Midsummer Feast

“Opiom? You said we shouldn’t meet anyone new after the killings started. But would you consider us new people?” Anlie asked her question out of nowhere.

Merie, Opiom and Anlie were all back after their short breaks, hunting wolves in a forest at a mountain. “I wouldn’t call you new people.” “At least not in the game, and back then so did I mean players from the game as you didn’t know before in real life.” Did Opiom really have to clarify it for Anlie? Merie wished to remember it as if Opiom had been very clear when she said it. “That’s great to hear.” Anlie did seem glad to get that answer, rapidly turning to Merie. “I and some good friends will meet up next weekend and party, so would you like to join, Dear?”

Merie got a feeling Anlie had asked Opiom first because she didn’t want her to join, but it shouldn’t be as of she would need to tell Opiom to start with. “It should depend on what you mean with a party.” Merie could already say that she wouldn’t like it if there were too many folks, nor if it would involve alcohol. “I’m talking about party as in a fucking drunken brawl, without any unnecessary violence.” Anlie didn’t seem to have learned after the first hundreds of times Merie already had rejected the offer. “I’ll think about it and answer you later on, Anlie.” Still… Even though Merie did try hard to be a good person, her parents could be proud of, so was she curious about it.

Merie wasn’t one of those popular pupils in school who went out and drank every weekend, neither did she socialising with them. But she’d picked up some of their chatting about their rounds, and it was somehow sounding interesting and fun. Not that she would want to join them as she didn’t feel she would be able to relax around them, but it would be a whole different matter together with Anlie. Not to mention that it would be far easier to explain that she went out with Anlie since her parents knew who she was.

“I honestly don’t want to be like that, Anlie. But I would like to say that was an embarrassing low potshot.” Opiom looked genuinely surprised by Anlie’s action. But soon cracked a thin smile, “Just you wait till all this is over, Anlie. So might I also try to get my hands on our cutie.” Why were they both express an interest in spending time with Merie outside the game, not even Merie would like to spend time with herself as long she’d to behave. Sure, she’s spent quite some time with Anlie while acting plain and boring, but they’d always had something to talk about which made the situation slightly better.

“By the way, did you both hear the police found Rocking World Killer’s latest victim?” Merie didn’t like the name they had given the asshole, but hadn’t figured out any better name to call him or her. “I heard they found a body today, and I heard some of the public is starting to consider forcing Rocking World to shut down.” Opiom had listened to it more than Merie had, involving information she’d missed. “I also heard that and think it sucks, nor that it’ll help in any way.” Anlie took a deep breath after talking, “They must be idiots if they think the slaying will stop because they shut down the game where the murderer finds targets, who surely will find another hunting ground.” Anlie spoke with a strong tone, and Merie agreed. Not only to the part when they were idiots, but just as a thief so would the killer fund another source if the first dried up.

The girls continued the conversation for a while, without finding out anything else than that those idiots were fucking dumb to think a killer would disappear if they got rid of the game. As Opiom expressed it, An addict doesn’t stop because their slinger gets arrested. They simply find another one.

But as soon they decided there wasn’t anything more to say about it, so did they simply return to their hunt as if nothing had happened. Or, Merie at least tried to act as if nothing had happened. She was highly frustrated by idiotic adults’ idea to shut down a game, because they didn’t like it and loved to blame it for some people’s bad behaviour. Even though Rocking World tried to help solve the problem, she thought, and gathered information they surely handed the police.

“This is an important announcement! As you might’ve heard so have yet another victim of the killer been found. We want to stress the importance of not spending any time with a real life stranger, from the game. Or from outside the game. We can no longer for sure say that we’re sure the killer isn’t among us, but we neither can we deny the killer being someone from the outside, who happens to find players. So we’re begging you to be careful, and to make sure someone in your family or of your friends always knows when you’re meeting someone.

We’ll also like you to answer a mail, soon delivered to your inbox, where we want is to be allowed to share all your information with the police working the case. This isn’t because we’re suspecting anyone of you, but by reading the personal data and your mails, so might they be able to find connections and ideas of how the killer might be thinking. We’re apologising for our pushy attitude, but we wish nothing more than to find the killer and bring back the safety you, our players, deserve.”

“I don’t think there’s any of us three who mind them sharing the information, right, girls?” Opiom was the first one to speak up after the message, and it wasn’t as if she was wrong. Merie didn’t like to share her personal information, but in this case, so could it maybe be for the greater better. “Is there even necessary to ask, Opiom? Of course I’ll share it, this time.” Anlie was just accepting the request just as easy as the two others, which was not surprising. And only a few seconds later so did Merie hear the signal that she got a message.

Accepting the game’s request and closing the menu again, “Shall we continue to gather enough fur for Anlie’s new clothes?” Merie still liked Opiom’s idea of crafting a puppy one-piece for Anlie. Even though it didn’t seem as Anlie would find it as embarrassing as Merie found the dress Opiom had picked out for her.”I’m ready to go again.” Opiom was also along with the idea, and Anlie didn’t look as if she’d any thoughts about leaving. At least so wasn’t it as she was preparing for it, neither so did she say anything about it. “But I might be less active and set myself on mute for a while when a friend calls me.” There was no need for Opiom to warn them as they would’ve noticed it. And a simple hand gesture would’ve told them everything they needed. Still, so was it kind of her to tell them. “Is it the same friend crafting outfits, Opiom? The one who liked making porno clothes?” Did Anlie care about that? And couldn’t she have tried to express herself in a better way? “It’s just that friend, and she’ll love creating something like this, if she wouldn’t happen to get an even better idea which can seduce me even more than the first.” So Opiom could change their decision if her friend happened to get a better idea? Not that Merie would like to say that she cared, but she found it annoying that someone who didn’t have anything to do with it would be allowed to make an impact on their decision.

As none of them questioned Opiom’s comment, out loud, so did they soon continue their hunt. And of course so was there also some small talk while doing it, revolving around the update. Which they still hoped would happen, even after all the problems Rocking World was going through because of that killer. “I can guess they might’ve other things to think of, so in the worst case so might it be postponed. But I don’t think they’ll shut the game down, as they surely have invested quite some money in the game.” Opiom better be right about that. Merie honestly didn’t want to see this beloved game shut down. She could honey not think about any other games, which she had played earlier, giving her the chance to hunt down players who didn’t know she was coming for them. Which never would’ve been possible in the other games, as they would’ve expected an attack just as Merie would’ve expected to be attacked.

*PLING!* Merie was surprised by the sudden message, which seemed to go for the other two too. “Should we hope it’s the last remaining, sane, person in the party?” Anlie was right that they should hope for that. The three of them were better off without either Cleara or Marcus. But thinking about it, so might they be better off without Lart, as she didn’t want to be seen in that dress.

“Can you tell us what the message says, Opiom? So will I try to handle the wolves.” The monsters wouldn’t stop attacking because they read what was written in the chat, so she would continue gathering the pelt while, hopefully, Opiom would read it aloud.

“It’s just Cleara. She has been working with Marcus and Lart to gather what is necessary to create a guild. And she is pointing out that we should dissolve the party and gather in the guild.” Opiom sounded amused as she gave them a summary of what was written. “They’re free to leave the party, but it’ll not be dissolved. And it’s nothing they can do about it. It’s my party, and I’ll hold on to it until we’re known enough to become a guild.” Anlie wasn’t amused by their idea, and neither was Merie.

Guilds can be created if a bunch of specific items is gathered and handed to a city lord. The usefulness of Guilds will differ from guild to guild, as the leader can decide how they wish to build it.

A guild can also be created if a party gets famous/infamous enough to become an enemy of both state and the adventure guild. This isn’t as easy as it sounds, as the players must prove they’re a threat to both players and the adventure guild. But as a reward for the hard work awaiting the party, so will they earn a start capital of points to use for the newborn guild’s growth.

“And I’ll keep you company till the party becomes a guild, Anlie.” Merie didn’t know what would be thrown at them, nor if they even would succeed with it. But she did know that she wished to remain with Anlie throughout the game. “I also think I’ll remain with Mien Skittie, as it sounds far funnier than buying a guild.” With Opiom’s answer so were they at least three who would stay in the party. Without saying anything more, so did Anlie opening her menu and started to write something. At least so did Merie think Anlie was writing something, but it wasn’t as if she could see it. Soon there was another message, so Merie had probably been right.

Getting out of the way from a wolf’s jaws, slashing it over its eyes. Following it with a knee, from below, and a swipe against its throat. “So… What is said?” Merie hoped either Opiom or Anlie should answer her question, so she didn’t need to check it herself. “Nothing more than that they’re free to leave, and that I wish them well.” Anlie didn’t hesitate as she answered, but all for the better sake as Merie preferred a strong-willed party leader. Instead of a leader thinking they could control her.