“I’m glad,” Bishop mused, “that I don’t have to worry about that.”
“So what brings you here?”
“I’m interested in the Agilar.”
“Bah,” Limerick scowled, “why would you want to go there?”
“I’m serious. I know you described the first few rooms in your guide. But I was wondering if you left anything out, or if there is something that would help me get through the ship.”
“Why would I tell you something like that?”
Bishop reached into his robe and pulled out a small pouch. When he loosened the drawstring, a pale light spilled out. He pulled out a small glowing marble. He held it up.
“There are fifty in here.”
Limerick set his jaw and stared into the pouch. “I want to throw you out of my office, but I’m going to assume you don’t know what those are or where they are from.”
“I hired Viper to help us with the Agilar,” Bishop stated carefully. “I have something he wants, and I need his help to get through. He gave me this bag when I said I needed to buy some supplies.”
“That’s blood money you’re holding. Do you know the story about the battle?”
“I’ve heard bits and pieces.”
“That battle made the game what it is today; I was there. That little pouch represents one of the worst things I have seen one person do to another, and I have seen plenty of unkindness in the real world.”
Bishop looked down at the pouch, “I did not realize.”
“Kogan asked me to observe and direct the battle. I had a bird’s eye view, and I saw everything.”
“The Explorers lost,” Bishop said.
“The Explorers were winning. We had the two strongest champions - Kogan and Viper. They carved a hole in the Conqueror army.”
“Viper fought for the Explorers? I had always heard that he fought for the Conquerors.”
“Viper fought for the highest bidder,” Limerick grimaced; he pulled out his Character Manager, “Tell you what. I’m working on a new book, Limerick’s History of Verdia. It’s a little different than the others - more of a narrative than a guide. I’ll read you the first chapter – Betrayal at the Battle of Dragon’s Tears. I’ve assembled this account based on my personal experience, and interviews I’ve conducted with witnesses on both sides. It should give you an idea of what happened.”
Bishop nodded, “Sounds good to me.”
“This isn’t released yet, so don’t talk to anyone about it,” Limerick cleared his throat, and began:
…
Limerick’s History of Verdia
Chapter 1: Betrayal at the Battle of Dragon’s Tears
Time: Mid-Afternoon
Place: Valley of the Dragon’s Tears
“I knew not to trust him.” Limerick flicked up his red goggles and adjusted his ascot. “I told you this would happen.”
Cool wind whipped at his brown leather overcoat and threatened to pull a black top hat from his head. A maroon vest matched the ascot, and underneath the vest - an impeccably tailored white silk shirt. Countless gadgets adorned a leather harness on his chest. His spyglass and cane hung on a thick black belt. On his left hip, a pair of muskets dangled - loaded and ready. Polished boots rustled in the grass. Many remarked that Limerick could not decide if he wanted to be Sherlock Holmes or Wyatt Earp.
Kogan grunted, “We can win without him.”
“Not,” Nevaeh spoke gently, her soft voice laced with a thick Chinese accent, “if he fights for the Conquerors.”
She was tall and elegant- an Electar Priestess- with golden white hair and pale blue eyes. She wore a revealing and form fitting gown that accented her long, angular features. The gown was white and gold - colors representing Kogan’s Heroes. Three golden halos floated behind her, spinning slowly and casting rays of light. Wherever her feet touched earth, the grass brightened and small gold and white flowers sprang to life. A trail of these flowers followed the group as they made their way across the plain.
“He won’t fight for them.” Kogan’s wavering voice betrayed his uncertainty, “He gave his word.”
Kogan was a massive Brutalli, towering over Limerick and head and shoulders above Nevaeh. His face was blocky and brutish, but friendly. White armor, a flowing white mane, and a white fur cloak flared in the sunlight. Gold inlays glittered as he moved. His enormous white tower shield, a foot thick or more with a gold cross emblazoned on the front, hung on his back. In his right hand he carried a flanged mace, Sentinel. The huge mace was ivory white, with a head as big as a microwave oven. Golden eyes narrowed in determination.
Limerick snorted, revealing what he thought of Kogan’s faith in their missing ally, and flipped his goggles back down. The lenses, round and red glass bound in copper, provided a much different view of things.
Specks in a green sea, the three were marching across a broad plain. A river was on their left, curving around for miles in a great loop. On their right were mountains. White mist and thunder filled the air where the Dragon’s Tears poured down from the mountains, cascading over a huge rock formation that strongly resembled a dragon’s head. Less romantic players referred to the river as the Dragon’s Drool.
Before them, fast approaching, were three representatives from the Conquerors. Limerick could easily make out Tungsten, Lockjaw, and Grave.
An antithesis to Neveah’s brightness and light, Tungsten rode a bony horse that was missing patches of flesh and an eye. Spiders and worms writhed in and out of gaping sores that covered the horse’s body. Limerick could see several ribs jutting out in front of the saddle. Tungsten, cloaked in black, stared down through dark sunken pits in a pale gray face. He carried a staff with a fresh human head attached to the end. Limerick shuddered.
Neither Lockjaw nor Grave rode mounts. They moved swiftly on either side of Tungsten. Lockjaw, the dark opposite to Kogan’s courageous strength, made huge slow bounds and rocked with the weight of a great axe he carried over one shoulder. His plate armor gleamed darkly: blood-red enameled steel. His helmet had two curved horns, also the color of blood. The Brutalli trundled beside Tungsten, resembling a Minotaur in red. He was smaller than Kogan, but not by much.
Grave, armed with deception to counter Limerick’s wit, padded quickly; his short legs moved at a brisk trot to keep up with the other two. He appeared to be unarmed, but Limerick knew otherwise. Grave’s dull gray leather armor was tattered and worn. Shiny bits of metal glinted in his salt-and-pepper fur. He moved like the cat that he resembled - lithe and lethal. Grave’s ears twitched nervously and his nose sampled the air for threats. He was probably the most deadly of the three, and he knew it.
Behind Limerick, the gathered might of the Explorers waited. In front of him, a horde of Conquerors ached for battle.
No official count existed, but at least thirty thousand players gathered here for each side. The Conquerors had greater numbers - their horde was visibly larger; the Explorers had discipline - their ranks were a tight and coordinated wall of white and gold.
Finally, the two trios met between their gathered hosts. A quarter-mile of open ground separated the opposing armies. Flocks of bright birds and small dragons flew overhead, unaware of the storm brewing beneath them.
A long silence broke only when Grave spat on the ground.
Tungsten spoke, “I do not see your champion.”
“He’s right here,” Kogan growled indignantly.
“I was referring to your hired goon- Viper. You won’t be much of a challenge without him. We can call it off now,” Tungsten purred, smiling. “We’ll save you all the trouble. Just surrender and we will let you walk away.”
Limerick removed his top hat and scratched his bald head, grinning. He tossed it back on with a flourish; it somehow landed perfectly at the same angle as before, “Do you have anything of value to add or can we get on with this? I’m looking forward to mapping our new territory.”
Kogan took a step toward Tungsten, “The winner of this battle, by any means
, is granted access to the river valley and the pass.” He pointed behind him to the mountains looming in the distance. “The loser forfeits all rights and may only use this land at the whim of the winner. There will be no looting of corpses save for money. After the fight, gear will be returned to its owner. This bond will be made before Omni and cannot be broken.”
Once Tungsten agreed to the bond, the terms of battle would be followed whether his soldiers cooperated or not. Omni, the Artificial Intelligence that controlled Verdia and everything that happened inside of it, would enforce the bond. Anyone trying to break terms and steal loot from fallen enemies would find the effort useless. A stolen item would simply vanish and return home to its owner. It was more strategic to leave items where they were, as the owner would have to return for retrieval- or pay someone for the task.
Tungsten leered from his undead horse. He nodded, “Those terms sound good to me. The Conquerors have given me authority to accept. When you lose, you will leave this river valley immediately and give up any holdings here.”
Kogan smirked, “When you lose, you will retreat to your bleak capital.”
“I don’t think that will happen.” Tungsten replied. “Not without Viper.”
Anger colored Kogan’s white face. He opened his mouth to reply.
Chaos erupted from the Explorers’ side of the battle lines - the sound of many cheering voices mixed with a deep rumble of thunder. Six adversaries turned to discover the source of commotion. Nevaeh grinned, and Grave scowled.
A dark rider on a black horse, shrouded in streaks of lightning, pounded across the green grass. Black leather armor scrawled with steel-colored runes covered him neck to toe. Black hair matched his horse’s ebony coat; green eyes flared with lightning. He held a bright white sword to the sky, the Spark Katana; electricity arced around him. Muffled cheers became clear. Distant voices carried over the flat ground, and tiny figures waved spears and shields in elation.
“VIPER, VIPER, VIPER!!”
The rider moved parallel to the Explorer shield wall and swung toward the small group of leaders gathered between the armies. He wore a proud grin as he sheathed his sword into the scabbard on his back. With a final crackle, the lightning faded.
Viper did not slow as he approached the group. His eyes burned holes in Grave. Grave growled and drew two jagged black knives, bracing for the charge.
Kogan gave a cry of dismay, “No!”
At the last second, the earth opened in gouts of purple fire. The horse ran down into the earth, and vanished. Viper leapt forward and trotted to a stop, halting mere inches from Grave. He stared down at the Agilus, his teeth gleaming in a savage grin.
Tungsten feigned a yawn, “Very exciting entrance. We were all worried you were not going to show.” His voice had an almost scolding tone to it.
Kogan clapped Viper on the back. He turned to Tungsten, “The horn will sound in ten minutes. Be ready.”
“We will. You should get a good look at this valley. Today will be the last you set foot here.”
Tungsten and crew wheeled about and headed for the Conqueror lines. Grave glanced back at Viper and showed his black teeth. The Explorers turned back as well.
“I need to prepare,” Limerick said. “Good luck, everyone. Try not to die.”
Limerick raised his cane. The cane’s handle, shaped like a compass-rose, shimmered a bright green. The glow quickly spread up Limerick’s arm and over his entire body. Limerick vanished, and the green light with him.
Limerick reappeared on a low hill overlooking the field. Waiting for him was Doc, his Brutalli butler. Doc was an NPC, a non-player character, and part of the game. He was a program - not a real person - but one would have to press hard to discover this. Doc looked formidable and classy, dressed to the nines in a double breasted suit.
Kate, Limerick’s NPC assistant, stood by Doc, twirling a blue parasol. Kate was a dark-haired woman with a sly look that concealed her true mood. The frilly dress and feathered hat she wore hinted of a Wild West saloon girl. Resting against a milky shoulder was a long flintlock rifle with large iron sights.
Doc removed Limerick’s coat, “Fine day for a battle, sir.”
“Indeed.” Limerick turned to the girl, “Kate, are the flares ready?”
“You know it, sugar.” She winked at him.
Limerick grinned, “Let us prepare.”
He spread his arms, and a miniature version of the battlefield appeared in front of him. Every detail was there, down to the two parley groups returning to their lines. Limerick used his fingers to trace lines and boxes around the field. He separated the friendly army into units. Archers here, cavalry there, spearmen to the front. On the battlefield, soldiers followed flashing arrows that appeared on the ground, guiding each unit to its proper place. They were already more or less in formation, but Limerick made some slight changes after seeing his opponent’s line of battle. He finished drawing up the plans and stepped back, waiting for the horn to sound.
As they marched back to the line, Kogan held his hand to Viper’s back, like a proud big brother or a coach walking with his star player.
“I knew you would come, friend,” Kogan said. “Are you ready to wear gold and white?”
“Let’s talk about that after the battle,” Viper replied; his green eyes met Kogan’s golden gaze.
“Are you familiar with the plan?” Nevaeh asked.
Viper nodded, “Kogan briefed me. Sounds risky.”
“Is that a problem?” Nevaeh raised an eyebrow. Viper was typically brash, not cautious.
Viper shook his head, “Of course not.”
“Explorers!” Kogan yelled as they reached the lines. His voice boomed above the murmur of the army. “You have fought to tame this land. Now, you must fight to keep it!” A thunderous cry answered his call. Spears and swords rattled against shields. Huge Brutalli warriors beat their armored chests. Mages blasted the sky with gold and white bursts of energy.
“Heroes!” Kogan barked again. “To me!”
A group of fifty spearmen, heavily armored in white and gold plate, stepped forward as one. Their tower shields bore the golden cross of Kogan’s Heroes. A mix of big men and bigger Brutalli; they were all hulking, muscled, and battle hardened. Their broad-bladed spears were ten feet long, piercing the sky far above the spears carried by the other Explorers. Plate armor covered them from head to toe. Narrow eye slits confined their view, creating the only opening for any foe looking to bring the juggernauts down.
“Form the wedge!” Kogan stepped forward five paces and stopped.
Spearmen fanned out to either side of him, creating an arrow with Kogan at the tip. The wedge’s wings were twelve men wide and two deep. Men stationed at the far edges were biggest and strongest, to protect the flanks. They banged their spear butts into the soft soil. Up and down the battle line, other soldiers did the same.
“Take your place, Viper.”
Viper stepped behind Kogan and drew his sword. He held it down-hand, the blade resting against his arm, and positioned himself about five paces behind Kogan to avoid stumbling into him. He whirled the blade, and it flashed to life. Blue and white arcs of electricity surrounded Viper, passing from the Spark Katana to his left hand, and back again.
Behind him, Nevaeh stepped into her place. Three shining halos whispered at her back. She folded her hands, waiting.
The horn sounded.
Anxious Explorers advanced at a trot, keeping formation. As they moved, mages up and down the line were casting “buff” spells on their allies. These spells increased speed, hardened skin, sharpened weapons and senses.
A group of mages with a mounted escort lagged behind the army, casting out wards to reveal any stealthy foes that might try to take them unawares. Orbs of light bounced over the grass, searching for invisible enemies hiding in plain sight- a wise precaution considering the caliber and reputation of their enemy.
Archers jogged behind the infantry - arrows knocked but not drawn. On either flan
k were the cavalry. Five hundred heavily plated knights waited on beefy coursers, something that the Conquerors would be unprepared for. Most players were unwilling to risk losing a mount in battle, and chose to fight on foot.
The psychological advantage of a huge horse and sharp lance would be hard to overcome; the player might know that it’s a game, but her brain would be screaming this seems awfully real to me! This fact was an important part of the Explorers’ plan, but was not their sole hope. Kogan and Viper were the foundation of their scheme.
After a minute or so of trotting, the two armies shrank the field between them. With a red puff, a flare shot up from Limerick’s hill, tracing a smoky arc across the blue sky. Kogan glanced back at Nevaeh and nodded.
Nevaeh raised her arms and spread them gracefully; golden halos at her back spun furiously, singing a crystal song. A strong wind blew down from the mountains; gale-force buffets swooped in and met the spearmen. They ran faster as a magic wind blew stronger. It pushed them- almost lifted them off the grass- and their boots skimmed the earth with each stride. Nevaeh herself glided effortlessly, leaving a trail of bright flowers in her wake.
Spears lowered as the wedge hurtled toward the Conqueror lines. Enormous strides carried them ten or twenty feet in a bound. Their boots scarcely touched the grass that rustled beneath them. Kogan roared and raised his shield to meet the oncoming enemies.
A great grinding clatter erupted when the Explorers slammed into the enemy shield wall. Metal and voices screamed; the charging wedge drove deep into the enemy lines. Cohesion among the Conqueror main line vanished; they were driven back or trampled.
Four men shattered like china dolls when Kogan swung his great shield in an arc. They vanished in green mist, leaving their armor and weapons behind. All players died this way; somewhere nearby, they would respawn – disappointed and angry.
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