smithy.
I want to live here without worrying about the real world, and without worrying about the Arbiters.
“Kato!” Silverstrike was stepping in through the front gate. Luke made his way over to him. “Yo, I think I found something we should… Are you okay?”
Luke frowned. It was too much of an effort for him to keep his emotions from leaking through, so instead, he waved a hand as though physically dismissing his friend’s concern.
“I’m fine,” he said. “Now, what is it that you found?”
Silverstrike nodded, and Luke was glad to see that he’d let it drop.
This is the basis of our friendship. I ignore his issues in the real world, and he ignores mine.
“There’s a new player controlled settlement on the northwest coast, right in between the border of the Inner Plains and the Blue Void.” Silverstrike pulled his map out of his satchel and tapped his finger on a spot. “It’s called Megwin’s Bay.”
“So what?” asked Luke. “At least a dozen have popped up in the last week. What makes this one special?”
“Would you stop interrupting and let me get to my point?”
“Fine.”
Silverstrike cleared his throat.
“I sent one of Katrina’s guild members out to Megwin, the guild leader, to talk about opening up the supply lines. We have access to a lot of rare crafting ingrediants out here in the desert that we won’t be able to use up on our own.”
“And?” asked Luke.
“Megwin is interested in working something out, but that’s not all.” Silverstrike set a hand on Luke’s shoulder. “He knows about you, Luke.”
“Everyone knows about me,” he replied, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes. “The Battle of Kantor has practically been turned into mythos at this point.”
“He wants you to come to the meeting with me,” said Silverstrike. “He says that it has to do with…”
Silverstrike glanced around, making sure nobody could overhear.
“With ‘dealing with’ the Arbiters.”
“What?” Luke tried to keep his surprise in check. “Dealing with them? Did he say how?”
“I don’t know, that’s all the messenger was able to get out of him,” said Silverstrike. “Which is why you being here right now is perfect. We can head up to Megwin’s Bay and find out for ourselves!”
Luke couldn’t resist smiling.
“Alright,” he said. “Let’s do it.”
The two of them spent a minute eating lunch in Dunidan’s Rest and gathering up supplies before they set out. Tess was lounging by the oasis with Katrina, and Luke was glad that she didn’t come to the gate to see him off.
I don’t have to convince her to stay here. I’m not sure if I’d be able to this time.
“Ready?” asked Silverstrike.
Luke nodded, and they left the settlement heading off to the north.
For a moment, it felt almost like it had when Luke had first started playing the game. Silverstrike was an Agent, a Rogue class subtype, and he dexterously moved across the desert, one shotting Sand Scamps as they went.
“I’m at level 17 now, Luke,” he said, with a smile. “Let me know if any of these guys give you trouble and I’ll do what I can to save you.”
“Your sense of humor is as sharp as ever.” Luke grinned, and spotted a group of Sand Scamps approaching from their left.
CONJURE SWORD 3
Luke launched off his three magical blades a split second before Silverstrike used his own combat ability, an exploding oil potion that he lobbed through the air. Luke’s swords skewered the low level Sand Scamps, and then Silverstrike’s potion splashed fire onto their corpses.
“Teamwork,” said Silverstrike. “Nothing can stop us, man.”
Luke shrugged.
Let’s hope not.
The Inner Plains had become much more populated since the Battle of Kantor. Luke could see groups of players moving across the grassy hills as the two of them approached, taking out enemies as though it was their job to keep patrol.
“Permadeath has changed how people play,” said Luke. “It’s a little
Marc Nager, Clint Nelsen, Franck Nouyrigat