"We need to do something, any ideas Blue" Carter said from his wagon, they might not be hit by the falling star but the aftermath would be on them.
"I am platinum, not MITHRIL" Blue answered but he was looking for something on his bag of holding "Indra do you know any defensive spell or barrier?" he had taken several scrolls from his bag, and was quickly sorting them.
"Force shield, but I can only cast it on one person at the time" the mage answered, she had been thinking about what else but she knew no magic that could help them.
"Fuck, place it on Mr. Dumas, his skill might be our only chance to get away" Blue told Indra as he was prepared the scrolls he could use, he stopped as he grab one, but only for a moment before he place it back, and then he grabbed a rune stone "I'll do what I can do, but you will owe me, if we get out of here alive" he was going to use every defensive scroll he had, and they might not be enough.
He grabbed the scrolls, and passed the rune on them. As the falling star touched land, a blinding light emerged from behind them, and a thundering sound drowned everything else. The light however was suddenly covered as a series of plates made of rock emerged one after the other, seven barriers had erupted from the earth and at the end a light shield glowed.
The scrolls burned as their magic was spent, he just hoped they would be enough. He grabbed himself as hard as he could to the wagon, an explosion of dust, earth and fire came from the falling star and smashed against the barriers.
The impact was such that the first barriers broke without doing a thing, but the fourth and fifth, were slowing the fire spreading, fire tongues spread to the sides of the caravan, where no barrier had slowed the explosion.
As the sixth barrier fell, the seven was not completely broken, but the top part of it was missing. The light barrier stopped the fire for a second completely before breaking into pieces, but the initial momentum had been lost, the wagons had gain some distance, the fire continued, and licked their backs, but Mr. Dumas skill and the horses insticts had given them enough speed to outrun what was left of the explosion.
"WE MADEEEEE IT" Vitas screamed as they had left the molten remains behind.
"Do not stop, Neverglen would have send and scouting party, I do not know what was that thing, but whatever might be lurking on the snowflake fields, has certainly woken" Blue called to his driver, as he sat down on the wagon.
"Well done, Blue" from the wagon on his left, Carter voice came, he had been covering Emma, with his body, as well as Indra, they had gotten on that wagon on the hurry. Both girls looked very startled, but they allowed themselves to sat on the wagon as well.
"Thank you, Mr. Blue" said Mr. Remy the driver of the wagon, Blue was riding on, he nodded, to the man, but he took out his spyglass, but he could not see what it was that had fallen, from where they were, he could only see fire and dust.
"SEVEN BARRIERS, WHO GOES AROUND CARRYING THAT MANY SCROLLS" Vitas continued to shout on his wagon, he was still, standing but no one could blame him.
"Can you spot anything?" Leo's voice called on Blue as he notice he was using a spyglass.
"Nothing, there is no movement, but there is still too much dust. Keep your eyes peeled, in case something else decides to come take a look" Blue answered, and Leo nodded.
"There it is, a scouting party is heading our way as Mr. Blue said" Mr. Dumas voice came from the front of his wagon, and indeed, several riders, were coming at them with force and speed, they bore the colors of Neverglen, grey and blue "Should we slow down?"
"Do not stop, one of them will keep on us, but I would feel safer if you could keep the skill running" Blue answered, and no one dared say anything else.
The wagons kept moving at a very fast speed, and they could see the group of riders coming at them. Blue had kept eyeing at the burning crater, but still he saw no sign of movement within it. Could it be a coincidence, that they were about to be done for by a meteorite?, he wondered, but something felt weird. As the scout party from Neverglen were almost on them, they moved to a side, to pass them, but one turned towards them.
"Who are you, are you responsible for what just happened?" the rider managed to say, as he rode at a very fast pace, he was riding next to Mr. Dumas.
"We are a transporting merchandise from Levianoit to Neverglen, we were camping, when the thing fell" Mr. Dumas managed to respond to the scout.
"You need to stop, you will be inquired about your credentials" the scout said with a stern look on his face, Mr. Dumas, turned to look at the adventurer's.
"We will not stop, until we reach Neverglen, you can question us there as much as you like" Blue answered and the scout look visibly upset.
"I am Carter Walsh from Venom Lust, my party is at Neverglen, they can vouch for us" Carter also came to the front, and after a moment, the scout nodded.
"Fine, but you will be held at the entrance, sergeant Feris orders" the scout turned once more, and went to meet with his companions.
The wagons continued at a fast pace for a while, until Mr. Dumas skill ended, they had rode for over and hour, and Blue had not seen anything else coming from the crater. They could already see the south wall of Neverglen. It was not very tall, but it have a great number of towers on it, and from the looks of it, many people had been called to the walls, the falling star must have woken the entire city.
There was a number of guards at the gates, and some other people. Blue thought they were sending and adventurer party, to help investigate what had happened, it was a better way than just sending more scouts. The wagons were slowing down, as they were coming near the guards. Blue sighed as they were being signaled to stop, 'Home, sweet home' Blue thought.
What the fuck was happening, the captain of the night watch in Neverglen, had been called to the south wall. He had finished doing a round on the north wall, he was on his way to the barracks, when he saw a bright light fill up the sky from the window. He had not been able to see what had happened, by the time he was outside the barracks, the light had died out, and a tremor had been felt.
Soon afterwards, several calls came from everywhere, a falling star, said the reports, until Lieutenant Lana, said it might been a meteorite, she had send an scout party, and one of the outpost had seen a caravan inbound for the city. He had mobilized, the guards, the north wall could never be left unguarded, but he cancelled those whose duty were about to end, and have them spread all over the city, almost half the city had been woken by the light and the tremor, and people were restless.
The Liutenant was already with the caravan, he wanted to go an find out what they had seen but he had to coordinate with the mage quarters and adventurer's guild, they needed to send an appropiete group to see what has occured.
"Sir, Liutenant Lana has send her report about the caravan that had just entered" the mage guard walking by his said said.
"Lets hear it" the captain grunted but was still walking.
"The caravan is carrying different trade goods nothing special, they were checked by the adventurer's guild from Levianoit, there is also an alchemist apprentice with a letter from alchemist Xerin, an iron ranked party called the Shiver Cloaks whom the adventurer's guild already admitted to be expecting them, a silver ranked adventurer from Venom Lust and a platinum ranked adventurer as well, he is a local but had been working abroad for sometime, I am aquainted with him. They were camping when the meteorite appeared.
There was nothing special about the place where the things fell from what they could see. They managed to escape the blast radius by luck, skills and magic scrolls, Sergeant Feris team encountered them on their way, it is my opinion they were in the worst place at the worst time, sir" the mage explained waiting for a response.
"Dammit, have some one keep a close watch on them and let them go, they will have to report at the barracks tomorrow at noon, or be taken in" The captain responded, there was nothing else to ask them, they needed to send the special research group, until they said anything else,he wanted them followed.
"Understood" the mage walking by his side nodded, signaling the end of the conversation.
They were going to the Neverglen town hall, the guildmaster of the mage quarters and adventurer's guild were waiting for him there. The building was located at the center of the city, some people had intended to ask about what was going on, but after a single glance at the upset captain they rather hear and official report.
Next to the Captain were the mage guard and two more guards, as they reached the Town Hall, the guards saluted and let him in.
"They are waiting for you on the lower meeting hall" the senior guard at the gate told the captain as they saluted, he nodded and headed for the place.
The town hall was a very large building, it had a few meeting halls built so that strategic meetings could be had. The captain entered the room and noticed there were several people inside.
The adventurer's guild master, a slim and gaunt man, he was dressed in cotton clothes but at his belt rested a dagger and a wand. Next to him were three more people, a blonde and handsome man, he had leather armor and a quiver with no arrows, a long bow hanged from his left hand, he was one of the few orichalcum adventurers within the city, good the captain thought they understand what needs to be done.
There was also a a woman dressed in burgundy robes, her hair was auburn and her face was pleasant to look at, but she was too skinny for the captain taste, she carried only a bag, but the captain new it was enough, she was an alchemist and an arcanite ranked adventurer.
The last of three was the shorter person in the room. A grumpy dwarf, his beard passed his waist and it was a dark brow color. He had no hair on his head, and he was scowling. He was a trapper, and arcanite ranked as well.
"Good night fellows" the captain said as he entered the room, and the everyone inside turned to him.
"Do you have any report from your scouts?" a woman voice was the first to reply.
Arcanist Eladrin, the leader of the mage quarters in Neverglen, she was an enchanter, and though she was over 70 she looked to be 30, and it was no illusion spell, mages aged differently.
She had come with just one more person, and old mage, and that was something. Master Karin, was the oldest mage in Neverglen, he was an scholar, and the authority in unknown magic in Neverglen.
"Not yet, they are on the crash site, an outpost has confirmed they are still doing their inspection" the captain answered he did not like the tone of the arcanist, but there was nothing to do.
"Are you all aware of what has happened?"he asked before the arcanist tried to take over the conversation.
"An unknown object, believe to be a falling star, more likely a meteorite appeared 20 minutes a few kilometers from the south gate" the arcanist said
"There was a caravan on the site, they managed to escape the blast and are under the city guard jurisdiction" Guildmaster Ronin added.
"They have been checked and for the moment have been found to be there by coincidence, we are letting them go under vigilance, and they qill have to report tomorrow at noon" the captain explained and the guildmaster nodded.
"Sir, the scout party report" the mage to the captain side said, and everyone went quiet.
"Let us hear it" the captain said
"Sergeant Feris here watch captain. We are at the site of impact, a large object suspected to be a meteorite fell 24 km from the south gate. The impact radius is about 300 hundred meters. The area was still ablaze when we reach it. Regular water affects it, but the flames at the center had a cooper color, they went out a few minutes after we arrived. We have not seen anything coming from the crash zone, but we believe it is a meteorite a different type of soil is visibly from some parts, that is all we have for the moment" the sergeant finished explaining
"How hot is it?" Master Karin asked in his curious tone.
"Sir?" the mage asked the captain for confirmation to convey the question, the captain nodded.
"When we arrived it was extremely hot, we had some trouble breathing, we doused ourselves in water before we could proceed, as time passed, the flames had already diminished but the temperature went down slowly" as the answer came, everyone looked at the old mage, but he shrugged his shoulders.
"We need to get there, and see what we can figure it out" he said and most people nodded. There was no point in waiting.
"Has there been any kind of response on dawns rise?" the orichalcum adventurer asked
"No, I've already checked, no movement has been reported" the Captain answered, for all his dislike of the man, he was good at his job.
"If we are all in agreement, then we most prepare to send a formal investigation party, sergeant Feris, will remained on site, with his men, and he will participate in this party, the watch would also send scout Rockgrind, who else would be send with this party?" the captain had to ask, it was clear why these people had been brought, but he was the official here.
"Master Karin naturally must be part of the investigation party" Arcanist Eladrin replied immediately.
"We do not know what we are dealing with, that is why I asked, Hivin to come, as well as miss Maliere, and I was thinking of letting Iredun, to lay some traps, just in case, something decides to come out" Ronin the guildmaster said, and the captain nodded, it was a very good idea.
"Fine, sergeant Feris will serve as the authority in the party, but he will acknoledge Hivin's call, as they proceed, do we agreed?" the captain was looking straight into the hazel eyes of Hivin, the ranger grinned as he notice it, but said nothing else.
"I would like to have a saying when inspecting the place as well" Master Karin interrupted
"Fine, so, agreed?" the captain asked again, and everyone nodded.
"Then I we will wait for your findings, and I'll notify the guards. I expect continuous reports" the captain said and he was about to leave.
"We should stay here, that way, we all can hear what the reports say" arcanist Eladrin commented, and the captain cursed from the inside.
"I am sorry, captain but it would be the best" the guildmaster added.
"Fine" the captain sighed. This was going to be a long night, and probably day.
Lieutenant Lana Baker, had finished reporting to the night captain, and turned towards the suspects. Three wagon drivers, the oldest Mr. Dumas, has relatively known in Neverglen, he had grey hair, but looked healthy. The other two had done a few other deliveries here, one was blonde, Mr. Remy, and the other had brown hair, Mr. Lambert.
There was a lone silver ranked adventurer, Carter Walsh, his party Venom Lust had gained some renown on Neverglen, and then there was the iron ranked party, the Shiver Cloaks, they seemed capable, but she did not pay attention to adventurers until they were silver, on Neverglen, iron parties had a rough time.
Then there was the platinum ranked adventurer, he was the tallest person in the room, and he wore glasses, you would notice those things but after some time, you would pay not much attention to him, but she knew him, Blue was the name, a platinum ranked adventurer. She had been surprised and upset when she had found him, for all that he looked happy, when he saw her, and more so, when he heard, she was a lieutenant.
The last one was a very young girl, Emma, an alchemist apprentice, and one who was trying to become, Master Xerin apprentice. They were and odd group to be traveling together in many other places, but not so much in Neverglen. The weird thing about them, it was that they had almost been crushed by a falling meteorite, on the road here.
"Well, the captain has accepted your identities, and has decided to let you go" as she said that, most of the people seemed, relieved, but Blue "However, you will have to report at the main barracks, of the guard, tomorrow, at noon" everyone nodded, at her words.
"A member of the guard, will accompany you to where you are staying, and they will remain with you, until you present yourselves in the barracks tomorrow" as she finished saying that, the guard closer to the cell they had been placed, opened it up.
"We understand, Lieutenant" Carter answered as they leaved the cell "We are sorry for bothering you"
The suspects, received all of their belongings back, before they could leave the south office. They nodded at the Lieutenant and left. Blue was the last one, and he came closer to the Lieutenant "I hope we have a chance to talk about what has happened" the adventurer said, and the officer, looked at him for a moment, and then had a small smile on her face.
"I am glad to see you Blue, I do not how you manage to get yourself involved with the meteorite, but I should not be surprised, now please leave the office, we have a long night again for us" the Lieutenant gave her a bow, and behind the other members of the caravan.
As they were released, they stopped to talk just outside the guard south office.
"Well, all in all we managed to arrive at Neverglen today, I guess we will see each other tomorrow at the guard barracks" Carter said and everyone turned towards him "I am going to meet with my friends, I need some rest" the adventurer gave the rest a small bow, and started walking out of their sight.
"I is true, we will deliver the goods at the merchants guild, and we will see you tomorrow" Mr. Dumas the oldest wagon driver, said as well, and the other two followed suit. They each got on their wagons, and keep on moving.
On the streets on Neverglen, the people had been woken up, and after the initial fright, many had returned to their houses. They were expecting news from what had happened, but those would have to wait for a while.
"We need to go to the Adventurers guild, it is better for us, to present ourselves there, and perhaps they could help accommodate us" Leo the half elf, said and the Shiver Cloaks all nodded.
"We could accompany you, to where you are staying Emma" Indra the mage said to the Alchemist apprentice, Emma had looked worried but nodded. She had been worried she would have to go alone to look for Master Xerin.
They all turned to look at Blue, he smiled back at them "The Adventurers guild, is near the center of the city, just keep walking on this street, and you will eventually reach it" they nodded at his words "Take care, and see you tomorrow" he said, as the Shiver Cloaks, prepared to leave.
"Thank, Mr. Blue, for helping me before"
"Do think about it, miss Emma, and we will be seeing each other tomorrow, so for tonight, I only wish to you a good nights rest" and with that the Shiver Cloaks left Blue, just outside the guard office on the south gate, alone.
"Home sweet, home" and he started walking. The city of Neverglen, had a rather curious structure. The original buildings, were all located on the middle of the city, and they had been enhanced by magic. The city started growing towards the south, far from the Vault, and with every extension, came a new wall. The city had moved some of those walls, but pieces still remained, it had created a series of defensible lines in case of an attack.
The city itself was rather grey, as most of it was constructed with the local stone that could be found near, only the rooftops had a lot of different colors, but it had given it a unique look. Blue walked at the south main avenue, it entered from the south door, and continued all the way to the north. The avenue was made by the Boreal road, the original road to Midy. Several walls were seeing along the road, and it divided the city.
Many merchants could be seen along the avenue, but these were all small stalls, they had been built recently, it had been 6 years since the last raid of monsters coming from the vault to the city. The main avenue, was built to direct the attackers, and they would found themselves surrounded, and trapped in the avenue, like a gauntlet, and it had proved very effective in the past.
It was way past midnight, but apart from the city lights, there were also many people on the streets, or spying from their houses. The meteorite, had woken half the city, and if you have lived in Neverglen for a while, you would be vigilant, you could not just go back to sleep.
From what he had seen, the city had grown to its west and east sides. From what he heard the guards talking, the east side, was going to be used as new place for houses, as the city had grown, and they would allow the new place in the west, for inns and other type of commerce, and that is where Blue was heading.
He did not wish to found his acquaintances yet, he had ran into Lana, but she and he, had shared a moment, but that was about it. He walked dozing off, the woman, looked a lot better than last he had seen her. Her curves were still there, but she had confidence in them from how she stood. Her grayish hair, was well look after, and in made a lovely contrast on her tanned skin. She was no beauty, but her body looked good even with the light armor she wore.
Blue sighed and kept walking. He noticed the watch was not moving, that was a good sign, he had feared there would be a response from the vault, after the hing hit the ground, but the watch would be mobilizing if something had happened.
He was on his way to the west side of the city, he knew this part of the city well, it had not changed that much, as he moved away from the main avenue, he began to notice, people had returned already to their houses. He continued, as he spotted were the wall had been cut, to allow the city to grow. He needed a place to stay, but he did not want to be recognized, so he started looking for the inns, some of them looked very good, but he was looking for something more discreet. After walking for 20 more minutes, he found one. Near the newly built wall, was a decent enough inn, The West Wall Rest, they had not given much thought to the name, that was a good sign.
He saw there was a light lit, and he went for to the inn. It was located in a alley, and it ended on the inn. He knocked on the door, and after a moment, a voice could be heard from inside, "Lily, check who it is, but do not open the door", Blue heard from the other side.
He saw someone had spied him on the window before he could hear her voice "Good Night, what do you want?" a girls voice came from behind the door.
"Good night, I am sorry to be bothering at this hour, but I just came in to the city, and I was looking for a place to spend the night" Blue answered in a very gentle and polite tone.
"Give me a moment" the girl answered, and he could hear she went to talk with someone else "It is someone looking for accommodation" the girl told to whomever else was inside.
"Tell him, is three silver, to toss the coin inside first, the watch checks everyone, but I do not wish to be taken advantage of" a man voice responded.
"But we usually charge one silver?" the girl voice responded timidly
"Lily, I will charge as much as I like, and three silver is the cost, for someone who comes at this hour, tell them to pay or leave. If they do, give them a room, and I'll see them in the morning" the mans voice responded.
Blue heard small steps coming to the door again "I am sorry sir, but it is very late, we have a room available, but it would cost you three silver" the girl voice told him. The inn did not cost six silver, but he did want to sleep, and he was looking for a place like this.
"It is overpriced miss, I would accept today, but I hope to reach and agreement, I will be staying for several days" Blue said as he grabbed three silver coins from his purse.
"Oh!, you will have to speak to Mr. Redbrew, in the morning, but I am sure you can discuss a better deal" the voice answered more cheerfully.
"Fine, let me in miss"
"I am sorry sir, but as it is late, we would like to see your coin first, tossed down the door, and I'll let you in" the girl voice responded, but it was obviously nervous.
"Fine miss" Blue tossed the three silver coins down the door, and after a moment. The inn was open.
"I am very sorry, mister, but one can never be too careful" there was young woman, at the door. She looked frail and skinny, she had a tanned tone on her skin, like the ones most farmers in the north had, and straw colored hair, it was resting on her shoulder in a simple braid. She was dressed in a very simple white dress and had a cape on top of it, to guard for the cold. The young woman, was not small, but Blue was really tall, he went inside the inn, and gave her a small bow.
"Good night miss?" he asked politely as he went inside the inn.
"Lily, and you mister?" she asked as she closed the door.
"Blue is my name" he smiled easing Lily a bit "A pleasure to meet you" he gave Lily a small bow and the young woman smiled. He notice, she had a debt servant mark on her neck.