Liam Barrett:
With the city gates of Briardstead getting closer and closer, her banners snap in the wind as I approach, thunder echoes nearby, and I stop.
"What in the world was that?"
I yell and look around. Following the noise, I see a large, wooden drawbridge connected to the city gate. On the drawbridge are countless adventurers like me, with hundreds of names floating above their heads. As the adventurers walk in and out of the city, their footsteps thrum like thunder in a lightning storm.
"Oh," I sigh, wiping some sweat from my forehead. "Whooo. For a second, I thought I was in trouble."
I take a few more steps when again, I hear an eardrum-bursting boom, even louder than all the thundering footsteps.
"Booomm," the noise goes. As if that isn't bad enough, the whole Earth starts trembling beneath my boot.
"Oh come on," I scream, dropping onto one of my knees. "Now what! An earthquake? No! I just got here!"
Hearing another boom, and then another, I look around. My head snaps to the left, and a large shadow comes into view. A massive figure bursts out from the trees, shaking the ground with each step. The figure looks something like a man, but 30 feet tall, with greyish-white skin, long, messy hair, and an unkempt beard. Also, minus the fur patch over his "sensitive spot", he is naked.
As the man approaches me, I see two things. The first thing is a name above the 30-foot man's head. It reads Giant, Level 5.
"Are you kidding me!"
The second thing I see is the giant's weapon. It's a literal tree trunk, but instead of green leaves at the end, it's a giant, round rock.
Closing my eyes and crossing my arms, I brace myself for the incoming smash.
"Please let this not hurt," I beg, "Please let this not hurt."
Feeling a sudden cold as the giant's shadow looms over me, I feel a sudden heat, and then hear repeated, painful groans.
"Ah! Ahh! Aghhh!"
"What?"
Opening my eyes and lowering my hands, I see the giants looking away from me and at something else.
"For Briardstead," someone yells. Turning around, I see three armored warriors running down the stone road and toward the giant and me. Judging from their names, the three warriors are NPCs.
"Strike true," the first warrior, whose name reads Aren BrightShield, yells, "Brother and sister!"
Pulling out a giant sword and an even bigger, stainless, shining shield, Aren turns to his fellow brother, Rhydan Halberdance, who is armed with two axes. Aren and Rhydan turn to their sister, Lyra Ashbreeze, who reaches behind her to grab some arrows. Loading them into her bow, she shoots the Giant.
Hitting the Giant right in his bare chest, Aren charges forward, shield-bashing the Giant in his leg and knocking him down onto one of his knees. Taking the opening, Rhydan jumps like a frog, hacking and slashing the Giant before delivering the final blow.
Letting out one final growl, the giant drops his mace, or his club, maybe the tree trunk, his weapon! The giant drops his weapon before falling flat onto his back, still shaking the ground as he lands.
About to pass out myself, I realize that this whole time, I was holding my breath. Letting myself up, gasping as I exhale and then inhaling very loudly, I accidentally grab the attention of the three warriors.
"You there," Aren BrightShield says, pointing at me after sheathing his sword. Aren is a tall man with short black hair and heavy-looking armor. "You are a warrior, too. Are you not? Why did you not help us versus the attacking giant?"
Putting up one of my fingers, I move my hand back and forth as I try to find the right words.
"I was, uh....providing moral support. No, wait, better! I was the distraction. While the giant was focused on me, he didn't see the three of you charging. I was the element of surprise. Haha, right?"
Aren, Rhydan, and Lyra look at me for less than a second, and I break down. I shake my head and drop my arms.
"Okay, yeah. I said it, and even I think it was stupid. But hey, give me a break! That giant was level 5. 5! I'm just a level 2."
Lyra smirks and lets out a small laugh.
"Ha! A wise man knows when not to fight, young adventurer."
"Haha!"
Rhydan slaps me on the back, and I have to bite my tongue to keep from screaming.
"Ouch....", I think.
"You have potential, new friend. If you are ever seeking glory or adventures, then come find our Guild in Briardstead."
With that said, Rhydan sheathes his dual axes, and Lyra places her bow in her quiver strapped to her back. Altogether, the three turn and start walking back to the city's gate.
"Hey, hey, hey," I say, walking alongside them, or at least, at first, I walked.
"Son of a---. You three are fast walkers. Hey, listen, quick question. Uhh, what's your Guild called? How do I join? Do you guys, I don't know, have something like a Discord? Can you---"
"Glory awaits in Briardstead," Lyra booms, shooting one of her hands into the air.
"Yeah, yeah," I say, nodding. "Glory awaits in Briardstead, but that doesn't answer my question. What is your Guild call---"
"Glory awaits in Briardstead," Aren shouts, nodding as he looks at me.
"Awesome. Totally awesome, but seriously, I'm trying to get some information. Does your Guild recruit newbies? Is there an interview proce---"
"Glory awaits in Briardstead," Rhydan cheers.
"Screw it."
I wave my hand and stop running. Out of breath, I bend over, placing my hands on my knees. I check my stamina bar and see that it's flashing green.
"They're NPCs. Really fast, walking NPCs. Shush."
Sucking oxygen through my teeth, I push myself up.
"Epicfailers," I start, looking at my drone. "You heard it here. There's a high chance I might be joining a Guild, and who knows? Maybe by then, my new 'friends' will learn a second sentence.
Stretching my arms and legs, and twisting my back, I head to the city's gate, the massive wooden doors slowly opening themselves, and letting me enter.