System Break

The sun was setting, and the tall ship was pulled in and tide to the docks. After the dockworkers securely tethered the ship the gang plank slid into place and the recently reset adventurers rejoined the living.

They were wearing the standard blue and white cloaks as they glumly walked on to the docks. Two ambassadors waved and escorted them quickly back to their guild halls.

"You must dress and come to the presentation immediately," the ambassador told the red queen.

She frowned. "Am I not afforded the opportunity to lodge a protest? This tournament is such a farce, you cannot allow me to die and then in less time than it takes to come back finalise the results."

Ying for the Whitecloaks pushed past and said with great relish. "You sound like a whiny bitch. Take the loss."

The Red swordsmen roiled at the insult, but it was a hollow threat. Their qi reserves were empty, they had no weapons and their skills had been reset.

The ambassador's head swivelled when a figure in a dark cloak walked down the gang plank. 

"Excuse me?" the cloaked figure said. "I'm a visitor from a neighbouring island can I just wander around or do I need to report to an authority first?" He pulled down his hood and between his deep blue scaly skin and slitted red eyes he caused quite a stir.

A colleague of the ambassador whispered. "Qizhu? Myrkalfar?" The stranger was tall, taller than most men; he was six and a half feet and his head was oddly shaped.

"You can come with me," the Ambassador said. "Did you come through the gatekeeper's portal at the edge?"

The tall figure nodded. 

The ambassador turned to the adventurers. "Hurry home, dress and be in the main hall for the presentation." Then he thought for a moment before adding. "Don't bring any weapons."

He flicked his head at the stranger. "Follow me sir." They began to walk through the streets from the docks to the main keep. "What's your name and race if you don't mind me asking."

The stranger cleared his throat. "I'm known as Rongu the Scholar and I'm a Qizhu of course. Myrkalfar are not as tall nor do they have red eyes, scales, nor this tone of blue."

"My apologies for my associate, no offense was meant. We just don't see many, any, of your kind here. My name is Larkin and I serve as an ambassador for the Duke of Dawnharbour."

The scholar smiled and waved his hand in a long arc. "It is a new world. I learned of it recently and have been dying to see what the Jotun have done."

"Jotun?"

The scholar smiled but it was hard for a man to recognize. All he could see where the sharp teeth gleaming under fading light from the setting sun.

"Do you mean the gatekeepers?"

A short noise escaped from the scholar's nostrils. "No, gatekeepers are servants who work at the behest of others."

"You arrived at a busy time. The Dawnharbour tournament finished today and the presentation starts soon. You should attend and I will inform the duke of your presence."

The Qizhu scholar nodded. "I shall. Should my servant wait on the docks?"

"Oh dear, I'm sorry I'll send one of my aides to fetch them and help them find suitable lodgings."

The scholar smiled. "Sounds perfect. I did not relish sleeping on the streets." The scholar peered through the dimming light. "Do you not have streetlights?"

The ambassador smiled apologetically. "We're not that advanced, nor wealthy, it is a new city and one day maybe we will." He pointed. "This is the main hall. Please follow me."

The gathering had begun which hundreds of adventurers curious to get a closer look at the monster from the forest or even the Svartalfar. Although they'd been in the city for a number of days they mainly kept to themselves.

I followed Barrin around who seemed to know quite of few of the guild leaders. 

"You've been busy, do you have many customers line up?" I asked.

Barrin only came up to my chest and between his height, dark blue skin and goggles we were an odd pair. Behind us my friends followed in a tight bunch. Ailen and Sakaala stuck behind me whispering to each other while Reyas, Gisael and Nej were mainly silent at the rear.

I wore my wooden antler mask proudly. Most of the blood had seeped into the wood and the rest was wiped clean. I actually liked that the tips were distinctly red from the blood of my enemies.

"This is the guild Dangerous and their leader Fevrus," Barrin said.

"That's a cool name," I said. Like all adventurers they were surprised when I spoke like them.

Fevrus held out his hand, I shook it and resisted the urge to squeeze the crap out of it. "Uh, we loved that last fight."

"Me too."

"We fought them in the quarters," Ailen said.

I looked from Ailen to Fevrus, "Really? Tell me Fevrus did you target my non-adventurer people?"

He shook his head vigorously. "No, no. We fought to win was all."

"Well you did kill Ailen," I said which a chuckle. "No harm there." Sakaala joined me with laughter at her brother's expense.

He grumbled. "Just months' worth of work down the drain."

I turned to Barrin. "If you get any orders, don't forget my spears come first."

The Dokkalfar raised his hands. "Benzhi. I'm looking forward to making your weapons with these hands more than anything. I'd be working on it now if you didn't wish me to come."

I pointed to Sakaala. "You need one of those."

He peered at her.

"No, not a hot Svartalfar woman. I mean someone capable to negotiate trades."

Sakaala beamed at the compliment and Barrin nodded. "Agreed," he said. "Usually we stick to our stronghold and they come to us. But I miss my forge and am eager to return."

A man wearing a Whitecloak interjected himself into the conversation. "We could escort you home in a day if you wish. We want to upgrade and are headed to Salastria anyway."

I turned and Ailen said, "This is Ying, guild leader from the Whitecloaks."

I held out a hand and the Dangerous leader must have felt ignored as I shook hands with Ying. "Oh you're the good one. They told me about you."

"Ah," Ying smiled and titled his head. "We reached out when your companions first arrived. We're not good, just smart."

I laughed. 

Ying continued. "And I heard about the final. You could not know how sorry I am that I missed it."

Trik snickered. "Don't die next time."

"Oh you died. Who killed you, Reds?"

He nodded. Trik put a hand on his guild leader's shoulder. "It's worse than that. She's his ex."

Ying turned bright red and I laughed.

"The one I swung around like a rag doll?"

Trik nodded and grinned. "It was a thing of beauty that I'll never forget."

I looked at Ying, "What happens when you die?"

He frowned and looked down. He paused for a moment. "I don't know what real death feels like, but I can't imagine it's much different. It felt like I died and then I was pulled back into my body in the old world."

I nodded understanding the code he was adhering too.

"When I re-entered it was exactly like the first time. I was given a new body with the same choices I'd made. Then I entered the portal and waited on the pier at the edge of the island. A ship eventually came and brought me back here."

I turned to Ailen, "Same for you?" He nodded.

There was a commotion at the front of the large hall. Trumpets blared and everyone fell silent. The young duke and his entourage took the stage and waited for everyone to bow their heads.

I stood with my arms crossed and when they looked at me I gave them a nod.

On the stage with him were ambassadors, aides, and warriors. They weren't guards but wore the same bluecloaks. They were the protectors of the city, one of which I'd already met.

One of the city's ambassadors cleared his throat and yelled. "We're gathered her to congratulate the winners and then there will be a party for all of you down on the docks. There will be a feast, drinks, entertainment, dancing, and fireworks. All are welcome so please be hospitable to the citizens they worked as hard as you in this wonderful tournament."

"And they are grateful for the entertainment you provided so many of them will return the favour tonight."

"And now for our winners. From the sixth place to third the following guild leaders please come to the stage. Whitecloaks, Wreckoning, Castaways and Dangerous." Everyone applauded as the guild leaders took the stage and there was some confusion of the change from fifth to sixth.

"These guilds will be granted rent free halls in Salastria where the hunting grounds are full of monsters. It will be bother beneficial to the guilds and a much-needed respite for the remote farmsteads if you thin the herd of wandering monsters."

"We will miss you," the young duke said. "And I'm sure you will miss our delicacies so we've a gift for each of your guilds. The fisherman and farmers will deliver a cart full of our local fare to fill your stomachs or take with you as you wish."

"Welcome to Salastria," the old duke said with a crooked smile. "Our people can't wait to welcome these strong guilds. And I'm sure you'll love the local whorehouses as much as the brimming hunting grounds."

"Oh nice," Trik said.