Gerald had caught up to the Shaman after only one heal was cast. Alburet was closing the distance as the vines vanished, freeing the others. As they crossed the distance towards the Shaman, Tiny hung back slightly and taunted the Shaman.
The Shaman’s head snapped around to focus on Tiny as the black cloud descended on the destroyer, who backpedaled out of it vomiting as he did. The taunt had given the Shaman a clear target for the cloud, one well away from everyone else. As everyone piled back onto the boss it again exuded a green cloud, giving them a third dose of Passion’s Embrace. Each of them downed another health potion.
Alburet winced. Even with Demonic Vitality his life was at 600/1,250 and ticking away at 60 a second due to the three stacks of poison. Alburet died ten seconds later as Marysue ran out of mana, as she had spread herself a little thin trying to keep them all up. Two seconds later Karen fell, then Fluffball five seconds after that. Gerald struck the killing blow three seconds before the poison killed him. Marysue, as the only survivor of the group, promptly sat down to rest breathing out a sigh of relief.
Guild Achievement: Complete Gnoll Cave as a guild group
Guild Achievement: Complete a dungeon under the rated minimum
Reward: Gain reputation with all world factions
Personal Achievement: You’re a special kind of…
Complete a dungeon below the rated minimum.
Reward: Gain reputation with all world factions
Alburet chuckled at the notifications as he and the others ran back. “Special kind of?” He asked out loud.
“Well honestly, we shouldn’t have been in here,” Gerald replied as they ran. “It really is stupid to take on a dungeon below the minimum. Your pets have been a major help. Along with the fact that you’re overpowered with those gloves, allowing your damage to exceed what others can do at the same level.”
“Yeah, the extra damage is what did it,” Karen agreed. “You’re on par with two other people. Kind of makes you the exception to the Summoners are weak rule. Right?”
“Breaking expectations, that’s me alright,” Alburet chuckled.
“I leveled,” Fluff said as they reached the cavern.
“Me too,” Karen added.
“Us as well,” Gerald put in as he hugged Marysue. “Well done with the heals. You kept us up long enough.”
“You all using potions is what really helped,” Marysue replied. “Level twenty I get another area heal, and twenty-five I think is when I can upgrade it. This would have been much easier at those levels.”
“Sure,” Alburet agreed, “but it wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun.”
Marysue touched the boss to trigger the loot, “Let’s see what we have.”
Marysue got a new staff with ten Intelligence and five Wisdom. Fluffball got a new chain chest piece with ten Strength and five Constitution. Karen picked up a ring with fifteen Agility. Gerald got a new sword with fifteen Constitution. Alburet got gloves with fifteen Wisdom, which he promptly gave to Marysue.
“Take these, I won’t use them,” he told her.
Marysue blinked then reached for her money pouch, “Okay. Let me…”
“Nope,” Alburet shook his head, “no charge. Guild group, guild run, guild improvement.”
“That is a good idea,” Gerald nodded. “If it helps improve the group or guild, why charge an ally?”
“It’s a good sentiment, but not everyone who joins us will feel that way,” Karen pointed out.
“Which is fine,” Alburet waved off the concern. “I feel that way, which is all that matters right now. So, two at eighteen and two at nineteen with me halfway to twenty. Do we want to reset the instance and run it again or just go mellow with the gnolls outside?”
“I think we take it easy for the rest of today,” Gerald opined. “We can run the dungeon once or twice over the next two days if we want.”
“I support this idea,” Marysue put in, “besides, we need to resupply potions.”
“She has a good point,” Fluff added in her usual quiet way.
“Okay then,” Alburet said as they walked back to the entrance. “Do we want to just go for another couple of hours then call it a day?”
The other agreed to that plan. As they left the cave, they immediately got into a fight with the two Gnoll Champions that were right outside.
“Oops, forgot about them,” Alburet laughed as Stacia dazed one so they could focus on just one at a time.
“So did I,” Gerald growled as he tanked one mob.
After killing the two gnolls outside the entrance they went back to wandering the trails, going from camp to camp killing all the gnolls on the way.
As evening closed in they went back to the keep to turn in their quests. Knowing that that was it for the day, Alburet dismissed Tiny and Bob as they exited the forest. “Good work today, guys. Doubly so for you, Bob,” Alburet told them.
“Tomorrow we kill more?” Tiny asked.
“That is the plan, Tiny. Go get some rest,” Alburet replied.
“I’ll have my first wife give me a massage tonight,” Tiny put in just as he vanished.
“Show off,” Bob grumped as Tiny left before turning to Alburet. “See you tomorrow then, master.”
Bob vanished a moment later, as did the copy of Stacia. Stacia went back to her human guise as they walked towards the keep. “Tha’ was a fun day,” Stacia said.
“It was,” Fluffball agreed, along with the others.
“Do any of ya want to come to the house for food after we turn in the quests?” Stacia asked.
Fluff shook her head, “I’m off to see your mother again, sorry.”
“I have a date with Marian,” Karen smirked. “Sorry, but your sister trumps you right now.”
“We would be happy to,” Marysue put in.
“Tha’ be good,” Stacia thanked them.
They walked through the gate, greeting the guards on duty and making their way to the sergeant on duty. As they approached, Alburet stepped out a pace ahead and came to parade rest before the desk.
“Sergeant, we have quests to turn in to you,” Alburet informed the same blonde sergeant they had gotten the quests from a while ago.
“You killed the Head Shaman?” She looked at them in parade rest with a smile. “I see. Show me what you have besides that.” Alburet turned out the pieces from the two optional bosses, as did the others. As they did her eyebrows went up and a small whistle escaped her. “My, my. You have been busy. This will get you three items from the quartermaster outside. Let me get the gold for you.”
Quest Completed: Kill the Head Shaman of the gnolls.
Receive: Fifty gold and an item from the Quartermaster stores.
Quest Completed: Bring proof of defeating the optional bosses to the Gnoll Watch Fort.
Receive: Twenty gold and one item per boss from the Gnoll Watch Fort Quartermaster.
She handed each of them ninety gold and three chits. “There you go. Hand those to the Quartermaster at the forge outside. Also let me add a thank you, Alpha Company. Though you have to be a little odd to give that cave a go at your level.”
Alburet chuckled, “Yes ma’am, we know. Thank you and a good day to you and your men.” He snapped a salute. The others followed suit a beat later, then they turned and walked out of the fort.
“Good stuff. More gear upgrades, and we can replace our potions,” Gerald laughed.
They grabbed their gear from the quartermaster before splitting up to take care of their various errands. Gerald and Marysue said they would be by after they restocked their potions. Alburet handed off gold so they could pick up some for him and Stacia as well.
Alburet looked over his new gear with a smile. A new weapon, a two-handed hammer that was just as good as his axe as it also lacked stats. A new leather coif that gave plus ten to Wisdom and finally a new potion belt that also gave ten to Wisdom.