Warcraft: When NPCs Have Player Panels

"Sit down, everyone, don't be shy." William poured everyone a glass of ale, the steam blurring their expressions. "I invited everyone here to get together and chat. Winter Veil is just around the corner, isn't it? Let's have some fun together."

Hawke and William were on good terms, so he picked up his ale, took a big gulp, wiped the beer stains from his mouth, and said with a smile, "Sergeant, you're a role model for us in the Crusades. You usually strictly adhere to military rules and discipline; it's hard to get anything out of you. What's up today?"

Private First Class Carl was busy eating. He had three children to support and usually didn't eat or drink much. Now, he picked up a piece of smoked meat and tore into it: "Hawk, don't say that. You're on guard duty in the armory, while we're patrolling outside. It's different."

William looked at them, a faint smile on his face, his tone softening: "Every winter, something always happens in the city. Just get through this period. Oh, by the way, how have you all been lately? Hawke, how are your wife and children? Has Lawrence taken them to get medical treatment? Is your salary enough to buy them food?"

When his family was mentioned, Hawke's smile faded slightly, and he sighed, "Thankfully, thanks to you, Sergeant, I got through that period. Otherwise, my two boys wouldn't have made it through last winter."

"That's good," William nodded, then looked at Lyra: "How is it? Has your magic improved?"

William valued this freckled little girl highly. Her exceptional talent earned her the approval of Duane, the arcanist and mentor to the magic apprentices.

A mage who is in a slump will achieve great things in the future, as long as they can overcome this hurdle.

"The magical materials are still the same." Lyra pursed her lips, her eyes showing a hint of grievance, yet also a stubbornness: "Those guys are using this to pressure me into joining their families again. I will not agree to it."

"Okay, I understand. I'll think of something." William nodded, then turned to Pastor Thomas. "Thomas, how's things going at the church?"

Thomas put down his beer, his expression grave. "It's not good. Too many people have frozen or starved to death lately, and on top of that, many people are sick and coming to the church for help. It's exceeded the church's capacity. I'm about to collapse."

Seemingly finding common ground, the group began to chat, one after another. The conversation gradually turned to the poor and the nobles.

Karl gritted his teeth and said, "Those noble lords, what do they care about the lives of people like us? They'd rather feed their leftover bread to their dogs than give it to the beggars standing by."

Evan, also a private first class and William's subordinate, chimed in, "We patrol the city hard, enduring everyone's scorn. But the noble lords, they treat us like dirt, beating and scolding us at the drop of a hat. Would they be living so well without us cleaning up their messes?"

...

My emotions were stirred up.

William listened quietly, saying nothing, only drinking glass after glass of ale. He knew the time had come.

After the group finished speaking, the room gradually quieted down, with only the sound of firewood burning in the fireplace remaining.

William put down his wine glass, leaned forward slightly, and looked solemnly at everyone present.

"Tell me, are the people in the slums even considered human beings?"

"this..."

The men were stunned. They looked at each other, and then Hawke nodded in response, "Boss, I was rescued from the slums by you. People there will do anything for food."

"They say they're human, but they're not far from not being human at all."

"So, the nobility are like a group of parasites, clinging to us and sucking our blood." William's words caused everyone to lower their heads.

Hawke raised his head and surveyed his colleagues... This wasn't an easy question to answer; he'd better listen to what his boss had to say.

"Hawk, you want your family to have a foothold in the city."

"Lyra, you want to go further down the path of magic. You seek independence and then give back to your family."

"Thomas, you want to become a high-ranking clergyman in the church. Carl, Evan, Elliott, you all have your own ideas and goals that you want to achieve."

In William's view of the system, these people's wishes cannot be hidden.

"For a long time, I've had this idea. It's been swirling in my mind for three years." William took a deep breath, his eyes shining as he looked at them. "My initial plan is to establish a brotherhood. I need comrades-in-arms who will lend a hand when we're in trouble. Comrades-in-arms who can help and support each other."

"So, you're the only ones I found."

"We are all in the same system, we can support each other, grow together, and strive for more opportunities together."

"When we reach a certain point, we can recruit more people who share our ideals to join us, with the goal of helping more people."

"I want to change this place." William got up and walked around the room, everyone's eyes following him back and forth.

"In these three years, since the disappearance of the strangers, our Crusaders have gradually transformed from a force with a clear objective into a private army under the nobility. In name, we are the army of Lordaeron, but our work consists of robbing food from the poor for the nobles."

"I have seen too many poor people who have to sell their dignity in order to survive. There are also many who don't even have a place to sell their dignity."

"This contradicts the ideals I initially held when I joined the Scarlet Crusade. Back then, our motto was to protect our country, to protect its people... but what are we doing now?"

"Do you know why the higher-ups agreed to my suggestion to patrol the slums?"

William said coldly, "Because starving poor people will eat their own children, worship evil gods to gain power to change their suffering, and sell people to the necromancers in the Scourge..."

"When the poor can't survive, they'll do anything."

"They didn't have to do this; they could have lived well here like everyone else."

"They should have lived like human beings."

"Nobody cares about them... so I decided to do something."

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent. The group of people looked at each other, their eyes filled with surprise.

They had considered rebelling, but they all knew that if they failed to fight the nobles, the only thing waiting for them was the gallows.

As someone from a poor background, Hawke spoke first, his tone hesitant: "Boss, are you serious? But if the nobles find out what we're doing... all of us..."

“It’s not that I’m trying to argue with you, but as you know, I come from the bottom of the slums. The lowly people the nobles talk about.” Hawke continued carefully, “If you hadn’t happened to run into my family while patrolling the slums two years ago, I probably wouldn’t be here.”

"I'm always on your side, but resisting the nobles..." Hawke stammered, unable to finish his sentence.

The others watched William quietly, waiting for his next words.

"Who said we were going to rebel against their rule?" William shrugged, looking completely innocent. "I just want you to join me in helping these people as much as we can while we're still able to."

"But we must keep this a secret and not let it leak out." William looked at them, his eyes full of anticipation. "We're not going to fall out with the noble lords. Our topic today is simply to establish a brotherhood."

"But its existence is a secret!"

"When I am able to help those who need help, then I will do so."

Count me in!

To William's surprise, Lyra was the first to step forward.

"Captain, I'm willing to follow you. I also want to try and see if a commoner mage can make it to the end."

Thomas replied without hesitation, "The Holy Light is coming again. The Holy Light tells us to protect the common people. Isn't that my ideal? I'm willing. I'm willing to use the Holy Light to truly help those in need, instead of watching them die one by one."

Hawke laughed heartily, then slammed his hand on the table: "Boss, I, Hawke, still have my family! You snatched our lives from the slums. Even for the sake of my family, I'll follow you!"

With the emotional build-up complete, the remaining members also expressed their intention to join the new group.

"Okay!" William looked at them, a huge weight finally lifted from his heart. "From today onwards, we're a team! No matter what dangers we encounter, we'll face them together!"

He picked up the beer on the table and raised it high: "Come, to our future, to the suffering common people, to make Lordaeron a better place, bottoms up!"

"Cheers!" Several people raised their glasses and clinked them together, the crisp sound echoing in the cabin.

Side Quest: Brotherhood, Here I Come!

[Mission Complete!]

[Quest Reward: 10 low-level magic materials of your choice.]

The spiciness of the ale spread through their throats, and everyone's eyes sparkled.

They vaguely knew that from this moment on, their path forward seemed to have more possibilities.

"What's our team called?" the mage Elliot stroked his thick beard. "We can't be without a name, can we?"

"Yeah, I see their fraternity is called XX Fraternity, what about us?" Hawke said, sipping his ale with great interest.

"Names can't be chosen randomly," Lyra, a knowledgeable mage, had her own insights on this matter. "A name will determine the direction of a community's development and will have great significance for those who want to join in the future."

William crossed his arms and pondered, "Our organization values ​​unity and progress, and strives to contribute more to this kingdom in the future."

"How about we call it..."

"Ichishin Brotherhood."