[NR] Option Four - Chapter 659

The trip back to the settlement is just as quick, if a bit morose. They hadn’t expected it would be easy to leave, but to have it proven was another thing.

Though they don’t have long to dwell on it as Siegfried meets them at the gate. “I guess you couldn’t leave? Anything interesting?”

Jason sighed, “The barrier was a solid wall without any give. I thwacked it with Energy and Courtney magic to no effect. Also, Courtney can tell you how far away we found the barrier. Helina had asked us to check on that since we’re odd.”

Siegfried nods, “We’d tried Mana and Qi, though it is nice to know Energy was covered as well. Would suck to find out after everything that all we needed was someone with Energy to break the barrier.

“Well, let’s get some reports filled. Afterwards, we can talk more if you want. There’s stuff to be done, but you won’t be required to help if you have things to do. Well, I will require you to report any discoveries about this nonsense, but I figure that should be self-evident.”

Courtney nods, “We’ll have to confer, but we will certainly keep you informed if we discover anything. We live next to the settlement so it isn’t like we could just walk away.”

Siegfried snorts, “I wish some of your fellow travellers would understand that. Had a couple nearby homesteaders like yourselves who just went back to their claim. Didn’t even stick around long enough for me to explain that if the settlement falls, their claim is going to end up floating free in the Deep Wilds.”

Courtney rolls her eyes, “They likely wouldn’t have cared either way. Too confident in our immortality. We’re safe here, but if they’re cast out into the Deep Wilds and wait too long? Well, getting back isn’t as simple as destroying your spawn point and dying.”

Jason, “I didn’t know that last part.”

Siegfried shrugs, “Your kind is oh so confident in your immortality. Yet there are a ton of ways for you to at least lose your current life.”

Courtney sighs, “Much to the horror of so many stupid criminals. They’re always so shocked when they learn that a legally administered death penalty cuts through our immortality if done right.”

Jason, “You would think that would be better known?”

Courtney shrugs, “I’m sure you get told about it at some point. Maybe not, but really, what’s the difference between that and getting jailed for the rest of time? Well, I guess in jail you can dream of escaping.”

Siegfried, “True, which is why there generally aren’t long-term jail sentences for travellers. Anyway, let’s get the paperwork filled out.”

That doesn’t take long and the group find themselves in Siegfried’s office once again.

Courtney, “So, we’ve decided to at least hear you out on what you want is to do.” And the other two nod in agreement with her.

Jason, “It isn’t like we have much else to do at the moment. Not that we couldn’t find something to do, but hearing you out at most wastes a little time.”

Siegfried nods, “And if there is anything I have to waste right now, or would be time. The waiting is always the worst part of stuff like this. It’s not my first rodeo when it comes to dealing with oddness out here.

“Anyway, I’ve got three broad categories of tasks. I need people to check on the barrier. People to relieve my regular guards or at least accompany them. Finally, I want people to go around town checking on everyone to make sure they’re okay.”

Jason groaned, “Uh, maybe we won’t be helping.”

Rosha nods, “I hate to say it, but if we were cut out for that sort of thing we wouldn’t be out here. Do you have anything else?”

Siegfried laughed, “Yeah, that was about what I expected. You’re adventurers, not guards. And you know what?

“In regular times, I actually would have things for you to do. There is always some new invasive species causing trouble for the farms or a new landmark to explore. But yeah, the barrier and complete lack of life sort of puts the kibosh on that.”

Courtney, “So what Do you have for us? You wouldn’t have gone through this all if that was everything. There is something special you want us to do.”

Siegfried shrugs, “You aren’t wrong.

“So, there isn’t any danger here at all. The monsters are gone and only travellers can come here. Which is the problem. We don’t have proof, but I’m pretty certain there is a group of travellers raiding the fields.

“I’m fairly certain it is one of those homesteading groups. Those people are always a bit short on food and so it might be all of them, though I doubt it. Anyway, I’m not asking you to kill them or what not, but I do want proof. Catch them, kill them, or gain something to identify who it is.

“I’d normally be a bit more chill on the matter, but without the ability to leave, we’re going to need that food if this drags on. So, do you think you can handle this? I’ve got a few guards attempting to find them, but they’ve not seen anything. I trust them, mind you, but this needs to be solved.”

Courtney frowns, “Dealing with travellers is always chaotic. This could be anything and they could react in any sort of way. We find them and they might surrender and just as equally come at us with deadly intent. Especially since they’ll think we can follow them.

“Though that does bring up a question. Couldn’t you have travellers deliver stuff for you?”

Siegfried shrugs, “As you said, dealing with your kind is chaotic. Worse, out here we aren’t dealing with merchant travellers. It would be costly to hire adventurers to bring food, especially since wagons can’t cross the barrier, even if pulled by a traveller. And even if we manage that, they might decide to just not.”

Courtney sighed, “Fair enough.”