I’ve been out in the woods every night for the last three days, me and Nessa have been taking turns running silent patrols. Rita has taken over as command and control, she used to be an organization consultant for fortune 500 companies. She’s very good at it, and great with the kids. She’s got everything organized so we have less holes and she has started putting them to work tearing down a couple of the old barns and using them to build fences around the housing portion of the camp.

The campers have killed a good number of monsters in the last few days, mostly some goblins and zombies, there were a few orcs. They wanted us to just take care of them for us, but we decided they need to do it themselves. They’re going to have to learn how the world works now, and people who can’t kill something that wants to kill them need to be ferreted out quick, having a liability in a life or death situation almost always ends badly

The camp is a decent size, but we have pulled everyone back to the councilor living area, it’s about half a mile back from the main road, and the only obvious way in or out of the camp. I made a command decision there. The councilors that were left wanted to put everyone inside the chow hall, but it’s indefensible, it’s probably the oldest standing building in this place and it’s made from thin wood. Someone could just push through a wall and run roughshod through everyone.

I’m stalking someone in the woods now, buying my racial traits had upgraded my eyes and ears to actual elf equivalent so my life has gotten much easier. I can’t see perfect in complete dark, but low light situations are about as bright as an overcast day. The only real problem here is that I’m convinced the people who have been following the trail I’m on have the same advantage. The one’s we’ve managed to get eyes on have been Hel-spawn.

Nessa thought she’d seen something on a rock-face across the lake and I figured I would check it out. Once I got up here I could see that there is a clear trail to and from a cleared spot under some bushes at the top. Whomever is coming up there has the basic idea of how to build and maintain a hide, but they lack the nuance of someone who has real world practice so I’m hoping they are less prepared for me then I am for them. Back to the task at hand, I’ve gotta stop these damned tangents.

I’d followed the trail to the top and found the hide empty, it looked like they had tried to cover it so I decided to follow their trail out and see if I could find their camp. Best case scenario they don’t send anyone out to the hide, worst case they do and I go around them and hope they don’t double back for some reason. It’s the way things are though.

After about half a mile the trail becomes much more pronounced, like they didn’t think they needed to hide it anymore. I can’t help but smirk at that, now I don’t even need to be on the trail to follow it, there are broken branches and signs everywhere. I decide that’s my move, I move far enough away that I can follow the trail and start stalking down the side. I refuse to make the mistake these people are. Maybe they’re not guarding the trail, but I would.

The trail eventually moves into a ravine and snakes around next to a shallow creek. Following it from the woods I can see some light deep-set into a saddle in side of the creek, it’s a decent spot. It’s on an offshoot of the creek, there are trees all around the lip of the creek so it’s almost like a woodland cove. the walls of the creek around it are too high, and sheer to climb in without being noticed and they slope up some so that if they were attacked from above they could just hug the walls. The only real problem I can see with it is that there aren’t any egress points. But for where it is there might be a cave or something in the back.

-MESSAGE-

Gnome: I found their camp. It’s a well thought out spot. I’m going to send you the coordinates on the map before I go try to scope it out.

Nessa: Roger that. I’d rather you not went near them at all, but we need intel on them. Don’t get in too deep, if they know we’ve found them they’ll just move.

Gnome: You got it, I have no intention of doing anything other than looking.

I move around towards the top of the ridge over their camp. Deciding the best course of action is to just get into a crawl and move that way I get down on my stomach and only move in slow motion. Getting close to the top of the overhang I start running into traps more often. Most just look like fishing line heading towards the camp, probably meant to not be noticed and alert the people inside. I do come across a few bear-traps, it’s almost painful for me to leave them behind moving these just a few feet either way could pull some of their resources to heal wounded. I leave them though, I don’t know if the traps have failsafe’s and I’d rather not find out.

It takes me a little over half an hour to get to a point where I can look down into the camp, luck was on my side this time. I managed to find some brambles that were thick enough that most people wouldn’t have went into them. I carefully made my way inside. There was just enough bush that I could look over the edge and make out about ninety percent of their camp.

Counting them out I could see fourteen human shapes around their fire, they had tried to bury it, but didn’t consider that the light was bouncing off the back walls, or maybe they were confident? I really hope they are stupid, and not confident. Confidence means numbers, and numbers are bad.

Me and Nessa can probably account for two-three each if we get the drop on them, and their grouped. Rita can probably take another couple if she is in a good position. If we count the campers, we can probably calculate out to one enemy per six to seven campers. And that is a hopeful estimate.

Looking down into their camp I can see nine drow elves grouped together near the flames, I can’t [Identify] any of them, so I assume they are the incursion force from Hel. I roll back up on the edge and message Nessa telling her I have eyes on nine, but there are probably a couple of groups watching our camp, and if there smart a couple on guard that I can’t see. She sends a message back but I ignore it, I’ve seen enough here. If this group mobilizes were all dead. The camp is about as good as worthless at this point now anyways. Even if we kill these guys another incursion force will be here, and another. From what Hep has told me he has made enemies during incursions, and arena battles. Some of them much higher level than him, and all of them vindictive.

-MESSAGE-

-Gnome: Hey man, sorry to bother you but we have a developing problem. There are at least 10 of these guys, there’s no way we can take the one’s here. Even if we can they’re just going to keep coming back. This camp is compromised.

-Hep: Fuck. You’re sure? It’s a perfect location, and were only another two days out.

-Gnome: yeah man, even if we wipe these guys the position is notable on a map. It’s why me and Nessa both came here. It’s why these guys are here checking; the spot is blown. Best case scenario we cause some havoc at their camp and move the kids in the confusion. Worst case, they decide to mobilize and the camp fights from a dug in position.

-Hep: godamn it. I guess we make a move then. I need those kids, there aren’t many resources as important as our youth at this point. Fuck man, what’s you thought, I’ll back whatever your play is.

-Gnome: I don’t like it, but I think the best play is to wait for them to start moving and I hit them hard as they move out. They’re not going to be paying attention leaving their own camp, and one of the only entrances is through a rocky creek, the sides are high, and almost impossible to climb.

-Hep: If you can hem them in the possibility of holding them in place is high then?

-Gnome: Yes. It leaves me no exit strategy though, best case at that point is that they are all moving out when I hit them. Worst is that they have sentry’s out and they come and hold me down while the main force attacks. Either way my odds of survival aren’t high.

-Hep: I hate to bring it up, but the system rewards self-sacrifice like that. I’m not going to tell you to do it, I’ll let that be your call. But for me the cost vs reward is high if you can hold them down.

-Gnome: Alright man. I’ll sit tight and wait for them to make a move, once they start talking about acting I’ll move to an ambush point and do some damage. Make sure the others know my plan. I’ll keep them informed where I can.

-Hep: Thanks brother, I owe you one.

-Gnome: Let me mesh my rift with yours and we’ll call it even.

-Hep: You got it man, I was going to ask if you were interested. You’ll have the option to skip System initiation night if you want, but I’d do it then we can set them to synch up. It’s going to cost a hefty amount of EXP but it’ll be worth it.

-Gnome: We’ll talk more about it later, I gotta get in the mindset for what I’m doing. I’ll talk to you later boss.

-Hep: Stay safe.

Guess I’m going to be sitting tight for a while. I guess it’s time to plan my ambush point, so that I know where I’m going once these guys kick out. Spending the next couple of hours with my attention decided between the camp below and my map I almost miss a couple of the roving guards who walk past talking about how they are going to move out en’ masse in a few hours. Shit, I really thought I would be here for days.

-MESSAGE-

Gnome: They are moving in a couple of hours, keep an eye out for some of them over there. Don’t tell any of the kids, but start moving around complaining about food and stuff being on the ground. Call it sloppy, do what you have to get them ready to move without alerting your watchers.

Rita: Hep filled us in, are you sure about this?

Nessa: It seems like an unnecessary risk.

Gnome: I’m not going to discuss it, I’m doing it. Act like you have a few hours at most, they will probably try to attack in the hours closest to dawn, and if they decide to move fast they can be there within 20 minutes. Get yourselves ready, don’t message me again I need to move without distraction.

I hate being second guessed, especially when I really don’t want to be doing what I’m doing. I am terrified of what is about to happen. Respawning takes the edge off, but it doesn’t mean I’m not about to die a horrible painful death. Point of the matter is, I’d rather not, but I’m gonna go anyways.

I take some time getting back to the position I started from, I can see that some of the traps have been pulled up, the cheaper one’s are in the same place. I can hear them losing discipline as they break camp, If I booby-trap the ravine, and time it right I can probably ace three or four in the initial. After I make the decision there aint nothing to it, but to do it.

Setting the traps, and building a semi-hidden defensible position takes me the better part of two nerve-wracking hours. I’m at cold sweats by the time I hear them start moving out. I check that my four lines are tied to the sticks I have them set to, check that my overly expensive wireless detonator is armed, and message the others to let them know I’m going to start the party.

It takes another ten-minutes for the group to start walking through my kill-zone. Here. We. Go.

The first two walk past the grenades I have set up on line, and I pull the pins. I can see they look confused as to what the sound is for a second before the four grenade’s I had set up in a rectangle behind rocks blow up and turn them into red-jelly. I before the next two in the column can react I start putting rounds into the ravine. I’d love to kill them all, but realistically I just need to keep them here either until I’m dead, or Rita gives me an all clear.

There isn’t enough cover for more than one person near the group and a few of them are fighting over it, I shoot the cover and most of them start falling back. I can hear the one I’d pegged as the leader yelling at them to assault into the ambush. It’s a good tactic, it would have been my move. Too bad they don’t know where I am. I’m keeping most of my shots to when I hear someone yelling, or just after the blast’s. I wait for most of them to fall back and hold position. I can see the leader of the group get in solid cover and his eyes glaze over. Probably calling someone in, or ordering the attack. I’d order the attack on the camp.

Now’s a good a time as any. I draw a line on the leader and pray to Odin I set my scope right. Pulling the trigger, the bullet hits him just above the clavicle and down at an angle through his throat and into his chest. He’s as good as dead now, I hope I acted fast enough to curtail his message though.

I pull the second string and the single grenade I had put under the far side of the only front cover goes off. It’s impressive to say the least, the elf must have been set square on it. There is an eruption of leaves, dirt, and gore into the air. His body comes down and the top right arm is draped over the rock, there is a chunk missing from just under the shoulder down to the hip. A few other holes can be seen, but I don’t have time for that.

The whole troupe is panicking. This is the best-case scenario, I couldn’t have asked for anything better. If I could ex-fil now would be the time. I wait around for a second hoping that I get the message, but I’m not that lucky today. After a few minutes behind cover they send another guy out to rush the front cover. He’s firing blind in almost every direction, I wish I had the money to blow ammo like that. He hunkers down behind the rock with a look of utter fear on his face, like he’s sure his comrades sent him to die. I can’t help but giggle a little at it.

Pulling the third string on my little trap gallery my smile gets even bigger. I had set two grenades about 5 feet in front of the rock. The explosion throws more dirt and leaves into the air, and I take another shot at the guy in cover. I had decided earlier that I would put my Hide further off from the edge, it gives me a lot less leeway on the far side of the ravine, and gives them cover if they find me, but that’s only if they are organized enough to find me. I take another deep breath and shoot the guy up front in the leg before the dirt settles.

I don’t want him dead, I want him as a panicky reminder that moving forward is a horrible Idea, full of only death and pain. A few of the ones in the back think they are smart and that they’re going to move back to camp, like I hadn’t thought of that. It’s the only ace I have though, so I hope they only had one ex-fil set up. I turn the key and push the button. There is an explosion near the top center of the ravine setting off 2 full pounds of C-4 that I had dug into a shallow hole. The rear rock wall of where their camp used to be crumbles from the edge and crashes down sending a wave of dust and dead forest in our direction.

That was my one big trick right there, and it was expensive, so I hope it was worth it. The people left look confused, and they should be. In the matter of a couple of minutes I killed four of their friends and left another one bleeding out screaming.

-MESSAGE-

-Rita: We’re clear. Six of their people broke into our camp and killed a bunch of guards and kids, probably somewhere around forty before we took them down. It looks like it was targeted, most of the people who died were the older ones we’re out now though and headed towards the rendezvous with Hep. Meet us if you can, good luck.

Goddamn it, my hands clench and I must close my eyes to ride out the pressure in my chest. The heat from my rage makes the morning chill non-existent. They all die, If I have to sit here for the year and wait for them to run out of food and die of starvation I’ll consider it well worth the effort.

Me and the dunces in the ravine have been at a stand-still for about twenty minutes now, I could have left after I got the message, but the longer these guys are in place the less chance they have of tracking my group when I hear someone trying to be sneaky while coming at me from my north-east. Fuck, I guess the jig is up. Time for my last party favor. I wait until I can hear the scuffling from just off to the side of the two trees on my blind side and pull the chord.

Another eruption of dirt and leaves happens, this time I hear the scream, and see pieces of another elf coming at me through the air. I roll over and a large piece of what looks like a chest with an arm attached slams through my cover. I guess that’s my que. I aim toward where the group below is and dump the entire mag in their vicinity to keep their heads down.

Breathing heavily, I sprint in the direction my last trap went off in. Between the effort of keeping my rage in check, and the adrenaline I’m having a hard time keeping the sweat out of my eyes. Getting up the hill takes more energy than I would have expected, its much steeper when your sprinting. My new position involved me moving around and above the near side of the creeks lip, so that I am slightly behind the last of the trash. It’s a bit of a gamble from here once I attack they might make it out of the area, but I’ll hunt them down.

I get set behind a large rock sticking a few feet above the ground. My heightened concentration causes the sounds of the wood grain scraping into place sound like someone has started a chain-saw. Calming down, wiping my brow I take a deep breath and put my eye up to the scope. From here I have a good view of the remaining four, five if you count the one screaming.

Two of them are sitting next to each other on the opposite side, slightly under some overhanging roots. One is trying to crawl to his hurt friend, and the other is looking in my general direction a little behind the ones under the roots. I’m going to need to kill the one looking in my direction first, then the one on the ground, the two crowded together will probably stick together.

One last breath. Sitting the chevron inside my sight onto the chin of the one looking in my direction, I hold my breath at the apex and lightly squeeze the trigger. I pull harder than I mean to and my shot drifts high and to the right. It still takes him in the side of the face sending bone fragments and blood soaring through the air. Sighting on the one crawling, he’s turned over and raised up a bit to see where the shot came from. The only way he could have presented better were if he had walked up and pointed the barrel right at his face, I need him alive though. I don’t think the first one I shot is going to make it, his screams have quitted to whimpers.

Begrudgingly I lower the barrel and snap off two shots into his lower legs, one smashing his left knee and sending him rolling over and screaming. The other catches him in the meat of his right thigh ripping a chunk out and turning it into red mush that sits on the ground feet from the owner.

The last two finally get the idea that they are not in a good place, and turn to start firing on my position. I drop to my stomach behind the rock and slide to the right side poking my barrel through a bush that is growing next to the rock. Training the rifle on the left-most one I start lobbing rounds at him. I manage to put three into his chest armor and another bounces off his helmet putting him on the ground unconscious. The other had retreated towards the camp after the last round of shooting, I’d rather hunt him in there then in the open woods, so that’s going for me.

Waiting a few moments, I can’t hear anything but the screaming guy and his whimpering friend, I can’t let them sit too long, they might have advanced healing items or magic, you never know here.

The rage I had warming me up before has cooled to a dull simmer and thinking is much easier. I get into a crouch and slowly circle around and to my right side trying to keep the people in the creek in sight while holding cover. After making it back to the lip I realize my mistake. There isn’t much cover for them to get out, but there isn’t much cover for me to get in either. I’ve got a plan, but it’s a long shot.

Taking a deep breath, I begin to sprint at the only cover there is: A rock covered with blood and body of the dead elf I exploded. I make it about ten feet from my cover before rounds start coming at me. I crouch and try to speed up, I’m pretty much running with my feet and one hand. I slam my back into the rock. My breath is coming fast and heavy, the calm I had cultivated a few minutes ago, shattered in the last five second run to my position. I peek out from the side of my rock and empty the last of the mag into the whimpering dark elf.

At this range I can’t help but notice he looks like a kid. Maybe seventeen, the snot and tears on his face running rivulets down his cheeks. I decide the best thing I did for him at this point is put him out of his misery. He’ll respawn in whatever realm he came from, mentally scarred but probably not much worse for wear physically.

The elf at the other end of the ravine is getting better, in the time it took me to put his friend down he managed to put a few rounds off the rock right next to my face.

Time for that hail-Mary I was talking about. I pull the silver cylinder out of my inventory rear back and lob it in the direction of the remaining enemy screaming “Fire in the hole!!” It arcs perfectly it’s going to land right next to him, he notices the same thing I do, snagging his gun and sprints in the opposite direction.

Before the cylinder even hits the ground I’m up and sprinting in his direction as fast as I can passing the bottle of juice I’d peeled a label off of I can’t help but smile to myself. Today has been a lucky one, more experienced fighters might have noticed it wasn’t shaped like a grenade.

He’s stopped behind an overturned camp table “That table isn’t thick enough guy, my bullets will rip right through it. Come out and let’s have a chat.”

“why don’t you just finish it? I’m not going to give you information, and I have no idea what a monster like you would do to me if I surrendered.” I’m surprised, it’s a female’s voice. Doesn’t change much, I’m still going to end her, her people killed children. That’s a big no-no where I come from.

“I’m not going to rape, or torture you. If you give me information on your friends I’ll kill you quick though. What’s your name? I’m Gnome. I’m not a monster, your people killed children in that camp, the fact that I have killed most of you so fast is a mercy.”

“Eat shit, Dominic would never let the group kill children. We’re not that kind of vicious.” She sounds like she wants to believe what she is saying, but her conviction isn’t as strong as it could be.

“I know that Hel-spawn aren’t inherently evil, I understand you guys just grew up on a separate planet from mine or whatever, but that guy ordered your forward group to enter our camp and kill the people there. Most of those were kids.” I’m pointing at the dead leader off to the side, his face is smashed in and his brains and blood are pooling inside the helmet he was wearing.

“My name is Lena I used to think that they wouldn’t do such a thing, but the last couple of missions have been brutal, I’m pretty sure a few of the new people in the group might have been raping our captives. I don’t know anymore. I’ve been with Dominic for a few months now, he invited me into the merc guild. Are you sure you should kill me? I can just walk away, I will wait until my timer runs out and step into my portal. You’ll never see me again.” At the end of the last sentence she sticks her hands up and peeks her head out. Her face under her helmet is an ashy-grey color. Purple-eyes set above a short sever nose, with her mouth set in a flat resolute line, from here I can see that she has tear streaks down her face. I could take her out now, but I think she might be telling the truth, and I’m a softy for a pretty face.

“I’m sorry, I do have to kill you Lena. You might be telling the truth, but I’ve known you for minutes. Would you do any differently in my position? I promise I’ll make it quick though, regardless of if you give me information or not. I’m going to suggest you do some information gathering and quit your guild though.” A thought occurs to me,” Have you ever considered defecting? I don’t know how ensconced you are in Hels realm, but I’m betting Odin would take you in.”

The world comes to a pause and it feels like I’m being ripped out of my body, my face and neck muscles tighten into a grimace and I cannot even open my mouth enough to scream in pain. After a few seconds the pain lessens and I’m left lying in the dirt panting and drooling underneath my own body.

“Your progressing down a path you have no information on.” I fight my head to the side and see a tall man in a set of dark brown traveling leathers shooting a frown in my direction.

“Fuck man, that hurt. Couldn’t we have just had a discussion without the pain?” I spit on the ground and realize that I had bitten into my cheek and my mouth is bleeding. “Who are you anyways?”

“I am Vidar. I could have pulled you in a less painful manner, but you have irked me. Asking someone to defect isn’t wrong, per se, but it’s something usually reserved for priest’s and such. Do you understand the implications of that girl defecting to Odin’s realm? One single soul, from one single world can upset the balance for the entire interdimensional conglomerate. There are avenues that must be taken, things that must be done in a specific order. You are messing with the very nature of how things operate.” He seems pretty upset about this, How the hell was I supposed to know? It wasn’t like there was some help guide.

“Look, Vidar, I’m sure I’m not the first to do this. I never heard anything against it, so there’s got to be a precedent. Besides, I don’t think she’ll go for it. I was just trying to butter her up so that she doesn’t fight it when I put a hot piece through her dome.”

“regardless of your intentions she is not only thinking of defecting to Valhalla, she is considering doing it with a request to be in your camp. If, or when, she decides to do that she will bey your ward. Anything she does will reflect back on you for the entirety for her indenturement.” That sounds like a slavery thing.

“Like, indentured slavery?”

“Precisely. If she decides to take her request to the system you will both be prompted to make a decision. You will effectively become her owner. There are a few drawbacks on your end, you don’t just gain a slave. All her food, clothing and equipment will fall on you. Any mistreatment will be registered by the System and you will be penalized for it. That covers most of the issues you really need to know about. If she takes her request to one of the Valkyrie counterparts in Hels domain, you will have a decision to make. I only tell you this because a System flag was raised at her level of interest in your offer, there is a high chance that she is going straight to a higher power and making the request when she gets back if you do not talk her out of it.”

Fuck it, if she isn’t enjoying her life on the other side of the fence she can come suit up with us, if she is willing to pull her weight. Of course, this changes a few things, her honesty is almost guaranteed at this point. I could probably let her escape into the woods and not have to worry about it.

Vadir is giving me a dirty look. “I see I cannot change your mind for this course of action, just remember, you’re going to owe Hel at least a large favor, and you will be accountable for the girl’s actions.” With that he put a finger to my forehead and I was back in my body tumbling to the ground

“The fuck Gnome.” Lena is standing behind her table again.

“Calm your shit, got a visit from a god there. Apparently, I made you an offer I had no idea about. If you go home and ask whatever your System equivalent of a Valkyrie is your request will most likely be granted, but you’re going to wind up indentured to me for what is probably a long amount of time.” She closes her eyes in thought.

“It’s better than what’s going on now, but if I have to settle up for contracts I’m coming over with nothing. Most of my gear is borrowed from the guild, and depending on what they ask to get out of my contract you may have to front something for me right from the start. I’m not happy there, the people aren’t necessarily bad, but you’re the first person I’ve met in months who hasn’t treated me like shit.” Well I guess that’s decided, if she isn’t happy there I’ll do what I can. Having someone pretty much guaranteed to help me is not a bad deal either.

“Alright, I’ll agree to whatever terms get set, and you’ll owe me a favor for it, but I will expect you to pull your weight when you come. Another thing on top of that, I’m not going to kill you. I don’t know how much time you have until you can terminate your mission and go through your portal but spend it considering whether you want to do this or not. I’m not a bad guy, I’m not going to force you into situations you tell me you are uncomfortable with. But I expect the same in return.” I might regret this decision, but we’ll see I’ve got a good feeling about it.

“all right, one last thing. Your friends how many were on this run with you? Were you guys just the forerunners? Can you disclose positions?” I can trust her information more than torture information. And I don’t have to deal with the nightmares afterwards.

“There were fifteen altogether in our combat group, the only two not gray are me and Gleason over there. If there are other groups I don’t have any information, but we were the only ones assigned to your group. Umm, I think were the forerunners I’d expect there to be a larger force after we all respawned and fed the raid group information. You should get out of the area, I can’t stay here either. I’ll tell them I was tracking you through the woods and lost you if anyone asks” I’ll take it.

“All right Lena, I’ll catch you when I can, I’ve got to go kill your friend and get out of the area. Wait for him to be dead before you walk past, if he sees us both calmly walking he’s going to assume you turned.” I shake her hand and push out.

Walking up to the guy screaming on the ground I steel my face “Your friend managed to get away, but you’re going to die. I’m sorry about this it’s nothing personal but you attacked innocents.” I pull out Hels gift and slam it into his forehead the pressure of the knife behind his eyes causes blood to squirt out of his nose.

Without wasting any time, I start looting the dead elves. A couple of them had small caliber M-4’s and I could use one of those like nobody’s business. I don’t check any of the loot as I take it I need to be out of the area fast.

Backtracking down the trail to camp I make as much of a mess as I can. I’m going to set some traps and set myself up for some guerilla ops for when the main raid group gets here.

It should be a busy couple of days.