98 Night Rattler
Robin laughed at the spectacle of Ra splashing through the fountain while chasing one of the fish. Unable to catch the fleet-finned creature, she finally gave up when her legs were too tired to run further.
Ra pushed her wet hair out of her eyes. "I'm not used to running."
"Why were you chasing the fish?"
"One of my rings fell into the water..." Ra shook her fist at the biggest fish in the fountain. "The fat one ate it! Just wait!"
"I can cut him open and get the ring back," Robin offered.
"What? No, I don't want to hurt him," Ra replied.
"How would you get the ring back without hurting him?"
Ra held up her slender brown fingers. "I was going to stroke and squeeze him gently until he coughed it up."
"Hahahahah." Robin laughed at Ra's innocent expression. "Well... That might work on QJ, but I doubt this fish would be so compliant."
"Excuse me..."
Both women turned at the voice. Robin sized up the newcomer. She looked sharp in her black uniform, curved in all the right places, with full lips and a pretty face.
[Briar Rose: Robin] Someone is here, Aji.
[Briar Rose: Aji] I'll be a few minutes. Can you ask what they want?
[Briar Rose: Robin] She's after QJ; I'm going to run her off.
[Briar Rose: Aji] Please don't.
Robin smiled at the newcomer. "May I help you?"
"Yes, I'm Engineer Trahern." The woman bowed politely. "QJ sent me here to find quarters."
Ra clapped her hands excitedly. "You'll work on the Basara Railway? That's so amazing."
The Engineer shrugged slightly. "Honestly, I'm not sure. I've never heard of Basara. Do they have a railway?"
[Briar Rose: Robin] False alarm, she's a train engineer.
"I'm Sam. Are you from Basara?" The Engineer noted the slight accent and dark skin. "Do you work for QJ?"
"I'm his wife, Sierra Sandhealer."
"Pleased to meet you!" Sam glanced at Robin. "Do you work here? I was told to ask for Aji."
"I work at the Keep," Robin replied.
"She's the Commandant of One Problem Keep," Ra amended.
"And QJ's girlfriend," Robin added.
"Girlfriend?" Sam glanced from one woman to the other and then back again. "I don't understand what's going on here..."
Robin smiled. "Sorry, Sam. We're teasing."
"Really?" Sam let out a sigh of relief. "For a second, I had no idea what kind of place this was."
"Welcome to Briar Rose. I'm Aji. " The Briar Rose MajorDomo finally appeared in the courtyard. "You can leave your luggage there; I'll send it to your room."
The Engineer arrived with three bags and a long wooden box she held under one arm. "Thank you."
Robin noticed that she clung possessively to the wooden crate. "What room are you going to put her in?"
[Briar Rose: Robin] We'll help with the bags, so you don't have to return.
[Briar Rose: Aji] Thank you, Robin.
"Second floor, across from the Main bedroom," Aji answered.
Robin grabbed two bags and waited until Ra picked up the third before following Aji and Sam.
Aji opened the double doors and ushered the newest arrival inside. "I can give you a proper estate tour after you've settled in. Were you coming from Lucan Falls?"
Sam shook her head. "I left there this morning. I was summoned to the Corridor."
"That's where QJ and Ringo are," Robin noted. "Why would he summon you there?"
"I believe it was for a field demonstration of my alternate occupation," Sam replied.
[Briar Rose: Robin] Knew it! She's a brothel girl.
Aji cleared her throat. "You demonstrated this for QJ?"
Sam shook her head. "Guild Leader Ringo."
[Briar Rose: Robin] I did not see that coming.
"May I ask what your alternate occupation is?" Aji asked politely.
"I'm a masseuse," Sam replied.
"DIBS!" Robin spoke louder than she meant to. "You know, my back has been bothering me. Let's get her set up in the spa."
Aji frowned at the orange-haired Songbird. "Sam just arrived; I'm sure she's tired."
Sam shook her head. "Not really. Show me where to set up, and I'll fix Robin's back."
"Fine," Aji replied. "Let me show you where you'll stay; then we'll go to the spa."
[Briar Rose: Ra] What does dibs mean?
[Briar Rose: Robin] When you're in a group of people and suddenly discover something that everyone will want, claiming dibs means you get to go first.
[Briar Rose: Ra] Can I have dibs next time?
[Briar Rose: Robin] You can only claim dibs after the discovery part.
[Briar Rose: Ra] Oh... Can I have dibs next time?
[Briar Rose: Robin] Fine, you can have dibs next time.
**********
QJ took a few minutes to draw in the buildings he discovered. "They went old school with camo-netting. You can buy it at the Exodus market; the entire compound is covered."
"From up here, you can't see anything." Ringo shook her head in amazement. "I guess that's the point."
"They are grinding levels," QJ pointed to an area marked with an X. "This tar pit is impressive. The north part spawns mobs between levels fifteen and twenty-five. The eastern part spawns level twenty-five to thirty-five elites.
Ringo frowned at the map. "They could hide here and build their strength. Did you find Tucker?"
"They have him locked up here." QJ pointed to a central building. "I heard them say they're coming into camp in five minutes for buffs and heals.
"What's their highest level?" Ringo asked.
"Twenty-two. You get the Grand Prize if you guess who it is," QJ offered.
"Is it Kendrix? They must be grinding non-stop and spamming xp bonuses."
"Ding, ding... Winner." QJ smiled. "He even used the same name."
"They changed his character's name on Legends so he could use it here." Ringo returned her Vice-Leader's smile. "We gonna use tactics or just start ganking them?"
[Group: QJ] You there yet, Wu?
*Wu* Yep, sorry for the delay. I was checking the current status of the Corridor on the other servers.
[Group: Ringo] Hey Wu.
*Wu* Hey, Ringo.
[Group: QJ] Anything interesting?
*Wu* There's always lots of interest in the Corridor early in the game. Most of this goes away after the Tar pit dries up.
[Group: Ringo] When does that happen?
*Wu* Within the first year.
[Group: QJ] What's the level range according to your source?
*Wu* Level 35 elites.
[Group: QJ] Interesting... Explain why I ran into a 50-level elite.
*Wu* That's impossible. You joking?
[Group: QJ] No. He walked right past me when I was stealthed.
[Group: Ringo] If you can farm elites that high, you can stay here until you're sixty.
[Group: QJ] Stream it. We'll gank them and grab Tucker.
The OP duo led their horses quietly until they reached the edge of the camp's perimeter, just under the false canopy provided by the camo net. Six buildings were set in a large horseshoe design, with their target in the middle.
*Wu* We've been live for two minutes; multiple links are already on the main forum.
[OP: QJ] Anyone figure out where we are yet?
*Wu* No, I'm being careful with the feed. They are very curious, though.
[OP: QJ] Saddle up, let's go in hot.
QJ removed one of the gnome explosives from his inventory; after thumbing the timer, he tossed it under the first building and heeled Scorch.
The red demon responded by accelerating into the middle of the camp; the three groups looked up just as QJ kicked free of his stirrups and stood upright on the saddle.
[Double-Direct Shot]
Ringo has hit multiple targets for 42,166 and 48,971 damage.
Keely Jonas has been slain.
Muriel Gunn has been slain.
Scorch charged straight at Kendrix, who froze for an instant before reaching for his weapon. QJ leaped toward him with Oh Shit extended. The razor-sharp blade sank into his target's forehead like butter just as QJ pulled the trigger.
[Weighted Thrust] (Critical Strike)
QJ has hit the target for 142,139 damage.
[Point Blank] (Critical Strike/Exposed Wound)
QJ has hit the target for 111,602 damage.
Fire scorches your target for 22,320 damage.
Kendrix's head disappeared in a sickening splatter of blood and bone, leaving behind a corpse instantly engulfed in flames. QJ regained his feet just as the night exploded into a firey explosion that flattened the lower-level players. He sprinted toward the center building without pausing and slashed through the door like it was tissue.
QJ parried a hatchet strike with his Swordgun before blasting the culprit into two pieces with his shotgun.
[Six-Gun Fan]
Ringo has emptied her gun into multiple targets for 13,298 damage, 16,411 damage, and (Critical Hit) 28,211 damage.
Jowen Tuttle has been slain.
Ulysis Rolen has been slain.
QJ spotted the prisoner inside a small barred cage with his ankles shackled together. A second person sat outside the bars, her face torn between surprise and anger.
"Do you know who we are?" Despite her aggressive words, she gave off no threat.
QJ slammed the butt of his Sword Gun against the woman's forehead, sending her crashing to the ground. 'Oh Shit' sliced through the bars and then made short work of the manacles that bound Tucker. "You okay?"
Tucker nodded. He'd been beaten a bit but seemed none the worse for wear. QJ tossed him his shotgun. "Bring the female."
By the time QJ exited the building, the flames from the initial explosion had already reached him. Ringo delivered death on horseback, running down anyone who tried to escape.
[Group: QJ] Leave a few for me.
[Aimed-Shot]
(Headshot Bonus)(Critical Hit)
QJ has hit the target for 89,211 damage.
Fire Scorches your target for 17,842 damage.
Yubi Trysta has been slain.
QJ jumped into the saddle before tossing a second gnome device toward the far buildings. He and Ringo retreated in the opposite direction as a second ground-shaking explosion turned the night into day.
From start to finish, the complete destruction of the RH camp took less than five minutes. The buildings, the camo-net, and most of the corpses were still burning when QJ and Ringo approached Tucker and his prisoner.
"Still here?" QJ dismounted and studied the lone survivor. She wore neither weapon nor armor and hadn't made any aggressive move since they arrived. "I thought you would have logged off."
The woman frowned at him; she had black hair and East Indian features. "I'm waiting for you to either kill me or leave."
QJ glanced at Tucker; he seemed much better than a few minutes earlier. "What did they want with you?"
"I helped someone a while back; they were asking me questions about it." Tucker shrugged, although the motion caused him to grimace in pain. "I didn't really help the guy much, but fuck RH; I didn't tell them Jack Shit."
[OP: Ringo] You're wearing [Dark Stranger], they don't realize who you are.
QJ smiled at the RH female. "You're no gamer. What do you want with me?"
The woman eyebrow's furrowed then glanced at the weapon QJ was holding. "A Sword Gun... You're QJ."
QJ laughed at her stunned face. "I just said I was. You're asking Tucker about me. The source is right here in front of you. What do you want?"
Tucker's face wore a relieved smile. "They paid off my landlord and jacked up my rent until I couldn't pay."
"I know," QJ replied. "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. Grab your family and report to One Problem Keep. We left a few houses unsold for special cases."
The woman stared at QJ but refused to say anything more.
"I don't like her face," Ringo decided. "Let's shoot pine cones off her head."
QJ chuckled, his eyes scanning the camp as he examined the bodies. "Right... Where is it?" He glanced at the prisoner. "Where's the catalyst? What is it? Mineral oil?"
The woman's face blushed deep red, a moment later, she disappeared.
"Was it something you said?" Ringo asked innocently.
"Why did you steal my line?" QJ asked.
Ringo grinned shamelessly. "It was fun. What's this about mineral oil?"
"I'll theorize out loud, but remember it's a work in progress." QJ pointed to the burned corpses. "My Phoenix ammo does fire damage, but not enough to burn bodies. These guys are covered in some sort of accelerant."
"You said mineral oil? What's the use?" Ringo asked.
"Our information broker said the Tar pits should dry up sometime in the next year." QJ removed his hat and wiped his forehead with the back of his sleeve. "Guess what happens when you add mineral oil to tar?"
*Wu* Keep the hat off, QJ. We're spiking hard.
"It thins out?" Ringo guessed.
QJ nodded. "I bet we find barrels of this somewhere close by."
"I'm Guild Leader Ringo," she smiled at Tucker. "Welcome to OP, Tuck. Take one of their horses and head back."
Tucker nodded. "Thank you, both!"
The OP duo started walking around the edge of the Tar Pit; they hadn't gone more than a few hundred meters before they found several dozen wood barrels.
"Half of them are empty," QJ noted, bending low enough to sniff the contents. He began rolling the empty and full barrels into the tar pit without pausing. "The tougher mobs are a bit deeper. That's why I ran into that 50-level elite."
"They put too much in?" Ringo asked.
QJ nodded. "They found themselves a chemist, but it's still touch and go. Odds are, they weren't planning on adding any more mineral oil for quite a while."
"So what are we doing?" Ringo rolled a barrel of accelerant into the tar pit.
"Cutting off the source. We're too busy focusing on our business to monitor this place." QJ kicked the last one in and then started walking away.
"Whatever comes out will be too high for them to farm." Ringo caught up with her Vice Leader. "Shouldn't we break the barrels?"
"Gonna shoot one, just have to find some cover." After some searching, QJ found a cluster of boulders a few hundred meters away. "Better unsummon the mounts."
Ringo nodded and stowed her horse. "Can you hit it from here with your Sword Gun?"
*Wu* I made a meme of Kendrix's head exploding. It's already going viral.
Ringo grinned suddenly. "Search hard enough for an ass-whooping, and you're bound to find one."
QJ chuckled. "That's good. Can I use it?"
Ringo nodded and quickly copied QJ when he lay prone behind the boulders. "It would be embarrassing if you miss."
"No doubt," QJ admitted.
[Aimed Shot]
QJ's shot scored a direct hit on a full barrel lying directly on a lake of unabsorbed mineral oil.
"GET DOWN!" QJ ducked his head until it touched the ground, pulling Ringo with him. An instant later, a wall of flames washed over them.
"FUCK!" QJ rolled to one side, rolling back and forth until the flames engulfing him died. He dived onto Ringo and smothered the flames that erupted from her back.
[System Armor] Your armor has been destroyed.
"Great..." QJ smothered a cough; the entire area was blanketed in thick black smoke that hung the ground like a long-lost lover. Everything within a half mile was either burnt or on fire.
"My armor's toast," Ringo said while slipping on a set from ten levels earlier.
QJ stayed on the ground and waited. "My [Return to Base] icon is grayed out."
Ringo checked her hud and nodded. "Mine too. Guess we're walking out?"
"Yeah, I'm not taking Scorch out until I"'m sure it's safe."
"HAHAHA..." An evil laugh echoed in the small valley, sending chills down the spine of the two who heard it. "It's been so long. Who do I have to thank for freeing me?"
"Oh shit," QJ deadpanned. "It's not just a gun."
Ringo peeked over the boulder. "No Kidding. Got anything on this guy, Wu?"
[Night Rattler] World Boss Level ?? (15,898,750/19,000,000)
A tall man dressed in ragged clothes stood motionless on the surface of the Tar Pit. His skin was eaten away in several places, exposing maggot-riddled flesh and stark white bone. A wide-brimmed black stetson was pulled low over his dark eyes, partially shading his grim features.
[System Message] The area around you has been locked down.
Night Rattler has activated [Extinguish]
"At least he's not big," QJ muttered, ducking instinctively as a stale wall of air washed over them.
The flames, embers, and glowing rocks were instantly cooled. Leaving behind a stench that smelled of rotten eggs.
*Wu* There's nothing anywhere about Night Rattler! Holy crap, it's a new World Boss.
"Helpful," QJ replied.
"Feign Death, you should be able to escape aggro," Ringo suggested.
"And leave my partner behind? I don't think so." Unexpectedly, QJ stood and helped Ringo to her feet. "Let's get whatever data we can until he puts us down."
Ringo walked to one side, creating space between herself and QJ. "A big chunk of his health is already gone. Keep recording, Wu."
[Group: QJ] GO!
QJ and Ringo sprinted in opposite directions, opening fire on Night Rattler.
[Six-Gun Fan]
Ringo has emptied her gun into multiple targets for 198 damage, 141 damage, and (Critical Hit) 891 damage.
[Aimed-Shot]
(Headshot Bonus)(Critical Hit)
QJ has hit the target for 3,013 damage.
Fire Scorches your target for 602 damage.
Night Rattler catches fire and takes 112,223 damage.
"AAAHHHHH." Night Rattler's deafened scream took both members of OP off their feet.
QJ has been stunned.
Ringo has been stunned.
Night Rattler has activated [Pacify Flame].
QJ rolled onto his back, wanting to swear loudly, but could only gasp painfully for breath.
Night Rattler focused on QJ, his black eyes filled with murderous rage as he started walking toward the downed Wrangler. At twenty-five meters, he paused.
"You're ugly," QJ managed to roll onto his side while bringing his gun up.
Night Rattler dodged to one side, both hands flashed down, and came up with six guns.
Instinctively, QJ dived to one side just before the ground exploded beneath him, launching him into the air like a dried leaf in a windstorm.
*Lasso*
Night Rattler has been roped and is closing in on your position.
Instead of fleeing, QJ charged forward, dodging from side to side while taking snapshots at Night Rattler.
[Snapshot]
QJ has hit the target for 544 damage.
Fire Scorches your target for 109 damage.
Night Rattler catches fire and takes 44,334 damage.
QJ has hit the target for 377 damage.
Fire Scorches your target for 75 damage.
Night Rattler catches fire and takes 34,804 damage.
QJ has hit the target for 183 damage.
Fire Scorches your target for 37 damage.
Night Rattler catches fire and takes 41,119 damage.
Night Rattler turned into a pillar of flame, his guns firing sporadically in random directions while he frantically beat out the flames.
QJ ducked under Night Rattler's swinging arms and stabbed 'Oh Shit' deep into his back before dropping a present at Night Rattler's feet.
*Pickpocket*
You've successfully [Pickpocketed] Night Rattler.
You've pocketed a [Glide Ring].
[Backstab]
QJ has hit the target for no damage
[System Message] Your weapon, [Oh Shit] has been destroyed.
QJ sprinted toward Ringo, who had also charged forward.
[Group: QJ] With me!
The OP Guild Leader reversed directions only to be picked up and flung away in an explosion of flames.
A [Gnome Explosive] has hit the target for 133,877 damage.
Night Rattler catches fire and takes 341,119 damage.
QJ has received a [Mortal Wound]
Ringo has received a [Mortal Wound]
QJ struggled to sit up but only managed to nudge Ringo, who lay across him. Ringo moved her lips, but QJ could only shake his head. "My ears are ringing, I can't hear anything."
Night Rattler has activated [Pacify Flame].
"HAHAHAHA..." Night Rattler laughed at the heavens. "I shall feast on the tw... What? NO!"
A beam of light pierced downward through the darkness, covering the ground beneath them with the glowing sigil of the Sandhealer House.
[System Message] Sierra Sandhealer is conducting a summons. Do you wish to answer?
QJ hugged Ringo close. "Yes!"
"NOOO!!! NO! NO! NO!" Night Rattler opened fire on the ground where his prey had been, blasting huge craters while screaming in anger.
An instant later, QJ and Ringo appeared in the courtyard of Briar Rose. They were immediately bathed in the warm heals of Sarah Jol and Ra.
QJ felt his stomach flip-flop and decided to lie until it settled.
"That was close," Ra smiled while leaning heavily against her water staff. "I've never felt such resistance."
QJ accepted a hand-up. "Nice assist," he glanced at Ringo, who was already standing. "Did you have fun?"
Ringo nodded. "Can you make weapons that do fire damage?"
"Probably," QJ replied. "Give me a few hours. A world boss," QJ shook his head.
Ringo smiled widely. "Let's bag this bastard."
