PvP Dungeon Hunter

Camp

The branches creaked above Brun’s head as in his view the sun was setting. He sat on the ground not too far from the fire that was in the making. He wore breeches the equivalence to trousers yet he still felt a wet sensation from the ground. Focusing on the leaves he realised that the rain had recently fallen. This was Brun’s first time in an actual forest and the insects' constant humming was like a headache. Before he had been brought here he had never once seen a forest or even done any form of camping. Alina had sat beside him for a while earlier and ran through with him the finer details about the currency. Brun thought he should be fine now.

It was a long day and the others were busy setting up camp, which sat not too far from the road. Brun took off his helmet and rested it by his side. Fresh air blew upon his curly brown hair as his eyes surveyed what everyone was up to. There were a few of them, Brun estimated about twenty to twenty-five people in total for this trip. Of course, far more of them were from the Adventurers Guild. The others in sight were busy in conversations, complaints was written all over their face. No doubt from all the walking they had to do. Of course, those few with horses did not feel this same way as the others. There were about six camp sites in total, this one he was at was next to Tiom, he, however, was busy in discussion with some others with him.

Those he was talking to were all level one. He didn’t see their names, it was guarded by question marks, but Tiom himself seemed to be a dangerous man. What did he use to do before? Brun wondered for a while before his eyes settled elsewhere.

 It seemed that those who were skilled as Rangers were best at camp related duties; starting a fire, setting up the tents, and the like. It was at this point Brun realized he had made his very first mistake. He had not bought any provisions for the trip. He had taken the coins, but never went to any of the places to buy food. He was so eager to leave and he figured he could get it on the way as if it was some gas station or mini mart. The realization dawned on him of how much a problem, it would be as he was seated right next to the camp. What if the rest called him out on it, he didn’t even notify the teams or the rangers to go on to hunt. All he had done was walk and look at the map and talk about pointless stuff in the grand scheme of things. An army can’t eat without food, and that’s what he had, no food.

A loud thud came beside him.

Brun’s body shook as he turned to the noise.

 Alina sat down, and placed a hand on Brun’s shoulder. “ Your eyes are so unique, brown eyes. I haven’t seen much of those.”

Brun turned away slightly. “ I have pressing issues on my mind, Alina. I can’t believe I already messed up with the food.”

“Don’t worry, while you were studying the map and walking along the track the others and I decided to interact and have the rangers go hunting before it was too late.”

“That’s right,” another voice spoke as Brandon, Salum, Moax and Maetino sat down.

Brun wasn’t sure who spoke, but it was quickly followed up.

“I feel so much more at home in the forest,” Brandon said, “We caught a good haul, boss,” he said with a smile. “I had a bit of a head start.”

“Don’t you think you should thank me for the herb and fruits from the forest as well,” Salum interjected.

“Yeah, yeah, that’s great and all but I carried it all in the end,” Moax replied.

“What did you do Maetino?” Alina asked.

Maetino looked up from his book. “I looked after them so they didn’t end up killing each other or destroy the forest. Brandon shoots like a wild man and Salum is too overzealous with plants, Moax doesn’t know when to quit or the limits of his own body.”

The trio interjected with complaints each giving a reason for why it’s important for them to do what they did. The conversations were all leading to some degree of growing their own level, but most of it was incoherent as they talked over each other.

“Um okay,” Alina replied.

Brun chuckled. “Thank you, everyone, I was so worried thinking that I messed up, but you all really came through for me even though you don’t know me.”

“We are all in this together,” Brandon said.

“Yup besides, we don’t like starving,” Moax replied.

“Was it enough for everyone?” Brun asked.

“Yeah, we should get through tonight from the brief intel we know. Anything you would like to share with us?”

“Do you guys know anything about the place that we are going to?”

“I know the area because of my ability. I feel right at home here, I have an affinity for the forest so we won’t get lost and if we get pursuers we can lose them in here.”

Brandon created a contraption that allowed for the meat to be placed onto the sticks and kept in place as everyone waited for them nearby. He added on cuts of herbs and spices into the mix. It looked tasty, he did more than enough as the others nearby smelt the aroma that was in the air and drew in closer to get a stick as well and place it by the fire.

“You know that they’re too many of us for that plan to work right?” Maetino interjected.

“Hehe.”

“I don’t think he thought that one through.”

Everyone shook their heads about knowing the location, it seemed most people didn’t leave the general area of the city much and when they did, they didn’t go anywhere that far or to any other places that weren’t fully affiliated with Ceventia.

“I think these first ones are ready,” Brandon said as he took it off the fire and handed it to everyone around in a very orderly fashion. He determined which ones looked to be well cooked through. “I have water as well if need be, it’s in the tent over there.” He pointed.

Brun wondered if the coins would be accepted and what trouble they might be likely to face. The briefing and information he had received, expected nothing of the sort to happen, it was mostly you are on your own and complete the mission before everything else. It also gives somewhat could only be deemed as motivational quotes to say to those around him, but the wording of it was so cheesy like some afterthought or someone who didn’t know how to speak to a person. It was entitled Excerpts from the Book of Persuasion.

“I know the area that we are going to. I have been there a few times before with my father,” Maetino responded.

“Really?” Alina said, “I didn’t think you even left a room too much.”

The others laughed at her response only Brun remained serious.

“What is it like and what sort of enemies can we expect to find there?”

Brun felt a touch on his shoulder.“What type of enemies lad? We might run into plenty of thieves, but they won’t be hiding on the road they will be in the very markets themselves armed with prices to take a man’s eye and his soul.”

Tiom took a seat by the now crowded fire. “It’s not as cold tonight as normal that’s good I don’t think half of the others would survive through it.”

“Does it get really cold?” Brun asked, as he watched Tiom eating one of the squirrels before turning to him.

“The look on your face is priceless. Yes, it can get pretty cold you might want to invest in a cloak, all of you might want to do that when you get the coin.”

Here is some wine that I brought, it’s not the best that you may get in Ceventia but it loosens the bones well enough. He took a sip and passed it around to everyone. Alina refused, but everyone else including Brun had some. It was potent, he saw the effects taking root almost instantly on the others showing up on their info bars as an affliction while deducting thirst.

“What is this?” Brandon asked.

“Something I got from a dwarf friend of mine, be careful with it. It’s potent, a real man’s drink.” Tiom answered.

“Were you an adventurer at one point Tiom?” Alina probed.

“No, no lass, that’s not my kind of thing.”

“It’s almost like you’re enjoying our suffering,” Matenio responded as he took another swig, others in the crowd grabed a sip too as he passed it. “ Is being a merchant something that you enjoy?”

It was back in Brun’s hand it had a great berry taste, it was sweet and savoury but still had a hint of mint in it. Was he really drinking alcohol? Back home he never drank the stuff, whenever he went out.  He felt as though it was lifting some of his own worries about over thinking away and it was good like walking into heaven.

This stuff was far more potent than Brun had first thought. A sip felt like five glasses of alcohol hitting you back to back and only felt when it left your lips. Had this been alcohol in the real world? He already knew what the consequences would be like.

“Not enjoy, but I am amazed by how the guild weeds out the weak in their system.”

“Weeds out the weak?” Moax responded as he stumbled to his feet. “Are you saying that we are weak old man?”

“Well, I am not exactly saying that you’re strong.”

“Is that a challenge?” Moax asked, as he gripped the axe in his hand tightly.

“Moax calm down,” Brandon replied, “I told you, that you shouldn’t haven’t taken so much of a big swig.”

Tiom didn’t bat an eye his way, there was so much killing intent coming from Moax like a raging bull, that it made Brun feel uncomfortable. It made those around him move away, the fire now was far lighter than before.

“Put it away before you hurt yourself, how are you going to fulfil the contract if you’re going to attack the client.”

“Shut up! No one calls me weak!” Moax shouted, staggering to his feet.

 “Please calm down Moax,” Alina said, “ he’s not calling you weak, he’s saying right now we aren’t as strong as we can be.”

“Moax your blocking the light and your chances of success are slim. You have a very tense and agitated posture while your opponent is calm.”

“Stupid,” Salum said, “ Brun do something.”

Brun didn’t know what to do in the situation he tried to think back about the guild about charisma and team talking but to say those words felt so cheesy. He heard the others in the background those taunting words, words that seem to always look down at him.

“Aren’t you going to say anything, supposed leader?”

“He can’t even control his own squad mates.”

“What a failure.”

Brun gritted his teeth as his thoughts tripped over themselves, leaving him to watch the scene as it unfolded. He knew one thing with certainty Moax was in over his head. It was only Moax in a constant fit of rage, attacking Tiom with words, but he saw the urge to strike him down was high.

He opened his mouth to speak, but it was too late. Moax raised his hand towards Tiom and then his blade fell to the ground. In the next direction clink clink clank it sounded as it hit directly into a tree shaking it. Moax’s body fell to the ground, his hand clutched his stomach. Everyone around recoiled with shock having the same look of disbelief Brun had on his own face.

What exactly had happened here? Tiom sat down in the same position calm and he hadn’t even seen him move.

“You charge at an opponent not knowing their strength filled with a simple taunt. It is not the weakness that you have that makes you weak. What makes someone weak is when they can’t get past a slight taunt. Haha, you even attacked me with the intent to kill, I wonder how much of a discount that is worth. If I was anyone else they would be dead.”

They were a lot of mutters in between the crowd as others from the other camps came across as well, drawn by the loud noise.

“What happened?!” Sounded over and over and whispers also followed.

Confusion occurred between the ones that we were supposed to protect and the group of adventurers. It was chaotic, everyone had a say and with tainted whispers choosing sides that seemed to fit their own narrative. Brun’s eyes looked at those who were with him all the time. Alina stood quiet, still in shock as well as the two others.

The only person that seemed unmoved was Maetino who, after locking eyes with Brun saw the foreseeable outcome.

Tiom got up. “Listen  all of you, before you look to fault Brun for something that was out of his own control. He is not your father nor is he your caretaker. Your decisions and choices are your own and you can’t pin the actions of one man on another. If not you’re just like this one, weak.” He placed a hand on Brun’s back and left heading towards his camp.

Brun sat there in silence, he felt the status effect of the alcohol still lingering upon his body. Moax was still tumbled over holding his stomach and moaning in agony. No one dare move towards him as if Tiom had left some trap around him.

How had he done it Brun wondered as he looked towards the fire and then at Maetino who was the only one that held a calm composure. Who really was Tiom?