by Eden Redd
Swords and hammers came down on or across the monk. Faye was silent as their blades broke in half and hammers shattered to pieces against her tanned skin. The monk coiled fingers into loose fists, striking a troll on the chest, caving his armor into his flesh and shattering him into nothing. An arrow bounced off her head as she became a juggernaut, ramming her shoulder into patches of trolls. Explosions filled the area to her left and right as Leeta fired into the trolls.
Faye advanced; every strike true and deadly. Fists and kicks shattered digital bodies as she pushed on. The wood elf moved like a dancer in a heavy metal concert. Some trolls hesitated while others rushed to their deaths. Faye had every intention of killing every single troll when a cloaked figure emerged from the ranks, sword in hand. The dread lord, Kadvar Gray, eyed the monk as she stalked toward him. Dark power surged as he readied his blade and launched himself toward the wood elf. Arms up, Faye blocked the blade as it sparked against her bare skin. The dread lord moved like a whirlwind, slashing and attacking like a hurricane. Faye blocked each incoming strike before slamming her foot down and causing the ground to tremble. It was enough for the dread lord to lose his step. A hand took hold of his black leather armor and another slammed into his chest. Kadvar grunted as his chest collapsed and dark energy pushed it back into place. Faye’s lip wrinkled as she reared back and punched him again. Chest caving in, the dread lord swung his blade and it vibrated against her neck. The blade didn’t penetrate the monk’s skin as she reared back again. Kadvar turned the blade on its side, pressing the metal to her neck before runes along the blade glowed and exploded.
Faye let go as the explosion sent her flying sideways and hitting the ground. Kadvar’s chest re-inflated and he stumbled toward the downed monk. Lifting his blade, he stared down with a cold gaze, blood dripping from her neck and shock in her eyes.
“Always bring an ace card,” Kadvar hissed as he readied to bring the blade down on Faye’s digital skull.
Magical light filled the area as a cannonball hit a troll next to Kadvar and exploded. Trolls and the dread lord were thrown to the ground while Faye clutched at her neck. Information blinked in the corner of her eye, her stamina was reduced to zero and the Stone Mountain technique faded away. A 3-hour weakness status filled her eyes and the monk sighed in failure.
***
Claudia launched from the ground and toward the giant three-armed drell-kai. The monster swatted at her as explosions pelted its thick hide. Blind in one eye, it roared in annoyance as the lancer moved like a persistent insect.
The lancer glanced to the battle below as explosions lit up the evening sky. Faye moved like a titan through the troll’s ranks as Leeta gave her support. Edric stood like a statue in the battlefield. Trolls to the right and left surged toward Elora while the guards fired at them and the two monsters on the field. The four-legged drell-kai whined as several scorpion crossbows and catapults kept the monster from advancing. When the trolls began to rush by, the attack eased up as Elora’s guards re-targeted the incoming flood. Despite’s Faye’s power, the number of trolls were beyond even her capabilities.
Claudia watched as the battled turned. Despite her attacks on the three-armed drell-kai, the health bar above the monster was still green. Landing on the ground, legs bent and power surged as she became a bullet. Flying up, she gracefully landed on the monster’s shoulder before sticking two fingers in her mouth and letting out a loud whistle.
The monster turned its head and swatted at the annoying lancer. Claudia leapt up and landed on its head, sending out another loud whistle. The monster roared as it tried to grab at her, wanting to squeeze her into red paste when something caught the creature’s eye. Looking back to the kingdom, a wave of lancers filled the night sky. Eyes determined, they landed halfway onto the battlefield and launched again, spears in hand.
Claudia turned her spear in her hands, trying to stab the remaining eye when then monster threw its head back in a roar. The lancer was flung through the air, helpless as she watched the drell-kai blast out a stream of flames. Some lancers were engulfed, disintegrated before they were even close. Others flew on, bodies coming down at an angle and spear points gleaming in the fire light. The monster swatted two arms at the incoming lancers, shattering some of them into shards of light. The remaining force reached the twisted monster, driving their spears deep and bending them to inflict secondary damage.
Claudia landed and bounced back up, soaring into the air. Body turning, she fell toward the monster, feet and spear first. Landing on the back of its head, she drove the spear tip in deep, grunting and screaming. The giant monster thrashed as it tried to shake off the lancers. Some held on for dear life while others fell. When they hit the ground, legs coiled with power and they launched into the air once again. Spear points and explosions hammered at the monster from all sides.
Claudia lost her grip as the monster trashed. The curved points running along her bracer shined as she slammed them into the thick, scaly hide. Holding on, she climbed one bracer at a time onto the monster until she reached her spear again. Taking hold, she glanced up to see the health bar turning from green to yellow. Hope flared as she pulled her spear and jumped straight up into the night.
The lancer’s body spun for a moment before it began to fall. Claudia surveyed the battlefield. The troll hordes were closing the distance to the kingdom walls. Light and explosions flashed in all directions but despite their best efforts, their side was completely outnumbered.
The pull of gravity took hold of the lancer as she fell. Lining her spear up, she aimed for the giant monster’s head once again. Eyes drifted to Edric’s still form. Staying on her target, she took a deep breath.
“FIGHT EDRIC! FIGHT!” the lancer shouted before her boots and spear slammed into the drell-kai’s thick head.
***
Edric felt a voice touch his mind, chasing away the stillness in his limbs. Hands rising, they fell into practiced motions with a new fire burning in his belly. Eyes on the fallen Faye, power pumped back into his extremities. Cold logic blended with fury as the summoner refused to allow fate to take those he cared about any longer!
Arcane words spilled from his lips before he shouted the word of power.
(Spell Casting)65+(Int)7=72/(Encounter Roll)2! Spell critically successful!
Summon Angel! Mana: 165/230
A portal spread open and an armored angel stepped out. In its hand was an oversized hammer, one too big for any normal person to wield. A helmet covered its face as black wings flapped. Edric said nothing as he watched the powerful angel connect with his mind. The player remembered a faint thought, critical summons could bring stronger creatures into battle but this was his first time achieving it.
The angel turned to the fallen wood elf, trolls rushing her with raised blades. With a burst, it shot at the trolls like a cannonball. When it reached them, wings flashed out and the giant hammer swung. Trolls shattered and thrown in every direction. Faye struggled to get up as the angel unleashed holy carnage.
Leeta lurched to her feet, rushing to the wood elf while the angel hammered at every living thing close by. Edric’s air elemental watched as a group of archers spotted him and lit arrows. A second later, they let the flaming arrows loose. The elemental rushed toward the arrows, spreading itself out and knocking them away, snuffing out their flames.
Edric’s hands moved as he began another summoning spell. Fingers bent in odd angles and words of power swelled up his throat. The player felt himself slide into sharp focus and he shouted out a word of power.
(Spell Casting)65+(Int)7=72/(Encounter Roll)22! Spell successful!
Summon Elemental! Mana: 140/230
The ground shifted on the battlefield as a hulking earth elemental rose up. Edric commanded it to protect the wood elf. While the angel continued to keep the enemy at bay, earth shifted around Faye. The wood elf looked up to see it partially close over her and carry her away from the battle line. Faye reached down to her belt pouch and pulled out a
healing potion as the earth opened around her. Leeta looked down, dropping the scorpion crossbow and picking the wood elf up. Faye let her arm fall, the empty potion striking the ground. The neck wound healed but the weakness status effect continued to blink in her vision.
“Throw the bag,” Edric shouted.
Leeta glanced back and nodded. Holding Faye in one arm, the ogre slipped the bag of magical orbs off her shoulder and with a heave, sent the entire thing flying. It landed about ten feet from the trolls and Edric’s angel. The angel swung his hammer around until a whisper filled his mind. Wings flapping, the angel bolted up as the air elemental pointed two smoky arms, lightning curling around the ends. Edric mentally gave the command as the trolls pushed forward, nearly on the bag. Lightning flared and streaked out, slamming into the sack and igniting its contents.
Leeta rushed to her master, Faye in her arms when the explosion behind her caused her to stumble forward. Troll bodies smashed into light as the explosion lit up the night sky. Kadvar rolled with the explosion, sliding across the ground, his undead senses dazzled.
The four-legged drell-kai howled its contempt as it could not advance on the kingdom walls while taking damage. The monster turned its spider-like eyes to the explosion before looking down at a man, ogre and elf. Turning its entire body, it galloped toward them, foul rage filling its many eyes.
Edric moved to Leeta and Faye in her arms. The summoner reached up and touched her cheek before the thudding of something big vibrated around them. The group turned to see the four-legged drell-kai nearly on them, steaming saliva dripping from the edges of its maw. Instantly, the earth elemental and air elemental rushed to their master’s defense. Lightning flashed from the air elemental as the earth elemental made two large block-like fists and hammered at the monster’s leg. From above, the armored angel came diving down, hammer in hand.
Leeta put Faye down as she pulled two spiked maces from her belt. Running fingers along the mace designed by Dumadin, the head of the mace began to spin, forming a club-like blur. The ogre rushed the monster as it slashed and tried to fight off the elementals keeping it at bay.
Edric fell to his knees, taking hold of Faye and trying to help her up. The wood elf felt like dead weight in his arms. Muscles straining, they were nearly standing when the angel brought his hammer hard across the drell-kai’s snout. The monster roared as its head snapped to the side before it whipped it back. A stream of clear liquid surged out from its open maw. The stream struck the angel, who grunted as armor melted away. The air elemental floated back until the stream cut across its midsection. The elemental wailed a cry as its body flashed and faded from sight.
Edric felt the loss of the air elemental as his eyes widened. The stream cut across and was aiming for him and Faye. Rushing a spell, he charged through the words until he finished the incantation.
(Spell Casting)65+(Int)7=72/(Encounter Roll)67! Spell successful!
Mana Shield! 200 Armor protection! Mana: 40/230
Edric turned his back to the stream, shielding Faye from the blast. The stream struck hard across, drenching his mana shield in acid.
You take 220 acid damage!
The mana shield soaked up most of the damage. Faye looked up as the shield collapsed and drops of acid struck Edric’s shoulders.
You take 20 damage-(Armor)5= 15 HP damage. HP: 125/140
The angel, earth elemental and Leeta crashed into the thrashing dragon monster. Leeta slammed her spinning mace into a leg while the angel hammered the monster across the snout. The earth elemental grew larger until it reached the monster’s side and slammed rocky fists into its scaled hide. The drell-kai whipped its club-like tail around, one of its three bony spikes launching from it. The angel slammed it’s hammer down again just as the spike penetrated its unprotected back. The point stabbed out from its chest and the angel fell. Edric and Faye turned to see the angel hit the ground and a large clawed foot stomp on it, shattering it to pieces.
“Run back to the wall,” Leeta ordered as she moved and struck the monster’s leg, the spinning mace cutting away flesh and scales.
Edric stood his ground, eyes narrowing on the trashing monster. The battle was turning against them and he knew it. Even if they made it back to the wall, the troll forces would soon overcome their meager defenses. The player made a decision and an unusual serenity flowed along his mind. Holding Faye to him with one arm, the summoner pointed his other hand to the four-legged drell-kai. Calling on his ability, he focused every drop of his being into it, channeling his love, hate and rage into an invisible lance that only he could see.
(Charm)50+(Cha)10=60/(Encounter Roll)88! Charm unsuccessful!
Edric ignored it and tried again.
(Charm)50+(Cha)10=60/(Encounter Roll)90! Charm unsuccessful!
The sound of charging trolls filled the air behind the summoner. The earth elemental slammed a fist into the drell-kai’s side just as the club tail swung around and smashed into the elemental’s shoulder. The elemental faltered as it fell to one knee. Leeta swung her maces back and forth with a touch of madness. The green health bar over the monster didn’t waver, despite the amount of damage it had taken.
“Don’t give up,” Faye whispered.
Edric tried again.
(Charm)50+(Cha)10=60/(Encounter Roll)62! Charm unsuccessful!
The summoner growled as he tried to keep his focus.
(Charm)50+(Cha)10=60/(Encounter Roll)99! Charm unsuccessful!
The drell-kai brought a clawed foot down on the elemental, smashing it into chunks of debris. The monster turned its attention on Leeta as she fought on like a fury.
The sound of rushing trolls reached a fevered pitch as Edric knew he had one more chance before they were overrun. The player closed his eyes, calming his spirit until something roared into the night.
***
Dumadin raced through the empty streets of Elora, the faint sounds of explosions and battle echoing off buildings. The dwarf cursed under his breath and he tried to run as fast as his short legs could carry him. Turning a corner, he kept his pace until he saw the familiar double doors to his workshop. Squaring his shoulder, he crashed into the doors, sending them wide open.
Controlled purpose pushed the dwarf to the large thing covered in a thick tarp. Without hesitation, he pulled at the tarp while racing to the step ladder behind it. Letting go of the falling tarp, the dwarf climbed the step ladder until he reached the top. With a small jump, he landed in a strange cockpit with gears, levers and a pulsating crystal in front of him.
“I’m coming. Hang on a little longer,” Dumadin said gruffly as he flipped a lever.
The back of the metal construct closed, sealing the dwarf in. On the inside, the crystal glowed to life and projected an image of what was in front of him like a screen. Dumadin rushed, pulling levers and pushing buttons. Golden gears turned and the metal construct began to stand, steam billowing around it.
Dumadin turned the construct and looked up. Cursing again, he didn’t open the sliding roof.
“I’ll fix it later,” he muttered before looking down at a small carving of three rockets and three levers.
The dwarf kissed his thick fingers and then pressed them to the carvings. Pulling down two levers, the dwarf braced himself as the construct began to vibrate. Outside, rockets flared to life for a long second before they exploded. Dumadin grunted as his whole body sank into the cockpit.
From the street, something golden crashed through the workshop roof and flew into the air; splintered metal and wood falling onto the roof and street below.
A toothy smile bloomed as the dwarf took hold of the controls, watching his screen as he cleared the highest point of Elora, veered and flew off. Guards on the battlements fired everything they had into the troll hordes as they crashed into the walls. Claudia was a dot, jumping back and forth against a giant three-armed monster. Trolls stretched out as far as the eye could see.
Dumadin searched frantically, trying to find Faye in the chaos. Eyes loc
king on Edric, Faye and Leeta as a wall of trolls surged toward them and a four-legged monster advanced on their position, the dwarf leered.
“I’m coming Faye!” Dumadin shouted with glee as he pulled a center lever.
The two rockets sputtered out and ejected. A final center rocket flared to life and the golden construct blasted toward the summoner, elf and ogre.
“WOO HOOOOOOO!” Dumadin roared.
Edric opened his eyes and they widened. Faye looked up, her oval eyes turning round. A giant golden metal dwarf flew toward them, massive arms at its sides. Edric had to guess it was about twelve feet tall and almost just as wide.
The drell-kai turned its head just as the golden dwarf slammed into the side of its face and bounced off. The creature roared as the golden dwarf spun. Legs and arms swung out. Dumadin pulled another lever, the last rocket ejecting. Edric and Faye looked up as the giant dwarf flew overhead. The summoner and wood elf caught sight of words carved into the upper left chest of the dwarf that read “Faye’s Guardian”.
Dumadin braced himself as the golden dwarf crashed into the ground, rolled ten feet and stood up, dirt falling from thick, armored shoulders. The line of charging trolls skidded to a halt as the golden dwarf flexed mechanical fingers.
“You bastards fucked up,” Dumadin’s voice echoed from the construct. “The guardian is here and every one of you fuckers are going to pay.”
The trolls watched for barely a second before they charged. Dumadin laughed as metal fingers closed into fists. The golden dwarf charged the wall of trolls and when they clashed, the area trembled. Massive fists clocked trolls left and right. Blades, maces and hammers bounced off the golden metal before trolls were smashed to shards of light. Trolls swarmed the construct, stabbing and hammering away. Dumadin grinned from ear to ear as he pulled a lever. The top part of the dwarf spun, fists out and sending trolls in all directions. Any ground trolls too close, lost their heads as the construct advanced.