Day Three. Morning.

After leaving the Tartan legion’s barracks, I retraced my steps to the dark druid’s cabin. On the way there, I counted the coin in the money pouch. There was over twenty gold in it.

You have acquired 24 gold, 0 silver, and 9 copper coins.

I could barely contain my elation. It was enough to buy two of the ability tomes I had seen in Mariga’s shop.

Reaching her cabin, I knocked furiously until she let me in. “Did you forget something?” she hissed.

Ignoring the sarcasm lacing her voice, I shook my head. “I’m here to buy one of your spellbooks.”

Mariga’s forked tongue darted out in irritation. “I told you I won’t loan—”

Opening my palm, I showed her the gold in it. “I can pay.”

The druid fell silent for a moment, then seemed to sigh. “Well, what are you waiting for then? Go have a look,” she said and waved me to the display shelf.

Not needing a second invitation, I pulled out the three books I had in mind: ventro, simple parrot, and facial disguise. Sadly I was not skilled enough for lesser imitate, but for now, acquiring two of three basic abilities would suffice.

Laying out the tomes on a nearby table, I considered them in more detail. Which two did I choose?

~~~

Simple parrot was a spell that allowed me to imitate another’s voice. Facial disguise was similar in that it let me assume another’s face, while ventro allowed me to conceal the source of my voice.

All three deception abilities had combat potential, and while they would do nothing for my raw damage output or defensive strength, they could, if properly used, change the outcome of an encounter.

I spent some time contemplating my options, much to the disgust of the markedly impatient druid, but I refused to be rushed. In the end, I went with ventro and facial disguise, deciding ventro and simple parrot to be too similar to choose both.

After handing over the gold to Mariga, I eagerly absorbed the spellbooks’ knowledge.

You have bought a facial disguise and a ventro spellbook. You have lost: 20 golds.

You have acquired the basic ability: facial disguise. This ability overlays your face with an illusion, allowing you to assume the guise of another. Facial disguise only changes your face; it does not affect your voice or the rest of your body. The ability creates a light-based illusion that can be detected by a Perception check.

The illusion will remain in place for 1 minute or until dispelled. Warning: taking damage will cause the illusion to dissipate. It consumes stamina and can be upgraded. Its activation time is very slow. You have 4 of 8 Perception ability slots remaining.

You have acquired the basic ability: ventro. This ability conceals the source of your voice, projecting it to anywhere within a 10-yard radius of yourself. The ability creates a sound-based illusion that can be detected by a Perception check.

The illusion will remain in place for 1 minute or until dispelled. It consumes stamina and can be upgraded. Its activation time is slow. You have 3 of 8 Perception ability slots remaining.

Exiting the druid’s shop, I headed towards the goblin walls encircling the safe zone.

I had the makings of a plan, if only a rough one. My biggest concern, though, was time. I was uncertain if I would be able to complete everything that I needed to before my remaining five days ran out.

Both the dark druid and legion captain had offered me a way out of the sector, although both had set conditions that were onerous or impossible to achieve. As yet, I was disinclined to fulfill either’s mission.

Still, the pair had revealed crucial information. I now knew why the sector was important, and unlike the other interested parties, it seemed I was less constrained in how I acted.

I wasn’t sure just yet how I would act, but both Talon and Mariga’s information had strongly implied the goblins were the key to the valley, and it is with them that I would start my own investigations.

If I played my cards right, I thought I could escape the sector without compromising my independence. It would not be easy, and much would depend on matters outside of my control. But I was determined to try.

First, though, I had to get out of the safe zone.

I reached the northern perimeter of the village without incident. There was only one gate set in the inner wall of the goblin fort, and it was the same one I’d come through earlier.

Skulking in the shadows of a cabin, I scanned the area. A short stretch of open space separated me from the looming wall. Goblins marched atop the ramparts, and a crowd of players was gathered before the sealed gate.

The moment I left the safety off the shadows, I would be spotted, both by the goblins above and the players below. If Talon’s information could be trusted—and I thought it could—then the goblins would be no obstacle. The players, though, they could be problematic.

Time to move.

Rising to my feet, I strolled towards the gate. Faces turned in my direction, and the air filled with cries of alarm. I ignored it all and kept advancing.

The gathered players rushed towards me—some two dozen of them. Mobbing me, they screamed insults and threats but did not lay hands on me. They dared not. The Game was not forgiving of those who broke its rules.

I maintained my steady advance, forcing the players ahead of me to retreat.

It was slow going, but eventually, my ‘escorts’ and I reached the gate. Walking up to it, I banged loudly with my fist. “Open up!” I yelled.

“Fleeing won’t save you,” one of the players behind me scoffed.

“You don’t want to go out there,” another sniggered.

Ignoring both, I pounded on the gate again when it didn’t immediately open. This time I drew a reaction. A screen across a letterbox opening was pulled back, and two red-rimmed eyes glared at me from beyond. “Waddaya want?”

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the writ of safe passage and waved it in front of the goblin. “Let me through.”

The goblin eyed the piece of paper in my hand and then the crowd of players behind me. “You the one they’re after?”

I nodded.

He grunted. “On your head be it, then,” he muttered. He disappeared, and I heard a bar being withdrawn. A moment later, the gates began moving outwards.

I stepped back and out of the way, giving myself space. Through the opening, I saw another gathering of players inside the fort. Their weapons were drawn, and they looked tense and eager to do battle.

“Ha!” the joker behind me chortled. “I bet he doesn’t last ten seconds!”

“I give him less than five,” another chipped in.

I didn’t bother replying. The gates were halfway open, and it was time to move. I rushed forward. One step. Two. Then I leaped, hands outstretched.

My fingers wrapped around the top of the still-moving gate. Heaving myself up, I crouched down and balanced gingerly on the thin strip of metal.

“What’s he doing?”

“Running!”

I scanned the top of the fort’s inner wall. From my perch, it was reachable without any climbing aids. Shifting my balance, I waited for the gate to move closer.

When it was a double handspan away from the wall, I pushed off, hurtling forward again. Mid-leap, I cast one-step. My right foot landed on solid air and, kicking off it, I threw myself higher. My reaching fingers found stone.

I’d made it.

Wrapping my hands around the rampart’s edge, I pulled myself up. Below me, I heard the cries of consternation from the players on the ground. Ten seconds, eh? I grinned, reckoning I would have won the bet.

More voices rang out from below. This time they were goblin ones, and from the other side of the wall, shouting orders to seal the gate.

Good, I thought. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about any other players besides those already inside the fort.

I took a step forward towards the centre of the ramparts, then dropped quickly into a crouch as a Game message opened in my mind.

You have left a safe zone.

Bent nearly double, I was out of the of sight of the players in the Howler’s fort, but I knew I would not remain that way for long. Already I could hear their feet pounding along the wall, heading for the stairs.

From my right, I spied one of the goblin squads that patrolled the wall hurrying in my direction. I pulled out the writ again, waving it in the air. Seeing it, the Howler warriors skidded to a halt.

The squad leader scowled at me. “Get out of here,” he barked. “And take your fight elsewhere!”

“It’ll be my pleasure,” I replied with a tight-lipped smile. “But those players below are not going to let me leave.” I paused. “Will you get your fellows to open the outer gate?”

For a heartbeat, the squad leader studied me in silence, then he jerked his head in acknowledgment and snarled something to a goblin behind him. The warrior ran off.

I inclined my head in thanks and, drawing up along the inside lip of the ramparts, peered cautiously over. The immediate area below was free of players. Now was my chance. Swinging myself over the edge, I hung along the top of the wall for a second.

Then let go.

I dropped straight down. Gauging the distance carefully, I cast one-step mid-fall and formed a cushion of air beneath my feet, temporarily halting my descent. A moment later, the ledge of air vanished, and my fall resumed.

Landing lightly on the ground, I rose to my feet and scanned the area. Goblins were watching me from every direction, their beady eyes fixed attentively on my slim form. But word seemed to have spread that I carried a writ, and none of the Howlers moved towards me.

More importantly, I spied no players close by. The fools had not thought to leave anyone on watch while they hurried to the nearest stairs.

A mistake I shall make them pay dearly for.

I had two choices. Run for the gate or... fight. Despite my adamant refusal to engage with the hecklers at the gate, their insults had grated. The prudent course now would be to flee, but then again, the one thing I had learned about myself in this world was that I was not prudent.

If I had been, I would’ve sworn allegiance to Erebus a long time ago. Or to Loken.

Yet here I was, treading my own path.

It’s time the Awakened Dead players learned fear. My lips turned up in a hungry smile.

It’s time I taught them what it means to hunt a wolf.