—[QUEST RECEIVED: The Shepherd's Gambit]—

Goal: Help the other survivor groups succeed in the 'Culling of the Verdant Valley' raid.

Progress: 0% Collective Raid Success.

Time Limit: Concurrent with 'The Culling of the Verdant Valley' regional raid.

Reward: A final reward calculated as a multiplier of the collective success achieved by all raid participants. Example: If the average level-up among the participants is five levels, the reward might even give an increase of 25 levels, depending on the success of the quest and the clearance of the various objectives.

Special Conditions: Unique Quest. Acceptance requires you to forsake all personal quest rewards from 'The Culling of the Verdant Valley.'

Description: Issued by Sub-Adjutant Xy'Tharr of the Aegis Phalanx. Attached Message: This is a test of your potential to lead, inspire, and create a lasting impact. Your goal is not to complete the sub-quests personally, but to make sure the other survivor factions succeed; keep this in mind.

Warning: The Aegis Phalanx does not take kindly to those who squander their potential. Failure to meaningfully contribute to the collective success will result in minimal rewards and a negative assessment which might jeopardize future collaborations.

—[«END»]—

Xy'tharr stepped back. "I will give you time to discuss."

The creature vanished; it almost was like teleportation. The difference was that Reidar and Lena knew Xy'Tharr was simply too fast for them to see him move. He left Reidar, Lena, and Jake standing beneath the oak tree.

Jake looked between them. "That thing was level four hundred."

"You just noticed," Reidar said with a smile.

"You aren't really considering doing nothing, right?" Lena asked.

But Reidar would be a fool not to accept the quest.

"We can't get out of the valley anyway." He paused. "If we don't accept this we will still have to stay here until they complete the quest, and I don't have that much time."

At the same time Reidar was mad, and that was because, once again, someone else was playing with him. What was funny was that the first time they tricked them to do something he wouldn't have done, despite him wanting to help in general. Now, they were forcing him to help other people, after he didn't want to help them since he got burned the first time.

<Wasn't F.L.I.P. supposed to make me lucky?>

But it was still crazy—a quest like this was way beyond anything he'd ever expected.

Reidar pulled up the quest notification again, reading through the details with attention. The Shepherd's Gambit. A quest designed specifically for him, Lena and Jake. A multiplier based on collective success.

"This is manipulation," Reidar said. "They're trying to force me into a leadership role I never asked for."

"Of course it's manipulation," Lena said. Her voice was calm and matter-of-fact. "But that doesn't make it wrong."

"Doesn't make it wrong? They're literalling forcing me to accept the quest by preventing me to leave! Then they made a quest with rewards just to keep me calm and do what they want! THIS IS WRONG!" Reidar said.

"And?" Lena asked.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN AND? I don't want it!"

The words came out sharper than he had intended. "I didn't ask to be a leader. I didn't ask to be responsible for hundreds of people I don't know and don't trust."

Lena studied him for a long moment. "Are you done?"

"What?"

"Are you done throwing a tantrum?" Lena asked. Her tone was cutting. "Because we don't have time for it."

Reidar felt anger flare in his chest. "I'm not—"

"You are," Lena said. "You're so focused on what you don't want, you're ignoring what we need."

"My parents—"

"Reidar." Lena gave the man a look so penetrating he felt his soul being pierced. This same scene had happened the day earlier when she convinced him to at least try the raid.

"When will you understand that if the Progenitor conquers this region, your parents won't matter? My revenge won't matter. Nothing will matter because we'll all be dead or enslaved, and they will be the first one to die."

Reidar opened his mouth to argue, then closed it. "But if we reach Creamont, we will be able to—"

"Reidar," Lena said. "Look at the quest." She gestured toward where the notification hung in his vision. "Really look at it. If the average level increase is five, you could gain twenty-five levels. Maybe more."

"I know the math," Reidar said.

"Then you know what that means," Lena said. "That's not just a few C.L.A.S.P. points. There are lots of them. Enough to make a real difference. The progenitor was level 250 weeks ago. Do you really think he and Silas aren't at a higher level now? Even if you reach Creamont, you will be able to do nothing."

"But there's a catch," Reidar said. "The quest doesn't specify what we'll gain during the raid itself. Only the final multiplier at the end."

"So?" Lena asked.

"So these monsters are level sixty to seventy, Lena" Reidar said. "I'm at level 120. Killing them won't give me C.L.A.S.P. points. That's beside the point anyway! Can't I fucking vent sometimes?"

He paused. "I know we must take this quest, Lena. We are literally forced to do so, and I would be stupid to refuse. It's just that I don't like how things are happening… As of now it only looks like people want to take advantage of me! The first time it was because I had been naive, and now that I learned my lesson, someone who can literally force me to do what they want is doing just that! It is frustrating!"

She remained silent.

"You are right. This is wrong on many levels…" She paused. "But we need to get past these things, Reidar, as I did in Havenwood when I turned into the hound the people needed. Humanity is at risk of being erased… We need to prevent that."

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