The roof of Guard Tower Five was made of sheet metal, and the sound of Azmar’s talons was grating even from down below. Gunnar heard at least three startled voices up above, but no one was looking their way as he and Sauvage clambered up and over the wrought iron fence. Landing in a roll, Gunnar recovered himself and hurried to the safety of the shadows behind the tower.

He ran his fingers over the edges of the large slick stones. They were smooth as glass and cut at precise right angles, leaving little space to hold onto for Gunnar’s fingers. Sauvage extended his claws and went first. The size of the stones was the most difficult thing for the short creature. In order to find purchase on the next stone, he had to either use the sides of the stones, which made for an awkward angle, or else, he had to put all his weight on his hands while he walked his feet up the wall without a hold. The seam between stones made each strategy more advantageous, depending on the stone.

Despite the clunky moves, the ratkin was quickly ten feet up, without a slip.

Gunnar wished for the grippy-soled climbing shoes Em wore, and briefly contemplated using his boon to acquire some. In the end, he opted to remove his shoes to aid with traction, as his stealth boots were certainly designed for softness over grip.

The tower was about three stories high to the top open-windowed room. The commotion had died down from Azmar’s flight, and Gunnar could hear soft voices, and the crackle of small flames above.

Sauvage was halfway up now.

Here goes nothing.

Gunnar wedged his toes into the top seam of the first stone, gripped the top of the second with the tips of his fingers, and began his ascent.

All his weight fell on a small fraction of his appendages, and he quickly realized it was not something he could sustain for very long. His fingers strained and ached almost immediately if he paused. But placing his weight on only three points was nearly as challenging.

Waiting just long enough to set each new hold, he tried to move as quickly as possible. But not too quickly, though.

Halfway up, he made a hand move before his foot was fully wedged, and his toes slipped out. The sudden shift made his hand slip too, leaving all his weight on his right side.

His gut wrenched and he thought for sure he was going to drop. He cast Mindful Moment and focused all his energy on maintaining his grip, while getting his handhold back. It was all he could do not to cry out with the strain, but once his hand was set, it was easier to get his foothold back.

There was no time to recover, once he was stable again. All he could do was keep climbing. He set a steady rhythm and forced himself on. His forearms were trembling by the time he reached the top. He gripped the edge of a windowsill and just hoped Sauvage was ready.

Gunnar launched himself into the guard room, letting out all the pain and frustration with a loud cry.

Four guards were staggered at watch posts on all sides of the room. All were Level 12s.

The first staggered back, only a couple feet away, drawing his saber.

The time for stealth was over. There was too much going on in the city for it to matter, and there was just no way he could take on four without causing a ruckus.

Gunnar drew his blunderbuss and fired at the first guard’s chest, launching him back into the wall with an explosion of emerald magic.

[You have dealt +80 Damage to Red Cloak - Level 12!]

A guard across the room raised a flintlock pistol, but dropped it as Gunnar’s Shooting Star shredded his hand. The guard fell back, and Sauvage leapt in from behind the man and dug vicious teeth into the man’s exposed throat. Wriggling with a maniacal fury, the ratkin proved worthy of his name.

[You have defeated Red Cloak - Level 12 with an assist from Sauvage. Here’s 5 XP!]

The first guard was struggling to his feet, while his two remaining comrades converged on Gunnar. He leapt and rolled, dodging their attacks, while his Shooting Star came flying back and lodged in one of their backs, dealing low damage, but giving Gunnar just long enough to fire another shot. The man’s head exploded in a flashing mess of blood and sorcery.

[You have defeated Red Cloak - Level 12. Here’s 10 XP!]

The shot left him exposed, and Gunnar took a pistol shot to the shoulder. Hollow, raging pain rushed down his arms and spread into his chest. His Health bar dropped to 70%, but thankfully, nothing critical.

As the guard tried to reload, Gunnar leapt forward, trading his blunderbuss for a saber. He plunged his blade into the man’s chest. Withdrew, and swept the blade in a clean arc, severing the man’s head.

[You have defeated Red Cloak - Level 12. Here’s 10 XP!]

But as he spun around, he took a saber to the side, dropping his Health to 55%. A fifth guard had emerged from downstairs.

Damn, I should have been ready for that.

Sauvage finished off the assist on the first guard Gunnar had shot, and the two turned to face the remaining Level 12 guard. Realizing his fate against two assassins, the man turned to run, just as Gunnar’s Shooting Star lodged in the back of his neck. Sauvage finished him off, and the man died with a sickening gurgling sound as the ratkin destroyed his throat.

Sauvage raised a brow, blood dripping from his fangs, then grinned and shrugged. “Eh, I like to resolve conflict up close and personal.”

“Savage,” Gunnar said with a nod.

“Don’t you know it.”

“You good?” Gunnar asked, as he inspected his own wound.

“A few scratches. Nothing major.”

“Check down below real quick,” Gunnar said, motioning to the stairs. “Hard to imagine another one hiding down there letting his buddies die like this. But there’s always a coward or two.”

The ratkin nodded and scampered down the stairs.

[3:18]

That went quicker than I thought.

Gunnar spotted Kid Killer and Rorak slipping through the gate below, and he was relieved to see the goblin locking the gate behind them.

The tower was taken, though there was no end-of-quest notification, so clearly they had to hold the tower awhile.

He set to healing his wounds. Basic Word of Healing handled the gash in his side, no problem, but his shoulder would not heal for some reason. The wound nearly closed over, and then, just stopped.

“All clear down below,” Sauvage said, returning to the room.

Gunnar nodded with a grimace and inspected his shoulder. There was no exit wound, and each time his fingers ran over the entrance, sharp pangs shot down his arm.

“You alright?” the ratkin asked.

“Think the bullet’s lodged in there, somewhere.”

“Surely, you haven’t used all your potions.”

“A spell won’t work,” Gunnar said. “Don’t think I’ll get a better result with a potion, and I’d hate to waste it. Maybe I could cut the bullet out.”

He took out one of his slender throwing blades and gritted his teeth as he brushed the cold steel over his skin.

“Here, let me.” Sauvage brushed the blade out of the way. “One, two—”

“Ah!”

With one quick swipe of his claw, the bullet popped out of Gunnar’s wound, and he cast another healing spell. This one successful.

“That was real tender,” Kid Killer said, grinning from the top of the stairs.

“Would you like to get in on the action?” Sauvage asked, extending a long claw toward him.

Kid Killer shook his head. “Our kill was cleaner than that wound is now, I can tell ya that.”

Sauvage glared at him.

“How many Red Cloaks did the two of you handle again?” Gunnar asked as the skin closed over the wound completely, and the pain subsided.

“Yeah, whatever,” Kid Killer said.

“I think there’s more kills where that came from,” said Rorak, who stood looking out the window.

A flurry of voices filled the night.

Gunnar hurried to the window to find a small host of Red Cloaks approaching the tower gate. There must have been eight or more.

The timer read: 1:26.

“Shit,” Gunnar muttered.

“Black Heart will be in range of this tower for several minutes,” Rorak said.

Sauvage gestured to one of the small cannons, which were situated on each side of the tower. “Anyone know how to use one of these?”

Kid Killer grinned as he patted a small barrel of gunpowder beside it.