish, fiendish creatures, as all things are from the hinterlands. They say demonsblood flows through them, making them the size of three men, that their skin is hard as Adamantium, that their strength can rip even the most seasoned of warriors in two with the ease you would tear a piece of bread at the dinner table."

"Didn't yer adventurer's trainin' tell ya whelps not to listen to folktales?" said Vahid, aggravated. "Demonsblood, three men tall, bread rippin' my ass. I'm from the Hinterlands, boy, and I've fought a Spikeridge fore'. Sturdy they are, but ain't no invincible hellspawn out to come and nab ya from yer momma's teat."

"A little trust is always needed for a plan to work," said Li simply. He would not convince these bronze-ranked adventurers so rattled at the prospect of facing down powerful orcs with words. He would simply show them the power of his priests, and then, they would spread word of the wonder that their Druidry could achieve.

"I trust Li," declared Launcelot. He raised his bronzed shield high, and Li noticed with interest that it was in far better condition than before. The cracks had smoothed out, and there was even a slight bit of shine where before there was only an unclean dullness.

"With not only my shield, but also my life. He has proven to be a reliable defender for this city, and never has his word fallen false." He looked to Li. "I trust you too will be on the battlefield?"

"If it's any consolation to you, I will be," said Li.

"Then that is all I need to stand firm," said Launcelot.

A slight silence settled among the younger bronze adventurers. By now, even they knew of Li, the strange Easterner who had been at the heart of breaking apart the Chevrette criminal empire and who had almost killed a High Priest of the light with seemingly no effort.

Li could tell they feared him more than they trusted him, however.

They had lived with the faith of the light their whole lives, and seeing a powerful champion of something entirely different, entirely new, challenged their worldviews, but Li hoped that this would be the opportunity to let them see that the Old Faith was not one that relied on the absolute power of one single seer, but was instead a gentle faith meant to be spread amongst all that wished for its graces.

"Well, I ain't complainin'," said Vahid. "Any man that can drink me under the table must be damn good fighter, heh." His black eyes shifted from side to side with quick movements, scanning the bronze adventurers and their intrepid reactions.

"You all greenhorns ain't gotta' worry bout' your skins, if that's what your rattlin' in yer boots and armors about. If anythin' goes even the slightest bit wrong, Launcelot's team and mine are gonna' be the ones holdin' down while you kids retreat behind city walls."

"Do not take that as insult, but instead a comfort that we, as your elders in this sacred profession, will guarantee our lives such that you may live yours," said Launcelot. "But make no mistake. We forward our lives not so that you may turn your backs to the fight, but so that you may find even more courage to face the threat that lies before you."

The bronze adventurers found some solace in Launcelot's words, and their faces brightened up.

"Be ready when the sun begins to set at the Adventurer's Guild, fully armed and equipped," said Li. "This time, my druids will provide you elixirs free of charge to defend this city. Ivo and the druids will then lead you to the clearing spot."

"And where will you be?" asked an adventurer.

"Scouting ahead," said Li simply.