PvP Dungeon Hunter

Ceventia

The city of Glinahir was nothing like Ceventia. As it came into view, the street lights had stopped on the path and the shrubbery had increased to large proportions; it was almost the signal that you were in a new domain. It had large castle walls that were on the verge of crumbling. The road beneath his feet had turned more into rumble with bits and pieces of paving here and there. What was strange was the lack of caravans or travellers either leaving or heading into the city. Mutters grew behind him, which repeated the things that had come to his mind.

Alina whispered to him, “Do you think that it will be safe there?”

Brun said, “Yes.” In his heart, however, he was unsure.

That feeling was more pronounced when they were at its gate. The guards wore a mix match of clothes, the armour they had on looked as bad as Brun’s own. It was a stark contrast to when they first left Ceventia, the gates were guarded by both mages and soldiers who could probably pass for knights. There was a very short man almost a midget that seemed to be in charge, was he a dwarf? It was hard to tell as the man’s face was hidden behind a helmet.

 The mutters of concerns grew louder:

“Are these actual guards?”

“Something doesn’t seem right here.”

“Is it some sort of trap?”

“It looks like it, maybe an abandoned fortress.”

“You know the contractor attacked an adventurer?”

“They could be working together.”

It had to be safe since Maetino had already been here and he never mentioned any danger coming from here before. He hadn’t mentioned to Brun how diverse it was, he had seen pale skin so much that it was a welcome change to see someone or some different people. Hopefully, they won’t be anything like what Ceventia is, however, it wasn’t a great start.

The guards gathered around everyone almost inspecting them. Brun felt the tension radiating from those around him, an uneasy tension. Glancing through his visor he saw that Tiom on the other hand, seated on the horse seemed relaxed and that helped Brun to calm down as well.

The guards levels appeared before Brun, they were a little above those that were here, some six, and others were seven. Nothing as scary as the guards outside Ceventia. This and combat experience were two different things and these men, unlike them, had probably seen their fair share of violence.

“Ahem, look at these men, fresh meat. You can tell how untested they are in their fancy clothes. They haven’t been on the road too much.”

“Look at that one right over there,” the man pointed and the others laughed. “He’s trembling like some sort of baby, haha just to enter the city.”

“That is enough of that,” Tiom said.

“Tiom?” One of the guards replied, “I almost didn’t recognize you, you put on some weight man, living the good life with the trade.”

“The good life?” Tiom chuckled. “If it were the good life, I would be sitting down with the nobles, eating grapes from a tray being served to me in a lavish bath. Instead, you find me rolling around in the dirt.”

The guards laughed, Brun’s eyes turned from Tiom to the adventurers around him.  The tension was high, but they seemed to be more in the stance of not knowing what best to do. He hoped that their leaders would be able to keep them in line. He had barely been able to speak with them and from the little he did, he gathered that they all wanted to do their own thing and be their own boss.

“What are you doing with all the novice bodyguards?”

The question was directed at them.

“I got them on discount.”

The laughter continued.

“No, I am serious and they are learning the ropes. It’s a win, win for everyone.”

“We won’t hold you back Tiom, head inside. Head by The Peeping Tom later and I would meet up with you when I get off work.”

With that Brun walked alongside the caravan inside the city. The inside looked exactly like the Badland areas he had slept around in Ceventia. Not two steps in and the marks of shady men were all around. It was almost like a city of thieves, why did the documents or briefing say nothing about this city?

“Surprised lad?” Tiom asked as the carriage seemed to be heading in a predetermined direction.

“Yeah, I wasn’t expecting to see this, it wasn’t in---.”

“In the information they gave you?” he chuckled. “They wouldn’t have put that in there for you, you see Ceventia only sees perfection and this city doesn’t meet their quota, but they know it exists, I bet they placed it as something vague and non-descriptive.”

“Yes, it is exactly as you said, are we safe here?”

“Is anywhere, ever truly safe? A lesson I learned a long time ago don’t dodge weeds and assume roses won’t harm you. The pretty things usually are the most deadly and the easiest point for someone to let their guard down too.”

“Where are we going?”

“To find someplace to stay, don’t worry, I know a man, well, I hope he is still there.”

“How long will be here?”

“Only for a short while, the night to be specific I have something to collect from here.”

Alina and the others had been quiet but Brun was sure they were listening in to the conversation. Moax hadn’t said anything to anyone from since that day with Tiom, it wasn’t something he could pay mind to right now.

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At the Inn, Brun was mentally exhausted, he had spent the entire time worrying about attacks and counter attacks. Recalling his online strategies, but he wasn’t the best MMO player and he doubted anything that came to mind.

He couldn’t read a word and he had to ask Alina to get the cheapest beer. The man had brought out a scale to weigh the money. A gleeful smile was on his face when he had told him the amount it would be in total. For twenty people the innkeeper said it would be ten silver pennies and eighteen copper coins for two rounds. In comparison, the rooms were two copper coins per person for the night, which came up to a total of forty copper to stay a night. It didn’t seem right to him eight copper for cheap beer and two for the rooms? Why was that he wondered? He hoped that he had gotten a deal. Alina and Salum had said the beer price was fair but they had both never rented a room before.

They had taken up all the beds and the majority of the seats downstairs. There were so many of them that makeshift tables and chairs had to be brought in to accommodate everyone. It was his first time paying by coins and its parting his hand left a sour taste in his mouth. There were many vigilante eyes on how he was spending the money, no doubt looking for something to complain about when they returned, he knew it for sure that someone would complain, these spoiled brats

Besides Brun was Alina, Brandon, and Maetino. Brandon was fake strangling Maetino asking him why he hadn’t told him anything about the city. Maetino ignored him and was still deep in reading a book, was it a spellbook or just a random book? Alina sat looking around the room and with a level of uncertainty of the rusty tankard that sat before her. Moax, where exactly was he? Brun couldn’t keep track of him or leave now.

The Inn was loud as the adventurers and others mingled. Brun of course was keeping track to make sure any additional drinks that the others had were paid for by their own pockets. He had to ensure the agreed budget with the innkeeper was kept. Those who did not drink passed it on to their friends and Brun watched to see who did the most drinking. He chuckled to himself as he realized how many Salum had to drink. The druid was sly in gaining the drinks of unsuspecting victims.

Was it the cheap alcohol, his vision seemed a bit blurred but he couldn’t read his own status effects. He would have to see his own reflection and that right now would not be possible. Why was he drinking this anyway? It more than likely messed up his stats it made him thirsty and tasted horrible. He wondered if there would be benefits on it with better alcohol, but for now, as he put it to his lips he had to settle for cheap alcohol. At least for now everyone’s morale seemed a bit higher.

“Brun,” a voice called.

 He turned to see Tiom behind him.

“I am leaving to head to meet the guard from today,” he said in a whisper.

 “Wait, we can’t let you go alone.”

He was going to insist he come and those that were with him, but he knew he couldn’t leave and it wouldn’t look good to everyone else. He quickly scanned the room looking for the ablest pair of adventurers. When he found about six men that seemed mostly intact. He signaled with his hand to call them over. Of course, originally they didn’t respond to him and it was only after Alina called them that they came.

He shook his head, as they came. “These ones will go with you Tiom.”

The look on their faces said otherwise.

“Really, aren’t you supposed to be adventurers?” Tiom asked.

They seemed like they wanted to say something until Alina spoke.

“You guys are so brave going on a special mission that no other one had been chosen for.”

The smiles they gave back and the look of the new conviction to this task almost made Brun laughed.

Tiom, however, chuckled regardless. “Thank you Brun,” he replied, then looking towards the men. “Come with me now, true protectors of Ceventia.”

Brun watched them leave, the rest of the night was uneventful except for the excessive pleas for more alcohol. He wouldn’t budge knowing food would be another thing to worry about tomorrow.  He recalled the price. The innkeeper had said seven loaves for a penny, hunting now seemed like the far better option.

                                                                                  #

They were back on the road again and Brun for one surely wouldn’t miss that place. He didn’t think no one would. Alina’s eyes looked like she couldn’t commit herself to sleeping on the bed. If hers was anywhere near mine in looks, Brun could totally understand. He swore the bed would have eaten him with the filth that was on it. Roaches ran across the floor and screams rang out from the rooms all throughout the night. The streets seemed far better to sleep on in comparison and Brun had thought it was a deal.

Familiar land with these street lights, no one, however, seemed cheery or spoke, only Tiom hummed to himself and the workers talked to each other.  Moax had drifted far behind, he wasn’t speaking much to anyone at all maybe all he needed was some space.

The caravans came to a halt, a short distance from where a caravan was blocking the road.

“Brun,” Tiom called as he looked at it long, and then his eyes trailed to the trees.

“It’s an---.”

“Ambush!”

Arrows flew from within the trees. The horse was the first that was struck it neighed and raised its hooves within the air as it collapsed on the ground. It caused the other horse on the carriage to run, pulling along the dead horse. It didn’t get far before it too fell. The carriage collapsed and Tiom fell over. When they tried to seek shelter from the left side the right side started unleashing volleys.

Brun saw Salum hit the ground, his face still in shock; not realizing that the arrow had flown through his head.

Screams followed as adventurers stuck closely and released spells blindly into the trees. It was with no sense of purpose or direction. There was a creaking sound as some collapsed and others caught on fire. In turn, the mages were greeted with an arrow. Others charged in the next direction while some tried to run backwards to escape.

By luck or chance, no arrow had hit him yet and he couldn’t see the enemy, were they concealed? Everything was chaotic and he didn’t know what to do. He felt a hand grab him turning his head, he saw it was Tiom. He hadn’t even drawn his sword if he was an enemy he would be dead.  

“Get inside the carriage!” he shouted to whoever else could hear him, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Brun followed him into the carriage along with the others. They all had petrified looks mirroring his. Only Alina, Brandon and Maetino was here. No one else listened.  Brandon had an arrow in his shoulder. He sat down, muttering to himself while blood flowed out. Maetino on the other hand was still looking at his book flipping through the pages rapidly.

Where was Moax? Brun wondered. Was he dead? He focused back outside.

Tiom threw something on the ground and whispered some sort of incantation. It held marks that resembled that of a rune and a shield appeared surrounding the wagon.

“Salum is dead!” Brandon roared, “Salum is dead!”

Alina placed a hand on his shoulder as she healed him. “C-calm down Brandon,” she said in a jittery voice.

It was at this point a loud roar was made and out ran men from the trees. Brun’s eyes read them as bandits as they passed. Those who had not gotten into the cramp confinement on the wagon now stood on the outside in the middle of what looked like a s*******r. He watched them fight for their lives killing a few in return.

Brun gripped his fist. If they had fought with tactics, maybe they could have won.

“There is nothing you can do Brun, nothing at all,” Tiom said, as they both watched.

The focus shifted to them when the brutal affair was done. The first man that tried to rush to break the shield was electrified, it was a gruesome sight. He screamed out as his lifeless body collapsed to the ground, his eyes rolled back in its socket. The others shot arrows at it, but the shield lashed out at them ending their lives.

They chose to focus on the other carriages and killing whoever else was still alive.

“Moax, is this all of the wagons?” he heard a voice calling outside.

“Yes, is he dead? Did you kill the old man?”

“No, not yet.”

A figure appeared before them one that they knew too well, Moax, he had betrayed them, but how and why?