It is when we are lost and on the precipice that Veuce’s guidance is most vital. At these times it is our sacred duty to follow.

—Head Cleric of the First Order

The glade would have been picturesque if not for the fresh corpses littered about. The scene wasn’t exactly grisly, the dead trolls resembling torn up weeds more than anything, but their corpses had begun to pile up after days of luring the dull creatures into this kill zone. The once soft grass had turned into a muddy mess after their milk-white ichor seeped from fresh wounds and mixed in with the soil. The trolls' yellow petals lay strewn about like frayed carpet failing to cover up a mess. All in all, the glade was becoming a dump.

“Aaaaaaand done!” Aiden announced.

Quest Completed!

Kill 15/15 Troll Dandies, return to the Captain for reward

The playful ‘ding’ and the refreshing blue box formed together to present that beautiful quest completion notification. Simply heavenly. Aiden might have been getting addicted, but that was ridiculous. People didn’t get addicted to silly blue boxes no matter how satisfying they were. Aiden was sure.

“What are you making a big deal over? That’s like the tenth time we finished that quest.”

“Well, Morrigan.” Aiden drew out her name, taking the time to make sure it was absolutely dripping with faux condescension, “That was actually the fourth time we completed the quest and the third time I got the most kills in this little party of ours. Inconsequently, that was also the third time you got the least kills; you better step up your game.”

“Or what, I miss out on the biggest killer award?”

“Is that a thing?” Aiden perked up.

“No idiot, I made it up.”

“Just checking.”

“You think we could wrap this up and go collect our real reward?” Arthur cut it.

He’d taken up the leadership role in their small party for all that it counted. Mostly that meant keeping the group on track and or at least moving through distractions at an accelerated pace. Aiden was just glad someone in their trio was paying attention, and that it wasn't him.

Aiden didn’t try to be flighty. He didn’t like going off track; it just kind of, happened. He’d be powering through quests, then get distracted by a new skill and forget the one he was trying to train. They left Cairn to pursue a prestige quest but now they just faffed about on random kill quests when there was no clear way forward. Sure it was fun, and they were levelling up skills, gaining new ones, and getting rewards, but—

He was getting distracted again.

Aiden looked up to find Morrigan waving a hand in front of his face and Arthur already making his way down the trail towards the outpost.

“You still with us?” Morrigan asked, a hint of concern in her voice that Aiden chose to ignore.

“Just distracted, you know me.” Aiden laughed and followed after Arthur, leaving Morrigan to shrug and follow.

The party only made it a few steps before the air around them stilled and a shiver ran down their spines. Around them, the gentle rustle of trees vanished and bird song paused mid-note. Aiden would have thought time itself had paused if not the pounding of his heart and their exhales forming icy clouds before their lips. When did it get so cold?

“I say unto you of the fallow Kingdoms:'' The command came on a quiet breeze, its raspy notes only clear in the sudden deadness, “The Kin do not lie quietly. The Void pulses and we wake to your horrors. It is in dismay that I declare your sentence: surrender unequivocally or be annihilated.”

The chill was gone and the forest came to life around them. As if the voice of death did not just send ripples through the world, everything returned to normal. Only, not quite. There was a cheerful ‘ding’ and a bevy of blue boxes appeared before Aiden’s eyes.

“Hey guys, you seeing this?” he asked.

“You mean the Legendary grade global quest announcement, the Notice, or the prestige quest update?” Arthur asked.

“All of it…” Aiden trailed off and re-read the notifications in case he’d missed something.

Legendary Global Quest: The Endless War

Hostilities with the demons have reignited, during this time skills gained fighting the demon Horde increase 1.5 times faster! Earn contribution points per kill against the fight

reward(s): Contribution points may be spent at altars for special boons, additional rewards awarded based on total (including spent points) contribution point ranking

Notice -New contribution Ladder now in the menu

-New Guild functionality available to players

Prestige quest: Enter the Demon War

reward(s): unknown (note prestige quest rewards are highly variable and can range from detrimental to godly)

Quest type [chain][Unshareable]: 2, “Oops”

Looks like you just helped reignite hostilities; that might have consequences.

A) Prepare yourself and/or take advantage of your situation to continue. Hint: ask around at the outpost

B) Or run away from the coming conflict to avoid retribution and your probable annihilation

“This game had a really limited guild system, right?” Aiden asked

“Yup,” Arthur answered.

“And the new skill gains and contribution points against the demons are pretty rad, right?”

“Hell yeah,” Morrigan helpfully supplied.

“And it looks like our prestige quest puts us in the center of this, and the system seems to think it will kill us.”

“Definitely.” the siblings agreed.

“This is so fucking awesome.”

The trio of adventurers looked at each other, looked to the path ahead of them, and grinned.

*****

Frist Outpost lay just shy of a chokepoint on the mountain pass between the Cairn and Nynf valley systems. The lonely palisade looked over a vast forest that only abated around a barely visible lake and a clearing far into the distance where the freshly scared black earth was just shy of hidden and a trail of smoke had abated just over a week prior.

At the gate of the wooden palisade, the young guards were locked in an exciting discussion over the best ways to kill a demon. One advocated for disembowelment for maximum suffering, another was espousing the virtues of decapitation and a third was debating the merits of an arrow barrage. Just beyond the gate, the mood became heavier.

The outpost was of two moods and it formed a palpable rift in the general atmosphere as the party navigated their way back to the Captain’s cabin. On their way, they passed several despondent soldiers staring blankly at each other and the empty air. They saw the muscled shoulders of a middle-aged man shake as he wept, muttering to himself “We’re doomed. We’re doomed. We’re doomed...” unendingly.

“Will someone shut him up?” Called out a younger man. His squared jaw was locked in annoyance and his eyes were visibly disturbed.

A woman with braided red hair and a solemn expression put her hand on his shoulder and shook her head “No” before guiding him away and speaking to him quietly.

Aiden only caught “The man lost his entire company…” before the pair were about earshot, but it was enough. He felt a flash of pity for the powerful man rendered to weeping before reminding himself it was just an NPC and this was just a game. A game which was was fucking awesome. Aiden forced himself not to smile and tried for a serious expression more fitting of the gravitas of something called “The Endless War”.

Around him, the NPC’s were split; some wanted to run, others wanted to battle for glory. Aiden’s options were split as well. He could stand and fight whatever mysterious retribution was on its way, or he could run away to safety. His choice was obvious, and he was sure the others would agree. They would stay and fight even on pain of death—they were functionally immortal regardless.

A construction of solid wood stood at the centre of the outpost. At its entrance, two guards who had not been there previously prevented the party from entering. They were some of the oldest soldiers in the outpost and from what Aiden had gathered from how other soldiers spoke of the pair, they were “true veterans” whatever that meant. Aiden could make a few guesses based on their hard, no-nonsense expressions and the scars that littered them.

“What business do you have with the Captain?” asked the guard on the left.

Arthur began to step forward to reply before a sharp look locked him in place. He spoke from where he stood instead. “We’re here to turn in our quest to kill 15 Dandy trolls; the Captain is our quest giver.”

“I recognize on behalf of the Captain the completion of your quest and present to you the reward of a communication crystal.” The guard shot his partner a glance and he quickly ducked behind the entrance to the cabin. A few seconds later he emerged clutching a fist-sized crystal the colour of grass, which he handed to the left guard who then handed it to Arthur.

Reward: communication crystal

Lets you communicate with friends carrying another communication crystal over a range of 2 x [communication skill] km

Reward: Skill Increase!

+2 skill points in communication

Reward: Renown Increased!

Favour with Frist Outpost is now at [Friend]

The demeanour of the guards actually lightened with the update and Aiden felt himself relax in the absence of hostility he hadn’t been fully aware of.

“Nice thing you heroes did, helping us out,” said the right guard. “What with always being understaffed and low on supplies, keeping up with the weeds just ain’t been a priority.”

The left guard grunted in affirmation.

“We’re happy to help!” Arthur flashed the guards a winning smile, “Say, you don’t suppose there's anything more we could to help the Captain with? I’m sure the whole demon war situation isn't helping, and we want to prepare ourselves for the threat they present.”

The guards looked at each other, a silent message passing between them before the left guard responded. “Forget it.”

“Best you run away while you still can.” added the right.

“That was the voice of a demon lord; there’s no fighting them.” The last was said in a serious low tone.

Quest Updated!

Oops! The Demon Horde is headed by a Demon Lord, option B is strongly recommended

That was not at all ominous. It didn’t change his decision though; the pros and cons were still the same. Morrigan and Arthur just shrugged and Aiden decided to take the initiative for once.

“We’re Heroes; we don’t run away from fights,” he said. “If we’re too weak can you tell us where we can become stronger?”

“It will mean your death.”

“If it must,” Aiden said solemnly. He was having fun with this role-playing thing, words were coming easily for a change.

“Then head westward along the Nynf river and towards The Wall, you can’t miss it. It will put you closer to the demons, but if you want to help, the garrison there will make use of you.”

“But will it make us stronger?” Morrigan pushed, tired of staying quiet.

The guards shared a low chuckle and the left said with a wolfish smile, “Oh, I’m sure of it.”

It sounded like the man was telling the truth, but it wasn’t very comforting.