During all this of course, the elves had been raining arrows down from the trees, and Lyre had continued to shoot fire blasts.
It was then that I realized they had bunched up nicely for me, of course they had. They didn’t have a choice given the wall we hid behind was only ten feet wide.
My fire blast shot out, and exploded twelve feet in diameter in the thickest concentration of them. That was a six-foot radius, so they’d all take either full or ninety percent damage, and a good fifteen were in the radius. I put a hundred mana in it, ten was for the area of effect. Ninety plus thirty was a max damage of one hundred twenty. The damage reports appearing in my head were all one eighteen to one nineteen, and those on the outer edge took ninety percent of that.
Lyre followed suit, and fifteen of them just died. Half of them had already taken an arrow or two from the surrounding elves. There were only five goblins left.
Unfortunately, all that explosive fire had melted the ice, or at least damaged it enough and made it rough enough that it gave traction.
Three of the last five lunged and jumped over the wall.
Gwen managed to dodge, and her sword whipped out to knock away the goblin’s attack. Wynn and Anlyth had similar luck, but both took shallow wounds.
Lyre, myself, and the fifteen elves in the trees blasted the last two goblins standing on the outside of the fortifications, and ended them.
Gwen’s sword flicked out in a contemptuous parry, and her return swing bit deeply into his right leg.
The goblin screamed in rage and pain, from both the wound and her curse, and Gwen managed to block the attack, but not ideally and was slammed against the wall by the force of it. The three goblins and my party members were fighting in a ten by six foot space, they didn’t really have enough room to fight properly.
Gwen barked, “Anlyth!”
She launched herself with her sword in the lead, and her lunging strike passed the goblin she was facing, and ran through the one facing Anlyth.
Her goblin thought he had a free shot at her back, and didn’t even see Anlyth’s staff strike out at the back of his head. There was a surge of brown magic from the staff, and a loud crack as the goblin’s skull was split open.
Gwen grinned, and her and Anlyth stepped back with their weapons in a guard pose.
“Need help boss?”
Wynn growled, “No.”
Except Lyre struck out with an air blade spell, that split the leather armor and dug deeply into the goblin’s back.
Wynn parried the goblin’s clumsy attack, as he screamed out in pain, and then whipped his sword up and around, neatly decapitating the last goblin standing.
Congratulations! Forty goblins are dead. You have earned four thousand Experience Points!
You have leveled!
Congratulations! You’ve advanced the Fire sphere to level eight. You have earned ten Experience Points!
Congratulations! You’ve advanced the Water sphere to initiate level eight. You have earned ten Experience Points!
Congratulations! You’ve advanced the Life sphere to initiate level eight. You have earned ten Experience Points!
Congratulations! You’ve advanced the Meditation skill to initiate level eight. You have earned ten Experience Points!
Congratulations! You’ve advanced the Sneak skill to initiate level eight. You have earned ten Experience Points!
Congratulations! You’ve advanced the Builder skill to initiate level eight. You have earned ten Experience Points!
I waited while the rush of new concepts streamed into my mind. It was intense as usual, and got my blood pumping, but at the same time I was getting used to it. I wondered if level eleven would hit me harder since it wouldn’t just be small incremental concepts. I dismissed my windows, and was confused for a moment at the fact we’d only made a hundred experience per goblin, instead of the usual three hundred, but then I realized we’d had fifteen helpers this time, which would account for the difference.
Wynn said, “Stay alert, let’s get moving, now. There could be more out here.”
The fifteen elves made it to the ground rather gracefully, considering the shape they were in. We looted quickly, and headed for the border, which couldn’t be more than a half mile away. Despite Wynn’s caution, which I applauded and agreed with, we didn’t run into any further problems.
When the last elf reached the border, I received another popup.
Congratulations! Denying war resources to the enemy! The elven slaves have been given their freedom! You have earned ten thousand four hundred Experience Points!
Huh, a hundred for each elf. Not bad.
It was time to head home, sell our loot, and meditate on our gains.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Status.
Name:
Jason
Classes:
None.
HP:
174
Regeneration 1.5%/sec.
Race:
Half-Elven / Half Human
Mana:
244
Regeneration 1.8 (2.3)%/sec.
Platinum:
0
Stamina:
199
Regeneration 1.3%/sec
Gold:
57
Level:
8
TNL: 114,980
Silver:
44
Strength:
15
Bronze:
42
Agility:
14
Intelligence:
18 (23)
Willpower
13
Wisdom:
17 (20)
Magical Spheres:
Fire:
Initiate level 8
Water:
Initiate level 8
Air:
Initiate level 1
Earth:
Initiate level 1
Light:
Initiate level 1
Darkness:
Initiate level 1
Life:
Initiate level 8
Death:
Initiate level 1
Skills (Combat)
Combat Skill Name
Description
Level
N/A
Skills (Non-Combat)
Skill name
Description
Level
Sneak
Allows you to move silently.
Initiate Level 8
Builder
You can build a fire and create crude shelters and buildings.
Initiate Level 8
Hunter
Your ability to track and hunt animals.
Initiate Level 7
Meditation
Calm and focus your mind.
Initiate Level 8
It’d been a few hours. We’d gotten back to camp without trouble, and each of us made about five gold in loot. It would’ve been a lot more, but the freed elven captives kept the stuff they took, which was fine. I wasn’t all that fussed about money, I had everything I needed. I’d also managed to get another level in the hunter skill on the way back, just by paying attention to the forest around me, and the signs of animals. I was getting better at noticing that kind of thing. I was sure if I kept up with it, I’d eventually catch up the skill to my level.
We’d all also meditated on our new concepts, and once again I had to rebuild my spells, or at least change the thought process when casting them on the fly. It was a lot. Each level opened up sub-concepts. The initial fire blast spell was maybe three or four concepts, now it was up in the twenties, making it more powerful and effective by degrees. It helped that I now had perfect recall, with an intelligence of twenty-three. My base damage with level and intelligence was thirty-one now, plus five mana which was the minimum to cast the spell, was thirty-six total base damage.
It was late afternoon and we were all sitting around the glade and trying to decompress, while trying not to worry what tomorrow or the next day wou
ld bring. Gwen leaned against me, and I had my arm around her. Lyre was leaning into her mate as well, and Wynn was going over paperwork. The elves were fairly sure the final confrontation was coming up. Either we’d beat back what was left of their militarized overpopulation, and they’d hide in their cave another generation while breeding more warriors, or a lot of elven villages would pay the price. Sure, eventually they’d be stopped anyway, the forces protecting the elven cities and preparing for the race war would crush them, but not until after the damage had been done.
It was up to us to stop it, along with twenty elven scouts and twenty elven warriors in a small outpost. At a guess, we’d be facing five or six hundred, plus who knew how many minor shamans. That was insane.
“So, what’s our plan for not dying?”
Wynn smirked, “Bleed them. Defenders in a siege should be able to face ten to one odds. We’ve built several fortifications along the edge of the forest. It will be a running retreat for four miles, with a short stand every quarter mile. We’ll lead them around the edge of the forest, and then go inside the outpost, which has very high and sturdy walls. Forty-five against four hundred fifty isn’t unreasonable, and I believe with sixteen ambushes along the way we can get them down to that number long before we lock ourselves behind the palisades and take the walls. The five of us will focus on the shamans, and only take out goblin soldiers when they’re dead. Until then, we’ll leave it up to the other forty defenders.”
Gwen said, “Sounds simple enough.”
Wynn nodded, “A good strategy should be simple. Complicated plans always go bad.”
“Not to play devil’s advocate, but won’t we be losing a few on the retreat as well, or even during one of those brief stands?”
Wynn sighed, “We might. We don’t plan on engaging in melee. There’re trenches out there and traps. We’re just going to cause some havoc. All forty of my people have magic. Imagine cursing twenty of them at the time with arrows laced in darkness, while the other twenty soldiers are firing magic along with the rest of you. Just a couple of volleys will cause havoc in the front lines, add in the traps and obstacles our people have put in we’ll be able to maintain a lead. I expect with forty-five of us, and two volleys, we’ll be able to kill at least twenty per ambush, plus one shaman. That’s over three hundred of the enemy down before we reach the outpost. Even just half that number will be a quarter of the attacking force. Most importantly, we don’t want to give any shamans a shot at the palisade with magic, that’s our job, to make sure they’re all dead by then. The quarter mile retreats will allow us all to regenerate mana and come back from minor wounds, so you don’t need to conserve your mana until we reach the outpost for the longer part of the battle. The same is true of them, which is why we need to concentrate our damage. Only those we kill will be truly taken out of the fight.”
I nodded, I supposed the risk was worth taking out the shamans. The palisade will be difficult for the goblins to overrun if they have no supporting magic. In fact, that was probably the major reason why we needed to bleed them in ambushes first. It still sounded risky.
“What if they broke off a hundred goblins and sent them around the outside of the forest, we could retreat to the palisades only to find the ten-support personnel dead, and the walls manned by the enemy. Goblinned by the enemy?”
Wynn nodded, “Humans or elves would do that. You or I would do that. So would hobgoblins, dark elves, gray dwarves, or maybe even orcs and giants. But as I said before, goblins are different. It’s not that they aren’t cunning enough to do it, it’s that they don’t care about ground. They’ll all come at us like a mindless tsunami, to kill us. That’s what they do. Only after their bloodlust has been sated will they loot and pillage, to support their overpopulation.”
I nodded, out of arguments. It sounded wrong, but maybe because I was putting myself in their shoes, and they weren’t human. They didn’t have the same motivations. Humans could be shortsighted at times, but apparently the goblins had us beat hands down in that department.
Gwen squeezed my arm, and stood up.
“I’ll get started on dinner.”
I saw the wood pile was getting smaller, and stood up myself. I’d have volunteered to help cook, but she never said yes.
“I’ll get more wood.”
Gwen shot me a smile of thanks, and I carried that thought into the forest as I searched for downed trees and dead wood. With my water saw, and an elemental to carry it, it wouldn’t take long to restock the woodpile…
Anxiety, excitement, and intense chemistry didn’t even begin to describe how I felt. The sexual tension mixed with anticipation was overwhelming. After we’d eaten dinner, and took our nightly baths, Gwen and I had retired to the cottage. It was a huge step, but I was ready to commit to her, take that last step, I was sure of her, and raw animal attraction and desire had never been an issue between us. At least, not for me it hadn’t been.
We were on my bed, and she was curled up against me. We’d been talking lightly about the future, and as I looked into her eyes I didn’t see any hesitation or doubt there anymore. Just a reflection of the same desire I felt for her. Not just of physical intimacy, though that seemed to be the reigning need between us right in that moment, but of everything else that made lovers, lovers. I wanted to wake up beside her every morning, and support her, be supported, as we made our way through this dangerous and sometimes cruel world. This wasn’t a shallow thing at all, our raw sexual attraction was laid over a solid unshakeable foundation, one that increased those amorous feelings, magnified them, and added meaning to what alone would be shallow.
There’d been a little awkwardness though at first, there always was with first times, which was why we were just cuddling in that moment. I’d been caressing her back, and she’d been tracing the lines in my chest and stomach, while we talked. I leaned my head down to steal a soft kiss, but it didn’t stay soft or sweet for more than a moment or two.
She sighed breathily into my mouth as our kiss grew more aggressive. It was the night we’d join as one and I’d never be alone again. My whole body felt electrified, and she melted against me aggressively. We both broke off the kiss, and were breathless with excitement. I couldn’t recall a moment where I’d felt so aroused, and so in love, my whole body tingled with anticipation, my nerves alight in anticipation of sharing our pleasure.
“Jason,” she said softly, in a voice full of need that called to my own.
I told her I loved her, then we made love, deep into the night.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Bang!
My eyes popped open, as someone knocked loudly on our door again. That had never happened before. Had we overslept?
“Just a minute!”
I shook Gwen awake and she looked startled. I mouthed, company, and couldn’t help but steal a fast kiss before I rolled out of bed. I started to get dressed, and enjoyed the view as Gwen did the same. Quite shamelessly I might add, which made Gwen both smile and blush. When she was decent, I went over and opened the door. There was no sign of sunlight, so we hadn’t overslept.
“What time is it?”
Wynn snorted, “Too damned early. Get your equipment on, and meet us by the fire. Rylla has an urgent report for us.”
I nodded, “Just a minute.”
I closed the door as he walked away, toward Lyre’s and Anlyth’s cottage.
I helped Gwen put on her bracers, and then pulled my robes on and my enchanted jewelry. Lastly, I pulled my hard leather boots on.
Gwen smirked, “Aren’t you glad we took a second bath late last night?”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t disagree. I’d tried to talk her into a morning one instead, but she’d insisted. Which was probably a good thing, or we’d be going into battle feeling rather sticky. Not that I was sure that’s what we were doing, but I couldn’t imagine it being anything else.
“Yes dear.”
She giggled, “You’re lucky I find that cute.”
&n
bsp; I winked, “If you didn’t, it wouldn’t be teasing banter anymore, and I wouldn’t say it.”
She bit her lip, and her green eyes were glowing with affection and delight. Damn, she was so beautiful.
“Stop staring at me like that, or we won’t make it outside.”
I grinned, “Fair enough.”
I took her hand and headed for the door.
Wynn and Rylla were eating a cold breakfast, a sure sign that we didn’t have time for Lyre and Anlyth to cook a hot breakfast. We grabbed a couple of plates, and piled on fruit, cheese, and some leftover bread from yesterday that was still mostly soft.
By the time we joined them at the table, Lyre and Anlyth were out of their cottage and getting food too. I looked up in the sky, it had to be sometime around three in the morning. There was at least two or three hours left before dawn.
“What’s up?”
Rylla said, “I think we seriously angered the goblin chieftain, perhaps more than we expected. We did take out their two major war infrastructure locations in as many days after all. My scouts picked up activity outside of the cave, and I went in to witness it myself. They’re preparing for an all out attack, my guess is they plan to run over us, and then split up to attack several elven villages. That they’re out this early, tells me they’ll be attacking either right before or at dawn.”
Wynn nodded, “We’re preparing to head out to the first ambush point. You’ll be able to look over the fortifications there before the battle starts, and maybe catch another hour or two of sleep there while the scouts keep watch.”
Gaia's Gambit: Evolution Online I (A LitRPG) Page 22