"Good luck," Rainia said. The Spirit Walker gave Jeze a necklace and added, "Please take this. It has the Spirit aspect inscribed along the beads. It is a simple spell, and once you learn it, it can give you guidance."
Jeze was speechless. This was a valuable gift, and when the teenager was able to find her voice, she said, "Thank you, but I have nothing to give you of equal value."
Rainia smiled gently as she replied, "Sometimes, when we awake, we forget to open our eyes. You reminded us to open our eyes, and for that, we are grateful."
"What in the Hells does that supposed to mean?" Ziplocke snarled when the dark-haired Spirit Walker departed to join her team.
Jeze pondered a moment and replied, "That sometimes we limit ourselves to what is in front of us instead of opening up to the possibilities that are around us."
Ziplocke slapped his forehead. "Knucklehead, don''t let the Spirit Walkers get to you with their nonsense."
"Thank you, young lady, and be safe," Jonah said as he approached with his heavy pack.
"You too!" Jeze exclaimed and shook his hand. The team of hunters and trappers each came to pat the teenager on the back.
"We will see you when the waves clear," Jonah shouted as he and his team went in search of an ideal spot to harvest the pending surge of beasts.
She and Ziplocke were surrounded by thousands of adventuring teams and squads of soldiers as they prepared for the pending arrival of the Wandering Spire. The valley and mountainside went on for miles in all directions, and it appeared to Jeze that the encampments covered each inch. Jeze saw a contingent of Ironfist soldiers in steel breastplates over dark green gambesons and pants march past her. She ducked into the crowds to avoid a company of Golden Empire soldiers in tanned armor as they erected giant ballistas and catapults. As she moved on, she had to step aside to make way for a unit of mounted cavalry archers that rode past on their dark horses from the Tribal Council. She even saw pikemen in multi-colored outfits from a kingdom that she did not know of. Everywhere bustled with activity. It was both exciting and hopeless. How would she find her team?
"The Adventurer Guild should know," Ziplocke suggested and pointed with a thin green finger.
Jeze looked up and saw a pavilion where the the people wore a collection of different armor and weapons. These were adventurers, because they lacked the uniformity of the armies. The Goblin was correct, they may know where the Frostworn were camped. Jeze made her way over, and her heart sank when she saw stationed around the tent were several adventurers in the red robes of the Amber Guard.
"What if Miss Heng is there?" Jeze said in worry.
"You are Scout, right? Well, then go and Scout! Knucklehead," Ziplocke snapped.
Jeze put up her hood and did a casual walk of the perimeter. She felt she was being stealthy until a firm hand gripped her shoulder.
"What are you up to?" One of the Amber Guards had snuck up on Jeze.
He was a broad-shouldered man with close-crop dark hair and a clean-shaven face. The Amber Guard carried an assortment of weapons, from a sword, a mace, and a stiletto dagger, all hung from his hips. Jeze also saw a crossbow slung over his shoulders. Daverius described such warriors in his journal. They were called Man-at-arms. Fighters that trained in multiple weapons in order to handle any occasion.
"I''m looking for my team," Jeze stammered.
"Oh really? You sure you are not up to any trouble?" The Man-at-arms asked.
"Yes, I''m lost, that is all."
"Then why are you slinking around?"
"I was not. I didn''t want to trouble anyone. This is my first Spire event," Jeze said.
"Come with me," the man ordered.
Jeze followed the Amber Guard into the pavilion. There was an enormous table that held an exact replica of the valley they were in. The replica was finely crafted to include mountains, rivers, and small miniatures that represented the different armies and teams that formed a ring around the high peak of Mount Dragon. The story it told was enlightening to Jeze. Despite the massive numbers of soldiers and adventurers, the situation appeared grim. All the forces they had were only able to create a thin line around the expected Wandering Spire event. Monsters will most definitely breakthrough.
"What is your name?" The Amber Guard asked. He held a magical tome.
"Jeze Zanchi," she answered.
The man found her in the tome and looked up with narrow eyes. "You were supposed to be with the Safe Zone Squad up on the ridge."
Thinking quickly, Jeze responded, "Yes, but the plans changed. We were asked to join our teams in the valley to bolster the forces. We were told that there were going to be too many gaps."
Inwardly, she prayed that this ruse would work. The Amber guard nodded, his face unreadable. Finally, he asked, "Who is in charge of your team?"
Jeze answered, "I''m with the Frostsworn. Uh, Carl Jorgenson."
The man scanned the journal and nodded. "Right. You best hurry, your team is on the other side of the valley. Head west until you find Station 28. This here is Station 5. At station 28 they should be able to direct you to the Frostsworn." With that the man left to return to his duties.
"That was easy," Jeze said.
"Too easy. You should be worried," Ziplocke whispered into her ear.
Jeze jogged and weaved through the thick crowds of soldiers, adventurers, and wagons. The encampments were pretty organized despite the apparent chaos of hundreds of different teams and multiple armies operating independently. The Guild had perfected the Wandering Spire event with the Stations.
"So, our little mouse was able to escape!" Helga boomed.
Ziplocke squealed and melted into the neighboring shadows. Jeze didn''t realize how happy she would be when she found her team. She groaned when the large warrior maiden embraced her in a fierce hug.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
"You did. We are happy to see," Jorgenson stated.
Dunar, Rolfe, and Mikal each came to embrace Jeze.
"We were worried we would have to fight without you watching our left flank," Dunar said.
"Is that all?" Jeze asked, her eyes narrowed.
Dunar blushed and scratched his head. "We are glad to have you."
They embraced.
"Okay, enough greeting. We have much to discuss," Jorgeson stated.
"Right, come Jeze, let me show you where you can put your pack," Dunar said.
The Frostsworn leader showed Jeze to their small camp. She recognized the packs for the others and smiled. They had prepared a space for her around the campfire. She deposited her heavy pack and hurried with Dunar to Jorgenson, where all the Frostsworn adventurers gathered. The giant warriors formed a ring around Jorgenson and Orn.
"Gather around. The Wandering Spire will be appearing any moment now. We must be ready," Jorgenson said.
The Carl stepped back to allow Berserker Orn space to speak.
"Carls! You have been here before. You are all tasked to guide the Proven. Now, to you pups, this is an opportunity to find glory. It will be dangerous and difficult, but if you find the strength of Winter within you, you can overcome all obstacles. When the Spire appears, the sky will darken, and a thick fog will billow out. From the fog, all manner of beasts will emerge. They will be fierce and filled with a ravenous hunger. We must not let them escape! The world depends upon us to stop them here!" Orn boomed and stepped back.
Jorgenson stepped up and explained, "The armies will fight the weaker beasts. We will be tasked with taking on the more challenging tasks. Proven, you will be called in to strengthen the weakening lines of the armies. You will be tasked with special missions. Each team leader has a Communication Scroll where your orders will be written. Follow them and find your glory!"
Jeze and the collected Frostsworn let out a cheer, and they were all dismissed to make their final preparations. Dunar gathered the team, and they walked through the packed field.
"See those markers?" Dunar asked and pointed.
Ahead of them were 15 feet tall rune-covered poles that were evenly spaced from each other and formed a perimeter. Jeze looked and saw that they traveled as far as she could see and she guessed that there were hundreds of them.
Dunar explained, "That marks the boundary of where the Seers believe the Spire will appear."
"The Spire will slowly materialize over the course of seven days. You do not want to be inside there when it forms. It won''t be pleasant!" Ziplocke said with a snicker.
"Aww, the little one is so cute when he is telling us wise things!" Helga said and beamed.
Ziplocke screeched and hid behind Jeze''s head.
"Tell us more, little one," Dunar encouraged.
"It will be a thick cloud that will form a bridge between your reality and the Abyssal plane. Once the way is opened, the Demons will rush through, mad with hunger. You see, they savor the taste of mortal flesh," Ziplocke explained and giggled with delight.
"Oh, do you have such tastes?" Rolfe asked.
Ziplocke hissed and bared his teeth at the large warrior. Rolfe took a step back, and Ziplocke nearly fell over from laughing so hard.
Jeze rolled her eyes and replied, "No, Goblins prefer spicy and sour things to eat. What Goblins enjoy most is the unfortunate misery from mortals."
"So true! The look of dismay on your faces is such a treat! I swear, you can''t find such things in the Abyssal plane," Ziplocke shrieked.
Mikal shook his head and stated, "I still do not understand why we allow such a creature to travel with us."
Ziplocke hissed at the dark-haired Healer.
"I do not mind, little one. I find you very cute and huggable," Helga stated.
The Goblin screeched and jumped off Jeze''s shoulder''s to disappear into the shadows.
"How does he do that?" Rolfe asked.
"Goblins are innately connected to the Darkness aspect. If you watch closely you can see the Runes appear along his body when he Summons and Shapes the shadows," Jeze answered and stopped when she realized the large warrior was no longer paying attention.
"I did not know that. Can you show me the Darkness aspect?" Mikal asked.
At first, Jeze thought the cynical Healer was being sarcastic but was relieved to discover that he was actually interested. She showed him her Darkness aspect ring.
"This is good work," He said as he examined the intricately carved Runes.
"Okay, let''s talk with the Goblin some more to learn about the beasts that we can expect," Dunar called out.
Jeze coaxed the Goblin to come out with some paste. He eagerly slurped up the stuff.
"The first to most likely come through will be the Bloodlings. They are everywhere back where I come from. They are ravenous and eat anything, even each other. But I have seen adventurers kill them easily enough. Ooh! Except when one gets swarmed, they will chew you fast to the bone!" Ziplocke cackled and hopped around in delight.
"He is not right," Mikal observed.
"I have read about Bloodlings. Many hunters come to the Spire to skin them for their hides, which have many uses," Dunar stated.
Jeze thought about Jonah and his team.
"Tell me, little Demon, about the Goreraptors," Mikal requested.
Ziplocke let out a shrill sound as he laughed. He quieted when Jeze fed him paste.
"What is so funny?" Asked Mikal.
"Nothing, I just imagined the look on your face when a Goreraptor impales you with its spike," Ziplocke screeched out and laughed some more.
"I have read that their horns can be grounded and used for many potions and magical purposes. Especially with the Life aspect," Mikal said.
Ziplocke nodded, "That is true. But they are very dangerous. The size of a horse."
"Tier 4, at least," Rolfe said and rubbed his hands together.
"I can''t wait for the Spire to appear!" Helga boomed.
"Will they appear?" Mikal asked.
"Most certainly, not in as many numbers as the Bloodlings, but they will arrive shortly after. They are also prevalent in the Abyssal plane, and they particularly enjoy the feel of mortal blood on their spikes," Ziplocke said, snickering.
"What else can we expect?" Dunar asked.
"How am I supposed to know?" Ziplocke snapped.
"You are a Demon! This is your realm," Dunar countered.
"Oh, so you can tell me about every creature that lives here on the mortal plane?"
Dunar paused and scratched his head.
"I didn''t think so!" Ziplocke growled.
Jeze fed him some more paste and requested, "Tell us what you do know."
Ziplocke slurped up the yummy treat and smacked his lips. "Well, you have Hellbats; they are large and fly and will tear you limb from limb if they get a hold of you," the Goblin had a bout of laughter.
When he subsided, the Goblin continued, "There are also Howlers. Lots of Howlers, and they will come after the beasts. They will be organized and well-armed. You must be careful with them."
"Thank you, Goblin. This is helpful. Anything else you can share?" Dunar asked.
Ziplocke tapped his chin and then let loose another shriek. He was rolling on his back and kicking up his legs.
"What is it?" Jeze knelt beside her companion.
"I was thinking about the Rovers! Oh, how they will snatch unsuspecting adventurers up and devour them as they scream helplessly while entangled among the Rover''s tentacles," Ziplocke answered.
"I have never heard of such a beast," Mikal stated.
Rolfe and Helga were subdued and looked less eager. Everyone heard a ringing sound. It reminded Jeze of the Earth aspect ring she used to summon Ziplocke. The noise came from Dunar''s pocket. The leader withdrew the Communication Scroll and read it.
"Well?" Mikal asked.
"The Spire will appear within the hour. We are asked to immediately mobilize to the front lines," Dunar answered.
This was it. The time has come for them to test their mettle.