Silver Peak, page 9
part #2 of Sky Realms Online Series
“Calm yourself, my son,” she said, gently scolding him.
If anything, his glare intensified.
“Your village is in ruins, is it not,” Yarbole stated.
Hall nodded.
“For now,” he said, trying to sound confident as a leader of a thriving community would. He felt out of his depth, unsure what to say. Finding someone else to serve as Skara Brae’s ambassador, its spokesperson, moved to the top of his long list.
“A trade agreement between peoples is based on each having equal standing,” Yarbole said. There was no arrogance in her voice. She spoke like a teacher. “Or when unequal, one side has something of value that other wants. What do you have to offer us?”
Hall thought about, trying to come up with different plans. There had to be something that he could offer Yarbole. He wasn’t sure he really needed a trade agreement, or alliance, with the Firbolgs, but he was sure they didn’t need one with him. There was nothing Skara Brae had to offer and might never have anything of value.
Finally, he just shook his head.
“Nothing,” he admitted in defeat. “We have nothing that would benefit the Brownpaw.”
Baskily barked a laugh. Jackoby looked angry, upset that his time had been wasted.
Yarbole looked thoughtfully at Hall, studying him. Her fingers tapped on the wooden armrests of her chair, a pattern of some kind.
“If you have nothing to offer the Brownpaw,” she said finally. “Then there can be no trade agreement.”
CHAPTER NINE
Hall sighed. It was the answer that he had expected, but it was still hard to hear. He felt defeated, like he had failed. He hoped that Yarbole would at least let them spend the night, get some rest and restock before they left.
“But,” Yarbole said, drawing everyone’s attention. “There is much that we can do for friends of the Brownpaw.”
Baskily looked to his mother in surprise, shocked. He was about to say something, but she held up her hand, sharply cutting him off. Yarbole lowered her hand and looked at Leigh. Her gaze was sharp, measuring.
“As I said, the Grove is connected to our lands. Before the corruption, the Brownpaw were allies and friends of the Custodians. We can be so again,” Yarbole told Leigh. The elder’s gaze was not unfriendly, but there was no warmth in it either. A warning, Hall took it. Yarbole telling Leigh that the Firbolg would do her part and Leigh would need to do hers.
“I would like that,” Leigh replied and nodded her head.
Yarbole’s gaze softened, and she looked at Hall.
“It would be years before your village could offer anything to the Brownpaw,” she said, not unkindly, just stating facts. “There could never be a trade agreement between us, but we can be allies and friends.”
“I would like that,” Hall said.
Yarbole nodded.
“But friendship is not freely given,” she said, raising a finger and pointing it at Hall. “Trust and friendship must be earned.”
Now, Hall felt he was in familiar territory. Sky Realms Online had a robust reputation system, even before the Glitch, and it seemed to have gotten bigger post-Glitch. Earning reputation, which led to friendship, with different factions was a staple of MMOs.
“What can we do to show the Brownpaw our friendship?” he asked, choosing his words carefully.
“To earn the trust of the Brownpaw, you must shed blood for the Brownpaw,” Baskily said in response. His tone was still angry but now resigned. His mother, his chieftain, had chosen a path, and he had to follow it.
Hall knew what was coming. A quest. He remembered the original game and the series of quests involving the Badgin that were creeping in on Brownpaw territory. The first quest had been to thin their numbers, then find out why they were encroaching on Brownpaw territory and finally defeat the Badgin chief. Three or four parts in total. With some repeatable aspects to raise reputation with the Brownpaw.
Yarbole was offering a quest. Just not the one he thought.
“Our resources are stretched thin,” Baskily admitted. “The Badgin are creeping around the edges of our territory in the west, Trow to the north. We do not have the warriors to send east.”
“What is to the east?” Hall asked, recovering from his surprise.
In a way, he had been looking forward to fighting the Badgin. The ferocious little humanoid beasts had been some of the most entertaining fights he had. The quests had been basic, but the fights had made up for it. He had hoped for something more familiar from the original game, but again, Sky Realms Online post-Glitch had surprised him.
Baskily shook his head, some fear creeping into his eyes. Yarbole put her wrinkled hand on his arm, but it was Jackoby that spoke. A dark growl.
“Undead.”
“What?” Hall exclaimed.
Undead in Fallen Green? There had never been Undead on Edin before. They were rare on all the islands. There were few practitioners of the dark magic needed to raise the dead. Necromancy was a Skill that could be learned by Witches, a magic to supplement their Class Abilities. Very few Players had chosen it as the Skill Abilities weren’t that useful. NPCs had it, but by the Lore, they were shunned by most civilizations and were hunted down. Most Undead were weak, Zombies and Skeletons that could be easily taken out. Their main threat was in numbers. But there were higher level Undead, vampires and revenants, which posed more of a challenge.
“It started two weeks ago,” Baskily started. “They appeared as if out of nowhere. Dozens of Skeletons. We dispatched them easily enough but then more appeared.”
“And kept appearing,” Jackoby muttered.
“We sent warriors out to find where the monsters were coming from, but none returned,” Baskily told them.
Hall studied Yarbole. She appeared sad, guilty that her people had died.
“So instead of sending more of your people, you’re going to send us?” Sabine asked, an edge to her voice. “Nice way to make friends.”
Baskily let out a low growl, taking a step forward, angry with fists clenched. Sabine stared at him defiantly, hands ready to raise and start spell casting. Yarbole glared at Sabine sharply but put a restraining hand on Baskily. The Firbolg did not take another step but did not back down.
“Yes,” Yarbole answered. “There is more, but as you say, we are sending you. As my son said, to become friends of the Brownpaw, you must shed blood for the Brownpaw as we will for you.”
“When?” Sabine muttered, but quieter than before, looking away from Yarbole’s unwavering stare.
“As the Spirits will it,” Yarbole replied, turning away from the Witch. “You came to us, asking for the friendship of the Brownpaw. This is how you earn it.”
You have come seeking the friendship of the Brownpaw. Yarbole, Clan Chieftain of the Brownpaw, requests that you discover the cause of the Undead plaguing her lands. Do this and the Brownpaw will be in your debt and will provide aid and support to your fledgling village.
Journey to where the Undead are and seek clues to what is raising them.
THE ROAMING DEAD I
Slay 0/12 Undead
Find a Clue to the Cause of Undead Uprising 0/1
Reward: +500 Brownpaw Firbolg Reputation
+50 Experience
ACCEPT QUEST?
Hall glanced at the others. Leigh and Roxhard nodded, agreeing to go with his decision. Sabine just shrugged. He accepted the quest and looked at Yarbole.
“We need rest and healing,” Hall told her. He glanced behind him, out the doors of the building and the setting sun. “It is getting late. May we stay here tonight and set out in the morning?”
“Of course,” Yarbole replied. “Jackoby will show you to rooms and where to find food.”
The Firbolg did not look happy at being told to escort the party.
“Thank you,” Hall said, turning to leave but stopped and looked back at Yarbole. “I know it may be too much to ask, but my companions recently leveled and could use training.”
A brief scowl crossed Yarbole’s face before the serene smile and calm returned. It seemed she was starting to get annoyed. She nodded, accepting his request.
“My son will show you where the Warden and Druid can receive training,” Yarbole said and glanced at Sabine. “I am sorry but we do not have any Witches in Green Ember.”
She did not appear sorry.
Sabine nodded. She looked down at the floor, shuffling a foot. It was obvious that Sabine wanted to say something, or ask for something, but was afraid to.
“Speak, child,” Yarbole said gently.
“As we were escorted through the village,” Sabine started, looking up at Yarbole and choosing her words carefully. “We saw a Firbolg using a strange kind of magic.”
Yarbole looked confused for a second but then understood.
“Ah, you saw Tyrenda,” the Clan Chief said with a nod and smile. “She is a Shaman with the Rune Magic skill.”
It was Sabine’s turn to look confused.
“What is the Rune Magic Skill?” she asked hesitantly. Sabine wanted to know more, that was obvious, but was realizing her snarky attitude earlier might cost her that knowledge.
“Tyrenda can explain it better,” Yarbole replied. “Why don’t you go and ask her? She may even teach you how to perform Rune Magic.”
Sabine’s eyes lit up. She had not expected that.
“Thank you,” she said and gave a slight bow.
Yarbole nodded, raising her wrist and giving a slight flick. A clear signal that it was time for them to leave.
CHAPTER TEN
The morning dawned bright and clear, not a cloud in the sky.
Hall walked out of the one-room building the four of them, plus Pike and Angus, had shared for the night. Some kind of bunkhouse. There had been eight beds set up along the walls, a long table with benches in the middle. It had been empty, on the lowest terrace of Green Ember, one level up from the lower forest floor.
His Vitality had been fully recharged. The first time in a long time.
Success!
You have gotten a Full Night’s Rest.
Your Vitality is fully restored.
Jackoby had led them there, showing them the location, before bringing them around to meet the trainers. They had left Roxhard with a group of Wardens. Leigh had wandered off by herself, with Angus, to where the Druids Grove had been pointed out.
Druids could be confusing, Hall had thought. All places of Druid activity were called Groves but all did not contain a Branch of the World Tree. To an outsider like Hall, a Grove was a Grove, but Leigh had assured him there were differences that only a Druid would recognize.
Sabine had left to return to the upper terrace and the Rune Magic user.
That had left Hall alone. Jackoby had left as soon as the two had returned to the small bunkhouse. While not outright hostile, like his older brother Baskily was, Jackoby was not friendly either. It was obvious he saw them as a nuisance, wasting his and the tribe’s valuable time. Food was brought to him. No meat. Bread, vegetables, fruit, and cheese. Pitchers of water were provided. Not what Hall had been hoping for, but he wasn’t going to complain.
Leigh was the first one back. She was smiling, scratching behind Angus’ ear.
“All set?” he asked.
“Yeah. I learned Gust of Wind and Earth Shield,” she said proudly. “I also got some training in the Plant Magic skill.”
Hall nodded. Both the Abilities and the Skill would come in handy. Unlike the Melee classes, which had Combat Skills available to all, the Magic classes had specializations that augmented their spells. For Druids, it was Beast, Plant, or Spirit. That Leigh had chosen Plant Magic meant she was setting herself up for more powerful defensive abilities.
Spying the food, she practically ran to the long table in the middle of the room.
“I’m starving,” she said and took a seat.
Hall chuckled and remained at the door.
Roxhard was the next to return. He moved slowly, stretching out his arms which showed them to be stiff and sore, his face a giant bruise. Leigh gasped when she saw him, momentarily forgetting about the food and rushing to the Dwarf’s side. She lay her hands on either side of his face, her tattoos glowing light blue as healing energy flowed into Roxhard.
“Thanks,” he said, his cheeks red from Leigh’s closeness and touch.
“Did you learn your next Ability?” Hall asked, trying to get Roxhard’s attention.
The Dwarf was focused on Leigh, staring at her with a dumb expression. His eyes snapped into focus, and he glanced at Hall.
“Huh? Oh, yeah, I did,” Roxhard said, smiling as Leigh stepped back. He moved his arms, no longer feeling the stiffness. “War Cry and Combat Tactics.”
It was at least an hour after the sun had set fully before Sabine returned. The Witch had a contented smile on her face until she caught sight of Leigh. The other three were at the table, the plates with Sabine’s share of the food pushed aside. They had been playing a card game with a deck that Roxhard had found on one of the bunks. A game called Steps. They had looked up when Sabine had entered.
“Why didn’t you tell us about the other Magic Skills,” she said, a tone of accusation in her voice. She sat down on the bench, pulling at the food, her hunger overriding her annoyance.
“What do you mean?” Leigh replied, genuinely confused. “I thought you knew.”
“Other Magic Skills,” Hall asked.
“Rune, Light, and Arcane,” Sabine answered as she ate. “It appears that Magic classes can learn these new types as part of their two hundred points in Magic Skills.”
“Sorry,” Leigh said. “I really did think you would know about them.”
Sabine started to reply, but Hall cut her off, not wanting an argument to start.
“Did you learn Rune Magic?” he asked.
The Witch shook her head.
“I learned Arcane instead.”
“What’s the difference?” Roxhard asked, throwing a card down and giving a triumphant look to Hall, who just rolled his eyes. Leigh chuckled.
“Rune magic is about creating timed effects. You mark something and activate it later. Kind of like the runes on magical weapons. Arcane is about the manipulation of energy. It will give me some more defensive and offensive capabilities.”
They had all gone to bed soon after, falling into a deep sleep. Hall had thought about setting watches but decided not to. Like in the cave, the Firbolgs had plenty of opportunity to harm them and did not. And why would they kill them? Weren’t they going to risk themselves for the Brownpaw in the morning?
Which bothered Hall as he stood in the doorway looking out onto the morning. Firbolgs moved about the buildings below them, some heading to the pond and early morning fishing. The body of water had looked small from atop the ridge, but it was bigger than Hall had first thought.
He didn’t know why the quest was bothering him. The basics of it were nothing new, the storyline was fairly standard for RPG games. The people are being threatened, seek out the threat and stop it. The same type as the first quest out of Grayhold post-Glitch.
It was the nonchalant way the Firbolgs had admitted to using Hall and his friends so no Firbolg would be risked. Used was a good word. Before he felt like he was doing a service. This felt different.
Sighing, he knew it didn’t matter. They were still going to seek out the source of the Undead. They were adventurers; this is what they did. And the Firbolgs had provided training, he had to admit. It was all part of the plan that was half-formed. If he wanted to make Skara Brae into something, anything really, he needed friends and allies.
He needed the Firbolgs.
Three of the Brownpaw walked toward him. Jackoby was in the middle, large warhammer and shield in hand.
Skill Gain!
Identify Rank 1 +.2
Brownpaw Hunter
Brownpaw Hunter
Hall thought he recognized the two Hunters from the first walk to the village yesterday, but he wasn’t sure. He had not gotten a good enough look. Wearing leather armor with the bark plates, they each carried a longbow and quiver, the bows almost twice as big as anything a Human or Elf would use. Longswords were belted at their waists.
Glancing back into the building, Hall saw that the others were done with packing up their gear. He turned back to Jackoby.
“We’re ready to go,” he said.
“Good,” Jackoby answered gruffly. “Follow us.”
They walked for almost an hour following a wide path along the shore of the pond, Firbolgs out in the water fishing from large canoes. The path wove around trees, passing between trunks as they encroached close to the water’s edge. Near the far end of the pond, the path turned southeast into the woods.
Small totems, standing about four feet high, lined the path at set intervals. Bears with the mouths open with stone plates set in. Pausing at one, Hall saw the remains of wax on the plate. Others had candle stubs. The path itself was smooth, no plants or roots along the surface, hard-packed, well maintained. The branches along either side were cut back, pruned, not allowed to extend out over the path. Thick canopy above blocked out most of the sun, dark shadows everywhere.
The three Firbolgs walked slowly, not pushing. They were nervous. The further away from the pond, the more nervous they got. Hall wasn’t sure why. The woods seemed peaceful enough, the totems indicating the path was frequently traveled.
Another half an hour later he found out why.
They heard the noise, an odd shuffling as if leaves and sticks were being pushed forward. Branches snapped, followed by a low moaning sound. The three Firbolgs stopped, moving off to the side. Hall stepped forward, glancing at Jackoby before turning to where the sound was coming from. Jackoby motioned Hall forward.
“Look,” he said in a whisper, or what was meant to be a whisper for the deep-throated Firbolg.
