Chapter 17: Crossbows and the Wagon

Soon Ricky found himself standing in the rapidly-moving large wagon. Relief didn't begin to cover how he was feeling. It had not escaped his attention that without the intervention of Gabriella and her companions, he would by now have become food for the surviving korapta lizards.

This would have meant respawning in Barrowdale.

If that had happened – if he had been chewed up by the lizard – would he still be a lycanthrope? It occurred to him that he wasn’t too sure about exactly how these mechanics worked.

He’d have to ask the Guide at some point.

Moments ago they had moved away from the surviving lizards, Gabriella’s crossbow singing out again and again as their wagon had gathered speed along the road – away from where he had been travelling. They were already deep among the hills in the dark of night – and finally the crossbows had fallen silent, the last of their attackers dead or fallen too far behind to pose a threat.

“I really appreciate your help,” he said, looking at Gabriella with what he hoped was a grateful smile, “but I’m supposed to be going towards Doomstar. Or has there been a change of plans?”

“No change,” said Gabriella, putting the weapon down and coming over to lean beside him against the edge of the wagon.

“Then I guess I should have stuck to the coast or something.”

Gabriella shook her head. “Continuing that way was madness – those were just the beginning. You’d have had a hundred lizards after you soon enough. I would have told you all this, of course, if you’d stuck around at the safe house like I told you.”

“I would have, but...”

“Never mind. As luck would have it, I got the item I was planning to give to you. So we are ready. And checking the map as I returned, I saw a lone guild member on the road, and decided to hurry on.”

“I see.” Ricky had realized that his armor was still covered in lizard blood. And he was still ravenous. He raised one sleeve to his face, sniffed, and then licked at it. The korapta blood had a sour taste, but he knew that he would be more than willing to drink more. What a pity that their juicy corpses had been left behind. If only he had managed to get at least one of them on board...

Then, playing over what Gabriella had just said to him in his mind, Ricky frowned. “I don’t suppose you have heard about the safe house, have you? I was hoping I would find you to pass on the news, and instead you found me.”

Gabriella narrowed her glittering pale blue eyes. “The safe house – what about it?”

Ricky took a deep breath. He had never liked to be the one to bring bad news, but yet had found himself doing so again and again in his life. Not least during the crossing of the Atlantic, when his role as ship’s mechanic aboard the Wandering Albatross often necessitated telling the captain about the need for repairs or new parts.

“I’m afraid it’s not as safe as you might expect,” he said at last. “I did the ceremony with Xarok, after which he left me to sleep. But at around that time, the whole place was attacked. I know that some of the guild were still alive – I could see them on my map. But a number were killed – NPCs particularly.”

Gabriella’s face fell. “That is a terrible blow. I don’t believe that many core guild members can have been present, as they are engaged with missions like this. But losing our NPCs is not something I take lightly.” She stood gripping the edge of the wagons, looking towards the dark shapes of the hills which were still silhouetted against the deep purple sky.

“Can we take our revenge, perhaps?”

She looked directly at him again. “That depends. Do you know who did it?”

“No. But I think Xarok might. I assume it was one of the rival guilds that he mentioned, though some of the attackers looked like assassins, and most of the ones I encountered were NPCs.”

She nodded once, staring off to the side and thinking for a moment. “Very well. I will make contact with our most experienced members to plan our next move. A couple of our core members – real players – are currently in the town of Roker Bridge, and I am planning to go there myself. In the meantime, you should concentrate on finding that orb – and on staying alive.”

“I will – but we seem to be going the wrong way.”

She pointed ahead and then moved her arm along until she was pointing to the south. “This road leads westwards, but before long there is a fork, and another road that curves around along the coast and eventually comes out close to Doomstar. It is the old highway between Doomstar and Roker Bridge – now rarely used. We will take it now, and bring you as close as we can to the ruined city. We must hurry, because a great invasion is being prepared.”

“What kind of invasion?”

“Against Imperialis. That is my mission, and the reason why I am here now.”

“You want to attack Imperialis too?”

She half chuckled, then shook her head, a very serious look upon her face. “No, apologies – I forget how new you are. My mission is to stop them. This military escalation is the work of a powerful rival of ours called the Green Hand Guild. They intend to attack the city, and will be coming this way soon. I aim to disrupt their plans.”

Ricky nodded. “Do you think this Green Hand Guild could have hit the safe house?”

She frowned. “It's possible... but why not wait until after conquering the city, if they genuinely believe they can do so?”

“That's true.”

“I mean, who can say what their plans are. All I know for sure is that they will come with a huge army, with monsters, and slave warriors – non-humans. They have great siege engines. It will be brutal for the people of Imperialis – the Green Hand Guild don’t just wish to capture the city, but to destroy it utterly.”

*Achievement: A highly educated conversation! You have gained new information about contemporary world events and expanded your basic knowledge. +10XP

*Quest 016 complete: Find out more about the Green Hand Guild. +20XP

“Well, it sounds like we are best off out of the city, just in case. Or do you think that Imperialis will withstand this attack?”

“As to that, Ricky, I just don’t know. It will be close. The same guild was responsible for the fall of Doomstar, previously the second city in the Empire after Imperialis. You will soon witness what they left behind.”

“They were?”

She nodded. “They value only chaos, and will use monsters of any kind to tear down human civilization. Murder and brutality are their way. A year ago they used magic to breed huge numbers of korapta lizards, and set them loose on Doomstar. Ogres too, smashing at the walls of the buildings. It was carnage.”

Ricky shook his head. He knew all about destruction of civilizations – the fall of a once-proud people. It had happened to his own homeland before he was born, although the final exodus had been gradual. Many lands that his grandmother remembered were now consigned to history.

“Then I guess we really are in trouble,” he said at last.

*Quest 017 complete: Determine the connection between the korapta lizards and Doomstar. +40XP

*Experience update: You now have over 500 unallocated XP. Please select an attribute to increase.

*Health update: Your level of hit points has risen to 70 (44 remain).

Ricky now knew well enough what this meant, and immediately spoke mentally to the guide: I’d like to increase my speed score.

“Done, Ricky!” said the Guide. “Allow me to summarize your new scores, which include the temporary bonus to your hit points.”

***

Endurance: 6

Mana: 0

Nimbleness: 5

Speed: 3

Strength: 8

Hit points: 70

***

As Ricky nodded silently at this, Gabriella put one hand on his shoulder. “Things are indeed grim. These are dark days, and some say only the elves are safe now. But I intend to fight. And if there is anything that we can do to help Imperialis, then we should.”

He looked around at her. “But why take a stand there, particularly?”

“Think about it – our safe house needs the city to stand. If it falls, then it becomes much easier for our enemies to attack us, and to take control of the gate. We must keep them out.”

He nodded, thinking hard. So – the safe house had been attacked by a mysterious rival, and a further guild was now sending an army at the city. All of which, if it was successful, stood to make him more vulnerable and isolated.

And ultimately, that made it harder for him to find a key, and make it into the city of New Baravia – his real target.

“I get it,” he said decisively after a pause. “I’ll try to complete my mission, and after that, I’ll do what I can to help.”

*Achievement: Bravery! You have shown great loyalty to your guild, and your reputation is beginning to grow as a result. +10XP

*Buff: Guild NPCs will react more positively to you from now on.

“Very well, Ricky. I’m glad you see what needs to be done. What we face is deadly – perhaps the greatest threat to the city in a generation. But the prize is just as big. We are close now – with two more orbs, we can finally open the gate to New Baravia.”

*Health update: You are extremely hungry. All of your attributes are reduced by 1 until you eat (minimum 1).

Ricky groaned and rubbed his stomach as the notification hit. He wouldn’t mind if it was just a game mechanic. But the hunger hurt, cutting through his body and making him feel weak and unsteady.

As she looked at him clutching his stomach, Gabriella smiled, then pulled something from a pouch at her belt.

“You truly have become one of us,” she said. “And yes, the hunger sucks – and it doesn’t get any better, my friend. But the power of the beast form... my god! I love it! Not to mention the joy of the hunt and of the kill.” She smiled broadly at the thought, and then handed over the small bundle of items.

***

New item

Item: beef jerky (10 pieces)

Class: food

Type: preserved

Resilience: 1 of 1

Qualities: tackling hunger; restoring health

Description: while not known for its taste or sophistication, this is a very popular trail food among the merchants of Portalis, and has become a staple of soldiers and adventurers, too.

***

Baring his teeth at the delicious meaty smell, Ricky tore into the first of the beef jerky strips, and found that it did indeed go some way to tackling his hunger. He had a second and a third, eating rapidly and noisily without even taking the time to thank Gabriella for the gift.

As he ate, the other crossbow wielder came over and introduced herself as Magee. “She’s an old retainer of my family,” said Gabriella with a wink. “Been working for us for generations.”

Ricky was still chewing. He paused, jammed a fourth strip into his mouth, and then managed to summon enough willpower to put the remaining six into his own pouch. “Pleased to meet you,” he said with his mouth full, smiling at Magee. “You’re very handy with a bow.” He then gave a slight smile as he wiped the meat juices from the edge of his mouth.

“Thank you, kind sir,” replied Magee.

*Achievement: Charmer! An NPC has been immediately impressed by you. +10XP

*Buff: The NPC _Magee_ is more likely to respond positively to your suggestions for the next 1 day.

*Health update: You are no longer extremely hungry.

“And our other companion is Big Mindar. That’s who’s driving,” said Gabriella, turning and pointing at light-skinned halfling who was driving the wagon. “A very close and trusted ally.” The little man was perched on the very front, behind the carthorse.

So, this was the famous Big Mindar? Ricky smiled despite himself, as he realized that the nickname was ironic to say the least. This was not a monster hunter, a killer of giant korapta lizards and half-dragons.

Or was he?

Perhaps there was more to Big Mindar than met the eye.

“Big Mindar is a core guild member,” said Gabriella more quietly. “Very skilled and brave, and a real player, like us. He has been on many travels with me in recent weeks, and will be with us at the gate, too.”

Ricky nodded again, gazing at Big Mindar and wondering what hidden talents the halfling had alongside a certain competence as a driver. He was dressed as a warrior, with a chainmail shirt over leather breeches. He was otherwise unarmored, however. He wore a distinctive jeweled ring on one hand, and his head was balding, and had a scaly appearance. Overall, the halfling was nothing heroic to look at.

Turning away, Ricky then saw that the meal had been making a difference:

*Healing report: You have gained 2 hit points (46 remain).

*Healing report: You have gained 3 hit points (49 remain).

Gabriella then moved over and sat on a bench that ran along the inside of the wagon, just behind the driver, and Ricky seated himself just beside her.

“Tell me more about Doomstar, if you will,” he said. “And are you sure you have time to take me there? It sounds like this coming army is the bigger threat.”

She nodded. “It is, but we need these orbs. There is no other way that I know of to complete the opening of the gate. And while opening the gate and gaining the key won't be easy, we must do it all the same.” She then smiled at him, a rather toothy smile, he noticed for the first time. “You’re one of us, now,” she added. “Part of the pack. Brothers and sisters by tooth and claw.”

“What exactly does that mean, though?” he asked.

She put one hand on his shoulder. “It means we fight together, hunt together. We don’t criticize each other’s choices, but stand side-by-side, always. We will win this contest, and when we do, we win it together. No brother or sister can be left behind. Trust. You’ll see.”

“Very well.”

The wagon was moving on fast now under the guidance of Big Mindar, and Ricky stood up to look around. He saw that they had turned towards the south, and was reaching a crumbling coastal road.

“Now I must travel with Big Mindar to a group of villages in the south,” said Gabriella. “I will meet another guild member by the name of Greenbow there – a powerful elven warrior. We have our own mission to accomplish, and all being well, we will return to Imperialis before the siege begins, and help to secure the city.”

“Then let us all hurry,” said Ricky. “I will continue to Doomstar alone. But are you sure that I will be able do it?”

“Before, I would have said no, even if you still had the elf Channia’s help. But now that you have the blood of the guild – yes. You know what you can transform into?”

“Yeah – a wolf.”

“And beastform too?”

“What is that?”

“Hmm.” She narrowed her eyes. “You may have the option of a beastform as well, half man and half wolf. Why don’t you call out to the guide to list your forms? But don’t transform just yet.”

“Okay then.”

He looked away; somehow it would feel strange to speak to the guide while looking at Gabriella.

Guide, he called. List the forms that I can change into.

“Very well, Ricky.”

At that moment, the following appeared:

***

Available lycanthropy forms (3)

The characteristics of a human

The characteristics of a timber wolf

The characteristics of both human and wolf (beast-form).

***

“Big Mindar, what time is it?” Gabriella called out, turning to look at the little halfling as she spoke.

He pulled a pocket watch from his coat, looked at it, and then replied: “Almost eleven.”

Gabriella looked back at Ricky. “You have an hour, then. It’s enough. Take this – it’s the item I spoke of. It is very hard to get hold of, but as luck would have it, I obtained it sooner than expected, and was already on my way back with it.” She handed over a small glass bottle, and when Ricky took it, a further notification appeared:

***

New item

Item: elixir of transformation (lizardkind)

Class: potion

Type: extremely rare

Resilience: 2 of 2 (bottle)

Qualities: offers the user the chance to take on lizard form.

Duration: 12 hours

Prerequisites: lycanthropy

Description: this item is crafted in very small batches by the wild spellcaster Shadowmere who lives in a cave to the east of Roker Bridge. She tolerates few guests, and on the rare occasions when she agrees to brew a potion for a fee, she expects all of the constituent parts to be brought to her. The recipe for this is known to few, but it is commonly supposed to include the still-beating heart of at least one type of korapta lizard.

***

As he took it and clutched it in his hand, Ricky looked back at Gabriella. “I’m not sure I understand.”

She simply nodded towards the bottle in response. “Drink it.”

He pulled out the stopper, tipped his head back, and drank down the mouthful of liquid inside. It was surprisingly warm despite the chilly night, and he finished it in a single gulp. It burned a little as it went down, and then sat uneasily in his stomach.

Now Gabriella said to him: “Now check again on your available forms.”

Guide, show me please!

***

Available lycanthropy forms (5)

The characteristics of a human

The characteristics of a korapta lizard

The characteristics of a timber wolf

The characteristics of both human and korapta lizard (beast-form).

The characteristics of both human and wolf (beast-form).

***

“See?”

“So I can turn into a lizard?”

She nodded. “It’s only temporary, thanks to the potion. It’s what is needed to get someone into Doomstar undetected by the nuisances that you already met on the road.”

“I see. And why me?”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re the fourth of us to get the chance, and I have a good feeling about it this time. I’ve seen you in action. And besides – everyone else in the guild has their own mission. Many of them are even harder still, let me tell you. But as a pack, we can prevail.”

They fell silent as the wagon rode on. There was little to see at the coast; the sea by night was dark and featureless and they didn’t pass any further villages or even lone houses. Ricky could understand why. They were still all too close to where he had been attacked by Korapta lizards, and – by the sounds of things – rapidly approaching the even more dangerous ruins of Doomstar. Who would want to live here? Then, with a start, Ricky realized that they had now rejoined the main road that ran past Imperialis further north.

Gabriella had been resting in her seat, and now she sat forward and put one hand on Ricky’s arm. “Stay safe,” she said. “Transform immediately. And don’t forget – you can only use your powers once per day.”

“I understand.” With that, Ricky leapt over the edge of the wagon, before glancing back at them one last time.

“Farewell, Ricky,” said Gabriella as he looked up towards the wagon. “By the howl of the wolf.”

“By the howl of the wolf,” he replied.

Accumulated XP: 1045 (unspent: 45)