INTRO SONG: Kono Sekai e Moeru

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The survivors of the unit were in a half circle around 6 freshly made graves, at the head of each overturned mound was placed a roughly cut slab of wall or stone taken from the ruins of the village, each carved with the name of their fallen friends and comrades. The soldiers all stood to attention as Gerhard marched forward into the centre, before halting and doing an about turn to face the grim and sad faces of the squad. Looking to each of them in turn Gerhard then spoke;

"Männer Today… today each and every one of you have changed. Right now we cannot ask ourselves why we lived and yet the others didn’t. We must not ask ourselves why the hand of fate has dealt such a cruel blow against us nor why it has chosen this day, this hour, this moment to show us the face of death through our comrades".

Pausing for a brief moment, as if looking into himself and struggling for some sort of answer he then continued, "We lived because it was not yet our time. We lived purely by chance, because Death's gaze happened to pass over us as he picked the souls of the brave. And now we stand here as the brave lay there…." as Gerhard pointed to the mounds.

"We are here because we weren't deemed suitable enough to enter the halls of Valhǫll ….so I say this. LIVE! Live long and prosper! Live the lives our friends are no longer able to have. And while we are at it, let's spit into Death's face together and show him that he had his chance to choose us… now we shall be the harbingers of death itself and he will have to try his damn hardest to take away our right to live! And when it is our time to finally join our friends once again, let us tell them that we done right by them, that we always remembered them. Let no man here forget the faces of those gone before us"

A period of long silence followed before one of the soldiers stirred and shouted, "Salute!"

There was a loud cacophony of metal on metal as armoured right fists tapped the breastplates over their hearts to which it became an unspoken signal for Gerhard to sing. Lydia still didn’t understand why they were actually holding a funeral for the NPCs but Gerhard was so adamant that she choose not to argue. After all, if a role-player is this serious about his character… was what she thought until she saw his face. To her astonishment, an unbroken flow of tears were streaming from his eyes… it seemed so genuine and heartfelt that even Lydia choked up at the sorrow he was showing. And that is when she truly listened to the song.

Ich hatt' einen Kameraden,

Einen bessern findst du nit.

Die Trommel schlug zum Streite,

Er ging an meiner Seite

In gleichem Schritt und Tritt.

In gleichem Schritt und Tritt.

Eine Kugel kam geflogen:

Gilt’s mir oder gilt es dir?

Sie hat ihn weggerissen,

Er liegt zu meinen Füßen

Als wär's ein Stück von mir.

Als wär's ein Stück von mir.

Will mir die Hand noch reichen,

Derweil ich eben lad'.

"Kann dir die Hand nicht geben,

Bleib du im ew'gen Leben

Mein guter Kamerad!"

Mein guter Kamerad!"

By the end of it, as the squad and Gerhard marched away towards the direction of their mission, none of them commented on why Lydia was inexplicably sobbing.

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"Huhuhuhuhuhu"

"Mum? Why are you chuckling weirdly", Max lifted his head out of the brown box and looked at his mom worriedly.

"Guess what I fooound ~~~", she said excitedly as she lifted a photo up to her lips.

"Geeeeh!!!", Hermann exclaimed as he saw what she was holding.

"Awwwww, is that you dad? Coochie coochie cooo", Max teased.

"GIVE .. GIVE IT HERE!"

Max laughed as his dad grabbed the picture from his mom's hands in a not so rough manner so he wouldn’t damage the photo and Hermann's face softened as he gazed at the scene shown in the picture.

"Where did you get this photo from?", Hermann asked softly.

"Hmmm? Why from his wallet of course. I think it’s a wallet?", she held up a black leather wallet of some kind, cracked from age however another photo slipped from its folds and drifted down towards the floor, Max bending over to pick it up.

"Wow, it seems to be faded beyond recognition, Dad would you know who these people are?"

"Let me see here…Mein Gott! , we have to get this fixed immediately! Max run to the local camera, photography store arrgggh whatever! Get this fixed and restored!", Hermann shouted excitedly.

"Wha.. what is it father?"

"Yes Hermann dear, what is going on? Tell me before I call the mental asylum to come pick you up"

"Well... don't you want to see what our family in Prussia was like?", the statement shocking his wife and son before both looked to the old photograph, perhaps the last treasure of Gerhard's old life, from an old forgotten kingdom.

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The tired squad basically stumbled into the fortified frontier village of Basterni, followed by the happily whistling Lydia pushing along a wheelbarrow full of loot. Once they passed through the wooden gate, she immediately broke off in search of a merchant but not before shouting, "Don't leave without me, ok?! I am your healer after all! Cya soon", and then she blew a kiss towards them… yup, not very shameful at all.

The journey, as some may already have guessed was not an easy one, the unit having been ambushed 6 times along the way with each fight getting progressively harder as higher level mobs began making their appearance along the King's Road, delaying the group so much so that they finally arrived after a week of avoiding the more unmanageable mobs of Orcs and human bandits whilst hiding in the mud or bushes beside the road. However it was always difficult to do so when all Lydia could do was whisper loudly, "Looooot, come on guuuys lets kill them!", with dollar signs seeming to replace the irises of her eyes. Even when the mob size was 40 or more…. The last fight along the road was caused when Lydia said "Whoops", before 'accidentally' casting fireball at one of the Orcs… That is how she assured Gerhard after a brutal fight that lasted nearly 20mins, smiling innocently at him while with one foot kicking loot into her opened bag.

Gerhard, trying to think the best of people and not knowing how magic works in this game let it slide… although he has this sinking feeling that the journey wouldn’t be so bad if she didn't follow them. For some reason she decided to tag along and when asked Lydia batted her eyelids prettily and claimed it was safer with the unit because the whole area had become far too hostile for a young, frail and BEAUTIFUL girl like her to be alone in. She emphasised the 'BEAUTIFUL' bit… thrice…

When they finally walked to the end of the fortified village, they came upon the fort the community was built around from and stood in front of perhaps the only reinforced oak gates for a week's travel in all directions. An elderly guardsman poked his head over the stone parapet and questioned the squad, "Is this all the reinforcements?... And where is the Denarion that went to the capital? Don’t tell me they decided to take him along on that foolhardy errand of the King's?"

The recruits, now hardened veterans, looked to one another before pointedly staring at Gerhard who noticed and cleared his throat, acting as impromptu leader and stepping forward to address the guard, "We were original a full squad, Sir, however we were ambushed in one of the villages and lost half our men, the Denarion included. I don't suppose I can meet Sir Ernst Rommer? I have a letter for him from the Instructor at Serabourg"

"Ha! That ugly mongrel still alive? Well you are looking at him"

"Pardon?", Gerhard replied in confusion.

"I AM Sir Ernst Rommer", the old man repeated, as though it was as plain as day before yelling behind him, "COME ON YOU SLACK JAWED DAIRY COWS! COME ALIVE, LOOK SHARP AND LET THEM IN! DON'T WANT THEM TO THINK THAT YOU GUYS WERE JUST LAZING ABOUT AND PLAYING CARDS DO YOU!?", totally oblivious that the squad outside can hear him quite well.

The gate groaned as it slowly opened outwards, Ernst Rommer coming down stairs in the distance within, hunched over and obviously tiring out badly. Gerhard quickly marched forward and up the stairs, offering his arm to the old man who was about to swat it away in irritation before Gerhard said, "I am honoured to help those respected and brave men who were injured in the line of duty. I take it a recent injury is slowing you down, Sir?"

To which Ernst Rommer grunted in assent and gratefully leaned into the side of Gerhard who slowly led the old man down the stairs carefully. There were nods of approval from several of the NPC soldiers who were garrisoned there and he received a message bubble once again.

*Tring!

Charisma has risen by 1 point (+1 CHR)

"So why did he sent you along with this bunch of arrow fodder to the worse posting in the universe?", the old man looked him up and down, "you are too good for this… you feel like a man who has stared death in the face for a long time", Ernst Rommer remarked intuitively… almost like a real human would.

It startled Gerhard however he just reached into one of his pouches and pulled out a letter for the commander, who promptly read it and grinned lopsidedly, "Well welcome to the last days of your life, and judging from the looks the recruits are giving you I bet you led them to safety here. If that orc smelling freak liked what he saw, and I sure as hell like what I am seeing standing right here.. Do you feel up for an apprenticeship under my command?"

*Tring!

You have received a job offer!If you accept it, you will take a military position of Centurion in the Rosenheim army. You will command 100 foot soldiers. You are entitled to receive regular training, and a monthly income of 3 Gold. You will also be apprenticed to Sir Ernst Rommer as his sole Squire. Will you accept this job offer?

The question caused Gerhard to blink rapidly in confusion... until he saw the faces of the survivors looking at him expectantly... eyes that reminded him of comrades long ago. Gerhard had lived a long life... and yet somehow he felt like he was being offered a second chance to make amends to those he failed long ago...

Clicking his heels and standing in military attention, Gerhard saluted the old man crisply, "I accept, mein Kommandant. Command me as you will!"

"....then go send your gear for repairs and report to the quartermaster for additional armour with my heraldry".

*Tring!

Quest Complete!

You have arrived safely at the frontier village of Basterni and reported to the commander for your posting. You have additionally received the title of 'Squire' and a rank within the Army of Rosenheim.

Clapping once on the shoulder of Gerhard the old man said, "Well… you are now my second in command. I am sorry about this since you have just arrived … but you are ordered to locate and engage the Orc and Human leaders of this accursed alliance", Rommer's eyes seemed to burn fiercely as he continued, "… with their total annihilation as your duty. You have 5 days to organise and set forth. Requests for a transfer are denied. Leave is denied. Refusal to accept is also DENIED".

A quest window promptly opened.

*Tring!

The Shadow War

The Orc raiders and Human bandits have forged an alliance which is devastating the region. Attempts to bring them to battle has been futile with the enemy constantly using guerrilla tactics to harass the beleaguered Rosenheim troops despatched to the region. Finding the leaders and executing them is hoped to destabilise the alliance and lead to its downfall.

Difficulty Level: C

Quest Requirements

Acknowledged as reliable by the instructor for a constant passion for Sword Mastery

Acknowledged as reliable by the commander by ensuring the survival of at least half or more of the squad and its subsequent delivery to the frontier village

Warning: If you refuse to accept this quest, this will count as desertion and you will be stripped of all worldly possessions before thrown into prison for a period of 2 years followed by a dishonourable discharge.

It was some thirty minutes before Lydia waltzed into the courtyard that had Gerhard's tired head in his hands as she called in a 'I have a happy fat wallet' kind of voice, "So, what did I miss?"

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"Gyaaaaa!", a player shouted as he was hacked in half by a battle axe swung by a giant in red armoured plate as the well armed caravan of merchants and warriors screamed in terror as they recognised the figure.

"RUN FOR IT! IT'S ERIC THE RED!", one of the warriors screamed before he leapt forward to try and give the others a chance to escape.

It was a futile effort though as he was instantly cut down, the lone giant bringing death and chaos with every swing of his axe until finally only a single warrior remained, sitting down with back leaning against a tree trunk, already close to death with his HP fading rapidly, "…damn you player killer… our guild won't stand for your insolent behavi-..", to which he was silenced by a fall of an axe.

The red armoured giant gazed around at the caravan full of goods and gears bound for the frontier region before he rested the long handle of his battleaxe on his shoulder and began his slow walk in the general direction of the village of Basterni… ignoring all the items. The gaze he directed forward would bring chills racing down one spine if you were to look into them… devoid of all emotion. His eyes were as dead as a corpse.

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Ending Song: Gentle Light