Pangea Online: The Complete Trilogy

by S. L. Rowland

  That’s why we have practice. But there are only so many days left.

  I’m about to call out to Kindra when I notice the trajectory of the arrows changes. They all straighten and move in towards one another in a tighter formation. Kindra has her hand pressed to her temple. The arrows move in perfect harmony and each one hits a vital location on the scarecrows.

  I should have known. All the archers need to do is fire the arrows and Kindra handles the rest.

  “Well done!” I applaud as I move in closer. “Brilliant work, everyone.”

  “Esil! It’s good to see you!” Kindra rushes to me and does something completely out of character. She hugs me.

  “You all have been busy. The town is far more prepared than I had imagined it would be. I think we have a good chance at holding our own.”

  “We may indeed. I’m hoping you have the final pieces to the puzzle.” She smiles.

  “I have a few ideas. Have you seen Jacob? I’m going to need workers and lots of tree branches. I also need to see Tarence so I can have him start on a few designs. I convinced Carter to lay down for a while. He looked like hell from setting up all of our defenses so far.”

  “He’s pushing himself harder than I thought possible. Jacob should be in the council room and Tarence is at his forge. He’s been working just as hard as Carter, if not more so.”

  First, I go to the blacksmith. The task for Tarence is simpler and won’t need my supervision once I give him the details.

  Tarence stands hammering at a glowing piece of metal that he has just pulled from the furnace. Sweat streams down his face and his powerful muscles contract as he works. Sparks fly and the anvil rings with each powerful hit. His frizzy hair bounces around like foam caught in a turbulent sea. A pile of farm tools lays at Tarence’s feet. Next to them in another pile are the reforged weapons, where shovels and pitchforks have been hammered into spears with much sharper and deadlier tips.

  “How’s the progress?” I ask.

  “You’re back,” he says in between strikes. The glowing metal shapes into a pointed edge and then Tarence cools it in a bucket of water before setting it to the side. “We will have enough spears for every man and woman who wishes to fight. Swords are another matter altogether. We have the goblin’s swords you brought back, and we have the swords from the guards. Not nearly enough, but we will make do with what we must.”

  “Do you think you could take some time away from this to make something for me?” I ask.

  “What is it?”

  “They are called caltrops. Basically, it’s a sharp piece of jagged metal with four pointy ends. Three of the ends are always on the ground with the fourth pointed in the air. Kind of like a jack. If we have enough of them, we can set them in the fields and take out some of their cavalry.”

  “Interesting. Can you show me a design?” he asks.

  On a piece of parchment, I draw a caltrop. Making sure to note that three prongs should always touch the ground. Tarence looks the parchment over and nods.

  “I can do this. I’ll need more metal, though. I have enough to get started, but if you want to surround the town, I’ll need a hell of a lot more. Tell Jacob I have need of him.”

  “Will do.”

  Jacob sits at the table in the council room, looking over a map of the countryside. He has a handful of brightly colored rocks placed in various locations on the map. He runs his fingers through his gray beard.

  “How’s it looking?” I ask.

  He lets out a deep sigh.

  “I’ve never had to defend against an invasion before. I’ve dealt with the bandits as best I could. This… I was not prepared for this.”

  Jacob buries his head in his hand. I can only imagine what he must be feeling. Tasked with governing a small town for the king and then thrust into a battle with creatures that were largely thought to be myth.

  “You’re doing a fine job. The city is better defended with each passing hour. When the time comes to fight, we will be ready.”

  “Do you really think so?” His brown eyes plead with me.

  “I do, but I need your help with something.”

  “Anything if it will help save the city.”

  “Gather me every man with an axe and as many wagons as we can spare.”

  It doesn’t take long for Jacob to gather some two dozen men who are not working on other defenses. We pile into three wagons and set off for the closest forest.

  We arrive at the forest and I gather all the men around me. Both fear and excitement radiate from their eyes.

  “You weren’t prepared for what is about to come. Hell, how could you be? The world changed right before your eyes, and now you have no choice but to change with it. My friends and I, we’re going to do our best to make sure that Carolton goes into this new age as strong as she left the old one. You will all be a part of that.”

  They all stare at me. Men of different ages, some younger than me, and others past their prime, one looks to be older than Grayson. Perhaps not knowing what to say. Maybe afraid to speak it into existence.

  “Can someone lend me an axe?” I ask.

  A young man, not much younger than me, holds his axe out to me.

  “My goal is to have their army hurting before they ever make it to the walls of Carolton. Maybe even convince them to turn back. That’s going to start with abatis. They are one of the most simple forms of defense known to man.”

  The axe feels natural in my hand as I swing at a tree trunk about the size of my wrist. The tree itself is maybe fifteen feet tall, perfect for what we are about to make.

  With the tree cut down, I take the axe and begin chopping the branches and shaping them into sharp points. When I’m finished, there are dozens of sharp points ready to rip into anything that tries to cross them.

  “This is an abati. Cut the tree, sharpen the branches, and then set them in line together to form a barricade that cavalry cannot cross and soldiers have to divert around. If we place them strategically, with small gaps in between each row, then it will force the army to funnel their soldiers and our archers will be able to pick them off. Not to mention, it will slow their progress and if we’re lucky, it might impale a few riders.”

  For the next several hours, some of the men chop trees and sharpen their branches while others load them into wagons and begin forming a barricade around Carolton. The town looks more formidable with each passing minute.

  “Jacob, can you monitor the rest of the construction? I have a few more things I need to take care of.”

  “Absolutely. This is a great idea you had, Esil.” He looks more relieved than when I found him in the council room.

  “Don’t mention it. And, Jacob, make sure you take the same route back. I don’t want anyone getting hurt with what I’m about to try.”

  Now that the physical defenses are being taken care of, it’s time for me to work my magic. I doubt I’ll be able to create a small army of plant creatures that can be left alone to fight, but maybe I can do something to help turn the tide when the moment comes.

  With my enchantments removed from my sword and shield, I have the full mana pool available for today’s work.

  What is the most practical use of enchantments for the coming battle? I need something that will disrupt and damage the enemy. It would be a bonus if it also caused panic. Something where they must fear every step they take.

  The tiger pits cross my mind again. I chose not to construct them because it seems like the time it would take to dig the holes and plant the spikes could be used more effectively elsewhere. Once the first goblin falls through the pit, then it would be unlikely the others would fall in unless we were fighting at night.

  But what if I could cause that same fear without giving warning to the rest of the horde?

  I find a rock and pick it up. Channeling my mana, I focus it into the rock with the intent of having it explode once stepped on.

  Congratulations! You have created Rock Land Mine. When pressure is applied to
the rock, it will explode for 50 damage. One-time use. Cost: 100 mana per rock.

  Curious as to how well my medieval magic mine will work, I toss the rock high into the air and step back. It hits the ground with an explosion of dirt and grass and when I check the scene, a crater a foot wide and six inches deep is all that remains.

  Hell yeah!

  I create two more mines and place them at various locations throughout the field. Tiny red dots let me know where they are so I don’t accidentally step on them. Other members of my group and the townspeople won’t be so lucky. I’ll need to place them far out and then add the remainder when we are no longer traveling to the woods for lumber. The last thing I would want is to inadvertently kill a villager. Once the battle is over, I can disenchant any remainders all at once.

  I walk the perimeter of the town for the remainder of the afternoon, setting up landmines. Whichever direction the goblins decide to attack from, they’ll pay a steep price before they ever make it to our defenses.

  When the sun sets, the entire town gathers in the courtyard to eat the dinner Gertle and her helpers cooked. I talk with Kindra, Carter, and the town council on the day’s progress, making sure to warn them about the mines I have placed in every direction except for the path to the forest.

  Tarence informs me that he has made roughly fifty caltrops and has plans for at least a hundred more.

  The only person with nothing to contribute is Clinton, the moneylender. We have made so much progress with magic and natural items, plus re-forging tools into weapons, that there has been no need for his money, not that any of the neighboring towns would likely part with their items under the circumstances.

  We finish eating and I find two nearby torches. They cast enough light for us to eat under, but nothing more. I enchant them both to produce enough light to ignite the courtyard like it is day.

  People gasp at the sudden influx of light and I use the opportunity to grab their attention.

  “You’ve made great progress today, but defenses are only half of the battle. Now you must learn to fight.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  You have created Training Sword. While active, this blade deals no damage. Cost: 50 mana

  Excellent! This is even better than a wooden training sword because it feels and moves like the real thing. It will give the townspeople a feel for what real battle is like and the fatigue of holding a weapon for hours.

  “Who wants to go first?” I ask the crowd of villagers before me.

  The courtyard hangs in silence until a young man steps up. I remember him from the alleyway when I first spawned back in the city after being pulled from the game. He looks sheepish, wearing tattered clothing with his shaggy red hair hanging over his eyes.

  “I’ll go,” he mumbles.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Neil.”

  “Alright, Neil, let’s see what you’ve got.”

  I toss him a sword. He catches it by the hilt just before it hits the ground. Feeling the blade in his hand, he stands a little taller.

  “Nice catch,” I say at the same time as I slash at him. He’s too slow to react and the blade hits him in the shoulder.

  He falls to the ground and stands up shocked that it didn’t hurt.

  “Had that been a real hit, you would have lost your arm. The first thing you must always remember is to be prepared. Your enemies will not wait until you are ready. They will cheat because out there—” I point beyond the walls, “—it is life and death.” I swing again and this time, he raises his sword. Our blades connect with a clink and he parries my sword to the side.

  I attack again, and he blocks. Over and over, I slash as Neil practices the move that may save his life someday soon. We go until the boy’s arms shake and he can barely hold the weight of the sword.

  “Good job, Neil. Now take a break and give someone else a chance.”

  My mana pool increased over the course of the day as I kept constructing more and more mines, bringing my total mana pool up to four hundred. I’m able to create eight training swords and have the villagers pair up into groups, taking turns attacking and defending. I’m not an expert by any means, but my time in Pangea has equipped me with at least a basic sense of sword-fighting.

  For the next couple of hours, I drill with as many villagers as possible, correcting their stances and offering feedback where I can. They have a lot to learn, but hopefully the next couple of days will give us the opportunity to improve.

  I feel proud of the day’s progress when I dismiss them for the night. Jacob approaches me, smiling.

  “Not a bad training session. Some of them look like they might actually have promise.”

  “They do. And they will only get better. I think we should all get rest if we can. I’d put someone in the guard towers on a four hour rotation to be safe. We want to be in the habit of preparedness.”

  Taking our leave, Kindra, Carter, and I retire to Priscilla’s for the night.

  “Where do you think she is?” I ask Kindra. In the pit of my stomach, I have a feeling that Priscilla knew what was coming. That this is all some kind of test.

  “No idea.” She shrugs.

  “Has she ever done this before? Just up and vanished?”

  Kindra shakes her head as Carter steps into the room.

  “Florian is sleeping outside. When he doesn’t move, he looks just like a tree. Sometimes he’s so still that I forget he’s there. Poor guy has gotten too big to come inside.” There’s a slight frown when he says it.

  “It’s nice to have him watching over us, though,” says Kindra. She takes Carter by the arm. “Get some rest.”

  Carter takes Priscilla’s bed, and I fall asleep in a large cushioned chair.

  I have the same dreams as before. My brain glows with a neon aura as tiny sparks travel across its surface, replaying memories. It’s almost like I can feel the static as they travel about, making my head feel warm and fuzzy. Before I know it, the crow of a rooster sounds through the town, telling me it’s time to rise.

  Groggily, I sit up and attempt to gather my thoughts, mentally recounting what still needs to be done, when a loud bang on the door startles me.

  The beating continues frantically until I open the door, where a wide-eyed woman screams at me.

  “There are people at the gate! Naked and covered in blood. Jacob sent me for you.”

  Kindra and Carter stumble into the room behind me just in time to hear the woman’s words.

  “We best go check it out,” says Carter, stretching his arms over his head.

  We hustle to the gate as the sun begins to rise over the wall. What the hell could possibly be going on? My first thought is that the goblins have attacked a small farm. Could they already be so close?

  A crowd gathers around the gate by the time we arrive. Guards peer through the slats and Jacob stands behind them expectantly.

  “They say they know you,” he says.

  “What? How? You are the only people I know.”

  “Take a look for yourself.” He motions towards the gate.

  I peer through the slat in the gate. Buzz and Grayson stand on the other side, hands covering their nethers. It’s not the version of them I have seen in Pangea so many times. No, they look the same as in real life. Buzz is young and lean with his hair buzzed close, a scar running down his left cheek. Grayson, old and fragile compared to his avatar and much less bearded. I don’t even know how it is possible that they are here.

  “Let us in. Let us in. Let us in!” chants Buzz. “There are so many painful and scary things out here.”

  “Open the gate. And see if we can find these two some clothes,” I tell no one in particular.

  Buzz and Grayson rush through the gate and it is quickly slammed shut behind them.

  “Esil, it’s so good to see you!” says Buzz. “I’d give you a hug, but, you know.” He looks down at his hands.

  “What are you two doing here? How are you two here?” I ask.

&
nbsp; “Well, actually—”

  “Hold that thought. Jacob, can we use the council room for a moment?” I don’t want anything they say to be overheard by the town.

  “Be my guest, but I hope to have a full explanation when you are finished.”

  “Kindra, Carter, I hope you’ll understand, but I need to talk to them in private first.”

  They both nod and someone comes running, carrying clothes for both Buzz and Grayson. They turn away from us and pull the tunics and pants on quickly.

  In the council room, we are finally able to speak freely.

  “So…”

  “This place is crazy!” says Buzz. “I didn’t know it was possible to feel a game like this. Look at my feet.” He lifts his foot up. They are bloodied and bruised, pieces of flesh hanging off in spots. “I can already feel them healing. Everywhere I stepped, the ground just kept exploding. It hurt like a son of a bitch. You have this place really well defended.”

  “We’re preparing for an attack. We can talk about the game later. First, I want to know how you are here.”

  “Benjamin offered us a job,” says Grayson. “He asked if we wanted to know where you had been spending all your time. This is truly something else.”

  “Yeah, we went through a physical, and next thing we know, they were hooking us up with wires and dropping us in this jelly goop. We spawned in the middle of a field completely naked with no instructions. This was the first town we saw. I’m running through the field and the next thing I know, the ground starts exploding under my feet. I mentioned your name at the gate and you have no idea how happy I was when they recognized it.”

  For the next little while, I fill Buzz and Grayson in on Carolton and The Broken Lands, telling them about magic, the goblins, the people, and most importantly, not to tell the NPCs this is a game.

  “So let me get this straight. There is the ancient, beautiful, sometimes ugly, but always powerful lady who sends you on a quest to find magic and then she just disappears when you get back?” asks Buzz.