Not Exactly

You eye the river just up ahead, all you need to do get to the water and-

YIP! Shooting pain erupts from your side as you trip over yourself. Head over tail you tumble until land right into the stream.

SPLASH

“Damn it, you knocked it into the water!” That was all you could make as the rushing water carried you downstream. The stream wasn’t that deep but it was enough that you struggled to keep your head above, especially with you injured. You managed to wolf paddle, ‘I refuse to say dog!’, to the edge and pull yourself out of the stream.

Panting harder than you ever had, you’re honestly surprised you haven’t de-spawned already, you shake yourself dry of water. You hear something hit the ground and look down, a purple-tinted dagger lies near you. Still feeling weak, you raise your paw and bring up your status window.

(Unique) Moon Wolf

Status: Poisoned

Just great, you’re injured and poisoned.

“Ugh, I should just get this over with. At least then I’d be back in my den.” Contemplating just letting them kill you or allow the poison to finish the job, you hear something coming. Ducking behind a nearby boulder, you wait and listen.

“Argh, this whole stupid thing is ridiculous! The stupid mutt’s probably respawned already!” A familiar loud and deep voice angrily shouted. Carefully, you peeked around the rock.

Two individuals were standing there. The one with an angry scowl on his face was a human. Large, burly, bald, and completely bare-chested save for some armguards and a single pauldron on his left shoulder. He wore brown trousers, boots and was hefting a giant hammer on his other shoulder. All that gave him a very imposing figure.

The other figure was no stranger to you. The new expansion gave players the option to play two new races: those that live in Nalu’s light, Moon Elves. And those that dwell in his shadow, Dark Elves. The pale blue skin, silver hair, and red eyes were a dead giveaway. Dressed in a tailored hooded robe, vest, and black boots, you can see a set of knives lining all around his waist, along with vials of different colors on both his hips. But it was the arrogant smirk on his face as he looked at his fuming companion that unnerved you more.

Glancing above their heads, you looked at the dark elf…

Zebith Vrammyr

Dark Elf Rogue

Level: 15

And then at the Human.

Adam Rockwell

Human Berserker

Level: 14

“Shit, I’m surprised I wasn’t de-spawned with that one hit!” And where’s the ranger and her vixen?

“I can’t believe you invited me here to help some half-pint find some stupid, mangy white dog. I had better plans today, you know!” Adam growled through clenched teeth.

'Oh, if I were higher leveled, your butt would be my chew toy right now!'

The dark elf, Zebith, raised his hand to his compatriot. “Calm yourself, Adam. I assure you we’ll both be well rewarded soon enough.”

The human lowered his hammer, an audible thunk came from it hitting the ground. Still irritated but calmed down a bit, Adam eyed the elf.

“Oh yeah, how’s that? This ‘quest’ that gnome girl was talking about is bullshit.” He raised an eyebrow. “The ‘Find the Emerald Vale Ghost’ quest. I take it you’re the one that came up with that.”

Zebith gave a mock bow “Guilty as charged. The poor girl was new to this area, all it took was a friendly smile and some honeyed words and she believed it.”

“Silvered tongued bastard.” Adam grumbled. “So, is this the usual routine? I doubt she and that stupid fox could net us some decent XP?”

PKers. So that’s their whole set-up. One or both sets up some new or gullible players and then deal with them for XP. That gnome girl, Mydysa, got suckered by a pretty face and now she’s trapped. You feel more sorry for Lily, the hunter’s pet though, there aren’t many cute vixens around here. The poison was really starting to take effect as you began wobbling in place.

“I was thinking of taking a different route than usual.” Zebith reached into his cloak and pulled out an item. It was a dark pink studded collar with a small, heart-shaped lock on the front with runes etched into it.

The warrior’s eyes narrowed at the thing. “A pet’s collar? The hell you gonna do with that? You can’t be thinking of making that mutt your pet, are you?”

The smirk on the rogue’s face grew a bit more. “I was thinking of something else and a bit more permanent that we could both enjoy.”

Adam blinked twice before a full-blown grin appeared. He hefted his hammer back on his shoulder.

“Well, I’ve never had a gnome before.” He walked up and stood side-by-side with his partner. “You truly are a sadistic bastard.”

Zebith matched his grin and walked away with Adam following.

That was all you heard and saw before you finally fell to your side, vanishing into a shower of shining pixels.