The Plan

“So, what’s the plan?” Ranger asks.
We’re all standing in one of the tents, deciding what we should do in regards to Lancer.
“Look, even after everything, I really don’t want to fight him if we can avoid it,” I confess.
“I’ll kill him,” Captain offers.
“I’ll do it as well,” Retainer says as well.
“No, both of you.”
“Well, why don’t we just leave?” Priestess suggests. “We found the boss door a little while ago, so why don’t we just go?”
“What’s your limit to summoning in boss rooms?” I ask Captain.
“Only three, but I can summon tier twos.”
“Okay, let’s pack up and make a break for the boss door. Keep that patrol out to distract Lancer for as long as possible.”
“Um, what about Ka’el?” Ranger quietly adds.
“Leave him, those two can have each other.”

The good thing about Captain’s camps is that, aside from being incredibly useful, they are quick to set up, and take down.
It takes less than five minutes from the end of our meeting, to the camp being fully taken down by all of her summons.
Ka’el’s petrified body is left on a sleeping bag where the medical tent used to be. The temptation to take him out is incredibly high but, because of the curse, his damage negation is basically at one hundred percent.
That fact still doesn't stop Retainer from giving him a kick as she walks past him.
“You tried so hard to prevent her from joining in for the first boss fight, and now here she is, as an Assassin.” Priestess joins me, checking over her gear next to me.
“She’s actually a Reaper.” I say bluntly while checking over my sword and shield.
“What?!” She almost screams. “An advanced class?”
“Mhm, she can fight really well now.” I sigh. “And I’m not so naive as to make her stay back when I know she can fight, and wants to join us.”
We both fall silent as we continue checking over our gear, Retainer is currently following around Ranger and Captain asking them questions as they finalise packing up.
“Hey, we never did say it but, sorry.” Priestess quietly apologises.
“Don’t even start that. You two couldn’t have known, and you did what you needed to survive.” I step back, sheathing my sword. “I’m not even mad at how Captain acted towards us. This is all because of those two, and I would rather not have to interact with them again.”
“You really do suit Paladin,” She laughs, twirling then readying her staff.
“I’ve been told that before.”

“My patrol came through here earlier so we shouldn’t encounter too many enemies.”
We’re currently on our way to the boss door. Retainer and Ranger are both out scouting ahead, so it’s just me walking in front of both Captain and Priestess.
True to Captain’s words, we aren’t encountering any enemies, well alive ones. The remains of battle litter the ground though, the patrols seem to have done a good job keeping the area safe.
“I know now probably isn’t the right time, but, I would like to apologise for the way I acted earlier.” Captain speaks up as we keep walking. “I was just so mad that someone who had a party would treat them that way, since I’ve been alone from the start.”
“Look, I told Priestess the same thing, I have no problems with any of you.”
“But I almost killed you, I was one slip away from ending your life.”
“And yet, here I am, alive, and in the same party as you.”
“I told you it would be useless,” Priestess chimes in.
“I swear to whatever god watches over me, if you say I suit Paladin,” I jokingly snap back.

“Boss door ahead.” Retainer suddenly materialises in between us, her hood covering her face, daggers at the ready.
She runs ahead, disappearing over the ridge in front of us. I reach the top just in time to see her do a little jump before beginning to slide down. Ranger joins me from wherever he was scouting from, looking down the ridge as well.
“Am I meant to do that as well?” He points down at Retainer, who is still sliding.
“I’m going to walk.” I inform him.
“Oh, is it too much for the old man?” Priestess jabs as she reaches us.
“Okay, why is everyone calling me old?” I exclaim.
“You just seem like it,” Captain agrees.
“I’m twenty six, I’m still a student.”
“Oh, that’s five years older than me.” Priestess pokes me in the ribs.
“I’m twenty myself,” Captain offers.
“I’m sixteen,” Ranger quietly adds.
“Oh, we’ve got a baby and an old man in the party.” Priestess laughs to herself as Captain and Ranger start making their way down towards the door.
“Did you notice?” I ask her as we start making our way down. “Names can’t be said, but ages were allowed.”
“I noticed,” she nods. “Maybe next camp we should see what else we can share with each other.”
I nod back at her in agreement. It won’t be much help in here, but it’ll be nice to know more about each other.

“So, this is the next boss door huh?”
I walk around the door, since it’s just standing by itself out in the open, it’ll be another teleport one.
“My patrol has arrived back at the previous camp site, Lancer is currently agitated.” Captain updates us.
“It’s okay, even if he came straight here, we’ll be long gone by then.” Priestess says while readying her staff.
“He’s doing something to Ka’el’s body,” her eyes go wide. “My entire patrol group is gone, wiped out in a second.”
“No, he couldn't have.” I think out loud. “Quick, everyone, in the boss room now, before…”

-Anomaly detected, boss lockdown-

“Damn, everyone get ready for a fight.” I quickly move myself to the front of the group.
“What’s happening?” Ranger asks, drawing his bow.
“He must have found a way to un-petrify Ka’el. And because of his choice to try to sacrifice retainer, he now has to pay the price for failing.”
By agreeing to sacrifice an NPC to Ka’el, you are agreeing with the demon he is contracted with. Normally, it’s impossible to fail the quest because in the game, you control the characters.
But, if by some chance you manage to fail it, you have now given the demon free reign over Ka’el.
“How is he here already?” Ranger points to the top of the ridge we just came down.
Standing at the top is Ka’el, his body hunched over, almost like a wild animal. Lancer is currently held tight in his grip.
“I knew you would betray me, but who’s laughing now?” Lancer has lost his mind. The demon's influence also affecting him.
“We need to take Ka’el out before he can absorb anyone’s soul,” I quietly whisper to my group.
“Too late Paladin,” Ka’el, or the demon controlling him laughs, his voice distorted.
There is nothing any of us can do as we watch Ka’el swing his spear straight through Lancer’s throat. He looks shocked for just a moment before his body is thrown away, discarded after being drained.
“Ahhh, what a feast I have before me now.”