by Erik Weir
“This is going to turn into a bloodbath really quick unless we think of something,” Victor said as his mind worked.
“Fuck ‘em,” Zeb said and drew his gun.
Astor reached over, touched the side of the gun with her hand and gently pushed it down. Zeb complied but the fire in his eyes didn’t die. Victor watched the exchange and could see the eagerness for bloodshed all around him. The Slingers were ready to go out guns blazing and the Spell swords and Casters were expecting it. Glancing around the room again, a tapestry of fear and anger touched all.
The last thing Victor wanted to do was put everyone’s life in further danger. Mind searching for ideas, a small plan formed.
“Lily and I will go out there to negotiate,” Victor stated.
Many sets of eyes and heads turned to Victor.
The Blade continued, “Astor, keep all the Slingers inside while we try to talk them down.”
Victor turned his gaze through the crowd to Dawn, “Take Skye, Kira, Vonn and Yimer out the back and head east further into the Forsaken lands.”
The elf with glasses acknowledged with a nod.
Victor looked to Shyryth, “Guard them until they are all safely away.”
“What about you and Lily,” Shyryth asked.
“There isn’t a place that can hold us for long. Once we fall asleep, we can escape to Vala’s realm. But before that, we might be able to gain some intel on what’s happening with the Authority. They have a hate-on for all of us and maybe it’s time we find out why.”
Victor looked to Lily, “If you want to do this with me?”
The succubus smiled. “I thought you would never ask.”
Eric shook his head, “This is a shit plan. Astor, we can’t let these fuckers push us around. We need to make a stand against them or they will never leave us alone.”
Several Slingers murmured in agreement.
Astor stood tall and looked to the gathered Slingers. “The Steel Coalition defends those who cannot defend themselves. Victor and Lily can defend themselves against this threat. We must think of others before our own fears. We follow Victor’s plan.”
“I’m not afraid,” Eric said with a frumpy crossing of his arms.
Astor shot him a look of no nonsense.
Eric looked away and let his arms uncross and fall to his sides. “You heard Astor, follow Victor’s lead.”
Victor nodded, “Thank you Astor.”
The Slinger gave him a small smirk. “We will make sure everyone gets out safe.”
Victor gave the Slinger a smile before moving to the main doors. Lily followed, staff in hand. Victor glanced back to see all of Vala’s acolytes staring at him with heartfelt eyes. Skye and Kira held each other while the four dragon women gazed on the Blade with courage in their eyes. Dawn mouthed the words “be safe” before stepping back to Kira and Skye. Astor signaled the Slingers in the room to pull back from the windows and remain quiet. The crowd followed Astor’s commands, moving away and staying out of sight.
Lily reached over and took Victor’s hand into hers. The Blade and Shield let their eyes linger on one another before the Blade gently pulled Lily with him to the front doors. Astor gave them a silent nod as everyone else looked on with heavy hearts.
The doors opened and the couple stepped out. The muddy street was filling with townsfolk, confusion coloring their expressions and nervous glances to the force entering their town. Some eyed the man and demoness as they stepped from the tavern and made their way to the middle of the street. The air was cool and bodies mulled about as the leader of the mage force stopped walking and looked from the people gathered along the street edge to the man and succubus.
“Do you think this is going to work,” Lily asked.
“I have no idea,” Victor whispered before he took a few steps forward, leaving Lily behind.
The Spell sword eyed the man in Slinger gear, his face a stony mask.
Victor kept his hands to his side as he smiled broadly. “Greetings…Aldus?”
“Who are you,” Aldus asked with an elitist flair in his tone. Behind him, Spell swords and Casters readied themselves.
“I thought for sure they would know who I am,” Victor whispered to himself before puffing out his chest and speaking louder, “My name is Victor and this lovely demon with me is Lily. We are surrendering ourselves to you.”
Aldus kept his stony gaze, shadows under his eyes. “Step aside while we search for the criminals hiding here.”
Victor blinked.
The Spell sword pulled out a rolled-up scroll from his belt and unfurled it. “By the order of the Authority, we are here to take into custody two Kurggoth and arrest all Slingers in town. No person carrying a Slinger weapon is allowed beyond the border towns. This is a breach of Authority law and those here will be punished.”
The Spell sword rolled it up and stuck it back in his belt. “Where are the criminals?”
Victor blinked again but many townsfolk in the street pointed toward the tavern.
Aldus lifted his nose in the air but never took his gaze off of Victor, “You may be dressed like a criminal but you don’t have their weapons. Step aside while we search and if you interfere, you will be arrested.”
Victor thought fast, “We...we are the Slingers you’re looking for. There isn’t anyone else here. Take us into custody and we will tell you everything about our…um…evil plans.”
Aldus shook his head slightly, “Arrest them and search the tavern.”
Two Spell swords broke from the front line and walked past Aldus. Hands flexing, blue-white energy began to glow around their fingers as they eyed Victor and Lily. Victor cursed under his breath. He thought for sure they were actually after him. Hoping the rest made a discreet exit, Victor began walking toward the two Spell swords with a wide smile. When they were nearly to each other, the Tavern doors opened and Astor stepped out. Slingers and dragon women followed and not far behind, Dawn, Skye, Kira, Vonn and Yimer joined them.
Victor turned and waved his hands, “Go back!”
Astor gave the Spell swords a hard stare as she walked with no fear. The Slinger moved in a straight line to Victor and the Spell swords. The man and woman close to Victor backpedaled, energy snaking from their hands to form swords and shields. Lily stepped up to one side of Victor as Astor stepped to his other side. The Slingers made a line with the dragon women, forming up shoulder to shoulder. Behind them, the rest stood; eyes on the invading force.
“You were supposed to make a discreet exit,” Victor smiled.
Astor stared at the Spell sword while she spoke to Victor, “The town is already surrounded. Shyryth and Vonn were not going to leave your side and we knew this was our fight too.”
Aldus leered. “Astor Korr, you are a wanted woman just like the rest of your pathetic coalition. I’m pleased to see your surrender.”
Astor tipped her hat just enough for the rim to cover her eyes. “We will not surrender tonight or any other night. We peacefully ask you to leave.”
Aldus’s leer turned into an amused smile. “You are in no position to negotiate. The town is surrounded, you have crossed the border and entered the West illegally. This calls for your arrest and imprisonment.”
Victor waved his hands toward the Spell sword, “This could get ugly and there are innocent people on the street. Can we at least have the townsfolk enter their homes or leave the area?”
Aldus kept his gaze on Astor, “This will end peacefully when Astor, with her brothers and sisters in iron, take off their weapons and place them on the ground. That is the only option you have. Any other choice and justice will be delivered swiftly and without mercy.”
“You will take our weapons from our cold, dead hands,” Valen shouted from the line of Slingers.
Victor looked to the crowd of townsfolk to the side. Alice stared at Victor with fearful eyes and the Blade’s heart beat a little faster.
“We have to get the townsfolk out of here before everyone starts fighting,�
� Victor said in a hushed tone.
“There’s nowhere to go,” Lily said as she tightened her grip on her staff.
Victor looked around at the situation. Casters and Spell swords readied themselves behind Aldus. From side alleys, patches of Casters appeared. The night air took on a deadly vibration as both sides gave no indication of backing down. Victor eyed Alice, knowing he had to protect her and so many others when the fuse was lit. Fingers flexed as he readied to call upon a sword. Senses dialed to eleven, the Blade turned to take in anything he could use to his advantage.
Aldus took one step forward with a smug smile, “Tonight will go down in history as the first battle to reclaim all of Eddor from Slinger scum like you.”
Astor lifted her head just enough for her gaze to connect with the Spell sword leader, “Tonight will be the night we show the Authority no one can claim our free souls.”
Aldus nodded. “So be it. Arrest th…,” The Spell Sword trailed off when a voice boomed through the town.
“Marvelous! Simply marvelous!” the voice echoed off walls and vibrated along bodies.
Heads and bodies turned to the East end of the main street. Slingers parted to the sides slightly as Victor, Lily, Astor, and Aldus gazed down the street to a lone figure walking toward them.
Vonn turned her head, black eyes growing wider as fear clawed at her heart. “No.”
Victor, Lily, and Astor held their ground as Aldus stared with annoyed contempt. The lone figure made their way along with a relaxed demeanor before a street lantern illuminated his shadowy face.
“It’s so interesting to watch petty disputes unfold,” the man in a black trench coat smiled wide as he stopped by the street lantern.
A chill flowed over every warm body as many turned their attention on the man. Victor’s eyes narrowed, drinking in the large forehead, triangular shaped face and wide eyes. Long, jet-black hair flowed from a widow’s peak and cascaded down over shoulders. The maddening gaze twitched as wide eyes surveyed the groups gathered, the air growing cooler by the second.
Vonn and Yimer backed away, a cloud of fear filling their demeanors. Victor spotted them as they backed up and seeing the expression in their eyes, he looked to the man with a knowing gaze. Lily moved to Victor’s side, staff at the ready.
“As interesting as it is, I have questions for Vala’s Blade and will have to ask everyone to schedule this petty dispute another time,” the stranger said with a toothy leer.
Aldus was not impressed, “Arrest them all! Justice for the Authority!”
The mages and Spell swords advanced one step when the strange man sighed and closed his eyes. Incantations fell from ready lips as mana swords and shields appeared in certain hands. The mood turned jagged until the stranger took a breath and whistled.
The very air burst from the strange sharp sound, blasting anyone standing and sending them to the ground. Glass shattered from windows, spells fizzled and bodies were thrown. Victor jumped on Lily just as the shockwave hit them and sent them flying to the ground. Astor hit the muddy street as did everyone else. Townsfolk were thrown into walls or knocked to the street. Slingers drew their guns just as they were scattered. Aldus was knocked onto his back, senses reeling from the blow. The only ones still standing were the stranger and the four dragon women, their serpent eyes leveled on the stranger.
“Do I have your attention now,” the man said with smile as he stood his ground.
Shock and awe colored every person as they slowly stood back up. Victor turned his head toward the stranger as he helped Lily back to her feet. The succubus’s eyes widened as she and Victor stared at the man in black, a wry grin on his face. Townsfolk huddled together to the side as Spell swords and mages redirected their gazes to the lone man who nearly floored an entire town.
The man’s gaze cut through the crowd, eyes on Victor as he spoke, “You are a difficult Champion to track. You move from one realm to the next like a ghost.”
Victor readied himself as he kept his hard gaze. A shadowy voice from his heart spoke up, its voice growing louder with each word.
We have to run! I can sense him from here and we cannot win this fight!
The stranger’s eyes took on an amused gleam. “The shadow in your heart has been helping you. Its presence aids in your protection. This is good to know.”
Victor moved from Lily, walking down the middle of the parted crowd and standing at the edge with a clear view of the stranger in black.
“What’s this all about?” Victor said with a hard edge.
The man continued to grin as the street behind him grew darker, blotting out all but the small light illuminating his body.
“This is a learning experience. When I first saw you, my thirst for knowledge could not be contained. Some would say I am transfixed…maybe obsessed, but the truth of the matter, I simply need to know everything about you,” the stranger chuckled.
Victor called up his stats and moved it to the corner of his vision.
Victor Hobbs
Acolytes Unlocked- 24/77
Divine Orbs- 0
Powers to Unlock-0
Spheres of Influence
Str (Gaia)- 7
Con (Nano)- 7
Int (Abyss)- 3
Will (Holy)- 3
Wis (Mind)- 7
Cha (Shadow)- 3
Swords
Iron Sword
Elemental Sword
Gun Blade
Sphere Abilities/Powers
Mind
Speak/Read/Write Languages
Transmutation
Unseen Hand
Enchant Weapon
Gaia
Increased Strength/Speed
Animal Tongues
Jump
Animal Shapeshift
War Form
Summon Monster
Nano
Heightened Senses Upgrade
Shadow
Holy
Abyss
Impulse Control Touch
Victor, I know you have this insane love for doing the right thing, but right now is not the time. Can’t you feel it? His power is coming off in waves. He can kill everyone!
Victor felt something as he stood. Prickling energy touched his skin as if the entire area was about to explode. Glancing to everyone around him; friends, lovers and enemies surrounded the Blade. The whole town was a powder keg, ready for anything to light the match. Confusion touched his mind, but it quickly fell away like a dying leaf in autumn. Heat pumped throughout his body as a fierce need to protect surged into every cell. Glancing to the townsfolk, Alice the shopkeeper met Victor’s gaze with pure, distilled fear.
The stranger bowed his head, “I am being rude. Social etiquette dictates I introduce myself. My name is Draygon, pleased to meet you.”
Draygon looked up as he bowed slightly, eyes holding a glowing intensity.
“Do not say your name! It will create a connection,” Vonn shouted from the side.
Victor remained silent. Draygon’s smile faded as annoyance crawled into his features.
“I simply want to learn about you. Tell me your name and I will leave you all to your petty squabbles.”
Victor’s eyes became thin slits as he sized up the mystical stranger. “Leave or we will make you leave.”
Draygon’s smile returned as eyes trembled with madness. “You do not understand how this works. You tell me what I want to know and I leave without harming anyone. I would hate to extract the information from your skull, it tends to get a bit messy.”
Draygon’s face twisted into deep sadness when Victor remained silent. “Baaldir, Hexnia and Luhorr tried to fight me and they failed. What makes you think you can stop me from destroying every soul here?”
Victor’s ears perked up upon hearing Baaldir’s name. The god of the hunt was powerful on his own and the other two names most likely belonged to other gods in the pantheon. If Draygon fought them and they lost, what chance did he have against such a monster?
“
From your expression I see the weight of knowledge pressing down on you. Tell me your name and I will leave,” Draygon hissed sweetly.
Victor gave Draygon a grim look, “No.”
The man in black kept a sad smile. “Then you leave me no choice,” Draygon said as he lifted his hand and stretched out his fingers.
The entire force behind Victor readied themselves. The Blade watched as Draygon’s eyes closed and his oddly long fingers twitched. The night air grew heavier with each passing moment. Energy caressed exposed skin among the crowd. The town’s folks let out scared noises and huddled together tightly. A chill sank into spines as Lily shuddered and tried to shake it off. Shyryth and Astor let their hands touch the handles to their rune covered guns, eyes sharp. A silence cascaded over the entire area as Draygon’s head twitched and opened his eyes.
There was a gasp from the town’s folk as reality shifted into crystal shards. A woman vanished from the huddled group and appeared right before Draygon; eyes wide in disbelief. Shadows leapt up and formed a sword in Draygon’s hand as he looked to Victor.
The Blade took an involuntary step forward as Alice yelped, the black sword up and held inches from her neck.
“You are one of Vala’s chosen. Call to him…say his name,” Draygon whispered darkly.
Tears filled Alice’s eyes as her lip trembled.
Victor looked to Alice, “Alice…I will protect you.”
The words slid over the woman with a sense of comforting warmth. Fear bled away as she nodded, lips sealing shut.
Draygon sighed. “If you will not say it…I will take it.”
The strange man lifted his other hand and pressed it to the back of Alice’s head. Dark power glowed before Alice’s eyes rolled into her head and she screamed. Draygon’s eyes fluttered as dark tendrils stripped at her mind, gathering points of light to form knowledge. With a dark chuckle, the words began to form when a fist slammed into his face with the force of a hurricane. Draygon was lifted up and blasted backwards, limbs and body flailing as he spun out of control. The muddy road blurred underneath him before he crashed, tumbled, bounced and crashed again. Body rolling and bouncing, after a hundred feet, he hit the ground and slid to a halt on his back.