Midsummer Feast

Merie was hiding in the shadows of a cave, at the end of the tunnel, watching the Goblin-scout, she followed, informing other Goblins about something. But since she didn’t understand a single thing they said, so couldn’t she say what was going on. Still, she hoped that it would turn out into something interesting, in the best case so would this mean the developers were planning to make it possible for monsters to raid cities and villages. Which she thought would make Rocking World even more interesting.

Merie opened the party chat and wrote to the others what she was up to, a meaningless attempt to see what they thought about it. “LET’S GO THERE AND VIOLATE THEM TO OUR HEARTS’ CONTENT!” Did Opiom really have to express it like that? She made it sound as if they should be planning something else. Still, it wasn’t as if it didn’t sound like a fun idea. “Do we wish to think they’ll return if we attack them once? Or rather, how difficult was it to notice the scout, Dear?” Anlie had a better attitude toward it, and a great question if the goblins would return if they killed them off. “It wasn’t difficult to notice the scout. It was barely hiding, and it’s almost interesting there haven’t been more people noticing it.” Merie was sure there would’ve been some talk about it on the forum if others had noticed the scout. If it wouldn’t be as simple  players had seen them but hadn’t paid it any more attention.

“If it wasn’t difficult finding the scout, so do I suggest we meet up during the weekend and raid their nest. And then see if anything changes or not.” Opiom did seem to want to fight them, and Merie started to want it too. Maybe there could be something interesting coming out of it? Or so could it maybe be a supplement for the hunts they wouldn’t be able to experience for a while? “If that might be what we wish for, so do I guess we can do just that. But we won’t do it again if it turns out to be boring, no matter what we can gain.” Anlie proved herself to be a worthy party leader. Much better than Merie ever could think of Cleara or Marcus being.

It only took a few seconds, after they made their decision, before Merie got a private messages from Anlie. Asking her if she would join the party, in real life, on Friday evening.

Merie had earlier been hesitating about joining, but at the same time so had she been curious about it, before she finally decided to talk with her parents about it. “I’ll join, but I can’t promise I’ll stay there for the whole party.” She’d been told she was free to join, even after Merie honestly had answered that they might be drinking alcohol. “But my parents asked me to call them when I, or we, decide to leave. As they don’t think it’ll be good for us to be out late.” It was the only thing they’d asked for in return for allowing her to go there. Worried that the murderer could find them, even if Merie thought the risks were terrible thin.

“That’s wonderful to hear, and I think I’ll leave the party with you, Dear. And even if one of your parents is driving us, so are you free to stay at my place during the night. So can we be at my place the following day and raid the cave from there.” Anlie sure had plans for getting the most out of it, and Merie rapidly accepted the offer. Knowing that she didn’t have to ask them about it since they also had said they would drive them there if they wished for it.

After they’d decided on everything, including the party, so did Merie leave the cave as she didn’t have anything else to do there. Also knowing there wasn’t a long time remaining before she would need to leave.

–

Merie had just logged in when she happened to hear other players talking about a new guild terrorising every city possible by attacking both players and NPCs. The name of the guild was WERMU, but the members were still unknown. Yet so was there apparently a high price on their heads.

Merie got a bad feeling from hearing about their attacks as it reminded her about Cleara and Marcus idea. An idea that didn’t sit well with the rest of the party. So she wouldn’t find it surprising if it turned out they were behind it. But even if that would turn out to be the case, so wouldn’t she expose them. Starting to walk away from those players as if she didn’t have any idea of what they were talking about. Her destination for the moment was the city’s teleporters, and then so would she set off to a small village in a swamp area.

She’d seen players talking about meeting up and hunting a bunch of swamp-Trolls, a monster Merie would be able to hunt on her own. She did know the risk of it being a trap by PKs and knew she could risk her “life” there. But since she’d been holding back at the hunts so didn’t she mind it, as it would give her a chance to kill other players. And she would let them escape if their health would get too low and they wished to flee, hoping they would be able to get away without getting exposed.

The village, Merie’s destination, had a large lake beside the teleporters,  filled with brownish water. And surprisingly so where there quite some players already, suspiciously eyeing every new arriver. Worried about PKs joining the party? “You, Girl!” Someone yelled all of a sudden, catching Merie’s attention and making her turn toward the source. Noticing a large player marching toward her, fully equipped with white shiny armour. “Who are you talking to?” She knew it could be her, but it could just as well be someone else he talked to. “It’s you , Girl. And I want you to state what you’re doing here?” “Is it any special equipment you are searching for?” The player was rapidly following himself up as he made his dumb demand. “I want to try getting a poison ring, but I’ll also keep any other equipment I get.” Merie found the poison ring as the most important equipment she wanted from the trolls, as it would grant her attacks a poisonous effect. And it could be of great help as her dodging was far better than her attack.

The player demanded she give him her name, which she didn’t mind giving him as she’d no intention to PK, this time. And after that so did he leave her, walking up to some other strong-looking players and talking a little before they started to yell about getting going. Leading the flock out from the village and toward the forest. “And what are you searching for, Girl?” A female mage walked up beside Merie and spoke up, and Merie gave her the same answer as she had given the knight, possible?, not thinking too much about it. “What about you? Are you aiming for any special equipment?” Merie could as well ask since there wouldn’t be anything else to do until they reached the area with the Trolls. “I’m trying to get a nature staff, and I’ve two poison rings from earlier runs, so you can get one for free now if you promise you’ll hand me the staff if you find it” The mages offer was kind and felt too good to be true. “And the catch is?” Merie was sure there’d to be one. “The catch is that I’ve too many rings for my own good, so I rather get some help than have doubles of something.”

In the end so had Merie accepted the offer and got what she wished for before even reaching the place, equipped it just as quickly as she got it. And as soon they reached the Trolls so did Merie burst out in a leap and attacked the monsters, rapidly seeing how well poison drained their health.

The Trolls were large humanoids with dark green skin, wearing horrible tight leather underpants. Almost all of them were carrying a club, which easily would be able to crush someone’s head. But at the very least, so didn’t she find it difficult to dodge the attacks. Stepping in, slashing the face, followed by a rapid kneeing. She could easily have aimed for the areas at the Troll, slightly lighter than the rest, where she would’ve done extra damage. But simply didn’t feel like it this time. And… She was surprised to still see the Troll standing strong, glaring at her with fiery eyes. Reminding her once again that she wasn’t able to defeat them as easily as the other monsters she hunted. Rapidly ducking, as it swang at her and jumped backward. Barely landing before launching forward again, this time aiming her attacks at the critical areas. Swinging one claw to its face, spinning, the second claw to its throat. “WATCH OUT, MERIE!” Ducking as she heard the yell, a bolt passed above her head.

The Mage, List, could’ve warned her before hand, increasing Merie’s chances of not getting hit. Getting up, an upward stabbing toward its throat, and pulling them to the side to rip the throat wide open.

Merie could see a tiny pop-up in the corner of her eye, sure she couldn’t see nature staff in the text. Which meant that she had to continue the hunt.

As she jumped from Troll to Troll, getting support from List and other players, attacking from a distance. The Trolls were going down easier with the help from the others, but she still found it annoying that the others wouldn’t join her in the direct battle. Which Anlie would’ve done without a second thought. Merie got what she wanted herself quite fast, but it seemed to be a slightly worse bother with the staff to List.

Merie was surprised that they never got attacked during their hunt. Even if there were stronger players in the group so could it be at most five of them, probably only three, and it should’ve been easy for a medium-sized party to handle. And if they, Mien Skitte, would’ve been serious with PKing, so wouldn’t Merie have let this chance slip. Yet so did she find this small outing nice, and could consider doing it again if she got the opportunity.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay before I’ve to leave. And I’ve, sadly, not found the staff you wished for.” “So, do you want the ring back, or what do you want done about it?” Merie would return the ring if List wanted to, even if she wouldn’t have found one on her own. “You’the kind to ask, Merie. But you don’t have to return the ring. You’ve been doing your best, so I can’t ask for more.” List shouldn’t be so trusting. She couldn’t see what loot Merie got, so there was no way she could say if Merie straight of was lying to her. “I see. I’m grateful for that, and will help you for a while longer.” Merie hoped that she would be able to find the staff during that time as she wouldn’t have much time to play the following day. Which would be a Friday, and that meant she would spend the day preparing for the evening and the evening drinking with Anlie.

“Thank you, Merie. And may I ask if you would like to exchange contact information? I think the hunt has gone well, and I think we can do it again.” List was correct that the hunt had gone well and that they made up a good team, even though it was nowhere close to as good as the hunts with Mien Skitie went. So Merie didn’t mind them exchanging it and maybe planning for a future hunt. Not to mention it was good to build up a circle of friends in Rocking World as it easily could save her from boredom if there was nothing else to do.