Delvers LLC: Welcome to Ludus

by Blaise Corvin

  "Also, now when I put on my regular armor, I'm like a goddam tank. I can cover all my vitals with steel skin. The Durability skill makes my skin as tough as boiled leather without any other protection too. On top of all that, I think my bones got stronger. I don't really have to worry about hurting myself by using my enhanced strength anymore. This level-up is amazing."

  Jason said, "He can create rifling in barrels now too. He made himself a new rifle."

  Henry patted his thigh. "I'm still going to keep my bigger exogun, maybe keep one of the smaller tubes too, but yeah, I have a rifle now." Henry went to a table on the other side of the garage and picked up the weapon he'd created that week. "This thing is fantastic. I'm still working on better sights for it, but I have actual magazines for this sucker, see?"

  Henry detached what looked like a box on the underside of the tube weapon and showed it to Uluula. She saw long, golden metal slugs stacked up, waiting to be fed into the rifle. She was impressed. She wasn't sure how the weapon worked, but she thought it looked a lot like an Areva magnegun. She was familiar with the shape of Henry's rifle but not with its function. "How does it work?"

  Henry slapped the magazine back into the underside of the weapon, cocked a bolt back to the rear, and pushed it forward. "This is how you load the gun. I use magic to actually fire it so the mechanism just guides a round into the barrel.

  "Using gold rounds was Jason's idea. We're still getting used to the fact that gold is common on this planet. Lead is fucking hard to find, but gold works just fine, especially since I made the barrel so dense and strong. It's really friggin heavy, but it should last a while."

  "Weren't your projectiles for the exoguns made of bronze?" Since the conversation had veered into weapons development, Uluula was genuinely interested. The way Jason and especially Henry could just invent contraptions out of nothing was fascinating.

  "Yeah, but exoguns are quick and dirty. They were just smooth tubes, and the balls I was firing were not a tight fit all around. I just rolled them between my palms. The barrels of the exoguns basically just existed to guide the ball in a certain direction. On the other hand, this rifled barrel creates spin and stabilizes the slugs."

  The weapon was incredibly crude, but Uluula understood the basic principal. Her eyes shined when she realized how formidable such a thing would be in Henry's hands. He noticed her expression and smiled. "Yup, I don't think I have to explain to you what this thing can do. Mr. Peaceful back there still doubts me, though." He jerked his head at Jason.

  Uluula pursed her lips and thought about what the two had said a few minutes ago. "And you want to put cannons on the vehicle too? I'm assuming that with your... orb upgrades, you can fire guns with more power now as well."

  Henry snorted. "You don't know the half of it. This baby will make my old exoguns look like BB guns."

  Uluula didn't know why Henry would refer to any weapon as an infant nor what a "BB gun" was, but she understood the gist of what he was saying.

  Henry put the rifle away and faced her. "You should also see what your boyfriend came up with yesterday."

  Uluula glanced at Jason and thought he looked sheepish. "He is not my boyfriend. The most accurate way to describe our relationship is that we are discovering whether courting is--"

  "I really don't care what you want to call it." Henry grimaced. "You two should just bang and get it over with. But whatever, it's not my business; Jason's badass new ability is, though."

  Henry grabbed a thick bronze rod and held it out. "Show her, Jason! She'll get a kick out of this."

  Jason sighed, but his eyes lit up as he unsheathed his sword and walked over. Henry began speaking again, "He started meditating yesterday when we were taking a break. He was probably just sulking because you were out training with your spear or whatever and you two couldn't go on an incredibly polite, sterile, well-mannered date. Anyway, this mopey, goofy motherfucker came up with something completely terrifying."

  Jason swung his Breeze at the bronze bar, and as the weapon arced forward, Uluula noticed the edge of the blade flicker. When the sword hit the bronze, it didn't stop. In fact, it continued on like nothing was even there. The severed bar fell to the floor with a metallic twang, its end cut so cleanly the surface looked polished.

  Uluula's jaw dropped open.

  Henry sniggered. "I told him he should ditch the lame name for his sword and call it 'Lightsaber' instead."

  "Just ignore him." Jason sheathed his sword and walked back to his work area. "Back during the fight with Thod, I discovered that the edges of my null time fields were very sharp, probably because they are so incredibly thin. Once I was able to figure out how to anchor a long, thin null-time field to a physical object, the rest was history."

  Jason was trying to sound nonchalant, but Uluula could tell he was pleased with himself. She felt her heart swell with pride for this strange, tall, alien man.

  Henry shook his head as he examined the cut on the bar. "The only reason this cut isn't literally perfect is because of the width of the sword. This is some scary shit."

  Jason shrugged. "Just imagine what we could do as a team if you got good enough with Ludus tech to replicate this ability using powered swords."

  "We'd be unstoppable, man."

  Uluula sighed. She had a lot to think about. One of the roles she was planning to try her hand at within Delvers, LLC was tactics. Jason could think strategically too, but he didn't have her experience. It was very possible he wouldn't need her assistance, but for the time being, her goal was to be the company's tactician.

  However, to do planning of any kind, she needed to understand the capabilities of every person on the team. That meant if any new members were added, she'd have to learn about them too. She had a lot of work to do. At least she already had intel on their target location.

  "Jason, Henry, you two read about Yanbei Cavern from the materials Mareen got us, right?"

  "Yes, and we are planning for it." Jason gestured at their large, unfinished vehicle. "We've been working on strategies to counter all the dangers mentioned in the reports from the Adventuring Guild."

  "Do you think I could help?"

  Jason smiled, his eyes tired but lively. "Sure, we'll get another desk in here so you can set up shop while Mareen crunches numbers. That would be actually be fantastic since then you could be informed of our experiments in real time. Are you sure you have time, though? I know you've been working on a lot of your own stuff lately."

  Uluula considered for a moment before answering, "It depends. Can you make me a better ranged weapon than the old, shoddy crossbow I've been using? Next on my list of tasks was 'get better with a crossbow.'"

  "Can you do it, Henry?" Jason asked his friend.

  Henry scratched the back of his head for a few seconds before answering, "I don't see why not. I already have to make a new bow for Mareen since she can bench press a truck now. I think I can definitely make a better crossbow for you. We're going to be pressed for time, though."

  Jason crossed his arms. "Yeah, the struggle is real. We were out of money. I know Henry has some now, but we'll probably use all of that up too. That means we still have to worry about paying rent on this house in another month and a half."

  "Wait a moment." Something had just occurred to Uluula. "What about people being notified that you are orb-Bonded? How have you even been shopping?" Uluula realized she'd forgotten that Jason was marked!

  Jason laughed. "Henry came up with a way to solve that problem a week ago." He took some rolled leather out of his back pocket, revealing it was a mask when he put it on. The mask covered his face above his nose and over his eyes but didn't otherwise alter his appearance.

  "We look a little eccentric when we wear these, but based on some experimentation, we realized the Dolos data is triggered by facial recognition."

  Henry's voice was grim when he elaborated, "So now we also know we'll have to keep an eye out for other people who do this same sort of thing or hide their faces."
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  "Why didn't you cover your face the last couple times we stepped out, erm, went on a date?"

  "Mainly because it was dark and we were already going to restaurants or places I've already been. Most of the people we saw have already seen me before. Sure, it was an unnecessary risk, but I really hate wearing a mask, especially since it's leather. I smell nothing but leather all day long afterwards unless I shower. I don't want to waste our money on hot water, though."

  Uluula suddenly made a decision. The fact she could know so little about what Jason was up to for the past two weeks despite the fact they saw each other regularly was proof that she was too disconnected. She couldn't reasonably expect to assist in the company's strategy if she didn't even know its two leaders were skulking around in embarrassing, poorly-crafted masks.

  "Get a desk in here, please. I will start working in the garage to help plan for our mission."

  "Good answer!" Henry exclaimed. He gave her a quick probing look that Jason didn't see before he walked back to his tool-strewn workstation. Not for the first time, Uluula felt mutual dislike for Henry. Still, in moments like these, Uluula was grateful he made an effort to get along with her for the sake of his friend. Plus, Uluula really never wanted to make an enemy of Henry.

  The man acted foolish and carefree often enough that sometimes she forgot what an engine of destruction he could be. Jason had the same effect with his analytical nature and soft-spoken manner. Uluula forgot that Jason seemed to turn into a god of death when provoked. If they survived the next year or so, both men could join the ranks of the most dangerous people on the planet.

  Uluula chuckled softly to herself. After coming to this planet, her dream of being an admiral was a thing of the past, but Ludus was hardly boring. She had to admit she was actually beginning to enjoy the challenge of finding her place in this world, both personally and professionally.

  She hummed as she began to clear out an area in the garage for her new desk.

  Blood Fire

  Aodh Antonni O'Breen had never wanted to be a farmer, but he hadn't had any other aspirations either, at least not until recently. His only real motivation for most of his life had been staying away from his mental cousin, Vitaliya.

  As he sat on a hilltop, watching the sheep watching him back, he thought about the misfortunes of his life. Unfortunately, the universe hated him. Out of the entire O'Breen clan, only he and his cousin had manifested as mages when they were young. This had made him happy at first... until he'd realized he would see his cousin more often.

  All the other kids got to stop going to school outside Mirana when they were old enough to work, but mages were encouraged to keep attending. Vitaliya was only a couple years older than he was, but his parents and her parents had trusted her to watch him.

  They didn't know what a demon she was! Aodh was cursed.

  His whole life, Aodh had had troubles he couldn't explain. Most of the time, he worked as a shepherd. The sheep constantly bit him. In fact, just about every animal under the sun wanted to bite him. His worst bit of luck was how he looked, though.

  His ma was only half Fideli, and his da was Terran. Aodh was only one fourth, but he looked like he was full-blooded Fideli. Terrans were treated poorly by Areva, but Fideli were treated badly by everyone, even other Fideli! Everywhere he went, people assumed he was Fideli. They acted like he might randomly start breaking things or hurting people.

  As a mage in a Terran farming community, looking Fideli had led to a very lonely childhood. He'd stood out even more in the O'Breen settlement. Most of the other O'Breen youth were redheads or had fair hair. Meanwhile, Aodh had dark hair and striking eyes.

  Aodh was always falling off of things or falling into things or falling over things. He always said the wrong thing at the wrong time. It seemed his life was filled with nothing but mistakes and embarrassment. The only thing he was truly good at was magic, but his fire magic was weak. He didn't even have enough power to support a bakery.

  A few months before his da had passed away, Aodh had been complaining about his life. His da was sick, so Aodh tried not to gripe when he was visiting, but his frustration seemed to always come out anyway. His da looked at him seriously and said, "Aodh, you're an O'Breen. You've got to stop acting like a puss-face. O'Breen folk are bogtrotters, at least on Ludus. We got to be tough. Do you know why?"

  Aodh had answered how his da had taught him to his whole life. "Yeah, Da, if we aren't strong, Ludus will be stronger. Every day is a fight."

  "That's it, boyo!" His da was weak, but he'd still ruffled Aodh's hair.

  His da had died when he was ten, and his ma followed two months later. It had broken Aodh's heart. He still missed them terribly. The universe's sense of humor was cruel, so he also had to go live with his aunt, Vitaliya's ma. He practically saw his cousin every waking hour. It was awful.

  Aodh idly lit a twig in his hand on fire with magic and snuffed it out with his fingers. He really hated the sheep, probably not as much as they hated him, but watching the livestock gave him time to think. It was just unfortunate how his thoughts started down such dark roads. Thinking of his parents always made his heart ache, but his mind seemed to head there whenever he was lost in the past.

  He was sixteen now, two years older than the minimum age to sign a contract or work for a large company. He knew his aunt and uncle had enough people to take care of their farm. He wasn't particularly needed. He helped out where he could, but he was accident prone. Every time he thought of the messes he'd made, it filled him with guilt.

  He needed a change. He dreamed of being an adventurer. But when he'd tried to join any of the adventuring companies in Mirana the year before, he was rejected by all of them. They said he was too young, too unskilled, too small, or had too little talent. The general message was that nobody needed a fifteen-year-old, scrawny, underwhelming fire mage with no other skills of note.

  It was a bitter pill to swallow, but Aodh was driven. He'd started practicing with a quarterstaff every day and working out to train his body. It made him nervous that the only person his age that didn't treat his dream with scorn was Vitaliya. Another cousin, Vitaliya's little bother Tadhg, openly laughed at him. Most of the other youth in his community mocked him too, but they had the courtesy to do it behind his back.

  Aodh had swallowed his shame and continued to train. Everyone knew he was a weak mage. He was on the small side and hadn't been anything other than a farmer his whole life. He didn't care. He'd grown up reading stories of Thato Jacobs, one of the most famous adventurers of his time. Thato had led one of the greatest adventuring companies on the continent, and he couldn't even use magic! He hadn't wielded a Dolos orb either; he'd just succeeded by using his wits and trusting his companions. Aodh idolized Thato Jacobs.

  Thato Jacobs... Aodh smiled, remembering the event that had finally changed his life for the better.

  A few months earlier, when the land next to the O'Breen compound was settled by a new farming community, Aodh hadn't paid much attention. Having new neighbors didn't directly affect him or his adventurer training. However, when his nosey cousin Vitaliya eventually found out the leader of the new community was George Jacobs, Thato Jacobs' father, Aodh was shocked.

  Aodh was clumsy and didn't have a lot of self-confidence, but he was also earnest and straightforward. He'd immediately found Mr. George and introduced himself. Over the next couple months, the two forged an unlikely, but strong friendship.

  With a start, Aodh came back to the present again and stared off into the distance. He couldn't wait until he was done watching the sheep for the day. Then he could go visit George.

  Now that he thought about it, he realized he spent a lot of time at George's house, hearing stories of old adventures and learning what his son Thato was like when he was a boy. Aodh was also able to pick up some adventuring tips as well as some bushcraft skills. He couldn't believe his luck! He was even able to avoid Vitaliya!

  He'd also gotten to know everyone in the new comm
unity. He was good friends with Mr. Perry too. Perry had lost his son to monsters before their village moved to the new settlement. Aodh could tell that he was lonely, so sometimes he would stop by just to say hello.

  Aodh more or less got along well with everyone in the neighboring village. From the old spinsters to the little kids, they were all kind, down-to-earth people. As he got to know them, he heard all the stories of the group's journey to Mirana.

  The mixed opinions about the orb-Bonded Henry and Jason fascinated him. The way they were described, he was interested in one day meeting Henry. He sounded like everything Aodh was not. He was described as brash, self-confident, and worldly. Not everyone in the village liked him, but they all respected him.

  Jason sounded like philosophers of old. A sharp mind wrapped in a gentle disposition. However, the way the villagers described Jason fighting sounded terrifying.

  Aodh was just a farm boy who could make little fires using magic. He hoped one day he could learn something from Henry or Jason. If Thato Jacobs' father, George Jacobs, spoke well for someone, that meant a lot to Aodh.

  Aodh shook himself, realizing he could end his work day. He had to get the stupid sheep back in their pens first. He knew the foul-tempered beasts were probably going to nip him as he finished his day. He clenched his jaw and reminded himself he would get to read at Mr. George's house as soon as he was done. That was all the motivation he needed.

  * * *

  Aodh was sitting down, reading one of George's old books, when there was a knock at the door. George glanced up from the chess piece he was carving, and his eyes twinkled. "Aodh, can you get the door please? I wasn't sure if they'd be able to make it today, but it looks like they could."

  Aodh put the journal down and got up to answer the door. He suspected someone from the community needed to talk to George. Some of the local farmers were calling the settlement Georgetown, which seemed to be some kind of joke that Aodh didn't understand. People in Georgetown were always asking George for advice.