It wasn’t easy telling the queen that their honored guests needed to leave. We were exhausted, though, and I couldn’t even tell what time it was. How long had it taken to recover from the fight with the cave troll? How long after to discuss everything, slay the Ichneumon, and be rewarded by the wyverns?
By my guess, it was most likely some time after midnight, and I checked my in-game clock. 1:14 AM. We had to spend more time telling the many important guests goodbye, but we were allowed to leave the celebration, which no doubt would continue till morning.
Harnoth led us to a quiet alcove in the palace. Pachi and I slept there for a few sweet hours. The guard woke us at five, then led us to the closest exit to the outside world. I rode on Pachi’s back on our way there, not wanting to waste any more time.
The sky was beginning to glow pink and pale orange in the east when we emerged from a hidden cavern high in the mountains, surprising the two guards at the entrance.
Harnoth looked pained at our departure, but promised us solemnly, “The queen has declared that this will be a time for rebuilding. Yet I will make sure that a squadron of our finest warriors will come to your aid in Taelman’s Pond. We do not have wings but can run swiftly. We will be there in two days.”
I thanked him and held my breath as Pachi sprinted toward the rocky precipice that fell away from the cave. We plummeted a short while then rose again as she flapped her wings to gain altitude.
I told Pachi we needed to make a stop at our shelter, hoping it wasn’t far out of the way.
Pachi slowly wheeled around till we were flying almost due north, the rising sun on our right just beginning to send the first piercing rays across the sky. We can be there soon enough, she said. The cave Harnoth led us to was closer than the one we entered.
Within an hour, Pachi was descending down toward the sky glade. I sent her to hunt while I packed up. I stored much of the spare hide strips in my packs and used plenty to tie the door on our cave open; that way if the wind picked up, it would be less likely to tear the structure away.
I took down the skins that had been drying and rolled them up, then made a pile of the gear we’d stowed in our cave while we were scouting.
Pachi returned with a fat doe and ate quickly while I shoved some dried venison in my mouth and drank from the spring. Then I loaded my girl up and we were off again, leaving the glade behind as quickly as we had returned.
The flight to Taelman’s Pond was quicker than I imagined. I had thought it would take the full day to fly that far, but we were descending the entire time, and an easterly wind sped us along at an incredible rate. We flew northeast, slowly leaving the mountains behind and flying over the Lorinand Forest.
While we scored the sky itself, I checked up on the quest that we’d completed. It was a chain after all, and I wanted to see what was next.
Stop the Rat King Part 4: Epic Quest. By slaying the foul Ichneumon, you have aided the Sirrushi wyverns more than you can know. They have sworn to join the alliance and fight against the Rat King’s armies. One such army has been spotted marching toward Taelman’s Pond. Quinn, the Elder, is in danger. Protect the townsfolk and make sure Quinn survives. Rewards: Save the town of Taelman’s Pond, reputation with all allied factions, Unknown Items, 15000 XP.
It was on, then. So far, I’d thrown down with a god and been through many intense skirmishes, but never a true battle. This was the official beginning of the war, then. I knew we would make it on time, but would the wyverns? And even so, would we be enough?
Hoping I’d had substantial gains, I checked my character status.
Hana Kotoba: Level 28
Class Rank: Pathfinder
HP: 10753/10753
Armor Rating 360
Vitality 36 (+3)
Strength 19 (+8)
Dexterity 32 (+40, +10% total)
Intelligence 19 (+8)
Stamina 25 (+21)
Sweet salted caramel! Four levels! My HP was looking pro. Still, I didn’t scream for joy or fist pump. I just hoped it would be enough for the battle to come.
My thoughts drifted to the time Selna had first taken Pachi and me through the tangled woods, and our encounter with Gascar. I ran my hand through Pachi’s fur, thankful she had not died again to the poison of the cave troll. Then, before I returned my gaze to the horizon, I saw movement in the trees below.
I called to Pachi, Hey! Can you circle back and maybe take us a little lower?
She did so, and we sacrificed some altitude for the sake of gaining a better view. Chills ran across my arms as I saw the countless tiny figures marching through the forest below, the occasional glint of steel reflecting the morning sunlight. There looked to be hundreds of soldiers. Whether they were ratkin, trow, or orcs, I had no clue, but their numbers were frightening.
An arrow came streaking up at us, falling short by a few dozen feet, but I had no idea if they had any magic casters in their group. Pachi turned away and labored to regain altitude again.
Shortly after, I got my first glimpse of Bridgerun: a series of tiny buildings and sprawling farmland surrounding it a few dozen miles to the south. Madi came to mind, and I wondered how her time had gone there. Hopefully, she had managed to pull many players and NPCs together in defense of Taelman’s Pond.
And then the small pond came
