Chapter 13: A Plea for Help

 

A large, grassy area.  A human sized frog dressed in royal robes and a crown, welding a small sword hops after a fleeing Oscar.

 

Frog: I am the Frog Prince, obey me!

 

Oscar: What kind of crazy ass quest is this!?  Gah!

 

Oscar barely jumps out of the way of a stab from the frog's sword.

 

Iricryo and Melanie watch impatiently as Oscar continues to run around in circles, the frog close behind.

 

Iricryo: For God's sake, Oscar, kill this damn thing already so we can get the hell out of here.

 

Oscar: You know, you can step in any time and give me a hand!

 

Melanie: Oh, but that would cut into your quest experience, and you got some catching up to do.  Me and Iricyo's training regiments are going right according to schedule.  You, however, need to pick up the pace if you ever really want to fight anyone even close to the High Council's level.  And quest experience is the fastest way to do that.

 

Oscar: Won't do me any good if I'm dead!  Gah!

 

The frog hops next to Oscar and slashes at him.  Oscar puts out his hands in a blocking stance and his gloves take the impact of the slash.

 

Frog: Hahaha!  The Frog Prince will claim another victim.

 

Oscar stretches out his hand like a claw and the frog moves in for another slash with his sword.

 

Oscar: TENSHIROU MOON!

 

The attack cuts straight through the frog's sword, the frog jumping back just in time to not be cut by it himself.

 

Frog: RIBBIT!

 

The frog fills up its sack and croaks loudly, and another sword shoots out of its mouth.  It picks up the and laughs, charging Oscar again.

 

Oscar: Damnit!  I was close with that last one!  I got to hit this one just right!

 

He stretches out his hand in the shape of a claw and meets the frog's charge.

 

Oscar: TENSHIROU MOON!

 

This time the attack cuts through the frog's sword, and continues straight through its body.  The frog gives out one last desperate croak, then drops dead.  Oscar pants heavily and drops to one knee.

 

Iricryo: Well, it's about damn time.  That took forever.  Grab the crown off this annoying thing's head so you can turn in this quest already.

Melanie: Someone feeling a little grumpy, Iricryo?

 

Iricryo: I still don't understand why  had to come on this stupid trip.

 

Melanie: We didn't want to get jumped, of course.  There's strength in numbers.

 

Iricryo: Oscar, doesn't it bother you at all to have this thief traveling with you?

 

Oscar is resting on the floor, obviously exhausted.

 

Oscar: Not really, why would it?

 

Iricryo: Well, I don't know if you remember, but you met her when she was trying to steal your gloves!

 

Oscar: Well, we met when you were trying to scam me of my gloves.  It's about the same thing.

 

Iricryo: Well, I...uh...

 

Melanie: Calm down, Iricryo.  I promised to behave, didn't I?  Don't you trust me?

 

Iricryo: Not at all.  It doesn't make any sense, a famous thief randomly teaming up with two unknowns just because they mentioned interest in the High Council.  If you really wanted a group to go after the High Council, you could do a lot better.  The only explanation I can come up with is that you're up to something.

 

Melanie: Heh, guess you'll just have to wait and see.  And if you really don't like that option, you can just give me back the rare items I bribed you with to come along and you're free to leave.

 

Iricryo: Sigh...forget it...

 

Oscar: Okay, I think we can get going now.

 

He gets up slowly and stumbles forward.  He picks the crown off of the frog's head.

 

Oscar: Man, I'm so exhausted.  That Tenshirou Moon really takes a lot out of me.

 

Iricryo: You know, you really take some time and do some ability training to learn a few moves so you don't always have to rely on that one move.  Then maybe you wouldn't be so exhausted after every fight.

 

Oscar: I don't really get that part...

 

Iricryo: God you don't even know the basics of this game, do you?  Look, it's simple.

Various graphs and charts appear behind Iricryo as he explains.

 

Iricryo: Look, all abilities in this game have a rank, ranging from 1-10.  Rank 1 moves are among the most powerful moves in the game and Rank 10 are the weakest.  Based on how much endurance you've built up for your character, you can only use your abilities a number of times before you exhaust your character, though higher ranking moves will exhaust your character much quicker.  That's why it's smart to invest in lower ranked moves, so you have abilities that can be used more frequently as opposed to only a few times.

 

Oscar: Wait, Tenshirou Moon is ranked high?  I thought the starting move is supposed to be Rank 8.

 

Iricryo: Well, the move Claw Moon is Rank 8 to start, but you've used it so many times that it has trained up to Rank 7.  Add to that the modifier of the Gloves of Tenshirou, your Tenshirou Moon probably is around a Rank 3 move.  Continue overusing it and then training will continue to increase it in power, and its rank.

 

Melanie: Yeah, and at your level you get exhausted just using a Rank 3 move a few times.

 

Oscar: What about you?  Those moves with your dagger had to be high ranking, and it didn't seem to affect you at all.

 

Melanie: Well, those aren't techniques that I physically used.  Their abilities used by my Blade of the Eagle.  Some weapons have special abilities such as that.  Like a player, these weapons have a certain amount of endurance and their abilities can only be used a certain number of times, and the only way to increase the weapon's endurance is to increase your proficiency with it.

 

Oscar: Well, that's all very interesting...but boring...very boring...let's go already.

 

He falls forward on his face.

 

Iricryo: Sigh... guess you're still too tired...

 

Melanie: Come on, it's not exactly safe to wait around here long.  Carry him if you have to and lets go.

 

Iricryo: (whispering) I should just kill you both and take your equipment.

 

Melanie: What was that.

 

Iricryo: Nothing!

 

He picks up Oscar and they walk away.

Back in Lecithin.  Crews are working under Militia command to make repairs on the outer wall.  The entire city has an ‘under construction' feel to it.  Iricryo walks with Oscar at his side, Melanie right behind them wearing a sad-clown mask.

 

Iricryo: The repairs on this city are going incredibly well, it's hard to believe that only two weeks ago this entire city was trashed.

 

Melanie: Can you believe the Militia is actually considering a truce with the High Council, even after they pulled something like this?

 

Iricryo: Can't blame them, the High Council has gained quite some influence in such a short period of time, players from everywhere around the game have been spreading the story about what they did and a good number of people who hear it stop what they're doing and go to join their empire.

 

Melanie: Idiots, forfeiting the prize for a measly 1,000 dollar promise.  I can't wait to put these arrogant High Council bastards in their place.

 

Iricryo: You know, it's hard to take you seriously with that mask on, Melanie.

 

Melanie: I don't have much of a choice, wanted thieves can't travel through cities easily, you know.

 

They arrive at the Adventurer's Pavilion, and Oscar approaches a flimsy looking woman standing on a podium and hands her the crown.

 

Woman: Oh, thank you so much, kind sir, for retrieving the crown of my family.  Please, take this as thanks.

 

She hands him a large sack of gold.

 

Iricryo: Thankfully, the experience you just received is better than the physical reward for this quest.  So, should we stop now and purchase some new equipment for Oscar with that money or should we immediately find a new quest?

 

Oscar: I'm ready for a new quest!  I feel all rested and recovered now!

 

They look around at different quest giving NPCs around the pavilion.

 

Melanie: None of the ones we haven't done yet seem to have a reward worth the time.

 

Oscar: None of the ones you are willing to risk doing!  There are plenty of cool ones!  Dragon slaying and demon hunting and even one that makes us fight through ancient burial grounds with all kinds of crazy undead monsters!

 

Iricryo: We know our limits, and those level of quests would certainly kill us at these levels.

 

Oscar: After all this training?  Man...

 

They are approached by a female player.  The woman is tall and slender, with long legs and a tight green top that was barely more than a bra and a matching bottom that extends in long fringes down to her knees.  Short black hair gives her face a tomboyish appearance.  She has a short bow and a quiver slung across her back.

 

Woman: Excuse me, are you all looking for a quest?

 

Iricryo: Not too many other reasons to be here, now are there?

 

Woman: Of course.  Then perhaps you wouldn't mind taking a task from me.

 

Oscar: You're not an NPC, you can't give quests.

 

Woman: No, but I came here cause I figured the people here that do quests would be brave enough to help me out here.

 

Iricryo: I don't think so.

 

Melanie: Hold on, she might have something that can help us pass the time.  Go on, we'll hear you out.

 

Iricryo: (Grumpily) Who made you the leader...

 

Ira: My name is Ira.  Me and my boyfriend were both in this game together and were having mild success fighting and training off near the smaller towns between here and the Menchin Forest.  We were successfully able to beat both monsters and players, and from it all we had just built up enough money to buy a home in the game, and we figured after all the time we had spent fighting having a place to relax on weekends would be great.  We heard of a great place in a town right by the Menchin Forest called Drywood and went to check it out.

 

Melanie: Purchasing homes outside the cities and Militia protection is a dangerous choice.

 

Ira: Well I guess we were a little overconfident...well anyway it turned out that the entire town is just one big trap.  They lure people in using promises of homes, rare items, or whatever, and then when you enter the town you get jumped by a whole group of bandits.  Me and my boyfriend were strong, but we were outnumbered and caught by surprise.  I managed to escape but unfortunately, he was captured.

 

Iricryo: Why would they capture someone and not kill them?  That seems to defeat the purpose of the trap.

 

Ira: My boyfriend had a lot of experience in crafting, and could produce some powerful equipment.  A simple look at his equipment was a dead give-away.  The bandits are probably forcing him to make them all new armor.

 

Oscar: That's horrible!  Come on, you want us to help you rescue him, that's where this is going, right?  We'll do it!  I'll bust all the heads of those bandits!

 

Iricryo: Uh...

 

Melanie: Eh...

 

Ira: I appreciate the offer, but I would never take such a small group for such an undertaking.  I all I require is an escort back to Drywood and then back to Lecithin afterwards.

 

Oscar: But...

 

Ira: I'm a master of stealth abilities.  Once I get to Drywood, I can sneak through the town undetected and then sneak me and my boyfriend out without a problem.  Only, it can be dangerous traveling alone, and I'm afraid I could be killed before even getting there.  It's safer to travel with a group, after all.  I thought I could easily find help here, but everyone claims to be too busy to lend me the time.

 

Iricryo: I'm afraid we're just as busy.  Better luck next time.

 

Oscar: How can you say that!?  Of course we'll help!

 

Melanie: I guess that makes me the tie-breaking vote.  Just out of curiosity, what are you offering if we decide to help?

 

Ira pulls out a gigantic sack of gold.

 

Ira: This is the money we were saving and going to use to buy a home.  If we make it safely back to Lecithin, it's all yours.

 

Melanie: A nice pile.  Give us half up front, and you've got yourself a deal.

 

Ira nods.  Oscar jumps up excitedly.  Iricryo sighs.

 

Iricryo: Just my luck to be stuck with Mr. Excitable here.  Every time he gets the chance to do something stupid, he's got to jump at it.  Sigh...