by TJ Reynolds
I am certainly not a deranged dungeon, Ban decided. My humanity, it would seem, is intact.
The bodies cluttered his corridors by the time the troops moved down into the second floor. They’d won access to a deeper level of his dungeon, but the price had been so steep that Ban felt utterly sick.
He prayed to Briga and then to Andag that no matter which side prevailed, not all of the men present would be slain.
Ban heard their screams as well as their undignified cries of terror.
Men who begged absent loved ones for mercy and reprieve weren’t evil men. They were just soldiers carrying out a duty they had no way to avoid.
Coincidentally, as Ban finished this empathetic thought, a tall Hintari wearing lacquered green armor strode forward to take a place at the head of the invading force.
He had a sour look on his face as he scraped some of his fallen comrades’ melted flesh from the stone floor.
“Give me a report and be quick about it,” the man spat out.
A squad leader glanced around nervously.
When he realized he was the highest-ranking soldier other than this newcomer, he spoke up. “Appears to be a wide-open floor beyond this passage, Captain Farsten, sir. Columns fill the room, and there are plenty of places where monsters might be hiding. None can be seen at present other than a handful of those creepy bear monsters with spider arms.”
Farsten, Ban mused. Perhaps a relative of the general. How fortunate.
The captain walked down the passage and stared into the room.
He took in the room for a few long moments before shouting his first commands. “I want a shield wall with pikemen on either flank. Bring up some Hrothmen berserkers as backup.”
“But sir,” the squad leader interjected, “the Hrothmen are positioned outside with the main force.” Captain Farsten merely stared at the squad leader until he figured out the solution on his own. “Sorry, sir. I… I’ll send a runner immediately, sir!”
Ban wished he’d left a trap in reserve for the sneering captain, but there was nothing he could do aside from sit around and loathe the man. It wasn’t much of a challenge, considering how well armed he was compared to his men and his general disregard for them.
The more I see men in overly shiny suits, the more I can understand Kai’s position on the matter, Ban decided. From now on, I’ll only insist he wear velvet in formal situations.
When it became apparent little was to be done while the army waited for these mysterious hammer men to arrive, Ban drifted away to look for Jakodi.
He couldn’t find the old man anyhow, though, so after a time, he called out with his mind. Jakodi! Jakodi, are you still here?
A faint voice answered soon after. I am with you, Bancroft. Look to the top of your keep.
Ban pushed his awareness up into the first floor, and into the archer-filled tower above. Seeing no sign of his friend, Ban moved all the way to the top platform where Rhona had done so much meditation.
At first, Ban saw nothing but wind-swept stone.
Then he noticed the faint disturbance in the air in the center of the platform.
You’re hiding yourself? How is that even possible?
Much like hiding my core, Jakodi answered. A bit more extreme, but the two are very similar in nature. What is it you need, Bancroft?
Ban mentally sighed. Nothing, I suppose. My dragon would be nice. More reinforcements. An end to this pointless battle…
Jakodi chuckled aloud, and the visual shield ripped faintly. Everything is going quite well. Just keep as you are.
The old wizard’s detached response angered Ban slightly. How Jakodi could pretend to act casual in a time like this was beyond him.
Restraining most of his irritation, Ban replied, If you feel like stepping in, you’re welcome to at any time.
I am already at work in defense of your core, Jakodi answered. There is much a wizard can do besides blast people apart with spells.
Like what? Ban asked, unable to help his rising curiosity. Like fill the air with foul ether and suffocate the lot of them?
Again, Jakodi laughed. No. That would not be a worthy goal. I’ll need to ask you to trust me, Bancroft. Just know that I am with you.
Ban thought on the old man’s response good and hard. Not once had Jakodi steered any of them astray.
His loyalty stood unquestioned.
Fine, Ban said before leaving the peak of his keep. But I would love an explanation when this is through.
Jakodi spoke no more, and Ban left him alone with the wind and wizarding.
Down below, Ban found a group of enormous men stomping through the first floor. Their thickly muscled bodies supported pelts of cobalt fur.
At first, Ban assumed they were tamed monsters, but their faces were bare like other men, and they spoke the same tongue as the Hintari.
The men were unarmed, but they bore large war hammers that seemed capable of splitting a shield with ease.
When they arrived, Captain Farsten greeted them coldly. “I expect a bit of nastiness in this room. The dungeon has used a great many traps, but we haven’t seen many minions.
“This room will be for fighting. I want you to support the infantry I send in first. Do you have any questions?”
One of the blue-furred men shook his head. “No. As long as Hintar pays what it has promised, we are ready to fight.”
Ban marveled at the Hrothman’s thick accent, chopped and halting. Also, what did the nobles promise these men?
He let the matters drop as the soldiers formed up in the ranks Farsten described.
Two squads of spearmen took the lead. The first rank interlocked shields, and those behind held their shields at their sides, ready to thrust with spears.
A half-dozen pikemen were ordered to take up positions on both sides of the formation. Ban admired these soldiers. Their armor was thicker than the others, and even their throats, groin, and joints were protected by flexible plates of steel.
Those will be lovely designs to absorb, he thought before realizing the battle was about to commence.
The Hrothmen strode behind, more confident than any creature should be without armor.
Ban moved across the room and stood ready to order his minions.
The Hintari crossed the room, wary for traps and ambushes. The columns spread throughout made them break formation several times, but Ban did nothing to stop their progression.
As they neared his armored obsidian bears, Ban kept the minions still as statues. Finally, one spearman made a careful thrust.
The spearpoint glanced off the bear’s armored shoulder.
Ban waited until another soldier braved an attack to respond. Then he ordered all six bears to advance. The minions struck out with their daggered spider arms at the same time.
To Ban’s infinite pleasure, several of the soldiers shrieked in terror.
Disciplined and well trained, the men collected themselves quickly, and the skirmish began.
With such defense-oriented forces at play, the battle waged without either side gaining an upper hand. Several of the bears took minor injuries, and occasionally, an infantryman received a blow that punctured their substantial armor.
Growing frustrated, the soldiers started alternating their skills. They triggered armor-piercing thrusts that gored two of the bears.
But Ban activated the minions’ skills in response. These obsidian bears looked identical to the others he’d made, but Ban had selected different skills.
The bears self-healed and then pounded the stone floor with their armored paws.
A ripple of Lumen ether surged across the floor and toppled the front rank of soldiers.
Two of the infantrymen were slain, but the battle waged on after their positions were filled by those in the rear.
After ten minutes of laborious struggle, Captain Farsten shouted from the safety of the corridor. “Advance already! Hrothmen, prove your worth!”
One of the blue men growled to his fellows.
“Ready yourselves. On the count of one, two...”
The Hintari soldiers parted their shield wall at the last second, and the Hrothmen strode forward.
Ban unleashed another stunning skill, but the blue-furred men weren’t affected. They walked to within striking range.
The bears stabbed at the men, but the Hrothmen blurred forward. Their hammers pounded the stubborn minions, each shattering the dense armor easily.
A cloud of blue ether filled the air after the hammers landed, evidence the attack hadn’t been mundane.
Two of the bears toppled dead immediately, and three others lost the function of an arm. Impressed, but unfazed, Ban ordered the midnight vipers to emerge from their hiding places among the columns.
While the snakes slithered toward the unwary rank of infantry, a trio of striated stags charged out from the alcove Ban had tucked them away in.
They ran up behind the fallen bears and leapt at the Hrothmen.
One blue man took steel-clad antlers to the neck, and blood sprayed the air. The other Hrothmen counterattacked, however, and the stags were crushed with hammer blows.
This gave Ban’s bears an opening, however, and another blue warrior fell.
Ban called up more bears just as the infantrymen were swarmed by the stealthy vipers.
Chaos ensued.
It wasn’t a one-sided fight by any means. The noble Hrothmen gave up their lives at a high price, and Ban regretted killing them.
More infantry replaced the ones who’d been bit by the vipers. These too were killed, but soon, the Hintari discovered the camouflaged snakes.
They were killed with ether attacks, and then all that kept the soldiers at bay were a handful of stubborn obsidian bears.
Captain Farsten walked into the room, the remaining Hrothmen at his side. “Enough stalling! Take them down at once!”
The blue warriors bared their teeth in outrage. They’d just witnessed several of their own die, and Ban could imagine none were too fond of the captain.
They obeyed, however, and in another minute, the last of Ban’s minions died.
As the group strode toward the stairwell, Ban took a risk. He wanted nothing more than to bring down the leader, and the Hrothmen were proving to be a problem as well.
Charging up from the stairs, The Hammer of Boom scuttled on his beetle legs. He plowed into a group of twenty infantrymen and rampaged in their midst.
For Bancroft and the Elder Dragon! Ross mentally screamed. We’ll show them the strength of the Earth Cores!
Ban cheered Ross’ champion on as it waged a reckless war.
The soldiers’ weapons rebounded off its armored hide, and then were crushed beneath a massive insectile foot or gored by the beetle’s horns.
The Hrothmen engaged, and a brief but terrible fight ensued.
The beetle might have lost but for its signature ability. I won’t go down so easily, oath breakers! Feel my Boom!
Receiving the deafening blast, the blue warriors dropped to their knees, stunned and temporarily vulnerable.
Ross’ valiant champion dispatched them with a second skill. Its horns flared bright, and it slashed through their unarmored bodies with ease.
Captain Farsten roared in anger. “Shivving rabble! You’ve destroyed the last of my Hrothmen!”
Proving himself worthy of his rank, the captain dodged one of The Hammer of Boom’s attacks before unsheathing his side sword.
Farsten swept the blade up in a clean arc and triggered a Wind ether skill, severing the back of the beetle’s neck.
Ban was saddened by the loss, but The Hammer of Boom took out the final seven Hrothmen berserkers and twenty soldiers. The cost felt justified, especially for only being a Golden-ascended champion.
A few minutes later, the captain walked casually behind a fresh unit of infantry. His mood had further soured, which wasn’t surprising.
Ban’s awareness hovered over the man’s shoulders as he strode down the stairwell.
Originally, Ban had cut doors that could swing open and release ambushing minions to harry the invaders.
But he’d received a little help from other Earth Cores, all of whom possessed strengths and abilities Ban hadn’t been aware of.
The Hammer of Boom proved to be one such advantage.
And Farbinoll, the odd and disturbing mushroom champion, was another.
Captain Farsten passed the monster’s position, and Farbinoll shoved out into the stairwell.
The mushroom champion crushed one soldier with its bulk, then gouged the eyes of another that had been preparing to thrust with a spear.
Spinning around with a delightfully surprised grimace, the good captain pulled back his sword to attack. But the thick cloud of faintly glowing spores filled the man’s lungs and did their work in half a heartbeat.
Farbinoll hummed faintly, blowing the spores up and down the stairwell.
Dozens of men collapsed dead on the spot.
Rool chuckled in Ban’s mind, proud of his achievement. Squishy men! They crumble like leaves, Ban! Farbinoll has vanquished your foes!
Well done, Rool, but get your champion to safety immediately. I’d like to use him at least once more.
The mushroom champion scuttled down the stairs even as cries of alarm rose from the soldiers who’d pulled back from the noxious cloud of spores.
Ban allowed himself a moment of satisfaction in the lull that followed.
If the Hintari want my core, they’ll need to try a lot harder than that. I’ll show them the persistence of a crab hiding between two stones. They’ll have to drag me out of my hole pinching and screaming.
22
If Death Spawned Wings
Kai
Flying on exhausted wings, Kai checked his character sheet yet again, hoping he’d made the right decisions when upgrading his Attributes.
Family Name: Kaius Unterinan
Alias: Kai
Level: Viridian 1
Elemental Affinity: Lumen
Accolades: Core Mender, Briga’s Ally, Fundamental Obligation
Attributes:
Strength - 15 = Base 11 (+4)
Dexterity - 16 = Base 10 (+6)
Constitution - 17 = Base 12 (+5)
Intelligence -23 = Base 9 (+14)
Wisdom - 21 = Base 10 (+11)
Charisma - 22 = Base 7 (+15)
Spells: Flame Spear, Restoring Tide, Confounded Core, Breeze Step, Shimmering Shield, Golem’s Favor, Spectral Champion, Helio Inferno, Abyssal Apocalypse.
Placing 5 Attribute Points in Charisma, 4 in Wisdom, and 3 in Intelligence had shifted the focus of his abilities quite a bit.
The 12 Attribute Points earned by ascending to Viridian blew all other advancements away. Like any young man, the notion of increasing his strength and speed tempted him.
But the potency of his spells as well as how effectively he could command took precedence.
He’d also taken up three new spells, each of which he hoped would help him in the coming battle.
The addition of his third Accolade had come as a surprise. When Ban and Rhona asked him about all that had changed with his core and character, he denied them this piece of information.
His reasoning was simple.
The Accolade only granted him the ability to pass on his knowledge to the next Fundamental Dragon. He didn’t feel like discussing this yet, not with a battle ahead.
That would be a talk he, Rhona, and Ban could have when there was time to do so. With it, he would explain the final Spell Scale he’d adopted when ascending to Viridian.
Kai cleared his mind of clutter. That topic wasn’t going anywhere. He needed to stop worrying about tomorrow and concentrate on this reckless flight.
In his desperation to return, Kai had been tempted to leave their armor behind.
But they were flying as fast as they could, burning out each day in nonstop travel, and headed for a battle.
It wouldn’t do to arrive unprepared.
Still, by the tim
e Kai started gliding down the slope that led to the Sunken Keep, his stomach was a series of twisted knots. What if we’re too late? he asked for the hundredth time.
We’re not, Rhona replied automatically. We are exactly on time. Just trust me, Kai. I can feel it.
Would be nice to have such powerful friends, but not everyone can be the great Rhona Bloodspar.
The woman laughed, and the sound eased something cramped in Kai’s heart. You’re one to talk! Mr. Elder Dragon Kai over here. Oh, and that’s when you’re not the esteemed Fundamental Dragon… What’s the difference, anyhow? I mean—
Okay! Okay, Rhona, thank you for the distraction, Kai shot back. But we’ve a battle to attend, and I do think we should both pay attention.
She chuckled but fell silent along with him.
Both had given it their all to keep everyone’s spirits high during the grueling journey. The only reason they’d succeeded so far was a combination of cheap humor, Hazel’s Wind restoration spell, and the favoring winds on the return trip.
Kai swooped up and over the final ridge that blocked his view of the Sunken Keep.
What he saw below clenched his heart in a vise.
He let out a startled, snorting roar, then folded his wings and plummeted.
Rhona shrieked, but she did not otherwise complain.
She had eyes as well, and all could see the Sunken Keep was swarming with enemies.
As Kai came within a few miles of the battlefield, Rhona at last spoke up. Kai! Find somewhere to land. We need a brief rest first, and we should form a plan.
He wanted to rage in defiance, land in the center of the roiling troops, and burn them all to cinders with Flame Spear.
Instead, he conceded the point.
Veering right, Kai found a rock shelf wide enough for all five dragons to perch. He landed and waited impatiently for the others to do the same. Even before Calreem set down, he probed the group’s thoughts. What do you see, Anatoth? How best can we approach this problem?
The Azure snarled, obviously caught up in a rage himself. But he calmed himself enough to answer coherently. I see too many soldiers for us to overwhelm. I see many spearmen, archers as well. Men on horse patrolling the edge of the battlefield. I would say we should try to force the intruders back and make a stand before the bridge. That might be too dangerous, though.