VARNOTH
The Black Blade
BOOK TWO
A LitRPG Story
Written by: Lavelle Jackson
Dedicated to my incredible wife, Kelly, for your undying support and proofreading eyeballs. I love you more than you will ever know!
CHAPTER 1
The hooves of the stallion thundered along the winding road to Gufaross. The air flowed through the fur on his face and whiskers like a storm. Small pellets of dirt and sand caused Varnoth to squint his eyes from the stinging. Just as the morning sun peaked through the clouds, the shadow panther saw the panorama of the small town of Gufaross. Atlas and his gang of Derelicts tore this town and the families that resided in it apart. Varnoth intended to restore order and make the wrongs committed by Atlas right. He was unsure how many Derelicts were left, but it wouldn’t be enough to cause Varnoth any issues. Little did these punks know, their fearless leader was a bloody pile of flesh on the ground at Darthill Keep. Alec, the second in command, was decapitated and the “governor” of Gufaross, George was rotting in the bowels of the keep. As Varnoth closed in on the entrance to the town, he observed a woman running through the gates. She screamed and stumbled losing her balance. A tall, lanky man ran behind her laughing as he appeared to hold a leather strap. He reached the woman before she was able to get back up and began to lash at her back. Her clothes were torn and didn’t offer a lot of protection against the vicious lashes. The woman screamed in agony and fear.
“Just where the hell you think you going!” the man yelled, “Nobody told you it was fine for you to leave. You are mine now, and you submit to me, you bitch!”
The man not only lashed her with the strap, but he also kicked her in her side. She rolled over to her back. The violent lashes ripped away the remainder of her already shredded dress. The man didn’t stop. He kept striking her chest and face.
“Stop!” screamed Varnoth as he dismounted the stallion and unsheathed his obsidian daggers.
The man stopped his arm in mid-swing and looked at the approaching cat man. He squinted to get a better look.
“What the hell? Your cat ass should be at Darthill!” yelled the lanky man as he stood up reaching for a sword that wasn’t there.
The man’s attention diverted quickly from Varnoth to his belt as he frantically searched for a weapon. While this took place, a middle-aged blonde lady ran outside of the gates to the writhing naked woman on the ground. The woman covered her with a sheet and helped her up. The leather whip had left large gashes in her skin. The blood seeped through the thin sheet as the woman sobbed and limped back into town.
“Dammit, I left my sword in the house,” said the man, “Listen, man, we can talk about this. No need to do anything foolish. That woman was a new whore. She didn’t want to comply with her new job, so I had to discipline her. That’s it. Business is business,” said the lanky man as he shrugged.
Varnoth stood staring deep into the man’s soul, “I am sure you aren’t aware yet, but your boss, Atlas, has relinquished his control over this town.”
“Ha, Ha, you know that is awfully funny. That doesn’t even sound like it could be true. Just how dumb do you think I am pussy cat?” asked the lanky bandit. He turned and yelled to a man staring out the second floor of the first building on the left.
“Hey, get all the boy’s asses out of bed and out here now! We have us a new visitor,” exclaimed the bandit.
The man in the window nodded and went deeper into the building yelling muffled commands. This turned out to be an optimal turn of events for Varnoth. This way he wouldn’t have to go from house to house looking these scum bags. Slowly but surely they came out of the scattered buildings. They all appeared to be sleepy and hung over from the night’s festivities.
“Yeah, man, you were lucky to escape. You should have kept going. Coming back to this town was a mistake."
“What in the sam hill is going on Walter?”, asked one of the approaching bandits, “It’s too damn early for this shit!” exclaimed the bandit.
By Varnoth’s count, there were 12 Derelicts showing themselves. They all appeared to be hung-over. They were in no shape for a fight. Some of the idiots didn’t come out with a weapon.
“Atlas is dead! Alec is dead! George is dead!! Every Derelict at Darthill is maggot food this morning,” said Varnoth, “Your days of theft, savagery, and rape are over!”
A hush fell over the motley group as their hung-over brains attempted to process the situation. The men who did have weapons, equipped them in preparation to attack.
“You’re full of shit pussy cat. Do you think we are stupid enough to believe you killed everybody?” said the lanky man. Several of his compadres began to laugh loudly.
“I will allow every one of you dirtbags one chance to drop your weapons and leave this town quietly. I plan to cleanse this town, peacefully or by killing all of you. It’s your choice; make it now,” demanded Varnoth.
The majority of the gang laughed and mocked Varnoth. There were a couple that believed what Varnoth threatened. They battled with their fear of Varnoth and the fear of betraying their friends.
“So you think you are going to kill all twelve of us? Cleanse us maybe? You are out of your damn mind, cat,” said the lanky Derelict.
“Nah man, I’m out,” said a Derelict as he held his hands up and backed away.
“Me too, I heard what this dude done to my buds at that farm,” said another man walking away.
The lanky man turned and said, “You stupid, coward mother...”
A dagger plunged through the back of his skull through the right eye socket. Varnoth ripped the dagger back out with blood, brains, and hair dangling from the obsidian blade. The Derelict plopped down lifeless to the dirt. A cloud of dust billowed up as the other Derelicts gasped in horror. Some had sense enough to equip a weapon, but the others just stood frozen in fear.
Varnoth activated Stealth Shade and vanished.
“Where the hell did he go? Shiiiii,” yelled a Derelict just as a blade ripped open his belly and his entrails fell to the ground.
The man dropped to his knees and fell over to his right screaming in horror. The men that didn’t have weapons turned to run in different directions, each direction was out of town. The four that were left, held their swords frantically searching for the bloodthirsty shadow panther. One Derelict screamed as he fell to the ground. Varnoth severed both Achilles tendons. He became visible and rolled between two of the Derelicts while activating Blade Shield. The black blades tore the men apart while they tried to swing their swords at the black cloud of death.
The last Derelict dropped his sword and sprinted toward the woods. He lost his footing quickly after he began his escape and fell to the dirt face first. The gravel and rock ripped into his check. His face burned like fire from the friction with the ground. He quickly slammed his palms to the ground to force himself back to his feet. The Derelict’s feet couldn’t gain traction, and he fell prone once more. The man rolled onto his back to look for the panther. Varnoth stood over top of the fallen Derelict, and he stomped him in the throat. The man’s trachea broke, and he could no longer breathe air into his lungs. Instead of finishing the job with a dagger, Varnoth stared at the man as he thrashed from the suffocation. The dying man’s eyes were bloodshot, and his tongue hung outside of his mouth.
Varnoth then turned as heard the Derelict with the severed Achilles tendons moan from the ground where he laid. Varnoth walked toward the man and activated Black Rain. A black cloud swirled above the writhing man. Black daggers dropped from the cloud, piercing the Derelict all over his body. Blood pooled around his body as his life drained out of the dozens of holes in his flesh.
Varnot
h scanned his surroundings for any other attackers that were waiting to strike. He saw a large group of townspeople standing outside the gate glaring at the carnage in front of them.
You have gained 2400 experience points!
Varnoth sheathed his weapons so he wouldn’t scare the townspeople. He walked towards the ever-growing group with his hands raised.
“You have nothing to fear. You are free. The Derelict gang is no more. Atlas is no more,” said Varnoth.
The crowd stared in disbelief. That disbelief soon turned to happiness and relief. They cheered in triumph.
“Please take back whatever these men took from you. Also, send some men to Darthill Keep. There is a multitude of riches you can use to rebuild this town into something better,” said Varnoth.
“Sir, how can we ever repay you?” asked a young boy bowing in front of the shadow panther.
“Rise to your feet boy. I am no king. Repayment is not needed. The village thriving in the future will give me plenty of satisfaction. Well, I could use a bed for the night. I am exhausted,” Varnoth replied.
Every person in the town yelled in relief as they offered Varnoth a soft bed to rest for the night.
Varnoth
Level 12
Shadow Panther
Black Blade Legendary Class
Attributes:
Strength – 80
Dexterity – 93
Intelligence – 40
Vitality – 92
Skills:
Stealth Shade
Black Rain + 1
Blade Shield
Passives:
Acrobatics
Night Vision
Detection
Executioner
CHAPTER 2
Varnoth awoke from a deep sleep to the smell of meat cooking from the kitchen in the home of William Marth. Will was happy to offer the shadow panther a bed to sleep in after his cleansing of the Derelict menace in his hometown of Gufaross. Varnoth squinted his eyes as he adjusted to the morning light that pierced the room. The black cat arose and gathered his weapons and other belongings and headed downstairs. The closer he came to the bottom of the staircase, the stronger the sweet smell of the cooking meat slapped him in the face.
“Did you sleep well, my friend? My bed isn’t the best, but I hope it helped you get some rest,” said Will.
“It was amazing. Thank you, Mr. Marth.”
William Marth was a tall and muscular middle-aged human who stood hunched over a bit while finishing up the breakfast. He had long, brown braided hair that laid halfway down his back. He appeared to be of modest means. His clothes were crude and had seen better days. He retrieved smoldering boar meat off the stove and brought it to the table. Varnoth’s nostrils flared, and his mouth watered. Varnoth had eaten raw meat over the past week. While raw was tasty, it had nothing on properly cooked meat. William put a large mug of angel plum juice beside the steaming meat.
“Please eat. It isn’t much, but I don't want you to leave here on an empty stomach. Oh yes, I almost forgot,” said William as he retrieved a loaf of bread out of the cupboard.
“This meal is incredible and appreciated more than you know,” replied Varnoth as he dug into the meat.
The juices from the boar meat were invigorating. Varnoth closed his eyes as he concentrated on enjoying every bit of flavor before swallowing. William held back the small talk so Varnoth could enjoy his meal. He appreciated William’s courtesy. Varnoth had never been comfortable in social situations. William turned his broad back to Varnoth to clean the kitchen while he ate. It was bizarre seeing a man of Williams’s stature doing what he usually witnessed women doing. Varnoth finished his food and downed the mug of delicious angel plum juice. He belched after he was done.
“Excuse me, William. I should have better manners,” said Varnoth with a speck of embarrassment.
“Varnoth, you don’t have to apologize. You have earned the respect of me and this entire town,” William said as he wiped his massive hands with a cloth rag.
“Mr. Marth...,”
“Nonsense, please call me William. If anyone should be called mister, it should be you,” commanded William as he motioned for Varnoth to stop.
Varnoth nodded and asked, “Do you live by yourself?”
William’s face immediately paled, and he turned to look out the window toward the dusty street.
“I do now. The Derelicts took my wife while she was returning from the food store. She was found ravaged and strangled in an alley not far from the store. She was pregnant. I should have never let her go to the shop alone. Her death was my fault,” replied William with a feeble voice on the verge of tears.
“Gods, William. These Derelict scum were indeed an abominable evil. I should have done something sooner. I am sorry. You have to realize this isn’t your fault, “ replied Varnoth.
“Thank you for what you did for us. I was her husband. It was my job to protect my family, and I failed. If you don’t mind, I would like to stop talking about this. Please forgive me,” said William.
“There is nothing to forgive William. I understand. What is your profession if I may ask?”
“I have been a blacksmith since I was a boy. My father taught me well. These scum bags made all of the vendors in town pay exorbitant fees to Atlas for our privilege to continue our trade in the town. He took half of my total profits. I had to make weapons for the Derelicts for free as well,” replied William.
William peered out the window at something that caught his attention.
“There is a wagon with some folks that were taken to Darthill many days ago. I must check on them,” said William as he turned to the door.
As Varnoth followed him outside, he saw that it was the women he met at Darthill and other prisoners that were held there. Other citizens began to surround the newcomers. They analyzed the wagon’s contents. The rescued prisoners frantically ran to their loved ones. There was cheering and weeping all around.
“Thank you again Varnoth for saving us at the keep. Thank you also for allowing us to bring the riches back from Darthill to rebuild the lives of Gufaross,” said a woman named Grace.
“This is a small payment in the face of the horrors you have suffered, but it is a start,” replied the shadow panther.
“Friends, there is much more to bring back. This is all we could fit!” Grace said.
As Varnoth watched the townspeople search through the loot, he caught a whiff of smoke. He turned to see smoke billowing up from two houses on the north part of Gufaross.
He saw four of the escaped Derelicts holding torches. They quickly dispersed to different buildings, setting them on fire. Several townspeople grabbed whatever buckets they could find and went to the well in the center of town.
Varnoth lunged into a lightning-fast run toward the Derelict on the Main Street. As he ran, he felt the blazing heat of the fires that were set. The Derelict man threw his torch on the closest house and began to run. Varnoth increased his speed and grabbed his neck in an unbreakable grasp. He picked the man up over his head and threw him into a blazing building on his left. The man ignited and crawled out of the house into the street, screaming in incomprehensible pain. He rolled on the ground in a futile attempt to extinguish the ravaging flames.
Derelict Bandit has died!
You have received 600 experience points!
Varnoth was shocked as he saw the town engulfed in flames in seconds. The townspeople threw buckets of water onto the fire. It was of no use. There was nothing that could be done. Varnoth ran back to the town’s center and screamed for everyone to stop and leave town. William helped him convince the petrified residents to walk out of the blazing town. Varnoth hopped on the wagon and turned it back the way it came before flames could engulf it. The people sobbed and screamed as they watched their homes burn to the ground. They had already lost so much since the Derelict invasion, and now they had lost everything. Some were on their knees, some sat down, and some embraced each other as their faces
glowed from the raging inferno.
CHAPTER 3
Varnoth jumped on top of the wagon and yelled to the crowd, “Did anyone see where the three bandits went?”
“I did, sir. All three ran over to the woods over there!” The man said as he pointed toward the woods to the north.
Varnoth took a long look in that direction and said, “I am willing to bet that they aren’t far. I am certain the sick bastards stood in the forest watching their handiwork. They may still be there.”
After a few moments of thought, Varnoth spoke to William Marth, “William, gather everyone and head toward Darthill Keep. These people need shelter and food. Darthill is the best option. It is very spacious, and it is packed with food. I am going to go on a hunt, and then I will meet you there.”
William nodded as he looked back at the fire. “That is a sound plan. There is nothing more we can do here. This fire will burn for days. We can send a group back to see if anything will be salvageable later. Are you sure you don’t want any of us to go with you? We want these bastards dead!”
“No, I need strong people with the caravan to Darthill. I will be fine. Three Derelict punks will not be an issue. I just need to find them,” replied Varnoth.
You have received a new quest!
Three bandits are on the run after setting fire to the town of Gufaross. Their crime has destroyed the homes and lives of the town’s residents. You must hunt them down and make them pay for their despicable crime.
Do you accept this quest?
Yes or No?
Reward: 2,000 experience points
Reward: Peace of Mind for the terrified townspeople
William nodded and climbed onto the wagon and turned toward the crowd, “Everyone, we are going to Darthill Keep. There we will have shelter, water, and food. There is nothing more that we can accomplish here today. The Keep has been cleared, and we will not be in any danger. I know you are exhausted mentally and physically. However, we need to push forward.”
Varnoth- the Black Blade 2 Page 1