TQG 58

58. Lost

“Hey, so is it cool if I, like, edit that and post it on the forums?” Corinth asked just as we were returning to the foyer.  “That whole thing was epic!”

I froze.  “You were recording that?”

“Yeah!  I mean, of course I was!  That was like a super exclusive one time event which might shape the future of the story, right?  I--”

I abruptly punched Corinth in the mouth.  It only did five damage because I have no skills for unarmed fighting, but I was about to fix that as I grabbed at my [Gemos Longsword] and prepared to imbue it with fire.

“Hail!  Stop, please.  I recorded the event as well,” Tarisha said, grabbing my wrist before my blade cleared its scabbard.

I turned to her, hurt more than I could say.  “You too, Tarisha?”

“It is history, Lord Hail.  I assure you that I was not going to publish it anywhere without your express permission, but I would be remiss if I did not record such major events for posterity,” she explained.  “I have not shared them with anybody, nor will I until you permit me to.  However, one day, I believe that people will greatly value the history that you have been creating these last few weeks.”

My grip tightened on my sword.  “Do you record everything I say?”

“No!  Only major interactions and battles with other natives.  I do not record your private moments with Travelers or --”

“You should have told me sooner,” I said angrily.  “You’re as bad as Mark!  How could you do that to me without saying anything?”

“I’m sorry.  I and the others have been looking for a way to broach the subject for weeks now before Corinth here blundered into it,” Tarisha said, sighing sadly.  “I swear to you on my honor that I would not post anything without discussing it with you and obtaining your permission.  Nor would I allow anyone else in <Peasant’s Revenge> to post any of the recordings they have been gathering.  We were planning on waiting a year or more of real time before discussing with you the release of an anthology of your early days.  Until the information in the videos is no longer dangerous to you.  And even then we were going to make certain you approved of everything that we released.”

Anger boiled in my veins.  “You should have told me.”

“Yes.  I’m sorry.”  She said.

“What the hell man?” Corinth said, standing up.  “I mean, yeah okay it’s a video game, but still, sucker punching a guy out of nowhere is a dick move.”

“You would understand if you had known Hail for longer,” Tarisha said sadly.  “But perhaps it’s for the best.  The truth is that Hail deserves to know when his actions are being recorded, even though he carries himself with the utmost dignity at all times.  Many of those in both <Peasant’s Revenge> and <Nethersong Mavericks> have been betraying his trust in us whenever we feel that he is about to do something momentous.  It is better to get it out into the sunlight than allow it to fester in the darkness.  Hail, if you ask me to, I will delete everything I have recorded, and I shall demand that every member of <Peasant’s Revenge> do the same or face expulsion from the guild.  The <Mavericks> have pledged a similar course of action for once we broached this subject with you.”

I punched the wall in anger, earning myself a [Sprained Wrist] and leaving a hole in it.  Oh well, that was Uncle Storm’s problem, not mine.  But then I exhaled.  “I need to think about this.  I want to know who has been recording me, and I want to know when.  And from now on, someone had damn well better tell me when they start recording or I will not forgive them.”

“I will consult with the leaders of my guild and yours and we will draft some rules for the recordings of your actions.  Gaining your permission to record or retain a recording will be very high on the list of our priorities, My Lord,” she said.

“Lord Hail, I’m sorry, I do not understand the problem,” Lord Tom said from behind us.  “What have these Travelers done to upset you?”

“Never mind Tom,” I said.  “It’s Traveler business.  I’ll deal with it.”

Hender appeared just in time to get the door for us.  However, we could not proceed to leave, because the way was blocked by a figure.  A traveler, dressed in very high end light armor, was waiting just outside.  She glowed neither blue nor red in the dim light of the evening, nor did she bear the Mark of Sin.  Instead she had an aura of a color I had not known possible but instinctively knew what it meant.  Black.

“Tarisha, kill this woman.  She is an assassin.  I believe that she murdered one of my uncles,” I said, my anger at my invaded privacy falling to the side in the face of this threat.

“Quest accepted,” Tarisha said, drawing her blade and dashing forward at the same time that the woman drew a pair of kunai from folds in her armor, one in each hand, and both of which she threw at me, one after the other.  I [Dodged] the first, but the delay in her throw allowed her to predict my movement, and there was no way that I could have dodged the second knife.  I knew, just from a glance, that this was an endgame Traveler.  Like Tarisha, my father, and Nial Kingslayer.  Time seemed to slow for an instance as I understood that I was about to die again, as even a glancing blow of that kunai would do more than my maximum Health in damage.

Corinth [Dashed] in front of me, taking the dagger in the chest and exploding into motes of blue light.  Malkios’s strong arms enveloped me and then his body was between me and the clash of violence between the endgamers.  Of high level Pee Vee Pee.

Lord Tom and Lady Gwen.  Tom had a pair of daggers in his hand, Gwen’s fingers crackled with electricity, but the fight had moved outdoors.

“Back!  This is a challenge quest, one versus one!” Tarisha shouted.  “Do not interfere even should I die!  Keep Lord Hail safe and get him to safety.”

Uncle Storm heard the commotion and came raging out of the parlor, his face a countenance of fury.  “How dare you bring violence upon my house, Bastard!”

Lord Tom bent to pick up the knife which had killed Corinth.  He sniffed the blade.  “Poison.  This would kill anyone below level eighty with a scratch,” he pronounced.  “An assassin knocked on your door tonight, Your Grace.  Tell me, was she here to kill you, to kill the boy, or perhaps to discuss remuneration?”

Storm went still, the red from his face turning pale white as he lost his thunder.  “Guards!  Guards, assassin!” he shouted.  He grabbed his bracelet and was enveloped in a magical green glow, then abruptly the space around him twisted and he was somewhere else.  Before he vanished, a crystal on his bracelet shattered, its shards falling to the ground as the spent mana gem was expended.

“Lord Hail, we must get you to safety as well,” Gwen declared.  She cast a spell, and another twist in space appeared.  A portal.  “Step through, Lord Hail, and I shall take you to safety.”

The last time I had stepped through an unknown portal had almost led to my death by barbecue at the hands of a squad of goblins, but I had no time to question the events that were quickly spiraling away from me.  Nor did I really have a choice in the matter, as Malkios scooped me up as though I were still a child of four and tossed me into the portal before I could object.

I felt a twisting, and then I was elsewhere.  I looked behind me to see Malkios leaping to follow me through, but before he reached it the portal twisted shut.  I was cut off, and I had no idea where I had been sent.  Worse, when I pulled up my Fast Travel menu, I received a notification I had never seen before.

Fast Travel is unavailable in your present location.  You must discover a Nexus Point within twenty miles in order to access the Fast Travel Network.

~~~~~~~~

Guild Message of the Day

To everyone who has any recordings of Little Brother taken without his knowledge or permission, please report them immediately to an officer.  Failure to comply will result in expulsion from the guild.  New guidelines for documenting the journey of Little Brother will be drafted soon, compliance is not optional

Hollysheeat

So I’m outside the Stormlord’s gates and there’s an epic battle going down between Tarisha and some random other chick.   Weird thing is I think Tarisha is losing.

Malick

No effing way.

Corinth (lobby)

Yeah, that ninja-chick 1-shot me, but it was totally worth it.  I think I saved Hail’s life!  That’s gotta be some Karma, right?

Hail

I can see guild chat, Corinth.

Corinth

Oh fuck.  I mean, sorry Hail.  But seriously, I did save your life, didn’t I?

Hail

Yeah, I guess you did.  Um, look.  Show the recording or whatever to Daemon and Dimple.  If they think it’s a good idea then you can post it on the forums.  I’m still not happy that you recorded me without asking, but I guess you’re right.  Maybe people should see that conversation so that they know what a slimeball Uncle Storm is.

Corinth

And what a badass you are, man.  Seriously everyone, I don’t know how Hail can walk around without waddling because he has giant fucking balls of steel.

Hail

Please stop talking about my testicles, Corinth.

Consoul

Wait, Hail, do you even have testicles?  I mean …

Hail

I’m a boy, of course I have testicles you pervert!

Consoul

Um, sorry.  I guess I didn’t now natives were anatomically correct.  I just assumed that everyone was like a ken/barbie doll down there.

Moderator

Consoul has been muted for ten minutes.

Weaselfire

Thank you whoever did that.

Dimple

Hail, are you safe?  What’s going on.

Daemon

It was me who muted him.  But yes.  Hail, how long do you have on Fast Travel?  Where can we meet you to escort you home?

Hail

Um, well, that’s the thing.  When the Assassin showed up, Tarisha was forced to fight, and Corinth died protecting me, but that left me with Malkios, Tom and Gwen.  Gwen opened a portal and Malkios threw me through, but it closed right afterward.  I have no idea where I am, and there’s no nexus point within twenty miles of me so I can’t Fast Travel.

Zebras

Fuck. Fuck Fuck fuck fuck.

Moderator

Zebras has been muted for ten minutes.

Dimple

That was me.  Language.

Daemon

Hail, I’m sorry, but without knowing where you are, I’m afraid I don’t know how to help you.  If Lady Gwen opened a portal, then hopefully it is to someplace safe for you to explore.  I suggest that you do so.

Hail

Right, that’s what I thought too.  I was about to start exploring, I just wanted to check in to let everyone know that I was alive.

Peafowlet

Thank you so much, Hail.  We would have been very worried if you hadn’t checked in.  Please let us know the second you figure out where you are and if there’s anything you can do to help.

Hail

If it helps, I think I’m still in Yuikon.  I’m in a meadow surrounded by Effernat trees, so I think I’m somewhere south of Zhesa.  But that only narrows it down to like a thousand square miles, right?

Stormy

Heading to Pleetgrove.  Got some rep there, going to see if I can convince the locals to start searching the area looking for him.

Gummytiger

Great idea Stormy.  I’ll head to Renton vinyard and do the same.

Hail

Right, okay.  Thanks guys.  I’m going to stop paying attention to guild chat now, I’ll let you know if I figure out where I am so you can stop searching.