Sovereign (The Gods' Game, Volume IV)

by Vider, Rohan M.

  Kyran grimaced. He did not want to do that, but he couldn’t see what other choice they had. Earlier, he had scryed out the river’s length. In both directions, to the extent of his magical sight, the river flowed too deeply to cross.

  With no other options nearby, Kyran had resigned himself to waiting for the herd to move. Perhaps it is time I observed the herd more directly. Maybe then I will uncover the cause of their unusual behaviour. “I think I should—” he began.

  “Shh,” hissed Mirien. “Something is coming.”

  Kyran cut off his half-voiced thought and stilled instantly. He glanced at Mirien, but she had not turned away from her intent study of the treeline.

  Adra whipped her own head around to study the trees and growled softly at whatever she and Mirien saw. Kyran, huddled in the deepest part of the ditch with Gaesin and Aiken, schooled himself to patience and waited for their report.

  Listening carefully, he thought he could make out the ivoranors’ snorts of alarms, and beneath them, guttural snarls and screeches that set his teeth on edge like the grate of metal against metal.

  “Ghouls,” whispered Mirien finally.

  “Ghouls?” repeated Kyran, momentarily at loss as to her meaning. “You mean undead?”

  Adra nodded. “A whole pack of them. They are circling the herd.”

  “How can the undead be here?” he asked, unsure if it was welcome news or not. “We are hundreds of miles from Crota.”

  Mirien shook her head. “I don’t think these are from Crota. Zarr’s people aren’t the only undead in Myelad.” She gestured Kyran forward. “Come see for yourself. The ghouls and the herd are too focused on each other to spot us now.”

  Accepting her invitation, Kyran crawled to the ditch’s rim and peered over. Up ahead, all along the edges of the river, the ivoranors—large rhino-like creatures covered in overlapping plates of gleaming ivory—turned outwards to face the shadows of darkness circling them.

  The beasts stomped their massive hooves and lowered their great heads so that the single gleaming horn on their snouts pointed in unmistakable challenge at their foes. But despite all the ivoranors’ formidable presence, by their nervous shuffling and rolling whites of their eyes Kyran could see the beasts were afraid.

  He turned his attention to the shadowy blots flitting across his vision. The shapes were vaguely humanoid, but too fast-moving to observe clearly. There were at least two dozen that he could make out. The half-seen figures were closing around the herd in a tightening circle that forced the ivoranors to back up against the river’s edge.

  At that moment, one of the undead paused in its ceaseless motion and crouched down on all fours before a large ivoranor. Seizing the opportunity, Kyran probed it with insight.

  Creature: Ghoul (pack leader). Type: Reanimated dead.

  Level: 32. Health: 400. Rarity: Rare.

  Attack: 40-70 (blunt, diseased).

  Defences: Physical (immune), psi (immune), spell (40).

  Traits and abilities:

  Corrupted attack: 10% chance to afflict its target with an infection that slowly eats away at the victim.

  Eternal flesh: Immune to physical damage.

  Unholy: Immune to death magic.

  Defenceless against divine: +75% holy damage received.

  Vulnerable to fire: +25% fire damage received.

  Description:

  Ghouls are the reanimated remains of the dead that have been forcefully returned to a semblance of life. These simple-minded creatures possess no true sentience and are wholly under the control of their master.

  Staring fixedly at its chosen prey, the ghoul unhinged its jaw inhumanly wide and revealed rows of serrated teeth. The ivoranor shrank back, breaking the spell. The undead rose to its feet and released an unearthly shriek.

  At the signal, the other ghouls momentarily froze before forming on the pack leader. Kyran stared at the undead in rapt fascination. Mirien is right. They can’t be from Crota. The ghouls were less… well-maintained.

  Unclothed, unarmed, and marred by scratches, blood, and filth, the ghouls were in poor physical condition. Their skin was pockmarked, and huge chunks of their flesh were missing entirely. So decrepit was their physical state that in many instances, Kyran was barely able to recognize the creatures’ underlying origins. Though judging from the few distinguishing marks he did recognize, many of the ghouls had been human at one time.

  But despite the missing limbs, eaten-away flesh, and exposed muscle, the undead creatures were in no way impaired by their physical state. Ghouls on one leg raced as quickly as those on two, and those with no eyes seemed to see as well as the others.

  An altogether ghastly band, thought Kyran, repressing a shudder.

  He understood then why the herd—despite their numbers and physical prowess—trembled in the face of their foes. The ghouls were immune to the ivoranors’ attacks.

  The undead knew it too. With impunity, the ghoul pack descended on their victim. Ignoring the thrusts and attacks of the other ivoranors the ghouls swarmed their intended target and dragged him away from the herd. Despite digging in his heels and resisting mightily, the ivoranor—a young bull—was pulled remorselessly away from the safety of the herd.

  What are the ghouls doing? Kyran was perplexed by the pack’s behaviour. The undead did not need to eat.

  “We have to help,” said Aiken. Undisguised fury filled the bear’s mindspeech, and Kyran glanced worriedly at his companion.

  Aiken was crouched down low. With his fur standing on end and growling, it appeared the bear was barely restraining himself from leaping forward to the ivoranors’ aid.

  “We do, brother,” Kyran agreed. But how? His gaze drifted back to the river’s edge. The ghouls had succeeded in dragging the young bull a few metres away.

  Realising their attacks were futile, the herd had backed away from the unlucky victim and sacrificed him to the ghouls. The bull though, had not stopped fighting. Dragging in his heels and tossing his head wildly, the young ivoranor did his best to resist his captors.

  Neither psi nor physical attacks would work against the ghouls. If the party was going to save the ivoranor, they would have to do it with magic alone. Kyran chewed his lips as he assessed his companions.

  Reaching out to the forest serpents in the mindscape, he ordered them to the western edge of the clearing—the direction towards which the ghouls, captive in tow, seemed to be heading.

  “We will rescue the ivoranor,” he said aloud.

  Mirien and Adra whipped around to face him. In what, under other circumstances, would have been a comical imitation, both simultaneously opened their mouths to protest.

  Kyran held up his hand. “It’s the right thing to do,” he said softly. Even though both were clearly unhappy with his decision, they nodded in reluctant agreement.

  Kyran blew out a relieved breath. Good. They didn’t have time to spare—not if they wanted to save the young bull from whatever fate the undead had planned for him. “Gaesin, summon your ice elemental.”

  Bowing his head, the youth closed his eyes and reached into the ether with weaves of essence. Kyran turned back to the others.

  Mirien and Aiken would be of limited use in the coming fight. Yet together they could work to keep the ghouls off-balance and protect the ivoranor. “Mirien, when the battle begins, I need you to play decoy. See if you can draw the ghouls away.”

  Mirien sighed. “Not bait again,” she muttered. But before Kyran could add anything further, she waved her hand, signalling her acceptance.

  Kyran glanced at Aiken. “Brother, your task is to keep the young bull alive. Heal him and, if you must, shield him with your body.”

  Aiken growled and rose to his feet, keen to begin. Kyran placed a restraining hand on his companion.

  “Wait one moment, Aiken.” He gazed into the bear’s eyes. “It’s also your job to make sure the ivoranors don’t mistake us for foes.” He waited for Aiken to bob his head before continuing. “Good. Wait for Gaesi
n’s elemental to engage before charging in.”

  “Take position up there, Adra,” Kyran said, gesturing to the trees overhead. “Use your fire and ensnaring arrows. It’s also time to try that new ability of yours. Wait for Mirien to draw off some of the ghouls, then target them with webbed shot. Leave the main pack to me.”

  Adra nodded curtly, before darting out of the ditch and nimbly scaling the nearest tree.

  The touch of a winter’s breath along the nape of his neck pulled Kyran’s attention back to the ditch’s centre. Gaesin’s ice elemental was taking shape. He glanced outwards again. The ghouls were more than halfway to the clearing’s edge, dragging their quarry behind. He realised the ice elemental wouldn’t form until too late. He couldn’t afford to let the undead disappear into the trees. The ivoranor would be lost if that happened.

  He began casting.

  Channelling weaves of water, he drew a line of cold in the air, from the tensely watching herd, all along the treeline, to the southern edge of the clearing.

  Kyran has cast ice wall (length: 51m, wall HP: 510).

  Jagged walls of ice rippled upwards and formed a barricade over the western side of the clearing. The ivoranors on that end, startled by the sudden display of magic, backed away fearfully from the ice wall that had appeared at their feet.

  The ghouls noticed the wall too. Most dropped their hold on the young bull, and with heads swivelling back and forth they sniffed the air in search of their attacker.

  Some, though, continued to yank their prey westwards. No matter, thought Kyran with a grim smile. He had cut off the ghouls’ escape in that direction. The undead would have to swing south now—towards the party—or try and break through the wall. Either way, he had bought Gaesin more time for his summoning.

  Kyran’s eyes darted back to the undead. They were still tasting the air uncertainly. They haven’t figured out where we are.

  He cast again.

  Drawing on his essence once more, he spelled the ground beneath the ghoul pack and caused the earth to buck and heave.

  Kyran has cast earth tremor (radius: 26m, chance to resist: 5%, damage: 26 HP per target), 30 ghouls and 1 ivoranor knocked down (2 seconds).

  The earth rippled, felling the ghouls and their victim. Given that the young bull was trapped in the undead’s midst, Kyran was limited by his choice of spells. He could not use shock wall, or even oil slick—not until the ghouls were drawn away. “Go, Mirien,” he ordered.

  The whiesper disappeared from the ditch, and a moment later she appeared next to the undead pack, just as they were rising to their feet again. While the creatures were still disorientated, she struck, thrusting her blades deep into the nearest ghoul.

  Mirien’s dual strike has hit a ghoul for 0 piercing damage (immune). Remaining: 374 / 400 HP.

  The ghoul flung up its head and hissed angrily. Lunging forward, it reached out with clawed hands at the lone figure that dared attack it. But Mirien was no longer there.

  A ghoul’s attack has missed Mirien.

  Shadow stepping a few yards back, the whiesper twirled her blades and smiled mockingly at the undead.

  The ghouls took the bait, and half the pack gave chase. The rest ignored Mirien and set hands to the young bull again—in the ensuing confusion, he was attempting to escape.

  Tugging on the trapped ivoranor, the remaining ghouls resumed their westward progress, despite the ice wall in the way. Once again, they didn’t get far.

  Kyran has cast earth tremor (radius: 26m, chance to resist: 5%, damage: 26 HP per target), 15 ghouls and 1 ivoranor knocked down (2 seconds).

  Kyran glanced back and ground his teeth in frustration. Gaesin’s elemental had still not fully formed. He expected the ghouls were going to attempt breaking through the ice wall. He had no idea how long that would take them.

  It was too risky to delay further. Reaching into the mindscape, he ordered the serpents forward, then his companion. “Go, Aiken!” With a rumbled growl of eagerness, the jade bear charged up the sides of the ditch and into the fray.

  In the centre of the clearing, the herd seemed content to watch events unfold and remain bystanders. In front of them, Mirien danced between the fifteen ghouls pursuing her.

  From up above, a spelled shot whistled away. Adra’s arrow, enchanted with the essence of a spider’s web, thudded into its target: the meaty torso of one of the ghouls battling Mirien. A second later, sticky, silken strands spun out of the arrow’s shaft and entangled the limbs of the nearby undead.

  Adra has fired a webbed shot (radius: 3m, chance to resist: 7%, duration: 3 seconds), 15 ghouls and Mirien slowed (-90% movement speed).

  “Good job, Adra,” Kyran murmured. Raising his voice, he shouted, “Mirien, get out of there!” Even though the webbed shot had slowed the whiesper, it would not prevent her from teleporting.

  Once he saw her sharp nod of acknowledgment, Kyran began casting again. Channelling weaves of air, he sent them racing towards the ensnared ghouls.

  Mirien has shadow stepped.

  Before the ghouls could give chase, Kyran completed his spell.

  Kyran has cast shock wall (length: 8m, chance to resist: 5%, duration: 74 seconds, damage: 7.4 HP per second), 15 ghouls stunned.

  The ghouls trapped in a field of crackling lightning were doomed and would die before long. Leaving them to their fate, Kyran turned his attention to the other undead.

  Aiken reached the ghoul pack and bowled into their midst. Standing protectively in front of the young bull, he faced off against the rest of the undead while restoring the ivoranor to health.

  Aiken’s healing wave has healed an ivoranor for 28 health. Remaining: 386 / 510 HP.

  Mirien stepped out of the shadows at the bear’s side with her weapons held ready. The serpents had joined the battle too. Springing down from the trees above the ice wall, the beasts coiled themselves around their chosen targets.

  5 forest serpents have trapped 5 ghouls within their grasp, 5 ghouls have resisted strangling (immune).

  Even though the ghouls were unaffected by the strangling, the serpents had effectively immobilised their undead victims and removed them from the equation.

  The remaining ghouls seemed momentarily confused by the sudden multitude of foes facing them. But then, with eerie synchronisation, they snapped their heads in the direction of Aiken and Mirien and surged forward in attack.

  Braced together, bear and elf defended their helpless charge.

  Gaesin has summoned a level 47 ice elemental (duration: 8 minutes).

  Kyran spun around at the Game message. Gaesin’s summoning spell had finally completed. Before Kyran could order the elemental forward, it began moving.

  Nodding approvingly at the youth, Kyran leapt over the ditch’s edge himself. “Come, Gaesin, let’s end this. Use your frost attacks.” Weaving shock bolts of his own, he targeted the nearest ghoul. Adra joined in from above, taking aim with her fire arrows.

  Kyran’s shock bolt has hit a ghoul for 74 damage. Remaining: 274 / 400 HP.

  Gaesin’s ice bolt has hit a ghoul for 47 damage. Remaining: 227 / 400 HP.

  Adra’s fire arrow has hit a ghoul for 28 damage. Remaining: 199 / 400 HP.

  With Adra, Gaesin, and Kyran raining down a storm of magic while the rest of the party kept the undead pack trapped and engaged, the remaining ghouls stood little chance.

  Before long, the battle was over.

  ✽✽✽

  Battle Log (Ghoul pack)

  The battle has ended.

  Combat results

  Creatures bonded: 0.

  Hostiles killed: 30 of 30 ghouls.

  Levels gained

  Kyran: None.

  Adra: 1 level. New combat level: Level 28.

  Gaesin: 1 level. New combat level: Level 27.

  Aiken: 1 level. New combat level: Level 29.

  Chapter 4

  30 Octu 2603 AB

  Taming is an art that attracts many with its promise of powerful minions, and indeed at lo
wer levels the skill offers many benefits. Yet players of advanced rank will find the discipline terribly weak. The skill does not scale well, this is a simple truth. Even ignoring the difficulty of finding high-level beasts, especially in the civilised world, taming abilities are frequently linked to karma, which further reduces the creatures a tamer may bond. —Kel Maldax, Game scholar.

  As the last of the ghouls fell lifelessly to the ground, Kyran cast a wary eye over the motionless herd.

  Other than shrinking away from the party’s magic and the undead’s reaching grasp, the hundreds of ivoranors within the clearing had not stirred during the entirety of the battle. If the herd chose to attack the party now they would have no choice but to flee.

  The ivoranor taken captive by the undead was still alive and remained locked in stillness while Aiken and Gaesin healed his wounds.

  “Aiken, have you managed to communicate with the herd? Will they attack us?” Kyran asked, reaching out to Aiken across their bond.

  “Wait. She comes,” replied Aiken.

  Kyran’s brows wrinkled in confusion. Who is Aiken talking about? But before he could broach the matter with the bear, the sea of ivoranor parted and revealed seven of their number making their way towards the party. Glistening with water, the ivoranors stepped out of the ford and onto the near riverbank.

  Almost immediately he discerned a difference in the newcomers. They were larger and clad in thicker ivory than the other beasts he had seen.

  Pulling Gaesin with her, Mirien retreated quickly from the young bull. “Come away, Aiken,” she hissed. She nudged the bear and tried to get him moving as well, but despite Mirien’s prodding, the jade bear did not budge. Remaining at the injured ivoranor’s side, Aiken raised his head and huffed in welcome while he waited for the approaching seven.

  “Tread carefully,” whispered Mirien as she reached Kyran’s side. “That’s the herd’s Mare and elders. Anger them and we will face the other’s wrath.”

  Kyran nodded, acknowledging her advice, although he only half-listened to her words. The greater part of his attention was fixed on Aiken, who had still not moved from the young bull’s side. What was his companion doing?