Neverfall: The Dark Path (Book 2): A Gamelit Lit RPG Series

by C. Wintertide

  “There’s nothing in the wagon that looks like Edmund’s stuff,” Luke told the others.

  Christopher opened his Map. “It’s strange, but the indicator for the quest has now turned into a red transparent circle that surrounds this place.”

  “Not strange at all,” Cassie said, as she rose up from petting the wolf. “It means that we need to search around for the goods or clues to where they’ve been taken. It’s like in The Witcher. I’m betting that we have to find whatever sent this cart off the road, defeat it, and take the goods from them.”

  “Whatever it was, it did not just send the cart off the road. It or they killed the trader,” Alicia murmured. She was looking down at an elderly man in peasant garb. At least, it might have been peasant garb, but it was slashed into thin bloody strips. His face was missing, and it looked like someone had ripped out his heart. Strangely, he was covered in what looked like straw.

  Mack plucked some of the straw up, and examined it. “Okay, what’s the deal with this?”

  “Oh! That must have been what we were meant to find,” Christopher sounded excited. “The circle has reduced!”

  “What is some straw going to tell us?” Mack stared hard at Christopher, who blinked back at him innocently.

  “Uhm, I’m not sure,” Christopher admitted.

  “Your wolf. Show it to him,” Gloria suggested. “Maybe he can track the scent for you.” She was kneeling down and studying the ground.

  Mack made to lean towards the wolf with the straw outstretched, when he said, “Christopher, maybe you should apply that spell again.”

  “He is quite friendly. It is fine. Do not be afraid. Trust in my magic.” Christopher sniffed.

  “Oh, hell, no! Luke, tell him to recast that spell!” Mack retreated from the wolf.

  “It’s safe, Mack.” Luke picked up some of the straw, and extended it to the wolf, who almost delicately sniffed it.

  The wolf stuck its nose in the air, and then started trotting to the south.

  “He’s going nearer to Shadewell,” Gloria remarked. “I think the shadow from that place has spread.”

  “Great. Maybe it’s good that we’re here to take care of this,” Luke said.

  “Perhaps so,” she answered.

  The others started after the wolf. Luke and Gloria brought up the rear.

  “Couldn’t you have tracked whatever this is? You tracked us down,” Luke asked her. “I saw you looking at the ground.”

  “It was easy to track you, because you were not careful about hiding your trail. But I could not understand what I was seeing around the wagon. There are just marks of sticks or poles in the ground, and it’s not like we’re going to fight branches,” she said with a shrug.

  Luke, though, hardly felt so sanguine. While the others watched the wolf, Luke watched the horizon. The endless dead fields made it easy to spot anyone out in the open. It also made it easy to see him and his friends. Luke caught sight of three thin figures, near to the low houses of Shadewell. His right hand dropped down to Dragon’s Claw.

  “Guys, I think we have some company,” Luke hissed.

  Everyone looked where he was pointing. Three people in tattered clothing stood about a hundred feet away. One was far taller than the others with a hat slightly askew on his head. The other two were the same size. After a moment of tension, Cassie let out a laugh.

  “Some stuffed company!” she said. “They’re just scarecrows, Luke.”

  Scarecrows?

  Luke narrowed his eyes, and sure enough, she was right. He saw the straw sticking out of the openings of the shirt at the wrists and feet. The head was a dirty canvas sack. It was turned away from him so he couldn’t see if any face had been added to the sack. He still felt a welling of unease though. His tattoos thrummed and he found himself holding onto the hilt of his sword.

  Straw...

  “They must have very determined birds here that they need three together,” Alicia said, her brows furrowing.

  “Creepy-looking things,” Mack said with a moue of disgust. “I can understand why you thought they were enemies, Luke.”

  “Yes,” Christopher murmured, “they have a most unpleasant aura. I would almost think that they were as cursed as the village.”

  And, of course, that was when the scarecrows turned around to face them, and the wolf started to growl.

  22

  WELCOME PARTY

  SCARECROW

  ------

  Monster Type: Construct

  Level: 5

  Hit Points: 500

  Habitat: Fields

  Strengths: Immune to slashing and bludgeoning non-magical attacks

  Weaknesses: Fire

  Attacks: Claw and Terrify

  Experience Points: 150

  “Looks like we’ve got a welcoming party! Poor trader. No wonder he ran off the road when those Scarecrows attacked him,” Mack whistled. “Luke, get your fire ready, because that’s all these bastards are weak to. Alicia, you and me are shite out of luck. They are immune to slashing and bludgeoning damage. Though, Cassie and Gloria, it looks like piercing damage is still an option!”

  “You guys stay back then. Cassie, Gloria, and I will take care of these three,” Luke commanded.

  “Our wolf will help fight!” Christopher informed them.

  “You know that you will be fighting through the wolf,” Mack chuckled.

  “Mack,” Luke warned.

  Christopher’s brows drew together. “Oh, you’re right! I will release him from the spell.”

  “Christopher, don’t!” Luke cried.

  But it was too late. Christopher had ended the spell.

  “Great! Now we’re going to have to fight the wolf, too!” Mack shook his head.

  “No, we are not!” Cassie cried. “I have a connection with all animals. I’m strong enough now that I can convince the wolf not to attack.”

  “Both brother and sister have now gone completely batty!” Mack threw his hands up into the air.

  “I tend to agree,” Alicia said.

  But Cassie was not to be deterred. She dropped down by the wolf, and put an arm around its furry back. She made eye contact with the wolf.

  “It’s a toss up whether the wolf or the Scarecrows are going to rip her face off,” Mack muttered.

  But the wolf evenly met Cassie’s gaze, and then licked her nose after a moment. Cassie jumped up, all smiles.

  “I did it! He’s my friend without mind control!” Cassie laughed.

  Christopher was immediately affronted by her words. “Beast Pact is not mind control--”

  “It’s mind control,” Mack said.

  “Totally mind control,” Alicia agreed.

  “Are you all always like this?” Gloria’s eyebrows rose into their hairline.

  “Guys, we have incoming monsters. Let’s focus,” Luke said.

  Everyone did focus.

  The golden glow of Shield enveloped all of them. Gloria let out a delighted sound as the golden light illuminated her face. She hadn’t had the experience of being shielded before, evidently. Then the two rogues drew their bows.

  There were twin twangs as arrows streaked towards the Scarecrow on the left. Two feathered shafts stuck out of the horror of a face. Luke saw that Cassie’s hit took off 35 hit points from the thing while Gloria’s took off a whopping 100 hit points.

  The wolf lunged towards that same Scarecrow, and bit down on one of the legs. There was a crunching sound as twigs snapped. The Scarecrow let out a thin wail, and raked the wolf’s back. Its hands were sharpened sticks, and blood welled up from deep scratches. The wolf yelped, and dashed back.

  The other two Scarecrows were heading towards Luke, Alicia, and Mack. They moved as lightly as cats. They raced over the dry ground with alarming speed. Their faces had just slashes for eyes, noses and mouths, and their eyes were alight with red fire. Luke could see that there was a stain of blood on the largest Scarecrow’s chest. The shirt it wore fluttered open, and he saw something
red and bleeding.

  The heart! It stuffed the trader’s heart into its own chest!

  But Luke didn’t have time to think more on that as the monsters were gaining ground. He ignited Firestream in both hands. His tattoos thrummed. His HUD informed him that, You can amplify your spells and martial abilities with the stored energy from Drain. Would you like to amplify your spells? If so, say “Amplify”.

  “Amplify!” Luke grinned.

  The flames went from red to blue. He let out a surprised laugh.

  Mack’s eyes widened as he saw the change in color. “What wicked new spell is this?”

  “Still Firestream, but I think it’s got some extra oomph from Drain. Let’s see,” Luke said and dashed towards the Scarecrows. He wanted to light them on fire before they got anywhere near his friends.

  Cassie and Gloria kept the one pinned down with arrows while Alicia and Mack shifted from foot to foot in place, unsure what to do with their essentially useless weapons.

  The Scarecrows didn’t falter as they saw Luke racing towards them, hands on fire. Instead, their red eyes glowed hotter and they increased their speed. Luke grinned wildly. It felt a little bit like he was drunk. He wanted to kill them. They were foul things that shouldn’t exist. He could use his Dark Path gifts for good.

  Within five feet of them, he sent twin streams of fire at their heads. The fire seemed to explode from his hands. Their shrieks were deafening. But they didn’t back down. Luke ducked beneath their slashing claws. He felt the air move just above his head as they barely missed him. But then there was the crackle of wood catching fire. Luke rolled forward and jumped to his feet again, spinning around to face his two attackers.

  The larger one’s canvas hood had burned away, revealing a skull that was still partially clad in flesh, and now was smoking. Luke’s stomach roiled. The blue fire had done incredible damage, knocking them both down by a third with one blast. He saw that the purple line on his HUD had also drained down by that much, though. Still, he could use Drain again on these enemies or others and replenish it, couldn’t he?

  Being a Dark Path walker has some perks.

  Just as he was thinking this, he looked into the red coals that were the larger Scarecrow’s eyes. They locked gazes. Luke’s knees were suddenly knocking together. His arms hung loosely at his sides. He was unable to raise them. Fine tremors went through his entire form. His mouth went dry as dust. The Scarecrows advanced upon him, singed claws reaching out to him.

  “Luke, what’s wrong? Why are you just standing there?” Mack called. “Why is he just standing there?” he asked Alicia and Christopher when Luke didn’t answer him.

  It was because Luke couldn’t answer him. Luke couldn’t do anything. He stared in abject terror as the Scarecrows halved the distance between them and him. The bigger one’s mouth opened, and Luke saw that it was filled with maggots. He imagined the creature’s hot, rancid breath spilling over his face as a few maggots were blown into it as well.

  “Why isn’t he fighting?” Alicia asked.

  “This must be Terrify! That’s one of their Special Abilities along with Claw!” Mack answered.

  “He’s caught in their spell!” Christopher cried as he kept well away from the Scarecrows. “We have to do something! They are on top of him!”

  “Keep him shielded!” Alicia commanded. She sheathed her cudgel. “If my cudgel won’t work, I am betting my fingers will!”

  “Oye! Two can play at that game!” Mack agreed as he put Cutter away and jogged after Alicia.

  Luke barely heard his friends’ voices. Even as he knew he was under some kind of spell that was holding him helplessly terrified, it didn’t lessen the fear he felt. He was frozen. Just before the bigger Scarecrow’s visage blocked out everything else, he caught sight of Cassie and Gloria and the wolf dancing out of range of the one Scarecrow they were handling, feathering it full of arrows rather like a pincushion while the wolf snapped at its limbs. But then the other Scarecrows were clawing at him, and he knew nothing else.

  They smashed through his Shield, and their sharp fingers were slashing across his face. He closed his eyes instinctively as the first blow landed. He felt his skin part. Hot blood flowed down his cheeks and dripped off of his chin. He couldn’t even raise his arms to block their blows, not even when one of them started to gouge at his eyes. But then there were war cries from Alicia and Mack.

  The clawing attacks stopped, and Luke risked opening his eyes. Blood ran down his forehead and dripped into his eyes. But he saw Mack wrapped around the smaller Scarecrow’s right leg. He was pulling out the branches and stuffing that made up its limbs. He had gotten it down onto one knee. Alicia had the bigger one in a headlock while she ripped at the stuffing that made up its back. Twigs, leaves, and straw were flying everywhere as she hollowed the thing out. But the trader’s heart still beat in that chest. Luke’s eyes narrowed, and he knew what he was going to do.

  The fear that had held him enthralled was now gone, replaced with anger. He ignited both hands with Firestream again. Luke then spun towards the other Scarecrow that Mack was practically gnawing on like a very aggressive badger.

  “Roll away, Mack! I got this!” Luke gritted out.

  His friend immediately disengaged from the Scarecrow’s leg and got out of range of his fire spell. Luke slammed a hand against the mostly denuded skull. He let the blue flames pulse from his palm. Immediately, the thing lit up like a candle. Its jaw opened in a silent scream. Luke sent another surge of magic through and the flames consumed its head. Its health bar drained so fast that it was like water disappearing down a whirlpool.

  Then Luke turned towards the bigger Scarecrow that Alicia had in a sleeper hold. He drew out Dragon’s Claw. Fire rippled around its length. Later, Mack would tell him that his eyes burned with the same fire.

  “Alicia, let it go,” Luke intoned.

  Alicia released the Scarecrow, trusting him fully.

  “DRAIN!” Luke announced, and his tattoos burned.

  The Scarecrow had taken a step towards him, but the moment he said that, it lurched backwards, and began to run away. But Luke would not let it escape. He raced after it, reached out, and grabbed the Scarecrow’s shoulder while he thrust Dragon’s Claw into its back. He aimed for its stolen heart. He saw, as well as felt, the tip of his sword spear the organ, and push it out of the Scarecrow’s chest. It was like a shish kabob. Then, for a moment, he had a vision of what the former owner of that heart had experienced just before his death.

  The trader had been calmly driving his wagon to Lethbridge. The night had been clear. He had been whistling, and lightly holding onto the reins as the horses had made this journey countless times, and knew where they were going without his assistance.

  That was when he had seen movement out of the corner of his eye. He’d jerked his head to the side to see what it was. The roads had become very dangerous of late, especially around Shadewell. He’d heard tales of undead creatures coming after travelers. But he let out a relieved breath as he realized he’d only caught sight of a harmless scarecrow. He must just not have noticed it before. Nothing to be scared of unless one was a bird!

  But in the middle of his chuckle at his foolishness, the horses let out shrill neighs, and veered to the right, going towards the edge of the road.

  “Eh! What’s going on here?” he muttered.

  But he saw what it was in a moment. There was another scarecrow in the road itself. Confusion flooded his mind as that should not have been. Who would have blocked the road like that? The horses’ whinnies grew louder and they started to gallop, pulling him and the wagon off the road. He tried pulling on the reins and clicking at them to stop. But they wouldn’t.

  And then one of the scarecrows jumped onto the back of the horse on the right. It thrust its pointed stick hands into the horse’s back. More cries of distress. The horses galloped faster. The wagon was jumping up and down on the uneven ground. Then the front wheel hit a large rock, and the wagon started to top
ple over. It righted itself, but the horses, caught in their harnesses, had been dragged onto their sides. The scarecrow lightly jumped up and landed on them, managing to not fall over, too.

  There was a terrible sound as another scarecrow joined the first. They started to slaughter the horses. They ripped through the horses’ stomachs. The trader felt his gorge rise up, and his anguish over the animals froze him in place, but then he was scrambling out of the wagon, preparing to run to save himself.

  He only managed to take a few steps before a third scarecrow, one larger than the other two--the one he’d first seen--appeared before him. He let out a thin, shrill cry. Luke felt as the Scarecrow’s claws sliced into the trader’s chest, digging for his heart.

  And then Luke was back to himself once more. His sword was the one inside of a Scarecrow. Righteous rage filled him. This thing not only did not deserve to live. It had to be eradicated. Luke’s tattoos burned.

  The Scarecrow’s head arched back, and it let out an earth-shattering scream. Luke’s hand shook as the blue flames from Dragon’s Claw exploded outwards and fire consumed the body of the Scarecrow. Like the dragon, the Scarecrow’s body turned to sparks, and that energy was drawn into him. Even if he hadn’t felt the power surging into his body, he would have seen the Special Abilities bar fill completely again with power.

  His HUD lit up with the words: Congratulations! You’ve earned 450 experience points!

  The Scarecrow was gone.

  They were all alone in the field.

  Luke felt a mixture of satisfaction and need for the next battle. He just stood there. Breathing. His eyelids slid half shut as if contemplating something pleasurable. And destroying that Scarecrow had been wonderful. It had been almost perfect.

  That was when he noticed that there was silence. He blinked, and shook his head to clear it. He turned to face his friends. Everyone was looking at him with huge eyes. Mack took off his helmet and ran a shaky hand through his sweat-drenched hair. Cassie gripped the fur on her wolf’s back. The wolf merely stared at Luke with its tongue lolling out. Gloria was fiddling with one of her arrows as she regarded him steadily. Alicia’s black beady eyes flickered over his face. Luke was almost afraid to look at Christopher. But he forced himself to. Christopher was pale as milk.