Exalted Realms Online- Harbinger of Chaos

by Jamie O'Leary

  “Yorub, if you can hear me, I will get vengeance for King Maldrick!” shouted Nurox. He fumed with anger at the wind demon’s tricks.

  “Come find me, hunter. If you can,” Yorub’s voice trailed off with a cackle.

  Nurox swallowed the lump in his throat and went in the direction of the voice.

  The large hall had exits on opposite sides of the room, and Nurox headed for the door on the eastern wall, which led him into a long open-air corridor. The wind whistled through the tresses. The corridor was decorated with several stone gargoyles, and Nurox felt as if they were watching him as he passed.

  Then, he heard a whisper on the wind. “Get him, my pets,” it instructed.

  Suddenly, the gargoyle statues began to shed their stone skin. Breaking out of their shells, their once-dead eyes now glowed red. Nurox got into a defensive position. He wouldn’t soon forget the creepy sight of those beady red eyes staring him down in the shadows. The gargoyles, while small, could be dangerous, especially in a group. Their maws dripped as they crept towards Nurox.

  Nurox raised his sword and charged the beasts. He let out a battle cry as he swung furiously at the gargoyles. He slashed the wings off of one. Another took a blade to the belly and its entrails spilled all over the corridor floor. In his violent swings, he also managed to lop the head off another, and he sent the remaining ones fleeing.

  “Check me out, I’m not half-bad,” Nurox commended himself. He now felt a bit more confident. That was the first time he’d ever taken on a gaggle of gargoyles, and he actually came out victorious. Great job! He wiped the gargoyle blood from his blade and carried on with gusto.

  From the corridor, Nurox emerged in a tower. A staircase spiraled upwards into darkness. Nurox grabbed one of the torches from the wall and treaded lightly, sword in hand. It was quiet and there was no wind inside the tower, which made Nurox relieved yet concerned. Yorub likely could see his every move, and the demon was obviously toying with him. Nurox neared the top of the tower. A single set of red doors with gold trim stood before him.

  Nurox kicked with his brute strength. The wood splintered as his armored leg rammed through the center, sending the doors reeling open. It was Yorub’s chambers, with a bed as plush as clouds as well as a large wardrobe. When Nurox noticed the room, he saw that Yorub was not inside.

  “You!” Nurox said, incredulous, as he saw JosiePussycat16 lying in Yorub’s bed.

  “What are you doing here?” she exclaimed.

  “I’m here to destroy Yorub to get vengeance for the murder of King Maldrick of Coronus,” Nurox replied. “Yorub is your lover?”

  “One of them,” she shot back.

  “Where is he, Josie?” Nurox demanded.

  “Go to the far side of the castle. You’ll find him on the parapet.”

  “Thanks. I won’t forget your help.” He felt giddy around her and even though now she was technically his enemy-by-association, he wanted to confess his lust for her. If she had many a lover, maybe he could become one of them…

  “Forget it, swordboy,” Josie said. “Now get out of here and let a lady change in peace.”

  Nurox darted across the castle. Along the way, he encountered a few monsters that Yorub had dispatched to stop him. The most fearsome of these was the gormenghast—whose albino skin was like the dead and its skeletal frame was covered in tattered rags, torn from years of wandering the halls of Yorub’s castle long after its death. The gormenghast stood nearly ten feet tall and could tear players in half, something that Nurox had only heard about and never expected to face himself.

  Only now one stood before him. Its mouth was agape and it had no eyes. It had two slits for a nose, which sniffed the air trying to lock onto Nurox’s scent. The beast smashed some of the furniture that was within its reach.

  Nurox squeezed the hilt of his sword. Then the beast discovered him! It charged like a raging bull. Nurox leapt to the side, evading the blitz attack. As he spun out of the way, he sliced across, catching the gormenghast along the length of its torso. The creature screamed out a hideous cry in pain. Its side split open, revealing its innards.

  Nurox breathed heavily. Once the gormenghast expired, it left behind the Gormenghast Shield, which was resistant to wind. Now we’re talking! Nurox equipped the shield and continued to where Josie said Yorub would be.

  Yorub stood on the parapet, watching Nurox approach. He waited with anticipation. This fight will be good. The wind demon began summoning the wind to him. “Give me power, my children!” he bellowed.

  Thin wisps of air gathered into a whirlwind around Yorub, like a spinning shield. “Let’s see what you’ve got,” Yorub taunted.

  Nurox ran as fast as he could. He let out a battle cry as he raised his sword. Nurox lunged at Yorub, who easily evaded the warrior’s blade.

  “You’re going to have to do better than that if you want to defeat me!” Yorub said before unleashing his wind powers. A rush of air took the shape of a hand, which quickly grasped Nurox and began to squeeze him. Nurox flailed about, swinging his sword wildly as he tried to escape its grip. As he writhed, his shield lit up and cut through the wind-hand, which caused the rest of it to dissipate, dropping Nurox.

  “I see you have the Gormenghast Shield. How lucky you are,” Yorub said in a sarcastic tone.

  “I am Nurox the Hunter. You, demon, killed King Maldrick of Coronus, and I am here to avenge him for his people,” Nurox explained. “Your reign here ends now!”

  ”You insolent trash!” Yorub channeled more of his power into his fists as his magic brandished a sword in his hand. The wind demon ran towards Nurox, who was also running towards him at full-speed.

  The two collided in an explosive duel that seemed to last all night. Whatever wind magic Yorub threw at Nurox, his shield deflected it. Yorub was also quite good with a blade, but Nurox was better. Nurox grew tired as the battle went on, and Yorub took advantage of his fatigue.

  Nurox pulled himself to his feet. “Y’know, for a demon, I thought you’d be a lot harder to fight.”

  This incensed Yorub, now wild-eyed and slashing at Nurox with great ferocity. He was not about to let this two-bit player defeat him. Their swords met as they continued their bloody dance. Both were wounded, and Yorub decided that he would not be defeated today. He conjured one last spell, his cyclone spell, which would incapacitate Nurox long enough for him to escape. Nurox struggled with the cyclone as it pinned him down, its winds whipping debris around him.

  “No, you bastard!” he screamed at Yorub, who smirked at Nurox before flying off into the distance. “Dammit!”

  Once Yorub disappeared, the cyclone weakened and Nurox got up. He was upset that he almost had him. Now, he may never get the chance to exact his revenge for King Maldrick. As he turned to leave, he was startled to see Josie standing there.

  “Where is he?” Nurox demanded.

  “How should I know?”

  “You’re his lover, aren’t you?”

  “That doesn’t mean I’m his keeper.”

  “I just need to know—”

  “You might be able to find him near Beransal to the north. He likes the cold.”

  “Thanks for your help, Josie.”

  “When you finish with Yorub, come find me.” She had a certain look in her eyes when she said that, which made Nurox feel weak in the knees.

  “You got it.”

  XI

  Darkwind sat at his table at Heroes’ Alley, one of the better-known pubs in this province and one of hundreds of pubs scattered across Half-World. Pubs were an important setting for players seeking any information to help them on a quest. They also offered a reprieve from the daily grinding most players subjected themselves to. Pubs were great places to meet other players, have a drink and some food, listen to some music, and relax. The players in Half-World would always have the opportunity to rest and rejuvenate their characters and still have fun in-game.

  Darkwind fed bits of bread to Max
, who sat on the table next to the loaf. Max’s tiny, pink tongue lapped up the crumbs. When he was finished licking his snout and paws, Max darted up Darkwind’s arm and perched himself on Darkwind’s shoulder.

  Suddenly, two soldiers wearing the sigil of Coronus approached Darkwind’s table. Max snarled at them. “Are you the one they call Darkwind of Mevalon?” the one soldier asked.

  “That depends. Who wants to know?” Darkwind shot back.

  “The Regent of Coronus would like to speak with you.”

  “And why would the Regent of Coronus want to see me?”

  “Look, we don’t give the orders, we just follow them. C’mon, let’s not make a scene, eh? The Regent said he’d make it worth your while,” the other soldier offered.

  “Did he now?” Darkwind pondered. “And just how much is my while worth to the Regent?”

  “We really couldn’t say. Our orders were to find you and bring you before the Regent,” the first soldier said, getting irked now.

  They both put their hands on the hilts of their swords. “Please come with us.”

  Darkwind realized that he wasn’t getting out of this without a bloodbath. And at the present moment, for once, he felt like killing would be too much of a hassle. He felt tired, so he acquiesced and left with the guards for Coronus.

  ***

  Back in Coronus, Nurox met with the Regent himself. “I’m sorry, Regent. I failed the people of Coronus once, but I am determined to restore glory for King Maldrick.”

  “If you can find him. Yorub is a trickster. He hides and waits, and wants nothing more than to cause mayhem,” the Regent explained. “He’s had it out for the people of Coronus ever since the Sunderians first inhabited those mountains. It’s a feud that will not end until Yorub’s destroyed.”

  “The wind demon is too strong for me alone. I’m not sure I can defeat him by myself,” Nurox demurred.

  “You won’t have to. We’ve gathered others who might be able to help you,” the Regent replied. “They should be arriving soon if my guards were able to find them.”

  A while later, Nurox lounged on a plush chaise. He sipped some wine and ate from a tray of bread and fruit. The Regent sat at his table, poring over some papers. Then two knocks came at the Regent’s door, which then proceeded to open.

  Nurox sat up at the sound of armored footsteps. The Regent got up to greet his guests. The guards escorted Darkwind and Josie into the chambers. Josie flashed Nurox a glance and a coy smile. “You didn’t have to wait so long to see me after all,” she said.

  Nurox smiled back at her, then glared at Darkwind.

  “Regent, I know these two brigands,” Nurox proclaimed. He pointed to Darkwind. “This one is a treacherous scoundrel that should’ve been killed long ago. Do you know who Darkwind is? He won’t help us. He’d just as soon murder every one of us and steal our souls. Do you want that to happen?”

  “Nurox, I appreciate your concern, but you see Darkwind owes me a favor and now it’s time he paid his debt. He is the fiercest player in all of Half-World, so I’d say having him by your side will ensure your victory against Yorub,” replied the Regent.

  “How do I keep running into you?” Nurox whispered to Josie.

  “Dumb luck, I’d say.”

  “Regent, why do we need either of them?” asked Darkwind.

  “She is aware of the wind demon’s whereabouts, and she will lead you to him. She’ll be well-compensated for her efforts, I have assured her of that.” The Regent nodded at her and she returned the gesture.

  “Well, Nurox, it looks like this is your lucky day. I won’t be killing you just yet,” Darkwind interjected. “So much for introductions, now what do we do?”

  “We head back to the Sunderian Mountains. He won’t return to his castle until he knows the threat is gone. Yorub has a retreat on the other side of the mountain, behind the castle. It’s remote and we might just be able to sneak in. It’s dangerous country, and there’s no guarantee that he won’t be watching our every move. I hope you two are up for it,” Josie said.

  Nurox puffed up his chest. “I’m ready for anything that demon throws our way.”

  “Sure you are, big boy,” Darkwind jested before pushing him aside to get to the bread-and-fruit tray. Max jumped down from Darkwind’s arm onto the tray and absconded with a grape.

  “You will leave at sunrise. Get some rest. You’ll need all your strength for the fight,” the Regent commanded.

  ***

  The winds around the mountaintop whipped and howled furiously, where Yorub was ruminating on his situation. Those cowardly dogs dared to enter his home and attack him?! So many tried and yet so many have fallen. They will end up like the rest.

  “It’s too bad that your treacherous heart was revealed, Josie. I liked you,” Yorub said to no one in particular as he visualized Josie and the others at royal palace in Coronus. “Come back to me. Come to me and…die!” Yorub screamed.

  The wind grew even stronger and came to a roar before dithering out along with Yorub’s rage. The wind demon sequestered himself away in his retreat and awaited the trio that was being sent to destroy him.

  ***

  When it was time to retire for the evening, Nurox found Josie in the hallway as she searched for her quarters. They ended up at the same door.

  “Uh, I think you’re over there,” Nurox said clumsily. He stammered over himself just at the sight of her. Her black hair, silky and cut short; her slender frame he pictured in his arms; and her powerful legs that she’d developed in her many years of training to be an assassin.

  “I know, but I was thinking I could spend the night with you,” she replied, slightly revealing her cleavage. She knew how to entice a man, and Nurox was no different from the others. She’d have him falling for the bait any moment now.

  Nurox gulped. “We really need to get our rest—”

  Josie pounced on the unsuspecting knight. They fell into his chambers and the door shut behind them.

  Meanwhile, Darkwind and Max relaxed in bed. Max curled up on Darkwind’s pillow and fell fast asleep. Darkwind pondered more about what to do. He lay there silently, contemplating whether capturing the soul of Yorub could be the key. He would likely have to slay Nurox and Josie just to be safe, but not until after Yorub’s death. He had to be absolutely sure he was collecting every soul possible. With that, Darkwind closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

  In Nurox’s room, armor, weapons, leather undergarments, and more were strewn about the room. Josie lay in the moonlight, which came through the open balcony. She nuzzled up to Nurox, who was out cold. His massive frame took up much of the bed. She was nearly half his size, but she was impressed with him. He may have come across as an oafy do-gooder, but she didn’t care. In an odd way, she kind of liked him.

  One of Josie’s favorite things about VR was the sex. It made her feel just as powerful as wielding dual katana blades. And male players didn’t mess with her because she’d take out their avatars before they could even have a response (Josie actually made a few PvP enemies this way.) She had it and she was going to flaunt it, and if you didn’t like it, then you could suck it. With such a long day ahead of them, Josie decided to get some rest like the Regent suggested.

  The next morning, the trio was treated to a full-course breakfast that included biscuits, gravy, pork sausages, bacon, eggs, fresh bread, and elderberry juice. Darkwind stuffed his face as Max happily ate a bowl full of eggs and sausages. Nurox had three helpings, as he expended a lot of energy the night before. He sat close to Josie, who packed in as much protein as she could. Their stamina would be crucial in the fight against Yorub, who would employ many tricks to wear them down.

  “All of Coronus thanks you for taking on the wind demon Yorub. If you defeat him, we will not have to suffer his wrath ever again,” the Regent called out to them. “Please take heed and these gifts to help you on your quest.”

  The Regent gave them each a small, golden
chest. Darkwind opened his. Inside were three potions—a regeneration potion, which regenerates a player’s hit-points (HP); a resurrect potion, which will revive any fallen player in battle, as well as a float potion, which allowed a player to float for a short time. Darkwind was frankly disappointed with his gift. Nurox opened his to find wind gauntlets that would give him added strength to cut through even the worst winds. Josie’s chest contained a pair of feather boots that allowed the wearer to walk on thin air. “May these serve you well. Now go and claim vengeance for Coronus!”

  XII

  “Eli, you need to get your shit together, get off that damn video game, and get a damn job!” the shrill voice shouted from behind the closed (and locked) door. It was Eli’s mom. She banged her fist on his bedroom door, just like she did every day, trying to spur him into finding gainful employment. In reality, Eli made game mods and was already earning more than his mother ever would. He chose to ignore her and sipped from his energy drink as he perused the boards.

  Eli’s character in-game was Nurox, and he was about to quest with his in-game crush and nemesis. It was going to be an interesting trek to say the least. Eli was fifteen and scrawny, hence why he made Nurox so buff. He always tried being the “good” guy, and while he could hold his own in battle, he was no match for the likes of Darkwind. He may not have even been able to take Josie in a one-on-one fight, but he had good intentions, which he thought would make him a hero.

  He decided to lean towards the extreme side of Order on the character spectrum when he created Nurox; he even gave him shining armor. Nurox spent most of his time grinding in-game, collecting trinkets that he would trade for information on ne’er-do-wells, to which Nurox effectively became a bounty hunter. Of course, he tended to go after weaker opponents, and really had yet to prove himself in a fight with anyone his equal or stronger.

  Eli’s bedroom was covered with posters of games, Metal bands, and half-naked pin-up girls in steampunk cosplay. There were too many late nights that Eli would stare at those girls while lying in bed, hoping his mom wouldn’t hear him over his music. He rarely left his room, with the exception of using the bathroom and getting something to eat occasionally; he was always in-game. Eli’s North Umbershire address was in the slums on the outskirts of London. Eli didn’t like going outdoors. The air was shit. The city was shit. The people were shit. He didn’t even go to the grocery; his mother stopped buying him food years ago, convinced that he sold drugs.