Ain't No Rest For The Wicked [Rondun and Tetrosabier]

The forest was still.  As Tetrosabier stood completely still in the tree, he remarked silently on the fact that there was no wind today.  He crouched on the branch, not daring to move a muscle.  He knew that this was the route of his target, given that he had scoped it out weeks in advance.   This was a higher level target, who usually had lower level players guarding him.  His eyes watched the path carefully.  He wondered why he had been given the order to kill this guy "by any means necessary".  This guy was the main character in a convoy mission.  Maybe he was now the obstacle for the other adventurer to overcome?

Waiting in the tree for hours he contemplated switching positions, to maybe get closer to the ground as to get a better angle for attack.  As he shifted to get down from the tree,  he began to hear footsteps off in the distance, and froze.  Stuck in an awkward position,  he watched as a cart followed by two people slowly moved underneath him, apparently unaware of his presence.  He let out a sigh he didn't realize he had been holding.  Glancing at the pair of people, he recognized the finely dressed noble who was being led by... a rabbit?  He squinted to get a better look, and upon seeing the mostly hidden chain-mail underneath the rabbits fur, he recognized him.  Sighing internally he allowed himself an eye roll.   Of course, it just had to be complicated.

Waiting a couple of minutes, he allowed the group to get just far enough out of range that he could sneak out of his hiding place.  Jogging, he slowly gained on them.  As he approached, he made himself apparent, as to get Rondun's attention.  Lets hope things don't have to get too messy.

It was always a bit messy when story mission gets retconned or moved around a bit. Missions that were originally for lower levelled characters suddenly gets an upgrade and made it difficult for newer players to complete. Not often, but it happened a few times enough that whenever the game gets an update, Rondun run through all the missions at least once to check if anything have been changed content-wise. Today it was no different.

This escort mission was once guarding an NPC through monster infested route. Now it turned into a player vs player mission, it merged with another mission for assassin characters to take down a target. At least that is what some of his friends have told him. So he has to run through all his old missions just to check which they were referring to. This one was the last for the day before he log off to prep for tomorrow’s tutoring lessons.

The NPC was still the same, a noble that talks about his day as they stroll through the path. Rondun listen attentively, both towards the noble and the surrounding. There was no wind today to create extra noise, which was good. Not so good was the cart they had to walk with creating enough of a squeak and creak, but what could be done. Just like a noise in the back of their trail. Someone jogging up. Is it another player to join the mission? Or the very thing he has to fight against?

“Good sir, I suggest you should find somewhere to hide for a bit.” He said calmly and pushed the noble to the side and off the track. If necessary there is an invisibility potion in his pack that he could use to hide the man a bit better. Can’t do much with the cart though, it should only count towards his bonus towards the end of the mission.

Rondun turned around. He let the flames run through his shield and mace. His ears already positioned to keep his charge and their assassin in check. “Hello Tetrosabier.” He called out. “I would love to say nice to see you, but it would not do for me to lie.”

Tetrosabier slowed down as he approached the hostile rabbit.  "Greetings, Rondun.  I take it your still upset after your brother used me as a pincushion.  I'll do you the favor of not lying as well."  As he approached Rondun,  he took his blade off and propped it against a nearby tree gently, before continuing with his hands raised towards the sky.  Though he felt naked without the one tool that had always been there when he needed it, he hoped he could resolve this without violence.  Ugz would probably be a bit peeved if Tetrosabier killed his sibling.  He glanced over to his mark and saw it hiding behind a tree that couldn't even hide a squirrel. They should really patch that.

He began to offer a handshake before realizing that the flaming rabbit might not appreciate such a gesture, and tucked his hand into his pocket.  "Listen,""  I don't want to fight you, but I have worked too long to get as far as I have, and if you must defend this man I implore you," he pulled his hand out of his pocket and handed Rondun the briefing note. "Think twice. I will give you all 80 million credits, I don't really need the money.  But the one thing I cannot afford is to lose reputation over this.  You see right there where it says to complete this mission by any needs necessary?  That means that if I can't make reason with you that I am required to kill you to complete my mark.  I figured I would try to talk this out with you, if only to please Ugz.  And don't worry, you have my word that he is safe."

"What are you even doing on such a low level mission?  I figured that a higher level person such as yourself would be more interested with the missions that offer a bit more..."  he paused to stare at the cowering NPC once again. "Challenge."

Well he was upset, but it wasn’t because of the stabbing. It was almost mostly just because the Lamian has been quite a bully to his little brother. But that point was neither here or there at the moment. Rondun remained in battle stance, not relaxing one bit even as the assassin disarmed himself and put the blade to the side. He does however listen to the man’s proposal. To any lower level player or just anyone with a common sense of self-preservation, they probably will take the deal. Since this is an NPC and the mission has been cleared years ago.

Rondun was never that kind of the player. He believed if you do not treat an AI with some curtsy how would you able to do the same in real life where people’s behaviours were more unpredictable and complicated.

The fire in the shield dies out quietly, and the shield collapsed into their compact form. He put his hand behind his back to take out the potion. He doesn’t need to read the label anymore, the shape of the bottle familiar to him. Without looking away from Tetrosabier, he threw the potion bottle at the man. It shattered upon impact – since the AI was really not that bright to drink the potion or dodge – it coated the noble within seconds and soon they vanished out of sight. Only the rustling of footprints became their indication in the long grass.

“I understand your mission, and the reputation it entails.” Rondun murmured, voice soft like the fire that crackled in his mace. “However if you come any closer I will not hesitate.” He slammed his mace at his shield, filling it back up with flame once more, brighter and hotter. “This one is now under my protection and if anything or anyone tries to harm them. I will show no mercy. It does not matter who you are or what this mission entails.”

In truth the fact Tetrosabier was here have confirmed his suspicion that this once low levelled mission has received an upgrade. It was the exact challenge he needed. He could not pass on this opportunity.

“I will take your life.”

Folding up the small piece of paper,  he sighed heavily.  I will have to apologize to Ugz later.  Turning around, he picked up the blade.  He stared at it for just a moment, he felt the weight, just as heavy as the day he had made it.  Tetrosabier faced Rondun, glancing for half a moment back at his mark only to be met with the empty space where he had stood moments before.  Well that's annoying.  He activated the fans as electricity began surging across the edge of the weapon.  Electricity quickly turned to plasma as it was pushed from the conductors.  He held the sword in both hands as he took a look into Rondun's eyes.  "Then I am sorry"  

Rather than taking a direct swing on the rabbit, he figured that the flaming shield would probably be an issue, and that Rondun would probably have training on protecting the side without the shield.  Tetrosabier activated his jetpack, and took a rapid leap to the side Rondun held his shield at.  He took a precise and planned slash at the grip of Rondun's shield, trying his best to disarm the rabbit as his jetpack sent him flying past his target.  He quickly turned the jetpack back off and landed, sliding against the ground facing Rondun.  Activating his jetpack once more, he came back aiming just above Rondun.  Taking another slash at him, Tetrosabier launched over the rabbits head.  Flipping in the air he pulled the same manuever, turning once more and launching off a tree directly at Rondun. Tetrosabier angled himself to the ground and slid against the ground, right underneath Rondun, only to tumble and get to his feet, sword pointed at the other lamian.

Rondun activates the recording function of the game. Since he might need to look back and reflect on the fight to see what could be done to improve on it. Just as well since the Lamian came right for him. He flipped the shield over lengthwise over his arm, over the vital muscles that allow him to grip his shield. It clanged with the metal quickly. A little buzz went through the metal. Electricity then, he was thankful that his oriental armour will have a good amount of insulation with small shocks. It won’t be able to do anything against Plasma but any defence is good.

Tetrosabier landed and blast off again, aiming for the same area. Was he trying to get him to drop his shield? The central part of the shield is securely fastened with leather onto his bracers so in case when he lost his grip, the shield would have at least hang loosely over his wrist. He would have to somehow get past his shield to cut those straps. With good aim and ranged weapon maybe, but he might be wrist deep in fire if using a melee weapon.

As he analyse the Lamian’s movement, he moved to dodge the rest of the blade strike. The last launch was aimed much lower than before. Rondun jumped up in the air, twisting and activate Triple Strike. He hit downwards towards Tetrosabier. With the skill activated, little red markers appear on his minimap. Showing the aggro from all the surrounding mobs.

He thought it might be a good idea not to tell Ugz about this. Then again he might get a kick out of it. A problem when he log off.

Tetrosabier rubbed his back, the burning mace had only made contact for a short period of time.  His back ached from the impact of the mace and he felt sick to his stomach.  Tetrosabier had been hit with weapons of greater impact, but something about that strike just felt... off.  It had hurt more than other injury he had sustained and something about it made him feel more awake.  He stared at the rabbit while he waited for the pain to subside, a mask of solemnity across his face.  He looked directly into the rabbits hazel eyes, shooting daggers with his eyes at Rondun.  Rondun had mostly dodged his attacks and the leather strap was clearly out of reach, unless Tetrosabier was willing to risk losing an arm.  He looked at his surrounding in his peripheral vision.  The clearing they stood in was barren except for the pair of fighting animals and a cart.  He would have to get creative.

Taking a quick sprint to Rondun's side, He pulled a couple of his fake feathers from out of their sheaths on his arm.  He quickly turned and rocketed towards Rondun once more, Throwing the poison vials at his shield.  Without checking to see if the vials had made their mark, he flew up into the air out of Rondun's reach.  He landed in a tree, pulling out another vial.  Obscuring himself in leaves, he smashed the vial against one of the branches and silently disappeared to another tree. He continued doing this to another few trees randomly located around the clearing, taking care to not be seen or heard.  He smoothly made off after the noble, staying in the trees as the acid in the vials ate away the other trees, snapping branches and making it impossible to pin his location.

He followed the footprints left in the ground as they left Rondun.

Rondun’s face was calm, not returning those glaring-daggers that Tetrosabier was shooting his way. He batted away those feathers with his mace and kept the shield up against the poison vials. Although he does have to hold his breath in case those things in the vials remain lethal in the air. It made him lose track of the assassin briefly as he flew into the trees.

At that point he started to ignore the sounds around him. The red markers on the mini maps begin to draw close. Soon there will be nothing but cacophony surrounding the forest. Such is the side effect of almost all his skill. It draws aggro from all monsters, even from things that were normally docile. Not only that, it continue to draw aggro for a while after the skill was done.

Thankfully Rondun’s ears were not the only things that allow him to keep track of the noble. The land he has walked over many times, he knew the bushes and the grass, even the kind of trees and the leaves that will fall from it. So he looked for the footprint and followed it with top speed. He never needed to run around to find the assassin, it was not his job to kill. His job was to protect.

It didn’t take him too long to spot the source of the fresh footprints. Nor did it take long for the first critters to shown themselves. A bunch of tiny birds, no doubt they could do nothing but single digit damage and that is also the amount of health they have, but their presence have served their purpose. Any long ranged attack have to be accurate and even then there was a chance of missing if one bird just happen to fly into trajectory. It gave Rondun the cover he needed to dash for the noble, hoping to body block any melee attack coming his way.

Keeping to the trees, Tetrosabier came to a complete halt.  He heard two sets of identifiable footsteps.  One set was heavy and accompanied by the clanking of the heavy chainmail, which he took to be Rondun.  The second was a bit harder to make out, and seemed to be somewhere ahead of him.  Tetrosabier figured that Rondun would be following behind him, so he waited.  As Rondun approached, Tetrosabier launched at Rondun again.  Tetrosabier threw his plasma blade to the side as he passed over Rondun, only to turn in air and rocket directly into the flaming bunny.  The plasma blade landed on the ground only 10 feet away from the quarreling pair, though Tetrosabier hoped to distract Rondun from the blade by knocking him over.  Tetrosabier made one more pass of Rondun as his fuel tank started beeping, indicating he was now incapable of activating his jetpack.  He pulled a ring from his pocket as he rammed into Rondun's legs.

Rising to his feet, he put the ring on his finger, and looked at Rondun.  "It is not too late, we can stop this fight right here and now, my offer still stands"

The rabbit definitely did not expect the Lamian to come and attack him straight away. On the bright side, it meant he hasn’t quite pinpointed the noble like he has. He barely dodged the plasma blade, his ears twisted to follow the sound of the blade and where it land while he stared resolutely ahead - until he was practically bawled over.

He dropped to the floor in a recovery roll, hoping not to lose momentum. It turned to a moot point as he heard the jet pack coming for him again. Rondon did not immediately jump up from the ground, but instead positioned his shield to receive the incoming attack. He also activated Shield Up, dramatically increasing his defence. Although that does increase the timer where he will draw aggro, but he already have a plan for that.

Fire spilled from the mace, sending flickers of ember into the air. “I said what I said and I keep my words.” He keep an eye on his skills. There was one last resort that maybe a little too much. Not when the screeching of angry critters began to circle around them. Some actually directly attacked Rondun and got burned up by the fire. Some headed straight for Tetrosabier on the virtue of being in proximity to the one holding aggro.