"Back at you. I'm actually stunned you took such a beautiful character," she said. Tiana's breasts were large, firm, and rode high. It was hard to not stare. "You no longer blend in like a good thief should."
She blushed. "Well, this was my one chance to be beautiful."
"Yeah, yeah, you're both beauty queens," a tall, handsome elf said. He sounded like Fergus. "Either start making out, or come join me for another morning beer."
"You look and sound like Fergus, but that last comment makes me wonder if you are actually Rand."
Fergus grinned and shrugged. "The runt's a bad influence on us all."
They joined him at the table, and a serving girl brought over two more mugs. After a long drink, Asha looked around the common room.
"Where are Killum and Rand?"
Chapter 15
Oxenbluff sat upon a large hill, overlooking the river. Even though the town walls surrounded the hill, they were still above the shantytown. Killum learned it was to keep them above the flood plain. The serving girl he spent the night with said they were flooded almost every spring.
Killum ate an apple and stared at the shantytown. A lot of poor people lived miserable existences down there, and then went into town to work every day. Just studying the workers waiting for the gate to open, he guessed nine out of ten were mobs. The ones who were players looked even more miserable and beaten down.
Jimu. Human baker (Lvl 16). Neutral.
Jimu was a middle-aged woman. She wore dirty white trousers, tunic, and apron. She was chewing on leaves she kept in a small cloth sack about the size of Killum's fist.
Dang. Human leatherworker (Lvl 22). -1 Dark. PK: 3.
Dang looked Asian, with gray-streaked black hair and slumped shoulders. He was missing an eye and two fingers. He was the most curious, since Killum suspected death always meant a return to default so he could just kill himself and regain those lost body parts.
Annabelle. Human serving wench (Lvl 13). Easy virtue. -2 Dark.
She was a gorgeous brunette, but with hard eyes. Like all serving wenches, and most female players, she owned a killer set of tits that her tight, low-cut outfit displayed with great effect. Like Jimu, she was chewing on small leaves that must be some kind of local drug.
Curtis. Human clerk (Lvl 27). Neutral.
The clerk had the highest level in the Game of them all, but looked the youngest and least beat down. His plain blue tunic and trousers looked clean, but wrinkled. Killum guessed he slept fully dressed.
Why aren't they out playing the Game? Killum wondered. Why accept such soul sucking jobs inside a Game?
Those down on their luck players left him feeling uncertain. Something he'd need to discuss with his friends. Maybe they learned something inside town. There were dungeons around to be conquered. Bambi and the beer garden patrons all agreed on that point, but they were a little hazy on the specifics and locations.
"Did you hear?" a mob asked another. "Dread Ones snuck into Rik's Inn in the middle of the night and killed everyone."
"Yes! I heard they were found dismembered, and all of their blood drank."
"Are the Dread Ones vampires?" Killum asked.
They looked at him like he was crazy. "Some are. Mostly they are zombies and ghouls following Lord Kathro."
Before he could ask about Lord Kathro, another man came stomping up to the gate. A very angry man that everyone avoided even looking at or engaging. Killum studied the newcomer.
Rudolf. Human wizard (Lvl 39). -7 Dark. PK: 8.
He didn't look like a powerful wizard in his brown and tan tunic and trousers. Of course, some players liked to keep it understated. He didn't radiate power, but menace and anger. Still, Killum had no magic, so was no match for the level 39 wizard. The fact Rudolf was Dark and had eight player kills was enough for Killum.
The bell rang, which was an experience. "Holy crap. How big is that damned bell?"
The crowd of poor mobs chuckled and grinned. They were used to it. But before he could press his question, the portcullis began to rise. It made a loud grinding sound, and as soon as it was a few feet off the ground the worker mobs began crawling under.
Killum moved out of the way as the crowd surged forward. He didn't have a boss breathing down his neck, so could stand back and watch.
"Kind of a medieval rush hour," he said, shaking his head. "Rush hour is eternal."
Rudolf also hung back, scowling at them all. At about five feet high, gate guards began emerging from under the portcullis. The Dark wizard hurried over to an older looking guard.
Human City Watch Sergeant (Lvl 19). -3 Dark. PK: 8.
"Sergeant Mack," Rudolf called. He handed the police sergeant a few coins. "There's an elf sorceress inside called Asha. She murdered me in cold blood last night at the Crooked Staff. I want her arrested."
"What does she look like, Lord Wizard?"
"Average height and weight, very beautiful," Rudolf said. "With long black hair and dark complexion. She's wearing a skimpy purple sorceress dress to show off her body and big tits. And she might be carrying my Staff of Dark Dominion, so be careful."
Killum's blood ran cold. That had to be his friend. If she killed Rudolf, then it was for good reason. Asha didn't kill other players lightly. Hell, he didn't like the wizard either.
I have to warn Asha and help her escape being arrested, he thought, heading for the gate.
The battle-mage ducked under the portcullis and found himself in a plaza of sorts. Two heavily armed and armored guards approached him.
"Declare yourself, stranger."
He paused. What the hell does that mean?
"I am Killum. A traveler," he said. "And I'm just passing through."
"Do you have coin?"
He palmed his purse, which was pleasantly full now. The guards nodded and turned away, but he called out to them.
"Excuse me, but could you point me to the Crooked Staff?"
"It's straight up Prince Carl Street, on the corner of Witchers Alley," one of them said, pointing up a steep cobblestone street.
Rudolf and two guards walked by and headed up the street. Killum followed, trying to get around them, but they were walking quickly and the street was crowded with workers hurrying to their jobs. He couldn't get around them in time, and they came to a stop outside the pub. Rudolf looked pleased, and not in a good-for-Asha way.
Killum managed to slip past them and enter the pub. The common room was mostly empty, though there were a few people scattered around the room. One guy was stretched out, wrapped up in a woolen cloak, and snoring against a wall.