Chapter 62
The Dust Settles
“Did I do good, Mister Pete?”
I turned to see Dekrek walking towards me. There was a hole in his leather chest piece, and he was covered in so much blood that he looked like he’d been swimming in the stuff.
Rel had told me all about how Dekrek’s internal organs had been rearranged – quite literally – at the hand of Malior. Admittedly, I think his reason for telling me was more to brag about the effectiveness of his spell’s healing rather than out of any real concern for Dekrek.
“Good?” I said. “Dekrek, you big, green, beautiful bastard. You did more than good!”
Dekrek beamed at my comment. The cracked tusk on one side of his mouth made his smile look a little lopsided. He then proceeded to spend the next few minutes describing, in graphic detail, all the ‘good’ he’d done in the battle.
Honestly, I’d have said his big smile and childish enthusiasm was adorable… if it weren’t for the fact I’d just listened to him describe how he’d ripped a guy’s face off. He even acted it out, imitating his victim’s shrieking.
I’ll tell you one thing – seeing an orc who’s eight foot tall and built like a mountain roll around on the floor and scream like a little girl is quite something to behold.
Pete’s Peasant Patrol had genuinely surprised me. When I’d set up the little organisation, it had been a case of making the best of a bad situation. Even though they may have disapproved of what Bok’than had done, they were still a bunch of scumbags who had no issue robbing and beating innocent people. They apparently just drew the line at torture and slavery. I figured that by giving them a bit of structure and incentivising them with a generous salary, they’d toe the line and keep the other bandits in check.
By turning up to help us in the fight against Lokta’Inif? They’d really gone up in my estimation.
However, I did later learn from a very sheepish Mogdun that they’d been ‘talked’ into it by Dekrek, who was adamant that they needed to help ‘Mister Pete’. They’d held something of a debate – an open-floor free-for-all sort of deal – in which Dekrek had apparently made some very compelling arguments. Most notably when he’d threatened to shove his foot up one of the other orc’s asses, and when they continued to argue, actually tried to follow through.
Legend has it that the orc still can’t walk straight.
To reward Pete’s Peasant Patrol for their loyalty, I decided to let them scour the battlefield and take whatever weapons and armour they wanted.
After we’d taken our pick, of course.
To the victor go the spoils.
The first item I’d retrieved was Lokta’Inif’s weapon. In the brief moment I saw it during our wild descent, it had looked pretty awesome.
Shadowrend
A weapon once wielded by a Lord of Shadow
Equipping the bardiche grants the following bonuses:
+ 6 strength
+ 3 agility
+ 3 durability
+ Grants the ability: Shadow Strike
Activating the ability imbues the next strike with shadow energy that tears through both flesh and spirit, dealing heavy physical and shadow damage.
Wounds inflicted resist healing for a short duration.
Cooldown: 1 day
Not only did it look awesome. It was awesome.
I stored it away in my inventory. I’d need to figure out what to do with it once the dust had settled. I was tempted to use it myself, but I’d grown quite fond of my swords and had made some good progress in my lessons with Osian.
Rel had done pretty well for himself too.
He strode across the battlefield with all the swagger of someone who thought they were the baddest motherfucker on the planet.
I had to admit – he did look every bit the part of a wise and powerful archmagus in his new robes. They were black, with swirling patterns of silver flowing across the fabric.
He’d looted them from Lendoria, the fifth-ranked Trialist.
You know… the one whose brain Sensei had turned into soup because she’d said he was a ‘senile old fool in the most hideous clothing I’ve ever seen’.
Spellweaver’s Robes
Equipping the robes grants the following bonuses:
+ 6 intelligence
+ 10% spell damage
+ Grants the passive ability: Arcane Acceleration
Arcane Acceleration
Reduces the time required to charge spells.
He was happy about receiving the item for two reasons. The first was because it was just a damn good item. The second was because it meant he could finally use his reward from the draeven quest – Armour Enhancement – Superior.
Armour Enhancement – Superior
Grants a powerful enhancement to all currently equipped armour. The effects are permanent and cannot be transferred.
Enhancements include:
+ Self-cleaning (superior)
+ Self-repair (superior)
+ Damage mitigation – physical (effective against attacks up to 60 strength)
+ Damage mitigation – arcane (effective against spells up to 60 intelligence)
+ 5 to all stats
He was doubly pleased that his hat also benefitted from the enhancement…
It wasn’t just items we were looking for. By the time we’d finished rummaging through all of the dead Trialists’ inventory pouches, it’s fair to say that we’d amassed a shitload of gold. As you’d expect, Lokta’Inif had by far the most, but her lackeys were not exactly poor either.
Once all was said and done, I was the proud owner of 9,358,342 gold.
It reinforced how impressive the inventory pouches were, with each one being capable of storing a million gold.
The leaderboards had changed significantly as a result of the battle.
Total Stat Gains:
1) Peter Brookes
2) Tog Tog
3) Squire Rel
4) Moranthor
5) Tolar Wise Claw
Acquired wealth:
1) Peter Brookes
2) Unu’pora
3) Tog Tog
4) Tolar Wise Claw
5) Zootarma
Reputation and influence:
1) Squire Rel
2) Peter Brookes
3) Moranthor
4) Tog Tog
5) Unu’pora
Not bad for a day’s work.
*
“Ex… excuse me, s… sir.”
I turned to see a very nervous-looking orc standing a few metres away. He was doing an impressive job of looking anywhere but at me.
The poor guy looked like he’d been having a rough time of it recently. His clothing appeared to be some sort of uniform, but one that hadn’t been cleaned in some time. He wore a blue tabard, the fabric smeared with dirt and grime. In the centre, where I guessed there’d once been an emblem of some sort, there was now a jagged hole, the edges so frayed it looked as if it’d been hacked at with a blunt pair of scissors.
He wasn’t in much better shape himself.
It looked like it had been a long time since he’d had a good meal. His pale green face was gaunt, the bones of his jaw and cheeks standing out sharply beneath his skin. There was deep purple bruising under his left eye which suggested he’d been on the receiving end of a punch delivered with real enthusiasm.
“What can I do for you, buddy?” I asked.
I used a soft voice – the sort you might use when talking to a skittish animal. I didn’t want to scare the guy. It looked as if it had taken every ounce of courage he possessed, and then a little bit more, to even approach me. I was slightly concerned that he might shit himself if I made any sudden movements or raised my voice.
“Ah, well… I don’t mean to trouble you, sir,” he said, wringing his hands as he stared fixedly at the ground near my feet. “My name’s Nok’thun and I am a humble servant to the Lord of Stonehaven. He asked me to… well… he was hoping you’d be willing to come and speak with him… if it’s not too much trouble, of course.”
“The Lord of Stonehaven?” I asked. “I thought Lokta’Inif had thrown him in a dungeon somewhere.”
Nok’thun flinched.
“Ah, well, yes… he was in the dungeon,” he said. “But he was released after we learned Lokta’Inif had been killed. We hope you don’t mind, sir… it’s just that Lord Thargorn wasn’t being treated very well, and he’s a good person who didn’t deserve to be locked away like that.”
“I’d be happy to come and have a chat with him,” I said. “It was actually one of the reasons I was so eager to come to Stonehaven. I wanted to ask him about getting the patrols along the roads and through the forests up and running again.”
Nok’thun’s eyes widened, then he nodded enthusiastically.
“I’m sure that’s something the Lord would be happy to discuss with you.” He met my eyes briefly, and I flashed him my famous ‘I’m a nice guy, promise’ smile. He responded with a very timid smile of his own. “I can take you to see him now if that’s convenient.”
“I don’t see why not,” I said, shrugging. “Lead the way, Nok’Thun.”
*
I followed the nervous orc up the road that led to the city gates. Once we were among the wooden buildings that had sprung up around the city walls, two things became immediately clear.
People were over the fucking moon that Lokta’Inif was dead.
How did I know this?
Well, a huge party had already broken out, and it seemed like the whole city was getting in on the action. I passed dozens of groups, their members already struggling to walk in a straight line thanks to how much alcohol they’d put away, chanting a very creative little tune about Lokta’Inif.
The other thing that became immediately clear was the negative effect Lokta’Inif’s short reign had had on the city. Compared to Oakreach, it was… well, honestly, it was an absolute shithole.
Homeless orcs littered the alleyways between the buildings. Shutters hung broken from windows, and doors had been torn from their hinges. The road we walked was covered in filth, and shady characters loitered on street corners and outside buildings.
The Lord of Stonehaven was going to have his work cut out for him.
Every time we passed a group chanting their little tune about Lokta’Inif, Nok’Thun shot me a nervous glance over his shoulder. Maybe he thought I’d be offended on her behalf because I was also a Trialist – as if there were some kind of secret brotherhood where we’d all sworn to defend each other’s honour.
After coming across yet another group, he couldn’t hold his tongue any longer. “I’m very sorry about their behaviour, sir. It’s just that it’s been an awful few months, and they’re relieved that it might finally be over.”
I wasn’t listening.
I was already striding towards the group, their chant faltering as they registered my approach through alcohol-clouded eyes.
I burst into the middle of them and flung an arm around the shoulders of the orcs on either side of me…
…and joined in.
A peasant named Pete came to town
Slapped that bitch all around
Made her whine, snapped her spine
Now it’s drinking time!
Honestly, it was pretty catchy. It’d probably be stuck in my head all day.