Stevo's conversation with Gregoor had been enlightening. After a few minutes of smalltalk, Kahlil excused himself and left the two of them alone.
Stevo decided to kick things off, nervously he spoke.
"Gregor, I've been meaning to ask you something, and now is as good a time as any. You know Debbie, Kahlil and I aren't originally from around here, don't you?"
"Sure! Gregor said with a chuckle. We call you guys 'visitors'. You come here to fight the evil ones. We used to have enlightened warriors like you, apparently, but now they are mostly gone. The stories say that you were sent here to fill the void they left behind. The few we have left are mostly royalty, but we don't have much do do with them out here. It is a week's journey to the capital, most people around here have never been there, and certainly not seen the king or his court."
"Interesting! We come from a place where the evil ones are only now starting to visit. We became enlightened to protect our homeland and build a future for our people. We come here to gain the skills we need. I must admit though, I consider Drebun my second home now, and I am making some good friends here, yourself included."
Gregoor was silent for a moment as he absorbed Stevo's words. Then he spoke.
"Your home must be a wonderful place, if it hasn't fallen to the evil ones yet. I would love to see it."
"What if you could Gregoor? If you had the chance to become enlightened, and gain skills and abilities. Would you do it? Would you fight evil in my homeland, as I have in yours?"
"I certainly would, evil must be beaten back, wherever it emerges!"
"Then take this ring, wear it, and become one of us."
Stevo handed Gregoor the ring, the guard stared at it reverentially. Finally, after a moment's consideration, he slipped the ring onto his middle finger, it somehow stretched to fit, before disappearing. In an instant Gregoor was aware, of everything.
Gregoor (Citizen)
Level 0
Experience (xp) 0/50
Intelligence 10
Strength 13
Stamina 12
Agility / Dexterity 12
Health 44/44
"Are you OK Gregoor?"
"Voices, they spoke to me. They told me that our worlds are connected. That we can be stronger together against our common enemy."
"From now on, you will gain experience and levels Gregoor. We all need to grow in strength if we are going to survive."
"I will start immediately! I want to fight honorably for both our homes."
Stevo smiled, Gregoor would be a great asset, as well as a good friend.
------
Debbie and Claire were sitting in their living room, watching Bake-Off on the TV, and talking about everything and nothing in the way that sisters do.
"Since Mum died, you've changed Deb. I thought it was the grieving, I mean it's changed us all. It not though, is it?"
Debbie was shocked, she had been wondering how to broach the subject, and had been given a golden opportunity.
"It's made me think about things Claire, About family. Mums gone, I don't want to lose you or Dad. I want to keep you both close. Safe."
A slightly awkward silence filled the air between them.
"I got you something Claire, a present for my favorite sister."
"Your only sister!"
"Well, that is true I guess!"
Debbie passed Claire the ring with a smile.
"Wow, thanks Deb!"
Claire slipped the ring onto her finger, frowning momentarily as it shrank slightly to fit. Then she understood.
"Debbie? This is all true isn't it? What are we going to do?"
"We aren't alone Sis, there are many of us. We'll fight, and we'll build a new world we can be proud of.
Claire (Citizen)
Level 0
Experience (xp) 0/50
Intelligence 10
Strength 9
Stamina 13
Agility / Dexterity 12
Health 42/42
-------
Adam White had lived a relatively quiet life, for a spy. He'd excelled at Geography whilst at university, and spoke excellent German, having spent some time there during his childhood. His father had been a British soldier based in Munster in the 80s. After getting his degree, (1st class, with honors) he briefly worked for an Anglo-German logistics conpany, before returning to university to study for his Masters in Geographical Information Systems. During this time he'd been recruited by the security services as an Analyst. He'd kept his nose clean, done good, professional, work, and been rewarded with several promotions.
When first wave of enlightened came about, he was one of several in the service who had been recruited. After coming clean and proving themselves, they formed a special department, mostly looking for others to enlist or help develop for the good of the nation. Adam had been deputy head of the department (it didn't have a name) since it's inception.
Now the department had its first real test. His superior, a political appointment, was a former officer in the Parachute regiment. He was not enlightened himself, and held the belief that when the invasion came, the common soldier would be more than capable of dealing with it. As such, he saw the Enlightened as a "bonus", useful without question, but not essential to the national defence. There was also the matter of "control", of ensuring the Enlightened didn't challenge the status quo. For that reason, he thought a proportion of the rings should go to senior politicians, public servants(such as himself), and members of the Royal family.
This was where Adam's thoughts differed, he believed there was an existential threat to society, and the vast majority of the rings should go first to those best able to defend the country.
Until now the issue had been academic, but he was about to walk into a conference room with eight rings in his case. A decision was about to be made.
-----
Night had fallen in Drebun about an hour ago. Gregoor took a bite of his bread and cheese, knowing that it was about time he left the inn and made a patrol of the village. The villagers themselves had organized a "Watch" of sorts. Gregoor only had to show his face around the village a couple of times during the night, a couple of nights a week, to reassure the population. On occasions where there was a known threat to the village, they would get help from visitors. Since Stevo and his friends had been spending more time here, there had been far less need for others.
He swallowed his sandwich, drained the last of his tea, and got to his feet. Time to do some work.
As he walked along the worn cart path through the village, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. There was a glow from the window of the forge, and the occasional clunking sound as metal was struck. Working late today, thought Gregoor.
He turned left, between two small dwellings, his eyes catching a glimpse of something moving in the dim moonlight. A shuffling, stumbling figure in the distance, but approaching the village. Then he saw a second, and a third, more. Zombies!
Gregoor knew that he should run to the inn, raise the alarm and get help. The time it would take him to do that though, would allow the Zombies to reach the closest buildings, putting the occupants at risk. He drew his sword, took a deep breath, and shouted at the top of his voice.
"ALARM!"
The first Zombie groaned as it came within reach. Gregoor also groaned as the foul smell reached his nose. Two swings of his sword, and the Zombie was in three parts, an arm and it's head several feet from it's twitching body.
Enemy defeated! 5xp awarded.
Nice! Gregoor grinned to himself.
The next Zombie was armed with a wooden club, and just enough intelligence to swing it. Parrying the initial swing, Gregoor got in close to the undead creature, hitting it with a strong uppercut the pulverized it's jaw and knocked it back away from him. It's head skewered with a thrust of Gregoor's sword within moments.
Enemy Defeated! 5xp awarded.
Now Gregor faced a problem. By the time he'd pulled his sword free, two zombies had closed the gap and were upon him. He managed to shove the first one to the ground, but in the process, left himself exposed to the second who raked its clawed fingers across the side of his face, drawing blood. He stumbled backwards, and tripped over the corpse of the enemy he'd just killed, falling to the damp muddy ground.
The Zombie pounced, throwing itself with surprising agility at Gregoor, as he struggled to get to his feet, slipping and sliding in the mud.
