There it was again, that feathery light sensation. They had leveled up again.

7 Goblin Scouts killed. 1 Goblin Warrior killed.

85 Experience Gained.

Your Shadow affinity has grown by 2!

4 Goblin scouts killed. 46 Goblin Miners killed. 6 Goblin Warriors killed. 2 Goblin Sneaks killed.

Tactics! Fought and survived against overwhelming odds! 1 Experience point for each enemy.

Tricked your enemies to fight for you! 100 bonus Experience Gained.

639 Experience Gained.

Congratulations you are now Level 4!

20 stat points awarded.

Your Arcane affinity has grown by 2!

Sweet! Serion put 10 towards both Wisdom and Willpower. He put his affinity points towards Arcane Bomb because that spell had done better then he thought looking over all the kills they had gotten.

“Alright Drecksis, show us what you found.”

The tunnel came out in part of the town. Massive piles of broken rock lay around them along with goblin bodies. The moon was just overhead and it was huge. The game always had large celestial bodies in the night sky but tonight was special. A sick blood red covered the moon like a portent of doom. It was a Hunter’s moon, by legend a night of blood sacrifice and legendary monsters roaming the lands hunting mortals. All things considered it was par for the course after everything that had been going on.

Drecksis waved them on slightly crouching. It only brought his 7 foot form down to the height of a normal human. They made their way up some stairs and stood atop the outer walls of the towns keep. With an exaggerated wave he showed them what he had discovered.

The largest building of the town had been the lord’s keep. From atop the sole tower one could see the whole town below them. Serion still remembered a certain night from long ago. His guild had been hunting low level players in the woods around a city not too distant.

It was one of the starting areas in the kingdom and there were always people in the forest doing hunting or gathering quests. The place also had a giant spider infestation that taught early adventurers how to combat monsters. Serion’s group in turn hunted players and stole what they could off their corpses, more to piss them off than needing anything.

They had been doing their rounds when one of them had disappeared from group chat. It was obvious they had been slain but it was a surprise none the less. Gathering together they had made their way to the last location Tombe had spoken from last. Over his mangled corpse stood a ferocious warrior covered in dark plate armor eyes glowing red wielding a sword that seemed to suck in the light around it.

Keeping his group stealthed Serion had Revenance attack him from range drawing his attention. The mass of darkness had closed quickly and nearly reached the ranger when Legion’s skeletons appeared around him. Serion had cast Arcane Blast fully expecting the warrior to be hurt if not going down outright. Instead the spell seemed sucked into the warrior’s blade and there was little effect on him.

Ignoring the minions surrounding him he made several leaps before hacking Revenance down in a single blow. Even trying to block the attack had no effect from saving the player. Serion had realized they were not fighting any lowbie but someone that must have been at least equal level if not greater with much better gear. That spell eating sword alone told him that.

With two members down he knew retreat was the only option until they could respawn and regroup. Leaving the skeletons to be a distraction Serion ordered Legion to retreat. He ran into the woods disappearing quickly. Serion had stopped to stare at the devastating player etching his figure into his memory so he could enact revenge later. Casting Arcane Rift he planned his getaway.

A soft sound came from behind him. “Ahem.” Turning around Serion came face to face with two other players. Mages of some kind, a man and a woman.

Trying to step into his rift before it was too late he found he couldn’t move. Looking down he found ice had formed around his boots rooting him firmly in place. The man pointed his hand at Serion who cast Arcane Barrier just as a billowing inferno enveloped him. The shield held and much of the ice melted so he could break free. But before he made a single step the dark plated warrior from earlier stood before him sword held high. It took two blows before he died.

That was the start to a weeklong feud between their guilds. Starting around the city it eventually made its way to a nearby town. While not hunting each other or while some of them were dead they hunted other lower level players. Serion using his stealth skills found the warrior always accompanying an ice mage, the woman from before. She seemed low level and he only helped her out if she was in trouble.

Staying hidden with Shadow Form Serion used the skill Observe and Detect finding out more about the two. The woman was Ekra, level 32 pure affinity Aquamancer while the other was Drecksis, level 86 Knight and Fallen Paladin. Serion suspected they weren’t in a group otherwise the level difference would interfere with her getting much experience.

Changing tactics they would draw the Knights attention using Legion’s skeletons. When he was fighting them they would launch every ranged attack they had against the mage. They kept this up while their guilds fought. Soon their entire guild would be with her while she fought monsters or gathered items. Daring forays would be launched to take her down even amidst her companions.

Serion had eventually gotten some mail from Pyron the other guilds leader. They agreed to meet at the local inn of the nearby town. His guild held no ill will towards his own and instead the two found much in common like military service and held similar views of the game and the world beyond it. They were both big time PvPers who enjoyed ganking and other such hobbies when they had spare time. Instead of fighting they proposed an alliance that all members agreed to. They became The Dread Lords. It turned out Serion’s guild had killed Ekra a few times after her husband Pyron had introduced her to the game. Drecksis had offered to help her so she could level up and quickly join her husband on quests before a few players had decided on ganking her.

After joining guilds they decided to stay and celebrate at the inn. The night turned into one big party and everyone got quite drunk. The game recreated the taste and effects of alcohol but player’s wouldn’t be inebriated when leaving the game or have a hangover the next morning. They were eventually thrown out for a small bar fight when Drecksis bet he could throw a farmer to the other side of the room. The locals had bet he couldn’t and when they won they not only refused to pay their bets but called the guards to make them leave.

Things quickly escalated leaving much of the bar and its patrons torn apart. More guards were called and they were also torn apart. Serion still wasn’t sure whose idea it was but after three groups of guards were killed the idea that they should rule the city had come up. From there they had merrily made their way to the town’s keep slaughtering anyone that got in the way hauling a wagon carrying a keg or three. Pyron kept shooting off fireballs as they went. It still surprised him but they had taken the keep with relatively little damage. One or two people were killed but Natas the priest of pain and violence brought them back.

Leading the party Serion received a prompt when they had taken the keep.

46 Town Guards killed. 3 Town Magistrates killed. Brickfellow Town Lord killed.

Invasion! Your guild has taken over a town. +1000 bonus Experience Gained.

2290 Experience Gained.

Would you like to make this town your guild’s territory?

You have given the answer: No.

Quest Alert!

Fires are currently raging out of control. With no help they will destroy the town of Brickfellow turning it into a ruin.

Would you like to take this quest?

You have given the answer: Hell No.

Getting the guilds attention Serion waved at the burning town before them.

“Dread Lords, welcome to Fire Town.”