Surviving the Game: The Rat Assassin

Coalition

The day of the first full moon was a flurry of activity in the Shadow Rulers Guild, the members wanting to become new Profession Masters trying to increase their skills as much as possible before the moon rose and the system determined who in the Alliance would get the Master position for each Profession this month. Some of them knew they were secure as the top, few of any of the others with their skills wanting the challenge as they realized it wasn’t as easy as just making the pieces. The truly good ones had been making and selling their wares at the market, using the funds to buy more materials and make them over and over to improve their proficiency in them. The better their proficiency, the higher their overall skill rating that the system would use to determine who was the best. So that evening was definitely a flurry as the sun went down, the announcement that further progression at the moment would be considered for next month as the system kicked in who it was as the Council sat at the high table in the dining hall of the Shadow Rulers Guild. The entire membership and dozens of prospects gathered to see the spectacle, as at least 6 challenges for Class Master had been issued beginning that morning with another 3 for the next day as the Paladins had 3 different Challengers for Master position, with the rule affirmed that a master could not be forced to defend his position more than once per day. Just as the moon rose the system alerted the Profession Masters who they were, no one having moved to fill those seats this night as a few of them knew they would be replaced because their focus has been elsewhere.

When the results were first displayed everyone laughed when Liora reacted. “Nope, no way. This does not work for me!” she exclaimed as it showed she was the Profession Master for Bladesmithing, Apothecarium, Mining and Skinning. “We need to fix this, only one Profession Master position per person, although they can be Class Masters at the same time. I am Guild Master, that is all I should be.” She said as Porcia rose.

“If it please the Grand Master, I propose we limit the Grand Master to that title only. Class Masters and Guild Masters may find themselves in possession of the Profession Master titles, but the Grand Master has other areas of focus.” She proposed and the entirety of the Guild voted in favor of it, even though only the Masters technically had a voice on that vote as the system automatically selected the secondary Profession Masters in those areas and notified them as they stepped forward and took their seats.

“Now, we have 10 seats to fill for the Guild Masters, the notification for the vote going out last month as required. The system will allow members to cast their ballot for each of the 10 positions, only those running for the position on the ballot allowed to be voted upon. No write ins will be allowed, these positions to be held for one year. Cast your vote by the time dessert is served so they may be announced and recognized this night. Once the vote has been cast, I believe we have 5 Challengers for Class Master in the world this evening. For now let us eat, celebrate and remember those who have fallen and no longer answer the call!” Liora said energetically to a cheer from everyone there.

After dinner they moved to the Arena, where it seemed that the entire game had heard about their challenges and had come to watch. Liora was surprised when she went to the main box, a dozen other Alliance leaders there to watch the spectacle with her.

“Grand Master Liora is it?” one of the man asked with a little arrogance as she nodded. “Pleasure to finally meet you. It has been terribly difficult to do this last month.”

Liora snorted softly as she looked at him. “Some of us have busy schedules, what is it you would like to discuss?” she asked not bothering to even ask his name.

“We are forming a coalition of Guilds, meant to work together to determine how exactly we beat this game and get out of here. Rapunzel, at your service.” She said as Liora smiled and nodded.

“Each of our Guilds have already agreed to work together, we want to know if you would be willing to join us. Montoya, at your service.” Another of the men said.

“First we must ask what the Shadow Rulers can offer? We know it seems apparent that they want to rule all of us from the Shadows.” Christopher snickered although no one laughed as the first battle between two mages began with powerful spells that dissipated over the crowd.

“First, I don’t find your joke funny. The Shadow Rulers don’t wish to Lord over anyone, this spectacle a clear demonstration of that. We believe the strongest member of a Class should lead that Class in our Guild, the only way to determine that is through duels allowed to go to half life only.” Liora explained as the mage in purple for drilled with a massive fireball that took her to 48 percent health and ended the duel as she had just lost. The Master having won with only 52 percent of her health left. “Second, the irony is not lost on me that you ask what we can provide to assist the Coalition when we have already provided it to everyone.” She said picking up a copy of the book she saw on three of their belts.

“Are you taking credit for this?” Dillinger asked her picking up his copy. They had all wondered who had been responsible as it had helped a lot of them develop people properly with their guides.

“There are 20 people in this Game capable of using this Emblem, let alone knowing what it is. 18 of them are currently in the Shadow Rulers Guild, one is dead and the last isn’t in one of the Guilds here as he is the master of his own. He however doesn’t use this symbol that I am aware of, which means it came from me of the members of my Guild. As the guide also credits the person that found the information or purchased it from those who did, it is as easy as looking at when the information was obtained, and by whom it was obtained. Most entries will be a member of the Shadow Rulers Guild, which means if you use this, we have already provided more assistance than any of you have given us.” Liora said as the 2 warriors entered the Arena to begin their challenge. The display of power from them was increasing the number of people wanting to join as she had closed automatic entry for the time being.

“So what is the symbol then?” Dominick asked her.

Liora looked at him with a sly smile. “How much is that information worth to you? We buy valuable information for 5 Gold, is it worth that much to you?” she asked as she set her copy of the book down as he looked at everyone else who was trying to act like they weren’t listening. “I will be nice though this one time. That is the Symbol of the Rat Dragon, an Orphan Thief that got 50 kills minimum in the Race of the Rats during the Festival of Mask. It was part of the Rogue tutorial, just for your continued information, as it seems yours is lacking.” She said making two of the girls laugh.

“What makes you so cocky?” the Warrior demanded as a level 18 as she smiled at his continued aggression.

“Please 18, you are starting to try my patience. I will only be so courteous to your continued attacks for so long before you get a demonstration.” She said disappearing right in front of all of them. She tapped his balls with one of her daggers, the flat of the blade scaring the s**t out of him as he hadn’t even sensed she was there. “I am the Ruler of Shadows, Master of Mist, and can kill you with very little effort required. Telling you I am coming would mean absolutely nothing,” she said from across the room as an unpoisoned throwing star buried itself into the wall by his head after it had nicked the tip of his ear. All he had seen was a shadow for a second before it came flying past him in a flash of metal. Just as suddenly as she had disappeared, she was right in front of him, her dagger pressed to the underside of his chin as she pressed it up. “If you are wondering how this is possible, you are a level 18 fighter challenging a level 30 Rat Dragon Assassin Rogue. My Guild is called Shadows Ruler’s, because 18 of those who achieved the Rank of Rat Dragon are in this Guild. The shadows, are rules by us, and we can use them to devastating effect.” She finished before she turned and went to her seat as the others were surprised at her declaration and demonstration.

“You are already level 30?” Gretchen asked her in awe.

“Yes, I am. I am also the one who holds the record for most of the dungeons in the beginner areas. No, it is not a glitch as I did solo all of them when I got bored one night.” She said shrugging as they all looked at each other before they sat around her to watch the warriors that were still battling it out as they could truly take a punishment.

“You set those records in one night?” Lionel asked as she nodded.

“Took the better part of 8 hours actually, but yes, all in one night. So you see, my Guild has been contributing for some time to the betterment of all Guilds and Players. If you prefer we keep our knowledge to ourselves and restrict access to future intelligence, we are happy to comply. If our contribution will be accepted, we would be glad to discuss how we can assist each other and what this coalition is for. As we seek for the moment to recruit the best of the best so we can beat this Game, we however do not care about working with you let alone ruling over you. If one of us must become Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms however, so be it if it puts us as odds as we work towards that goal.” She told all of them bluntly as she accepted all of the current requests to join as she realized the duels were being broadcast for anyone to watch. The reach was far and wide, the top guild showing that each month the Class Masters would have to defend their seat on the Guild Council against any member who wished to challenge.

The display of raw power from them was impressive as they used every bit of skill they had and tried to use every trick they had developed so far to their advantage. The Masters however had been no slouches as they knew they needed to keep pace with Liora if they wanted to keep their position. Most of them were level 28s, just a few levels below her as they came in. The lowest challenger was a 25 Shadow Priest going up against a level 29 Holy Priest for the spot as Class Master.

Normally it would clearly favor the Shadow Priest as they had the ability to deal massive amounts of damage quickly. The Holy Priest however had learned how to use her abilities to inflict damage as well light able to heal and destroy all in one spell. The Shadow Priest learned this quickly when what was normally a flash heal hit her, the damage perceptible instantly as it destroyed 10 percent of her hit points in a single spell. Her shield protecting her against damage from the Shadow Priest as she cast another spell that widened the eyes of the Shadow Priest as she went flying across the Arena with a single hit. Her life draining clear to 15 percent as her guild mate instantly began healing her to stop her death from happening as she knew she had got a solid hit on the heart of her opponent that crumpled as she fell to the ground. The Guild Leaders of the coalition were as equally stunned as the Shadow Priest had been, the display so sudden and powerful that they knew this guild wasn’t messing around. Where they had been happy with a few levels gained, the Shadow Rulers were pushing as high as they could get, as quickly as possible.

“How are your members so powerful?” Larissa asked her still amazed as the next Class entered the Arena. She was surprised to see it was the Rogues battling, especially as she knew she was the best Rogue in the Alliance.

“Not all of them are. These are the Class Masters, their position requiring them to be the best of the best if they want to hold it. The only way to take the seat, to Challenge the current Master and win. At the full moon each month, each class can have up to 5 challenges, one fought each day to give the Master the chance to rest. So these are the best of the best, only 6 classes having challenges issued this month. The Paladins have 3 and the Warriors two, so we will have battles for the next two evenings as well.” She said as the two Rogue’s flashed through the darkness repeatedly trying to one up the other. They saw almost duplicate methods as what she had used against them that evening, these Rogue’s showing why they were called the Shadow Rulers.