by Taj McCoy El
The first one was about to break through. Mayah handed Grax a bunch of papers and said, “Tie these to rocks or set long fuses and run.”
“Got it. Aw crud they’re sending in a bunch of Juggernauts and commanders.”
“Don’t get distracted. Just blow them all up.”
“Grax couldn’t help but laugh.” And then the sound of splintering wood cracked through the air. And a juggernaut broke through. They both backed off. Mayah barely paying any attention. As she continued enchanting the grenades. She moved a safe distance away and started stamping the paper again.
She heard the giant whoosh as she worked and didn’t even look up. She heard another whoosh and Grax cheered.
“Got ’em!”
"I figured. They’re too slow to outrun all the damage.” While she talked, she didn’t miss a beat. Stamp nine times enchant. Stamp wait for her mana to refill, and then stamp and enchant again.
After the third round they spawned. And Mayah groaned. It wasn’t anything different. It was just five titans at once.
Yep trying to destroy all our work and walk all up in our garden. Not gonna happen.
“Five? you’ve got to be kidding me.”
Calm down we’ve got them handled. Just make sure the walls stay up.” She handed him about twenty grenades and said, “Here are some more grenades. I’ll get the titans on lanes 1 and 2. You get the titans on 4 and 5.”
“And here come five skythe again. I’m sorry make that ten.
“That’s why we upgraded all the arrow towers to ballista towers. Rebuild the walls and keep some build points in check for whatever they throw at us next round.”
“You seem a bit too calm right now.”
“Because with all the grenades I just gave you, and all the grenades I’m making, we’ll be able to merc anything that comes through. Now, I gotta stay calm so I can react to any last-minute changes. Now, go and kill the Titans!
“Fine!!!”
“We’ll find you something to kill afterwards. Mostly because your nerves are irritating me.”
Mayah stood behind the wall that connected building G1 to G2. She watched the overhead view and saw the Titan smash through the previous wall. She stepped back to avoid shrapnel and enchanted another grenade.
She could feel the titans’ ponderous steps through the ground. She just enchanted another sheet when she had the mana for it. The Titan finally began beating on the wall that stood between them. She checked the map to make sure there weren’t any other mobs nearby. Seeing the area was clear she waited to blast this titan back to the shadows.
The titan broke through and with three steps cleared the debris. Mayah rebuilt the wall and tossed three grenades at the titan.
The pillar of fire shot up to the sky and the titan fell discorporating before it could hit the ground.
Makes sense. It had to break through twice as many walls as before.
She went to lane 1 and waited again enchanting grenades all the while. She checked her display occasionally, but everything was dying.
Why is this so easy? And now that she had asked the question, she knew the answer.
This dungeon doesn’t scale, and we’ve outgrown this part of it, at least. Killing the commander? A level thirteen would have wiped. But since Vergie did our grinding, we’re above the curve. That answer may not be true, but it makes the most sense. Heh. They expected us to die a lot more.
Fluff: Hey.
Fluff: Just had an idea. Tell me if it sounds about right.
Fluff: Maybe this tower defense is so lame because we’re too high a level and we can beat everything that comes out of the gauntlet.
Mags: I just thought it was because you’re so smart.
Grax: You may be right.
Mags: Finally, he’s getting some sense.
Grax: I meant about our levels not her brains. Don’t go swelling her head, Mags.
The titan came through the wall and cleared the rubble. Mayah tossed three grenades and watched the flames. The titan stepped forward and kept going. Mayah tossed another three grenades and watched as the titan dissappeared.
Grax: Meet you on lane 3
Fluff: Sure thing.
Mags: I’m coming. too.
Fluff: You stay there, and we’ll come to you. Don’t want to biff it on the last round.
Wave 20 starting:
Temple Gate Integrity: 420
Build points available: 537
This is the final wave!
“Of course, they start off with double waves of Titans followed up by double wave of skythes.”
“Let’s throw some daggers at the skythes as we go meet up with Margaret. We’ll all wait till there’s nothing left but the titans and finish up this farce. I’ll let Vergie maul one and see what happens.”
“That I want to see.
“C’mon Mags is waiting.”
“Wait till both waves of titans are through before you rebuild the wall.”
“We may have a few juggernauts on our hands if we do that.”
“With all the maze they still have to run through ahead of the titans they should be easy work. Try and spend as few build points as possible.”
“Why isn’t this our last round?”
“Most tower defense would give you achievements for certain earmarks. Like if you had a perfect game. Or, oh you saved so much money. So, let’s see if we get anything.”
“I’m game.
“As long as everything dies, I have no problem with it.”
“Me either.”
They watched the mobs spawn and die except for the titans. And they made it to Margaret and waited. Vergie was laying on the ground sleeping. Laying sprawled atop her was a very comfortable Margaret.
“Hey, Mags.”
“Hey, Fluff.” Margaret waved a hand limply at her teammates. “So, what’s next?”
"I figured that Vergie would want to have some fun.” Mayah scratched Vergie under her frill and the cat rolled into it, which almost rolled Margaret in between the wall and the large feline. “Wanna go jump on a big ugly shadow monster? Huh? Do ya? Ya big fwuffy killing machine?”
Vergie purred, but when Mayah stopped scratching, Vergie just closed her eyes again.
“Fine, but I’m letting one come all the way over here to pick with you, ya lazy bag of fwuff! You’re so cute,” she said as she gave the lazy vergax more scritches.
“Those skythe didn’t come anywhere near the temple once you got defenses set up. It just got booooooring,” Margaret drawled.
“Yeah, sorry about that. I love these tower defense games. You do realize that of the two mobs that got through only one was unintentional?”
"I wonder how much one of those titans would have hit for?” Grax wondered aloud.
“We could let one through,” Mayah said in jest.
“Nah, I like good scores better than knowing. What if that thing hits for 300 integrity points? Better not chance it. It might explode on contact or something.”
“Afraid of explosions? I got something for ya. Here, kitty, kitty…” Margaret taunted.
Grax turned his back on Margaret and muttered, “Creepy grandma alert!”
“Okay the first of the titans are breaking through. Here’s your grenades, Mags. Wrap ’em on an arrow. You have lanes 2,3, and 4. Grax you’re on 5, and I’ll take 1. Get your hands in here.”
Mayah put her hand out in front of her. Margaret added her hand and Grax’s paw went on top.
“I’ve been thinking about our battle cry and we need one. I have the first part. Instead of counting we go ‘Fluff ’em up, cut ’em up, raise ’em up’ as we bounce but the final cheer it needs to be something that we can all agree on. With this rhythm something monosyllabic would work but to just say go is so lame. Any ideas?”
“That sounds more like a cheer than a chant, dear. We may need to rework the whole thing. Why don’t we go with, ‘Happiness - one way or the other?’”
“We could always do Fluff's cheer with
git gud at the end,” Grax suggested.
“Get good?”
“Fluff ’em up, cut ’em up, raise ’em up…giiiit gud!!!” Mayah tried fixing the rhythm of the chant.
“Get good?” Mags asked again.
“It can either be good advice or an insult depending on how it’s used.” Mayah explained.
“If I said it to you because I want you to get better, it’s advice. If I said it to Grax, it would be an insult because he’ll never be as good as me,” Mayah chastised the poor cat.
“Haha, princess. Whatevs,” Grax mocked.
“Oh, so even though you’re actually giving him good advice, he’s either unlikely or unable to do so and it becomes a hallmark of his ineptitude.”
“Spot on Mags.”
"I think I like it.”
In a whiny baby voice Grax said, “It becomes a hallmark of his ineptitude. You guys suck but I like the git gud, and you can’t take that from me.”
“Ladies,” Margaret reminded him.
“Act like it and you get the title until then, git gud!”
Margaret smirked back at the cat.
“Okay time for our first official chant. Here we go…”
“Three voices rose in unison saying the words to their friendship.
“Fluff ’em up!!! Cut ’em up!!! Raise ’em up!!! Giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit GUD!!!!”
Their hands flew up and as if signaling the awesome power of their words as they were joined by the sound of more than one titan knocking on their walls. Let’s go finish this up.”
Titans were blown up, waves were ended, and Fireworks went off over the city. The Royal Death Claws received this message.
You have Defeated the Skaduu Army
Please return to the temple port stone to claim your prizes.
✽✽✽
Malcipher was sitting at the table when the man that Malcipher sent to fetch their boss had returned. He brought in three men who dropped to a knee as soon as they saw Malcipher. Malcipher smiled until a fourth figure stepped out of the doorway and stepped lithely around the prostate men. The figure removed its hood showing an extremely pale aquiline face that bore two dark lines under each eye. The lines barely touched the corner of her mouth as they passed and followed down to her chin and throat. There was a green tinge to her eyes.
“So, you must be Lord Coad. That wasn’t the name that I was given from our betters, but I have been known to play a few games myself, so I’ll allow it.”
“Why do you not bow? Are you a traitor?”
“Ah they did not explain the tattoos to you. Good I shall do it for you.” A pale blue glow rose up from her skin exposing a tattoo that would otherwise be invisible.
Malcipher’s head slammed down onto the table where he found himself unable to move.
“On your knees in front of your betters, lord Coad. Malcipher found he had enough freedom to crawl out of the booth and drop to one knee in front of this woman.
“You too.” She snapped her fingers at Halsh who also dropped to a knee.
“Now, for your education. You may have a tattoo but not all tattoos are considered equal or I should say, not all tattoos are complete. Mine is not complete but it is levels above yours. Now as for what you have done to my men there will be some changes.”
“First, you will release MY man from your service. I have need of him.”
Malcipher tried to resist but the pressure from her tattoo only increased. Every time he tried to do anything other than what she commanded the pressure would drop upon him even harder.
Through gritted teeth Malcipher looked at the man and said, "I release you from your service to me.”
“Now everyone may rise except for you lord Coad. I have to make sure you understand your place here in Drahtspule, for I have eyes and fingers everywhere and I can’t have you disturbing my plans.” She heard the whimpering of the wounded man. “Someone get him a potion and untie him.”
As the men scurried about to take care of her orders, she sat down on Malcipher’s back forcing him down to two hands and both knees.
“First, I am in charge of the father’s works here in Drahtspule. No mewling, wet behind the ears, neophyte is going to change that anytime soon. Second while you are here you will follow my orders and abstain from any random violence that may disturb my schemes and draw attention to where it is most certainly not wanted. Thirdly, you will not interfere with my men. I have given them duties and I do not like them to be interfered with.”
She rapped on the back of Malcipher’s bowed head with knuckles that felt like metal. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes.” Malcipher muttered.
“Swear it. In the name of the father.”
“In the name of the father I will not disobey your pertinent orders, I will abstain from violence, and I will not interfere with your men, while you serve the father and I am in Drahtspule.” a black glow emanated from him.
“Excellent wording. I was hoping to trap you in some fashion, but you show some promise.” She stood up and dusted off her cloak and leggings. Now get up we have work to do.” The glow of the tattoo disappeared, and he rose to tower over this teeny woman. He held his rage in his heart. Even then it showed in his eyes.
“Good, good. I like that look in your eyes. We should be able to have some fun together.” She placed her palm on his cheek and slowly traced a hand down his chest where Malcipher grabbed her wrist and held it firm.
"I have come here to fulfill father’s wishes, not play games with you.”
She looked up into his eyes and threw her head back in laughter. “Then why did you make an oath to follow all my orders? You didn’t saywhat the orders where pertinent to.” Her eyes shone with mischief.
Malcipher looked away with an exasperated huff.
She freed her hand and turned his face back to hers
“You may call me Zhi'Zhu.” Malcipher squinted at her. “Or mistress…”
Malcipher stepped away from her and growled under his breath.
Zhi'Zhu just smiled even harder.
"I do love a challenge. Anyway,” she sighed breathily, “let’s go. There is much to do.”
✽✽✽
“You guys tired?” Mayah asked.
“More like ready to do something or fall asleep. But that’s the price of boredom.”
“Fireworks notwithstanding, this was really anticlimactic. I feel like we should’ve been doing more.”
“Well if you think about the people who rushed in to this dungeon and did vuurmin fields, and then pressed on to the city, there would’ve been deaths, and then they would have had members trying to hang around and save the dungeon. They would have been mighty flustered trying to do the TD by themselves.”
“Valid point.”
“Also imagine you’re the only one left from your team after the city. Do your teammates have to come from vuurmin fields to get to you? How do they do it if the area is locked? Do they spawn into the instance? Do they just have to wait it out?”
“Well, that is neither here nor there anymore, children. We have surpassed and overcome this challenge and proven ourselves to be worthy. Shall we proceed to the rewards phase.”
“Thinking about the loot, Mags.”
“It’s not all about the loot.” she said slightly abashed.
“It’s okay, Mags. One of the reasons video games are so addictive is because you get rewarded for the things you do. Not like in the real world.”
“That’s not true,” Margaret said trying to urge the children to be optimistic and leaving them some hope for their adulthood. Mayah quickly crushed her delusion.
“Ever been passed over for a promotion because of sexism or nepotism?”
“Well…”
“Point made.”
Margaret hmphed.
“Do good, get goods. Get good goods helps to Git gud gooder,” Grax said over his shoulder as he walked past Margaret
Mayah snickered.
“Wait what?”
“That actually makes sense,” Margaret mused.
“Imagine if the real world worked like that?” Mayah snarked.
"I know, right?” Grax exclaimed.
“Well, here we are.” Mayah motioned to the darkness of the temple surrounding them. “Let’s see what goods we get, to get gooder.”
They walked across the bridge and into the shadow garden. When they got close to the port stone their bracelets flew into the air. A band of blued Damascus steel was added to the bracelet, and they floated back to the paladins.
You have defended the Temple of Umbrasom
600XP
3508XP till next level
Bonus rewards:
For keeping the temples integrity above the 80th percentile you receive:
The Boon of Umbrasom: Shadow Eye (Max level)
No shadow, nor complete lack of light can hinder your vision. This does not extend to magical darkness unless the darkness is cast using shadows.
For reserving 1097 Build points you will receive
1097x3 experience points.
3291XP
217XP till next level
Mayah watched as Margaret and Grax Leveled up.
You have received: