Breaking the Rules Pt. 15

Breaking the Rules takes place in an RPG universe, and is the sequel to Bending the Rules. To understand the characters and how the world works, please start from Part 1 of either series. Not based on any particular gaming franchise or storyline, but there may be guest appearances.

Remember that not everything has to be a hot take. Don't forget to be real with each other sometimes.

*****

Dayo and Ace arrived together in the morning.

"Here's a thought. Just a thought, mind you," Dayo said. "If we go out at night, we'll avoid a lot of attention. The Random Encounters are tougher, yes- and more numerous. But anyone not already undead or in league with them won't want to follow us. And let's be honest, it's good EXP."

"OK, that's all well and good, but- I'm not a combatant, really. If those pygmy trolls show up again, how are you going to find me when they drag me off in the dark?" Nuru said.

"You've got those little light balls, first of all. Secondly, what if you've got an entourage?" Dayo said.

"How's that?" Nuru said.

"I can set some undead to follow you on a particular basic instruction," Dayo said. "Like I did with the bugs, to each other. Go where they go, attack what they attack, defend them. Only instead of another bug, it would be you. And it would be goblins or whatever following you around."

"But I couldn't give them any actual instructions," Nuru said.

"No, and they would have to stay in sight of you or they'd get lost. But I bet your Musical Trance effect can work effectively with them."

"Um, time-sensitive question, what do we do if Chibale follows you here again?" Ace said.

"What do you mean, 'time-sensitive'?" Nuru asked.

Dayo looked sharply behind him, then pretended to be examining a building further that direction.

"He's headed this way, is what he means," Dayo said.

"We can't just run, he'll know something's up," Nuru said.

"Let's renew the pact from yesterday," Ace said.

"Wasn't it perpetual, until dissolved?" Nuru said, frowning.

"No, a daily," Dayo said. "Good idea though. Two more days, and we can say that it was a standard three-day the first time. He can't argue with that."

"Done," Nuru said.

"And done," Ace said.

"Great. So we need to check the monster forecast-" Dayo started.

"There you are, Nuru! I've been looking all over for you this morning," Chibale said.

"Oh! You're two days early," Nuru said.

"Say what?"

"Didn't I tell you?" Nuru said. "We signed a three-day party agreement. I'm really sorry! I know Dayo's got quests to get back to, but it would look really terrible if something happened without me and-"

"Yes... yes. Of course. Dayo, let me see it real quick, Onyekachi's going to have my hide if the T's aren't crossed properly. You know how he is."

"Sure do." The valkyrie pulled it up and showed him.

Nuru checked to see exactly what he was reading now: 1 of 3 days served on party agreement. Preferential EXP sharing with the weakest member, at the cost of monetary rewards. The rest was completely standard.

"Hahah! Yes, well. We couldn't have an accident, now, for lack of our... indirect support. Make sure he's in one piece for me when it's my turn," Chibale said.

The smile didn't reach his eyes, but he gave a friendly wave and all but skipped his way back towards the city gate.

"Jabu's gaping anus, I hate that man," Dayo growled. "Did you see that? He didn't even leave any possibility of me continuing to travel with Nuru! I've got to do something about this damned homing spell. Apparently it keeps some of the mana stored for the homing function specifically, even if the rest of the functions are drained."

"I talked to Furaha about that," Ace said. "Ekene had a great idea. Active enchantments can be drained by wards. If we've got something tailored to the Chosen-"

"Ooh, clever girl," Dayo said. "It'd have to be something with a lot of power, though. These things are pretty heavily shielded. I'd have to drop it in there and stand back."

"Nobody's stealing that thing from you, if that's your concern, I guarantee it," Ace said.

"No, I know, I trust all of you- oh, I just had a thought. I can tell the quartermaster that I took a hit and it's been acting funny lately. They'll get me another one, and if I don't pair to it immediately then he can't trace which one is mine."

"When does he usually do his questing? Any chance we run into him out there at random?" Ace said.

"No, first of all he goes to higher-level areas we're not going anytime soon," Dayo said. "And he makes several appearances at our forward operating base in broad daylight, every day. If I didn't know better I'd swear he's just a regular mortal like the rest of us. He's gone to a lot of trouble to keep up appearances; but I think I've been able to pinpoint the day he died, because he didn't always used to be that way. Now that I'm looking for it, I think I know the quest that got him."

"Anything about that we can use?" Ace said, scratching his head.

"If I confront him and I time my reveal right, I could be getting a few extra seconds to live," Dayo said. "Otherwise, no, I don't think it really helps."

"Well, keep that info documented somewhere," Ace said. "You never know."

"Yeah, of course. Furaha's got it already."

"Come on, back to the library," Ace said. "We get that forecast, we'll see what kind of accompaniment Blobby's going to get."

*****

"Say, you wouldn't happen to be known as Ace, would you?" The librarian said as they walked in.

"Who wants to know?" Ace said.

"Your landlord. Go check with the travel agent, you have a message."

"Alright, thanks," Ace said. "You guys go ahead and get started, I'm gonna go check with our mutual friend real quick."

They went to check the Monster Forecast board, a more detailed version than what appeared by the Job Board.

"Landlord... Furaha, you think?" Nuru said.

"That's my guess. Probably wanted to avoid suspicion, so asked for him instead of you," Dayo said. "He did make that joke about beachfront property. Her way of saying she'll rent to him, but she won't sell."

"Psh. Probably wanted to make sure I didn't get left to wander off and get killed, more like," Nuru said.

"A complementing objective," Dayo said.

"Say... Dayo..." Nuru said.

"Mmm?"

"I don't know how much we'll be alone together from here on out. You want to talk about the other day?"

"The, um, after party?" Dayo said, blushing a little.

"That's a good name for it. I just... want to make sure you're still OK with what happened."

"I... guess so, yeah."

"You're not sure?"

"Well, I'm sure, and it was great. I just... have other feelings too."

"Share as much as you're comfortable with."

"Gods below, I don't know how to talk about these things. I'm the worst hookup," they said, putting their face in their hands.

"Would it help if I ask questions?"

"...maybe."

"How do you feel about what I did?"

"You didn't really do anything. You sat there and got fucked."

"I mean... yeah. True. So I didn't do anything wrong? Or, overlook anything important?"

"No, I don't think so."

"What about Furaha then?"

"...what about her?"

"Did it bother you that she got emotional?"

"The timing could have been better. Except I guess technically it couldn't, because what we did brought all those feelings to the surface for her. If it was possible, it would have been better at another time for me, but that's just how it had to be. But no, I'm not bothered by it now."

"So what are you mixed up about, then? Sanaa?"

"No. She's... intimidating. I mean, physically flawless, just drop-dead gorgeous. I can't compete, but I'm not mixed up about that, I've just accepted being the least attractive person of our group."

"You set a pretty high standard, if that's true - I just don't have time to argue that right now. Did it feel weird, being with me at the same time as Furaha?"

"...kind of. She's... gods below. I don't know what to make of her sometimes, but I get this fluttery feeling in my stomach when I think about her. It was fun doing that, but the whole time I was thinking about doing more with her. I just didn't want to make it weird, so I didn't say anything. And then she got all emotional and I really shut it down, just in case."

"You really like her?"

"I... yeah, I guess that's what it comes down to. I'm nervous about fucking it up with her, she's so sensitive to certain things. I don't want to say the wrong thing and upset her. But the way she talks makes me ache inside."

"She's a special woman. Are you afraid of what Mesi will think? Getting jealous again?"

"Maybe I should be, I don't know. But I'm not, really. I told Mesi I just like Furaha physically, for the moments that we spend together. I don't want to move in with her or anything like that. I just want to know what it's like to be with her."

"Are you afraid the mystery will be spoiled if it actually happens?"

"No, but if you're anything to go by, I should probably be afraid that she's addictive."

Nuru laughed, and Dayo put their hand over his mouth.

"Ssh, this is a library," the valkyrie whispered, grinning mischievously.

"You're right, I can't get enough of her," Nuru whispered, smirking.

"Have you had enough of me?" Dayo said, turning their head to look away and pulled back a little.

"I think you actually mean, have I had too much of you?" Nuru said quietly. "The answer is no. We're here now, together, as friends. That can be enough to make me happy. We were together, with Furaha, as people all attracted to each other - and that could be enough, too. I'm not saying we have to be any specific thing for each other. I just like being around you, and I enjoy the things we do. And I don't see that changing anytime soon."

He held his arms open, and Dayo leaned in to hug him, accepting the invitation.

"But you can't get enough of her," Dayo whispered into his shoulder.

"Well, she's got this personality. She's always teasing, always making me think about the next time I get to be with her. You're right, she is addictive, and she plays right into it. You want the same attention, you know how to get it. It's not like I'm complicated."

"Well, you are, but... I know what you mean."

"I miss anything important?" Ace said after a long minute had passed in silence.

"No," Dayo said, breaking away. "What did Furaha say?"

"Tatenda had another person asking after Nuru," Ace said. "If we were going to be in the area of Diamond Dales, we could drop by."

"That's going to have to wait," Nuru said. "We've got a busy schedule for the next while."

"So what's the prospects?" Ace said.

"I say, Tumelo's reaper witch needs to strike fear in the hearts of some more cultists," Nuru said.

Dayo colored a bit. "You're the boss."

"Mm. Stealing some more miniboss monster souls?" Ace said.

"Yep," Nuru said. "So, what would you both like to take out?"

"Hobgoblin?" Dayo said.

"Hobgoblin," Ace nodded.

"Hob..goblin? That's a special kind, but remind me why," Nuru said.

"Undead," Ace said. "They have a tendency to hobble, because..."

"Goblins are weird, misshapen creatures, you've noticed by now," Dayo said. "More specifically, they have the most physiological variation of any humanoid species. This variety gives them some serious quirks, and no two look even close to alike - living snowflakes, you could say. But, because of that, they spend much of their lives learning to deal with their physical differences and then if you revive them, the added souls don't know how to gracefully handle the body, like a special kind of Proficiency that needs to develop. So they stumble all over the place, when undead. Goblins are extremely numerous, easy to farm, and Cult of Jabu like to pad their numbers with them, so it happens a lot. They're goofy looking, but don't underestimate them, the cult likes to pack a lot of souls into them precisely because you won't take them seriously. They miss their strikes a lot, but when they do hit, it's devastating. And they can bypass a lot of saving throws because they're less predictable in a timing sense, especially in groups."

"Sounds like a good enemy to level up combat proficiency against," Nuru said.

"It is that," Ace said. "Just don't get complacent. Many's the High Factioner that let his active skills lapse and got overwhelmed unnecessarily."

"Well, that's all on you guys. Let's go in full strength," Nuru said, activating Tusa's Oath.

They ventured forward, and Tusa trotted up cautiously.

"!Fassada Girma! Tusa, it's your lucky day," Nuru said. "We're hunting hobgoblins."

[Father told us of these. A moment.]

The lyena went to a tree and started scratching at the bark. After awhile he settled down and seemed to be satisfied with the feel of his claws.

[We are ready.]

*****

"So I assume they're out here protecting something, not just standing around," Nuru said.

"Yeah, this is a literal gold mine," Dayo said.

"They also like to spread them around caves with valuable ritual materials, crystals and such," Ace said.

"And I can't imagine they'll be happy for us to just nibble away at their defenses," Nuru continued.

"Nope, they'll probably send in some reinforcements before too long," Dayo said. "We'll want to take off if it gets to be too much. I'm adding a rally point to our party map, where my mount is hanging out and Blobby can backstop us if it gets really bad. If we get separated, everybody head that direction and meet up. We'll take on as many waves as seems reasonable, if that's OK with you."

"Fine, fine. Just wanted to make sure everybody understood the plan," Nuru said. "So, tactically, are we just doing the same as last time - everybody do what you do, and watch out for each other?"

"Tusa, I know you're ready for blood," Dayo said. "How about this. You do whatever you want to these enemies, take them down, cripple them, mangle their limbs, but try to leave the death blow to a regular party member."

"But I don't think anybody's going to complain if a head or two gets detached in the heat of the moment," Nuru grinned. "Take the other side of the camp, to draw some of their force away and divide them. Be ready to join us if we're getting a bit outnumbered, if you don't mind."

[It shall be, as it shall be.]

"Alright. I'm going to lay some reusable traps, lead them out my way and we'll tie some of them up while we concentrate damage on a reduced number," Ace said.

"I'll cover you all with some buffs and I can be the bait for the traps," Nuru said.

"Solid. I'll herd them all into the killing zone," Dayo said. "Be prepared for a big charge, Nuru; call it out when you see it and we'll shift tactics as needed. Depending on their strength, we may divide and conquer, or we may have to retreat. I'll let you make that decision as the boss."

"Other thoughts? No? Let's do it!" Nuru said.

Tusa bounded off towards the far side of the mining encampment, and the sounds of mayhem soon followed. There were no trees, so Dayo had to be more subtle on the approach, taking cover behind large rocks and waiting for hobgoblin backs to be turned as they wandered their patrol patterns.

"!Tasiri motsin zuciyarmu!!Wahayi mai kida!" Nuru cast his mood and movement influences, and watched closely. He started drumming to throw off the pace of the hobgoblins, to split them up and expose a single or a few of them to Sneak Attack and a double-team by Dayo. This took several minutes, and Ace had a good set of basic traps laid out in front of Nuru.

"Don't trip these, the bombs are nasty," Ace said, before running forward to begin the assault.

The first hobgoblin barely knew what hit it. One moment it was wandering along, mindlessly shambling its own business, when it got a Backstab from Ace. It turned, failed to notice him, then got another Backstab from the other direction. Ace's sneak could not handle the burden of all the aggro, and he appeared where he'd retreated several meters away. The hobgoblin came on fearlessly, calling out in attack mode as it began to take arrow fire, but none of its allies were close enough to assist. Dayo stepped out from behind Ace and laid in with an Arcane Blast to cause a short stun, and proceeded to inflict blunt force trauma in a steady rhythm, reinforced by Nuru's battle beat. They began to get extra critical hit damage when a beat would coincide with an arrow hit from Ace and a staff smash from Dayo simultaneously, and the hobgoblin entered its self-preservation mode, turning to run. Most of the valkyrie's MP went to the steady use of Arcane Blast to push the hobgoblin back into Ace's arrow range, and its HP ran out with a groan.

"Boom! There we go!" Nuru yelled triumphantly, raising his fist.

Dayo and Ace high-fived, and moved on to the next one after soaking the souls. This one was close to one of the boulders, and Ace used arrow fire to draw it in for the heavy ambush by Dayo, who used the boulder to deflect the clumsy counter-attacks as the hobgoblin overextended. Nuru carefully made his way around the traps and climbed one of the boulders to keep a higher view of the area. He saw a big cloud of dust over in the direction Tusa had gone, and couldn't make any details out, but the sounds of combat floating over to him didn't indicate too much danger so far. Closer in, the hobgoblins were more numerous and patrol patterns more intertwined.

"Still sloppy," Ace said.

He set a trap for one hobgoblin while Dayo got in position for another one, trying out the divide-and-conquer strategy. Ace and Dayo double-teamed while the other thrashed to free itself of the trap, and arrived at the location of the scuffle just as Dayo laid in a killing blow to the head area that they had been lucky to expose with a well-placed Arcane Blast, sending the helmet flying. After dispatching the second foe, they pushed forward to a chokepoint where several 'scouts' returned at regular intervals to where two hobgoblins stood guard motionlessly. Any straightforward assault would find the 'scout' enemies arriving in time to flank the team, and they took a little time to study the comings-and-goings, setting up ambushes for the 'scouts' before feeling confident to face the two sentries. Ace started whittling down the health of one at a time from the safety of a big rock they couldn't easily climb, and the two sentries called out a warning with one voice. Ace ran to check on the route ahead, while Dayo solo'd the second sentry, with Nuru's backing.

"Why aren't you using the scythe blade?" Nuru called over to them.

"Don't want it getting stuck in the armor and throwing off my pattern!" Dayo replied. "I'll miss out on the buffs you're laying down!"

"Got it," Nuru said.

Ace got a critical Backstab in as he made his return, settling the hobgoblin into its self-preservation mode and howling for reinforcements.

"We got a cultist inbound," he said from the top of a small hill. "Nuru, better fall back to the trap zone."

Ace and Dayo continued to gang up on the last sentry, and then arrived shortly after Nuru did, back at the edge of the patrol zone for the camp. Nuru tugged at Tusa's Oath just as a chariot drawn by a pair of undead war horses charged through, blades on the wheels spinning dangerously to either side. He stood his ground behind the line of traps, staring down the man in the hood in the back.

"!Manufa Makiya Cikin Mutuwa! Your death approaches!" the man called out, and a squad of hobgoblins careened past him, howling war cries.

Tusa came barreling through, swiping at each of them as he came, doing a pretty good bit of damage and, to the agitation of the cultist, leaving deep bleeding scores in their flesh that continued to tick their health down for some time afterwards. Dayo worked to separate one from the pack, and Ace drew aggro from the others with a rapid-fire skill that kept their attention on him as he retreated in a circle around a boulder. The cultist turned the chariot and pursued Tusa, leaving the rest of the undead behind. One by one, they chipped down in health as Dayo took over aggro on a single target and fought it down to critical health, and then Ace popped in with the critical team attack to finish as it tried to run. The chariot returned, and the cultist screamed in rage.