Chapter 27: Heroes of Roker Bridge

Xarok folded his arms and looked at him. “So anyway – it’s getting later,” said his demonkind companion. “Late in the morning, that is. We should be moving on.”

“Yes,” said Ricky.

They stood, and the small group began to gather up their things. Ricky had sorted out his belongings as best he could. Channia poured water on the fire, and Big Mindar began to kick and stamp at it to stop it from smoking too much.

“Where to next?” said Ricky.

“You’ll be keen to get somewhere safe before nightfall, I know,” said Big Mindar, stepping closer.

Ricky considered correcting this assumption, but then decided to hold his tongue for now.

“I suppose you want to get back to Imperialis, spellcaster?” said Channia, looking sideways at Xarok.

Xarok nodded. “I must return to my guild, and provide whatever help I can, if I can find a way past the attacking army. The city is under siege, and the guild will try to help with its defense. It’s imperative that it doesn’t fall, because if it doesn't, well...” He looked down towards his feet for a moment, and then looked around at them all, eyes glittering in the firelight. “If it does, we have lost our way of gaining the gate. It will all have been for nothing.”

“I’ll help however I can,” said Ricky, picking at a strand of meat from his teeth as he spoke.

But Channia glared at him. “No. You promised.”

*Game mechanics: An NPC can now choose to activate a debuff based on your past actions.

Ricky winced. So. This was it – he would be known as an oath-breaker if he didn’t either do what Channia wanted, or persuade her to give him a little more time.

But it was Xarok who spoke first. “Miss Channia, you are a fine warrior and a good person. But please understand that Ricky here has a duty to his guild, and a higher duty that he has to serve.”

“No.” She shook her head, her pale curls bouncing around her shoulder. “He owes me.”

“She’s right about that,” said Ricky. “I will always be true to my word if I can. Back at the goblin caves, I said I would accompany her to the forest.”

There was a momentary pause, during which the four companions looked at one another around the smoking remains of the fire.

“Did you agree a timescale?” asked Xarok at last.

“Well, no...” Channia frowned. “But it is my call. He said he would come, and so he should.”

“The thing is,” said Ricky slowly, “I do intend to honor my promise. As soon as Channia wants to go, I will go. But there are a couple of other things you should all know about.”

“Go on,” said Xarok. Channia frowned, staring at the fire, and then nodded.

“Firstly, I think I know something about this invading army. You said they were based at Roker Bridge? Well I have spoken to two people who asked me to come there. They trust me, and I think I can get information from them. They are a demonkind sorceress called Amora-Khush, and a warrior by the name of Zurx.”

“Amora-Khush I have heard of,” said Xarok, “and I am sure she is Green Hand Guild. A foe.”

Ricky’s heart sank. This was what he had feared – his two sets of contacts from the camp were in opposition to each other.

“Then I am in trouble,” he said, “because they have control over me.” He now looked at Xarok particularly. “Back at the camp. Unless you can help?”

Xarok frowned. “They know where you are?”

“I am in their building. Non-stop access to the Dark Framework – it was just too tempting. But at least it means that I don’t immediately need to find a place to rest.”

“Oh, no – this is bad.” The sorcerer shook his head several times.

“What are you talking about?” asked Channia.

“It’s complicated, my friend,” said Ricky, “but in short, this pair that I mentioned, they have my life in the palm of their hand.”

She frowned. “But then we must find out what their intentions are. Freedom is hugely important – the most important thing of all.” Channia looked genuinely worried.

Ricky looked around at Xarok again. “Do you think Gabriella is close to their forces? She was planning to travel to Roker Bridge.”

Xarok winced and raised his eyebrows. “I am fairly sure that Gabriella has not returned to the Dark Framework at all, not to there or anywhere else. We sent her to keep an eye on you, Ricky, actually, and to make contact by the end of the day. But then, neither of you showed up.”

“What does that mean, keep an eye...” began Ricky.

But then, remembering the blue-clad woman that he had seen being beaten by the camp guards, Ricky got a sinking feeling for the second time in quick succession.

“I think I might know what happened to her,” he said, a horrified look crossing his face.

Xarok stepped closer to Ricky, his face illuminated by the morning sun which was now beginning to rise above the river. “What do you mean? What did you see?”

With a sigh, Ricky related the brutal attack he had witnessed in the camp. “I’m so sorry,” he finished. “I had no idea who it was. Do you think... I mean, is there any possibility that she could be recovering in a hospital wing in the camp, or something?” He didn’t quite know how to express his thin, fading hope for their friend.

Xarok shook his head, and then stomped around the extinguished fire several times. He pulled a bone from one of the steaks from somewhere as he did so, chewing at it. Eventually he came to a halt where he and the other companions had gathered their few belongings, flung the bone aside, and picked up his leather backpack.

“I will do what I can,” he said. “There is no healing for the likes of her. Too expensive, and workers are seen as disposable. But as a guard, I have a way of accessing the area. I’ll have to log out, though, and leave you to it.”

“Very well.”

“You and the others should go first to Roker Bridge,” Xarok continued, and then looked at Channia. “No arguments. Ricky’s life depends on it, and so might Gabriella’s. There will be plenty of time for family reunions in the forest soon enough. Just be careful.”

“Very well then,” said Channia sternly, stepping closer to Ricky and clutching his arm close. “If his life is in danger, then the forest can wait. I will accompany you to Roker Bridge first.”

*Achievement: Loyalty! You have inspired an NPC to put your interests above their own. +20XP

Big Mindar was also ready to depart, and soon the small group were walking out of the big clearing and beginning to make their way over towards the nearby river bank.

“It looked bad, your transformation,” said Xarok, speaking more quietly just to Ricky. He reached into a pouch at his belt and pulled out two small stoneware vials, each stoppered with cork. “These should help with the pain.” Ricky reached out and took them.

***

New item

Item: elixir of soothing form (2)

Class: potion

Type: uncommon

Resilience: 2 of 2 (bottle)

Qualities: reduces the pain associated with physical changes.

Duration: immediate

Prerequisites: none

Description: crafted in small batches by the alchemists of Jura, this thick green liquid is unpleasant tasting, but is useful for any kind of physical change or transformation, from the surgeries to the lycanthrope's shifts to the regrowing of body parts. Some have even used it to help resist torture...

***

“Thanks,” said Ricky, putting the vials into his satchel. “And I will see you when you are back. Will you follow us to Roker Bridge?”

“No. Find out what you know from your contacts, and then make your way to Imperialis if you can. If not, if the way is blocked, then I will meet with you on the road to the north instead. The same place where we met the other night.”

“Very well.”

*Achievement: Teamwork! You have made a plan of action with fellow guild members. +10XP.

They had now reached the edge of the river bank, still walking among tree cover. The silhouette of the nearby town could be seen in the distance.

“Now listen, Ricky,” said Xarok, “there is one more thing you need to know. About other guilds. Because you asked about our enemies.“

“Go on.” Ricky was listening intently – he still didn’t feel that he knew nearly enough about how the rival guilds operated.

“As you probably gathered, the Tooth and Claw Guild and various other rival guilds recruit promising new members, as well as hiring NPCs.”

Rick nodded in silence; that was how he understood them to work.

“Well, there is one guild that doesn’t do so. It’s called the Fire Heart Guild – or at least, that is what most people call them. Who knows what they call themselves? But they are powerful – perhaps our greatest enemy.”

Ricky frowned. “So this Fire Heart Guild – you mean that they don’t recruit members?”

Xarok nodded. “They are a sect of half-dragons – a clan of sorts. Upright warriors with thick and vibrant-colored scales. They are powerful warriors, and many of them use magic, too. NPCs – no players can assume that species when they enter the Framework, but many of these ones are just as smart and dangerous as an experienced human player. Some more so.”

*Quest 021 complete: Find out more about half-dragons. +30XP

Ricky’s heart beat a little faster, and he recalled his recent combat with a half-dragon in the marshes. He had been right, he supposed, to think that Big Mindar’s trophy – the dragon claw back in the safe house – indicated considerable skill and bravery on the part of their guild companion. More so than met the eye, that was for sure. And now it appeared that the beast he had just faced himself was not only deadly in itself, but part of a ferocious network of enemies.

Xarok obviously saw the dawning realization cross his guild companion’s face, for he leaned forward and placed a hand on Ricky’s shoulder. “That’s right. I am sure that the creature that you just faced was a member of that guild. He hunted you down, aiming to kill you for no other reason that you are a shapeshifter – one of us. It’s what they do.”

“I see. I thought perhaps he was hunting me for food. Or coming after the orb, I suppose. He didn’t say a word, but I knew I that was facing a highly intelligent foe.”

Xarok nodded. “Very intelligent, and very cunning.”

“They must be a small group, though, if they don’t recruit?”

“Small, but they rarely lose a member. They are all powerful, and they trust each other. Besides, being half-dragons, they can’t be infiltrated by the likes of us, which makes their guild very secure.”

“Hmm. So, you are telling me this as a warning?”

Xarok nodded. “Just be careful. They will show you no mercy at all. Their ideology is extreme, and they are not even interested in gateways or keys. They don’t want to get out. They want only one thing – to rule all of the Dark Framework.”

Channia had come up to them now, her bow back in her hand. “Time to go, boss?” she said, raising an eyebrow as she looked at Ricky.

He smiled, patting her across the shoulder, then looked back at Xarok. “Good luck, man.”

“And to you. By the howl of the wolf.”

“By the howl of the wolf.”

Soon Ricky and Channia were moving at a light run along the eastern bank of the river, with Big Mindar just a dozen paces back. The halfling was a surprisingly strong runner, despite being weighed down with most of the bags.

Ricky was now feeling well fed, and he had now seen several more healing notifications for a total of eight hit points, indicating that both food and the passage of time had done him some good.

“That’s the River Stanch that we have been walking along,” said Channia, pointing as she ran. “And you can see the coast beyond. This is not far from where the river flows into the great sea.”

“It flows from the mountains in the north, right?” Ricky replied, panting slightly as he spoke.

She nodded. “Of course – you would have seen it from the hills. As well as cutting right across the continent, most of its length runs through the forest. Our forest – controlled by tribes of elves like myself.”

Ricky nodded. At the comment on ‘elves like myself’, he had suddenly been put in mind of the elf that they had freed back at the goblin caves near Barrowdale. That individual had been very unlike Channia – and had appeared to look down upon her.

“This section here,” she continued, now pointing towards this town, “is the only part that is not flanked by forest. At the city of Roker Bridge.”

“It looks more like a small town,” replied Ricky.

“It began as a series of villages,” she replied. “They were always hostile to my people. In ages past, we warred, and they cut down and burned trees. Those times are gone, but there is still no friendship. Their actions are no more civilized now than they were in the past.”

Ricky nodded, pursing his lips; he was aware that at least some of this lore was fictional, given that the entirety of Portalis had been created by coders at Cerberus Games at some point. All the same – it was very real to Channia. “So – can I ask, where do your family live?”

“My tribe? We live near the edge of the forest, on the south. It is not far from the road that runs between Roker Bridge and Imperialis. We can go there after we complete your current quest.”

Ricky cleared his throat, feeling a bit pained to push his loyalty from Channia any further. “I hope so,” he said at last. “As long as we have ensured that our companions are safe. I will wait to hear what has become of Gabriella. If she is safe and well and the siege comes to an end, then I will come to the forest with you without any delay. I can’t wait to see those redwoods.”

Channia frowned for a moment, and then nodded as they ran on.

Soon they were reaching the outskirts of Roker Bridge itself. The place was very unlike any city that Ricky had ever seen. Rather than having fields on the outside and a city wall around it, like Imperialis, it was more of a disorganized rambling mess, with fields and small villages all over the area, towers and even a couple of castles, and a great many stone-built houses which appeared out of place, being neither in the center of the town (if it even had a center) nor in lands of their own.

Military activity was also easy to see before long. A road of sorts ran along the coast westwards towards the mountains. Presumably it crossed the eponymous bridge at some point, Ricky reflected. And even with the limited map that he had been using, he was fairly sure that the same road ran on eastwards to Imperialis. The city of his guild that was currently under attack.

There was no clear army on the road, but instead – rather like the city – there were many disorganized-looking clusters that made up a greater whole. Ricky could see small groups of soldiers and animals pulling machinery, all gradually making their way to the east. He could see a column of around a hundred infantry marching rapidly in neat ranks, but also a group of a couple of dozen horse warriors who were meandering more slowly, laughing and joking in the saddle. Further on, a gang of what looked like goblin archers, all roped together as slaves, were being forced on by warriors with whips. An elephant was pulling an enormous wagon that appeared to contain partially-constructed siege towers, while a ballista on wheels was being pulled by a pair of mules.

*Achievement: Wary of war! Your knowledge of warfare has expanded by observing the activities of an army. +10XP.

Looking east along the road and the coast beyond, further clumps of warriors and equipment could be seen every half mile or so. It was as if a general had told the army to march on Imperialis, but given them no deadline, allowing them to make their way there in their own sweet time.

The three companions had stopped now, with Big Mindar soon catching up with Ricky and Channia.

“We should find out who is in charge of this army,” said Ricky, pointing. “Or at least find a high-ranking Green Hand Guild member that we can contact. That way we can figure out what the main threat is to our companions.”

*Quest 042 (level 1): Identify a suitable contact in Roker Bridge’s army.

Big Mindar shook his head. “What you see here are just the stragglers, a few reinforcements, mercs and low-priority troops. I’d bet the bulk of the army is already there.”

Ricky frowned, looking around again. “But there are so many of them, stretching along...” He tailed off, pointing.

Big Mindar nodded grimly. “Roker Bridge has the largest army in the world, and the best soldiers. They are the only serious threat to Imperialis. Worse still, they use monsters as part of their forces – goblins, ogres and the like.”

Ricky frowned again, looking at the goblin captives. “It’s going to be brutal. Do you think our city can survive?”

“I think we need to help our guild in any way we can.”

Channia spoke up. “You said you have some contacts in this Green Hand Guild, Ricky.”

Ricky nodded. “I do, but the thing is, I have no idea where they are. If we could hire horses, then...”

But before Ricky could complete his suggestion, he fell silent, for something very unusual had come into sight from beyond a cluster of tall buildings on the edge of Roker Bridge. It resembled an enormous wagon, pulled by six elephants, and filling the entire width of the road. On its back were two wingless golden dragons, each harnessed and chained down, with riders on their back. Both riders were unarmored, and looked more like sorcerers than warriors.

Alongside and behind the enormous wagon, townsfolk from Roker Bridge were walking, most of them clapping and cheering. A few threw flowers in front of the dragon convoy, and a chant was emerging as they went. Ricky strained to hear what they were saying. He couldn’t be sure, but it sounded very much like names of the people’s heroes were being chanted. Two names in particular, and they sounded to him very like: ‘Zurx’ and ‘Khush’.

As the three companions hurried closer, Ricky looked again at the riders on the backs of the great dragons. One was a female sorceress, a demonkind with blue skin, long curly red hair, and a gold emerald-studded circlet around her forehead. The other was a ferocious looking boneface, with a broad horn on his forehead.

*Quest 042 complete: Identify a suitable contact in Roker Bridge’s army. +10XP

“I think I might have found my contacts,” said Ricky grimly.

Accumulated XP: 1720 (unspent: 220)