Grand Game 115: Instigating Violence (Patreon)

Day Four. Early Evening.

I strode about the crater, looting my victims of their valuables. From within their cages, the prisoners screamed at me to free them. I ignored them, not about to be rushed in my search. Disappointingly, none of the goblins had the keys to the trapped cages.

Through my scavenging efforts, I accumulated a tidy sum of coins but nothing else of value.

You have acquired 5 gold and 4 silver coins.

Only after I finished with the goblins did I approach the prisoners. “About time,” Sturm ground out between clenched teeth.

Not bothering to reply, I cast trap disarm and inspected the convoluted spell strands wrapped around the lock of his cage.

“What are you waiting for?” a prisoner from an adjacent cage shouted. “Free him!”

Sturm, meanwhile, watched me from beneath lidded eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s trapped,” I murmured absently, my attention still fixed on the spell only I could see.

The nearby heckler began shouting again, but this time Sturm waved him to silence. Kneeling down so that I was at eye level with the lock, I set to work disarming it.

“You may want to step back,” I said, glancing up at Sturm. I smiled wryly. “Just in case this goes wrong.”

He said nothing but did as I bade.

In silence, I continued to work on unraveling the trap. Its nature was still unknown to me, but some half-understood bit of acquired knowledge made me suspect the trap was an explosive of some sort.

After a few minutes of intense concentration, I finally disabled the magical device.

You have successfully disarmed a trap.

I wiped off the beading sweat from my brow and smiled at the anxious Sturm. “I’ve deactivated it.”

He stepped closer. “That’s it? I’m free?”

“Not quite,” I murmured. “I still need to unlock the cage.”

It was a matter of a few seconds only to pick the lock. When I was done, I rose to my feet and stepped back. “Now you’re free.”

Sturm didn’t need to be told twice. Whooping for joy, the Tartan rushed out of the cage. As he passed through the door, an alert from the Adjudicator arrived.

You have completed the hidden task: Free the Captain’s Son! Your deeds have attracted the enmity of Erebus and the interest of Tartar. The Marks on your spirit signature have changed.

The Dark abhors those not strong enough to prevent themselves from falling prey to others. With your actions, you’ve allowed weakness to thrive. However, your efforts were tempered by self-interest. You made certain to free the prisoners in a manner that served your own ends. Dark is satisfied. Your Dark Mark remains unchanged.

Shadow is satisfied your actions have not impacted the balance of power in the sector. Your Shadow Mark remains unchanged.

Despite being deceitful of your intentions, you acted for the benefit of your allies in the sector and at great personal risk to yourself. Light approves. Your Light Mark has deepened.

The Wolf is both the protector and leader of the pack and, at all times, must act for its betterment. In freeing the prisoners, you have twisted the goals of others to remove a threat to the pack. Wolf is pleased. Your Wolf Mark has deepened.

“Well, well,” I murmured to myself as I read the Game messages twice over. I’d completed another hidden task and strengthened my Wolf Mark.

This has been a truly successful venture.

Lost in contemplation of the alert, it took me a moment to realize Sturm was speaking to me. I looked at him. “Sorry I missed what you said. What was that?”

“I asked, just what in damnation are you?” Although he’d phrased it as a question, it sounded more like a demand.

“Let me see to the others first,” I replied evenly, ignoring his tone. “Then we can talk.”

~~~

It did not take me long to free the rest of the captives.

The traps placed about their cages were of the same design as the one on Sturm’s, and with each prisoner I released, my thieving skill increased. When I was done, the eleven of us gathered around one of the goblins’ campfires, and I passed around some of my rations.

“Now,” Sturm said, speaking for the group, “explain yourself.”

Sitting down cross-legged before the fire, I eyed the young Tartan as I began to eat. He sat across me with his arms folded and his face expressionless. In that pose, he looked a lot like his father, and I suspected it was not by chance that he’d assumed it. But I was not deceived. Sturm was no Captain Talon.

“There’s nothing to explain,” I said with a shrug, ignoring his tone entirely. “Your father sent me to free you, and I did.”

“There must be more to it than that,” Sturm objected. “How did you get the Red Rats to abandon the crater?”

With effort, I stopped my exasperation from showing. Sturm was behaving more like the one in charge and less like a freed captive. “That you don’t need to know.”

Sturm’s eyes narrowed. “What made the guards kill themselves?”

I shrugged indifferently, not answering.

The captain’s son glared at me, and a heartbeat later, I felt a prickle run across my skin. It was a sensation that I was quickly coming to associate with failed analyze attempts. “Stop that,” I said mildly.

Sturm clenched his teeth in frustration. “Why can’t I see your level?” he demanded.

Smiling, I took another bite off my rations.

Another player spoke up. “He must have the deception skill.”

“Is that right?” Sturm asked, his face scrunching up in disgust.

I shrugged and kept chewing.

“Why won’t you answer any of my questions? I’m warning you—”

I’d had enough. Swallowing the last of my rations, I rose to my feet. “I’ll be going now.”

Alarm flickered across Sturm’s face. “What? Why?”

I looked at him impassively. “You’re free. My work here is done, and I have other things to do.” I ran my gaze across the group. “You lot can make your way back to the safe zone on your own. The way is clear. If you leave now, you will reach there before dawn.”

Sturm blanched. “We can’t. It’s too dangerous to travel to the forest during the dark.”

I nodded in belated realization. He was right. I had forgotten how much trouble other players had traveling at night. “Camp here then and leave at first light. The Red Rats will not be returning anytime soon.” If ever.

“You will not stay?” Sturm asked. “My father will reward you if you escort us back to the town.”

“He will reward me anyway,” I said with a small grin. “And like I said, I have things to do.” Inclining my head, I bid them farewell. “Goodbye and good luck.”

With that, I disappeared into the trees again.

~~~

I hadn’t lied to Sturm. I had a busy night ahead of me.

First on my agenda was a second visit to the Long Fangs’ camp. Partly, this was to make certain the Red Rats were doing as they’d been told—I was confident they were, but I couldn’t leave it to chance—and partly, it was to even the odds somewhat.

I’d come to realize that even with the Long Fangs defeated, the other goblin delegations also posed a risk to the dire wolves, and while I doubted I could rid the sector of the goblins entirely, I would do what I could to minimize the threat to the wolves.

In this case, that meant making sure that as many of the Red Rats as possible died in their impending assault.

While I hurried southeast through the forest, I reviewed my gains from the battle and its immediate aftermath. I’d advanced eight player levels, less than I expected. My leveling rate had slowed again—it seems I need to find higher-level foes, I thought wryly—but eight levels was still a tidy handful.

Many of my skills had increased, too, most notably telepathy.

After a moment’s consideration, I invested all my attribute points in Perception. I needed to ensure I had enough open slots for future upgrades, and besides, in both Dexterity and Mind—the only other attributes for which I had abilities—I still had enough surplus slots.

Your Perception has increased to rank 20.

After I was done, I paused my journey to read the improved analyze ability tome.

You have upgraded your analyze ability to: improved analyze. This ability allows you to inspect your foe’s Class and overall health status in addition to their level. Beware, some targets may sense when this ability is used upon them. The success of this ability is determined by the target’s level and deception skill.

This ability consumes no energy and can be upgraded. Its activation time is near-instantaneous. Improved analyze is an advanced ability and requires 4 more Perception slots than its basic variant. You have 6 of 20 Perception ability slots remaining.

Finally, I called up my player profile to review the changes to myself.

Player Profile: Michael

Level: 58. Rank: 5. Current Health: 100%.

Stamina: 100%. Mana: 100%. Psi: 100%.

Species: Human. Lives Remaining: 3.

Marks: Wolf-brethren, Lesser Shadow, Lesser Light, Lesser Dark.

Attributes

Available: 0 points.

Strength: 2. Constitution: 14. Dexterity: 20. Perception: 20. Mind: 15. Magic: 2. and Faith: 2.

Classes

Available: 2 points.

Primary-Secondary Bi-blend: Mindstalker.

Tertiary Class: None.

Traits

Psi wolf heritage: +2 Dexterity, +2 Strength, +4 Mind.

Beast tongue: can speak to beastkin.

Marked: can see spirit signatures.

Nocturnal: perfect night vision.

Skills

Available skill slots: 0.

Dodging (current: 40. max: 200. Dexterity, basic).

Sneaking (current: 57. max: 200. Dexterity, basic).

Shortswords (current: 51. max: 200. Dexterity, basic).

Two weapon fighting (current: 43. max: 200. Dexterity, advanced).

Light armor (current: 34. max: 140. Constitution, basic).

Thieving (current: 39. max: 200. Dexterity, basic).

Chi (current: 36. max: 150. Mind, advanced).

Meditation (current: 41. max: 150. Mind, basic).

Telekinesis (current: 30. max: 150. Mind, advanced).

Telepathy (current: 34. max: 150. Mind, advanced).

Insight (current: 59. max: 200. Perception, basic).

Deception (current: 53. max: 200. Perception, master).

Abilities

Dexterity ability slots used: 13 / 20.

crippling blow (Dexterity, basic, shortswords).

minor piercing strike (5 Dexterity, advanced, shortswords).

lesser backstab (5 Dexterity, advanced, sneaking).

basic trap disarm (Dexterity, basic, thieving).

simple lockpicking (Dexterity, basic, thieving).

Mind ability slots used: 4 / 15.

simple charm (Mind, basic, telepathy).

stunning slap (Mind, basic, chi).

one-step (Mind, basic, telekinesis).

minor reaction buff (Mind, basic, chi).

Perception ability slots used: 14 / 20.

improved analyze (5 Perception, advanced, insight).

lesser trap detect (Perception, basic, thieving).

conceal small weapon (Perception, basic, deception).

facial disguise (Perception, basic, deception).

ventro (Perception, basic, deception).

lesser imitate (5 Perception, advanced, deception).

Other abilities:

simple mindsight (Class, basic, telepathy).

Known Key Points

Sector 14,913 exit portal and safe zone.

Sector 12,560 nether portal and safe zone.

Equipped

spider’s bite shortsword (+15% damage, webbed), concealed.

shortsword,+1 (+15% damage, +10 shortswords), concealed.

common fighter’s sash (+3 shortswords).

enchanted leather armor set (+20% damage reduction, -4 Dexterity).

slotted-potion belt (3 minor heal, 4 moderate heal, 0 full heal, 2 empty).

common thief’s cloak (+3 sneaking).

apprentice’s ring (+2 Magic).

acolyte’s ring (+2 Faith).

Backpack Contents (Key Items)

Money: 5 gold, 7 silvers, and 0 coppers.

2 x iron daggers.

goblin writ of safe passage.

1 x alchemy stone (42 / 150 ingredients).

bounty letter.

common mage’s cloak (+3 air magic).

code sheet.

Stayne’s letter.

Alchemy Stone Contents

9 x vials of beast blood.

10 x heaps of ordinary bonedust.

1 x rhomodillo tusk.

3 x sacs of wyvern venom.

1 x set of wyvern fangs.

18 x wyvern scales.

Bank Contents

Money: 46 gold, 4 silvers, and 9 coppers.

2 x full healing potions.

2 x basic steel shortswords.

Open Tasks

Aid the Pack (Stop the Long Fangs hunting the dire wolves).

An Alchemist’s Bounty (kill the wyvern mother).

Goblin Wars (destroy all 3 goblin tribes in the valley).

Forging Dark Alliances (secure the allegiance of the Howlers and Red Rats for the Dark).

I smiled in satisfaction. The day’s work had served me well.

I’d grown appreciably, and soon I would be able to upgrade my Mind abilities, too. Given that I invariably found myself fighting against large groups of enemies, my Mind skills were of crucial importance.

If the rest of the night goes as planned, there will be more opportunities to advance further tonight.

Increasing my pace, I hurried southeast.

~~~

I’ve followed on the heels of the Red Rats’ army. Their trail, marked by a wide swath of destruction in the forest, was easy to follow.

But as I covered mile after mile and still didn’t catch up with them as I’d expected, my worry grew. Nyzack must be pushing his people hard, I thought. The goblins had to have kept traveling well past dark to be so far ahead of me.

Increasingly troubling was the notion that the Red Rats might have chosen not to break for the night. I hoped that was not the case. Otherwise, I was making my run southeast in vain.

My concerns proved groundless, however.

An hour past midnight and a little more than a mile away from the Long Fangs’ camp, I finally found the Red Rats’ war camp. Staying concealed in the trees, I observed them.

The soldiers looked exhausted, and only a handful of guards had been posted to watch the camp. I shook my head at Nyzack’s foolishness.

He had pushed his men too hard, and tomorrow when they met the Long Fangs in battle, they’d be still feeling the effects of their march the day before.

It is better this way. More goblins were likely to die as a result.

Still shaking my head, I left the Red Rats behind me and made my way to the Long Fangs’ encampment. Little had changed since my previous visit. The fortified camp was as well patrolled as before.

I frowned. I could see no sign of increased patrols. Which could only mean the Long Fangs weren’t aware of the impending attack.

Time to warn them.

Given the disparity in numbers, there was no way the Long Fangs could triumph in battle against the Red Rats. But if I ensured they were forewarned, then they could give a good accounting of themselves and perhaps make a sizable dent in the Red Rats’ forces.

They wouldn’t just listen to anything I had to say, though. That meant getting creative again.

Delaying only so long as to cast lesser imitate, I stepped out of the trees and into plain sight. To all appearances, I was the Red Rat shaman, Klaxis, if a notably smaller version. This time around, though, I would make sure not to approach my foes too closely.

Picking out one of the guards, I began casting simple charm. Before my spell was completed, I was spotted. But that was alright.

I meant myself to be seen.

Pointing my way, the guards sounded the alarm. I ignored them and kept casting. It did not take the goblins long to decide how to respond.

Four of the guards hurried my way, while another two ran into the camp, no doubt to inform the witch doctors of my presence.

My spell completed, and one of the approaching goblins fell under my thrall. “Die, Long Fangs!” I roared in the former—and very dead—Red Rat shaman’s voice. At the same time, I ordered my minion to attack his fellows.

Chaos ensued as a skirmish broke out amongst the guards.

“Tyga is bewitched! The Rat has bespelled him!” one of the goblins shouted.

Leaving one of their fellows to deal with my minion, the other two guards kept sprinting towards me which, while the right tactics to employ against a spellcaster, suited my own ends perfectly.

I grinned. Spinning about, I fled through the trees.

My sharp ears picked up the footfalls of the goblins racing after me, and not wanting to lose them, I kept my own pace measured. Leading the Long Fang guards on, I made straight for the Red Rats’ camp.

I arrived at it without incident. Stopping short of its unpatrolled perimeter, I swung about and waited for the Long Fang soldiers to catch up. When I was sure they could see me, I laughed openly in their faces before fading into the shadows.

Two hostile entities have failed to detect you! You are hidden.

Wrapped in darkness, I waited patiently to see what happened next.

Huffing and cursing foully, the two goblins skidded to a halt where they had last seen me. “Where’d he go?” asked the first.

“Bloody shamans,” swore the second, sheathing his bare blade. “He’s vanished.”

“Fool,” hissed the first. “Keep your blade out. Shamans are tricky.”

The second guard sneered. “Don’t tell me you’re scared? If the shaman could’ve slain us, he wouldn’t have fled in the first place. Come on, let’s head—”

The goblin broke off as his companion slapped a hand to his mouth.

“Listen!” the first hissed. With his hand still on his companion’s mouth, the guard looked around fearfully. “Do you hear that?” he whispered in a low voice.

The second guard frowned, then a moment later, his eyes widened as he heard the same thing that his companion had.

About time, I groused.

The low murmur of sound from the two thousand goblins in the Red Rats’ camp just a dozen yards away was unmissable. It was a wonder it had taken the pair so long to notice.

Moving with comical caution, the two goblins tiptoed forward and peered through the trees.

A moment later, they stared at each other, their faces pale.

“Back,” the second goblin said, his voice trembling. “We must go back!” he all but shouted in a hushed whisper.

His companion did not demur, and a moment later, the pair fled back whence they had come. Watching from hiding, I chuckled in amusement.

My work here was done.