Chapter 18: The Battle for Meadows Edge

I hauled myself from the gooey fountain in the Temple of Lil, gasping for breath. Unlike before I was alone when I had re-emerged, Baruu apparently safe in her stone. I checked the stones at my waist and felt a reassuring warmth from the small stone effigy of her, the stone had taken on this shape over time. I had thought I was alone when I rose to my feet but that wasn’t true; one of the grey clad priesthood of Lil was there offering me one of their ultra-absorbent towels. Towelling myself off, I wondered if Virtunet made replicas, I could do with one at work to soak up the spills Alber constantly made. Alber! That was right, the fight was still going on!

I thought about the party chat window and the message box opened in front of me. I dictated a message to the window and it informed my party members.

Blue: Hey, just respawned at the temple.

Fizzlewiz: Roger

Blue: How is the fight going?

Fizzlewiz: Regrouping and heading back.

Fiona: Boyle and the remainder of his force retreated onto the ships; they’re heading for the Meadows Edge port.

I closed the window and summoned Baruu, she bleated happily and looked very pleased with herself. It was fascinating how the AI gave the daft little creature such a mind of her own. She did certainly preen a whole lot more as I scratched at her jaw and ears. She nuzzled close, stretching out across my shoulders, her stomach and mists were soft and warm, comforting after the adrenaline-fueled events of the past few hours. Both Fiona and Fizzle’s names were still highlighted, a glance at their health bars reassured me further they were slowly refilling as were their other resources. I heaved a sigh of relief then finished towelling myself off. A slow clapping echoed through the quiet subterranean temple complex. I turned to see Dannath leaning against one of the many black marble pillars that lined the room and supported the cavernous roof. He had his bow on his back, as was his huge sword. His cat beast, now that we weren’t trying to kill each other, was called Fluffem I learned. The large cat like monster’s six eyes watched me curiously, its flat pink tongue lolling from one side of its mouth.

“Well done, new guy. You guys are going to be famous for sure.” He observed. “There’s no way shit like that doesn’t get around after the number of players that asshole goblin had us kill.” He turned to leave, his cat creature rising gracefully from the tiled floor to follow him. “I’ll send you that friend request later. My party went ahead and returned the manifest to the ship guy when we respawned.” A quest notification popped up informing me that we had failed the retrieval quest but could now depart the start zone. A sense of annoyance flared briefly in me, but I sighed, I suppose that was the nature of the game. “I double-timed it back here in case Boyle got you, so you guys will be able to get off the rock now. I’ll smell ya later.” He told me with a sly wink before departing. I grinned, thinking that I would grow to like this Dannath guy.

“Wait!” I shouted at him, storming towards him with Baruu close behind, crackling with electricity menacingly.

“What?” He asked sounding a bit defensive

“It’s Boyle. He’s somehow gotten a handful of ships. They’re crowded with Level ten and up pirates.”

“Shit,” he cursed running a hand through his ginger locks, “we sent a few of the NPCs we recruited out in row boats with instructions to capture any vessels they came across, guess it worked.”

“What the actual frak man?” I asked aghast.

“We didn’t think it would actually work,” I gave him a look and he pleaded earnestly, “it wasn’t my idea, it was that Thalias chick. She was way scarier than the goblin dude.”

“Right, well we best go see Sergeant Miller then shouldn’t we.”

I decided then and there, that I made the right choice choosing take part in the coming battle. We emerged out into the sunlight and took in the view of from atop the Temple District’s heights and I looked out over Meadows Edge. Below us, hundreds of NPCs were stirring about to go about their day. They didn’t know what was coming, they certainly didn’t deserve it. I thought about the NPCs I had interacted and just how real they were. They had desires and responsibilities; families and loved ones. I had to fight for them, it was players that had done this. One of them was trying to make up for it now.

We rushed our way through town only pausing in our flight to purchase, scaring the life out of the poor NPC woman who tended the store.

When we arrived at the training grounds tucked away by one of the exterior walls we were out of breath, our stamina bars depleted. I was pleased to notice that Dannath was far more out of breath than I was. We barged into the subterranean barracks and rounded into Miller’s office. Only to find it empty. I stared at the vacant room. There was nothing but neatly stacked paperwork and a half-finished plate of food. I stood in the doorway for a moment until I realized that Miller had already marched with his men to join the battle at the fishing village, though that had ended abruptly when Boyle had made his escape. He was sailing here now with his small army.

“What is it?” Dannath asked from behind me, craning his neck to peer past me.

“Miller is marching towards the fishing villages. We won’t be able to get the message to him in time.”

“Can you message your friends?” He asked a look of dread spreading on his pale features.

I nodded and opened the party chat window beginning to dictate a message to my companions.

Blue: Miller is on the road to you guys. I can’t warn him and I don’t know anyone else in the militia.

Fiona: What’s your reputation with the militia currently? There’s a chance they’ll listen to you if it’s high enough and if your charisma score is good enough.

Fizzlewiz: Just start yelling at them.

“What are they saying?” Dannath asked, unable to read my party chat window.

“They’re suggesting that I try to raise the militia myself.” I told him. “Hold on.”

Blue: Fiona send a party invite to Dannath Marshstrider; he is going to help defend Meadows Edge from that nut job Boyle.

Fizzlewiz: NO. Absolutely not.

Dannath Marshstrider has joined the party.

Fiona: Welcome, leave your sanity by the door you won’t be needing it. Your job is going to be helping Blue raise the militia. What’s more, if he dies before we get there, I’m going to flay you.

Fizzlewiz: She will, I’ve seen her do it.

Dannath: Ten-four good buddy. I’ll keep the new boy alive. What’s the plan?

Blue: We raise the militia

Fiona: Fizzlewiz and I will send Torsgulf back with what’s left of the forces here then try to find Miller and get him to back track to the docks.

Fizzle: Alright people, let’s get to work we’ve got an amphibious assault by morning or tomorrow evening at the latest.

“Okay, so how do we do this?” I asked Dannath as we left the barracks returning to the sand covered training field. I was gratified to see the men and women of the militia still hard at work and drilling despite the late hour. I guess someone has to do the nightshift.

“How should I know? I don’t mess with NPCs man, they’re basically alive.” I gave him a pointed look, he winced.

“I don’t personally manipulate NPCs” he said reproachfully.

“Because that’s so much better.” I retorted a little bit too harshly, he looked like a kicked puppy.

“Sorry, just…” He trailed off and then rallied. “I get it man. I screwed you over and it turns out I screwed up on a galactic scale.” He sighed before slapping his face with both hands, a determined look settled onto his face. “All right, fall in!” Dannath barked to the surrounding militia, no-one so much as looked over. He gave me a shrug then gestured as if it were my time to take the stage.

I stepped forward and bellowed my deepest, most bestial orc roar ever. It rang out like distant thunder, echoing against the stone walls and buildings. The assembled militia all froze in what they were doing and turned to look at me. Murmuring broke out as a group of petty officers, judging from the short plumage on their bronze helms, argued to see who was the most senior. Eventually a human woman stepped forward, one hand resting on the hilt of the gladius at her hip. As she got closer, it seemed like she recognized me, her hand coming away from her weapon. I think I recognized her.

“Mister Opensky?” She said, her voice definitely ringing a bell but where from was anyone’s guess. Then it struck me.

“Katrina?” I asked hesitantly, still unsure if the warrior before me was the same young girl who had shown me around on my first day. “Is that you?”

The armoured woman’s head bobbed once in confirmation. She reached up and removed her bronze helm, her hair in a tight braid snaked free as the helm was lifted away. It was a stark contrast, but it sort-of made sense now, I realized. When she had shown me around on my first day, she had gotten us through various check points with ease. This was why.

“Yes, it’s me.” She told me, a smile spreading on her face. “What’s the matter? You look worried.”

“Worried doesn’t even begin to cut it.” Dannath told her with a nod of recognition, it seemed she had taken him around town as well.

“Boyle has amassed a small fleet of ships. Four maybe five in all.” I told her. “We were able to defeat the Chosen, but it hasn’t undone their influence on Boyle. He is sailing for the docks now.”

“How many men are we talking, their Levels?”

I blinked at Katrina a moment then shrugged. Dannath opened his party chat window and began scribing a message to the others when I raised a hand to stop him A moment later, we had our answer, he swiped his window to me and I read the response

Fiona: Pirate crews in the game depend on the size of the ships. Those were all considered small but there was at least one medium ship. That means were looking at maybe 120 mobs Levels six to fourteen. Then at least six Level twenties. See you soon.

“One hundred and twenty pirates, Levels six to fourteen.” Dannath told her in a grim tone. “six Level twenties, but Boyle’s pretty beat up.”

“Did the goblin or Thalias give the ones you sent out any healing items?” I asked, the dread settling back into my stomach. Locked at Level ten as we were, the coming fight was going to be tough. Dannath could only shrug in reply.

“We can’t match that, but we can bloody the noses of any who set foot on Meadows Edge.” Katrina informed us a moment later with a growl, a look of grim resolve settled on her face. She turned and began barking orders to everyone in earshot.

I watched the young officer go about her business marvelling at her efficiency. For one so young she gave confidently gave commands despite her junior authority as she began marshalling the remaining forces. A token force was left to watch the eastern wall just in case. The rest, around forty or so men and women of different Argarian races assembled. They had eschewed their uniform approach to weaponry now it seemed. Many carried weapons not standard to the militia gear, each gripping their preferred weapon eagerly. Katrina, turning to us after sending the small compliment of fighters towards the docks and a couple more on horses to begin the evacuation of the peasantry to the Temple District.

“Blue.” She said as her assembled force departed to do their duty to their home. “I need you to rouse the magic users in town. There’s only a handful of them, but they could make a big difference. Could you retrieve them?”

Quest alert:

Emergency quest.

Due to the actions of some players numerous NPCs have broken routine. As such, Meadows Edge is in danger. Worry not, should the town be destroyed, a new one will take its place in one in-game year. You can abandon the NPCs to their fate or you can stand and attempt to correct the growing issue.

Be warned, events like this are known to escalate in scale and affect the whole of Argaria.

Will you stand with the people of Fairfield Isle and help them repel the coming attack and defeat the crazed NPCs?

Objectives:

Recruit the magic users:

1. Vespenon

2. Demetri Fraggle

3. Vik Surrex

Win the Battle of Meadows Edge: 0/1

Rewards:

2500 XP

+ 5 attribute points.

Lilite Ore x10

1000gp

Dannath whistled as he saw the quest rewards, everyone in the party had received it no doubt. A moment later the box closed on its own, a line of text informing me that Fiona had accepted as group leader. When the system alerted Katrina that we would help in the defence of the town. She gave a smart salute

“That’s a good reward,” said Dannath, “just wish it was as simple as asking them to help.”

“Why wouldn’t they help defend the town?” I asked surprised; Vespenon had been incredibly generous towards the party.

“They’ve likely got a way off the island, they’re pretty much in it for themselves compared to the soldiery-type NPC.” Dannath offered by way of explanation as we started jogging towards the Trade District.

“Do we have anything to grease the wheels?” I asked as we exited the Military Quarter and onto the southbound road, we would follow into the heart of the Trades District.

“Fraggle was looking for a fire familiar for his research.” Dannath mused aloud. “I’ve not managed to do much stonecrafting, but I did make some of those stones. Good for building a powerbase of companion NPCs.”

“I’ve got a fire familiar stone.” I told him as we cut into a side street heading for one of the out-of-the-way market squares that housed the magic related stores. “I know Vespenon, he asked for a life familiar stone someday in repayment for the Lilite he let me use to make some stones.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“I’ve got one, we could switch then go see them separately, get them onboard.” He suggested, stopping abruptly to open his inventory window. I slowed as I reached him, he was faster than me, and did the same; retrieving the fire familiar stone and offering it to him. The stone was a soft sandy colour with bands of dark red, smooth, and round. A glowing red rune was cut into the one flat surface. He took it and handed me back a white stone of similar size. It was smooth to the touch, a rune glowed on its flat face and delicate silver lines spiderwebbed through the rock. I focused on the stone, an item window opened up in response.

Life familiar stone

Item quality: rare, crafted

Created by: Dannath Marshstride

A familiar stone filled with a life affinity familiar.

I placed the stone into my inventory thanking him as I did. We parted ways once we entered the large square. He took off in a northerly direction while I ducked between buildings heading through the cramped alleys and side streets that flanked the small square. I soon found myself in the cobbled alley at the familiar set of stairs that descended into Vespenon’s shop. The bell chimed as I entered the dark store, the small blue-eyed skull rattled its jaws in greeting at me. Then again, maybe the grim little death familiar was cackling silently at the coming battle. Unusually, Vespenon did not appear to greet me.

“Vespenon,” I called out. “It’s Blue, I uh, have that familiar for you.”

There was the sound of something being slammed shut and a rush of footsteps. Vespenon appeared a moment later from behind the curtain that obscured the parts of the shop beyond. He eyed me curiously as he emerged.

“You have the stone, you say? I think you must be mistaken. The life affinity is exceedingly rare; I high-” He froze as I held the small stone up to him. He took a few eager steps forward but stopped when I put the stone away. “I take it you want something else for the stone?” He snorted. “Typical.”

“It’s not like that. I need your help.” I told him. He regarded me for a moment then approached his counter to lean against it. “One of the militia members has gotten hold of a bunch of pirate ships and their crews after some Chosen convinced them to take up a life of crime. We need magic to aid in the defence of the town. I will give you this stone if you promise to help.”

“I will do this.” He agreed, extending a waiting hand for the stone. “But I will require another familiar stone, one of my choosing at a later time.”

“That’s fair.” I agreed with a nod, handing him the stone.

He snatched the stone from my hand and brought it to his chest. His features suddenly softened like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulder. He caressed the stone gently then turning he took the cage containing the skull and strode into the back of the building.

“I will need some time,” He called back to me. “I will be of more use if I attune to this familiar now. Go, I will meet you at the docks.”

Two notifications popped up as I left the shop.

Quest complete

Find a familiar

You have successfully retrieved a life affinity stone for Vespenon.

You have received the following rewards.

XP: 1000

Reputation:

Starsinger elves has improved to aware.

Murkwort mercantile guild has improved to aware.

Items:

Stonecrafter’s tools

Letter of introduction (Murkwort mercantile)

Necrophage species stone (exceptional) x1

Death affinity stones (poor) x2

I closed the windows, deciding to eventually ask someone what the reputation levels meant after this was all over. I left the cramped alley and began to jog towards the tiled road and the distant docks. When bells began ringing, I broke into a sprint.

I wove through the emptying Travellers’ District, dodging the fleeing peasant NPCs as best as my emptying stamina bar would allow me. I noted wryly that my dodge and the physical conditioning skills were slowly increasing, I hoped that would help in the coming battle. A battle that was no doubt just minutes from beginning, I reminded myself as I heard the retort of cannons add to the ringing of alarm bells throughout the town.

I turned north running towards the crude gatehouse and palisade wall that ringed the town everywhere aside from the eastern wall. I saw Dannath ahead already, running. He had his bow in hand, Fluffem ranged ahead of him with sinuous grace before disappearing into the fleeing crowds. I looked up to Baruu who was matching my pace, she yawned at me as though she was bored. I frowned at her; she wouldn’t be bored soon enough.

“Little help, Ruu?” I asked her, she yawned again but a familiar wind swirled around my legs and hips.

Assisted by Barru’s tailwind buff, I passed through the gate only a few steps behind Dannath and entered into bedlam. Two ships sat in the harbour and men streamed from them with weapons raised, screaming their various war cries. I could see the militia ahead of me forming up at the edge of the docks ready to meet the wave of screaming pirates.

I watched in mute horror as the two opposing groups of NPCs began to butcher one another on the docks, the waters below quickly turned red from the free-flowing blood. Dannath nudged me, snapping me back into the moment as Baruu and Fluffem began to spark and hiss. He gestured to an empty watchtower that overlooked the bay, I nodded. He paused a moment later, giving brief instructions to his deadly feline creature to kill any wounded enemies that got past the militia but nothing else.

We moved quickly as another ship approached, the larger of the five sat waiting in the bay like a bloated predator. We ascended the tower and came out onto its walkways in time to see the approaching ship open fire with its canons. There was a loud concussive boom followed by exploding bodies and shrapnel shards of wood tearing into the rest.

“Looks like they’re not too picky with who they’re firing on,” Dannath noted as it became clear the swarming pirates had taken the brunt of the damage. That was lucky. There were a few bodies in militia armour floating in the reddened waters though. Dannath unslung his bow. “I think we should be a bit more selective with our targets.”

I nodded to him, conjuring a magical gem in each hand, and striding up to a balcony. The ship that had fired was performing a ponderous turn in the shallow waters of the bay, likely to bring about another broadside before coming in to dock. Well, I couldn’t have that. I aimed both glowing gems at the boat and loosed them. They fired from my hand and accelerated, closing the distance between me and the ship. (Apparently, the game classed the ship as an attackable target, go figure.) The gems vanished from view, but a moment later there was a couple muted whoomphs barely audible above the din of battle that raged below. I saw chunks of wood blown free of the approaching ship and redoubled my efforts. Meanwhile Dannath was rapidly firing arrows into the slowly thinning crowd of pirates that had survived the first cannon volley. Bodies went down and I noticed that a steady stream of XP was being banked up for us with every kill. We were definitely going to level-up assuming we survived this and got off the island.

Despite my efforts with the scarily precise and destructive Gem Shots, the two approaching ships still made their way into dock. One unharmed, the other limping from my magical assault. The militia had to back away as thirty more pirates joined the fray, swarming over the unguarded wooden piers, hurtling towards the militia. I had to give it to Katrina and those that were fighting up close, they knew their business. Fluffem occasionally darted into the battling crowd to finish off any unwary pirate before disappearing back into the chaos. The militia fell back in good order towards the timber walls that curtained off the town from the docks. The foe continued their advance, probing the militia lines. The pirates threw themselves at their quarry in ragged uneven waves. We did what we could to push them back with magic and arrows, but it was clear this fresh wave was going to over-run the dwindling militia. I readied my axe and turned to head down the stairs when Dannath laid a hand on my arm, stopping me. He pointed wordlessly as three figures clad in robes and pointed hats emerged from the gate house.

I blinked as I realized I recognized the figure wearing black robes with a white sash slung around his narrow hips. It was Vespenon. Two small creatures floated free and swirled around him. The first was the grinning skull with the burning blue eyes and the second I presumed was the new familiar. It was a small white bird of some kind with three sets of wings. It hovered near him like a hummingbird as the skull circled in wide arcs. I didn’t recognise the other two; but presumed these were Dimitri and Vik; a pair of humans with a couple of familiars each. I didn’t have time to take in the details as the three all began unleashing a series of impressive magic spells. Fizzle’s own destructive capabilities paled in comparison to these three.

Vespenon strode to meet the charging mass of screaming men as though he were taking a leisurely stroll. As a pirate charged him, Vespenon snapped a finger. The skull and the bird flashed briefly and then it looked as if the soul left the man’s body; his corpse tumbled to the ground. Several others died the same way before a firestorm washed over them, conjured by Dimitri. Vik was amongst the soldiers tending wounds, he likely had affinities that excelled in healing. When the soldiers of the militia looked close to being healthy again, they began forming up. Katrina made sure each soldier was taking time to drink water and prepare themselves to face what remained after the pirates. That is, after they got over their fear of the flashy magics.

Sure enough, as the smoke cleared the pirates were loosely grouped in a line, the militia formed up to meet them. Behind the pirates, the largest ship was divesting itself of a series of rowboats that were beginning to approach the docks with frightful speed. From my vantage I could see there was easily four times the number we currently faced. I took aim at the small row boats beginning to cast Gem Shot when Dannath reached out a hand to stop me. The magic users were retreating back through the gate, probably to recover their mana pools.

“We go in now.” He said simply.

I paused just long enough to send a message to the others asking their ETA before following Dannath. Fizzle replied almost immediately with two words. ‘Southern gate.’ Closing the window and knowing they were only twenty minutes away, I mentally prepared myself for the gruelling fight to come. We crossed the distance and joined the battle. We cut into them like two grim spectres of death as our monsters unleashed untold devastation on the weak pirates. They weren’t much, it was a little disappointing. But of course, such thinking was just inviting trouble.

The final wave of pirates had arrived. They were all a much higher level and amongst them were the five dreaded Level twenties. Dannath and I backed up and the militia formed up behind us wordlessly as the brawny men and women began clambering onto the piers that weren’t shredded by cannon fire. Boyle wasn’t amongst them. Not that I had time to look properly, I was busy fighting back to back with Katrina. Dannath and a group of militiamen had broken away from us, hacking their way into the crowd that was slowly surrounding us. I think we numbered about twenty in all against their sixty-five. We gave as good as we got, fighting back against the pirates almost as hard as they pushed us. I was beginning to lose hope when one of the Level twenties appeared before me. He had smirked at me and advanced with a gaudy bronze cutlass, Baruu promptly shocked him with lightning. Paralyzed, Katrina finished him off, appearing behind him just as his advance halted. She was vicious and out-levelled him a good deal. He died where he stood. We moved on.

Before long, it became readily clear we were going to fail to halt their advance. The three magic users hadn’t returned yet. I was starting to worry that Dannath and I were going to have to run back from the Temple District to stem the tide as best we could when blue purple flames rolled over our enemies accompanied by the sounds of thundering hoofbeats. Soon horses bearing Sergeant Miller and my companions rocketed past, followed by thirty men and women on horseback. They flooded through the gates from the empty Travellers’ District.

The horsemen smashed into the wall of pirates. Breaking through and hacking bloody ruin on any pirate unfortunate enough not to fall beneath the hooves of the horses. Fizzle, from horseback, extended tendrils of balefire from Violet’s candle tips that wove itself through the crowd of men. The hungry blue flames elicited shrieks of pain and despair from the men, as the balefire wrapped around their limbs and exposed throats. As Dannath stuffed a healing potion into my hand, I saw Fiona was among them now; death incarnate. Weaving through the burning men dispatching them with a casual grace. I shuddered watching my friends and felt glad that they were on my side. Dannath clearly echoed the sentiment as he swallowed watching the pair go about their business.

I saw Sergeant Miller amidst the throng now, no longer on horseback. I didn’t know where the beast had gone but it didn’t matter. The Level fifty, red skulled NPC strode through the battlefield like a god. The pirates’ attacks never seemed to touch him and those that did rarely drew blood. I watched in awe as he cleaved the relatively low-level pirates in twain with great sweeping arcs of a nasty, large double headed axe. He made the weapon dance in his hands. As the numbers dwindled, some of the attackers broke and fled as their brethren were butchered by the small cavalry force. I guess there was no honour among thieves, I thought to myself grimly as I mentally prepared myself to re-join the ongoing bloodbath.

Four of the Level twenties, some of the only surviving members of the final wave of pirates, fell upon Sergeant Miller, pushing him back from the docks and towards the town proper. Even as he was forced back, I noticed that the man wasn’t taking any damage; then a shout from Dannath brought my attention to another section of the dwindling battle.

Fizzlewiz astride his horse was releasing a volley of fire spells and balefire towards an advancing Level twenty; the Pirate Captain NPC whose name was Kirkwall. Fiona harassed the man as Katrina intercepted his powerful blows. I shared a look with Dannath and we charged to join our party members. I collided with the man using a shield bash, burning the Ki that had remained untouched so far in the battle, and due to my size and strength stat, this knocked him off balance. Dannath slid past me, his great sword arcing down at the man. The blade bit into his shoulder but the wound was shallow. His own sword blade lashed out, taking Dannath’s head off. One fracking swing. His body crumpled to the ground along with his sword which clanged loudly as it hit the cobbles. Fiona was there suddenly. Emerging from the man’s deepening shadow, lacerating his neck and back with a series of frenzied dagger strokes. His foot lashed back catching Fiona in face as she sank back down into his shadow using her magic. There was an audible crack, her head snapping back from the force of the blow. Her spells puttered out, stopping mid cast. As she reeled, he swept his off-hand weapon, a vicious looking mace, into Fiona’s head. Her health bar dipped alarmingly. A series of flame bolts from Fizzle and an Earthen Grasp courtesy of myself stopped the man from finishing our friend. Katrina hauled Fiona back as the man cast a cold, calculating gaze on Fizzle and I. Oh, frak.

He exploded at me, quick as a snake. I barely had time to raise my shield to block the blows before he was passed me, into my blind spot. My vision exploded with stars a moment later as a heavy weight smashed into the back of my head, sending me to my knees. Fizzle cried out for me as the guard turned Pirate Captain advanced on him, conjuring walls of orange and purple blue fire between him and the advancing NPC. This level difference stuff was bullshit.

I rose when I saw Katrina wandering over. I looked at her and she shook her head. A quick glance at my parties’ health bar affirmed the worst. Fiona was out of the game and likely respawning soon. I looked around, Baruu was in the air above our high-level enemy. I checked her various resource pools. I discovered that she was nearly out of mana having been involved in the battle herself and offering healing as the battle progressed. Or by hurling offensive spells into the dense clusters of pirates, which she seemed to take great delight in.

“You stay up there, girl!” I told her as I rounded on the man who was now beginning to wade through Fizzle’s burning barriers. I triggered a Challenging Shout as I went and his head snapped to me and only me. Still just an NPC after all. Katrina retrieved Dannath’s sword then moved to join me as we approached the rogue NPC.

“You think you two can beat me?” He asked with a grim chuckle. “You couldn’t even finish off Boyle when Torsgulf was with you. What are you going to do with a weak fire mage and a girl whose helm doesn’t even fit her?” Katrina flushed an angry red at that, apparently some sort of militia insult.

“What, scared to face us?” I glanced towards Miller and saw that two of the four that had engaged with him were unmoving on the ground.

“I just don’t want to be tired. I still have to face Miller over there.” He explained, turning to advance on us. Fizzle gathered the fire around him into a great sphere then and hurled it at the man’s back. He turned almost casually and threw his sword at Fizzle. It spun a few times before sinking through the gnome's unarmoured chest, the blade poking out his back. I watched his nameplate grey-out as his health bar ran empty. The flames around us snuffed out as the NPC turned back to me, stopping to retrieve a fallen weapon. “Now, shall we?”

It was the same as when I had fought against Boyle. The Pirate Captain NPC had me on the defensive as soon as we closed the distance between us. His relentless two weapon attacks kept my shield in place and allowed little time for me to counter. It was frustrating especially when the adopted cutlass sank into my flesh. I didn’t have enough mana for Stoneskin not after my vainglorious attempt to sink an approaching ship. Katrina did her best to intercede but the man, clearly more seasoned than the girl, made up for their matched levels.

Katrina took a mace blow not much longer after that. She had rushed the man with desperate swings of her bronze sword. He had toyed with her for a moment commenting on her foot work even as I began reaching for healing potions. Baruu was now actively involved as well swooping down to stamp at the man's helmeted head. It didn’t do much damage; she was only Level ten as well after all. With Katrina in a heap, he advanced on me, glancing behind me to check on his last companion’s progress against the indomitable Sergeant. He clearly didn’t like what he saw as he advanced with renewed haste. All together, we had managed to chip away nearly a third of the man’s health bar but that didn’t mean much. He still hit like a truck and I was always being pushed back towards the gates where terrified peasants had begun to gather as the cavalry made its way through the town. I couldn’t let this guy any further. I tackled him, bringing all of my orcish might to bear against the man. We bowled over together, our weapons clattering to the ground and sliding away from us as we wrestled one another for supremacy.

I got glimpses of the world around me as we tumbled. Some of the remaining horsemen were dismounting and rounding up the surviving pirates. Katrina was being healed by one of the returned magic users while the other two hurled their considerable magical might to bare against the remaining survivors. They didn’t need to catch much.

Still Kirkwall and I struggled in the dirt, my HP was dropping steadily every time the man hit me, but I persisted in my struggles. Then an iron hand closed around my arm and wrenched me free of the man’s grasp. Weapons flashed, there was an unpleasant choking, gurgling sound. I looked around panicked, swinging desperately at this new attacker knowing it was already too late.

Miller caught my fist then lowered it gently as the haze of battle lifted from my mind. I felt groggy as I looked around. Things were slowly getting back into order. The magic users puffed their chests as what survivors remained were led away in chains or on stretchers.

“It’s over boy.” Miller said, giving me a gentle shake. “You’ve done a good thing here today. You and your friends held back catastrophe and saved the town. Truly remarkable.”

Emergency quest complete.

You receive:

2500 XP (XP has been banked until you leave the tutorial zone.)

You receive 250 gp of (1/4 of 1000, split between party.)

You receive Lilite Ore x5 (1/2 of 10, split between stone crafters.)

You receive 5 attribute points, spend them before your next level up or they will be automatically assigned.