Surviving the Simulation: The Grand Crusade

The sounds of shouting echoed across the dawn hours as Xander and his party moved through the abandoned village of Philo. The conflict was coming from the next block over. Xander had been in a foul mood since leaving Saint Joseph. The weight of everything that had taken place had come crashing down on him once the constant rush from danger to danger had subsided, and he had a moment to let the reality of the last couple of weeks sink in.

He was happy to have Jo, Zoey, and Cabbot by his side, but losing Alex and the general ugly nature of humanity they had encountered in Saint Joseph dragged his thoughts down into darkness. As the volume of shouting increased, Xander sighed and changed direction to cut down a dark alley toward the altercation.

Standing at the edge of the alley in the darkness, it didn't take more than a moment to figure out what was happening. A group of bandits had accosted a small collection of refugees that looked to be worn out and dirty, along with carrying everything they had left in the world with them. It was unclear which direction the refugees were going, but it was clear that they were trying to flee to some place safe. It didn't seem to be working out for them so far.

Xander emerges from the shadows, his voice calm but commanding, cutting through the chaos as the bandits closed in on the terrified refugees.

"Hey!" Xander shouted, drawing everyone's attention. He stepped forward; his posture relaxed yet resolute. "What the hell do you think you're doing? It's too early for this shit."

The scarred man in the front, a slab of meat in scavenged armor, snorted. "Keep walking. This doesn't concern you. These people owe us. We're collecting. Don't play hero unless you want to get hurt."

A teenage boy near the back of the refugee cluster stepped out, fists clenched so tight his knuckles had gone white. He was rail-thin, angry, and exhausted.

"This isn't protection," he said. "We're starving and too tired to fight back. You're just stealing from people who don't have anything left."

Xander took that beat and walked into it.

"They're trying to survive," he said. "Same as you. Same as all of us. But this? This isn't survival. This is you taking whatever you can because you think no one's going to stop you."

A wiry woman moved up beside the bandit leader. Her eyes were sharp but sunken. Jittery hands. Probably half-strung out on something. She laughed once, dry and flat.

"So what then? What's your plan, big man? Talk us into being friends? Share a campfire and trade recipes?"

"No," Xander said. "I'm not asking anyone to like each other. I'm saying if we keep turning on anyone who's weaker, we won't outlast the week. The rules are gone, sure, but that doesn't mean we stop being people."

The scarred man took a step forward, squaring up. "There are no people left. Just those who kill first and those who die. You don't want to be the second one."

Xander didn't budge. "You can believe that if you want. But there's still a choice. Help make things better, or make it worse. That's all it ever is."

There was a heavy silence as the words sank in. Some bandits exchanged uncertain glances, the sneer fading from the leader's face. One of the younger bandits stepped back, lowering his weapon. "Maybe he's right," he muttered. "We can't keep doing this. You two have been escalating every encounter for weeks now. This is a bit too far for me."

The scarred leader shot him a venomous look. "Coward," he said. "You think he's gonna save you? We're doing what we need to survive."

Xander seized the moment, his voice softer but no less powerful. "We either stand together as a species and survive, or we tear each other apart and let the world finish the job. The choice is ours. Make the right one."

The younger bandit nodded, retreating further. A few others followed suit, their faces showing a mix of fear, exhaustion, and hope. But the leader and his wiry sidekick remained defiant.

The woman sneered. "You're dreaming if you think a few pretty words will change anything."

Xander's eyes narrowed. "The pretty words, as you put it, were really for me. I've washed in enough blood over the past several weeks to last me for a while. It's early, and I haven't had enough caffeine yet to deal with these kinds of shenanigans," he said coldly. "I'm not offering you mercy. I'm trying to keep my armor and weapon clean for at least one day. Now, I'm tired and annoyed, and I want to make the nearest safe zone as quickly as possible for a bath, bed, and a decent meal. Make your choice before my companions get bored with listening to you puff up your chest."

The scarred leader roared and charged, boots pounding against the cracked pavement. The refugees scattered, and the street turned chaotic in an instant. Xander met the rush head-on, stepping into the swing of a rusted blade and knocking it aside with the haft of his hammer pick. Steel scraped with a high-pitched grind as the weapons clashed.

The impact jolted through his arm, but his counterstrike landed solidly. The hammer slammed into the man's ribs, drawing a grunt and sending him stumbling.

The wiry woman closed in from the side, fast and quiet, her short blade angling low. Xander twisted too late. Pain shot up his thigh as the blade tore through cloth and into muscle.

He gritted his teeth and shoved her away with the flat of his weapon. The leg was already stiffening, warm blood soaking into the fabric. She circled, light on her feet, eyes always looking for a way around him rather than through.

The bandit leader rushed again, more desperate now. Xander ducked the wild swing, rammed his shoulder into the man's gut, and drove him into the wall of a collapsed storefront. Chunks of plaster cracked loose and hit the ground beside them. Xander brought the hammer up hard. The man went down.

Across the square, Jo was helping two kids over a low counter while Zoey kept watch. One woman was crying. The kind of cry that meant she'd just realized she would not die today.

That was the point. Not the fight. The people.

Xander turned and caught a flicker of movement. The wiry woman had broken off, weaving through debris, making straight for the huddle of remaining refugees. She wasn't looking for a clean exit. She was going for a kill.

She darted toward a boy who couldn't have been over eight, clutching a battered stuffed rabbit and his sister's hand. The knife was already halfway to its mark.

Xander moved. The pain in his leg flared, but he forced himself forward. He caught her mid-stride, hooked her blade arm with his hammer's head, and yanked. She spun, slashed wildly, caught air. He stepped in and drove the hammer up under her chin. She crumpled on impact, limbs giving out all at once.

The fight was over. Only the wind moved now.

Xander leaned on the hammer, sweat stinging his eyes, blood thick on his leg. Around him, people whispered and cried. No one cheered.

He glanced at the bodies, then back toward the stunned faces of the living.

"Well," he said, wiping grime from his face, "that was how I wanted to start my day."

Sighing heavily, Xander's rage quickly gave way to moroseness. What a waste, he thought to himself before turning to Jo and Zoey. "Can one of you talk to the leader of the refugees really quickly while I talk to the remaining bandits? Plus, I suppose we should find out if these two had anything worthwhile on them."

"We'll take care of it," Jo said, placing her hand on his arm. "Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not ok, but I'll manage."

"How can I help?"

Seeing the concern on her face, Xander attempted to put on a cheerful face that he just wasn't feeling. "I'll be fine; I just need a break. We'll get that when we get to Starlight. I appreciate you trying to help and if there is anything you can help me with, I'll ask. I love you."

Leaning to rest his head against hers, he kissed Jo on the cheek and broke their embrace to move toward the remaining bandits. To appear non-threatening, despite being covered in the former bandit leader's blood, he walked slowly.

The small crowd broke apart into their respective groups, and the leader of the refugees moved to the side with Jo. Xander and the remaining half-dozen bandits walked to the other side of the street.

"Alright," Xander said, "Start talking. What have you all been doing since the world went sideways?"

He kept his posture relaxed, letting the blood on his armor speak louder than anything he could say. "I'm a Paladin subclass. I can detect lies and villainy. Don't waste time trying to talk around it. If we're doing this, we're doing it straight." He lied.

The group shifted on their feet, the silence stretching until one man finally stepped forward. Early thirties, built like a guy used to working a shovel, but the last few weeks had taken their toll. He had messy hair, windburned skin, and a beard grown out of necessity, not style.

"No point hiding it," the man said, glancing toward the bodies Zoey was dragging out of sight. "Name's Gary. We were a road crew from up north. The work supervisor and his girl ran things. At first, we scavenged, stayed quiet. Half the crew didn't make it through the first night."

He paused, voice tightening. "Then came the stealing. One thing after another. At first, it was just supplies. Later, it got easier to ignore the line than figure out where it was."

Xander said nothing. He let the quiet do the work while he watched the rest of the group. No one else stepped forward. Most of them looked more tired than dangerous. Survivors trying to stay upright, not looking for a fight.

"Safezones are real," he said at last. "I've been to two. They're fortified. Monsters can't spawn inside, but they can still attack. Better than living like this."

He shifted his stance. His leg ached where the blade had cut deep earlier, but he didn't let it show in his voice. "We're heading for one called Starlight Oasis. If the refugees are good with it, and you're serious about helping, we move together."

He glanced toward the ragged group of survivors nearby, some still keeping their distance. "But this isn't a free ride. You're going to protect the people you were just threatening. That's your buy-in."

He gave the words space to land before adding, "If that doesn't work for you, there's another safezone northeast in Saint Joseph. It's rougher, but better than wandering.

A voice from the back called out. "What happens when we get there?"

"You talk to their leadership," Xander said. "They'll put you to work. Construction, defense, scouting, anything that keeps people alive. You want a second chance, that's how you earn it."

A few heads nodded. Nobody walked away. That was enough for now.

Xander glanced at Jo and Zoey across the street, watching over a few of the younger refugees. He wasn't sure if this would hold, but they didn't have another option. He, Jo, and Zoey couldn't do this alone. They needed help. Even if it came from people they couldn't fully trust yet.

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Far off, something howled. The sound echoed off the broken rooftops and faded into the distance. Overhead, a dark shape passed across the sky before vanishing behind the ruins of an old silo.

Xander turned back to the group.

"Start organizing. Two in front, one at the rear, the rest keep eyes on both flanks. We move in ten."

Gary nodded and got to work, barking out names and pointing people into place like he'd never stopped managing a crew.

Xander watched him go. He didn't smile, but for the first time in days, he didn't feel like everything was about to collapse.

"Okay, let me go see what's going on with the refugees. Then we can get moving. Keep an eye out. I don't want to be surprised if that little dust-up attracts unwanted attention. Rodentia are pretty thick in this area." Xander said as he glanced around the area before moving off toward Jo and the couple she was talking to.

The scene on the other side of the street was much more emotional. As Xander closed the distance, he could hear the sobbing conversation as the pair recounted their experience since the Simulations' return. Clearly, he'd missed most of the narrative, but it didn't take a genius to figure out the basic plot. The Simulation returned, and the monsters swarmed, and there was lots of death.

Jo met Xander at the edge of the burned-out market stall, her voice low and tired. "Lucy and Kevin just filled me in. Pretty standard stuff. Hid out, ran out of food, made a break for it. Nothing we haven't heard a dozen times."

She paused, then nodded slightly toward the pair sitting on the curb. "They're open to going with us. But... we've got a problem."

Before Jo could explain further, the woman stood, her voice already climbing to full volume.

"You're a murderer!" she shrieked. "You killed those people! We're reporting you to the police!"

The street went still. Xander blinked. Of all the reactions he'd expected, that one hadn't cracked his top fifty. He stared at her, trying to process the words. It was the kind of response that didn't belong in a world like this.

"I'm sorry," he said slowly. "What do you think is happening here?"

Lucy pointed an accusing finger toward the dark smears where bodies had recently been. "Those men were trying to rob us. You escalated it. We could've just handed over what we had. Now we're murder accomplices! We need to find a working phone. I'm sure someone's still taking reports."

She crossed her arms like she'd just nailed him in court.

Jo shifted uncomfortably beside Xander, clearly debating whether to speak. Zoey, further back, muttered under her breath, "Yeah, let me know when Verizon's done respawning."

Xander exhaled through his nose. His leg throbbed, and for a moment, walking away seemed easier than dealing with this. He just turned away from Lucy and addressed the crowd.

"Everyone listen up," he said, voice flat but loud enough to carry. "There's a place called Starlight Oasis several days west. It's not safe, not really. Nothing is anymore. But it's better than here. It's got walls, food, and people trying to build something that lasts."

He gestured to the bloodied former bandits who had helped during the fight. "These people are coming. They're going to help keep you alive. Because they understand what this world is now."

He looked at the surrounding faces. Hollow, frightened, waiting for someone to make the next move for them. Then he looked at Lucy, still standing like she expected an apology.

"I'm going to wash the blood off. We leave in ten. If you want to come, great. If not, stay here and wait for the cops."

No one said a word. A few glanced at Lucy, then looked down.

Xander walked off without another word.

Walking back toward the former bandits, Xander told them to gather their gear and start working with refugees who were willing to come along to form them into a group. He wanted two guards at the front, one at the back bringing up the rear, and then the rest patrolling both sides once they were ready to take off.

Gary nodded to Xander and then resumed getting his newly minted caravan guards organized.

Stripping off his jacket, Xander cleaned his armor while trying to center his thoughts. Silently, he worked and watched the group slowly coming together while the screeching woman still lay into Jo. Tuning out the noise, he took in the surrounding town.

Once a quaint and bustling small town, Philo now stood as a haunting relic of its former self. A few weeks earlier, the chaos of the Simulation restart had swept through, leaving behind a burnt-out husk of ruined buildings. The main street, where cheerful shops and cafes had once welcomed visitors, was now desolate. Charred beams jutted skyward from collapsed roofs, and the shattered windows of storefronts gaped like hollow eyes.

The town's population, roughly 2000 souls, had vanished. The absence of life was palpable, broken only by the faint rustle of the wind through the scorched remnants. Here and there, hastily scribbled notes and signs clung to blackened walls and telephone poles left by those who had fled. They told stories of desperate escapes and uncertain destinations. 'Heading north to Champaign,' 'Gone to find help,' 'Meet us at the river if you can.'

Yet, mingling with these hopeful messages was the heavy, pervasive smell of death. The acrid stench of burned-out fires lingered, a grim reminder of the violence that had consumed Philo. Among the rubble, occasional glimpses of belongings. A child's toy, a scorched photograph, a torn piece of clothing all spoke of lives abruptly interrupted.

Once a symbol of small-town charm and community, Philo had become a forsaken place, a testament to the Simulations's cruel power. It was a chilling reminder of how swiftly everything could change and the fragile line between civilization and chaos.

But the eerie stillness held darker threats. Tracks and claw marks marred the ground, evidence of the monsters that now prowled the area. Xander was sure he'd spotted tracks of the bipedal rat-like monsters known as Rodentia and something drastically larger. Shadows flickered at the edge of vision, and the guttural growls and eerie howls that echoed through the dawn hours confirmed their presence. The creatures had claimed Philo as part of their new, twisted domain.

Hope wasn't a plan, but Xander silently prayed for some luck that they'd get everyone moving before more considerable troubles found them. The bandits-turned-guards may hold their own along with Xander, Jo, and Zoey, but most of the refugees were dead on their feet and didn't look like they'd be much good in a fight.

What Xander wanted most of all was some downtime to plan things. His mantra had always been to make and execute a plan. However, the last few weeks had been reactionary rather than proactive. His immediate plan after the restart was to survive and find Jo. He had checked both boxes.

However, the entire situation with the Cult of the Simulation and the leadership of the Saint Joseph safe zone was more of a study in Keystone Cops than an adequately executed engagement. He couldn't help but think they wouldn't have lost Alex if he had planned better.

No, downtime was an immediate goal, he thought. He needed to plan out further than just immediate goals. He needed to explore the new wiki feature and plan what to do with the blacksmithing skill book he'd received. Not to mention align with JT and see his long-term plans for Starlight. Finally, there was the massive undead world event that was currently taking place.

"No good deed," Zoey said under her breath to Xander as she sat beside him, drawing his attention back to the immediate situation.

"Tell me about it. Everyone reacts to stress differently, but I suspect that woman has always ignored reality for her own little narrative." Xander responded, glancing toward where the rotund woman was animatedly waving her arms around as she talked.

"I'm going to guess no, but you find anything of interest on those two?"

"No, just starter junk at best. Not even worth giving to the refugees," Zoey huffed. "You should sanctify the bodies before we leave."

The two sat silently for a couple of minutes before Zoey spoke up. "Are you okay? You seem to be struggling a bit mentally yourself."

"Jo asked the same question just a few minutes ago. Just a lousy couple of days, you know how it is. Been a steep learning curve lately."

"She and I talked about it. I just want you to know that we're both concerned and need to be here for each other. Not just in the monster protection aspect, either. Keep it together, boss. Hopefully, the road gets easier once everyone accepts the new reality," Zoey smiled.

"Boss? Nah, we're a team. You know that, right?"

"Every team needs a leader. Tag, you're it. Heads up looks like we have company."

Before Xander could respond to Zoey's comment, electing him as their little team's leader, Kevin came walking up along with another boy. Dirty with dozens of minor scrapes on their face and arms painted a pleasant picture of what they'd been through. Glances at each other and back toward the screeching woman confirmed Xander's thoughts on the individual. She had most likely been browbeating everyone the entire time they'd had the misfortune of being thrown together for survival.

"Hey, so umm, sorry about Lucy. She hasn't been handling the situation very well," Kevin said.

"I suspect she's always been like this, and people around her have just made excuses for her behavior." Xander clapped back. "I'm not worried about it. Those two that I put down would have most likely killed her."

"Well, her husband…"

"Gang, I wasn't lying when I said it was too early for this. You don't need to convince me of anything," Xander said with a sigh. "I'm not trying to be rude here. I'm trying to save as many people as possible, which means I will do what I think is best to accomplish that goal."

"She can be stubborn and is insisting that we continue to Champaign because she's positive that there are some kind of FEMA or other emergency services there."

"You guys are welcome to do what you want. Champaign is in ruins. There is no government anymore. What emergency services are remaining are all making their way to whatever safezones they can find," Xander paused before continuing, "I'll address the group again just a minute. Still, I'm not forcing anyone to come with me. Come, don't come. Noodles, don't noodles. It's a numbers game, and I've got to focus on those that want to be saved."

"We appreciate what you're trying to do, but you don't need to be a dick about it," the boy who had followed Kevin over said.

Before Xander could decide to either retort or apologize, the two boys exchanged another glance and started moving away. It was easy to see by the look on their faces that they didn't believe that Lucy would go along with the plan. They retreated to their group to whisper amongst themselves quietly. In contrast, Lucy continued to move from group to group, screeching like a harpy.

Maybe an actual harpy would come by and solve this latest headache, Xander thought to himself. He shook the thought from his head, which was a little dark, even for his current mood. Stick to the goal, he told himself. Save who you can and get back to Starlight, he continued as he once again got lost in thought while cleaning up.

Zoey smacked him on his leg a short while later. "Well, I think that's been long enough. Pity party is over; let's get this show on the road."

She stood before reaching out her hand to help Xander to his feet. Brushing himself off, Xander rolled his shoulders and neck to work out the knots from sitting in an odd position on the ground.

"Ok, let's see how this goes," he said agitatedly before raising his hands for everyone's attention.

"If I could have everyone's attention, please! We're going to be leaving in a few moments. If you could, please gather your belongings."

"It's been brought to my attention that some of you may want to continue north toward Champaign. Our information shows that the larger the population area, the harder it was hit in the opening moments of the Simulation restart. You'll find nothing but death in Champaign."

"However, I can't stop anyone from doing what they think is best. If you want to go on to Champaign, I won't stop you, but I strongly recommend you accompany us to Starlight first. It will allow you to get a decent rest and restock before continuing."

"Questions?" Xander finished. Inwardly, he cringed, as he was sure that Lucy would have something to say.

"Lucy, before you say anything. The rest of us have decided to follow these three to Starlight," Kevin interrupted before Lucy could get a full head of steam behind her.

"Alright, with that decided. Let's move out!" Xander called and took up a position at the head of the caravan.

The group of refugees moved slowly in a huddled mass out of the charred remnants of Philo. A ragtag band of survivors clutched their meager belongings and cast wary glances at the surrounding shadows. Their steps were weary, but driven by the faint hope of reaching the Starlight Oasis and everything it promised.

Among them were the former bandits, now walking with a hesitant sense of purpose. Their faces were a mix of guilt and determination as they fulfilled the promise to protect those they had once sought to rob.

As the walk stretched, Lucy lagged slightly behind the leading group, her voice cutting through the silence with a grating persistence. "We should head towards Champaign," she insisted for what felt like the hundredth time. "This murderer doesn't know what he's doing. Starlight Oasis?"

Xander sighed, focusing on the path ahead but unable to ignore Lucy's incessant complaints.

"Ma'am, we've been through this," Xander said, trying to maintain his patience. "Starlight is your best chance for survival. Champaign is infested with monsters and undead."

Lucy huffed, adjusting her overstuffed handbag that seemed filled with useless trinkets from a bygone era instead of the basic building blocks of survival. "You don't know that for sure. Champaign had resources, hospitals, and infrastructure."

One of the former bandits, a lean man named Jared, who now walked alongside the refugees, chimed in, his tone unexpectedly firm as he gestured toward Xander and his companions. "We've seen Champaign, lady. It's crawling with things you don't want to meet."

Lucy shot a look of contempt at Jared, but he didn't back down. Xander noticed the way the man stood, shoulders set, gaze steady. A few of the former bandits shifted beside him, less guarded now, their earlier hostility fading. They weren't acting like enemies anymore. He couldn't say if it was respect or just a survival tactic, but the change was there, subtle and cautious. They were looking at him differently, and that was enough for now.

Jo moved closer to Xander, her eyes scanning the horizon. "We're almost at the train tracks. Once we follow their path, it'll be harder for anything to ambush us."

Zoey, always the practical one, nodded. "Let's keep up the pace. The sooner we reach Starlight Oasis, the better."

Her seriousness turned to a chuckle as she continued, "I'm surprised we didn't get an escort quest from the Simulation for this."

The group pressed on, the mood somber but with a flicker of hope. Though weary and battered, the refugees found strength in the newfound alliance with their former foes. The trio's leadership and the promise of safety at the Starlight Oasis kept them moving forward.

Lucy fell silent, her grumblings subdued by the group's collective determination. She still harbored doubts, as the resolve of those around her did little to chip away at her denial. However, the apocalypse had changed everything, and while she clung to the remnants of the past, the present demanded adaptation and acceptance.

No Good Deed
Quest Notification! You have rescued a group of refugees looking for safe harbor. As any white knight will tell you, no good deed goes unpunished. Escort the remaining refugees to any safezone with at least 75% surviving.
Difficulty: Moderate
Reward: Experience and increased reputation with surviving refugees. Good deeds are their own reward.

Accept Quest? The No Good Deed quest is automatically accepted because the party is currently escorting the refugees. You may end up with a white horse yet!

"Dammit!" hissed Xander quietly as Zoey practically fell over laughing.