Kael slept like a rock.
In a single day, he’d completed his Class Advancement into a Divine Archer, cleared a Hidden Realm, and acquired a new Ascendant weapon. It was almost too much progress at once.
He didn't wake up until after 10 AM. With no urgent tasks on his agenda, he decided to take his time before logging in. After showering, he left his apartment complex and walked a couple of blocks to a classic American diner. He ordered the works: a stack of pancakes, two bone-in pork chops, a side of mac and cheese, and a large orange juice. After devouring the feast, Kael returned to his room and jacked back into the game.
The moment he loaded in, a frantic knocking echoed from his door.
BANG, BANG, BANG!
"Fourth Chieftain!"
BANG, BANG, BANG!
Kael quickly opened the door to find Steward Malcolm standing outside, his face beaded with sweat.
"What's wrong, Malcolm?"
"It's terrible news," the steward said, too panicked to even wipe his brow. "We've received word that the forces of Crescent City are sending an army to destroy us! What are we to do?"
Before Kael could answer, a system notification chimed in his vision.
[System: The Blackwind Brotherhood will be under attack in 1 hour. You have been assigned the quest: Defend the Blackwind Brotherhood.]
Kael blinked. The quest was mandatory; there was no option to decline. He examined the details and saw that it even came with a penalty for failure.
Quest: Defend the Blackwind Brotherhood
Success Reward: The Blackwind Brotherhood will be upgraded. You will receive the title [The Blackwind Champions], +1 Level, and 1 random Level 20 Legendary-tier item.
Failure Penalty: 12 hours in the system prison. The title [Blackwind Brotherhood Fourth Chieftain] will be revoked.
The title and gear rewards were straightforward enough. But what did "upgraded" mean? Kael was puzzled.
Honestly, even without the rewards, Kael would have fought to defend the place. His [Blackwind Brotherhood Fourth Chieftain] title gave him a crucial +50 to all stats. He didn't particularly care if the stronghold itself survived in the long run, but he absolutely refused to lose that title.
"I understand. Go and prepare the men," Kael said calmly.
"Yes, Fourth Chieftain. We are counting on you." The steward bowed and hurried away.
Instead of rushing out, Kael sat on his bed and carefully read through the detailed quest description. He noticed a special feature he hadn't seen before.
[Recruit]: Invite up to 100 players to aid in the defense of the Blackwind Brotherhood. If successful, each recruited player will receive one Level 15 Purple or Gold item and +1 Level.
For the average player, that reward was incredibly enticing. At level 15, players were just starting to run their first 10-man dungeons. A normal clear would, at best, yield a single Purple(Epic) item. It could take ten full runs to guarantee everyone in the group got a piece. This quest offered at least a Purple, with a chance at Gold(Legendary), just for succeeding.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
But where was he going to find 100 players?
Kael opened his friends list and sent a message to Lila.
Dawnbreaker: What are you up to?
Lila: Leading a grinding party in the swamps. What's up?
Dawnbreaker: I just got a quest. I need 100 people to defend the Blackwind Brotherhood in the Shadowcrag Mountains. Success gets everyone a purple or gold item and a full level. Can you get the people?
Lila’s reply was hesitant.
Lila: The Blackwind Brotherhood? Isn't that a bandit stronghold?
Kael paused. He’d completely forgotten. The Brotherhood’s notorious reputation had spread from the starting village all the way to Stonehaven. Nearly every player had heard of the infamous den of bandits during their quests.
As he was thinking of how to explain, another message from her came through.
Lila: I’m on my way. How do we get in? Just fight our way up the mountain?
Kael quickly typed back.
Dawnbreaker: No, don’t do that. Get your group from the starting village to the base of the mountains. I'll come meet you there.
Lila: OK.
Dawnbreaker: And don't mention my name to anyone.
Lila paused for a second before replying.
Lila: ...Alright.
Lila closed the chat window, a little puzzled by his last request. His reputation as a murderous PK was already known server-wide; what was there to hide? But he must have his reasons.
With a few swift slashes, she finished off the swamp lizard she was fighting and turned to her teammates. "Alright girls, take a break."
"What's up, Lila?" one of them asked as the group of women gathered around her.
Lila looked at her guildmates. "I just got us a lead on a 100-person quest. The reward is a piece of level 15 Purple or Gold gear and a full level up."
A chorus of excited gasps went through the group. "Wow! What kind of quest has rewards that good?"
"We're going to the Blackwind Brotherhood in the Shadowcrag Mountains..."
"Oh, I know what this is!" a mage named Lunara chirped. "We're going to exterminate the bandits!"
"Raid the bandits? Awesome!" the others cheered.
Thwack.
"Ow!" Lunara cried out, rubbing her forehead. Lila had given her a light flick.
"We're not exterminating them," Lila said, looking at the group. "We're protecting them."
"Ohhh, I get it!" Starbloom’s eyes lit up with sudden understanding. "We get to be bandits!"
The mood instantly shifted from righteous to mischievous.
"Whoa..."
"This is even better!"
"We're gonna be lady outlaws, haha!"
"Hey there, pretty boy, how's about you keep this lady company tonight..."
The women dissolved into a fit of giggles and playful shoves.
"Alright, settle down," Lila said, laughing. "You all sound like a bunch of hooligans."
"If we're hooligans, you're the gang leader!" Starbloom shot back with a grin.
"Haha!" The group erupted in laughter again.
"Okay, okay, let's get the party set up. Hazel, Starbloom, Rena, Lunara, Doodoo, Velora..." Lila began forming the 100-person raid, kicking everyone else from the current party.
"Lila, I want to go too!"
"Guild leader, me too!"
Many of the members left out began to complain. Crimson Bloom now had over 5,000 members; a hundred slots was far too few.
Lila was about to calm them down when a system announcement thundered across the entire server.
[World Announcement]: Heed the call, Champions of Crescent City! By order of the City Lord, we shall march upon the Blackwind Brotherhood in starting area #9999! We are recruiting 10,000 brave warriors for this campaign! Those who wish to join the assault may enlist at their local City Hall!
[World Announcement]: Heed the call, Champions of Crescent City...
The announcement repeated three times, igniting a firestorm of excitement among the player base.
"Crescent City again? You guys get all the cool events."
"What's so special about starting area #9999? My village has bandits, why don't we get an event to wipe them out?"
"Does your village have the psycho PK Dawnbreaker?"
"Looks like even the system has had enough of him. This is just an excuse to go after him."
"I heard he's already got 1000 Infamy. The whole server wants him dead, lol."
"@Ashveil, is that 500K dollar bounty still good?"
"Yeah, what they said."
"Why are you even asking? We don't even know if Dawnbreaker is online..."
Most of the comments on the world channel were from players in other cities. The actual players from the Crescent City region were already stampeding toward their respective City Halls.
"Haha, I signed up!"
"Why does it cost one gold coin to enlist? That's so expensive!"
"Only 50 people per guild? Are they looking down on us?"
"Can any kind soul spare one gold so I can sign up?"
Back at the Blackwind Brotherhood stronghold, Kael stood on the roof of the main keep. He watched the bandits below, frantically reinforcing barricades and sharpening their weapons. A wry smile touched his lips.
Looks like I'll never be able to shake this villain reputation.
