P2: Chapter Six

1¢op

At the sound of voices SHEgamI ran up the nearest tree trunk. On this side of the river the trees were tall deciduous, SHEgamI quickly disappeared into the canopy. A single whistle from the treetops told 1¢op to take cover. There was not much in the way of cover under the thick upper canopy, one of the purple berry bush that seemed to be scattered throughout all of AntruA.

With the voices getting louder and no better option, 1¢op ducked into the bush. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dark but feeling movement close to her told her she was not alone. As she turned her eyes cleared and she saw a little gnome. It was scraggly, ugly, and missing it’s hat. It hissed at her, blew a raspberry then made a gesture with its small arms. When it saw that she was not leaving, it made the gesture again then backed out of the bush.

But the voices were upon them. “Hey look there’s a gnome! It went that way, come on let’s chase it!”

“No! Stop trying to change the subject!”

Two voices. 1¢op moved a branch creating a space she was able to see through. Two principles stood facing each other. Both had human bodies with the neck and head of a male deer, including antlers.  That they were both dressed in red highlighted leather armor revealed their alliance. Their body language told a very different story. They were chest to chest and one of them was breathing hard, his nostrils flaring.

Stagg45518                    Buckk1968     

          Level 2                          Level 2

      Wallet 2Au                     Wallet 2Au

Stagg45518 took a step back and held out his hand in a placating manner, “I’m not. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He said.

“Don’t lie! You know the moositar was my idea.” Buckk1968 stated stepping into Stagg45518’s space again.

This time Stagg45518 did not back down, using his chest to push back. “I don’t know what you are talking about. Moositar isn't a thing.”

“Ohh you! I know who you are! I told you a week ago I told you my idea of a man with the head of a deer. And here you are, you thief!”

“You are crazy! Totally nuts. Nothing you just said means anything. Your words don’t make any sense.”

“I’m going to beat you to death with my hands.” Buckk1968 walked to back about ten feet. Bent at the waist. Pawed at the ground with his left foot. “Charge!” He shouted then sprinted right at Stagg45518. Who stood his ground, lowered his head and meet the charge antler to antler. There was a resounding Crack! Stagg45518 was driven back a few feet. Stagg45518 then gave a grunt as he lifted his head, heaving Buckk1968 off his feet. For a moment Buckk1968 was in the air, his legs kicking uselessly. 1¢op had just a moment to decide whether to jump into the river or reveal herself to the fight moose men, before Buckk1968 smashed into her hiding space.

1¢op dove away from the river breaking cover. She was expecting a shout of recognition, instead she heard a shriek of  pain. She lept to her feet then spun around facing the combatants. Buckk1968 was thrashing in the bush, most of his body was covered in the purple juice of the berries. These purple stains smoked and soon the body stopped moving and collapsed in on itself.

Stagg45518 was so absorbed with watching Buckk1968’s demise he hadn’t noticed 1¢op yet. She raised her arm then dropped it. An arrow seemed to grow from Stagg45518’s head. He collapsed to the ground, a moment later SHEgamI dropped from the trees. “I’m not very impressed with what I’ve seen from the Red Army soldiers,” she said

“No,” 1¢op agreed, “maybe their stronger soldiers are off on a different mission. The bulk of the Blue Army is back at Bluetopia, working on other missions, right? Anyways I think we have patrolled this section of the river long enough. Let’s go back to Gilman and see what news there is. Stick to the tree top keeping an eye to  the far bank of the river. Maybe we can get another kill or two along the way.” SHegamI scrambled up the trunk of the nearest tree and in apparent solitude 1¢op walked.

On her right the river burbled and hissed, keeping her company. The sounds of the forest filled the silence. The rich layers of color were like nothing she had ever experienced. She tried to stay alert to any sign of the enemy, but in the forest and the river, there was so much to take in. Hopefully SHEgamI was keeping her senses about her. 1¢op took a deep breath and tried to pull back, concentrating on watching for movement.

She didn’t see any, since there were no whistles from the tree tops SHEgamI hadn’t either. Soon they came up on Gilman. AnrKEY had been tasked with guarding the bridge. She had taken this literally and the bridge itself was now a fortress. Two primary towers hulked on bank of the river on which 1¢op stood. SHEgamI dropped down and together they approached a small door tucked in a nook of the closest tower. A small spy port in the door snapped open. “What’s the passphrase!?”

1¢op hoped it hadn’t changed. “Sedation throughout the nation, We’re screamin’ screamin’ screamin’ Black and Blue.”

The spy port slammed close, there was a pregnant pause, then the sound of bolts being unlocked. Finally after a resounding thud the door slowly opened. Toadanaga peaked out and blinked slowly at them. ‘You better hurry upstairs. LeBlu arrived a little while ago he and  AnrKEY are upstairs. They are waiting for you.”

“Then you better get out of the way.” SHEgamI said.

Toadanaga made a sound in the back of his throat. He stepped back pulling the door open wider. SHEgamI entered followed by 1¢op, Toadanaga spit out the door after they were past, then started the arduous project of replacing the large bar across the door and setting the bolts. 1¢op didn’t stick around long enough to see the task completed.

The tower was four stories tall. The first, second and fourth floors were completely dedicated to defencive purposes. AnrKEY’s office took up half of the third floor, the door was ajar, 1¢op knocked. The talking inside stopped and AnrKEY opened the door. “1¢op!” LeBlu yelled from behind AnrKEY. “Your timing is perfect. I was just about to update AnrKEY on op BG. Come in, come in and I’ll brief you all.”

The office was unadorned and the only furniture was a desk draped in AnrKEY’s map,They all gathered around this desk. LeBlu, standing on the side of the disk facing the door, with a flourish pulled his map from his belt and touched it to the map on the desk. Color spread from that point, coalescing on the revealed portion. It pushed back the fog, soon the most of the northern fifth of the map was uncovered. In the explored quadrant there were the three towns, new to the map were the four blue out posts.

“As you can see Operation Blue Grass has been a complete success. You have each played an important role in this success, for that I think you. Bluetopia is my headquarters, the three other outposts are all placed at strategic choke points. Gilman plays a very important role in this as it needs to keep the Red Army bottled up in Norca. I brought twenty new recruits to help with that.

“When I leave here I am kicking off the next phase, Operation Blue Sky. I feel a little like everything we’ve done has just be building to this. In this phase we’re moving into the towns. Orup is to be a neutral, so it is on you here to keep the Red Army out, so I can focus on taking control of Sha. 1¢op, I need to know what the Red Army is doing to the south. That is your mission take who you need, find out what is down there, I can’t believe that RothRed would be sitting back like he seems to be. Once you have a good idea of what is happening, take the long route to Sha, that’s where I should be.

“Do you all understand what I’m asking of you? I’m expecting you to execute my orders and my vision. Now there is one last thing, come outside.” LeBlu hustled them outside.

LeBlu lead the group out and to the other tower. “I asked that you build this tower big enough to be a social hall.” He said to AnrKEY. He opened the door, 1¢op could see over his shoulder that the room on the first floor held ten tables. Principles sat in clumps chatting quietly. “Good.” LeBlu said as he shut the door. “There is just one missing component.” He shielded his eyes and looked east, down the road. “Right on time, here is that missing something.”

1¢op followed his gaze and saw crossing the other bridge was a cart. As it came closer she could see it was loaded with barrels, and a lounging green goblin, It was being pushed by a massive gorilla. When they rolled up the goblin hoped from the cart. “Hi LeBlu. You said two, right? That’s eighty.”

LeBlu reached into his wallet and pulled out the gold and handed it to the goblin. “You moron!” The goblin yelled at the gorilla. But the gorilla didn’t do anything, it was looking at 1¢op. “Hey what are you doing! Two barrels! Two barrels! Take them out of the cart and put them on the ground. Come on you dumb ape! Do it!” The goblin stomped around and shouted till the gorilla shook it massive head and lazily reached into the cart and unloaded the two barrels. The task done the goblin vaulted into the bed of the cart. “Let’s go you lummox. Move it, no don’t look at her, look forward. Now go before I get really mad.” The rant continued until the cart was across the bridge and out of sight.

“Well that was different,” LeBlu said. “You will want to have someone tap these.” He said to AnrKEY. “If you sell a glass for three gold you should gross five hundred a barrel.”

“You really think that people will pay three gold for a drink?” AnrKEY was clearly skeptical.

“I know they well, you will be able to charge ten once the word about this stuff gets out.” LeBlu replied.

“What is it?” 1¢op asked.

“TonicZ.” LeBlu said cryptically. He laughed then continued, “look this stuff is the missing component. It’s fun. My last order to you all before I leave is to take those barrels inside, Tap one, pass a round out to your new brothers in blue. Get to know them, introduce them to Gilman,. Then initiate Operation Blue Sky. Good luck.”    

P2: Chapter Five

BeAutyBrokEn

She watched the road from a perch on top of a palm tree. With her expanded vision she could keep eyes on the road and the green snarl that was the vegetation of the forest meeting the swamp. Below her, knee deep in the swamp, BuTTherKup squealed with delight. “I found another!” She was pointing at what BeAutyBrokEn was sure was another treasure chest, if so it would have been the fourth. “This one has thirty gold in it, Beauty if you come down I’ll split it with you. Come on Beauty, come down from the trees and help me find more treasure.”

After checking that no one was near, BeAutyBrokEn stuck a few threads to one of the palm fronds. Holding on to these threads she quickly dropped from her perch, using them to control her descent she landed silently behind BuTTherKup. “Beauty?” BuTTherKup called.

“Maybe there .” said BeAutyBrokEn.

“Gah!” Is a close approximation of the sound BuTTherKup made as she spun around. The reeds in her skirt and the beads in her necklace made the sound of a sudden rainfall. “Beauty! You are scary good at that.” She handed BeAutyBrokEn fifteen gold who added it to her stash, “There you go. What do you want to do now?”

“I want to get in a fight.”

“Right, I knew that. Here’s what I think we should do.”

“Why do I feel that this is not going to lead to a fight.”

“No it is I promise. What I was going to say is what I was ready to head back to town, and we could walk on the road and see what come our way. I’m sure we’ll find a fight.”

“That sounds good. Why do you want to go back to town?” BeAutyBrokEn didn’t really want to have interact with other principles right now.

“Well for one I want to see what they have for sale now that I’ve found some money. I’m also curious to see what other principles are doing.”

“Have you been in a fight?” BeAutyBrokEn was trying to understand her friend's obvious reluctance to fight.

“Yes I have. Four actually, I haven’t  won any. This hammer is powerful, but slow.” BuTTherKup shrugged.

“What is your special attack?” BeAutyBroken asked.

“It’s a stunning wink. It seemed cute at the time, it’s stupid. They have to be looking right at me, haven’t been able to get the timing right.”

“You could yell at them.”

“Yell, what do you mean?”

“You know at the beginning of the fight, shout ‘hey or you!’ Or even ‘look here!’”

“Beauty, that is brilliant, seriously I think that will work, at least it should give me a window. I guess I don’t really like fight, it’s not what I’m looking for in AntruA. But you should try it. Every fight I’ve had took place on this road between here and the town, so it’s a good chance we’ll run into some trouble on the way. Put some money in your wallet and walk down that road and you’ll get attacked, I promise.”

“Ok, Let’s go.” BeAutyBrokEn figured heading back to the town was the as good a way to find a fight as any other. I was definitely better than sneaking out here the way they had, avoiding the road. As they walked she moved five gold from her stash and into her wallet. When BuTTherKup saw this she raised her eyebrows and said, “Wow, I meant put like two gold. Five, well five will definitely get you a fight.”

She was right, a tall broad shouldered man jumped in front of them. Apparently he had been hiding in a bush by the road. “Well aren’t you cute.”

StarCroxX

Level 1

Wallet 1AU

“Sweetheart, that is some chance you’re taking walking around with so much in your wallet. Not everyone is as nice as I. Galck.” This last sound was caused by one of BeAutyBrokEn’s threads impacting on the back of his mouth. He grabbed for his face with both hands, instead of going for his sword. “Aaaaagnth!” StarCroxX said when BeAutyBrokEn jerked on the thread connecting to the back of his face and he fell to his knees. A simple swing of her sword finished it, 1 kill +1 xp.

“What’s with the statue about?” BeAutyBrokEn asked after looting StarCroxX.

“You can watch the fight and it will get bigger if people like it. I haven’t seen any that have enough likes to grow much, it doesn’t seem like people are doing it. It’s an interesting idea though.” BuTTherKup touched the little statue, it shivered then grew maybe an inch taller. “I can’t believe you got him in the mouth like that. Were you trying to do that?”

BeAutyBroKen laughed, “I was just trying to shut him up.”

“Well you did. You kicked his butt.”

“Are you two lost, they look lost don’t they.” The voice seemed to freeze BeAutyBrokEn for a moment.

“They sure do, maybe they need help.” A second voice. She turned to face them.

“No! They’re not lost, They’re waiting.” A third voice!

Facing them she let out a slow breath when she saw that it was only three. She looked closer

     BonkerBill                                      CrazyChris                              ZannyZander                                 

                    Level 1                                             Level 1                                        Level 2

                Wallet 1AU                                      Wallet 1AU                                Wallet 1AU

“Yeah right, what do ya think they are waiting for?” This was ZannyZander, who BeAutyBrokEn recognized as the second voice.

CrazyChris spoke and she heard voice three, “Us! They’re waiting for us!”

“Is that true? Are you waiting for us?” BonkersBill spoke and now all voices had a name. BeAutyBrokEn spoke making her voice flirty. “What do you know? We were waiting for you.”

BuTTherKup grabbed her arm, “we can’t!” She whispered desperately, “there are three of them and one is a level two.”

“It’s ok, we can do this, I know we can.” She patted her friend’s shoulder.

“So we are here, what did you want?” BonkersBill asked. All three seemed cut from the same cloth, pale skin and red shaved heads. All three wore matching black t-shirts. These shirts were emblazoned with the capital letter T, under each arm was an 8.

BeAutyBrokEn glared at them, “We were waiting for you.” Then caught up in the drama of it she said. “So we could kill you.”

“HaHaHa,” CrazyChris laughed, “No way. Not a chance.”

“Look at me!” BuTTherKup shouted. CrazyChris and BonkersBill looked and she winked at them. Two jaws dropped a little and both bodies seemed to sag. Behind them, unaffected by BuTTherKup’s spell, ZannyZander took a boomerang off his back and chucked it with a grunt. BeAutyBrokEn ducked and it went whistling past her head.

As soon a it past her she flicked three threads at it trying to knock it down before it came back. The first two missed, but the third hit and stuck. It was like holding a fly on a leash. She watched the spinning weapon as it started to rotate back towards them, she judge it was going to go right back to ZannyZander. He apparently thought so too as he was now standing with one hand, in a thick glove, over his head. Not wanting to let the enemy get his weapon back, BeAutyBrokEn pulled on the thread, hard. The boomerang hurtled from the sky, fast, too fast for ZannyZander to adjusting his protected hand and stop it from thudding into his chest. He collapsed with a slightly silly look on his face. 1 kill +1 xp >lvl +1 xp.

BuTTherKup had taken out CrazyChris. But BonkersBill was still on his feet. Facing BuTTherKup he brought his hand together in front of him, the resulting clap was a concussive explosion sending BuTTherKup rolling like a rag doll. As his hands separated BeAutyBrokEn threw a thread which hit and stuck in his left palm. Ignoring the needle BonkersBill started walking towards her. Trying to stop his advance she frantically threw threads at him with little to no effect as he held his hand before his face. He stepped in range of his clap attack, BeAutyBrokEn knew she was running out of time and pulled on all the threads stuck to him. He was much stronger than she was and able to resist the tug,    then he clapped. The concussion hit like a wall, knocking her to the ground her head spinning. She struggled to turn over to face her opponent while trying to draw her short sword. The scabbard got tangled with her legs and she fell over again. She heard a step, she closed her eyes awaiting the death blow. There was a thud, then the thump of something heavy hitting the ground.

BeAutyBrokEn opened her eyes and looked into BonkersBill’s eyes. The eye’s fuzzed and soon disappeared. She sat up and took BuTTherKup’s offered hand. When she had successfully gained her feet, she shook her head clearing the cobwebs. “What happened? Did you kill him?” She asked.

“Yes!” BuTTherKup’s face practically glowed with her smile. “You can watch the statue and see what happened if you like, But before you do, you need to check out the statue from your fight. Beauty you leveled up!”

BeAutyBrokEn was surprised and ecstatic, more so when she saw that she could add a new skill. Remembering that in the last fight her opponent pretty much shrugged off her attack. She needed something to offset the strength differential she would be facing. After a few moments of thought she added a new skill she dubbed ‘web’ which allowed her to layer the threads to create a net with which she could styme her enemies. At least that was the idea anyway. With that done and her Token pocketed BuTTherKup suddenly asked, “you only have two kills right? Because I only have two kills too, I didn’t level up?”

“I have three xp, I got two for killing the level two guy. So maybe you just need one more to level up. I actually think that I’m not ready to head back to town yet. I want to stay out here and find more fights, get stronger. If you want, we can try and set it up so you get a kill and level up.”

“I don’t know. I still don’t really enjoy the fighting. I’d rather head back to town. I guess we can split up. You let me know if you are in town and we’ll meet up.”

“Right and when you are exploring I will join you as a bodyguard.”

“Hey yeah, I like it. Okay I’ll see you soon. Kick butt out there.”  

P2: Chapter Four

RotheRed

A small ninja sat on the shoulder of a tall mud golem. RotheRed looked at them, his newest recruits. An odd pair no doubt, but he had seen them fight; they fought like demons. The golem was named MaoMao420, the ninja was FreiMarkt. “Are you guys ready for your first mission?”

“Sure man, but we’re a squad we go together, Ok.” FreiMarkt said.

“That’s fine,” RotheRed was planning to do that already, “MaoMao420 due to your higher level I’m putting you in charge of this mission.”

“No. I speak for him. I’m in charge.” FreiMarkt stood up on the golem’s shoulder and crossed his arms in front of his chest. MaoMao420 nodded.

“Do you speak?” RotheRed was curious he didn’t really care one way or the other if the guy choose to be mute.

“Yep.” MaoMao420’s voice was deep and gravelly.

“And this is good with this?” RotheRed wanted to do his due diligence and to avoid any possible drama down the road.

“Yep.”

“Ok then.” RotheRed shrugged, then pointed to his map. “I want you to retrace the path I took to get here from Ourp. Once there I want you to investigate to find if there is any blue influence in the town. Scope the place out then come back and report back to me, Is that understood?”

“Yessir.” FreiMarkt said, they both threw up sloppy salutes.

“Good, but cut that sir stuff, I want everyone to call me Boss is that clear?”

“Yes, Boss.” They both nodded.

“Good, now get out there and start your mission. On your way out tell BrutAl, I want to know as soon as the delivery is here.”

The door closed on them both and RotheRed was left alone with his thoughts. He zoomed out as far as he could on the map on his desk. It was almost completely blank, two small dots connected by a thin line running across the top left of the map were the only blemishes, That pair was just one of six scouting parties he had sent out, None had returned yet. He felt blind, and patience had never been a strength, right now he couldn’t see any other option, Waiting.  

Fortunately there were other distractions, like running this bar if that’s what it was. It had only been a few minutes before knock he was waiting for came. “Enter.” He barked.

Noise poured in as the door opened, “Boss, that delivery is here.” BrutAl said, only his head sticking through the open door.

“Good,” RotheRed said standing up. His sword was hanging on his chair, “come in and close the door,” he spoke while belting it on. “How is it out there?”

“It’s good, busy. It’s good the delivery is here, we’re set to run out in a couple of hours. Boss, I think you should consider getting a second barrel, principles really like this TonicZ,. I’ve had to hold some back to make it last this long. They’re all calling it TZ now.”

“TZ, that’s good, I like that. That’s a good idea i think I’ll get three.” RotheRed took his shield from where it hung behind his chair. He paused to adjust it on his arm, “when I’m talking to the goblin out there, see if you can get the gorilla talking.”

“Ok Boss, should I talk about anything particular?”

“No, no just keep it general, try to get friendly with him. There is something not right about those guys, I’m just not sure what. Ok, let’s go. Close the door behind you.”

After the quiet of his office, the common room was rockus. RotheRed felt the glow of satisfaction at seeing all the tables full, and every patron represented the color red. Some heads turned as they exited the office, they watched as he walked to the back door. He turned to the room and waved to those watching. There was a resounding cheer of “Red! Red! Red!” With the corners of his mouth threatening to twist up, he opened the door and walked out to the waiting goblin.

“Greetings!” The goblin seemed inappropriately pleased with himself. Behind him the gorilla leaned on its cart. RotheRed was glad to see at least six barrels were loaded in the cart, it didn’t seem that supply was going to be a problem. He focused on the goblin the same way that he would to get any other principle to see their information, there was nothing.

“Hey buddy, principles liked that TonicZ right. Did it sell well? I bet it did. It did! I can see it on your face.”

“You’re right, it was just like you said principles love TonicZ.” As RotheRed talked he also walked giving BrutAl the space he would need to start a conversation with the gorilla. “Yes in fact they like it so much I am interested in ordering more barrels.”

“Oh good!” The goblin rubbed his hands together, his exaggerated good cheer creeped RotheRed out. “We would be happy to increase your order size, we even offer discounts.”

This was good news, “what kind of discount are you talking?”

“You are paying fifty gold for a barrel, I can do eighty for two or one-ten for three. Before you ask, remember what I told you on our very first meeting; These prices are not negotiable.” The goblins face went dark and serious as it said this, RotheRed felt as if he was seeing the true identity behind the mask. Quickly that disappeared, the cheerful creepy goblin said, “so how many do you want? Two or three?”

“Uh,” RotheRed was feeling disquieted by the whole interaction, “I guess we’ll take three.” The money exchange was handled quickly, as soon as the money disappeared into the goblins money belt he whistled sharply at the gorilla. “Hey! You! Move!” He snapped his fingers at the gorilla until it gave a snort and looked at him. The goblin held up three fingers, “three! You stupid ape! Three barrells, got it? Three.”

Without any change in it expression the gorilla casually reached into the carted and started to unload the barrels with a single hand. RotheRed signalled to BrutAl, “Go get Chef Bob, tell him he will need help getting the barrels inside.”

“Ok Boss.”

When there were three barrells were on the ground the goblin walked back over to RotheRed. “We would like to set up a regular delivery with you. I can offer a further discount to that end, say three barrels for an even one hundred. every two weeks.”

“Alright, that will work. We pay you at the time of delivery?”  

“No, now that we have a delivery scheduled it will just be that ape over there.” The goblin pointed at the gorilla who was placing the third barrel on top of the other two. “Great it looks like the lug is done, he’ll take your money at the time of delivery, does that work?”

“Sure,” RotheRed said, that feeling of disquiet returning.    

Great! Fantastic! If you want to change the quantity just tell him, On the next delivery I’ll join him to work that out with you” The goblin was already walking away by the time he was finished talking. “Wait!” RotheRed had one last question, “who do you work for!” He shouted to make sure he was heard. “Zed,” the goblin yell over his shoulder.

RotheRed wasn’t sure what he had expected to learn when he had asked, he truthfully hadn’t really expected to get an answer. But he had and the answer had just created more questions. It also struck him as a little sinister. The back door to the Red Room opened behind him and disgorged BrutAl, ChefBobone65, and two principles RotheRed didn’t know. At a quick glance these unknowns were both reping the color red so he took them for soldiers a theory backup by their willingness to take ChefBobone65’s orders. As they set to the task of moving the big barrels into the social room RotheRed beckoned BrutAl over. “Did you get anything from the gorilla?”

“No, nothing. I mean he barely acknowledged I was there. But Boss, he is strong. Did you see how easily he unload those barrels? Look at those two noobs, their struggling to move one together, he did that with one arm!” BrutAl’s gestured to the two soldier who were struggling mightily to follow ChefBobone65 who was handling one himself.

“Don’t forget were all were noobs here. But you’re right he is immensely powerful, did you notice anything else?” RotheRed asked.

“Actually yeah,” BrutAl was looking a little bashful, “I wasn’t going to say anything because I’m not sure that it wasn’t something I did wrong. I couldn't see his name or his level or anything. I tried, I know I did.”    

“You did. The same thing happened to me with the goblin. I think of why they would be able to hide that. I need to know more? Can you follow them without being seen?”

“Yeah I can Boss. I figure out where they are based then I’ll return and report.” BrutAl snapped to order.

“Good. Go.” RotheRed returned the salute, then watched for a few moments as BrutAl stalked east. In the quiet of dusk he turned and entered the noisy hub that was the main social room in the Red Room. He quickly took stock of the room and was pleased that there was a line at the bar and many tables spotted a mug or three. Not wanting to draw attention to himself he quickly ducked into his office.

He was thrilled to see that Chefbobone65 had placed a carafe of TZ, and a glass on his desk. With care he filled the glass and sipped, then sighed. A metallic flavor spread from the back of his mouth, indicating the early stages in the TZ effects. He turned and hung his shield on its spot on the wall, removed his sword belt and hung it on his chair. Each move was distinct, thought through to the nth degree. He pulled out his chair, then sat and unrolled the map, covering his mostly empty desk.

The map was a mostly blank page. two small drops connected by a thin line were the only marks to mar it perfect blankness. RotheRed touched the map with thumb and forefinger of each hand, then moved his hands pulling away from the shape, a bent barbell, zooming in. He needed to get out of here, this bar or social hall whatever it was. He had created it and now it suffocated him. Even with the TZ coursing through his mind, fueling it to go faster slowing the rest of the world, he didn’t know what to do. He just needed to get out, move.

RotheRed wasn’t aware of how oppressive the quiet in his office had become, until the knock on the door shattered it. The door opened before he could respond. three bodies rushed in. FreiMarkt closely followed by MaoMao420 and David23, RotheRed’s bodygaurd. “I’m sorry Boss, they rushed the door. Do you want me to throw them out?”

“No, but please shut the door.” Once this was done he turned on the other two. “What are you two doing here? You only left, what a half an hour ago. There’s no way you could have made it to Orup and back yet.”

“We’re sorry Boss. We were ambushed and defeated,” FreiMarkt said sheepishly. “We thought we should tell you before heading back out there.”

“So who was it?” RotheRed asked.

“It happened too fast. They got me with an arrow so I didn’t see anything. MaoMao says he was defeated by a woman in blue.” FreiMarkt said.

“Do you think she was in the Blue Army?” RotheRed asked MaoMao420.

“No way of knowing.”

RotheRed’s mind was spinning. This was what he had wanted; Something to do. “David get what you need we’re going with them.”

“Boss, are you sure, I mean we need you here.” David23 was all concern, he saw his role as bodyguard to limit the risk as much as possible.

“No I need to be out there. I must know what is happening.” RotheRed zoomed in on his map, focusing on Norca. “FreiMarkt show me where this happened.” The small ninja was too short to see the top of the desk while standing on the floor. He quickly climbed his friend and then lept to the desk from MaoMao420’s shoulder. He went to one knee and pointed to the road just beyond went in to where it crossed into the forest. “The arrow took me here, right after we entered the tree line.”

“You were attacked by at least two, do think there are more. What the immediate concern is what this the advance of a large attack, should I mobilize the whole army?”

MaoMao420 spoke up, “I don’t think this was a large attack. It seemed like they might have been watching the road, trying to keep us from following it further. There is no way to know till we go back.”

“Then let’s go.” RotheRed took his shield off the wall then turned back to the others. “We are going to split our forces, David and I will take the left side of the road, you take the right. Stay close enough that you can see the road, that way we can support each other.”

Freimarkt jumped from the desk, resuming his position on MaoMao420’s shoulder, “We’re ready Boss, do you want us to head out now and scout ahead?”

RotheRed felt the TonicZ moving in his limbs, the anticipation of action moved in his stomach. He finished belting on his sword, “I’m ready. let’s go.”