“Your commands?” Krenua asked.
“Gather some of their dead. See what has been done to them. Strengths, weaknesses—see if we can bring them to our side.” Alkao lowered the binoculars. “Bring the most intact bodies to the crater for the healers and others to have a look.”
“Yes, my prince,” Krenua said.
“We either bring them into the fold or destroy them before they have a chance to harm our people. Vrexu, I want you to drive the creatures in the area away. The more things they have to kill, the stronger they will become. After we drive the beasts of the area out, they will only have one another to kill. Have scouts watch them and pick out their strongest. No direct action except picking off the stragglers tomorrow and bringing them to be examined. As Malsour says, the battle starts well before we meet our enemies in combat. When we fight, it is just the end of our battle. This here, the information we gather, will allow us to cripple them before they ever reach our home. It’s time we put our training to use.” Alkao looked to the leaders of Vrexu’s battalion. Multiple races of Demon and Beast Kin looked back at him, united in their one duty: defend those they loved and cared about—defend Devil’s Crater.
Alkao nodded to them, accepting those hard gazes.
Each had seen blood spilt and looked death in the eye on multiple battlefields. United and with their training, Alkao was secure in the thought that they knew what they were doing.
He shimmied back down the rise, his guards and officers following him. Alkao grabbed one of the Beast Kin; the other Demons grabbed their fellow Beast Kin or wingless Demons. Their wings pulled them into the air as they moved toward Devil’s Crater at their best speed.
***
Hamdir and the rest of the council sat in thought of Shard’s words. The session was a closed one. The council had a meal as they discussed the future. Lately the council’s work had taken up most of their time.
“The possibility of friendship,” Hamdir said, echoing Shard’s words.
“Yes.” Shard smiled, sitting in his seat on the council.
“Not resources or information, but the possibility to come to know us and become friends?” Councilwoman Sela adjusted her glasses that rested on her Gnomish features. Slowly, a smile spread across her face as she shook her head, cackling lightly. “These Players are an interesting bunch! I wish we met more of them before!”
“Most of them were off killing whatever they could find and disregarding us,” Frenik said.
“Only in the first year or two. Then, of course, there are the ones who just kill all over the place, though many more of them start to become Champions of Emerilia. They would then look out for the people, unless they get some twisted quest by the Dark Lord or work for the Dark guilds,” Sela said.
“I think that the best course of action is for one of us to meet with their leaders. They have asked for help with destroying the creature that prowls our college. It is a good opportunity for us to show ourselves and ally ourselves with them. I also think that we should keep to the council’s agreed prize for them. Except, we allow our people to go and visit them,” Ela-Dorn said.
“You want to let our people meander through an area under their control?” Koza said.
“They are our people, but they must make their own decisions. Taking options away from them is the same as taking information and training away from them,” Sela interjected.
“Koza, we know how you care for the people and their protection. However, does not a good parent allow their child to experience the world instead of hold them chained to their home with words and emotions?” Hamdir asked.
“Fine, I don’t like it, though! I ask that automatons be on the ready to attack the complex if our people are threatened,” Koza said.
“I see that as an acceptable addition.” Frenik looked to Hamdir.
The others didn’t look as though they agreed fully, but none voiced a dissenting opinion.
“Shard?”
“I will add it to my contingency plans.” Shard bowed his head. “Done. Might I say that the Stone Raiders are nothing if not resourceful. They have been betrayed in the past and every time, they have come out the victor. They, too, believe in giving people a chance, but verifying that trust.”
“Emerilia jades all who live on it.” Hamdir’s voice was sad but accepting of that simple truth. “If that is all, I will be on my way to the Stone Raiders’ lodgings in order to pass on information about our opponent.”
“No, you will not!” Ela-Dorn’s eyes were fierce as she looked to Hamdir. He made to speak, but was cut off. “You are the head of this council. We will not be putting you into the middle of a bunch of extremely powerful fighters. It has been some time since you were last in the college. I am the administrator of the facility; I will go and talk with them.”
Hamdir made to argue but seeing the glares from around the room, he cleared his throat. “Very well. All in favor of Ela-Dorn representing the Aleph people and meeting with the Stone Raiders?”
Hands shot up in favor.
Ela-Dorn stood. “Well, no time like the present.” She bowed slightly to the rest of the council.
“See if you can’t get them to agree to leave some of the housing complexes. We can move more of our people into them and start the different growing areas there,” Meda, a Dwarf-Elf, added.
“I’ll try my best, Meda!” Ela-Dorn said. The doors to the chambers opened before her and closed behind.
“Watch over her.” Hamdir looked to Shard.
“She’s going to one of the safest places in Emerilia, as long as she doesn’t go to the test range...Dave’s damned inventions.” Shard muttered the last part to himself.
Hamdir smiled, his ears able to pick up the AI’s mutterings.
***
“She’s Orcish!” one of the Stone Raiders guarding the teleport pad said as an Orcish woman wearing flowing robes with an infinity symbol hanging over a circle of seven X’s stood just on the edge of the teleport pad.
“No shit, Sherlock! Was it the tusks or the green skin that gave it away?” The woman beside the yelling man rolled her eyes.
Ela-Dorn snorted but didn’t make to move forward. All of the Stone Raiders were relaxed, but she had seen them fight. In a moment, they could draw their arrows or release their spells in her direction. The real thing that stopped her moving forward was the mass of trap runes that covered the floor. The first ones promised to immobilize her. The ones deeper in were meant to kill.
“What is it? This better be good!” A woman, with her brown hair pulled back, holding a magical staff and a battle mage’s armored robes, entered the second floor and looked at Ela-Dorn. “Hello, who are you?”
“I am Ela-Dorn. The council has sent me to talk to you. What is your name?”
“Kim. Which council?” She scratched her head and yawned.
“The Aleph Council,” Ela-Dorn said.
“Ah, okay. Was wondering if you lot were going to send someone to talk to us. Was kind of thinking that Dave had gone a bit loopy talking about gods and whatnot. Rosie, turn off the traps for a minute. Everyone, battle stance.” The words were light and Kim yawned again as the runes deactivated.
Within seconds, mages held balls of energy in their hands. Blades were in warriors’ hands and bows were pulled back with an arrow on the string.
Ela-Dorn’s eyes bugged out as she looked at the display.
“I’ll take you to meet the others.” Kim floated down from the second floor and waved for Ela-Dorn to follow her.
She did so, crossing the runes quickly. As soon as she had passed, the runes came back on.
“Stand down.” Weapons were put away and energies dissipated, and the Stone Raiders went back to acting as though nothing had happened. Most of them cast glances at Ela-Dorn as she followed Kim deeper into the tower.
These auras—they’re suppressing them well, but I am able to see past most of their efforts. She had seen them fighting and their abilities. Ela-Dorn was a level 279,
but many of the Stone Raiders were a lower level. However, her gut feeling was that they could cut her down in a moment. They weren’t a higher level but their skills and training made them opponents to be respected and feared.
The Players were from every race. None of them seemed to care about their outward appearance. Most talked battle tactics, or about the kinds of food they were going to get once they were done with the Lich. Others were talking about the planet Earth, where they hailed from, and different things, like television. Oddly, those last few were in the minority; most of the Stone Raiders talked about Emerilia as if it was their home.
They entered one of the cafeterias. Kim led her to one of the tables, where people were eating and planning at the same time.
“This is Josh and that’s Dwayne.” Kim pointed to the two men in the center of the table huddle. They looked up, breaking their conversation. “Lucy is off dealing with something. I’m going to go see what the hell Dave is talking about with magical artillery. This is Ela-Dorn; she’s with the Aleph Council.” With that, Kim turned and left, grabbing a cup of Xer on her way out.
“Clear a seat. You want something to eat?” Josh asked. The Stone Raiders moved to either side, so that there was a seat opposite Josh and Dwayne.
“I’m good, thank you.” Ela-Dorn sat down.
“So, what do the Aleph need from us? We’re currently working on the college. We’re hoping to have it done in a week or two. Finding that damn Lich’s soul box is going to be a big pain in the ass. Once we’ve got that, then Dave is pretty sure that he can fix the portal factory up,” Josh said, digging into his dinner.
They think that they can fix the portal facility? It takes years to train someone to be able to make even a part of the system. This Dave is more than he appears to be. He might just be overstating his abilities, though. Ela-Dorn kept her thoughts to herself.
“We were wondering what kind of assistance we could be to help you with the college. I know that we have tried to keep our presence a secret. After being attacked on all sides by the races of Emerilia, we are a bit paranoid.”
“Makes sense. Nearly anyone is willing to screw another over for what they want or don’t have. Especially where the Affinities Pantheon is involved,” Dwayne grunted, and the Stone Raiders agreed.
“Quite. We also hope to become closer with your guild and your people. You have helped us out in a time of need and we are thankful for that. We know that you are also helping two other races that have come back from the Grey God’s care, just like us. We wish to come to know you all more and hopefully become allies and friends to face what might come.”
“That suits us just fine. Always good to have friends.” Josh smiled. “Though first, we need to clear out that college for you. I’m going to have to ask if you have any solid plans on the facility and how many scouts you could lend us. We need to find the Lich’s soul box and, while we’re pretty good at sneaking around, that Lich has made the entire college its lair. It knows the minute that we step into it and he sends his minions to hunt us down. That or he uses the natural creatures of the college to trap and kill our people.”
“Natural creatures?” Ela-Dorn cocked her head to the side and frowned.
“It seems that there might have been creatures kept in the college at some time. Instead of killing them, the Lich has them holed up in different areas. They create a barrier around the areas that he must be using. We’ve got shambling mounds, weeping sirens, goblins, and hobgoblins. There are also undead versions that the Lich directly controls. Nothing has died in that place in many years, corrupting the very ground,” Dwayne explained.
“What is a Lich?” Ela-Dorn asked.
“They are creatures that have attached their soul to a box and then destroyed their old bodies, turning them into immortal beasts, so long as they feed their soul box other creatures. The process requires them to make a contract with a Dark force. Well, that is what we know of Lichs at least,” Josh said.
“It’s a phylactery,” Dwayne sighed.
“Soul box is easier to say,” Josh retorted.
“Fine!” Dwayne shook his head.
“So, what do you want these scouts for?” Ela-Dorn asked.
“We’re going to take a ton of them, shove them through every friggin’ portal in the place and send them to find that soul box. Once we have it, then we can destroy it and bye-bye Lich,” Josh said.
“I will see how many we can give you.” Ela-Dorn nodded.
“Thanks!” Josh smiled and turned to Dwayne. “Wanna show her around? She’s probably seen it all through the different mage lenses around the place, but it’s usually better in person.”
“Fine. I was just going to check on the training grounds anyway.” Dwayne rose to his feet. “Would you like to accompany me, Ela-Dorn?”
“Certainly.” She rose and followed him.
“Is there anything you are interested in specifically, like different magics and such? Watching people swing weapons around is not always the most interesting thing,” Dwayne said as he cleared off his tray.
“Kim said something about Dave using magical artillery.”
“Well, some things I can’t show you. One of them being what Dave’s inventions do. That stuff we try to keep under wraps. I can see if he’s free to talk to you, though he’s probably going back to the forge after his demonstration. He’s working on weapons.”
“That is fine. Shard is enamored with him and I would like to understand why.”
“With all the ideas he’s spouting and tests he has Shard running, I would think it would be because of their shared interest in making the impossible and things that would scare the Pantheon.” Dwayne snorted.
“Interesting.” Ela-Dorn doubted that anything Dave could come up with could make the Pantheon pay the slightest attention to a mere mortal. She felt it was best to keep that to herself. “Kim said that Dave told you that we were back on Emerilia. I was wondering how this is possible. We do like to keep our privacy.”
“Well, his friend Bob told him.” Dwayne stepped into a lift.
Ela-Dorn followed him. “Bob?”
“Well, you might know him as the Grey God...uhh, Neutrality? Balancer? I’m not sure what his titles are, but apparently Dave caught the eye of the game’s AI and became friends with it.” Dwayne snorted and shook his head. “Never know what that guy is going to do next.”
There was a loud thump and smoke started to come from somewhere in the tower.
“This way, please,” Dwayne said as the lift stopped, guiding her away from the explosion.
“I told you to not set it off inside!” an angry male voice yelled.
“Well, you didn’t tell me it didn’t have a safety!” Kim yelled back.
“The safety is not channeling your Mana into it and then giving it coordinates!”
“Whoops, though on the plus side, I’m awake now. Can’t hear shit, but awake.”
“What asshole just tried to blow up a side of this damn tower while I was sleeping!?” Another female voice joined into the fray.
Ela-Dorn didn’t know whether to run for safety or laugh at Dwayne’s pained expression.
“It was Dave?”
“What? I can’t hear, ‘cause someone blew my eardrums out!”
“Kim, no more touching shit that goes bang inside!”
“But it wasn’t me.”
There was a massive surge of Mana as Ela-Dorn felt her blood go cold.
“Ow! Fine, no more using things that could explode inside!” Kim said.
“Good. Anyone else wants to wake me up, I’ll kick their ass into the Densaou Ring of Fire myself!” There was a loud bang as a door slammed shut.
“Lucy isn’t a morning person. Hasn’t got much sleep recently. Makes her a bit cranky,” Dwayne said as they reached outside, where people were sparring. Their attacks left dents and furrows in the ground.
“O-okay,” Ela-Dorn said, giving a weak smile.
They might not have been that strong
when they came here, but now they’re becoming monsters. Lucy’s attack was that of a Master level mage of thirty years, not someone who has been around for less than two! These Players learn and grow so fast! I must figure out how they do it!
Excited by the new challenge ahead of her, she listened to Dwayne as he talked about the fighting skills of the Stone Raiders, happily answering any questions that Ela-Dorn might have.
They stopped to watch Steve as he fought against four other behemoths. He whistled out a tune as he moved with the kind of seamless actions one would never think of seeing in a creature as big as him. He’d weave out of attack range, and fire a lightning bolt from his right hand, or change his left to hurl three-foot-long bolts into his opponents.
“We’re teaching him better control. He’s big, strong, and well-armored, so he was lacking many of the basic skills. Had to get Anna to pound it into his metal head that there is always someone bigger and more powerful. So, he trains just like the rest of us,” Dwayne said, following her eyes.
She nodded, unable to form words at it all. It was just...surprising? Awe-inspiring? Exciting? All these thoughts and more ran through her mind.
These Players are something else. I wonder what the other groups are like?
Chapter 13: Operation Fetch
“Commence Operation Fetch!” Josh said.
“Seriously, we’re going with Fetch?” Kim asked.
Lucy just gave her a look that seemed to ask “what else did you expect?” as she read a book on her magic carpet.
Scout guardians flooded through different teleport pads all across the city, and different facilities that the Stone Raiders controlled. They were connected to every teleport pad in the Aleph College. Hundreds of scouts appeared in the college, turning invisible and spreading out as fast as possible. Many met various creatures waiting at the teleport pad control rooms.
A number of scouts’ signals disappeared as they rushed through the facility. As one was captured, they would set off a grenade hidden within them, clearing the way for more of their brethren and taking out the creatures within before the real fight started.
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