Gamers Eight – day twenty one

Day 21

 Rana awoke before anyone else, she watched the two human, they both were stranger than most humans she had encountered. The treated her as an equal, even as a member of their group. It was weird being like and appreciated by humans. Xyrdiane even seemed more relaxed, around them. It was eerie, and she found herself trying to find fault with anything they did. She knew she was biased against Bloodstone, but still she couldn’t shake the fact that he had brought her back, not because she was Xyrdians longtime friend and confidant.  He had spoken to her about it when she asked. His response shook her to the core of her beliefs.

She watched him intently, every motion ever gesture, looking for that something that would prove that he was like all the other humans she had ever met. Most humans looked on half gazers with contempt of disgust, sometime outright fear. There were several times people had mistaken her for the famous gazer, she felt it wasn’t her place to correct the misconceptions.

Xyre, had married this human, and Rana had expected him to push her away, ostracize her, in fact the opposite, he included her in everything. His explanation, was that she could see things in a different manner and would be more inclined to correct him if she felt or disagreed with him. Twice she had told him he was being a jerk and he apologized.

Xyre had joked that she was in love with him, it wasn’t true, she found him interesting, and that Xyre did as well made him even more so. His daughter had asked her if she had her own language, it too made her wonder what she had lost.

Bloodstone daughter was a very strange woman, she had talked with Rana for several hours, and was fascinated with her visual abilities. She had asked if half-gazers had their own language. Sadly, if they did she never learned it. she explained that she had been a slave for most of her young life, sold off to different humans who wanted her to see if people were who they said they were, or to guard a spot. There were dark parts of her past that she had never shared with Xyre or at least not all of them, the beatings had been the worst memories.

Xyre has told her in confidence that he had used an artifact, to bring her back from death. I was perhaps the reason she wanted to know more about him. According to him he had only been on Rhir for three weeks and yet where did he get an artifact that could bring back the dead. She remembered dying and a voice calling her back, and stepping through to where the voice was calling her.

She remembered Bloodstone holding her, as she fell, from the bolt, and everything fading to black. Then he was carrying her with Xyre. It still made no sense, why would he use an artifact of that kind of power to bring her of all people back.

This was one of the few times she had been able to watch him, just watch. It’s a fact that Half-gazers usually could track things through walls and at distance. She found herself, watching him with more than a casual glance, she still couldn’t place what was different about him, the way he talked, or the way he moved. Everyone around him seemed oblivious to what she had seen a couple of times now. His shadow seemed alive, not that she could explain it. His shadow seemed to distort flicker or change at times, it was quick, but not fast enough for a half-gazer. The other thing that she had noticed were his classes, there was a class that she couldn’t identify, it was just [] and it never changed. His other classes had changed a three days ago, he had lost his [wizard], [psion],[pyromancer], [engineer], [cleric], and his levels of [blacksmith] and [goldsmith] they had all combined into to something else. The class was called [EMPTY] it made no sense. She had asked him, and he told her that he had gotten some skills combined as the classes merged as well. He wouldn’t say what the class was, it made her nervous.  The next day he had made Isabell new eyes, she hadn’t seen how, she knew that he would be a terrible enemy to have. He had even spared with her, and they both knew she could hurt him if she wanted. His swordsman skills were not even close to what she was capable of. The problem was that she had no desire to hurt him. The class he had given her was what she always dreamed of being able to do, to dance and fight. Her speed and movement had gotten more fluid, she could move as fast as she could see, sometimes faster. To trick a half-gazers sight was something very fast. The creature that he had cut, she had slain, to a normal person it may have looked like she stabbed it a couple of times, she had stabbed it at least twenty times in the same places.

She had also seen something a look of panic and indecision had flashed across his face for a moment before he cut at the things leg. She wanted to ask him, she wanted to know, she would wait till she could talk with him alone.

Xyrdiane was the first one to wake up, “Hes still sleeping?” She asked Rana who had been up for at least an hour.

Rana nodded.

“Not very talkative today, what’s the matter?”

Rana shook her no.

“I know you too well, let’s get some breakfast and talk about it”

Xrye as Rana liked to call her, did know her well, and she was probably the only one who could get her talking, Rana followed her out. Closing the door quietly behind them.

“You have that look again.”

“What look?” Rana asked.

“It’s the same look we had when you met Trence, before we found out what an ass he was”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about!” Rana said a little more forceful than she intended.

“Liar, what’s the matter”

“You’re going to laugh,” Rana said seriously.

“I promise unless it’s funny I won’t laugh”

“I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Explain what?”

“I feel like Bloodstone is hiding something, he gets cryptic sometimes or I don’t understand what he’s saying” Rana said

“I think that’s just the way he is, I got to talk with him on the beach for a bit. He’s smart, he asked if you were all right, and if we are still getting along. I don’t think our relationship has changed, and the fact that he was concerned about it.”

“You feel the same way, he is the strangest human we have ever met, there’s no hostility, or even animosity, from him or the others from wherever they come from. I find it unnerving. The people here treat us a lot better, there is no hostility, they see us as adventures not a half-elf or a half-gazer.”

“Do you want to go home?” Xyrdiane asked Rana softly.

“I do, just not yet. You want to stay don’t you.”

Xyrediane nodded, “I find him fascinating as well, did you know he asked me to pull up stones from the ground before he made the eyes for Isabel. I saw him working on them, I saw it and still have no idea what he did.”

“What do you mean, what did you see?”

“He took stones from the ground and shaped them somehow, with magic, I have no idea what kind, it was as if he knew what needed to be done, and just did it. No that doesn’t even explain it. “

They entered the common room, where meals were taken in the fortress, they each took a bowl of grains they were handed.

Everyone in the room watched as they came in and sat off to one side. There were only about ten soldiers, who were eating. One of them walked over, “Can I ask you two a question about the new Lord?”

“Sure, if we can” Xyrdiane said.

“Is it true he took on a grey shambler?” The soldier asked.

“Well Rana helped,” she said gesturing to Rana.

The soldier looked at Rana, “So he didn’t do it by himself then?”

“No, Lady Amethyst cast on in first, and then we attacked it.” Rana said.

“I wanted to come over and thank you, and him. That things been causing all kinds of trouble, it’s nice to know there is someone who can take on monsters in the garrison”

“No problem,” Rana said.

The soldier returned to the small group of men and began talking to them.

“that was weird” Rana said.

“I know, most places we get the cold shoulder, here we are thanked.”

“It is creeping me out too” Rana said watching the men with her right eyes.

“I’m worried about him though, I haven’t seen him eat or drink.”

“He was restless sleeping,” Rana said focusing back onto Xyrdiane.

Lady Amethyst walked in and took a bowl of the stew and walked over and sat with them. She yawned, “Sorry, still not used to the time differenced here.”

“I was wondering what that spell was you used yesterday?” Xyrdiane asked.

“Oh, I slowed it and used a directed banishment to push it away.” She replied.

“You have known Bloodstone the longest, have you noticed anything about him?” Xyrdiane asked.

“What other than he makes a mess, and seems to take everything in stride.”

“I mean does he seem, like he’s worried about something?”

Lady Amethyst laughed, “Of course he is, we are not from this world and he wants to find a way back, he’s pretty sure he can get us home, he just needs a lot more information.”

“He never mentioned that” Rana said.

“You know that the pendants we have are something he created, the fact that he got it to work speaks volumes.”

“You mean the artifact that brought me back to life?” Rana asked.

“Yes, and something else he said, I didn’t believe him at first but after seeing these it’s hard not to, my son and daughter trust him explicitly.”

Four adventurers came in soaking wet, along with two kids dressed in rags. The two kids were also soaking wet, and looked like they had been covered in mud. The leader of the group was a tall human, who had an axe on his back, he was very tall for a human about seven feet tall and made of muscle. The second adventurer was a female dullahan in simple metal armor and weapons on a belt. The third was a Centaur who had a bow and a quiver of arrows on his humanoid back. The last appeared to be a mage with a strange complexion almost like string or fabric.

Rana was the first to notice them, “I think we have a problem.”

“What?” Xyrdiane asked.

“I don’t recall seeing them before, those kids are barefoot” Lady amethyst said.

The four adventurers saw the three of them sitting there and walked over. The mage was the first to speak, “Well now, are you a new team out here to clean up monsters?” She said her voice was a bit high in the scale.

Rana focused her gaze onto the woman, “We are not”

“Well, then what are you here for sweetie?” She asked

Rana smiled, and said, “I’m their bodyguard” She said gesturing to Xyrdiane and Lady Amethyst.

“Oh? I didn’t know that mages needed bodyguards”

Lady amethyst said, “Please leave, before my husband comes in and causes trouble.”

“Phhhh, who is your husband?” She asked

“Lord Bloodstone” She replied.

“Lord who, I don’t know who that is.”

“Look just leave, before someone gets hurt.” Rana said.

The woman scrunched her nose up and walked over to another table, and very loudly said, “Some silver or copper adventurers not worth dealing with.”

Rana gripped the table, “I’ll show her a silver adventurer.”

“Let it go, hopefully they leave before Bloodstone shows up, I don’t want a repeat of what happened last week”

“He wouldn’t, at least I hope not, that was such a mess.” Rana said.

“Well they were the ones that challenged him to a duel, how was he supposed to know they were gold adventurers, it’s not like they wear badges or anything. Thankfully no one died, and he did apologize for being so reckless.” Xyrdiane said.

Bloodstone walked over and sat down at the table. He yawned, “Morning”

“Morning, are you going to grab something to eat?” Lady Amethyst asked him.

“Na, I feel like I slept on a rock and my arms are still sore.” He said stretching and looking around.

“Bloodstone isn’t your real name, is it?” Rana said trying to distract him.

“No, it’s like a nickname, maybe I’ll tell you, the thing is if you don’t know it you can’t call me it, and it’s a secret. When we get back if you are really interested I can show you my real name.”

Bloodstone got up from the table, “Hey hon, would you take a look at my phone, it’s been acting weird” Lady Amethyst said.

“Oh, sure let me see.” He said sitting back down.

She handed over her cell phone and he looked at it, well beside no service or bar, it seems fine. You know just to be safe, let’s put it in airplane mode.”

“What’s that?” Xyrdiane asked.

“what’s what?”

“Airplane mode”

Bloodstone laughed, “It’s a mode where the phone doesn’t broadcast or receive signals. Is called that because back home you can’t use electronics on planes if they broadcast or receive signals. Here it’s just to save battery power and prevent others from messing with the phone.”

“What can your device do?”

“Well it’s a computer, and can do different things based on the software installed, it has built in cameras. Wireless, connectivity. Storage, for various things, books, or music.” He handed the phone back to Amethyst and pulled out his own phone.

“It looks strange, like black glass.” Rana said.

“It’s off now, there is a small button here on top that turns it on.” He said pressing it.

The phone lit up with a bright white logo, and then chimed and showed the main screen.

Bloodstone stood up again, and backed up a little and took a picture of Rana.

She blinked, “What was that!?”

He held the phone out for her to see, the picture he had taken.

She looked at the picture, “what else can it do.”

“Not much, I can’t even text message” He turned off the phone and sat down. “Why is there a horse in here?” He asked.

“That’s a centaur” Rana said.

“Huh, weird never seen that before in real life. Any idea when we are heading back?”

“No, why don’t you go ask, Lady Aladeana” Xyrdaiane suggested.

“I will do that, I will be working in the forge till we are ready to leave.” He said leaving

“Crisis averted” Rana said.

“He can be oblivious sometimes.” Lady Amethyst said.

“Shouldn’t we say something to them?” Rana asked.

“I’ll do it,“ Lady Amethyst said getting up with her bowl, and walking over to their table.

The centaur looked up as she came over, ad di the others at the table, “You lost?” The mage asked.

“No, I came to ask what the deal is with these kids.”

“Oh they are our baiters, we sent them forward and scout for monsters, and demons. They lure them to us. Our mage makes us invisible so when they attack them we get the drop on them. “

She looked him in the eye, “That’s barbaric”

“It works, it make them goblins think twice about attacking kids. I have seen twenty goblins leave them the hell alone, not that that save them, goblin ears are a silver a piece. They get fed, what’s it to you.”

“They don’t even have shoes” Lady Amethyst said.

“They don’t need shoes the monsters don’t care if they have shoes why waste money on things they don’t need.”

“how much would you be willing to sell them for?”

“Not for sale, it’s a good tactic, get your own baiters.”

Lady Amethyst turned and walked back to her table, “Barbarians!, they are using those kids to bait monsters and demons.”

Her explanation was met with silence, “It happens, not much we can do if they won’t sell them.” Xyrdiane said.

“I need to leave before I get pissed.” Lady Amethyst said.

The three of them left, leaving the bowls in a barrel.

Lady Aladeana found Bloodstone working in the forge, with a white hot glowing piece of steel.

“You wanted to talk to me?” She asked.

“I wanted to ask if I can put a magical device on the top of the structure here.”

“What kind of magical device?”

“A relay system for communication, if we put them along the walls, and along the outposts, we can have a quick messaging system”

“I have mages that can sent messages if we need them”

“I don’t think your understanding, what I am suggesting. Let’s say a scout sees a huge army or something dangerous he can send a message to this outpost and the wall.”

“We don’t have mages that go with the scouts they are to valuable.”

“What about if the scout had an item he could use to communicate with the wall or the fortress or both?”

“I don’t know of any such item, there are some mirrors or other devices that could do that they are very expensive.”

“I see, let me think about it more, I may have a way to make it work.”

She shrugged, “What are you working on?”

“I am heating this up this sword to reinforce it from being melted.”

“How are you able to get it that hot?”

Bloodstone looked over at the blacksmith, who was working on a glowing red piece of steel,”I’m holding it in place, with a skill. I also have skills to use pyromancy.”

“I have no problem with you putting something up on the fortress, as long as you explain how it works and what it’s for, Once you are in charge you can do what you want, as long as I am you will need to explain it to me.”

Bloodstone dropped the steel into a vat of oil, it burst into flames, and began to bubble as it vaporized off the steel. “Maybe that was too hot”

He pulled the metal out of the oil, using the tongs, and set the steel on the smaller anvil to cool.

“You should make sure it didn’t warp,” The blacksmith said to him.

“Right”, he said looking down the blade. “Looks good”

“Was there anything else?” She asked.

“Actually, what the story with the non-humans”

“Oh the other gold team, in the area? I wasn’t aware they had returned.”

“Yeah there’s two kids with them, seemed kind of odd wanted to know if you knew about it?”

“Yes, not much I can do they have the papers for those kids, bought them, before coming to Rhir, Out here we allow that kind of thing, it’s easier than getting into a fight with a gold team or having them leave. I can at least keep an eye on them if they are here.”

Bloodstone nodded, “I guess that makes sense, seems kind of cruel to me.”

“Life is harsh here on Rhir, what they do from your perspective may not make sense, think of it this way if a monster or goblin escapes after being beaten by them they will think twice before attacking a child. It’s not perfect, nothing ever is. At least they have the gold team looking out for them.”

“Thank you”

“For what?”

“The information, gives me something to think about.”

She shrugged, “At least you know the two gold teams we have working out here, there are two bigger silver teams, that sometimes show up they work more east though.”

“When are you going to return to the wall?”

“Once I get all the reports copied.”

“See that’s the kind of thing that should be sent with magic or tech.”

“I have the scribe working on them now.”

“I wonder how valuable a typewriter would be.”

“What’s that?”

“A mechanical tool to write, you press buttons and it prints them on the page.”

“If you could make it I am sure it would be useful.”

She turned and walked out of the forge to check on the reports.

Bloodstone walked into the area that the gold teams were talking shop, and turning in corpse parts and other things.

Haran looked up when Bloodstone walked over and set down the blade. “Check the balance, see if it works for you before we enchant it.”

Haran looked at the sword, it was a little longer than the blade that had broken. The ruby blade hung at his hip. He picked it up and checked it looked down the blade. “You haven’t enchanted it yet?”

“I had help from the smith here, he should be able to make much cleaner blades now.”

“What are these weird black bands in the metal, I have never seen anything like that before.”

“That’s higher carbon steel, I had to make more steel to fill out the blade, it’s what was on hand.”

“Wait you forged a new blade in a day?”

“I wasn’t doing anything important, and I can enchant, shouldn’t take more than an hour or so.”

Several of the mages perked up and started asking questions, “Wait it shouldn’t take an hour, what kind of enchantments are you going to put on it?”

“Ones like this blade” He said pointing to his sapphire hilted sword.

“Your joking” The cloth woman said.

“Nope, My wife should be here shortly I asked her if she could meet me here. So what enchantments did you want on it?”

“I don’t even know what to ask for.” He said.

“How about lighter, sharper, increase the weight on a strike. A command word for light on the blade.” He paused thinking, “Since it would be your personal weapon I could make it tuned to you, that would make it so no one else could use it though. I could add an element to the blade. I’m not sure what would help you out here in the blight.”

He rubbed his finger through his beard, “What about adding flame to the blade.”

“That’s not too hard, any specific color?”

“Flame, nothing fancy make it so that it can flame.”

Bloodstone picked up the blade, and started wiping it down with a cloth.  Lady amethyst walked in, “Let me guess, you want to recast the buffs.”

Bloodstone gave her a look, “Of course, and then cast that enchant metal on this”

She started casting spells, on Bloodstone, there was a blue glow that faded around him. “I’m not casting haste. Now give me that.”

“Touchy, what’s wrong?” he said handing her the blade.

“You and your stupid casting, what are you doing this time?”

“Um”

“Well,” she said giving him a look.

“He wants a fire blade.” Bloodstone said trying not to smirk.

She looked over at Haran, “You know that blade you have on your belt can flame as well.”

“Really!?” He said looking at Bloodstone.

Bloodstone laughed, “Yea, I got it figured out this time, no more melty swords.”

Lady Amethyst gave him a skeptical look, “Um, if he melts that blade, keep the one you have.”

“You ready?”

“Not yet, why don’t you start setting up your spells.”

“Oh your no fun,” he walked a few steps away, “I am going to ask that no one go in the circle. He started chanting words, and a light began to form between his hands. It looked like fine wires of light.” Lady amethyst held out the sword and he moved the light threads over it, after a few minutes she let go of the sword and in hung between his hands. A soft blue light began to move down the blade, towards the hilt. He continued the chant, the sword bean to spin along the long axis, faster and faster. The glow enveloped the blade, and then burst into blue flames.  The spinning stopped and the flames began to die out, and then dissipated.

Bloodstone had beads of sweat on his forehead as he stared at the blade.  Red and purple lines shifted across the blade. Deep green lines began to form in specific patterns. Glowing runes began to flow across the blade. The light from the runes began to brighten from dull colors to much brighter colors. There was a small of ozone in the air, and electrical energy arced around the blade. Small pops of static and blue and white sparks flowed along the blade.

“What in the world are you doing, “One of the mages said fascinated.

Bloodstone continued to chant, the electricity faded, and a cold began to flow from the blade, the runes turned ghostly white and blue. A frost hung in the air, and Bloodstones breath could be seen passing over the blade. The sweat on his head froze and fell to the ground. It then started to warm back up. A warm energy pulsed from the blade, the blade turned pure white, as the energy traveled along it. it rippled, washing past glowing runes that hung inches from the blade.

Bloodstone gestured and the chanting stopped and the blade pointed straight down. He was breathing heavy, “Ok, I need a sheath for this, preferably the one you used before.” He said gasping the request out.

Harlan handed over the sheath wordlessly, still staring at the sword hanging in the air.

Bloodstone looked over the sheath, “Wood, that will work.” He held out the sheath next to the blade, it was smaller than the width of the blade, “wood, transmutation it is.“ He let go and the sheath hung next to the blade. “You ever wonder why blades that are really clean come with a sheath, it’s made the same time as the blade.” Bloodstone said as his breathing became more normal. “So now do you want a normal sheath or something special?”

Harlan blinked, “Huh, what?”

“The sheath, I can enchant it with its own power, the thing is I would have to infuse it there are no enchant wood spells that my wife has, just metals. Once the sheath is done, I can’t go back to fix it. Wood is or was a living thing so, it remembers.”

“I just amazed, I don’t think anyone has seen a weapon being enchanted before.” One of the mages, said.

“Well this is how I enchant magic items, if it’s wrong then they obviously have no idea what they are doing. Do you ever use a shield?”

“No, too expensive, wait, you can make the sheath a shield?”

“Oh that’s a better idea, it’s wood so, that shouldn’t be a problem. Hold on a sec” He pulled out his phone and started looking at something. “Yeah that will work”

He put the phone away and started casting and white lines began to appear on the sheath, for a moment it looked like it was a larger solid piece of glowing white wood and then it slowly moved over the blade.

The wood shifted and moved and looked like the hilt was part of a wooden shield. The white lines froze in place, and faded. The blade pushed out of the shield, and Bloodstone looked at it from different angles still chanting.

The blade snapped back into the sheath and it became a standard looking sheath. Bloodstone stopped chanting. “Ok the transmutation is set, now for the support spells for the blade.” He began casting a third spell, then a fourth and fifth spell on the sword and sheath. Each spell made the sheath glow slightly. “Ok all done, now to seal them.”

He started the last spell, and the sword and sheath began to glow a bright white. It was blinding, and then he finished. He grabbed the sword and sheath before it fell and held it out for Harlan.

“Ok the sheath with become a shield, when the sword is not in it, its reinforced, and will repair itself if damaged, if the sword ever gets damaged just put it back in the sheath and it should repair it. If you somehow manage to damage that blade, you have bigger problems.

Harlan pulled the sword out it seemed as it had been before the chanting.

“It’s lighter.” He gave it a couple of test swings, “Woah, it really is light when it’s in motion.”

“Carful when you hit something its really going to be heavy for a spit second. I put all the elements on it, you can cycle through them, just by touching the gem on the cross guard.”

Harlan looked at the gem it was white, he touched it and the blade erupted into flame and the gem turned red, “I don’t know what to say, thank you!” Hr said Sheathing the blade, the gemstone turned white again. He gave Bloodstone a bear hug.

One of the mages in Harlans group asked, “what other magic items are you able to make.?”

Bloodstone smiled, “Depends on the item, and the quality of the workmanship of the item, and what kind of enchantments.”

This seemed to stop the questions, until the centaur asked, “Would you be willing to look at some of the enchantments on some items I have and tell me if they can be fixed?”

Bloodstone was about to respond when Lady Aladeana entered, “The rain has let up a bit, I have my reports done, I am ready to return to the wall when you are.”

“Sorry, can’t do that heading back to the wall, I am more than willing to look at them when you return to the wall.” He said to the centaur. He hooked his arm around his wifes, arm and turned to follow Lady Aladeana.

Harlan paused and unhooked the ruby blade from his belt and gave it back to Bloodstone. “Thank you, let me know if you ever need anything”

“Not a problem, If you break this sword I really will want to know how you broke it.” he said on his way out of the room.

 

Lady Aladeana, and Bloodstone were side by side on horseback.  The two scouts were in front with the ladies behind them.  “You rushed out of there pretty quick”

“Just wanted to get back, see if the others have arrived yet.”

They rode in silence for half an hour, “I didn’t get a chance to make that item I was asking about earlier, I am thinking there may be an easy way to get communication between the wall and the outpost. I just have to see if I can build a simple radio.”

“What is that?

“A device, it could use magic as a power source, I have to think about it a little more, the light spells could be used just need to be able to tune them properly.”

“Light spells?”

“Oh right radio is just a type of light or electromagnetic energy that’s invisible.”

“If you say so, I don’t know magic really well, at least not like you seem to know it.”

Two hours into the return to the wall, Rana rode up, “There are a number of things coming this way from that direction.” She said pointing not the way they had come but off into the blight itself.

One of the scouts, nodded at the news and spurred his horse to move faster.

Ten minutes of a faster pace, Rana said “It looks like there are a bunch of people coming this way. “

A few minutes later there were seven humanoid creatures. They caught up and then passed by the group.  They were very strange having animal or insect body parts and seemed to ignore the group as they rush by. They looked built for speed, more than combat.

“Demons, this can’t be good, They usually fight.”

“They are running from something,” Rana said, “Its big, looks like a big gray lizard.”

The other scout, “Stone lizard, we need to move!”

He urged his horse to move faster, the other followed suit to stay with him, conversation at that point was impossible.

After anther twenty minutes, they slowed, and the scouts pulled everyone close as they stopped.

“Listen we may have avoided that stone lizard,  we should continue to wall at haste, but not so much so to fatigue the mounts, we have a least another half hour or so before we will be close.”

“What’s a stone lizard,” Bloodstone asked.

“Big lizard, can eat a horse in one bite, hopefully it continues following those demons, if it picks up us we will have to run to the wall.”

“That’s all we need a stone lizard, we would need a couple gold teams to kill it.”

“Is it really that bad?” Lady Amethyst asked.

“Depends on how big it is,” the First scout said.

Rana said, “I see it, it’s big.”

Everyone looked to where she was pointing. They could see a cloud of dust as the beast moved in the distance, looking closer there was no dist it was the beast itself. Running from it appeared to be several demons, as well as what looked like goblins.

“RIDE!” Lady Aladeana shouted.

They started the horses going and they kicked up the speed. The beast and the quarry it was chasing got closer. They could see the wall in the distance. It would be a race to get to the wall.

Bloodstone was the last one in the group his horse appeared to be slowing down. The demons and goblins seemed to be leading the beast straight at them, perhaps in an attempt to lead the beast to them, so they could escape.

The demons got closer as did the wall. The large stone looking lizard if that’s what it was kept pace, it was fast, and about two hundred feet long has what looked like spines along its back. Several goblins were to slow and two were eaten and one was trampled.

This went on as they got closer to the wall they could see the door was barely open.

It was Xyrdiane’s horse that miss stepped and threw her. The horse hot back up and ran off to the west. She had been thrown into a puddle of water, that seemed to break most of the momentum and sprayed mud and water as she landed. She slowly stood up, covered in mud.

Bloodstone slowed and pulled her onto his horse.

“Are you all right?” he asked her.

“No, ill live at least for the moment.”

“Can you cast?”

“No”

As they approached the gates, Bloodstone realized that they wouldn’t be able to close them before the demons got to the door.As they came close to the doors he slowed, and dismounted.

“What are you doing?” She asked.

“You can’t cast, I’m going to have to help close the doors or by some time.”

“You can’t fight that thing that’s suicide.”

“Inside now argue with me later.”

She slid down off the horse, “I can’t let you do this alone” and slapped it to go inside.

Bloodstone drew his two blades and stood by the door. The door was almost closed when the first demon came through the entrance, it was intent on attacked the soldiers. The spear it was using was blocked and parried by Bloodstone. The demon was a half foot larger then he was and had molted purple and red skin, half its face looked like an insect the other half was more ape like. It gurgled and hissed, and tried to hit him with the spear, he jumped back.

A second demon came in through the entrance and was blinded by a burst of light. Two soldiers ran it through with pikes and pushed it out.

The spear wielding beast engaged the two soldiers, and the commander gave an order for the archers. They fired a volley and killed it.

The door closed and three figures managed to enter as it did two demons and a goblin. The demon on the left was all tentacles and weird eyes and molted skin, it roared at the commander and charged. The other one looked female, with horns on her head and her eyes were mostly white. Her body was covered in scales. She unfurled her leathery looking wings. A faced off with Bloodstone. She said something in a unknown language. She had a large black looking blade and swung it at Bloodstone. He blocked in and was pushed back as he took the blow.  She seemed shocked that he blocked it and swung a second time and again was blocked.  Each time he was pushed back.

A soft yellow glow surrounded him, “You are so fucked now”

He moved and attacked her twice in succession; she blocked the attacks and was pushed back towards the door. His speed seemed to startle her, for a moment.

A green glow surrounded him, and he pushed the attack, she continued to block his attacks, almost as if bored.

The goblin ran towards the inside of the fortress, and was knocked back by a wooden staff, “Bad goblin” Kuya said.

I said a few words to her in goblin. She replied in goblin. The goblin looked confused.

The tentacle demon was cut apart by the commander.  There was a loud thump and dust fell around them, something large had hit the door.

The demon woman instinctively moved away from the door.

“Surrender or die” Bloodstone said.

The demon woman hissed and said something in an unknown language.

Kuya said something back.

“You understand her?” Bloodstone asked seeing Kuya

“Kinda,” she shrugged.

The commander moved next to Bloodstone, and disarmed the demon woman. She attempted to charge and was blocked. Soldiers swarmed over her with rope and chains.

“Good work” The commander said.

They dragged the struggling demon away. She was shrieking and cursing the whole time.

A soldier came and told the commander that the lizard had eaten the goblins and other demon and the wall defenses had stopped if from climbing the wall, it had turned west and they were tracking it along the wall.

The group of them retired back to the rooms they had been given. Bloodstone stood in the doorway and looked over at Isabel and then fell face first.

“It looks like he had been cut it the fight earlier, it looks like he has been poisoned. We used a potion and he’s sleeping now. That sword that woman was using is more dangerous than it looks, it’s got poison spines, and it looks like one of them scratched him.” Xyrdiane said.

“That’s good to hear,” Lady Aladeana said. “I am going to be leaving for the capital in the morning, so Lady Amethyst is in charge until he wakes up. Have there been any developments with Kuya her new projects?”

“The goblin seems to be all right as long as it’s kept fed, it follows her around like a dog, the demon woman, Kuya is a bit annoyed by her screaming. Something about us being vile beasts that should be eviscerated and killed. There are some weird words she doesn’t understand.”

“The commander seems pleased with the capture; they usually kill themselves or fight to the death.”

“Is there any more news on that lizard thing?”

“No, they said it wandered into the blight, that’s not good as it now roaming through the prospective new lands. We sent warnings east just in case.”

Gamers Eight – Week three

Day 14

No record…

Day 15

No record…

Day 16

No record…

Day 17

No record…

Day 18

No record…

Day 19

Speculation as to what happened during the early days had lost all records of the end and start of the third week, it is rumored that Bloodstone had a nervous breakdown, and went crazy after dealing with the potion makers. There is no known record of what happened. Bloodstone has not told anyone what happened, and as a result there is no information.

Day 20

Lady Aladeana does however have a record of her first encounter with Bloodstone. The excerpt is from her personal diary.

My men informed me that an older gentleman had arrived with a number of women, as well several guards. When he was escorted in to the main hall, he came alone. There was something about him that both drew my attention to him as well as something that made him stand out. Looking back I remember his eyes, They were strange, gold and white and black. I at first thought he was some demon that had gotten past the walls and convince my men he was from the king.

I realized my mistake when the women and men behind him knelt. He did so as well waiting for my permission to approach. Since I had been startled, I looked over the papers he had delivered; two still had seals, and were addressed to myself. Opening them, I found that the king wanted me to return to the capital, and that this Lord Bloodstone would be taking my place. I had never met this man before and was intrigued as to what his qualifications were.

I also had someone else telling me about him before he arrived, a friend of mine Lord Jetarious’s daughter had somehow been convicted and sent here, for hard labor.  There was a letter that had arrived the day before she arrived asking if I could do anything for his daughter. She had arrived two days before Lord Bloodstone,

Vella Jetarious, I have met before on several occasions she was always a carefree child when I encountered her when she was younger, as a young woman I found that she had matured and become a fine young woman. The fact that her father had sent a letter prior to her arrival spoke volumes as to her disposition.

She told me that some Lord who was on his way to here had caused a stir, and had gotten her to be sent off. Knowing her father as I did, I felt that she was either lying or exaggerating this Lord Bloodstone’s influence.

I let him stay knelt for a good five minutes, and yet there was no complaint or change in his position.

Having seen that this Lord Bloodstone was indeed different I could see why the king had sent him, I was to evaluate him The king obviously was taken with him and wanted a second opinion.

“You may rise” Informed them.”I will have an area set aside for you and your people. Until then I have things that need to be attended to. Alfonz will take care of you.”

I informed Alfonz my butler to take care of his needs, I wanted to reread the letters that had been brought to me, as well as decipher the real message.

I retired to my own quarters, and reread and deciphered the letters. The king indeed wanted me to test the mettle of this man, who according to the letter was from another world. It appeared that the King had been using the Stone that had been found centuries ago, in the wastes to bring people to this world. This Lord Bloodstone was one of those from the other world.

I decided that I would see if this Bloodstone, was the right person to be here. So I sought him out, I found him talking to Alfonz outside the quarters he had been assigned.

“Sir, these are some of the better quarters, I don’t understand what the issue is.” Alfonz said to the older man.

“I am not disagreeing, with the accommodations, I was asking if there was a larger room that I could occupy, I have several more people that haven’t arrived yet.”

“How many are we talking sir. We could set aside one of the rooms for the overflow”

“At least five, possibly more. I haven’t spoken with Coreen for four days. They should be here in a couple of days, I just wanted to be sure we had everything set as not to disrupt them a second-time reorganizing.”

“I see, I will have the two rooms on either side of yours as overflow, would that work?”

“What about the rooms on the third floor, now one is using them.”

“The third floor has some leaks in two of the rooms, they have not yet been repaired.”

“I wouldn’t mind the work still needs to be done, and it would save us and you from having to move us again. If it’s a question of the repairs, I have gold I am willing to get it done.”

“Let him have the third floor Alfonz, if he’s willing to have the repairs done, let him” I said hearing the conversation.

“Very well Lady Aladeana, I will have them moved to the third floor” Alfonz replied.

“Lady Aladeana, I am looking forward to our talk.” Bloodstone said.

I am not sure if he knew I was there, or if he had some important information to impart. Alfonz began having the rest of his group moved to the third floor, of the fortresses living quarters.

Excerpt from Lady Aladeana notes on the fortress.

I have made some changes to the fortress, since I have been here over a decade. The first floor is dedicated to soldiers as well as the support staff, the second floor, is primarily storage with the main living quarters in the center. The third floor hasn’t been used for more than just storage, and the fourth floor, is more guard stations and further storage. There is less area on the fourth floor, and we have had some issues with the roofing tiles in two areas. When I arrived the Third and fourth floor needed major work, and had not been properly repaired since the antinum conflict. Several rooms had to be stripped to the walls due to mold and pooling of water.  It took the better part of six months to get the third floor renovated, and the cost of hundreds of gold. The second floor also has some water damage and that was fixed once the third and fourth floors were repaired. The one issue was that there were two rooms that seems to have water always leaking into them. They were stripped down so that there would be no mold, or rot. The stone works in those rooms continued to have water.

 

“Walk with me” I informed Bloodstone, more of a command than a request.

“Certainly,” He fell in step next to me.

“What happened in the second district with Lord Jetarious and his daughter?”

“Well, it’s not a pretty situation, I felt bad for him. His daughter went behind his back and started a bandit group. I had the unfortunate luck to run into the group, it came out that she was the leader. I really didn’t want to get involved with the politics or the legality of the situation.”

“I understand that you refused to help her.”

“Not true, I refused to help her the way she wanted. She was a spoiled brat thinking she could get out of the situation, or have her father step in. My being there, didn’t help the situation, if he had then it would have been known that he was weak on enforcing the law. If I had stepped in, it would have helped him save face, however Vella wouldn’t have learned a valuable life lesson.”

“You knew she would be sent here”

“I suspected, my guess is that she is already here. If I may ask what did you do with her.”

“I put her to work”

“I see, have you decided if you are going to take her with you to the capital?”

“Is it true that you refused to help her”

“I refused to give her gold, and she refused my terms to borrow it.”

“You didn’t make very good time through the third district.”

“I had to make some stops on the way here.”

“I want to get you up to speed on the current plans and disposition of the troops.”

We had gone to the first floor to speak with [commander] Uvain.

“LadyAladeana, what a surprise.”

“This is Lord Bloodstone, he will be taking over when I return to the capital.”

Commander Uvain, was older and had been a regular soldier during the antinium conflict. His graying and balding hair gave him an air of authority. He also tended to wear armor and had that strange metallic smell that those who wore armor had. His staff was in the and out of the room the commander had chosen, it was busy but not so much so that we could not talk to him.

“This is [Commander] Uvain, he is second in command, and coordinates all the patrols and forces in this section of the district, as well as the garrisons of the staging areas.”

“Commander, have you had any problems recently with incursions past the new fortresses?”

“Some, nothing major, mostly goblins and monsters. We had several demon patrols last week.”

“You don’t have a map to track your forces?”

“No, I keep it all up here.” He said tapping his head.

“I want to help you, if you will let me.” Bloodstone said.

“What classes do you have”

“I have several you may not have heard of, I recently leveled up in a new class. I wouldn’t take too much stock in classes and levels. I will tell you I have close to ninety skills, I have been in Rhir for a little more than three weeks. I have three Hero levels, six lord levels, five swordsman levels, Eight Visionary levels. I also have fifteen levels in a special class and two levels held.”

“Hold on a moment, the king reported that you had wizard and psion and engineer classes, what happened to those?” Lady Aladeana asked.

“They consolidated to the special class, it allows me to use magic if a different manner, since I have been studying all the books I have acquired, it’s given me insight into how magic works”

“That’s absurd, there is no class that can combine those different classes.” Uvain said.

“I can explain it, if you want.”

“I would like to know about this strange class you have and how it works.” Uvain said sitting back down.

“What’s more important the class and levels or the skills you get?”

Uvain thought about it for a moment, “Without the levels and classes you can’t get the skills. For sake of your question the skills can be important if you have rare or unusual skills.”

“What if I told you I have around ninety skills”

“I would say you’re either lying or crazy, there’s no way you could have that many skills”

“Normally I would agree, there just one thing, I can steal your class and levels, I still gain the skills, and keep them if I return the class.”

“That’s not possible.”

“The king says that Lord Bloodstone is able to steal classes.” Lady Aladeana said.

“What classes can you take?”

“Honestly, I could strip every class you have, including ones that are gender specific.”

“That is a terrifying class.”

Bloodstone smiled, “I think you’re just now understanding just how dangerous I am, and why the king sent me.”

“What happens to the classes?”

“I can hold them, and give them to someone else, or change them. I am still figuring out the skills of the class.”

“Could you removed on class and leave the others?”

“I can if I know about the class itself, I brought a Half Gazer with me who is able to see the classes.”

Uvain looked over at Lady Aladeana, “I think I know a few uses for someone of his abilities.” He looked back to Bloodstone,” What about monsters or demons?”

“Monsters are fun as they have monster class levels, they can be converted to any class or amplify a class. I haven’t encountered any demons so on that I can’t tell you.”

“There have been some raids by demon forces, it may be a scouting to see if they can stop our work on the new wall. Would you be willing to help stop them?”

“I think we can help, between myself my wife’s, we really would like to get a chance to really cut loose, I feel like I have been tip toeing through the districts, the one monster we encountered was a rush.”

“Monster, in the districts?” Aladeana asked.

“There was a landshark in the first district a farmer and his son alerted us to it, and me and my kids took it out.”

“Seriously?” Aladeana asked.

“Well we did lose Gregory, one of our members, we buried him in the field.”

“Landshark, if that’s true, that’s impressive, even for a group of gold adventurers that would be a feat. I would like to hear how you and your kids defeated something like that.” Uvain said rubbing his chin in thought.

“I will leave you two to get acquainted, I would like to meet your wives”  Aladeanareplied leaving them to continue their discussion.

I got a report later from my commander, that he was impressed and interested in what he could do in the wastes. I was taken off guard when I met with the women who traveled with him.

I had returned to the rooms that had been set aside for them and realized they had already moved to the third floor. It was quiet at first, I wasn’t sure if anyone was on the floor. One of the larger rooms on the floor the door opened and one of the maids, left. She noticed me and bowed, and I swear she was smiling. I knocked on the door, and a half-elven woman answered.

“Lady Aladeana, please come in, is there a problem?” She asked.

“I wanted to speak with Bloodstones wives, I understand he has multiple wives. I also wanted to see if there were any issues.”

“Oh well we are all here, well except Coreen and Hellen, they should be here in a few days. Come in”

She opened the door wider and there were others in the room. “I am Xyrdiane, I am his sixth” the half elf said introducing herself. I noticed she was wearing elegant caster robes and gave of little noise when she walked.

There were four other women in the room, one of them was not human. The half gazer was unusual since her kind are extremely rare on Rhir. There appeared to be a conversation that was interrupted, when I entered. Everyone there stood up.

“Ladies this is informal, I just wanted to chat with you for a bit if that is all right.”

“We were just serving tea,” The youngest woman said. She couldn’t have been more than sixteen or seventeen. She handed her a cup of tea.

“Thank you, I wanted to talk with Bloodstones wives.”

“That’s all of use except Rana,” The half-elf said.

The half gazer turned a brighter shade of orange. “Xyre stop teasing me about that.”

“I apologize, I didn’t really get to meet you earlier. Which of you is Lady Amethyst”

The older woman who was sitting across from the door, “That would be me” She seemed tired, and her hair was turning gray in places. She had her hair up with some cloth tying it. She was attractive, she didn’t give off any aura of authority. I had been told by the king that she was just as dangerous as her husband, and had an unknown class.

“I wasn’t informed that there was more than one wife, so it was a little shocking to hear that he had six.”

“Not to say I am alright with it, it kind of just happened. My husband decided that he had to do something, to protect me and my kids, adding them to our family was his idea.”

“I don’t really understand that logic, perhaps you can explain it to me.”

“I can’t speak for the others, since we are from another world he felt it best to ensure that the local laws were observed, it’s not like I could prove that he was my husband before.”

“That part makes sense, what about the rest of you?”

The younger woman, “I used to be blind, my husband gave me sight. The king knew enough to see the potential.”

The blind girl had been mentioned, I was going to ask where the blind seer was, this girl had the most beautiful eyes, a deep green color. “You can’t be serious, you’re the blind seer?”

“I was blind, my husband gave me my sight back,”

“How is that possible?”

“You would have to ask him, it was only a two days ago.”

The last woman was darker skinned with jet black hair, she seemed to shy away from the others. “What about you my dear?”

“Me?” Violet said surprised.

“Yes you, what can you tell me about Lord Bloodstone.”

“He’s been very strange since yesterday,”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s been anxious, and unfocused.”

“I told you his suggestion the other day wasn’t for him, it was for us.” Lady Amethyst said.

“What happened?” Lady Aladeana asked.

“We went to the beach, everyone had fun, we didn’t see him the whole day,” Violet said sounding a little upset about it.

“The beach, that’s two days to the west. When did you leave to get here?”

“We traveled at night, mostly in the carriage, it wasn’t a bad trip, the roads seemed to be less bumpy. We also had the guardsmen and soldiers with us, among other things.”

“How many soldiers did you bring, I never really asked?”

“We have about thirty men, some of them used to work for a lords daughter, we convinced them to work with us, after two days they settled in.” Lady Amethyst said.

A cat jumped onto the table, and sat down.

“Who’s cat?” Lady Aladeana asked.

“Two things that’s Azalar, and he is not a real cat.”

She looked at the cat. “Looks like a cat to me”

“I assure you I am not a cat,” Azalar said

A talking cat is one thing that did startle those who were not aware of Azalar. “Azalar? Whom do you belong to?”

“Madam, I am a guardian. I guard, currently I am associated with Lord Bloodstone and guard things he requests at my discretion.”

It was at that moment the door opened and two girls ran in, seeing Azalar they ran towards him. Azalar grinned and bolted out the door. “Kiki, Abagail, stop chasing Azalar” Amethyst said chastising them.

“Awwww, but he’s so fluffy” Kiki said.

“He said if we caught he would teach us some magic.” Abagail said eyeing the door.

“have you caught him ever?” Rana asked.

“No, be we are getting really close!” Kiki said enthusiastically

This set off a giggle from the rest of the room, Lady Aladeana didn’t get the joke.”I don’t know if them catching that cat would be a good idea”

“Its fine, Azalar likes children, he says it give him an insight into the kind of person they will become.” Isabel sail eyeing the door as well.

The two girls sat down and eyed the tray of cookies, that had been brought out.

“It still amazes me that you know how to bake as well.” Xyrdiana said picking up a cookie.

“I used to bake a lot around the holidays, and sent them out as gifts, it hard to find all the right ingredients, just to make sugar cookies here, never mind thinks like chocolate chip or mint, or macadamia. I haven’t found anything even close to macadamia nuts.”

“What’s chocolate chip,” Rana asked.

“Well it’s a ground up bean, or seed from a plant. At least that’s what my husband says. He’s been keeping an eye out for unusual fruits or seeds being so far from the capital we may not see them unless someone specifically knows about the fruit or seed.”

“What are these?” Rana asked pointing to small round white powdery balls.

“Walnut butter balls,”

“What is a walnut?”

“They are stone fruit seeds.”

Everyone pick up one of the small round white sugary powered treats and munched on them. They were all gone in about two minutes.

The two kids then grabbed a sugar cookie and ran back out of the room.

A soldier stood at the door, “Ma’am, there is a currier here for Bloodstone”

“He should be with the commander, where is the currier?”  Lady Aladeana asked.

.”He’s waiting in the front hall”

“Let us go take care of this currier” She said following the soldier. On her way to the hall she had another soldier fetch Lord Bloodstone”

There was a human currier standing around, he looked like he was gawking at everything in the hall.”I understand you have a delivery for Lord Bloodstone” She asked.

“Yes Ma’am,”

“Can you tell me what this delivery is?”

“I am contracted to deliver it to Lord Bloodstone.”

Bloodstone entered the hall and was talking with a woman she was dressed in mage robes, and had a scowl as she listened to him talk. The woman was the resident Mage, a level forty two mage. He blond hair stood out from the dark blue robe she wore.

“I am kind of surprised you didn’t know that.” Bloodstone said to the woman

“I don’t get to do a lot of research; I just fix the enchantments here on the wall, and make sure no one messes with the defenses. I still don’t see how what you’re saying is right”

“I can explain it in detail if you want. My sixth wife helped me figure it out” Seeing the currier, he walked over to him, “I hear you have a delivery for me, oh and you need a seal” He fished out a small token from his bag, it glittered with gemstones, and he handed it over to him.

“Yes,  wow, most of them are made in silver, never seen a gold token with gems before” He pocketed the token and handed hover a bag and a letter. “I was asked to wait and see if you had anything to return”

Bloodstone opened the letter, read it and then closed it and then put it into the bag he had been given.

“I see here you are also supposed to get a commission” he started counting out ten gold coins and held them out for the currier.

“Seriously!?” The currier said excited and confused.  He held out his hands to receive the coins.

“I am kind of surprised that the alchemists guild figure the potion out in a week’s time. I don’t have anything to send back at the moment.” he dropped the coins into the curriers hands.

“What alchemist’s guild,” Lady Aladeana asked.

“Oh it’s a new guild, a bunch of alchemists got together to make potions and do research, I fronted them a large cash advance to do some research.”

“Researching potions?” The mage asked.

“The nature of magic in potions, I have several inquiries I asked them to research, This must be some of what they found.”

The currier excused himself and left the hall.

“You do potion research as well?” The mage asked.

“No I asked a guild to do it, should be interesting what they found out.”

“What kind of research?” The mage asked.

“The nature of how healing potions actually work, do they regenerate flesh or so they super charge the cells. I also asked about if there is a way to measure how strong a potion is, and if they could have a standard, you know like red for healing blue for mana, and other colors for specific effects.”

“That’s always been a grip for me, not knowing unless you label them properly, in a pinch you need a mana potion and down that stamina one, doesn’t really help you much. “

“Were you an adventurer before?”

“I can answer that, “ Lady Aladeana said. They brought her in from the wastes, her whole team had been attacked, she was unconscious and when she woke up she asked to stay here.”

“So you worked out there?”

“More or less, a lot less now, I tend to the magic defenses here on the wall. Well this section that lady Aladeana is in charge of.

“Your still repairing it?”

“A bit, when we find things that are malfunctioning I take a look and fix it or replace it.”

“What do you do if it’s not fixable”

“Depends on what it is, for example we found a wall repeller charm that was facing the wrong direction, I have a couple of apprentices breaking it out of its housing and turning it around.”

There was a commotion and several soldiers came inside soaking wet. “Sorry Lady Aladeana, its pouring outside.”

“That’s fine, get dry.”

Bloodstone opened one of the double doors, and saw that it was pouring outside. “Is this normal weather?”

“This is normal for springtime, usually lasts a day or two then a few good warm days.”

“I guess its one more thing to get used to.” He sighed.

“It was nice meeting you, stop by if you get a chance. I am three doors down from the commander.” The mage said and started walking back the way she came.

“Whatever did you say to her, I barely can get her nose out of a book” Lady Aladeana asked.

“Oh I asked the commander if he had any mages on staff, he pointed me in her direction. I do recall she was deep in a book. I asked her if she had any constructs on the defense force”

“Constructs? I don’t believe we do, at least not any that are functional. Why?”

“I wanted to try and build a few, I have a couple of ideas, that I want to make.”

“After seeing that cat, I would imagine you could make something far more dangerous.”

“You mean Azalar, I didn’t make him, another mage did, I do however have all his notes, books and research on construct construction, I wanted to see if perhaps we could have some wandering constructs mixed in with the patrols.”

“That seems kind of dangerous, and time consuming would you have time to deal with the day to day issues of the fortress?”

“Well My wife is pretty capable, as are the others, once Coreen and Hellen get here we should be able to get this place really humming.”

“Humming?”

“Yeah I want to make a electrical generator, nevermind.. ”

“You have a strange way of speaking, you have been on Rhir for how long?”

“Technically about three weeks, subjectively I lost track.”

“What do you mean,” She asked.

“Oh that’s right I keep forgetting, this is the first day we have met from your perspective.”

“It would take too long to explain, and it’s kind of a personal secret.”

“I think there is something you are not telling me, or I do not understand what you mean.”

“A little of both most likely, I wanted to know if there is a room I can work in that has a window and a lock.”

“We can find something. I want to ask you if you would be up for a trip to the forward fortress that’s being built.”

“No problem, do I get to pick who goes with me?”

“I would prefer just the two of us there is no reason to get others wet.”

“Well I wouldn’t mind asking two of my wives to go, Rana would be invaluable as well.”

“You mean the half-gazer why would she be invaluable?” She asked.

“My first wife, Amethyst and Xrediane, and Rana the four of us make a deadly team, and addig your and your talents makes it more so.”

“I am a [scout] and a [swordsman] so we will need to move fast.”

“No problem if you let me get them, I can meet you here.”

“Very well, I will change and get the horses ready.”

Bloodstone headed off to the third floor to collect his two wives and Rana.

The four of them returned, each was wearing different gear.

“You’re not going to wear any armor?” She asked Bloodstone.

“Don’t need it, it seems getting monster skills from a landshark solved that problem”

“Let’s go, follow me”

They headed out into the rain, and to the stables on the side of the large mansion, they stuck to the covered walkway, for most of the run.

Two soldiers were holding seven horses, that appeared to be covered in a light cloth, to protect them from the rain.  Everyone mounted a horse, “Whats with the cloth?” Bloodstone asked.

“It keeps the water off them and masks both scent and heat.”, Some monsters out there hunt with one or the other.

“Rana is a [blade dance], Xyrdiande is a [geomancer] [mage], and Lady Amethyst is a [raid enchanter], I am a [Visionary], [Swordsman] and several other classes.”

“These are my best [scouts], and you know I have [swordsman] and [scout] classes.”

The seven of them rode through the small opening through the wall, it was large enough for a cart.

There rode into the rain.

Two hours into the ride, Rana signaled to one of the scouts and pointed in a direction.

They rode away from the direction Rana had indicated. They continued to ride.

After a few minutes they stopped, and clustered together in the rain, “What was it?” One of the scouts asked.

“Goblins about twenty of them”, Rana said, “I hate goblins”

“We avoid them for the moment, we are almost to the outer Fortress, once we get there we can rest the horses and then head back if the goblins are still there we eradicate them.” Lady Aladeana said.

“This rain is pretty heavy” Bloodstone said shaking water off. It didn’t make any difference as it was coming down it large droplets. There were puddles and small rivulets of water everywhere. “It’s a good thing I can tell where the mud is.”

“How do you know what direction to go?” Rana asked.

“We know where true north is and how far away the fortress is.” The thinner scout said.

They plodded on for another ten minutes, when Rana said, “Some things coming” and she pointed.

They stopped, listening.

A large creature shambled out of the mist, it was gray, and larger than the horses. The water seemed to steam off as it lumbered forward on two legs.

“Shambler, ride!” Lady Aladeana said

The two scouts took off with the lady, and were gone into the mist.

Bloodstone slid off his horse, and stood in front of it in the rain. The creature didn’t have eyes, at least not eyes that were what you would expect eyes to be, it had horns where its eye should have been. It was a grey skinned bipedal beast it stood at least twenty feet tall, and its arms could touch the ground. It looked more like a mutated hairless gorilla than anything else.

The beast raised its massive clawed left hand as if to crush Bloodstone. As the blow descended the beast suddenly was thrown backwards into the mist.

“I tossed it!” Lady Amethyst said.

He grabbed the reigns and ran after it.  It stood as if confused, its arm still held up. He swung the blade, and as it struck, there was a stench as it sliced through the leg. The creature roared, as it fell.

Brown and green fluids pulsed from the stump as the beast thrashed around. Rana moved through the swinging arms, and stabbed it in several places, more green fluid leaked from the wounds. The beast thrashed some more and then it was still.

“Goblins” Rana said

Three goblins came out of the mist, two small ones and a much larger one that was at least the size of a human. They made a strange guttural noise and saw the slain beast.

Bloodstone turned towards them, and put his sword back in its sheath. “They just want the corpse”

The green goblins eyed the humans. Rana had not put her sword away. “Go on if you want it.”

The goblins eyed the corpse and the humans, and half-gazer and backed away slowly.

Three horses rod out of the mist, “Why didn’t you.. You killed it?” One of the scouts said.

“Yeah, I messed up, not really worth it didn’t have many monster levels, easier to kill it.” Bloodstone got on his horse, as did Rana, “There are still goblins around we need to go”

They rode through the rain following the scouts. They arrived a the entrance to the fortress, its door was closed. They stood in the rain for  a minute or two before the doors slowly opened. They all went inside with the horses, it was the same size as the passage that usually went through the walls. Pools of water were under the horses as the water beaded off.  Four soldiers stood by the door watching them. The scouts dismounted. “We will need fresh horses, to make the return trip.”

“Is the ground always that flat?” Bloodstone asked as he dismounted two soldiers stepped over and took the horses as they dismounted. They led the horses off to one side.

“More or less, there are some places where its very hilly. I know of a couple of placed north of here were there are deep chasms into the earth, we avoid those during the rainy seasons. They tend to collapse.”

They were shown a small room where they could get warm a fireplace had been lit. An older man came in , “My lady, we were not sure if you were going to make the trip” There was warm food set out a stew of meat and some strange looking vegatables.

“This is Lord Bloodstone, I wanted him to see what you do here, and meet with you.”

The older man eyed Bloodstone as if taking a measure of him.

“He killed as grey shambler, I saw the corpse myself”

“Really! You have my thanks there have been a few of them causing use trouble in recent weeks. The two adventuring groups that have been working out of here have been unable to kill them. One of the teams is here.”

“There were also a group of goblins about an hour south of here, they didn’t attack”

“Thats unusual, they usually attack on sight”

“What team is here?”

“The red blight”

“Nerris and her group” He just nodded in reply. “You might as well meet them Lord Bloodstone, they are one of the two teams we have.”

The commander gestured to Bloodstone, “They are on the other side, I try and keep adventuring groups to themselves its usually better that way.”

They crossed back through the main entry way, and through another side passage, They could hear arguing before they could see who was causing the commotion.

“That’s why we keep them on this side, I have men sleeping for the night patrol.”

The stood at the entrance to the room, a woman was being very loud, “It’s just a little rain The Lady comes out every time it rains to check up on the people here, we should be out there making some coin.”

“Uhh um,” The [captain] cleared his throat.

The argument stopped as they looked over at the group in the doorway.

“Lady Aladeana” The woman said

“Nerris.”

“Are these another adventuring group?”

“Not exactly, Lord Bloodstone and his two wives and body guard, I invited them out to see the fortress, since he’s taking over for me while I visit the capital.”

“Those swords you have for show?” One of the men sitting at the table said.

“No, they are for killing monsters, a blacksmith in the capital gave them to me, me and my wife enchanted them” Bloodstone said eyeing the man.

“Really?” Another man said skeptically, the chainmail he wore shifted and clinked and he moved..

Bloodstone carefully drew one of the blades on his belt and set it on the table for them to see. “Yes Really”

The five adventures crowded the table. One of the two women cast, “Holy crap!” She said looking at the sword then at Bloodstone.

“What?” The man who was dressed in chainmail said.

“Theres no bleed, or noise that’s a high level blade, can I pick it up?”

“Careful its razor sharp, I went a little overboard of the sharpness, it’s not monofilament sharp but it is really close.”

“What’s that mean?” he asked picking up the blade.

“Whoa, its lighter than it looks. Haran, you should at least take a look.”

One of the other men, sitting at the table, “Why it’s not like it does me any good”

She set it back down, “He just mad since his own sword was broken last week.”

Bloodstone looked over at him, “Broken?”

“Yea, cost a good four hundred gold, and the dam thing shattered.”

“We found most of the pieces, not that it does any good.” Nerris said.

The man got up and pulled a pack out from a pile of gear. He returned to the table and opened it at the table.”

There was a hilt with shards of metal.

Bloodstone looked over at the shards, “May I take a look at that?”

“Sure its junk, I just am so pissed that it broke.”

Bloodstone stepped over to the table and looked at the pieces, they each started to move, and arrange themselves into a more organized looking sword. “There are pieces missing, there are enchantments still on the blade, looks like they are pretty damaged. The hilt is solid; it might be easier just to make a new blade from the metal. Would you be willing to sell it?”

“It’s not worth much, “

“Actually I can give you two hundred for it and lend you my blade until it’s repaired. I haven’t named that blade yet, so if you find its name it is yours.”

“You must be joking, why would you lend me a sword and buy my broken blade?” Haran asked.

“No I’m not joking, your five are out here, if you are not killing monsters you’re not making coin. I want to keep you here, if it means letting you borrow a blade that is worth it to me. She can’t make that kind of offer, I can. I also need to know how the blade hold up with the enchantments, you encounter more monsters and demon, consider it a loan, until I fix your blade. If you don’t like the new blade you keep the two hundred gold. “

There was a spark, “You think you can fix it?”

“I said I can try, there are some pieces missing so it will have to be forged into a new blade, you have any preferences?”

They spend a hour discussing the sword, and Bloodstone ended up leaving the ruby blade and scabbard with the adventuring group.

They were discussing heading out to recover the grey walked corpse, when they left.

“Why did you give him one of your blades?” Lady Aladeana asked.

“Truthfully, my blades are linked, I know where it’s at, I wanted to see if he could figure out all the enchantments on that blade. This also gives me something to do.”

He had the bundle of sword shards, it had been decided that while he borrowed the blade that Bloodstone could keep the shards and if the new blade was better her would trade it back.

“Are we heading back now or in the morning?” Lady Amethyst said yawning.

“We can return in the morning.” Lady Aladeana said

“Is there a forge or anvil I can borrow for a bit.”

The blacksmith that was in the fortress was young, he looked exhausted, several different projects could be seen in various states of repair or construction. “Whats now!? He said gruffly.

Bloodstone and Lady Aladeana along with the [captain] stood in the doorway.

“Would you mind if I borrowed your tools, If it’s not ok, that’s fine.”

“Are you a blacksmith?”

“Not by trade, I have ten levels of [blacksmith] and [goldsmith.]”

“Still an apprentice, sure you can borrow my tools. I am almost a master smith, just need to hit thirty”

They left him to talk with the blacksmith.

“Whats the biggest issue you have with this setup here?” Bloodstone said looking around.

“Not being able to get the fire hot enough, I have the bellows but no one here really to help.”

“So a hotter fire, I might be able to help with that, you do any forge casting?”

“Not really there is no need for melting anything, it’s hard to get the fire up that hot, and I really don’t need to make things in that manner.”

Lady Aladeana returned two hours later and found Bloodstone, and the blacksmith working. She wasn’t sure what had gone on after she left, but it appeared that the blacksmith had completed a few projects. Bloodstone was hammering on a piece of glowing white steel. She left them and  returned to the room that had been set aside for her visits.

It was later that evening when Bloodstone finished, the blade needed more work and he left it with Cory.

“I am going to turn in now, If you need the magic recharged any mage should be able to do it.”

“Thanks, this should help a bunch”

“No problem it’s been kicking around in my head for a while to do something like that I am just surprised it works so well.”

Bloodstone left with the incomplete blade. there was a pace for him to rest, with the others and he was asleep shortly after lying down.

 

Gamers Eight – day Thirteen

Day 13

The next morning after watches had been set, it was discovered that Vella a lord’s daughter had slipped away from the camp.

Lady Vella Jetarious, ran she had been unable to recover a horse. The adventurers that had been stopped by her incompetent men were more than her small group could handle. They had magic, and were completely unknown. There were lists, that listed high level gold and silver groups and the people she had encountered last night were not on those lists.

They had tied her up and left her in the carriage, while they setup camp. It was easy to slip out of the ropes, and sneak away. The dozen men she had coerced into helping her, had most likely gone back home, or to the backup camp.

She ran, and finally arrived at her destination, a small grove of trees, that hid a secret. It had a hidden entrance to the caves under the district. When she got close she saw one of her men standing watch.

“Eric, you idiot, someone could have seen you.” She said rushing up to him.

“You got away?” He asked.

“Yeah, those adventurers are kind of dumb they didn’t search me. I cut the ropes and came here, anyone else make it?”

“You’re the last one, we were trying to decide if we needed to try and break you out. Glad we don’t have to. You learn anything about them?”

“Let’s go down and talk to them,” She tried to lift the heavy door in the dirt. Eric helped her and they descended the ladder.

There were two dozen people in the large room.

“We have to rescue her, otherwise she’s going to get turned over to the local authorities, if her father finds out…” He stopped when she entered the room.  “Looks like she out foxed those adventurers. Welcome back Vella.

She nodded and went to where he was and started talking, ”Those adventurers have a lot of treasure, I heard them talking about Sutter, they have some relation with him. They are camped out just south of the crossroads, if we can ambush them before they leave we can get enough gold and items to be set for life.”

“What about the crazy guy with the magic armor. Then there were those women.” One of the men said

“We didn’t know what they could do, we thought they were just adventurers we know how to deal with gold adventurers. Right Charlie?”

An older man who had been sitting in the shadows, “Missy, your intent on going after these people, do you have a plan?”

“I do, we just need to get my father involved and we can blame everything on them”

“Ok let’s hear it then”

She began explaining the plan.

She left the hideout shortly afterwards and went north, to her father’s manor.

 

When Vella arrived at the lord’s manor it was early morning, she was dirty, out of breath and had rips and tears in her clothes. The guards seeing her called for the lord and lady, they arrived very shortly.

“Where have you been?” Her father asked.

“I was abducted by some bandits, I managed to get away.” She said gasping for breath.

“Where?”

“The crossroads,” she said.

The lady of the house took her inside, and the Lord, started barking orders for the guards.

Five minutes later there were thirty guardsmen and the lord were heading to the crossroads.

The Lord arrived at the crossroads, and found a group with a carriage had set up camp. It was a common enough occurrence, and a safe place for adventurers to rest. The thirty guardsmen had surrounded the group. They didn’t give any resistance, and when the lord asked for who the leaders was an older man stepped forward.

“I am looking for a group of bandits, I was told they were around here”

“Not sure where you got your information, the only bandits we ran into were back that way in the woods.” The older man said.

“Are you an adventuring group?” He asked.

“Nope, we are on route to the third district on the kings orders. This is only half my group the rest are staying with my wife Coreen, and will join us in about a week or so.”

“Rather expensive carriage, where did you get that?” He asked.

“Oh, that’s mine, once me and Coreen got married, her father gave me all the holdings on Rhir.”

“Her father?”

“Ambros Sutter.”

The name was like an electric switch, “Ahh, so she finally got married, I tried having my son court her, he said she was a cold ice woman. I hope your experience wasn’t as cold.”

“No, she is a fine young woman, good head on her shoulders, I have her running the estates while we consolidate our holdings.”

“You let a woman run your estate?”

“Sure, why not she’s very smart. My first wife and she get along well enough.”

“You have more than one wife,” He seemed shocked.

“I have six, it’s a mutual thing, I look after them, they look after me. That’s my first wife there, Coreen is my second, she is with Hellen, my third who is also helping her. My fourth wife keeps me honest, and My fifth wife keeps me grounded, and Xyrediane she watches my back.”

“And who are the rest of these people,” The Lord asked.

“My son, and daughters. And that’s Eve and our driver Marshal.”

“What did you do with the bandits,” He asked.

“Well we roughed them up and told them to go home, we caught the leader, and they escaped. I have pictures if you want to see what they look like. She was pretty, had a mouth on her though, swore like a sailor, tied her up in the carriage, though it looks like she ran off durring the night.”

“You can draw me a picture?” he asked.

“No, I took a photograph, hold on.” He retrieved his phone and show him the picture.

The Lord sputtered, and turned red, “I am being played for a fool.”

“What, this is the bandit’s leader, I have my paperwork from the king if you want to see it.” He said retrieving the paperwork from the king.

“That is my youngest daughter she’s been missing for a few days and you happen to have a picture of her. She told me she was abducted by bandits.” He looked over the papers the king had given him, and turned a little pale.

“Well you have to decide, if you believe me or her. Considering she is your daughter I understand the need to believe her. How about we both get to the bottom of this, if it helps you it, helps the kingdom.”

The Lord seems somewhat relieved, ”I will handle this if what you’re telling me is true”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, if you need any help, we can assist”

The lord pulled him aside, “You wouldn’t happen to want to marry off your son?”

“You can ask him, I doubt he will agree.”

“Humm, what about yourself, you have six wives, would one more make any difference?”

“I’m a bit picky, if you can get her to agree, maybe. Though I would have to talk with my first wife and the others.”

He nodded, and walked over to talk with Xach.

“No” Xach said before he even finished asking.

He walked back over to Bloodstone, “I don’t know what to do with her, she’s causing trouble in the district and if were to be caught, and brought before the king, I would have to answer for her behavior.”

“That seems a little short sighted, no one has been really harmed and the two prisoners we released didn’t know she was involved, I’m Bloodstone by the way.” He said offering his hand.

The lord shook it and let go. One of the soldiers, who seems to be more scholarly that a fighter, approached the Lord. “Hanson says he found a trail leading away from here towards the town, you find any information?”

“Yes, have them follow that trail and report back in two hours, Lord Bloodstone here and I will be investigating these bandits further, assuming you have time to do that.”

“I have time.”

“Good, we will have to see the location you found these bandits.”

A group of men and the two lords returned to the woods where Bloodstone had been ambushed. They looked around and found some of the crossbow bolts from the night before as well as the original campsite they had used.

“There were bandits here, kings law says Me and my men must deal with this since it’s in my jurisdiction. Would you be willing to sit in on any trials as a visiting lord? “

“Sure, as long as It’s not to lengthy, I still have to head north to the third district.”

The guardsman with the scholarly appearance said, ”Kings laws require that at least one lord or one magistrates for trial of  commoners. If it’s a noble then it would require three magistrates, and one lord to witness, depending on the crime. Treason or sedition would fall under that of a larger contingent for listening to the evidence.”

“You seem to know the king’s laws, could you answer a few questions” Bloodstone asked.

“I am one of the [lawyers] of this district, we keep track of the laws as well as how they are administered. We give advice and help shape the punishments for the crimes.”

“Who count’s as a noble?” Bloodstone asked.

“Anyone below the king, [Counts], [Dukes], [Barons] and [Lords]. Even a [prince] or [princess] would be included in that. Though we have not had a princess in Rhir in my lifetime.”

“Lords don’t seem to have a lot of power,” Bloodstone stated.

“Depends on the [Lord], many of them are just administrators of a region, to keep the peace, and rally soldiers if the district has issues.” The lawyer replied.

“Why is having multiple wife’s so shocking?” He asked.

“It’s not that it’s shocking it’s unusual, there is not limit on how many you can have, it’s just unusual for someone to have more than two. Usually there is a financial component, associated with that kind of joining. It’s not unheard of just unusual. There was one lord I know of who and two dozen, this was three hundred years ago, there was more wealth on the continent, concentrated into larger holdings. Though if you have married Coreen Sutter, I don’t see you having any issues in that regard. I must ask though how did you convince a half elf to join you in marriage?”

“Long story, she needed my protection and that was a safe way to get it.”

“Ahhhh, that makes much more sense. I would imagine it pretty much the same for all of them?”

“Not really, I left it open for them to decide.”

“How very unusual, I would presume that your first wife agreed to this?”

“She didn’t raise any objections at the ceremony.”

“I see.”

“How serious is the charge of being a bandit?”

“If there were any deaths, or money stolen, it can be a very serious charge. Any who assaulted someone on kings business, could be in just as serious trouble as a death or stolen goods. Interfering with someone on king’s business carries serious penalties.”

“Meaning that if I had said no, there is not much he could have done?”

“Technically, the only thing we could do is escort you though to the next district and make sure no one else bothered you. Your agreement to help means that we have some leeway, since you yourself are a lord, and are supposed to uphold the kings law. If you want to take time to bring them to justice, it garners a lot of respect from the other lords.”

They eventually returned to where the Bloodstone had setup camp and everything was packed and they large group of soldiers started back to the town. Halfway there twenty bandits attempted again to stop Bloodstone and the large group of soldiers who had been following interceded and arrested the bandits.

The large group arrived in the town, with the twenty bandits who were taken to a holding area. The Lord, and Bloodstone, went to visit with the local magistrates. Each of the bandits were escorted into the into courtroom one at a time, a single magistrate was in attendance as the judge.

The Lord and Bloodstone sat and listened to the [magistrate] and two [lawyers] asking questions.  It came out that the bandits were not going to give up the leader, and that they each were taking responsibility for leadership.

Bloodstone pointed out those who had delayed him and when the charge of interfering with the king business, came out they all turned a shade paler. After deliberation, it was decided that they would leave the sentencing up to Bloodstone.

They had him come to the stand, “Are you under the crowns orders?”

Bloodstone presented his documents, from the king.  The document in question allowed him unobstructed passage through all districts and any retainers or family with him. What’s more it was revealed that each of his part that left had a copy of the document.

“Well if they will give up their leader, I don’t see any reason they can’t just get off with a warning, I am willing to be reasonable.”

The Magistrate called out to the accused men, ”Who is your leader, please step forward.” None of the men moved, “If your leader is not present, name them” No one spoke. The magistrate looked back to Bloodstone. “It appears that they are not going to talk, or volunteer.”

“Well if that’s the case I will leave it back up to you, as to the sentencing. This is not my district, and you have to keep order here.”

The Magistrate began talking with the two Lawyers.

Vella stood at the entrance to the courthouse, hood up and watched as her men were marched through the entrance. She went in with several other onlookers who were curious as to what was going on. The twenty men she had helped, were going to stand trial.  She listened with half an ear and watched her men, they stood together, and refused to give each other up, and when the call came for them to name their leader they stood silent.

The two lawyers finished talking with the magistrate. “Several of you have been here before, this court, for theft, as well as other petty crimes, several of you have never been in front of this court before. Banditry in Rhir is not permitted, kings law is very strict on this. The conviction of banditry is hanging. We do have some leniency in certain situations, however since you all appear to be unwilling to put for a leader, you will all be hung tomorrow at noon. Unless you name your leader.” The magistrate said.

None of the men moved or spoke.

Vella stood watching. The older man who was a lord, spoke up before the magistrate could complete the sentencing. “I understand your loyalty to each other, and to your leader, if you don’t name your leader now I believe that you will all hang. I don’t want to see you all die, for someone else’s mistake. We both know who your leader is, but you refuse to name them, I would like to know why.”

The men stood fidgeting and obviously distressed, one of the men who had first assaulted him on the road finally spoke, “Loyalty, we would not have survived this past winter without, our leaders help. We will not betray that even if we all hang.”

There was a murmur of agreement from the men.

The older man turned to the magistrate, “These men are loyal to someone, it seems a waste of good men who were misguided, is there anything that can be done to spare them from the noose?”

The magistrate looked over at the men and then the lawyers, “Are you asking for leniency?”

“Twenty good men could man the walls, or be turned into a good fighting force, if they have the loyalty to one person, it speaks volume to the character of these men, and to the leader they wish to protect. It’s too bad that their leader doesn’t have any loyalty to them.”

“I hear your request Lord Bloodstone, however these men refuse to tell us who led them and that means there is someone who can start this up again, we must make an example of them.” The magistrate said.

Vella stood in the back, she had seen other men convicted and hung, it was one of the few things she couldn’t agree with. The men she knew. Each of them she had helped them become self-sufficient, the banditry had been her idea, a way to make her father look bad. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. No one was supposed to die. The old fart magistrate, was going to make her look bad, and then men whose loyalty she had cultivated, no one would ever follow her again.  She started walking through the crowd to get to the front.

“If you will not cooperate then we have no choice but to convict you on charges of banditry and assaulting an agent of the crown.”

She called out “WAIT!”

Everyone turned and looked at her. “Who interrupts these proceeding’s?” The magistrate said a little annoyed at the interruption.

“I am the leader you’re looking for,” she said pulling back her hood.

“Is this a joke, do you understand the seriousness of these proceeding’s girl?” The magistrate said getting angry.

“These men were following my orders, and that man” she said pointing to Bloodstone, “Knows very well that I am telling the truth.”

There was an outcry from those around as well as the Lord who had been sitting off to one side observing.

“SILENCE!” The magistrate boomed. Everyone settled, “Bring her over here” The magistrate said.

“She’s not our leader, we don’t follow some woman.” One of the bandits said.

“Silence, one more outburst and you will be removed.” The magistrate said, he looked at Vella, “Are you, admitting to this court that you are the one who put these men up to banditry and assault.”

“I admit that I know these men and that my father’s rulership caused each of them problems in the past, problems that I rectified.” She said smugly.

“Do you admit that you attempted to halt or impede and agent of the crown?”

“Who him?” She pointed at Bloodstone, “He is no lord I know of, and I have met all of them, and I don’t see any crest. What gives him the title of Lord, you are all so high in your righteousness that you don’t take care of the people.” She said the last part staring at her father.

Her father stared at her as if seeing her for the first time. She turned back to the magistrate, someone she knew, he was a fair man. She stuck her chin out and up, “I will stand for these men, let them go.”

He looked over at the men who were standing wrists bound, “Do you acknowledge this woman as your leader?”

None of them moved or made any action to acknowledge the question. Again, the one bandit, said for the others,” She just some noble who thinks she can stand in for us, she’s sadly mistaken.“

“Shut it Gary, you know dam well you couldn’t lead a horse to water.” Vella said to the bandit.

“Miss, you don’t have to do this!”

“I said shut it Gary! You always talk too much.” Vella said.

“You seem to know these men,” The magistrate said.

“They are good people, they were just doing what I asked them to do.”

There was stunned silence as the comment sank in.

The magistrate looked a little upset, and looked over at lord Jetarious sitting off to one side. Then back to Vella. “For the crimes your men have done, are you ready for sentencing?”

“How were we supposed to know that he was an agent of the crown?”

“That’s not a good defense, you knew that banditry was outlawed, and assaulting him still entitles him to prosecute those responsible.”

“Fine, then my men were not participating in banditry, we were taking tolls for crossing through the woods.”

“Vella, you know that only the king can do that, and there have been no decrees with regards to tolls on the roads in this district, what you and your men were doing is banditry, plain and simple. If you wish to pursue this further, we will rule you in contempt and remove you from the courtroom.”

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

“The law is very simple, bandits are to be hung, or sold off as slaves, or at the lords discretion, sent north to work on the new walls.” He looked over at Lord Jetarious, “My lord, what is your ruling if any on this.”

There was a hard look in the man’s eyes, sadness and pain. “I am not able to offer a judgement on my daughter, to do so would be a violation of my oath to the crown.”

“Since I am also unable to pass judgement on miss Vella, there is another lord present here who can rule on this.” He looked at Bloodstone.

“Me?” he looked back and forth between the Lord and the Magistrate. “Vella, has three choices, hanging, sent north, or slavery is that about right” He asked.

“Yes, Hanging is one punishment, usually used for those who are murderers or career criminals. Sent north, is where they are conscripted for hard labor, to move rocks or whatever else the wall builders need. Slavery is where the offender is put into a slavery contract and sold off.”

“Let her pick her punishment,” Bloodstone said sitting back down.

“Can you not let me off with a warning?” She asked.

“That is not one of the prescribed punishments.” The magistrate said glancing over at the Lord. “There is a law that allows a spouse to pay off a debt or penalty imposed, however a crime of this magnitude would be at least three hundred gold. Half would be payed to the crown and the rest split amongst this court and the lord. Would you happen to have three hundred gold?”

Vella looked over at her father as if to see if he would lend her the money. Her father sat with a look of anguish, without saying anything further he got up and left the courtroom.

“I do not.” She said looking for some way to get out of the punishment.

“I would not like to send you to the gallows, you are well known in the district and this would set a bad tone, however you have to be punished.”

She looked over at Bloodstone who seemed to be ignoring her and watching the men. “You there, Lord Bloodstone, would you lend me the gold?”

He looked up, “No”

“Is it that you don’t have enough gold with you.”

“I don’t believe you have the ability to pay or earn it back.” He said.

She turned back to the magistrate, “What would you have me do?”

“You have been given the options, you can be sentenced to hard labor or sold into slavery. Unless you can come up with the gold, those are your options.”

“May I have a moment to speak with Lord Bloodstone?” She asked.

“If he will speak with you I have no objection.” He looked at the men standing, “As for the rest of you. You will be released, however if I see any of you in here again for any crime, you will be dealt with harshly.”

The twenty men were escorted out and objected slightly about being removed from the courtroom.

Vella walked over to Bloodstone, “My fate is in your hands, what must I do to?”

“Do, I don’t think you understand the situation here, I have no obligation to you, nor do I think you should be given any leniency.”

“Do I have to beg?”

“You can do what you want, it makes no difference to me”

“I would consent to be your wife.”

He looked her over, “Not interested, I already have six, you’re not interesting enough to make it seven.”

Vella stared at him unsure of his demeanor, he seemed indifferent, to her situation.

“What do you mean you already have six, six wives?”

“Yes.”

“Please?”

He leaned forward slightly, “I don’t think you have any intention of honoring any agreement. However, I will make you an offer, I will pay off your debt here, you will need to pay me back before you leave this courtroom”

“There is no way I could do that.”

Bloodstone shrugged, “Then you need to deal with the magistrate.”

She looked at the people who were watching, and asked them, “Would you all be able to lend me gold to pay off the debt?”

The crowd murmured its disapproval, “She’s trying to get out of her, punishment” Someone towards the back said loudly.

She turned back to the Magistrate, “I chose hard labor.”

“Very well, Vella Jetarious, I sentence you to twenty years of hard labor, building the wall. Guards, please bind her until we can arrange for her transport.”

The crowd began leaving, as she was tied up.

“Magistrate, I am to understand that you now have a prisoner, to be transported north. What is the process that this is usually done?” Bloodstone asked.

“Usually a visiting Lord or Lady that is going north takes the prisoner if they can, to be delivered to one of the Lords at the farthest wall. The Lord then decided how best to use each prisoner.”

“I would be willing to transport said prisoner north, I have business with Lady Aladeana.”

“This would be most agreeable, however there is the matter of her having a day to pay off her debt. Would you be willing to wait till tomorrow?”

“Unfortunately, I do not have time to wait, I will have to leave her transport to you then.”

Vella stared at Bloodstone, “I hate you, you ruined everything.”

Bloodstone walked up to her, “No, your misguided attempt to hurt the one person who cared about you did this.” He turned to the magistrate who was beginning to leave. “Magistrate, is the debt still three hundred gold?”

“Yes, though if memory serves, the only ones allowed to make such a payment would be a spouse or relative.”

“I think that’s what the Lawyer said earlier. If memory serves as well, the wall lords are also able to accept gold to release a prisoner.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” She asked.

“Well I am on my way to talk with Lady Aladeana, I suppose I may see you there in a few days. At least I would expect to see you, unless your men try and break you out. I expect if that happens you will be hunted.”  He turned and left, several women sitting in the back followed him out.

Drev stared at the potion equipment, and had grown to hate making potions, at least those that were ordered by his task masters. There was little joy in making healing potions over and over, and it had been ages since he had even experimented with potions. It was partially his own fault he knew, he had trusted the human, trusted him so much that when his world came down around him and he had been shipped off to Rhir, it had taken two days on the ship for the magnitude of the betrayal to sink in.  That was four years ago, he had spent almost four years in this place, far from home and doing the task masters bidding making potions. He hadn’t leveled up once since being here, a [alchemist] of his level was a rarity. It galled him that the human had betrayed him, he hadn’t since him more than twice since he arrived.

“Get back to work!” The task master said to him.  The others in the room were [Alchemists] as well; they had been making healing potions for the past month.  Crates of them had been shipped out, to who knows where, the value of them was in the thousands of gold pieces.

The only other drake here was Fenna, another [alchemist] she was from a different part of the continent. The string people that were here were easy to get along with; there were seven humans, alchemists from Terandria. There was also two beastkin a rabbit [alchemist] and cat [alchemist]. There was the one Dullahan who was mostly quiet and kept to herself. Her armor was simplistic but functional. There was one Selphid whos body was of an old man. The three half elves were nice enough, they were treated just as badly as the rest of the non-humans, perhaps even more so.

Drev wasn’t the highest alchemist of the group, it was the sephalid Kredran, who had been doing alchemy for the past three hundred or so years, and at least that’s what he claimed.  They worked sixteen hours and were given six hours to sleep and had one meal when they woke up. The rest of the time they sorted reagents, or brewed starter potions. There were two glassblowers who made vials flasks and other containers, for the potions.

Drev waited while the potion cooled, until it was at the right temperature, it wouldn’t be possible to pour it into the potion vials. To hot and it could crack the vial, not that the vials they used were inferior, it just was prudent to be cautious when dealing with the watchers.

The watchers were humans, and they made sure they were always working or sleeping. Halis was the worst he seemed to hate all non-humans. If they thought that a healing potion was inferior they would test it on you. It was a good thing that the potions never left scars when used, he had been stabbed and cut so many times by Halis he had lost count.

It was late evening when an older man that no one recognized walked into the workshop, the watchers were nervous, and kept out of his way. The man approached him, “You’re a drake?”

He nodded talking back to watchers was ill advised.

“Come with me I need to talk to you”

Drev followed not sure who this human was or what he wanted. He followed him into one of the side rooms he had never been allowed in. The watchers were nowhere to be seen.

“Are they treating you all right?” he asked as he closed the door.

“It was a strange question one that he wasn’t sure how to answer. Did he want the truth or was he testing him. He decided on truth, “It’s horrible here, I barely get enough to eat, they work us all the time, and when we make a little mistake they blame us.”

The gray haired human nodded, “What else?”

He told the man about how he was mistreated, and the potions they had made him make, he listened.

“Drev, I am sorry that you have been so mistreated, if you give me a bit of time we can change your situation. Here though this is your papers that Sutter used to enslave you. He set a single sheet of parchment in front of him. It was the one sheet of parchment that was both a joy to see and a horror.

“It’s yours now Drev, I am giving it to you this means your free to decide what you want to do. I also know you and the other have been working your tails off to make potions. I know it’s not all you are owed.” He set a small bag on the table.

Inside the bag was gold, five hundred coins. “Why?” Drev asked, not sure what to make of this human.

“I looked at the records, before coming into the workshop. Your one of the best [alchemists] here, I want to hire you if you’re willing. It’s going to be challenging work and you will get paid. I want to hire as many of you who are willing to help me, there’s enough gold for you to return home if you want. “

“No I mean why are you freeing me?”

“It’s the right thing to do. Oh and before I forget, you have twenty crates of healing potions you made, I would like to know what you would be willing to sell them for?”

“What?”

“They were keeping your potions in the store room, something about them being the highest quality; I didn’t know how to assess them to pay you.”

Drev was speechless, was this human pulling his tail.

“I know this is probably a shock to you, I took over this place from Sutter. I get to decide what happens here, I don’t like them exploiting you and the others. I am making changes; someone of you skills should be doing research, or whatever you want to do.  So you tell me what the value of twenty crates of healing potions is worth.”

Drev did the math, and replied, “Twenty eight thousand and eight hundred gold is what it works out to.”

“How about an even thirty thousand gold, I don’t have that much gold with me”

“Can I keep the potions?”

“I don’t see any reason not to; you can sell them if you want.”

“How did all this happen” Drev asked.

“it’s a long story, the short answer is I married Sutters daughter and we took over his holding here on Rhir.”

“This is Rhir?”

“Yes the third district, just north of one of the keeps for second district.”

“I never know where they had taken me, Who are you?”

“I didn’t introduce myself, must be getting tired, I apologize Drev, the name is Bloodstone.”

“Bloodstone as in the gemstone? That seems like a strange name”

“It’s not my real name I feel that using that here in this world would be dangerous.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not from here, Drev you’re the first drake I have met. I wish it had been under better circumstances.”

“whats going to happen with the others?”

“That’s up to them; you can go back and talk with them if you want. All of you, who are able to make potions like this, could really make a fortune if you pooled your talents and skills.” He escorted him back to the main room, the watchers were not there and it was comforting and disturbing.

Drev looked around the others were looking at him. The human walked over to one of the elves and asked her to follow him.

She was not gone long and came back, there was a look of confusion and shock on her face.  He talked with everyone there, and each of them had received their slave papers, and gold. The watchers still hadn’t returned.

It was very late when the last of them had spoken with Bloodstone. He returned to the workshop, ”You all have some decisions to make, stay or leave. I will arrange transportation if you decide to leave, those people who kept you here will not be returning. This place is currently collectively all yours, as well as the potions in the storage rooms. There are some guards who I brought with me who will stay and protect you and this workshop.  Until I leave, you may want to decide who your leader is.” And then he left them alone.

Drev looked around, the other alchemists were stunned, and they had all been freed. The crazy human and come in and freed them, and given them more than they knew what to do with.

It was the sephalid that spoke first, “Im out of this place, I will find a nice new body and leave Rhir as soon as I can”

The three half-elves had decided to stay, Fenna had gone back to making potions. They all spoke, first in hushed tones and then louder when no one came to tell them to stop. It was decided that Drev would speak for them, and that they would make a group, Bloodstone had returned and sat listening to them.

“How about the alchemist’s flask” Bloodstone suggested.

The sephalid left sometime during the discussion. They were shown the large stockpile of the potions they had made, and were still on site. They also had met with a group of men who had followed Bloodstone, they were willing to work for the Alchemists, in exchange for healing potions. It was also when they met with the local runners.

Drev stood talking with the alchemists, about future plans, when he noticed that the human was asleep. He had met the others the human had brought and they were in one of the other rooms.

He gently woke the human. “You would be more comfortable in a bed, not asleep in a chair.”

Bloodstone yawned, “I’m sure your right, I wanted to ask you if you would be willing to take on some tasks.”

“Are these the explosives that you asked about an hour ago?”

“No something more personal and secretive.”

Drev leaned in, “Perhaps we could talk elsewhere?”

“It’s actually something I want to know if you can do.”

The others stopped and came over to listen.

“I want to know if you can chart out the rules of [alchemy] what’s the minimum amount you need to make say a healing potion. Can you find the essences of things and put them in a potion. What is the strongest healing potion you can make?” He yawned

“I don’t know what you mean, we go by formulas we have found.” The rabbit woman named Hefneri said.

“Are they the same?”

They each looked at one another, “I don’t know we never write them down less they be stolen.” One of the half elves said.

“That’s not all true, we know how to make potions based in the properties of substances,” Drav said.

One of the humans Yan asked, ”Bloodstone, why did you do all this.”

“It’s the right thing to do maybe someday you will tell your grandkids how some crazy old guy helped you build your own company. Maybe pay it forward, help someone yourselves and see where that goes.” Bloodstone yawned again. “Sorry I am rambling.”

A carridge sat outside, the horse grazed in a covered barn, where a lot of hay had been left out for them.  The sun had been down for several hours. Drev looked up at the stars. He had some thinking to do, in the morning how whole life would change, but for right now he felt the slight breeze and the smell of the horses.

Bloodstone had asked him if he could make a specific kind of potion, maybe tomorrow he would start working on it, or the day after. He was free, and had to decide what he wanted to do.

Gamers Eight – day twelve

Day 12

Bloodstone awoke, he waited for the voice there were no updates. No one else was in the room and the dawn light was barely visible from the clear glass window. The box was open and the book was next to it Azalar was looking in the box. Seeing Bloodstone awake he sat down, “Good morning.”

“Morning”

“Have you decided what you are going to do today?” The strange cat asked.

“I’m going to read that book, cover to cover.”

“That would take weeks to do”

Bloodstone smiled, “not really, just an hour. This ring, what does it do?” he said showing the signet ring.

The light from the sun was barely illuminating the book from the glass window. He looked back at the thick tome, it was in very small handwriting, and it was neat and legible, and very articulate. There was a drawing of an eye on the current pages, and explanations in the fine writing. Azalar was watching from the edge of the desk. “As you can see my master was quite thorough on his notes. He spent almost four years on this subject, before embarking on his own constructions; the notes are in the next chapter. “

Bloodstone turned the page, and began reading, it was a very detailed explanation on the constructions of human, drake, gnoll,half-elf,  cat, eagle, and other eyes that seemed to be out of the norm. “What is this reference to works of Nenebrea the mad, Gaffis the illusionist, and Fre of Whistram.”

“It is a very thorough research of the field of magic and constructs.” Azalar replied.

Bloodstone turned the page, “How come you know so much about the book?”

“I have read all my masters works, it was my suggestion to include all his best works to his offspring.”

“Im am surprised you have been able to read that much is this amount of time.”

“It’s a skill…”

Isabel sat in the chair, listening to the others; she was used to being ignored.  She sat with her hands in her lap, eyes closed, since she couldn’t see anyhow. They told her that her eyes were scared, and mostly white. The dress she was wearing was comfortable, though she didn’t know what color it was.

Coreen sat next to her, “Listen, some of us are going to stay here, the rest are going to head north to the plantation in the third district. It is going to take me days to get this estate sorted properly.  Say a week at the earliest.”

“I understand, what does Blood say about all this?” Newton asked.

“He said that I can do what I feel is the right thing to do. I hate this place. I would burn it to the ground if I thought it would help. However, I have decided to give it to the crown.”

“Isn’t that a little short sighted?” Eve asked.

“No, it’s perfect the crown can give it to one of the local lords or sell it and everyone is happy. So far myself, and Hellen are going to work on getting things sorted here, and then meet you up north in the third districts estate. What have the rest of you decided?” Coreen replied.

“I’m staying with my husband, whatever he decides.” Amethyst said.

“Sticking with my dad,” Xach said.

“Same, “ Kuya said a little loudly.

“Isabel?” Coreen asked.

“I .. I want to stay with Bloodstone.” She said fidgeting.

“Violet?” Coreen asked.

“I can stay with Isabel, I want to go with Bloodstone.” She reached over and put her hand on Isabel’s shoulder.

“Xyrdiane?” Coreen asked.

“I want to leave this place as soon as possible, Me and Rana are going to follow Bloodstone, we owe him a lot” Xyrdiane replied.

“I really, don’t like being peer pressured, I want to go see if I can help the others.” Sarah said, there was a hint of hesitation in her voice.

“I’ll go with you,” Miguel said.

“I think you need someone to look after you, I’ll go with Sarah as well.” Eve said.

“I want to meet these others,” Newton said hesitantly.

“Where is Bloodstone, I told him earlier to meet us for breakfast.” Coreen asked.

“He’s still in his room,” Ranathil replied, “Looks like he’s sitting at his desk.”

“I’ll go get him,” Marie said as she left the room.

“Fine, I’ll go with you as well” Beth sighed, “Who knows what trouble you will get into without me.”

“Perhaps you could talk with Bloodstone before you all leave.” Isabel said softly.

Marie went to knock on the door, and bloodstone opened it before she could contact the door. “Sorry, you came to get me?”

“Yes,” she said putting her hand down.

“I will be back shortly Azalar.” The cat just twitched its tail while sitting on the desk.

He followed Marie down to the first floor. “Is Sarah still talking about leaving?”

“Her and some of the others.”

“I see, well let’s see if we can change some minds.”

They walked into the room and sitting around several tables where everyone was seated.

Maids were off to one side filling glasses and being helpful.

“Morning,” He said and took a seat next to Amethyst.

There were murmurs of good morning and morning from everyone there.

“Wow really enthusiastic group,” he said sarcastically.

“Sarah, still wants to go see if that other group of summoned people is still around. We want to go as well” Newton said.

“To do what, see if they are really from earth, most likely they are. I know you are all a bit upset and want to try and get home. I hate to say this Newton, I’m not going to stop you, however I will not let you take equipment that I will need, you can copy what you want to your phone. The laptop stays with me.”

“I kind of figured” Newton said not looking at Bloodstone.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just I am going to need it. It is a valuable tool, and the documents on it are literally priceless. I want you to copy the important things, things that you might need. I have been studying the books that came from the box, and I think I have a way we can stay in touch, I can’t do anything right now, since I need to be up north. Who’s going with Newton and Sarah, just raise your hand.” He waited while they decided, “You five, ok.”

“I want to see if I can get the information from the phone conversation they had, I don’t know who was talking, maybe we can get some more information” Newton said looking at Sarah.

“I’m not lying, there was some people who were on a weird chat thing on the phone.” Sarah said.

“You never got to read it?” Bloodstone asked.

“No, the phones owner Vincent, was being a jerk. It’s not like I was going to break it. I just wanted to see the conversation”, Sarah said sheepishly.

“Don’t sweat it Sarah. Something else I want to ask, I figured out how to grant classes, not ones I take.” He looked around the room.

“What does that mean?” Newton asked.

“It means, that I can convert one class to another. We tested it yesterday the skills I have with my special class, allows me to make adjustments, to classes. There are some issues with it.”

“Like what?” Eve asked.

“Well it changes a class you have. To do that I would have to either take a class and then change it on the return, or have some pre-requisites already so that it forces a change. The thing is Violet has a class I have no idea what it is.”

“What class?” Newton asked and everyone looked at Violet.

She looked at everyone and started turning bright red, “It’s a nice class, [Empathic Catalyst] there is no reason to be so focused on me.”

Bloodstone got up and walked around and put his hands on her shoulders. “Violet, tell them what your skills are that you got”

She reached up with her right and put it on Bloodstones left hand, and looked up at him “I don’t want to.”

“Violet, just your new skills.” He said softly.

“Oh!,” She said giggling a little. “I got, [empathic sense],[catalytic aura], something called [Euphoric Mana], [empathic conversion],[empathic warmth] and [empathic protection]”

Everyone just stared at Violet, “What does that all mean?” Eve asked.

“I dono,” Violet shrugged.

“It means that Violet is very special,” Bloodstone said squeezing her lightly on the shoulders.

“What you are saying is that you gave violet a new class” Newton said.

“Yes. It also means we can fix class issues, like the one Eve has.” He looked at Eve, “That’s if you want me to change it”

“You mean the [pirate] class, sure but what can you turn it into?” She asked beaming.

“What would you want?”

“Could you change them all to [mage]” She asked.

“We can try. There is something I want to do first, before I start messing with anyone’s class’s” He leaned over and whispered to Isabel. “can I take the smith classes from you”

She nodded, he touched her cheek and took the classes from her.

[sub class goldsmith 8 acquired]

[sub class blacksmith 9 acquired]

She nuzzled his hand, not wanting to break the contact. He put his hand on her hair, it was woven to tightly for him to put his hands through it.

“I think I will go with them as well,” Amethyst said, from across the table.

Bloodstone looked up, “Oh?”

“Kuya, Xach?” She asked.

“What?” Xach asked.

Kuya looked between them and said, “I want to stay here, I have some things I want to finish drawing.”

“Ok, its decided then, Eve I can adjust your class when you are ready.” He turned and walked out of the room.

Violet looked at Amethyst, ”You really hurt him”

There was no reaction, as everyone was wondering what had just happened. There was a distant sound of a door slamming.

Violet got up and said, “I’m going to go check on him.”

Eve waited and then followed Violet out. Isabel sat at the table, she said to Amethyst, “You should have told him sooner, that you didn’t approve.”

“He wouldn’t listen to me anyhow, what difference does it make.” She said acidly.

“It makes a good bit of difference.” Coreen said.

“I’m supposed to believe this was all his idea?”

“Peace, there is no reason to be fighting each other.” Coreen said.

Amethyst stormed out of the room, her lower lip quivering.

“I’ll go talk to her, “ Coreen said following her out.

“I am not taking sides,” Azalar said.

“I’m not asking you to, I just need some perspective” Bloodstone said to the cat.

“Well it seems to bother you, perhaps you need to discuss this with your wife, your first wife.” The cat said.

“Yeah, I know, it’s just she never listens. I try and try and it’s like talking to a wall.”

There was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Violet at Eve stood at the entrance, “Are you all right, you seem distressed.” Violet said walking over to him.

“This is not going to help Violet.” He said taking a single step away from her.

“Well can we deal with the class, I have an idea.” Eve said.

“Sure, I suppose, what class were you thinking?” He asked.

“Something useful, maybe boost my mage class?”

“Sure let’s try this,” He offered his hand, and she placed her hand on his.

He activated the two skills, remove class and the grant class.

The classes he removed for just a moment were the [pirate] and [thief] classes.

[sub class pirate 19]

[sub class thief  2]

[sub class pirate 19 removed]

[sub class thief  2 removed]

“What did that do?” He asked Eve.

“[Mage] just want to twenty-five, Thanks!” she said grinning and letting go of his hand, she turned and left.

Violet stood there looking upset, “I think I may have cause some issue with your first wife.”

“No, it’s not you it’s us, meaning me and her. This just, all this“ He shrugged. “makes it worse. Wait here, I need to go talk to her.” He left her standing in the middle of the room.

Violet went looking for him shortly after he left, she found him talking to Amethyst in the gardens. There were others watching them walking and talking in the garden. Coreen walked over to Violet. “He say anything to you?”

“Nope, just it wasn’t me.” The two of them watch as they sat down on a bench and were talking.

“Can you tell what is going on with them” Coreen asked.

“No, too far away.” They watched a little longer and then Coreen returned to the house.

Violet watched them eventually they noticed her standing there and walked over. Before anyone could say anything Violet Hugged Amethyst,  “I got this, you go” Violet said leading Amethyst away.

Bloodstone was going to object, when Violet just pointed to the front of the house.

He signed and walked to the front of the house, He heard Violet, “Is he always like that?”

He didn’t hear the reply as they were too far away.

 

Bloodstone came around to the front of the house and the horses were being tended to. There was also a carriage that was in front as well. Luggage was being loaded onto the roof as well as the back of the carriage.

It was a larger carriage than the one they had see the day before. Marcus was busy watching over the carriage itself, and saw Bloodstone, “My Lord, we should be ready to get you going shortly, have they decided if they are staying or going with you.”

“No idea are Sarah and the rest going to try and talk with the others?” He asked.

“I think Coreen talked them out of it, something about splitting up into small groups wasn’t a wise thing to do. Though I believe Sarah still wants to send to equipment to them.”

“I suppose a runner could deliver it. How much were you able to pack?”

“A good amount of the vault is already packed, the rest Coreen is going to send to the king, as a token of her appreciation. I will protect them while you travel north, you have done me a great honor, and set me free, given me a job.” He held out his hand. Bloodstone went to shake his hand and instead was grasped tightly around his forearm. “Few men I would consider honorable.” He released his grip

Newton came out and looked over his horse, and then walked over to Bloodstone and Marcus, “Wow, now that was interesting.”

“What?” Marcus asked.

“Seems Sarah was still insisting on returning to the other group, Coreen and Hellen both told her that she was being stubborn and headstrong.”

“I wouldn’t think that would detour her?” Marcus said.

“It wasn’t, it’s what Amethyst said that made her change her mind.”

“What did she say, I haven’t really talked to her at all.”

“She said that if she got in to trouble that no one would be there to save her a second time. It was a mean thing, but it got the point across.”

“She isn’t going?” Marcus asked.

“I think she’s going to stay with the group here, who knows, she’s a bit confused as to what she wants.”

“It’s confusing that some of you are from another world. It’s not like there is much difference here or on the other continents. War is war, it just depends on who’s fighting it and are they human or something else.”

“That’s easy for you to say that, we grew up in a place where the last war wasn’t local and was over eighty years ago.”

“No war for eighty years! What marvels you must have in your world.”

“Marvels and darkness, we can destroy a city in the blink of an eye, kill tens of thousands in mere moments, if that’s the pinnacle of civilization, I fear that end.”

Bloodstone had walked back around the carriage, “Yeah no nukes. I need some advice, from both of you.”

“Ask,” Marcus said.

“What the hell am I doing, I should be looking for a way home, not fucking around helping the king. Seriously tell me Newton should we change plans or is this still a good idea?”

Newton looked at him silently.

Marcus asked, “Is there a way home for you?”

“Not that I know of, if anyone has any thoughts or ideas, on how we got here.” He shrugged.

“You seem convinced that the king knows, and won’t help” Newton said.

“The bastard does know, and I found out that they have been summoning people here for at least a year! Now when they first started the ritual wasn’t setup, or working right. Then they started getting people one at a time, then two, and finally with us. I don’t think the king is going to stop just because we asked him. I have a feeling he will summon as many as he can and throw them at the invading forces. This is about survival now, once we can protect ourselves properly…” He let his comment trail off and shrugged.

“Is that what you are trying to do?” Newton asked.

“It’s more than that, I know enough concepts to be dangerous, practical knowledge helps as well. Now that I have had a chance to read some real magic books, I have a feeling that the King is or was using an artifact, he was very vague on what else he was using. We need to make ourselves indispensable, or at least insulated, with my current skills, we have a slight edge. With the funds and contacts, we can acquire through Coreen we can survive this.”

“You sound so sure that you’re doing the right thing, I wish I had your enthusiasm. Or at least your vision. I don’t think me and Beth would have been able to function if you hadn’t stepped up for us. I am still kinds of amazed and freaked out by this situation.  It’s like being on a horrible vacation and realizing that it’s real and that there is no way back.”

“It takes a certain kind of person to move past it, my personal thought would be a strong soul. Someone who is very balanced, focused on others or themselves, truly focused. Someone like that here in this would be unstoppable. I’m focused, in a general sort of way, only I know how deep into it we are and that without us working together, we are beyond screwed.”

“What are you not telling me?” Newton asked.

Bloodstone sighed, “Listen, I need you and Beth to work on the wall, and work on the other things we discussed. I must focus on something else. Hopefully I will be able to explain soon, you’re just going to have to trust me.”

Newton nodded slowly, “I will try”

“That’s all I can ask. Marcus, there is something I want you to do since you are going to be here. I know it’s going to take a couple of days to make your way to the Third district, take it slow, don’t rush north just to meet up with us. If it takes a couple of extra days, let it.”

“I will do as you ask.” Marcus nodded.

“Ok now it’s time go see who’s going and who’s staying.” He walked back towards the house.

“Marcus what do you think of him,” Newton asked.

Marcus watched as he walked back into the house, “I think he’s got a lot on his mind, I have also never seen someone ready to kill as much as he is. It’s strange, it’s almost as if he has been here much longer, and there is something about him that makes you want to listen to him.”

“I know what you mean and there have been times he scares the shit out of me. I know he’s not a bad guy, it’s just sometimes, he says the strangest things or does things that makes me question if he really is from our world. His kids seem to fall right into stride with everything.” Newton said.

“I heard that his wife and daughter both have strange classes.”

“Yeah, I haven’t really seen what his wife is able to do. His daughter, there’s something about her that just sets my teeth on edge.”

“His daughter, yes she has set off my danger sense once or twice, of them, I think she is as dangerous as his wife.”

They continued to talk, about the horses and the carriage, and if Newton was going to stay.

Bloodstone walked into the front door, there were two people standing at the door, looking around. They were a guy and girl, both looked to be adults, they both looked around in the lobby, they wore functional clothes, not expensive but not rags either.

“Scuse me sir we were asked to come here.” The woman said.

“Really? What for?” Bloodstone asked.

“We are runners, we came the guild sent us.” The man said.

“Oh right, come with me.” He turned and walked to where Coreen was. She had taken over the office of Sutter.  Entering she was talking with Sarah, and the room looked like a bomb had hit it, there were papers everywhere in piles, random items on stacks of paper, and several crates were opened and the contents were in piles next to the creates.  Coreen saw Bloodstone enter and stood up from the desk.

“My lord,” She said

“Coreen knock it off, you don’t have to do my lord honorific, Blood or Bloodstone will do.  These two runners are here, I presume for the request that Sarah made.”

“Ah yes, sorry. We can talk in the other room; this mess is still being worked on. This way please.”

She led the four of them next door to a smaller room, “You four can talk here, I have to get back to work.” She returned to the office.

Sarah sat down on one side of the small table. The two runners looked at Bloodstone, “Are you a lord?” The woman asked.

“Yeah, I am not the client she is.” He gestured to Sarah.

“Ok,” The man said pulling up a chair, “I’m Brice and this is Emma, we are both runners. What is it you want us to deliver and where.”

Sarah pointed to a chest, “Blood can you removed the contents”

“Sure”, He opened the chest and pulled out six bags, two pairs of boots, two leather tunics, two cloaks, and two daggers. He set them all on the table.

The bags are bags of holding, four of them are for a group just beyond the wall in the third district.

“Beyond the wall, sorry I though this job was in the districts.” The guy stood up.

“Hear them out first, Brice.” Emma said.

He crossed his arms, “Fine, let’s see how much your offering.”

“There are four bags of magical gear that that I want you to deliver to Richard and Emily, they are the Heroes that are out by the eastern gates. The town just north there. I am willing to include the two extra empty bags, as well as the gear here.”

They looked at the gear, and then at each other.

“I don’t think so,” Brice said.

“Why not?” Sarah asked.

“Do you know how dangerous it is now, there are roaming monsters, demons, and who knows what else.”

“Sarah are those the magic items you picked out for the runners?” Bloodstone asked.

“Yes, the boots are supposed to make your balance better and make you a little faster. The cloak is supposed to keep the water off you, and keep you dry. The armor is magic armor. The daggers are just magical and sharp. I can also offer five hundred gold”

He stood with his arms crossed, “Sorry, I’m out. I am not suicidal. Five hundred is a lot of money, so you know it’s dangerous.”

Sarah looked upset and then looked at Emma, “Are you out as well.”

“If I deliver it all do I get both bags?” She asked.

“You can’t Emma that’s crazy.” Brice said trying to convince her.

“Sure, I can let you keep the items, you can do with them whatever you want. Just deliver the bags there is a letter in each one, detailing the contents.”

“If I take this contract, I get the five hundred gold and the items?”

Sarah nodded,” how soon could you deliver them?”

“I could go now,” She paused and looked over at Bloodstone. “Why did you want two runners?”

“To make sure the items get to them,” Bloodstone said.

“Brice, take the job.” She said.

He uncrossed his arms, “Fine, is that five hundred total or per runner?” He asked.

“It’s per runner.” Bloodstone said cutting off Sarah.

“Is it really that important?” He asked.

“I am outfitting you with some good gear, I want the bags delivered. If you can’t do it tell me.”

“Can we check out the items?” Emma asked.

“Sure”, Sarah said.

The each picked up a set of gear and three bags. Emma was already pulling off her small shoes and putting on the boots. “Wow, these are comfortable” She said standing up in the boots. She put on the vest and the cloak and put the dagger on her belt at the hip.

“Ok, we will take the job.” Emma said.

They then headed out of the room, Bloodstone put his arm across the door. “I want to talk with you.” He said to Sarah.

“Can it wait?” She said.

“Actually, no it can’t” He closed the door.

“What is this about? Me going or me staying.”

“No, it’s about the mean things you were telling the others. If you have a problem with me then talk to me.”

“Why should I, you used your power to block my memories.”

“I also used my power and skills to save your life.” He turned and sat down at the table. “Sit or leave, I don’t care anymore, you want to cause trouble then be aware that there are a number of things I can do that you will not like.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Yes, I am, I don’t have the time, patience or energy to be fighting you and fixing the shit your fucking up. You have a death wish do it somewhere else, preferably were I don’t have to watch.”

“You can’t talk to me like that!” She said slamming her hands onto the table.

“What are you going to do, go tell my wife, cry about it to Beth and Newton. I want you to realize I know precisely what kind of person you are. I know because I was in the short sighted little twisted head of yours. You really want to know why I blocked some of your memories, it was to make you a better person. I know now you are going to be a backstabbing bitch as long as you get your way. You would think that you would stop, I don’t think you know how.”

She turned to open the closed door, “I don’t have to take this from you of all people.”

“You walk out that door, don’t come back. Just take the stuff we gave you and leave.”

She froze, “Your kicking me out?”

“No, you’re going to sit down and shut up for five minutes, or you’re going to get the hell away from me and my friends before I take something you say personally and put you back the way I found you.”

She turned around white as a sheet, “You wouldn’t”

“Try me, I know more about you than most people. I can be your best friend or your words enemy, you pick”

“Why are you being like this?”

“Because you lied, lied to my wife, lied to Newton and Beth. It wasn’t even a good lie. It didn’t hurt anyone, except me. Now, if I am going to be accused of something, I might as well be willing to do it.”

“You wouldn’t” she said somewhat unconvincingly.

“You’re right, I wouldn’t and yet somehow you convinced someone I care about that I did something horrible to you. Convinced people who depend on me that I was lying to them.”

“I just want them to listen to me, you’re not right all the time.”

“Fuck you Sarah, it’s not about being right or wrong it’s about keeping people alive. The only reason, we are having this conversation is I don’t want you to make a serious mistake and get yourself killed. You want to go out and get killed fine, don’t drag others down with you.”

“You can’t tell me what to do, I’m not afraid of you.”

“If you believe that then walk out that door, leave and don’t come back.”

She stood at the door, “You’re going to kick me out if I leave?”

“No, I’m not kicking you out, I’m telling you that you leave and we don’t finish this conversation then you will NEVER get home. You will NEVER find what you’re looking for and I will NEVER help you again.”

“Why are you being so mean?”

“Mean!? Mean! You convinced everyone that I was mind controlling you, mean doesn’t even come close to how pissed off I am.”

“Well you were,” She countered.

“That’s a bunch of bull shit and you know it.”

“Then why do I like you so much, you’re not even the kind of guy I like.”

“You’re serious?” He asked perplexed.

“Why was I so jealous, when you married everyone, I wasn’t going to do that.”

“What is the matter with you?”

“What do you mean?” Sarah said looking up at him

“You are obviously jealous; the question is why you didn’t say anything.”

“I didn’t think you liked me,” She said looking down again.

“You want me to get the magistrate back out here, add you as my seventh wife? Or are you going to stop being an ass and admit I didn’t do anything other than block your memories. To be honest, I didn’t even do that Amethyst did. I had her charm you and we made you forget.”

“I..I …I don’t know, I am just scared, this place scares me, I almost died.” She started shaking.

Bloodstone got up and hugged her, “Look you need to sort out your feelings. I don’t think you are in love with me. I think I am a convenient crush, a way to lash out and blame me.  You’re still not all healed up. Take it slowly if you decide in a few days or week you want me to do something talk to me, don’t cause trouble, you might get someone killed, we can’t play games here, and can you do that?”

“I’ll try, would you just hold me.”

“Sure” He held her and she held onto him tightly.

Bloodstone walked over to the carriage, a young man was standing nearby. “Can I help you sir” He asked.

“Are you the drive for the carriage?” He asked.

“Yes sir!, The lady of the house hired me. Who are you sir?”

“What’s your name?”

“Marshal sir.” The kid seems to be out of his element and nervous.

“Marshal, relax, just drive the carriage to where we need to go and we will be fine.”

“Yes sir.”

A short time later, Amethyst, followed by Kuya, Violet, Isabel, Kiki and Abagail followed. Kiki was being loud and chewing on two apples, one in each hand. Violet and Kuya were leading Isabel, and Abagail was walking next to Amethyst. Eve ran out and opened the door for them to the carriage.  While they board the carriage, Xach came out talking with Marcus.

Bloodstone watched as the group of women went by, they all had changed into functional clothes, or dresses, the only one not wearing a dress was Kuya. Amethysts dress was knee high and a deep purple, it was more of a sun dress and had thick straps that crossed in the back. Violet, was wearing a similar dress hers however was more revealing and form fitting. Abagail and Kiki were wearing functional dresses more for the weather than for fashion. Isabel wore a white dress, and was wearing long white cloth gloves. They were all wearing soft boots. Kuya was wearing a white shirt with a gray tunic and short gray pants, which looked like a soft cloth like cotton.

Marcus stood at the top of the three steps and waited. Xyrdiane and Ranalith exited and took their horses. They both were also wearing clothes that were fancy and fashionable.  Bloodstone wasn’t paying attention when they came out. He turned and saw Xrydiane and Ranalith in the gear they had found, Xrydiane was wearing a shimmering black robe belted at the waist, with several pouches and a bag on her hip. A small dagger was on the other side. And what looked like two wand holsters. Her hair was tied back, and put up showing her pointed ears. Next to her Rana was decked out in a chainmail shirt, and deep black leather pants. The clothing underneath the chain barely showed through, her hair was also tied back, the two blades she had on each hip looked dangerous, her bag and pouched were also on her hip and the small of her back.

Xyrdiane flashed a smile at Bloodstone, and walked towards him, the sun caught her in a perfect light, and he scrambled for his phone. “Stop don’t move!”

He took the picture, and then another, and then two more.  The two of them looked confused for a moment, and then came up to him. Rana smiled at him to, “The look on your face, that was priceless, are you blushing”

“Uh, no” he said trying to cover his face.

“He is!” Xyrdiane said leaning in and giving him a peck on the cheek.

Bloodstone turned even a deeper shade of red.

“What is the matter,” Rana asked.

“It’s just I never saw her in sunlight, she’s radiant. I had to take a picture.” He said looking at the phone.

Xyrediane laughed, “Told you I still had it.”

They went to retrieve their horses, leaving him standing there dumbfounded.

The group decided that it was time to go. They had four horses and the rest rode on or in the carriage, there were also four more horses tied to the back of the carriage, with six pulling it.

The left the rich estates and headed east and north to the next wall. It took them several hours to get to the wall where they followed the road to the next castle to pass through to the second district.

They passed through the second wall without incident, no one seemed to care much, the guards just asked where they were going and waived them through.

One of the soldiers on the north side of the wall waived over Bloodstone.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“Well there have been some issues up north, just wanting to give you a warning, and stick to the roads.”

“What kind of issues?” He asked the soldier.

“Bandits, people going missing, you should be fine though, you seem like a capable bunch of adventurers.”

“Uh, huh.“ He said and joined back up with the rest.

They exited the passageway, and were back on the road. They headed north. After  twenty minutes there was a fork in the road.

“Right” I guess, Bloodstone said to the driver.

“Ok,” and they turned down the right hand fork.

An hour later they were deep into a wooded forest.  “Should we turn around and go the other way?”

Bloodstone asked.

“Up to you sir,” The driver said.

They continued through the woods, and stopped when there was a tree across the road.

“Looks deliberate, we have company” Rana said.

Six rough looking men stepped out of the overgrowth. “Lookie what we have here, some noble or rich adventurer” The largest one said pointing a crossbow at Bloodstone

“Are you responsible for this tree?” Bloodstone asked.

“Git off yur horse, for I put a crossbow bold in your eye.” The bandit said.

“Sure, I just need to know if I have to kill you or someone else?” Bloodstone asked.

The other five men started laughing as they pointed crossbows at Rana and Xrye.

“Look that one is a half-elf, maybe she will scream real good for us.” One of the other bandits said.

“Look you guys just move the tree, before my wife notices.” Bloodstone said looking back at the carriage. Two more bandits came out of the overgrowth, and one looked inside the carriage. “Hey boss there’s a bunch of women inside.”

“Look if you wake them up, it’s your funeral.” Bloodstone pleaded with them.

“I said get off the horse” The bandit said ignoring him.

Bloodstone swung off the horse, and tossed the reigns to Rana. “Look if I have to move this tree im going to be seriously pissed.”

“Now hand over any gold you got” The bandit leader said still ignoring him.

“I really don’t have time for this nonsense” said as he started walking towards the bandit.

There was a metallic plink as the bolt struck Bloodstone and bounce into the air landing a few feet in front of him. “You put a hole in my shirt”

“Is he wearing some kind of magic armor?” The Bandit leader said, two of his men turned and fired at him as well, one shot missed and hit the carriage, and the other also made a metallic plink, and bounced into the overgrowth.

One of the men opened the carriage door and started to climb in, and was inside for a moment and was thrown out and into the overgrowth.

Amethyst climbed down out of the carriage, looked around and said, “Who the hell was that?”

“Sorry hon. I tried to tell them not to cause a fuss.” Bloodstone said to her.

The other bandit came around the back of the carriage and drew a dagger. With her back to him it as he bassed the door, a stick wacked him on the head, and he dropped like a sack of potatoes. Kuya stepped out of the carriage

“That’s what you get,” She said, as her staff began to glow shedding a bright light in all directions.

“Oh now you guys did it, they are both cranky when they get woken up.”

“A [mage] I didn’t sign up to mess with a mage.” One of the men turned to run and the ground grabbed him.

“It’s too late now.” Bloodstone said hopping over the tree and advancing on the bandit.

He was attempting to wind up the crossbow, when the punch to the face knocked him back and out cold.

“Anyone else want to fight?” Bloodstone asked they all had run off. He looked around only the two bandits that had been knocked out were around.  “I am not moving this tree!” He said upset.

They eventually rounded up the bandits and had them move the tree, they also uncovered that there were two hostages, whom they freed. There were only a dozen bandits and they hadn’t even gotten more than a couple of levels, in the trade.

They also found the head bandit a woman who had convinced them that they could make money at being bandits. The leader was also one of the local lord’s youngest daughters. She had been causing trouble in the area so that she didn’t have to get married.

They also had been harassing travelers through the woods giving it a bad reputation. He had told the bandits to disperse or else. The young woman Vella Jetarious he tied up and put in the carriage with the others, where she couldn’t cause any trouble.

It was evening when they finally exited the woods and the sun had gone down.

A campfire was built in the dark with Kuya lighting the area with her staff, and everyone had bed rolls that had been packed into the carriage. Watches were set and everyone settled in for the night.