John found himself standing in the square of Runic Rock, looking around at the players nearby. He felt… Fine, actually. A little disoriented, but other than that he felt fine. He peered around, confused. A moment ago he was certain he’d been feeling fear and anxiety over the fact that his throat was cut. Now… it just didn’t matter, it was like it had happened to someone else, or had been part of a movie he’d watched.

“John?” came Grandma Loren’s voice.

John turned around to see her sitting in her usual spot by the rock. It appeared that he’d respawned in the same place he’d originally logged in at.

“John, what happened?” Loren sounded concerned and was looking at him intently. John looked down. His shirt was in tatters from all the slices and holes it’d accumulated, not to mention the rather large blood stain around the collar and the minor stains around each gash. So much for his expensive, puncture resistant attire.

“I was attacked.” He said after a moment, still feeling a bit confused.

Loren frowned at him. “Yes, I can see that!” she said, sounding exasperated. “Who attacked you, and why?”

“It was… some group of titans, they want me to cede the Gateway of Worlds to them. They…” he paused, his mind clearing. “They’re tearing apart my farm!” He said in anger and annoyance, causing more than a few of the milling crowd to turn and look at him.

Loren’s frown deepened and the book she was holding disappeared from her hand, her cane taking its place. “Titans you say? Six of them total, right? Three men and women? I knew they were trouble when they started asking questions.” She bent forward, placing the end of her cane on the ground and leaning on it. “So, what are you going to do?” She asked.

“I…” He looked around, fists clenching in anger. It hadn’t really sunk in, until they’d started attacking him, that this was really happening; then it’d been too late to really take stock of how he felt. But yeah, he was angry. He was also starting to feel despair as well. There was no way he could stop them on his own. Even if he could, how would he keep them from returning? “I don’t know.” He said finally.

“Well, let’s stop and think about your options,” Loren said and patted the seat next to her.

With a sigh John trudged over and sat down, slumping against the rock the bench surrounded. “There’s not a lot of options. I can’t defeat them. Even if I could, how would I stop them from returning? They’ll respawn just like I do, you probably already saw one of them, a redhead in white robes.” John said, despondently.

“Yes, I saw her. Now John, why are you approaching this as if you’re alone?” She asked him, not unkindly.

John looked at her for a moment, then shrugged. “Because I am? I could maybe pay Ex and Sally to help me, but it’d still be three on six. Worse, I’m not really a fighter, I caught them by surprise and even that wasn’t enough to do more than kill one of them and lightly wound another.”

“Hmmm, and where are the Knights in all of this?” Loren asked as she leaned more heavily on her cane.

“Dunno, they didn’t show up to help, so I guess they’ve decided they don’t need, or want, to protect me,” John said with a hint of bitterness.

“Possible, but it could just as easily be that they didn’t notice immediately. Perhaps you should ask?” she said.

John’s shoulders rose in a non-committal shrug. “Maybe, but even if they protect my farm, are they going to protect me when I go to town? They can’t watch me all the time, and if they did it’d win me no friends. The squires already hate me and the knights themselves don’t seem to like me much more,” he all but complained. “I just don’t know what to do. I have only four months left and they’re literally destroying everything I own.”

“Well, you’ve already done the first thing. You’ve talked to me about it, and I’ll be sure to pass it on. We don’t have anything as formal as a jail or a group of soldiers or guards to protect us. But we don’t take kindly to those who don’t follow the law, and just because you get up after dying doesn’t mean you weren’t murdered. By tomorrow they won’t find a single person in town who’s willing to deal with them, aside from other players.” She said sternly, her face set in unforgiving lines. “Next, we’re going to go have a discussion with Knight Commander First Class Helen.” Loren used her cane to lever herself to her feet and John quickly followed her.

“Er… I can talk to her myself; you don’t need to walk all the way out there…” John said, unsure as he watched her shuffle forward.

“First, that’s rude, I can decide how far I’m able to walk all on my own, thank you. Been doing it for years, if you must know. Second, who said anything about walking anywhere?” she said with a mild cackle and brought the tip of her cane down on the hard packed dirt.

John watched in fascination as a new, complex weave took shape at the point of impact. He could see hints of Move Earth and Control Air, along with parts he didn’t recognize. As he watched a ripple of magic burst from the weave to encompass Loren and himself. Then the world moved around them. After a moment of disorientation, John realized the world wasn’t moving, they were. Loren had ripped a hemisphere of hard packed dirt out of the road, and they were standing atop it as it flew through the air. He looked out amazed as the world began to swiftly pass them by. There was no sensation of movement, nor any variation in air speed or temperature, it was as if they were standing in place.

In mere moments they had passed the outskirts of the town and were racing down the road at speeds that put a galloping horse to shame. They quickly came up on, and then passed Healz, who was trudging her way back toward the farm and her companions. As the farm came into sight John could see two trails of smoke coming up from the garden beds; apparently they had made good on their promise to burn his crops. Further, his house was more than half demolished, leaving nothing but a large pile of fine sand. Loren made a tut sound and the flying platform swerved, heading toward the knights’ compound.

They floated over the compound for a moment as people streamed out of the barracks and off the training grounds to confront the old woman and young man who were invading their air space. Slowly Loren lowered the platform until it touched the ground, where its bottom flattened out and the front half turned itself into four shallow, long steps. The barrier around them disappeared and she stepped down onto the hard packed dirt.

“I believe I am looking for Knight Commander First Class Helen of High Vale,” Loren began, her head swiveling to take in the knights and squires, many of whom were armed and wary.

“Look lady,” began the same elf who’d let John in last time, “I don’t know who you think you are but you can’t just come barging-” he cut off suddenly as Axia’s large hand came down on his shoulder.

“That’s enough,” the big man rumbled, he then gave Loren a long, penetrating look before he dipped his head ever so slightly. “Commander Helen asks that you both please join her in her office for a discussion. Elenia,” he said, indicating one of the squires, a young halfling woman. “Please show our guests the way.”

“Yes sir!” Elenia replied cheerily, gave a small salute, and then waved for the two to follow her as she started in toward one of the smaller buildings.

Both Loren and John followed after her, and John was surprised to see that there was no sign of Loren’s usual shuffling gait. In fact, it seemed she barely needed the cane at all as she kept pace with the younger woman. John glanced around as they walked and noticed more than a few hostile stares as they passed the crowd of squires and knights. However, they were soon at the entrance to, what John assumed were, the offices. Entering they made their way through the entry room to a door directly opposite from the entrance where Elenia knocked sharply.

“Enter,” came the voice of Helen, muffled by the door.

Elenia opened the door and saluted. “John and Guest to see you Commander,” she said formally.

“Excellent, send them in and then please return to your training.” Helen commanded.

Elenia gestured them into the room and John followed Loren into the spacious office. The room wasn’t overly large, however it felt big given the lack of adornment, containing only Helen’s desk, a bookshelf filled with ledgers, and a small table with an arrangement of knickknacks on it.

“Please be seated, Loren, John,” Helen said, gesturing to the seats, one of which already held Loren.

“Now I’m sure you’re here about the unpleasantness occurring next door,” Helen began after John had seated himself.

“Oooh, ‘Unpleasantness’ is that what we’re calling murder and pillage now?” Loren said derisively.

“Technically it’s only claimed land, not actual property, and the owner has to show he can defend it from all comers, not just the local wildlife,” Helen rebutted as she folded her hands on the desk in front of her. “Normally his claim would have evaporated with his death, however as all the players do, he has returned to life, complicating the matter. Technically he can still defend his claim, thus it has not yet been forfeited.”

Loren made a rude noise. “That doesn’t explain why you, a Knight Magi, allowed it to happen,” she said as she tapped her fingers on the chair arm.

“No, it doesn’t,” Helen said calmly.

There was a moment of silence as the two women looked at each other. “So?” Loren said finally.

“It wasn’t reported until after John was dead,” Helen said softly.

Loren gave a start, her face contorting in anger. “Wasn’t reported?” she asked, and her voice held a note of rage John had never heard from her before.

Helen nodded. “Just so. The knight who finally reported it… was conflicted. It seems that the knight she was on duty with attempted to coerce her into leaving it be. In the end she chose not to, however by then it was too late to do anything about the fight.”

“But why haven’t you stopped them now?” John asked, more worried about what was left of his farm than who or why of what had happened.

“Axia was about to take care of it when you arrived. I suspect it’s already over,” Helen replied.

“John,” Loren said, still looking at Helen. “Go see to your farm. The Commander and I have to speak about a few things.”

John looked at her uncertainly. She was sitting ramrod straight and something in her eyes and posture spoke to someone with authority. He looked back to Helen, who’s own aura of command seemed a pale intimidation. The catkin woman nodded to him and he slowly rose, leaving the room.

Once outside he walked through the entry room and back out into the yard. There didn’t appear to be anyone waiting for him so he made his own way to the open gate. Walking out he bobbed his head to the knights who were guarding it. They made no move to return the courtesy. A short walk later and he was at his farm where he found Axia standing next to the large sandy mound where his house had been.

“Ah, you’ve finished with your meeting, I see,” the large man rumbled.

John looked around. There were several dark stains on the ground, only one of which he could identify as his own. Nearby was the pit that formed when he blasted Healz, with several scattered heaps of dirt haphazardly piled in the nearby area. Then there was his house. By the look of it, he was fortunate. It seemed they had only collapsed the first floor, leaving the basement untouched. John gave a heavy sigh.

“I guess… I start rebuilding.” He said, almost despondently.

“It could have been worse,” the big man said. “You had what, basic wheat and berries? You were never going to make a living off those.”

John nodded, it stung, but the titan was right. What could he do though? He had only four months left, and two of those were winter months. He might be able to build a greenhouse and grow some plants that way. “I just… Don’t know what to do.” He said finally.

“Prepare new fields and plant cash crops,” Axia said without preamble. “You want alchemical ingredients and magical reagents, though oftentimes those are the same thing. Even a common quality crop will bring in some gold. Also, don’t neglect existing resources. You’ve done well using the dungeon to help further your work, but the Knights Magi aren’t just good for hitting things and building roads. We have Enchanters, Ritualists, and Alchemists as well. You could easily hire someone to enchant those gardens of yours, create alchemical concoctions to enrich the soil, or even craft a ritual to enhance crop growth.”

John considered Axia’s words for a few moments, then said reluctantly, “I had considered asking if you had any Enchanters, but I wasn’t sure they’d be willing to work with me if I did.”

Axia rumbled in anger, and at first John thought it might be directed at him, though he saw no reason why it would be, then Axia spoke. “Our order has not been kind toward you, and for that I apologize. I also apologize for letting it go as far as it did. The squires are one thing, most of them are noble brats who don’t know any better, and eventually the bad ones will be weeded out. But the knights themselves? They are expected to adhere to a higher standard. To have fallen so far shows a distinct lack of character that cannot be tolerated.”

“Thank you,” John said after a few moments of silence. “Though I’m still not sure I would trust the few knights I’ve met to do their best. Before now I wouldn’t have even considered the idea of them leaving malicious surprises either, but… All of this,” he gestured at his farm, then his blood-stained shirt. “Feels pretty malicious.”

Axia was quiet for a long moment. “I understand,” he said softly, then turned to leave.