Unexplored - Rise of the Crimson Kingdom

by Alara Branwen

  “Care to enlighten me?”

  “Larkin created all that trouble for the caravans so he could hire Crimson Warriors as caravan guards. He hit Caspadel the hardest, so when he offered his guild members as guards, the duke would be more inclined to say yes. He ordered some of the members guarding the caravans to break away from their caravans and take up duty here in the city, increasing the number of Crimson Warriors here.”

  Estelar cleared his throat and continued. “My party was sent out to this place called ‘Monster Plain’ to the north of The Wilderwood to make nice with the monster villages in the area. There was a mention of a ‘great conquest.’ So I’m guessing he’s trying to gather them all together for a big battle. Can you guess where he’s going to attack?”

  The dwarf blinked and her eyes grew to saucers. “Here?”

  “Of course. He’ll have some of his soldiers already stationed in the city. So when the attack occurs, Caspadel will be hit on the outside from a Monster army and on the inside by Crimson Warriors. They won’t stand a chance. Gotta hand it to him, his scheme is pretty smart. He caused trouble everywhere so the officials in Caspadel wouldn’t suspect they were the target of his schemes.”

  “You think we should tell the duke about this?”

  “Think he will listen? As far as I know, my group was the only one he told all of these things to. Three of those people are still in the guild and I have no idea where Tatarna is. So there’s no one to corroborate my story. It’ll just sound like a bitter former guild member is trying to cause trouble for his old guild.”

  “In that case,” Fonwilsia finished her ale and stood from the table, “I’m gonna pack my crap and get out of here. I’ve had a great run here in Caspadel, but I’m not going to stick around if that sick guild master of yours is going to take this city over.”

  “I’m going to leave too, but I’m not running away. I’m gonna put a stop to this somehow.”

  “How? Even if you asked me to join you, which I would because I’m dumb like that, we’re only two people. What could we do?”

  Estelar’s mouth got small. “You’d join me?”

  “Course I would. I still feel like I owe you for sparing me.”

  “I thought you repaid me upstairs.”

  “That was just a down payment. I’m planning on oweing you for quite a while.”

  Estelar grinned. “Thanks, that means a lot. Do you know anyone else that might be willing to help us?”

  “I don’t really have any friends in Caspadel,” Fonwilsia said. “The only person I know is my ‘Super Cuddly Ninja Potion Ingredient Getter,’ and she’s moved on to greener pastures.”

  “That’s a shame. Well if we are gonna go we have to hurry. I don’t know how long we’ll have before Larkin will put his plan into action. I wish I still had my horse.”

  “I can get us one. I should have enough money from selling my potions. But that doesn’t answer my question. How are you going to put a stop to all this?”

  “I think I have an idea. It may not bring Larkin’s plans to a halt, but it might put a kink in them. Is there any way you can get me some parchment, quill, ink, a candle, and a seal? I have a few letters I need to write.”

  “Sure. Use those things all the time in my business dealings.”

  Fonwilsia led Estelar back up to her room. While she packed her things, the elf penned three messages. He sealed them with wax from a candle and carved the Crimson Warrior insignia into it to the best of his ability. As he did this he explained his plan to the dwarf and she made suggestions on what to put in each letter.

  Once they were done he looked at the three scrolls and at the badly forged emblem on each seal. He couldn’t help but feel that this was all for nothing.

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  Estelar and Fonwilsia rode on the back of a small black stallion that they purchased from another adventurer at the inn. The dwarf pressed her back against the elf’s chest and steered the horse while he told her where to go.

  The horse’s movements and the feeling of the dwarfs ass against Estelar’s member brought him to erection. When Fonwilsia felt his hardened cock, she gyrated her hips, causing it to jump each time she moved.

  Estelar kept his eyes on the road ahead. He enjoyed the feel of the dwarf’s body against his, and if it were any other time, he would probably stop the horse and screw her silly. But he had a job to do. He told Fonwilsia to stop but she only smiled up at him and did it more.

  The elf looked down at her and grinned. “Would you quit that? I have a serious mission ahead.”

  “Aw, but I can’t help it. You look so cute when you’re serious.”

  “Please Fonwilsia, this is serious.”

  The dwarf nodded. “I know. I’m just trying to help you relax. If you stay tense like this you’re not going to do yourself or anyone else any good.”

  Estelar gripped the rolled up parchment in his hands. “I can’t help it. If this plan falls through then Larkin is going to take over Caspadel.”

  “But if it does work, you’ll be a great big hero.”

  “I’ll feel awful if it doesn’t. I helped create this big mess.”

  “At least you tried something. Not many people would do that, especially in this world. It probably doesn’t mean much, but if you fail, I’ll still think you’re a hero.”

  The elf tightly clutched the scrolls in his hands. “Thanks.”

  The doubt in Estelar’s mind slowly dissipated. He knew what he was doing was a long shot, but the dwarf’s words made him feel better about it.

  They rode the rest of the way in silence toward the first village that Estelar’s old party visited. When they were a few meters away from the huts, they were approached by scouts. To the elf’s delight, the chief’s wife was among them.

  She looked up Estelar and placed a hand on the cleaver strapped to her back.

  “What are you doing here? Did your swine-nosed master send you back?”

  Estelar bowed. “He did, my lady. He told me to deliver this message to your husband.”

  The elf held out the parchment but the orc woman didn’t take it.

  “Tell your master to shove his message. My husband is asleep right now and doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

  “But I was told the chief urgently wanted this message milady. I don’t know what it’s about, but I heard by master say something about the chief, a new woman, and losing the old hag.”

  The muscled woman snarled, baring her fangs and snatched the letter from Estelar. She broke the seal and unrolled the parchment.

  Gnarled Thumb,

  I recently received your letter from one of my messengers, and I’m happy to comply with your request. Along with your first tributary payment I will send one, young orc maiden. I can guarantee that she is much more beautiful than your “manly, pig faced baboon” of a wife and has the bedroom skills you say your current partner is currently lacking.

  I hope this letter finds you well. Your maiden is currently resting safe in the cave of my ally, Chief Hairy Bigbelly of clan Big Club.

  Larkin

  The chief’s wife gritted her teeth and balled the parchment in her large fists.

  “Thank you for bringing this to me, messenger. Now go. I must have words with my husband.”

  As the large orc woman turned her muscled back, inspiration struck the elf.

  “Wait,” Estelar said.

  The orc woman turned.

  “My master gave me a request. He plans to do that for many of the prominent males in all of the surrounding villages. Could you please spread that message to the other villages as soon as you can?”

  The orc woman’s nostrils flared. “I would be happy to share this message with all of the women I know in other villages.”

  The men that were with the orc woman asked what the message said, but a violent glare from her quieted them. Estelar bowed to her again and rode away. A window popped up in front of him.

  Your skill with speechcraft has increased to 1!<
br />
  Estelar rode to the village of the Deathrunner clan, where he was met by the same bare chested goblin with a mohawk and her two cohorts. She drew two stilettos and walked up to them.

  “You are the elf that came with that group in red armor. Why are you here at this late hour?”

  “I wish to deliver this message to your chief.”

  Estelar held out a scroll and the woman took it.

  “I will give this to him in the morning.”

  “Please pardon the rude request,” the elf said, “but my master requested chief Blob read it alone. He said it was a matter uh ‘stupid goblin peasants’ wouldn’t understand.”

  The goblin’s face darkened. She sheathed her stilettos and broke the seal.

  Blob,

  I will be sending the extra gold along with your first tribute payment. Please have the food you promised me ready for my messenger to accept. I trust that you have enough hidden away in your personal stash from those “stupid hook-nosed servants” of yours. As a personal suggestion, I wouldn’t starve your people too much. They need to be in good health so your own personal supply of foodstuffs can grow.

  I look forward to this continuing business relationship. All future food deliveries should be delivered to the cave of my ally, Chief Hairy Bigbelly of clan Big Club.

  Larkin

  The goblin woman’s mouth hung open and she dropped the scroll to the ground.

  “My lady,” Estelar said, “if it wouldn’t be too much trouble. My master commanded that I ask you to deliver that message to the other villages, as he wishes to set up similar agreements with them.”

  Anger scrunched the goblin’s face and she drew her stilettos. “I will let them know. Now leave, or I will gut you.”

  Estelar nodded and rode to the kobold village of Rustyblade. They were not stopped by a scouting party. Instead, they saw a group of five kobolds chained to a wash basin, washing clothes that were too big for them.

  One of the kobolds, a pitifully small male with aquamarine scales and a slender tail, acknowledged the elf.

  “You’re uh - that elf? The one that came by with the others some time ago?”

  “Yes, I am. I’ve come to give your chief a message from my master.”

  The kobold looked down at his chained leg. “I will call my taskmaster and he’ll wake her.”

  Estelar surreptitiously broke the seal on the scroll and pretended to fumble it. It fell on the ground in front of the kobold.

  “Oh no,” the elf reached out a hand. “You shouldn’t read that. My master said weak kobolds wouldn’t understand it.”

  The smaller kobold incredulously looked at the elf and unrolled the scroll. The other kobolds pulled on their chains and got as close as they could so they could read as well.

  Death-on-Sands,

  I have reviewed your business proposal and I find it acceptable. An extra sum of gold will be sent with your first tributary payment in exchange for twenty kobold slaves. I agree that those small, good for nothing runts will make good stable cleaners and armor polishers. In answer to your question, yes I will happily accept more of the “little bottom feeders” and at your request I will make sure to whip them twice per day to keep them in line.

  Deliver all slaves to the cave of my ally, Chief Hairy Bigbelly of clan Big Club.

  Larkin

  All of the kobolds clenched their fists and pulled on their chains.

  “If I wasn’t chained to this basin I would kill you,” the aquamarine kobold hissed.

  Estelar put on his best frightened look. “Oh no, you didn’t read that message did you? I hope you don’t tell other kobolds about this.” The elf gasped and pressed his hands to his cheeks. “I heard my master say they were setting up similar deals in other villages. I really hope you don’t tell them.”

  The aquamarine kobold stopped struggling against his chains and he smirked. He held up a clawed hand and the others paused.

  “Ah, I get it now.” A smile slowly spread on the Kobold’s muzzle. “You’re a bad actor. But, I will tell my friends and they will tell theirs. We know other villages like ours, and we will let them know. We’ve been looking for an excuse to rebel, and this is perfect.”

  Estelar gave the little kobold a puzzled look.

  There was movement coming from between two huts. The kobold hid the message in his sackcloth breeches and went back to scrubbing clothes. “Ride away,” he hissed over his shoulder.

  The elf did as he commanded. When he was a certain distance away, he looked at the dwarf.

  “I guess he saw through my ruse,” Estelar said.

  “Estelar,” Fonwilsia said, “a brain dead moron could have seen through that, or any of them.”

  The elf let out a gusty sigh. “Do you think any of them will work?”

  The dwarf shrugged. “I don’t know. Under the right set of circumstances, anything can happen.”

  Estelar smiled sadly. “That wasn’t the answer I was looking for.”

  Fonwilsia flipped herself around in the saddle. She pulled the elf’s face down to her level and gave him a deep kiss. Fireworks exploded in the elf’s mind.

  “Just put a little faith into RNGesus, that great random number generator in the sky. Everything will be okay.”

  Estelar cocked an eyebrow. “Huh?”

  The dwarf yawned. “Until then, I’m tired I’m gonna log. You take care of yourself, handsome.”

  The dwarf’s body faded as she logged out. Estelar looked back at the moon disappearing over the horizon, and logged out.

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  Tatarna rode. With her eyes focused on the hilly, dusty landscape in front of her, she just rode. Anger burned in her thoughts. After the fight with Padwin, she’d logged out and had a nice cup of coffee and a doughnut, but that didn’t calm her down. She tried to do a crossword but it didn’t take her mind off of what happened, so she went to bed.

  She logged on early in the morning and just rode her horse through the dusty land. Sitting atop her mare, feeling the wind in her fur, brought a small bit of peace. But her anger could not be dispelled.

  They could have just let her and Estelar go. That’s all they had to do. They would have been out of the guild and doing their own thing, away from Larkin and whatever mad mechanizations he was plotting.

  She rode south for an hour, thinking about all of the scheming plots she’d taken part in. The tiger woman was never a fan of being a bad guy. She always imagined herself as the brave heroine, boldly riding against evil forces of the world. But this wasn’t your typical fantasy world. It was Unexplored, a place where darkness reigned beneath a thin facade of light.

  Tatarna accepted the way things were and went along for the ride. As long as she got what she wanted out of it, she could handle all the darkness the game could throw at her.

  What she could not handle was betrayal. She’d hung out with Padwin and the others for a while and considered them friends. With everything they’d seen together, she thought they saw her that way too.

  She wondered if she was taking everything too seriously. Just like her mom always told her when she was little, “it’s just a game.” But it didn’t feel that way. Padwin’s attack hurt, even though he’d failed to injure her.

  She saw Estelar’s lifeless eyes. Sword in his back, reaching out toward nothing as he fell to the ground. She wasn’t loyal to the Crimson Warriors anymore. In fact, she had a massive score to settle with them. She didn’t know how much good it would do, but she was going to do whatever she could to stop Larkin from achieving whatever goal he had in mind for “Monster Plain.” She turned her horse around and rode toward Rotten Gut.

  She arrived at mid-afternoon. Several of the NPC villagers were going about their business, doing whatever the computer programmed into their heads. When they saw her, some of the villagers came at her with weapons held high. Tatarna dismounted and held her hands in the air.

  “I’m not here to fight. Take me to Stinking Shiva. I have something I need to te
ll her.”

  The villagers’ eyes went pure white for a second, then returned to normal. They placed her arms behind her back and bound her wrists with twine. They marched her at spearpoint to the large hut where her former party members had caused havoc the day before.

  Inside, a few of the tables were gone and some of the chairs were missing. Some of the luxuries that were on the remaining tables were broken or poorly repaired. Sitting on her throne of gnarled roots was Stinking Shiva. She snarled when she saw the tiger woman and drew her glowing mace.

  “What is this? Why have you brought this offal into my hut?” Shiva screeched and the monsters that brought Tatarna in shivered. “I told you to kill her on sight. There’d better be a good reason you brought her to me, otherwise I’ll flay the skin from your bodies.”

  “I asked them to bring me here,” Tatarna said. “I came on my own.”

  “I will take care of you all when the time is right,” Shiva said and her villagers backed away several paces.

  The troll rose to her full, imposing height and stepped toward the tiger woman. A putrid stench slammed into Tatarna’s nostrils and she gagged.

  A long shadow was cast over Tatarna. She was frightened, but she did not back away.

  “I should bash your head in,” Shiva said, “but you have me curious. What foolishness has possessed you to come back into my village after you slew my people and made a mockery of my hospitality? Speak quickly. It has been far too long since my love has tasted flesh.”

  Shiva smiled at her mace as one would at a newborn child. She turned her attention to Tatarna, who looked up at her with furrowed brow.

  “I’ve come to tell you that my master - my former master, is using bribes to take control of this area.”

  Shiva gasped and pressed a putrid green hand against her cheek. “No shit. Pretty soon you’re going to tell me the sun rises in the east. You said former master? I take it you were betrayed.”

  “Yes, by that one who was speaking to you. The human named Padwin.”

  “Sir Bigmouth McDipshit? That’s what I’ve been calling him.”

  The giggle from Tatarna brought a small smile to the troll’s wretched face.