Stacia beamed, “Aye, tha’ I do.”
“I want to hear more about how you made the Assassin surrender,” Karen added as they headed out of the fort.
Alburet chewed his lip for a second, “I’ll get into that after this first bit with the gnolls, okay?”
“Deal,” Karen agreed as they reached the tree line.
Alburet used the time spent traveling through the woods toward the gnoll cave to give them all a quick rundown about the Forgotten Prison and how he had been introduced to the game. He described the book and letter opener, and how he’d traded them for his first bits of gear which led to the later meeting with Sir Jones. He told them about the concessions he’d asked for and received, as well. “So, that’s why we have all these nobles poking around and asking for meetings and stuff. They can all go fuck themselves as far as I’m concerned, they have nothing I need or want.”
“The Forgotten Prison is the max level Raid Instance,” Fluffball said quietly.
“It is?” Gerald asked quickly. “Then why doesn’t everyone know about it?”
“Alpha Worlders all know about it, but it ha’ been missin’ since the first empire fell,” Stacia told him. “Many scholars and explorers ha’ been seekin’ it since the third Empire was founded in Stormguard.”
“And you know where it is?” Marysue asked Alburet.
“Vaguely. The map is blurry in that area still, like a spell still covers the area or something. Sir Jones was flummoxed by that, as was Vladimir Dracon, both of whom got copies of my map from me. Makes me think something like this was supposed to happen at some point, it just wound up happening a bit sooner then it probably should have. None of which will impact us until we can get to the Dead Lands and beyond.”
“The Dead Lands be the place most adventures die the final death,” Stacia added. “It be why none have found much about it. Many who dare the sands of the Dead Lands fail to be seen again.”
“Good thing we always come back, then,” Gerald chuckled. “Cave ahead. Stacia, show us this new ability on the right hand gnoll please.”
Stacia targeted the one he requested and sang at it. The gnoll to the left howled and started forward towards her. Gerald and Tiny stepped forward to meet it, followed by the others. Before it reached them though, the Gnoll Champion Stacia had been singing to bashed its friend from behind, stunning it. “Got him,” Stacia said as she came forward after the others.
Gerald nodded, watching the controlled gnoll tanking its friend, “That will be a huge help in the last fight if we can grab the healers to help Marysue at the beginning.”
“It lasts two minutes, can’t be canceled early, but they can still be dazed when it wears off,” Alburet filled them in. “When we get there, I’m thinking we have Stacia ally both healers and go to town on the melee. Then focus the shield down until it gets low, kill the two healers off, and finish the shield.”
“That will probably work,” Gerald agreed, as they killed the second gnoll once the Ally ability wore off it. “Okay. Same as before once we’re inside.”
Alburet treated the group to a blow by blow recount of the fight with the Assassin while they cleared the first packs of trash, aided by comments from Stacia, Bob and surprisingly, Tiny. Gerald looked thoughtful as Alburet recounted the terms of the Assassin’s surrender. “You know, we may want to not have any Alpha World people as guild officers when that two month reprieve comes to an end. They aren’t guaranteed to come back.”
Gnasher and the Passionate Constrictor both died without issue, since now they knew how to handle them. The Gnoll Shaman was easier than it had been before, with two extra healers the stun and crits from the melee didn’t hurt nearly as much, even more so as Stacia was able to daze two of the melee as well, once she had the healers controlled. They followed the plan and killed the melee, followed by almost breaking the shield before turning on the healers as the Ally ability wore off, then taking the shield down.
Going into the final leg of the fight, Mary was nearly at full mana and no one was hurt which made the whole thing much simpler. They killed the Gnoll Shaman easily and collected their loot. Alburet chuckled at the staff he got, which he handed over to Marysue. His current weapon was still far superior, but it was a nice upgrade for her. Instead of walking back out, they decided to call it a day there as Gerald had a meeting coming up. Alburet and Stacia also had dinner plans for after the sun went down.
They exchanged a round of hugs and used their Homestones to get back to Stormguard. Alburet tensed as he appeared in front of the archway to his house, half expecting a knife to sink into his back. Stacia took a step toward the door before glancing back at him. “It be fine now, Asthore. He will nay break his word.”
Nodding, Alburet followed Stacia into the house. They still had two hours before dinner with Kim and Rolland. Stacia started preparing the meal and Alburet gave her a quick hug and kiss. “Going to go sell off loot, Kitten. Be back once I’m done, okay?”
“Aye, master,” she said, watching him go.
Alburet walked into Grimgar’s to find half a dozen people ranged along the counters, looking over weapons. He nodded to Grimgar as the bell announced his entrance, getting a grin in return. “Grim, looks busy,” Alburet called out.
“Aye, lad, they all be in ye guild,” Grimgar laughed. “Ye have done me a favor, it seems.”
“What’s up Al?” Ironhand looked up from where he was looking at a shortsword. “This place is good on price. Even better with the discount.”
Alburet’s smile was strained as he recalled shortening names yesterday. It might be considered bad manners to insist on his full name now, but he still tried. “Please, call me Alburet, and not Al.”
“Sure, no problem,” Ironhand replied. He turned put five gold on the counter. “I’ll take it.”
“Pleasure doin’ business with ya,” Grimgar said, taking the gold and returning a few silver. Grimgar was busy for the next few minutes as the other shoppers made their decisions and settled up. Alburet watched them go, waving to the one who looked back, then began to stack weapons onto the counter. Grimgar was chuckling, “Well, tha’ was a nice bit of coin for me. Let us see how much o’ that I be givin’ back to ye, eh?”
Alburet grinned, “Mutually beneficial, Grim. I hope Almira and the others are doing just as well.”
“Ye’ll probably find out soon enough, iffin ye be makin’ ye normal round droppin’ off ye junk.”
“True enough,” Alburet agreed. He took the coin Grimgar offered him without bothering to count it. “How’s business been overall?”
“Nay been bad. I been getting’ a nice spot o’ business from ye guild. The discount be enough to keep bringin’ em back to me. I ha’ a question for ye about somethin’ else, though. What do ye think of Wilbur? Will he do right by Erin?”
Alburet took a moment to consider before nodding, “I think he is probably as in love with her as she is with him. His problem is that he cares about what his family thinks, and they won’t accept her. I have an idea how to get around that, though, which I will be discussing with him tomorrow night. If it works out, he’ll be free to do what he wishes without having to worry about his brother.”
“Do ye think he will turn her away?”
“Not if he doesn’t want your blades at his neck,” Alburet laughed. “Truthfully, I don’t think so. He’s just feeling like he’s caught between what his heart wants, which is Erin, and what his upbringing and family are telling him, which is that she’s not good enough.”
“Keep an eye on him, then,” Grimgar replied. “Iffin it looks like it’s goin’ bad then mayhap ye can bring him to me for a talk.”