Bob popped into existence as Alburet finished summoning him, “So just Fluff today? What, she blushing already? What did I miss?”
Alburet sighed, “Nothing, Bob. Outside of her recounting the wild sex she used to have.”
Fluff went a darker red while Bob stopped dead, his mouth falling open, “I missed that? Why didn’t you summon me first, then?” Bob’s lips quivered slightly as if he had just been told that his birthday had been canceled.
Alburet burst out laughing, “Sorry, Fluff. I really wanted to see how he would respond. Seriously, Bob, she didn’t say anything of the sort. She was talking about how Lilith was helping her with her issues.”
Bob let out a huff as he glared at Alburet, “That wasn’t nice. First you won’t let me stay and watch Stacia and her double, then you do that to me.”
Stacia giggled, “The life of an imp is tough.”
“I know,” Bob nodded, “bad enough when your friend is as smart as a rock, but then to have your master deliberately taunt you like that is awful.”
“It shows he cares,” Tiny rumbled. “Remember what Grefluzan was saying, his master won’t let him speak at all. Master, on the other hand, engages you on your own level.”
Everyone blinked at Tiny, who had lapsed back into silence. Bob sighed. “Okay, fine, you have a point. But it still wasn’t nice.”
“You’re right Bob, I’m sorry for teasing you like that. And I’m sorry for embarrassing you even more, Fluff. Stacia, if you would give Bob a hug to make him feel better, please?” Alburet asked just as he copied her.
The two Stacias converged on Bob, who froze in place, his eyes going wide. One Stacia picked him up, hugging him tightly to her chest. He let out a muffled gasp as the other Stacia sandwiched him from behind. After about ten seconds they moved back, letting Bob flop to the ground, gasping.
“I’ve died and the Dark Lord sent me to paradise,” Bob finally panted a moment later, his eyes glazed.
Fluff let out a stifled snort, her cheeks pink as she looked at the imp, “He really is passionate about Succubi, isn’t he?”
“Alright Bob, we good now?” Alburet asked. They’d reached the edge of the tree line.
Bob sprang to his feet, standing at attention and snapped a salute, “Yes, master!” He skipped off as if floating on air, up to the front with Tiny.
Fluff gave another muffled snort of laughter, “He is funny.”
“Da’s imp was serious and never played jokes. Bob is completely different. He be more like Unca Stew’s imp, who loved to play pranks on the other infernals,” Stacia added as they entered the woods, heading for the first path to set an ambush.
“I’m glad he isn’t into practical jokes,” Alburet chuckled. “Okay, Kitten, we start like before with you dazing the gnoll. Tiny will grab it after I blast the plant life off its back and then we gang up on it until it dies.”
They followed that plan for close to two hours, taking a break around noon for jerky and tea just after Alburet leveled to nineteen. Fluff asked about his new spell. “Demonic Vitality rank two. It now gives ten health per second for its minute-long duration. That should help Tiny a bit more. Just one more level until a new ability.”
“Ya be getting’ the chance to take an ability for one of us next level then, master,” Stacia told him as she finished her jerky. “I look forward for what ya think will be the best way to go. Mayhap ya will take the other option instead, though.”
“I doubt it, upgrading you three is a major priority. Plus, the really cool abilities will be later on, I would think,” Alburet smiled at her. Before he could add more the guild icon started flashing.
Gerald:
We’re here, are you all hunting already?
Fluffbalclass="underline"
We’re killing single gnolls. If you two come out we can tackle the camps again.
Stacia:
Aye, it be boring doin’ the single ones, come and join us.
Gerald:
We’re on the way.
Alburet put his Guildstone away, not seeing any point of adding anything. “Guess I get to be the strong silent type with you all around,” he mused.
“Aye,” Stacia giggled.
About thirty minutes later they retreated to meet up with Gerald and Marysue at the edge of the woods. A round of hugs and handshakes went on as they merged into a single group with Alburet sending invites to the duo.
“Did you use the guild fund at the portal guild?” Alburet asked as they started into the woods.
“Yeah we did. Why did it deduct coin from me?” Gerald asked.
Alburet filled Gerald in on the guild fund and the guild account at the bank as well as the taxes. “This will help build our funds for later expenses plus taking care of the guild hall, without it becoming too intrusive I think.”
Gerald mulled it over, “I’m not sure if ten percent is the right way to go. Five percent will do the same thing. More so once we add in other long term testers. Since our guild can hunt longer and more often, a lower rate is even more attractive for those we are looking to add. I think most of the other guilds will go ten percent or more, they’ll have to to even get a permanent guild building, I think. It’s funny that we already have one and they haven’t announced the system yet.”
Blinking, Alburet pursed his lips, “I hadn’t thought of that. I bet they’re going to announce it when they kick open the long term testing in nine days. Wouldn’t be surprised if they take,” he caught himself, looking at Stacia, “the portal between our worlds down for a day, to update things before they put you all in for the test.”
“They want us there a day early, for prep,” Marysue added. “That email came this morning. So your thoughts have merit.”
“Are you two going to take a day or so off before that to square things away?” Alburet asked. “Fluff mentioned doing so already.”
“Yeah, I should,” Gerald sighed. “Mary doesn’t have to worry about it, but I do.”
“I’ll take the day off if you do, Gerald. You know dad doesn’t want me playing without you with me. I tried to tell him that I’m perfectly safe in the game, but he won’t listen,” Marysue sighed. “It’s like he can’t understand that nothing really bad can happen to me while I’m in Alpha World.”
“All parents worry,” Stacia said softly. “Me own Da’ all but forbad me from huntin’. If nay for Alburet, I would still be stuck in the inn.”
Alburet gave one of her a squeeze, “Here we are. Time to get our game faces on.”
They fell into position and launched their attacks with what was fast becoming practiced ease. Alburet and Bob threw Fire Blasts onto the shelters, drawing out each set of two. Stacia dazed both casters while Tiny and Gerald each picked up a melee. Fluff was just behind them, focusing Tiny’s opponent down first. Bob and Alburet focused their attacks on the same one. Once it died, they switched over to the one on Gerald, dropping it in short order. Once both melee were dead they single focused down the casters, with Alburet burning the spores off their backs first. A minute later they were looting and heading for the next camp.
Pausing on the trails to kill the lone wanders, they went from camp to camp for the next five hours, slaughtering gnolls with brutal efficiency. With an hour or so of daylight left Fluff spoke up after they killed another camp. “I need to get going for the night. I’m supposed to stop by to see Lilith before I log off.”
The rest of the group spent another hour killing gnolls, each camp taking just a bit longer without the damage Fluff contributed. Just as the sun was setting at six, they called a halt for the night. Marysue was supposed to have dinner with her father, though she seemed reluctant to go. They decided to turn in quests first so the group headed back to the keep. Once they’d turned in their quests, Gerald and Marysue logged out for the night.