The most anticipated event started when the Shaman reached her bare arm into the fire, sending green, blue, and yellow sparkles into the burning wood.
“Everything begins and ends in the clan fire,” Zukulum rasped. “Everyone, come closer. Warm yourself by the fire, and we shall start our story and songs. If you all are ready to listen, I’m ready to tell. Let me just gather my drums and strings.”
Everyone was eager at what would happen next. Compared to before that the camp was so crowded with little breathing space. Now, it was a little breezy and cozy, with just enough players to make room for a comfortable space.
The others must have abandoned the rare quest in pursuit of the ‘Rare Beast’ that Ren and Evie faced before.
The Shaman spoke some more before Sharina took over.
“For seven nights, we’re plagued by terrible creatures’ called the Night Crawlers, minions of the Evil God, Rakshat Parah. They killed several of our tribesmen and wounded more. “I’m calling all warriors to kill these menace and bring back peace into our clan.”
“Yeargh!”
“For those who rise in the call – are you brave enough to face the creatures of the dark and survive until tomorrow?”
“Yeargh!”
“Will you escape the slithering reach of Oozes and avoid turning into one? Will you be able to slay Giants and reach Blood Mountain to defeat the evil God Rakshat Parah, who hunts beings who defy his will?
“If you dare . . . if you’re strong enough, crazy enough, wild enough – Twin Moon Axe Clan is calling for you with an echoing, feral, besmirched howl!”
Everyone’s nerves were tearing them apart from how hyped they were, and they all shouted at the call.
YaAaasArRgGhH!!
But Ragnar only leaned at Ren with a skeptical expression. “I thought we were only here for the Mask and to defend this camp for two nights. Why is the list of the things we have to do kept getting longer?”
“It’s because this is a chain quest. And every NPC and choice we make will affect the outcome of the story and the fate of the Twin Moon Axe Clan as a whole as well as the items we received,” replied Ren.
“I’m confused. How does this work, exactly?” chimed Evie. “A lot of us are doing the same quest at the same time, but there’s only one who can complete the quest, right? Does that mean that whoever is the fastest to complete the quest is the winner?”
Ren shook his head. “No. That’s not how a rare quest works. There are dozens of choices that only lead to one true ending. All other choices besides that mean the end of their quest, and they would get the corresponding price depending on their completion rate.
“However, as long as no one completed the True Ending, the quest is still available for everyone to retry again.”
Ragnar paused and processed what Ren said. “So that meant . . .”
“We have to be really careful about the choices we make and the inhabitants we side with,” finished Ren for Ragnar.
“I see . . .” Evie stretched her eyes in the camp. The simple quest, she thought, turned into something complex.
“I need a raise,” she said to Ragnar.
Ragnar merely stifled a laugh. “No problem, as long as I got that mask in the end.”
The only one who wasn’t satisfied with the whole thing was Ren. He had nothing to gain from all of this except maybe Ragnar’s end of the deal.
Ren sighed. Let’s just get this thing done and over with.
The night moved forward, and some of the clan members rested in their tents. The only ones who were up were the warriors, the Chieftain, the Shaman, the Saurians, the Spellskin and the players.
A blood-curdling howl split the night, and something slithered in the shadows when the moon and fire couldn’t illuminate the darkness. Voices whispered in their ears, scratching the wooden gates and tents, begging to be let in.
They felt like they were surrounded from all sides by unknown things. Untouchable. Unstoppable. And thick with malice and killing intent.
Orakh raised his weapon, as well as the soldiers under him. Sharina only looked around, alert. While the players’ excitement to complete the quest was replaced with dread. Clearly, they didn’t know what they got themselves into. They thought that it was just normal beasts, but to their horror, what stumbled before them were hordes of shadows the size of humans. But they took many forms, horns, tails, wings; they have it.
ǁ N I G H T C R A W L E R S ‖
Location: The Great Valley
Description:
“The minions of the Evil God Rakshat Parah.”
Born from the cumulative negative energy from all beings in ARCADIA, these spiteful creatures took many forms and fed on life energy.
Rakshat Parah performed a taboo spell to get these creatures to his side, controlling them to his bidding.
And now, the Evil God of Blood Mountain controlled the Night Crawlers to conquer every clan in the Great Valley and consumed every God and their territory to widen his area of command.
‖ A T T R I B U T E ‖
HP: 10 000
MP: 1000
STRG: 50 +10 [Nigh Bonus]
DEF: 40
MDF: 20
INT: 50 +10 [Night Bonus]
AGL: 50
LCK: 10
‖ D A M A G E
R E S I S T A N C E S ‖
❶ All Physical Damage
❷ All Magical Damage except Divine Magic
‖ D A M A G E