PA-01. Den Of Thieves, page 26
part #1 of Pantheon Online Series
[You have dealt +20 Damage to Red Cloak Level 7!]
It wasn’t a good shot, hitting him in the side, rather than anywhere critical. But the man paused and clutched the wound, and as Gunnar turned away, a dire wolf leapt upon the guard and dug massive fangs into his throat.
[You have defeated Red Cloak Level 7 with an assist from Dire Wolf Level 10. Here’s 5 XP!]
The wolf looked up at him, and Gunnar could have sworn it nodded its thick muzzle. Then, it bounded after another Red Cloak with a snarl.
Unlocked Spell: Call of the Wild
Spell Type: Race-based, Celestial
Alignment: Light
Linked Attribute: Wisdom (+65% Development)
Bonded Creature: Dire Wolf
Bond Level: Basic
Description: You have shared a kill with a wild beast. As a dusk elf, this act has formed a basic spiritual bond with the creature. This tender moment of slaughter will not be forgotten.
Em: Come on!
She had nearly reached the surface. Gunnar turned away from the bedlam below and raced back up the stairs, closing the steel door behind him. When he reached the surface, there was no sign of the fox.
A couple of Red Cloaks came rushing over and clamped thick locking beams over the door behind him, and Gunnar was especially glad he’d removed his cloak earlier.
“What the hell is going on down there, elf?” one of the them asked, securing one of several locks holding the beams in place.
Gunnar shook his head. “I was down fetching more wine, when I heard screams. Some of the beasts got out. It’s a bloodbath.”
“Gods!” the Red Cloak muttered.
The door rattled and there was a vicious growl beyond the door, but the beams held in place.
“What about the door in the house?” Gunnar thought aloud.
The two guards looked at each other in horror and hurried off.
There was still no sign of Em, so Gunnar dashed into the bushes and made for the wall.
Loud shrieks and snarls behind him suggested that the two Red Cloaks did not manage to secure the cellar door in time. Gunnar couldn’t see the mayhem, but between dead nobles and loose beasts, he hoped it would be enough for them to get safely away.
The trees and shrubbery were cleared around the edges of the wall. Gunnar reached the space, but did not find Em or the dwarves.
Kohli stood in the clearing, dagger in his hand. The man looked haggard and beaten, and he was panting as he raised his blade.
Gunnar drew his sword. “Couldn’t get any Red Cloaks to help you?”
Kohli glared. “They’re a little busy, thanks to you.”
“It’s done, Kohli. You failed.”
“Admiral Benton is dead. You’ve no idea what you’ve done.”
Gunnar rolled his eyes. “What do you care?”
“Sykes cares, and I need Sykes if I’m going to survive in this world, so there you have it.”
“Looks like you chose the wrong side,” Gunnar said.
“There is an order to the underworld of this city, and you broke that order. There will be consequences.”
“Maybe. But they won’t be coming from you. As soon as Sykes realizes you failed, he’ll cast you aside, just like all the others.”
Kohli’s eyes went wild with rage. “Then I guess I might as well go down with a bit of glory, eh?”
The thief leapt forward, but he never reached Gunnar.
Out of the darkness, a massive beastly blur leapt in front of Gunnar and collided with Kohli, tackling him to the ground with a loud snarl.
Kohli screamed like a child as the dire wolf’s fangs buried into his side.
A grappling hook dropped from above, nearly smoking Gunnar in the head.
Back in human form, Em grinned from the wall above. “Let’s get the hell out of here!”
Gunnar grabbed the rope and quickly ascended the wall as the hook retracted.
Kohli shrieked as he tried to resist the wolf, but he’d lost his dagger and was no match for such a powerful, vicious creature.
“Hey!” Gunnar shouted from the top of the wall.
At his commanding voice, the wolf lifted its head and backed away from Kohli. The thief groaned.
“We’re safe now,” Gunnar said. “Now, get out of there and save yourself.”
The wolf glanced at Kohli, whose ragged suit was now drenched in blood. The wolf let out a low growl, then looked back up at Gunnar and nodded its thick head.
The creature bounded into the darkness. It had saved his life. Gunnar just hoped it made it out of Dravingdel’s estate safely.
“I’m gonna… ruin you,” Kohli murmured from the ground below. His words were barely distinguishable, uttered between groans of agonizing pain.
Gunnar just shook his head. He’d been a fool to think the thief would learn. “Bring it on, asshole.”
With that, Gunnar and Em quickly climbed down the other side and joined the dwarves at the base of the wall.
“That was bloody brilliant,” Nimble said, shaking his head with a wicked grin.
“No time for celebration till we’re out of the Golden Hills,” Em said, leading the way down the hillside.
Clouds shrouded them in darkness, and Gunnar activated Dark Sight, letting him quickly and silently traipse through the tall grass and bushes. At one point, Gunnar could have sworn he heard Kohli hollering after them. But he guessed it was just some cry from Dravingdel’s estate. The thief might be able to scale Dravingdel’s wall, after taking a Health potion or something, but Gunnar knew Kohli didn’t possess Dark Sight.
And besides, the man was a damn coward.
It only took them a few minutes to reach the walls of the Golden Hills. After rappelling the outer barrier, they slowed their pace, making their way carefully and silently through the small forest that led to the inner parts of the city.
When they neared the edge of the woods and could just see the glow of streetlamps beyond, Em held up her hand and they paused.
There was a rustle in the forest behind them.
46
ASSASSIN
A pair of glowing eyes shone from the darkness. The lights from the nearby streets addled Gunnar’s vision, and he disabled Dark Sight. But that still didn’t help him much.
There was a soft crunching of feet on the forest floor, and a dark shadow took shape at the edge of the forest.
“What the bloody hell is that?” Nimble murmured.
“Stay back,” Em said softly. She transformed in an instant back into her fox form. She stepped into the shadows toward the glowing eyes.
Gunnar made to follow, but the fox turned and shook its head.
Em: Leave this to me.
But Gunnar ignored her. The dire wolf stepped out to meet them.
Gunnar’s heart pounded in his chest, but he thought he knew why it had followed.
Stooping down to a knee, Gunnar held out his hand, keeping his eyes on the ground. He remembered hearing something about how eye contact was a sort of challenge for dogs, and he thought perhaps that was true with wolves as well. The dire wolf let out a low growl and sauntered forward.
Gunnar hadn’t truly appreciated how large and powerful a creature it was back in the cellar. The wolf’s shoulders were nearly as high as his own, while standing upright.
It sniffed him and then licked his fingers.
The wolf turned to Em’s fox form and let out a series of low growls. Em did not move, offering only some soft growls of her own in return, keeping her eyes down.
Em: She’s thanking us. On behalf of all the creatures that were imprisoned down there.
Gunnar responded out loud. “You’re the one who freed them.”
Em: She seems to like you. You bonded with her. How?
“Seems to be a racial ability. She finished off one of those Red Cloaks after I got him with a dagger.”
Em: Dravingdel ripped her away from her pack. The bond of the hunt is the strongest bond there is for her kind. You’re not interested in a familiar, are you?
Gunnar shook his head. “A dire wolf in a city like Thailen? I wish.”
Em: I’ll let you break the news to her. I think she understands you when you speak.
Em backed away from the wolf and trotted over to join the dwarves, who were shaking their heads, lingering grimaces of fear on their faces as they watched.
Gunnar reached out his hand once more to the wolf, and she brushed it with her nose. He let his fingers glide under her muzzle and scratched her neck. She let out a soft groan.
“Em may have set you free,” Gunnar said, “but none of us would have gotten out of that hellhole without you. I wish you could stay with us, but there’s nowhere for you to stay in this city.”
The wolf glanced behind her, and somehow, Gunnar understood what she meant.
“These woods are too small for a big girl like you,” Gunnar said. “You belong in the wild.”
The dire wolf growled softly.
“You’ll find a new pack. I’m sure of it. You saved my life back there. If we meet again, I hope I can return the favor.”
The wolf nuzzled his hand with her nose and grunted.
[Your bond with Dire Wolf Level 10 has increased to Novice. It’s too bad you don’t bond like this with women.]
Gunnar cursed to himself, wishing he had a greater opportunity to develop the bond. If he were to ever leave this city, he could use an ally like her.
“Get out of Thailen. The Golden Hills lead to the mountains eventually, if you keep climbing beyond all the noble estates. Be careful.”
The dire wolf let out one last growl, then turned and trotted into the darkness.
They soon returned to more familiar parts of the city.
Nort decided to part ways before they passed the busier trading districts. “Thought my life was over after I ended up on one o’ them slavers. I’m most grateful.”
He offered Gunnar and Em both a firm handshake.
“I only wish the others might’ve made it in time from that ship tonight,” the dwarf said. “Maybe they would’ve got free too.”
“Others?” Gunnar asked.
Em: We don’t have time for this…
Gunnar offered her a glare but didn’t respond.
“Sure,” Nort said. “We all got rounded up together in Mavenport. Don’t suppose there’s anything you could do, is there?”
Quest Alert - Chainbreaker
Description: Nort and Nimble aren’t the only slaves in Thailen. They come in by the shipload from cities all across the Altaean Sea.
Objective: Feeling cute. Might kick some ass and piss off some nobles.
Reward: Freeeedoommmm!
Do you wish to accept? Yes/No
Em: Gunnar! We need to go.
Gunnar sighed and clapped the dwarf on the shoulder. “Sorry, Nort. Don’t think we can pull off another heist in one night.” He figured it would expire on its own anyway, so he simply dismissed the prompt from his sight.
“You got a place to stay?” Gunnar asked.
Nort snorted with bemusement. “Not unless you include the clink. Afraid all I’ve seen of Thailen is the inside of a cage. But I’ll figure something out.”
“I might know somewhere you can go if you don’t find a place.”
“You’ve done too much already.”
“I’ll DM you the location. The rest is up to you.”
Nort smiled. “Much obliged. Not met many good elves, Gunnar.”
“You still en’t met one,” Nimble said with a chortle.
The two dwarves shared a very grunty embrace, and then Gunnar, Em, and Nimble headed toward the spires of Luka’s temple.
Dimble the dwarf met them at the edge of the temple square. He and his brother clasped one another on the shoulder, then Dimble turned to Gunnar. The dwarf’s family was there too. A bearded woman and a crew of four tiny dwarven kids smothered Nimble in embraces.
Gunnar felt warm inside as he watched the reunion. Though Nimble tried to maintain his gruff composure, he couldn’t help letting a smile or two slip as he greeted his family.
Dimble grinned at Gunnar’s side and slapped him on the back.
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest Dimble’s Nimble. You have returned Dimble’s brother to his family safe and unspoiled. Here’s 160 XP!]
[Congratulations! You have completed this quest while rescuing another innocent prisoner. You’ve earned the Two for One badge: +1 to Constitution, +1 to Strength, +1 to Agility, +1 to Dexterity.]
[Congratulations! You have made progress along your path. You have reached Level 16 in the skill Throwing Blade. You have reached Level 7 in Stealth. You have reached Level 8 in Dark Sight. You have reached Level 10 in Endurance.]
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 11 in Glory!]
Nymoria appeared in the temple square and reached out her hand to him.
“Well done, faithful servant. “You have taken another step on the path to greatness. As a reward, you have earned one attribute point, which can be distributed at any time. But remember that every choice you make will echo into eternity. Choose wisely.”
The goddess vanished, and Dimble shook Gunnar’s hand vigorously.
“I’m forever grateful,” Dimble said. “I wish there was more I could do.”
Nimble grunted. “Quit groveling. The boy’ll be amply rewarded for my rescue.”
Gunnar raised a brow at the dwarf. “Is that so?”
“Have your foxy friend bring you by my shop sometime. I’ll set you up well.”
The dwarves left them alone in the square. There were a few pedestrians passing through, and a few drunks gathered close to the temple, but there was no one near.
Gunnar turned to Em. “You knew Nimble before all this?”
Em shrugged. “Maybe.”
Now that the adrenaline of escaping the estate had faded, Gunnar’s frustration with the way things had played out began to set in.
“None of this was a coincidence,” Gunnar said. “The rescue quest. Our recon. Leilani.”
“Nimble is a member of the Nighthawks. Our weapons master. The party provided multiple opportunities if you were ready for it. Turns out, you were.”
There was a soft clanking sound that echoed up the streets. A sleek black carriage pulled up to the edge of the square and parked in the shadows. Waiting for him.
“You knew what would happen with that letter, didn’t you?”
Em smiled coyly. “You’re an assassin now.”
“I took that quest to deliver a letter. To save a dwarf.”
“You did save a dwarf, and with Benton dead, many other good people who would have been killed are saved too.”
“Benton wasn’t the only one who died,” Gunnar said, picturing the bodies in the gardens. People he was pretty sure he had killed. Suddenly, the image of that blonde girl flashed through his mind. Car swirling. A scream and a thud. Her body covered in blood.
“I am not a killer!”
Em sighed. “You are though, Gunnar. That’s what this is all about, and you know it. Benton’s letter contained a poison, released into the air when he opened the letter. I can assure you that everyone who died deserved it, one way or another. You saw what kind of people were at that party.”
This did little to quell the ache in his gut. “You played me.”
Em gripped his shoulder. “You passed your trial with flying colors, Gunnar. I played you because I saw potential when we met in that crypt. And you proved what you’re made of. So, quit whining like a little kid, and let’s go celebrate with Leilani. She is going to be very pleased.” Em tugged his arm toward the waiting carriage, but Gunnar shrugged her off.
“I can’t celebrate yet,” he said.
“What are you talking about?”
“You said this was about doing good? Well, there’s a ship coming in tonight. More slaves for Dravingdel. Probably for other nobles as well. I couldn’t free everyone back at that party. But maybe I can stop more from ending up there.”
“Gunnar, you’re a Nighthawk now. You can’t just run off on whatever quest suits your fancy.”
“I thought you Nighthawks were all about resisting the corruption of the nobles in this city.”
Em glowered. “We are. But there is a process. You need approval from the guild masters, and—I don’t know—a fucking plan?”
“That ship comes in any moment. If I talk to Leilani and join the Nighthawks, you think she’ll let me go?”
“No, she won’t. We’ve caused a lot of uproar tonight, and we’ve had no time to stake out this job. It’s too risky. We have to be calculated. You can’t save everyone in this city.”
Gunnar began to walk away. “Well, maybe I’m not a good fit for the Nighthawks.”
“Gunnar, don’t be an idiot. This guild is your future in this world.”
He didn’t respond. He turned, making his way toward a nearby alley.
“What am I supposed to tell Leilani?” Em shouted.
“I’m sure you can think of a good lie.”
Gunnar left Em behind and hurried into the city. As he ran, he sent a message.
Gunnar: I’ve got a crazy quest for you. Interested?
He had nearly reached the docks when he received the reply.
Sheira: I like crazy.
47
THE LEAP
Gunnar and Sheira met on the roof of a warehouse near the shipyards, not too far from the one Gunnar had emptied for Sykes.
After he finished telling the Maldan woman about the ship, Sheira just shook her head. “You want to rip off the cargo of an entire slaver?”
Gunnar nodded. “Or, you know, as many as we can pull off. But yeah, preferably all of them.”
“Assuming it hasn’t already come in.”
“You track these sorts of ships, don’t you?”
“You think I know about every ship in this city?”
Gunnar smirked. “Well, you sure had my ship’s number when I first got here.”
