I said, as I slumped to the ground, my hands flying to my face, blood trickling between my fingers. Shards of metal were sliding painfully from my skin and pinging onto the ground, as if the nano within me was expelling them.

Ezzie whistled.

I said.

Ezzie said.

I said.

I said, as I forced myself back to my feet.

Ezzie said.

I nodded.

Ezzie said. She shrugged through the link.

Ezzie dropped the drawbridge and I headed in, wandering through the streets for a long while before I found a merchant to repair my equipment. I paused, searching through the merchant’s goods. He had four wooden shields for sale, which gave me an idea.

Ezzie said, a long moment later; she was obviously distracted on her end.

Ezzie said.

I bought four shields in all, then jogged through the marketplace a bit, though every other stall was deserted. The orphanage, though, was lit up with torches, and I could see Marcus running around inside through one of the windows.

Ezzie said.

Ezzie said.

I said, as I headed back to the north gate.

{Axe of the Dragon’ s Bane} (One-handed Axe) (Requires Level 11)

Grade: F

Item level: 20

Quality: Epic

Damage type: Slashing

Speed: Medium

Physical Attack: 29

Magical attack: 15

Durability: 60/60

Passive: +2 Strength, +2 Constitution

On Use: Casts {Might of the Dragon’s Bane} on player.

Charges: 1

I said, as I ducked back out through the north gatehouse.

Ezzie said.

I said.

The timer was ticking down; the encounter would resume in a little under two minutes. I headed back toward the north gate and took up my usual position just beyond the drawbridge.

Ezzie said.

I took a deep breath.

The dark clouds still hadn’t parted, and if anything, the snow was falling even harder than before, piling atop the grass at an incredible rate.

Snowdrifts were already forming, the larger of them easily knee-high. But at the very least, the Wyrmking seemed to have disappeared. For now, anyway.

Regional Quest Update: The Creeping Ice

Spawning wave 7/11

Regional Quest Update: The Creeping Ice

Spawning wave 8/11

Regional Quest Update: The Creeping Ice

Spawning wave 9/11