"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how to work a system! Can you believe it? To go from fifth to first in only ten days in game time, Emilio Mallards has finally taken the top spot away from the 'Blue Typhoon' himself, Ardacen Winters. The Spell-slinging, claw-swinging, monster in the guise of a man has been on everyone's radar ever since it was discovered that he was invited to the beta testing.

"Working along side The Conqueror herself, Dawn Nobel, it's no small wonder how he's been able to stay so far ahead of the pack. But, like we've stated before, this is truly anyone's game and Emilio has toed that very line in his exploitation of a very specific set of Abilities."

I watch in horror as this replayed clip of the show lists off how Emilio, a Monk of the very same Tempest Fist that I have, used a combination of Abilities, Accessories, and Feats to power level in a brilliant and patient degree.

Tempest Fist allows him to use Strength or Dexterity to modify damage as well as add the lightning or water element to unarmed attacks. I've used both of those characteristics to great effect as well.

[Surging Strike III (10MP+55SP) melee/ Add 3*Arcane Total to weapon strike. If the weapon deals fire damage, create a 5foot radius burst of .5*Arcane Total fire damage. If the weapon deals lightning damage, add 1*Arcane Total lightning damage to that attack.]

[Concentrate Power (10SP+1second) self/ The user may continuously activate this Skill as long as Concentration is held. Add 3 damage to the next attack to a maximum of 75% of Strength or Dexterity Total.]

[Livewire Soul: When wielding a lightning elemental weapon, increase Dexterity by 10% and Attack Speed by 25%.]

[Journeyman Ring of Magic. Journeyman Accessory. Ring

[+15Arcane]

[Journeyman Ring of Gymnastics. Journeyman Accessory. Ring

[+15Dexterity]

Along with all the innate Abilities of being a Monk who focused on both Dexterity and Arcane, much the same way I do, Emilio also equipped rings that increased the two stats greatly. Even without them, his electrified fists would still deal massive amounts of damage. Hypothetically, if both Stats are around 100, then a single hit in a vital spot could potentially deal 1260 lightning damage at a minimum. That's just based on the information given. If he uses Buffs, potions, or any other such items… Well…

I remember seeing Concentrate Power as a VigeStat Skill and I did consider it for a moment. He must have waited to learn it before going off like he did. If I knew the damage didn't have a timer on it, I might have picked it up, but at the time I also didn't think it meshed well with my other Abilities. My long, extensive list of Abilities that I never bothered to level up, except for Arcane Bolt.

I consider the implications of a duel with Emilio, but dismiss them when they show how his combination works and why his level had gone up so quickly. He had found a water themed dungeon under Rentas Lake (knew it!) and used his elemental advantage to farm it and its Kraken-like Tier 2 Boss. Able to pretty much negate the physical ranged attacks from hostiles, like arrows and thrown objects, agile enough to weave in and out of melee combat, and a Skill called Peaceful Meditation, he was able to run the dungeon solo several times. That means he received all the XP and loot himself. Even though War Party Leader gives us a substantial boost, we still have to divide the XP amongst however many party members we have. If I were to have done something similar with, let's say Kilmosoth, then my levels would have probably taken off into the atmosphere.

Still, this also means his focus will have to be water based dungeons and enemies. If he doesn't find anything stronger nearby, Emilio could run the risk of running stagnant in growth, not that I would mind that in the slightest. According to projections, since the clips shown are several days behind, he should be around level 31 or 32 and that he should be experiencing the effects of diminishing returns right about now.

I let out a sigh of relief, toss the cold food into the microwave, and then finish it off while looking over the potential contracts. After I send one back signed, I check around the net for any forums to see what people have pieced together by what they've seen through the shows, since we as players aren't allowed to divulge any information ourselves.

Out of a sense of curiosity, I track down a popular thread regarding the Linqs group in particular. I ignore the one further down the page about me for now, scared to see what the general consensus might be, and dive right into "Not So Weak Linqs."

My worries were for nothing as this thread has maybe a 90-95% positive reaction to us and how we've been doing so far. There are some who think that we shouldn't have ventured so far so early in the game, or that we mess around too much, but most people generally think we have been playing smart and are quite the entertaining group. A few people even applaud our ability to come together as a group, even though this is supposed to be some sort of competition, and how we better represent the greater gaming community in the face of such blatant profit making. We are a people who place a premium on the enjoyment of playing a game along side like-minded individuals and developing long lasting friendships.

They do seem conflicted, however, on the way we treat the NPCs. A majority of them are split between thinking we lucked out on finding them, simply using them for our benefit and the other half think that, without our initial altruistic intentions, Linqs wouldn't have survived at all let alone thrive the way it has so far. Opinions abound about what we should do next and how we should develop Kes Mud, since they haven't seen The Keep yet. But to my complete suprise and utter embarrassment, I discover the many ships, or relationships, that people are creating amongst Linqs' citizenry.

I'm half tempted to reply to some of the more ludicrous pairings, and odd triangles, but my status as guest reminds me that even if I did that no one would take me seriously and my actions would probably just throw gas on their passionate flames.

"I'll have to ask Richter if he might consider a thing with Plisk," I say to myself with a chuckle before getting ready for a little sleep before going back to the hospital once more.

***************

"I don't know, Dawn. This really has a kind of, Ardy feel to it. Don't you think?" Rachel asks from the side of the portable forge. After constructing an actual forge and setting it up the other day, Dawn was able to pack hers up and move it closer to her work site near the stream. "Besides, if he has undead, wouldn't they just walk through the water?"

Dressed down to her new civvies/ unofficial Blacksmith uniform: a dark grey set of overalls and a light grey, long sleeve hooded shirt with turquoise hieroglyphics running down the sleeves, Dawn finishes tightening a few large bolts with a wrench massive enough to be considered a two handed weapon. She rests the tool on her shoulder with an ease belying her relatively short stature, packs up the traveling forge, and stores it in her bracelet, "I know, right? I swear, sometimes I get why he takes such unnecessary risks. They're, like, these huge gambles and their pay off is major cool points. Anyway, there's no way they can ford the stream that way."

They walk away from the bridge they've been working on since the two of them got together with Lavina. Dawn took the little Lupine prodigy seriously when she took an oath not to be involved with the manufacturing of weapons, armor, or any such devices of war. So, she kept her away from all of those projects. Besides, there were plenty of bigger, better things to work on like a bascule bridge, otherwise known as a drawbridge. Split in the middle, both sides would lift up to allow the passage of boats down the stream. Heavily warded to resist massive amounts of damage as well as having an incredible amount of Durability thanks to the mixture of Lucidium, Umbramium, and steel. The mixture of colors using the three metals also created a sort of radiant grey, much like highly polished chrome reflecting a large amount of light.

"You see," Dawn begins as she leads Rachel, "Even though the surface looks like it's gently flowing, there is a very strong undercurrent. The shores, too, are actually jutting out over the water by a couple feet. We've watched several monsters fall into the waters, never to be seen again, even if we watched out as far as we can downstream. That, or there's something eating them in the water, but that, honestly, doesn't seem likely."

The two walk over to where Lavina is taking a well deserved break, enjoying the cooler air at the edge of the water despite the danger. She's wearing a similar outfit to Dawn except her straps hang completely off her shoulders and a thick, leather belt with currently empty holsters and pouches for tools keeps the overalls in place around her waist and her sleeves are rolled up just below the elbow. Lavina's idea of relaxing consists of working on a much smaller project than the one she's been consumed by. Coaster, the little blue Stalker toy come-to-life, stares over her shoulder at the small, metal music box she's working on.

Muttering to herself in frustration, Lavina holds the toy chest in one hand and applies a precision screwdriver to it, "I can't seem to… Zoom II." Her eyes flash a dim yellow and she utters a triumphant squeek.

Dawn's shadow looms over the Faunus, even though she isn't that much taller, "Most people eat a lunch, on their lunch break, kiddo."

"Come on, Lady Dawn. Miss Serenity commissioned this piece the other day and I'm almost done. I'm pretty sure it's for Miss Kona and I want her to get it as soon as possible."

Dawn and Rachel exchange wry glances before Rachel messes with the little one's hair and ears, "Come on, like, we gotta test the bridge before we head back to Kes Mud."

Lavina lets out a noise of disgust, "I hate going to Mud City." Lavina stores her project in her bracelet and takes a moment to straighten out her hair and ears with her bandana. "It feels like a death trap in there."

Dawn finishes putting on her ebony Terror of Many armor set and places a hand on her hip, "You know that's exactly what it is, young lady, but you also know that it's absolutely safe for everyone to be around it. Well, for now at least." Rachel also has her dark leather based Night Stalker set on, though she's been working with the Tailors to see if she can get something a little less goth to fight in.

"If that's true, then why are you two putting on your battle uniforms?"

"Because," Rachel starts while mounting Avronette, the Hybrid Nightmare, "All those crazy, weird monsters that spawned in the dungeon have been popping in and out recently. Seems like they haven't been enjoying each others' company." With practiced effort, Corsina, the only other Hybrid Nightmare uses one of her claws to help lift Dawn up into the saddle.

"Come on, Salvino," Lavina says, commanding her young, Forest Nightmare to do the same for her. Even though she understood the need for armor, she only equipped a thick, dark blue cloak and her welder's helmet called the Flame Handler Visor Helm. Coaster pokes his way out of the collar of the cloak, crawling down her arm and into her lap, gripping the horn of the saddle with his scythe like arms and the front set of his legs. He touches his head in a kind of salute, and the three riders move closer to the bridge.

With a few hand gestures and their command phrase, "Grey Lady Repose," the bridge begins to glow blue before splitting halfway across and folding back towards the shores like two futons putting themselves away. This left the two stacks of metal sheets sitting on opposite sides of the stream several feet from the edge. Suddenly, the ground beneath the stacks opens up and swallows them without a trace. The only sign that anything unusual might be around are two, three-foot tall posts made from the same blend of metals that look like tiny obelisks covered in hieroglyphic engravings.

Dawn lets Rachel try out the simple gestures before uttering the opening phrase, "Grey Lady Blossom." The two lane wide slats move in reverse from their previous actions, revealing the drawbridge. Once more, they fold up the bridge and they congratulate each other on a job well done, even though they have to resign themselves to the fact that, for now, only the three of them can operate the bridge.

Riding back to the dirt town, they enter through what's become the main street that cuts down the center of Kes Mud. Wood planks were applied to the buildings to give them a better aesthetic while little accents like benches, shrubs, and hitching posts were also added. It's become the poor man's Denagrin by design. The three of them ride in slow so they don't trigger anything unintentionally. A breeze blows a handful of amber colored Dimitria Bulbs across the street they're on. Coaster climbs up on top of Lavina's helmet and takes swipes at them as they swim away.

"Have either of you tried one of those yet?" Dawn asks, watching the tiny toy pine after the escaping jellies.

"I think Malica did," Rachel responds, scratching the feathers behind her ears, "Or maybe she cooked something using one? Either way, they're, like, squishy and cute and there's no way I'm eating one."

"She said they tasted like a salty tomato." Lavina says, contorting her face into one of disgust. "Mom always made me eat tomatoes, but now that there's plenty enough of everything, I don't have to if I don't want to."

That condensed, child's concept alone makes all the hard work seem worth it to the two players. At one point, the Foragers had been bringing so much food items that they had to be refocused toward Alchemy ingredients. They could also be used to seek out other resources such as certain building materials, although only someone with the appropriate Artisan Class could farm them out.

The Keep has also been steadily progressing. Two large portcullises, strong, metal screen doors were installed in the entryway side-by-side with a removable metal post in the center to allow larger things to pass through. A full, double wide seal can also be dropped down in front of them to fortify the entry and to prevent things from passing through the holes. A few murder holes were carved out of the area facing out to the path and above the entryway.

The final addition, one that hardly anyone understood, but everyone with Ground Shift was required to help work on, was the task. With lots of luck, teamwork, and careful engineering, they were able to create a large enough, and most importantly natural enough sort of structure to block any sightlines to the aperture of The Keep's dome. From every single ground based vantage point, one could not see the opening nor a great deal of the area surrounding it.

"How's Project Icarus?" Dawn asks and Rachel nods her head, smiling.

"Sonny and her team finally found him and was able to make contact. So far, the only hitch is he's a little… unstable."

"Well, as far as contingency plans go, this one's a helluva long shot." Dawn glances over at Lavina who is just riding along side them, oblivious to their conversation. "And the platform?"

"If Icarus can't help us, then the emergency chute will work, though I can't say I like where it goes." Rachel shudders at the thought.

"Don't worry. We're not giving the The Keep up so easily, not this time." Dawn pulls the reigns to come to a halt and the other two follow suit. She nods at the air in front of her and Conner and Plisk appear from thin air with their hands over their chest in salute, "What's the word gentlemen?"

"Massive, ma'am," Conner answers, looking at the Elf who gives him a nod in agreement, "And it's as we've feared. Damn grave robber is at the center of it all. He's taken over the old Lich's tower two days march to the south west. They cleared most of the forest surrounding it and, from what we could see, there's maybe a hundred or more Hobs settling nearby. We couldn't spot his undead army, but from what Plisk was telling me, he should have a cohort, or almost five hundred units." He shares the Mind Frame picture he took of the area with Dawn who in turn shares it with Rachel.

"How'd you get to that amount?" Lavina asks, eyebrows scrunched while trying to figure out the math.

"Ma'am," Plisk gives them a curt bow, moving his pale blue hair behind his tall ears and answering in a husky monotone voice, "My parents raised me in the Church of Shadows. My mother was a Necromancer, Father was a Cleric of Shadows, and I… never swallowed the poison they fed me."

Dawn gives him a shrug, "Well, when it comes to religion, as children we seek answers for--"

"No, ma'am, I meant they literally tried to poison me. I managed to escape and run away to Kes Rentas. The Church saw their failure as weakness and killed them." After seeing the horrified expressions on their faces he returns Dawn's shrug, "I later learned that the Church of Shadows is a misguided bunch, perverting the teachings of Nyctos. But the one thing I took away from all those years is Golrod's Hymn twenty three: verses four through six, 'Though I find myself at the crossroad of death, I shall take comfort in the shadows. Nyctos shall beseech He Who Whispers in the Dark and I will be led to a new life or to sacred rest. Rise, rise up anew from your slumber and let it be so.'"

To Dawn and Rachel, the second verse sounded very much like Azrael, the cloaked figure who sometimes helps them in dreams and that Rachel has seen when she died. Even Ardacen and Richter mentioned him before when they were sent for their respawns. According to Plisk, however, the way the Church of Shadows interprets it helped create the cornerstone of a Necromancer's power. Much like all the Faith-based job classes, most of their Abilities rely on the caster's belief that they can do the thing that they're trying to do. If, for example, a Cleric of the Forge truly believes that they can smith a weapon without a blueprint then their conviction, sweat, and materials should be more than enough to craft something, regardless of their level.

"Have any of the Kobold teams found routes into the valley?" The two Scouts escort the riders through the second half of Kes Mud.

"No, ma'am." Conner answers as Plisk takes a drink from his waterskin. "Well, it's not a simple tasks to hike into the valley without using a trail, but it is do able. As far as a force sweeping down from somewhere up north? No. It would be too time consuming and costly to circle all the way around to squeeze us out of the mountain."

A trio of random monsters appears, but are no match for the ranged power of the four of them. They don't make it anywhere near the group and the Scouts scoop up the loot sacks to drop off later. Lavina kept Coaster cradled in the crook of her arm while holding up an Arcane Shield with the other. She keeps it active, even after the skirmish ended.

"We're going to need a patrol to keep out these random attacks," Dawn muses out loud, "Can we afford a detail here, Conner?"

"I believe Electrum will be back in The Keep within the hour. I'll send them down here after they catch some rest."

"Thank you, gentlemen. Please, resume your duties."

With a salute, the two Scouts vanish under Stealth, leaving the three riders at the back end of Kes Mud and facing the deliberately marked trail leading toward the path up the mountain for The Keep.

"You, like, sure do have this thing down, Dawn. How'd you get to be so good at leading and logistics?"

Dawn scoffs, but covers her mouth when she notices how rude the gesture may have sounded, "Sorry. It's just that… well… long story short, growing up I had to manage a lot of people with a limited amount of resources for a long time." Her smile is forced, but Rachel and Lavina smile back with warmth and understanding.

They didn't need to know about the shady orphanage or the director who was black-out drunk ninety percent of the time. How, at fourteen, she practically ran the place herself even though she wasn't the oldest. Someone needed to make sure the fridge and the pantries were full, the building clean and sanitary, and the younger children were cared for. It didn't have to be her, she didn't have to do it, but it needed to be done and she had plans in her head that she knew would work. It wasn't always smooth sailing, more like it was rarely smooth sailing, but her systems eventually made life almost bearable for her and the others. Dawn Noble was no Little Orphan Annie and there was no Daddy Warbucks for her. She may have thought at first that maybe she would find her place studying to become a civil engineer, but her hobbies took on a life of their own.

With several years of sewing, repairing, and creating clothes and costumes for the other kids on a tight budget and timeframe, her interest in it only grew as time progressed and the concept of the "cosplay girl" grew in the public eye. Her well seasoned knowledge and almost instinctual timing when it comes to resource and time management gave her such an unfair advantage in RTS games that it would take several players collaborating in single, unified effort to bring her down. The circumstances surrounding her first competitive loss actually stoked the embers of her popularity. Their desperation evident and the amount of time and effort it still took five men to defeat a single person added to her reputation, probably the opposite effect the other players were going for.

"Let's get back to The Keep. I've got more armor sets to work on and, Lavina, you finish your project and try to find out what it's for. If there's a celebration to be had we're not missing out on it."

The whole next day's evening, all projects were set aside and the Frost Dragon Ale barrels were tapped. Spirits, music, and food were brought out in great amounts and used to great effect. At the opposite side of the entryway, where the Electrum was mined out, there's a large empty space where the party takes place.

The Kobolds, never having seen such frivolous festivities before, had a wonderous time. Dila could not believe her eyes when Gorm and Malica bring out a whole, roasted Dire Boar stuffed with herbs and root vegetables. Milli trades some personal loot for a blue butterfly amulet on a Lucidium wire necklace to match the blue feathers tied to her horns. Tamu and Haro make it halfway through their pints of ale, arguing over which one of them is the tallest. They even bring over Dola to officiate, but he's already a bit too giggly and wobbly to properly judge. Standing back to back, their tails keep getting in the way and when Dola tries to wrestle them down, they all just collapse into a heap. Even the stoic Tamu ends up hissing with laughter for a few, short seconds.

The main group sits at the conference table, moved out of the vardo just for tonight. Everyone is having a good time, despite the looming threat. Then again, when wasn't something threatening to destroy them all?

Fingers laced and tails entwined, Serenity sits next to Kona, the birthday girl. The Infernus sips on an amber liquor while Kona chugs down her third ale. On the table in front of her, is an open music box with their two, tiny figures dancing to a merry jingle. Victoria and Elsbeth are having a discussion in sign language, while Richter and Plisk have their own animated arguement regarding the proper place of the first kiss. Both of them, however, agree that the lips are too old-fashioned and lacks any sort of imagination or charm. Rachel sits near Richter, blushing while considering his first choice. Corvina is telling Dawn all about when Lavina was a little kit. They glance over at her, playing with Coaster and the other kids.

"Was it hard working while you were pregnant? I heard some women say the first few weeks are terrible." Dawn takes a bite of food, but her eyes never leave the other Cleric.

"First few weeks? No, love, Arceans only carry for two weeks, rarely more and almost never less. Didn't you learn--" She cocks her head at her, an ear slipping down the lower side. A sudden realization hits her, "Of course. Yes. Well, in case you didn't know, we also don't swell up like the animals seem to do."

"Is it painful to give birth then?" Rachel asks scooting over to join the far more interesting topic. Some of the others pause to listen as well.

"No dear. Actually, we just wake up one morning with the bundle of joy in our arms. Oh, I do forget that you four are Travelers sometimes. Speaking of which, I haven't seen Sir Ardacen for a while. Is he still dungeoneering?"

Dawn and Rachel exchange a look before she gives her rehearsed reply, "Ardy will be unavailable for another day or so. He is currently taking care of an… oracle." Her last word is almost a question, but a quick nod from Victoria gives her the confidence to finish her sentence properly.

"Oh! One of those! He is a lucky one, isn't he? And what about Miss Sonny? Is she still on her mission?"

But before she can respond in the affirmative, an odd squawking sound demands the table's attention and all of their conversations cease. Eyes glide toward the source, a certain female Lunar Elf, and everyone is suprised to see a novel expression on her face. Her eyes are wide, hands cupping over her gasping mouth, and she's almost standing out of her seat. One of Victoria's hands anchors her knee while the other has a finger to her lips in the universal signal for silence. She realizes it's far too late for secrecy and grins sheepishly at the others.

"So… the thing is… what were you two talking about, again?" Her eyes shift between Dawn and Corvina. It takes another moment of their silence before things seem to click and people start imitating El's shocked look. Dawn stands, almost shivering with nervous energy, and walks unsteadily over to her. Elsbeth finds her seat and they both hold tight onto Vic's hands.

"You two…?" Dawn whispers.

"Yes." Vic answers just as softly, her cheeks blushing a wild pink.

Dawn takes out something from her Bracelet of Storage and flicks it over her shoulder with her thumb, a distinct ringing sound sailing through their silence. Richter catches it, along with several other glinting objects flying his way from all across the table.

"Dude! I called it! Congratulations, you two!"