Exalted Realms Online- Harbinger of Chaos

by Jamie O'Leary

  Daemeon Cole stood under the hot water. Plumes of steam danced over the edge of the shower door. Her slender fingers massaged her scalp, lathering up hair that was as fiery as her spirit. She rinsed and the suds slid her flesh and down the drain with the rest of any pain or anguish left over from her cathartic in-game rampages. She smirked to herself at the thought of all those fools running around Exalted Realms Online, cursing Darkwind, who everyone assumed was a guy because she played a male avatar in-game, and played “like a guy”, never revealing to the rest of Half-World that she was in fact, a woman behind the headset.

  Daemeon let out a deep sigh, pondering what her next move for the day would be. She could meet up with Ripper and TangieAnne to raid the merchant villages in Bray. (Nah, too long to travel there.) She could set sail with the brigands that she met when Darkwind rolled an entire fort in Gastille Province, then loaned it to her swarthy new comrades as a hideout; their invitation to Darkwind to join their crew was forever good. (She knew they’d have some adventures, but she didn’t want to get dragged off into some pirating trek that would take away from Darkwind’s prime goal of gutting players, earning more PKs, and gaining more powers in the ways of Chaos.) So, what would she do? Finally, she decided to go solo and see what kind of trouble Darkwind could get into today.

  She flew from the bathroom stark naked. There were no windows, save the one that allowed zero-visibility into her apartment, so she pranced around as she pleased. This was her comfort zone. This place was a mess!

  Daemeon, still dripping wet, slid on a jumpsuit and zipped up the side. She pulled another instant noodle cup from its wrapper, filled it with water and set it in the microwave. Three minutes later, she plopped down in her “cushy chair”, an ostentatious chair designed to look like Gidoriman – a popular Japanese superhero, whose powers are derived from eating fried chicken, that became a phenomenon spawning tons of merchandise, like this chair, which was all-the-rage in nerdom a couple years ago, so of course she bought one (duh!) – and slurped yet another noodle cup. Spicy shrimp, yum! Daemeon studied some of the fan boards online as she ate. She would do this on a regular basis to see what others were planning against Darkwind. She stopped and held her chopsticks in her mouth. Her eyes scanned the page and stopped on a post by someone calling themselves Nurox, who’d put himself up for-hire with a bold proclamation addressed to the “So-Called ‘Killer-of-Ten-Thousand-Killers’, Darkwind of Mevalon”, which read:

  Darkwind—if you’re reading this, you’re a dead man!

  Your days are numbered. I, Nurox the Hunter, will find you.

  And when I find you, I will kill you.

  Daemeon felt her teeth clench and noticed she was chomping down on her favorite chopsticks. Dammit! She glared at the screen, then eyed her VR headset that hung above her monitor. So it’s a challenge he wants, eh? I’ll give him one he’ll never forget. She finished her noodle cup, wiped her mouth across her sleeve, tossed the trash on top of the rest of the pile. Still fresh with adrenaline, Daemeon logged into Exalted Realms Online and let Darkwind out to play.

  III

  The clouds gathered above Coronus—the Capital City of Sunderia, the glorious kingdom of Maldrick IV (a major NPC in the game’s storyline). Today was supposed to be clear of any foul weather. It was the namesake day of the city’s crown-prince, Ghost_of_LeeroyJenkins, who had befriended Maldrick IV after saving the good king from a coup. Maldrick had invited a huge crowd of friends and fans and the outdoor feast on the terrace overlooking the Sunderian Mountains, which stretched out to the horizon like a snake slithering away from the kingdom, was about to begin. Kitchen staff was beginning to set out platters of food on the tables. Coronus typically twinkled in the twilight of a storm, and a bit of rain wouldn’t ruin the meal, but these clouds were strange. This storm felt different somehow.

  Maldrick raised a brow, looking at the sky. He stood tall before his people at a stone pulpit, clutching his family’s royal scepter. A jeweled crown sat on a golden head of hair, salted with distinguished age. His face was gaunt and weathered. A fine thick cloak, colored a deep red, was draped around his thick shoulders and fastened with a golden broach embossed with the image of a bull. He wore no armor, but his otherwise ordinary-looking tan robes were imbued with magic and hid the power of impenetrability. Maldrick was known as a wise ruler, and his denizens liked his free-wheeling attitude. Coronus was a great place to live in-game because of the laid-back king. He was a good leader and other players liked him. The guests standing in the king’s open court looked around at the impending weather. Some of the fine Lords- and Ladies-of-the-Court fussed over their hair and makeup as they felt droplets around them. Their expensive ruffles of satin and lace were dotted with rain, and the rumble of thunder finally spurred the party to herd inside.

  Maldrick and Ghost_of_LeeroyJenkins followed the crowd indoors and Maldrick shot one last glare at the clouds, which were now beginning to swirl into a dark funnel. He turned to Ghost_of_LeeroyJenkins and put his hand on his shoulder. “Will you fight with me, old friend?” Ghost_of_LeeroyJenkins nodded and unsheathed his deadly gladiator sword. Raising it high, he whooped with approval.

  “Shut the doors,” Maldrick ordered the guards at the balcony entrance. Then, the two comrades stood their ground as the cyclone grew closer.

  “How are we supposed to fight a storm?” Ghost_of_LeeroyJenkins asked.

  “That’s no ordinary storm… that’s Yorub, the wind demon.”

  Lightning crackled around them and the twisting clouds dipped onto the balcony. Out of the storm, Yorub appeared before the duo. According to the game’s ever-growing fan pages online, Yorub was a three-thousand-year-old demon that hailed from the region called Halmoor, also known as the Deathgroves. He was given his powers by the God of Chaos, and was responsible for conjuring fatal storms that wiped entire armies from the field of battle. Yorub crashed today’s celebration in Coronus because he had unfinished business with King Maldrick.

  The wind demon was once in love with Maldrick’s sister Malena, but Maldrick intervened and drove the demon back to the Deathgroves. Yorub vowed to get revenge on Maldrick. Malena shunned Maldrick and renounced her name in protest of his opposition to her wedding Yorub. His alabaster locks flapped in the soft wind that seemed to carry him from place to place. He wore a gray tunic and white robes, with black boots laced up to his knees. He had no pupils, yet he wasn’t blind, and there were flecks of gold in his gaze. His wiry frame was fast and nimble as he literally moved like the wind. His skin was like porcelain and cold to the touch. How could Malena have loved such a foul fiend? Now, nearly a quarter-century later, Yorub once again stood before the proud king.

  “Bet you didn’t think you’d see me again, eh, Maldrick?” Yorub mused.

  “I should’ve killed you when I had the chance. If it weren’t for my sister—”

  “Malena had nothing to do with it. You couldn’t accept that she was in love with a demon like myself. My powers frightened you, like everyone else, but not her, Malena was intrigued by me. She could’ve been mine if not for your actions. She disowned you, her brother and king, because she loved me! I tried to get her back, but it was too late. She was gone.” Yorub felt sadness for a moment before it quickly relented to his seething rage.

  “My sister could’ve been queen if you hadn’t meddled with your magic,” Maldrick snarled.

  Yorub scoffed, “Yes, she was to be queen… my queen! And I never used magic to win her heart, but I’ll use my magic now to destroy you, Maldrick, and to curse your kingdom. I shall bring great suffering with my storms. You won’t be able to grow your crops or bury your dead, of which there will be many, I can assure you.”

  Maldrick snarled at the demon. He shifted his stance and twirled his lance into an attack position. Ghost_of_LeeroyJenkins planted his feet firmly and stood his ground, his sword poised. He glanced at Maldrick, who continued to stare down Yorub.

  “If it’s a fight you want from me now,
Yorub, you’ve got it!” Maldrick cried out as he launched himself at Yorub. The wind demon was wily though. He disappeared just as Maldrick thrust his lance at his target.

  Ghost_of_LeeroyJenkins looked around frantically as the wind picked up around him. He heard a cackle in the wind as it lifted him off the ground and flung him against a stone pillar. A heavy thud and the cracking of bone stained Maldrick’s mind. He glanced over at his friend, who lay still. Unconscious or dead, he is of no use.

  Suddenly, the wind rushed before Maldrick, and Yorub rematerialized. He approached the king and used his wind magic to suspend Maldrick over the balcony ledge. The wind gripped his neck and squeezed tighter. Maldrick took in the landscape hundreds of feet below him. He closed his eyes and gripped his lance even tighter; he felt like he might crush the wooden handle under his grip. In a last-ditch try to escape, Maldrick broke the demon’s chokehold with a single slash. Yorub screeched in pain, his magic temporarily broken. He immediately dropped and the onlookers inside gasped. For a moment, there was nothing. Then, the wind swept over the balcony. Yorub reappeared and sauntered towards the balcony ledge and peered over to find Maldrick dangling precariously over the rocks far below.

  The good king had managed to pull off one last thrust as he fell, somehow wedging his lance into a crack in the wall. He rocked to and fro, gaining enough momentum to fling himself back onto the balcony. Maldrick stuck the landing and the onlookers inside cheered for their king. As impressive as this acrobatic feat was, he was now unarmed and standing face-to-face with Yorub.

  “Tsk, tsk, little king,” Yorub taunted with a slow-clap. If he could exploit Maldrick’s vulnerabilities, the king would fall right into his trap. “Do you know why I could never find your sweet sister, Maldrick?” he began, “Because she’s dead!”

  Maldrick’s heart sank. After Malena exiled herself from Coronus, Maldrick never heard from her again. Now he knew that she went to the grave without forgiving him for what he’d done. Suddenly, Yorub summoned lightning and fired it at Maldrick. Electric tendrils grasped Maldrick. The king fought it with all his might. The guests inside covered their eyes, gasped in horror, and cried mercy for their king.

  Yorub laughed as he watched Maldrick twist and contort as the bolts tore through his body, his muscles locked and spasmed uncontrollably. Blood began to run from his ears, nose, and mouth. His flesh started to sizzle like fresh-cooked bacon on a skillet. Maldrick screamed in agony. He wished he was dead.

  Maldrick gave up fighting Yorub’s magic. Exhausted, he finally dropped his guard and addressed Yorub directly in a hushed tone, “I’m sorry.”

  Yorub grew even more contemptuous with Maldrick. This fool has the audacity to apologize to me now? The words had hardly left the king’s lips before a blinding flash of lightning bolts blasted Maldrick, sending him reeling off the balcony to his death. Two heroes were now dead. Despite any last-minute remorse Yorub may have felt in that moment, it was too late for that. Vengeance is vengeance. And with that, Yorub disappeared.

  The dark clouds dissipated and the sky returned to normal. Some guests ran over to examine Ghost_of_LeeroyJenkins’ body, while others gazed over the balcony ledge to scour the craggy surface below for the body of their king, to no avail.

  The city of Coronus mourned the loss of its king, Maldrick IV, and worried about the days ahead for the Sunderian kingdom. There were a few of the royal staff sneaky enough to loot Ghost_of_LeeroyJenkins’ corpse, but it wasn’t stripped clean as it would’ve been out on the battlefield. When Ghost_of_LeeroyJenkins returns for his corpse, he’s going to be pissed for sure.

  Nurox the Hunter, the knight-for-hire and would-be assassin who’s out gunning for Darkwind’s head, casually approached the party and inquired what happened. He recognized this as an opportunity to become a champion for the people of Coronus.

  “I, Nurox, will find this fiend, Yorub, and destroy him in honor of your fallen king!” he brazenly announced.

  “But, sir, this is not just any enemy. This is Yorub the Wind Demon of Halmoor, one of the most dangerous—” one guest tried to offer before Nurox interrupted.

  “Nevermind that. If I can defeat Darkwind, the most notorious knave in all of Half-World, then I can handle a simple demon such as this one,” he boasted.

  Murmurs floated among the crowd. “He’s lying. No one’s ever bested Darkwind,” someone shouted. Another commented that they’d seen rumors on the boards. Others quickly joined in.

  “He’s got rocks in his head, this one,” remarked one of the servants as Nurox walked past.

  The Master of Ceremonies, Pritchard, welcomed Nurox. “Please, sir, do allow us to entice you with a fine meal and entertainment. Can you really destroy the wind demon Yorub? And was it the truth when you claimed victory over Darkwind of Mevalon in battle?”

  Nurox froze at the line of questioning. “Perhaps my word is no good in the confines of Coronus, but I prove it to you all the same. Any PvP-ers here that would like to help me demonstrate my abilities?”

  Silence.

  “Okay, what will prove I’m telling the truth?”

  Pritchard turned to a committee of Sunderian elders. Nurox couldn’t quite make out what they’re murmuring. Pritchard about-faced to Nurox. His wide grin made his features look faux, like a mask. He turned to face the crowd, “It is decided. Nurox the Hunter will slay the wind demon Yorub, and get vengeance for King Maldrick and all of Coronus!”

  The crowd erupted with cheers. They all agreed that despite any doubts or misgivings about the outsider, he was their only chance at sweet revenge. The guests didn’t want the festivities that had been arranged to go to waste, so they celebrated Nurox and his newfound quest. Nurox knew that if Darkwind heard of his boast, he would surely come after him. While Nurox was confident in his fighting skills, he knew that he couldn’t underestimate Darkwind in the slightest, but he’d thrown down the proverbial gauntlet and now it was only a matter of time before he’d have Darkwind staring down the end of his blade, or vice versa. Whatever fate awaited Nurox, he was already starting to rethink his overzealous attitude.

  News of Maldrick’s death swept through the ER Online boards, and Nurox’s announcement hit Darkwind’s radar within a few hours. The challenge was bold. Darkwind almost had to admire the size of this guy’s cojones. After all, it wasn’t every day that someone comes begging you to kill them.

  While Darkwind thought of this Nurox as just another notch on his hilt, he wanted to make an example out of him, just to send the message to anyone else looking to step up to Darkwind:

  IF YOU MESS WITH THE BEST, YOU DIE LIKE THE REST.

  Tensions began to mount in-game as Darkwind scoured Half-World in search of Nurox. Who does this dickbag think he is? Darkwind had zero intention of letting him off easy. He’d make this braggart suffer for his insolence, which would almost certainly please the God of Chaos. Soon, all those PKs will be worth it and Darkwind will finally be able to complete his journey to becoming a Harbinger of Chaos.

  IV

  It wasn’t long before the pubs and inns were abuzz with Nurox the Hunter’s set challenge for Darkwind. It had been a few days since news of the challenge started leaking out across the fan boards. In-game gambling houses were taking bets on the fight. Darkwind was favored twenty-to-one over Nurox. Call it name recognition or general infamy. This was shaping up to be quite a spectacle. Digital pitchmen hyped the event in all the major cities including Oberon, N’fika and Terriaste, to name a few. Hundreds of thousands of players came and went through the gates of these fantastic citadels every day.

  Darkwind needed no hype, but he also had to keep up appearances before any challenges. Darkwind had been challenged to a duel by many others over the years. Despite Darkwind’s impressive zero-percent Player Death Rating (PDR) ranking, Darkwind was never invincible. At the end of the day, all players are essentially equal, as nobody gets to wield god-like abilities. While the actual event of Darkwind losing in battle may be
lost to everything except the Exalted Realms Online archives and Darkwind’s memory, his only loss was when the game was still in beta testing. When the servers reset for the game’s official launch, Darkwind’s single loss didn’t port over, resulting in his perfect PDR (the best rating of any player in-game, in fact). Because of this error, coupled with the fact that Darkwind hadn’t lost a fight since the game’s official release, there were those who mythologized Darkwind like some sort of a demigod, stoking his epic ego out of fear or reverence, or both, which any way you slice it, his fans and haters all cemented his place in Exalted Realms Online’s continuous in-game history. Even if he got banned forever, Darkwind would always be a legend.

  Darkwind navigated a small vessel he’d borrowed from an acquaintance into the Port of Mevalon. The port was magnificent—the great waves of the ocean crashing against the rocky cliffs of Mevalon’s Eastern Wall—built 900 years ago by the first people to call it Mevalon, and was constructed out of large slabs of granite, each carved from the abundant stock that layered the coast and weighing over a thousand pounds, stacked roughly forty feet high, and overlooking the sea that Darkwind was now chugging across. The steam-propelled dinghy was cheap, reliable, and most importantly, inconspicuous. Darkwind usually drew attention with his frequent bounties. For all he knew, he had several at this very moment. He looked up and watched the gulls take flight from the top of the wall. They were mere specks against the waning blue sky.

  Mevalon was a gleaming citadel that stood square in the center of the continent called Luhm. It had soaring towers, the largest wall in Half-World (even greater than the Giants’ Wall in Trolmüth wilderness, far to the north), a beautiful port that stayed busy with hundreds of ships carrying fruits from Vestica as well as shipments from elsewhere in the world, their hulls filled with gold, silver, copper, and other precious metals that were traded in Mevalon’s fabled open-air market, which was stocked with nearly anything you could want to purchase. The citadel was also a hub for players looking to stock up on supplies, repair or upgrade gear, or have a drink or three while eavesdropping to gather information that could lead to a new quest. Then there’s the Mevalon Council, a judicious set of leaders that formed the Council in the wake of the Mevalonic War some 500 years ago, who experimented with a democratic republic that was now faltering under the current Council’s greed and avarice. They controlled the means of commerce and had been suppressing any dissidents trying to collectively bargain. It seemed that the Mevalon Council was invincible, or at the very least, impenetrable.