by Eden Redd
Faye stepped forward, “Caspian, how could you have done all of this? You tried to be a shining example and now you’re nothing but a bandit, stealing what is not yours.”
Caspian eyed the wood elf, “Spare me. I have been part of this game since the beginning. I have been fighting trolls for a few years and where has it gotten me, nowhere. I thought disbanding the guild would be a fresh start, clear my head.”
Caspian turned his gaze to Edric, “Then this guy comes along and now three of my best players side with him because of his new shiny city. I try to wheel and deal a new guild hall here and you all refuse. It’s bullshit!”
The knight looked down, eyes lingering on the troll with two swords to her back and the dwarf with a dagger in his belt, “And who are they?”
Edric stepped forward, “They’re nobody.”
“Fuck you Edric,” Dumadin cursed in a low tone.
The summoner turned to the dwarf with a raised eyebrow.
“I meant, fuck you Lord Temple,” Dumadin grinned.
Caspian sat back, “I like the dwarf. Maybe I’ll keep him once we kill all of you and smash the city core.”
Edric turned to Caspian, “Elora is meant to be a safe place for those misplaced by the war.”
The knight let out a laugh, “A safe place? Your guards were easily swayed by some gold.” Caspian pointed to the bound Ralis, “You make deals with the enemy in the name of peace? How is any player or citizen going to trust lords and ladies that don’t stand up for themselves?
The knight let out a sarcastic laugh, “You built a city close to enemy territory and expect them to leave you alone? Once we smash the core, I will put a new one in its place. The city will stand but it will be under my rule.”
Caspian stood up and spread out his arms, “The players here are only the first wave. Once we fortify the defenses, the trolls will think twice before wasting their energy on us. It won’t be like before where we sacrificed ourselves to get a toe hold in the Middle Kingdoms. Elora will be a new power base to take back Lukken on our terms!”
Edric let the nervous energy in his belly relax and sooth away. Stepping to the bottom of the dais, he looked up with cool eyes; Leeta’s lock stone in his closed palm. The rapid heartbeat in his chest slowed to a strong rhythm as he gathered himself for what lie ahead.
Rayna’s lip curved into a wicked smirk as she leaned over to Dumadin, “Watch my back and I’ll watch yours.”
The dwarf’s hand touched the dagger pommel, eyes on the hungry crowd surrounding them, “Aye lass, aye.”
Claudia turned slightly; looking to players she once called brothers and sisters in battle. The internal pain surged as she silently knew she had to put them down.
Faye looked up at Suusa and Tyrath with a disapproving gaze. The mage and knight looked away, unable to maintain eye contact.
Juna maintained her gaze on Edric, fingers flexing. “We’re with you,” the troll whispered.
Caspian stared down at the summoner with contempt.
Edric smiled. “The problem so many players had trouble with in keeping these lands was that they let the power go to their heads to quickly. Like a garden, you have to tend to it with love before it will bear fruit.”
The summoner turned his back to the knight and addressed the throne room, “A royal pardon for anyone who turns on these assholes and rejoins us!
Many off the guard’s eyes widened. A chill filled the large throne room as uncertainty painted brows. Caspian’s lip twitched as Suusa and Tyrath stood up. Weapons were drawn but confusion took hold. Eyes turned to fellow guards and players, unsure who would be on which side.
Caspian growled as he drew his sword. Energy spiraled out and formed an arcane circle behind the summoner. The knight bent his legs and leapt into the air.
“Kill them all!” Caspian roared as he centered his sword to cleave down the middle of Edric’s head.
Leeta flowed up from the arcane circle, yellow eyes on the flying knight. Bringing up her mace, she parried the blow and sparks flew. Caspian eyed the ogre with rage but Leeta simply smirked, pulled back slightly and pushed with all her might. Caspian’s feet barely touched the ground when the ogre’s strength surged into the knight, sending him backwards up into the air. Caspian grunted as his back hit a stone throne, shattering it as he tumbled to the floor.
Bedlam erupted as the throne room burst into action. Guards turned on guards, hacking and slashing. Enemy players surged the players in the middle, weapons raised. Claudia bent her knees while Faye stepped to Edric’s side. Shadows touched the stained glass windows of the room before they shattered inward. Two angels and three succubi flashed into the throne room. The demons dived for the crowd, pointed teeth and wide hungry eyes on the enemy. The angels flew in armor, black wings keeping them airborne as they pulled back on golden bows. Golden arrows rained down, stabbing into heads, backs and shoulders as they pulled back on divine bow strings, arrows appearing before being released.
“Now for some mood music!” Rayna shouted as she ran fingers down lute strings, the sound coming out like metal guitar riffs from a hardcore rock band.
A wand popped up from the top of the lute arm. Rayna laughed like a mad woman as she pointed it at the crowd and fired off fire balls as music filled the chamber. Sparks appeared, sending out tiny lightning bolts in all directions, zapping every single enemy. The bard threw her arm into it, playing like she was in a concert and the enemy was an audience she hated.
Dumadin pulled his dagger as guards and players rushed the bard. Staying low, he jammed the dagger point between legs and cut upwards. The instinctual shock caused a player to hesitate, axe in hand. The dwarf took full advantage, carving him up and grabbing his axe in two smooth moves. Throwing his shoulder into the enemy knight, the dwarf kept a firm grip and swung the axe around in wide arcs with a wide grin.
“Come on ya bastards!” the dwarf shouted with manic glee.
Claudia leapt into the air, spear spinning in her hand as she came down. A player looked up just as the spear point sunk into his face. The lancer used her momentum to hang on and swing, crashing her boot into another face. Pulling the spear from the ruined knight’s face, she landed on both feet and swung around, slamming the blunt end into an exposed neck and the sharp end across a throat. Status effects rained down on the players as they were stunned. The lancer turned the spear sideways and launched low, knocking three enemy guards on their asses. Flipping over them, she landed and spun her spear, cutting across necks and blood spurting upwards.
Suusa rushed forward, hands up and fire blooming around fingers. She pointed them at Leeta and Edric when Faye stood before them. The elf mage screamed as two fireballs shot out. The monk channeled her chi into her hands, holding them up, palm out. Each fireball slammed into each hand and fizzled out. The wood elf monk took each step on the dais, brow creased and eyes centered on the mage. Suusa’s eyes took on an edge of worry as she began a new incantation. Hands charged with energy as thick lightning bolts streamed down.
Faye crossed her arms before her, lightning bolts slamming into them and energy arcing. The monk gritted her teeth as the wraps around her arms scorched. Faye continued to step up, the lightning channeling through her body and into the dais steps. Suusa’s eyes widened as the monk moved right before her, the lightning cannons having little effect.
The lightning diminished and the elf mage stood in shock. Faye looked up from scorched arms, brown eyes filled with focus.
“I told you to work on your defensive spells,” Faye said as she pulled back her arms and made two fists.
Suusa whispered arcane words, a mana shield forming around her body. Faye focused her chi into one fist, reared back and threw a punch. The mana shield cracked and exploded. Suusa’s eyes were the size of saucers as Faye’s fist continued on its path, striking her chest.
The mage’s body folded nearly in half as she flew back and struck another throne. Slumping down into the stone chair, her body cracked with light and
burst into thin shards. Faye pulled her hand back just as Caspian leapt from behind the ruined throne, sword arcing down. The monk’s arms flashed up, Caspian’s sword stuck between tight palms.
“Nice try,” Caspian seethed before power flowed into the sword.
Leeta rushed to Faye’s side as energy arced. Faye rolled the blade to the side as it surged and exploded. The monk stumbled back, hands blackened. Before the knight could rain down another attack, Leeta lifted her spiked mace and parried the blow. Caspian laughed as he activated a technique. The knight became a blur; sword stabbing and slashing so fast, one’s eyes could barely keep up. Leeta parried each other blow as her body was carved up in mere seconds.
Faye grabbed the knight’s wrist mid attack and drove her other fist into his side. One, two, three, four punches dented in the side of his breast plate before the knight pulled and spun away.
Edric’s heart sank as Leeta fell to her knees. The summoner raised his hands and channeled his hit points into the fading ogre.
Channel 80 Hit Points to Leeta! Leeta’s HP: 90/220!
Some wounds closed and the ogre felt her strength return. Edric rushed to her, whip in hand.
“Handle the enemy guards,” Edric commanded.
The ogre nodded and moved into the fray at the bottom of the dais.
Juna’s hands reached up and drew her two white short swords. A horde of enemy guards and players rushed the troll. Juna smiled as her body bent and twisted like a master dancer. Parry and slash, parry and slash was her song and bodies fell to her skill. The blades cut through armor like butter as she moved with purpose and poise.
Tyrath threw his sword in the air, activating his technique. The sword glowed as it aimed at the troll cutting through his forces like paper. White swords of energy flared into existence and rained down like a deadly torrent. The troll with the pink stripe in her black hair raised her blades and parried each incoming blade. The knight could barely keep up for her arms were a blur, shattering each magical blade in turn. When the technique finished, Tyrath’s blade fell to the ground as Juna stepped closer.
“Pick up your blade, knight,” Juna smiled.
Tyrath rushed down and picked up his blade, hand trembling. Activating another technique, his armored body flashed forward. Juna side stepped and spun. Tyrath was about ten feet away when he flashed to a stop. The knight turned only for his armor to slide off and deep wounds spread open across his back.
“I’ve…never seen such skill,” The knight stammered.
“You better run,” Juna winked.
The knight stumbled forward, trying to get away. A succubus launched onto his back, claws raking across his exposed flesh. Tyrath grunted and fell as the succubus dug her fingers deep. The knight screamed as his body cracked with light and shattered.
Edric was down to Thalia and Ralis. Hands grabbed at their rope binds and began untying them. The summoner glanced up as several arrows struck one of his angels. The angel continued to let arrows loose until several more struck her and she burst into a greenish light.
“Get Ralis to safety,” Edric ordered as he freed Thalia.
The lamia nodded as she grabbed the troll diplomat and pulled him away from the fighting. The summoner turned to see Faye and Caspian locked in battle. The knight swung his sword at the wood elf. Faye dodged and twisted her body in odd angles to avoid the sword point. The knight moved so fast, she could not center herself for a counter attack. Leeta rushed the enemy guards, mace smashing into one while her hand tossed another. Rayna played on her song as the dwarf at her side swung his newly acquired axe with power.
A knight rushed the bard, slicing downward and splitting the bard’s lute in two. Rayna backed off, eyes watching in slow motion as her lute fell in two pieces. The knight smiled as he advanced on the bard. Rayna’s wrists twisted and a wand slipped from her leather sleeve into each waiting hand.
“Now you’ve done it,” Rayna hissed as she planted her feet.
The knight rushed the smaller bard and Rayna smiled. Sword coming down, the bard shifted her body and jabbed a wand point into the knight’s side. Lightning flashed at point blank range. The bard continued to move dodging the knight’s sword as she blasted him at close range. The health bar over the knight went from green to yellow and then red in a matter of moments. The knight’s sword came dangerously close when an axe parried it away.
“He’s all yours lass!” Dumadin shouted.
Rayna jabbed the two wands to the knight’s chest and unleashed bolt after bolt. The knight fell backwards as the bard was on him. A wand touched his throat and flashed. Head popping off, it shattered into shards of light as the body fell. Light cracked along the body and when it hit the ground, it crashed to sparkling points.
“Not bad lass,” the dwarf praised.
“Not bad yourself,” the bard bowed to the dwarf.
At the top of the dais, Caspian growled in frustration. Faye continued to dodge his attacks. Glancing to the throne room floor, his forces were rapidly dwindling. The knight activated a technique just as his sword swung down. Faye blade-grasped the sword when an identical image of Caspian appeared and drove his sword into her side.
“No!” Edric shouted as Faye stood with a sword in her hands and a sword buried in her side.
The monk coughed up blood, not letting go of the blade in her hands or she would be split in two. Edric coiled his whip and lashed it forward. The duplicate Caspian watched as the whip curled around his wrists. Energy arced along the length of the whip as the summoner pulled. The sword was pulled from Faye’s side and she cried out in relief. Edric struggled to continue pulling when blue hands clasped over his hands to help. Juna heaved with the summoner, pulling the duplicate Caspian down the dais steps. The shining imaged faded from sight and the whip went slack. Faye fell to her knees as the real Caspian looked down at her and then Edric and Juna.
“Fuck this! Let the entire place fucking decay!” Caspian roared, turned and ran.
“He’s going for Elora’s core!” Edric shouted.
The summoner and troll ran up the stairs, looking to the wood elf. Faye nodded to them and pointed. Edric and Juna sped on while Faye held her side, channeling chi into the wound.
Caspian ran down the corridor like a mad man. Plans falling apart, he cursed everyone as the image of smashing the core filled his every thought. Edric and Juna gave chase, barely keeping the knight in sight. The three moved to the stairs and up onto a higher floor. Caspian was a rabid animal as he approached the city core chamber. Two guards stood with wide eyes as he raced toward them.
“Smash the core!” Caspian shouted.
The guards turned to the spinning core when Elora appeared, standing in her white robe.
“If you smash the core, you will die in the resulting explosion,” the image smiled.
The guards hesitated, uncertainty filling their eyes. Caspian roared into the room, pushing past the two guards, sword raised. Elora vanished as the knight reached the side of the floating core, blade ready to strike.
Time slowed down as Edric watched with a sense of helplessness. The knight might have enough power to destroy it in one strike. Checking his stats, almost all his mana was gone. He had no offensive attacks and Leeta was fighting in the throne room. Juna was at his side but they would not reach him in time. Thoughts flowed to the night when he, Leeta and the real Elora fought to the bitter end. Remembering his light spell, he shouted the incantation with every fiber in his being.
You cast Light Spell! (Spell Casting)38+(Int)4=42/ (Encounter Roll)40. Success! Mana: 5/150
A ball of light flashed before the knight, blinding him. The sword came down at an odd angle and clipped the edge of the floating crystal, sending a chip into the air. Caspian roared as his eyes squeezed shut and he stumbled back from the light.
Edric and Juna burst through the doorway. The troll drew her swords and slashed hard across. The two guards stood as their heads fell forward. Light cracked along their bodies and they shatte
red to nothingness. Juna kept moving as Caspian turned around. The knight could barely see as two blades plunged into his stomach. The flashbulbs in his eyes faded away as he stared into the beautiful troll’s face, a shock of pink flowing along her raven black hair.
“Who are….” Caspian managed before Juna pulled back her blades and brought one hard across his neck.
Edric stuttered to a halt as Caspian’s body fell. Cracks streaked out before it shattered into shards of greenish light.
“Elora!” Edric shouted.
Elora appeared. “I’m well. My core only took 5% damage. It will heal in a matter of a day.”
The summoner wrapped his arms around her, lost in the moment. Juna sheathed her swords over her shoulders and smiled. Elora looked down, her own arms hugging the summoner.
A short time later the rest of their companions arrived. Leeta held Faye in her arms. Claudia, Rayna and Dumadin stepped in, bodies covered in cuts and bruises. They all stared with smiles as Edric pulled from Elora and turned to them, cheeks red in embarrassment.
“You seem like a fun bunch. I don’t mind hanging around,” Dumadin said as he crossed his arms, axe strapped to his back.
Edric looked at the dwarf and let out the biggest, most satisfying laugh in his life.
Twenty
The city core chamber glowed with torchlight. The sun began its evening descent as the rulers, Elora and friends were gathered before the slowly spinning core. Edric, Faye, Claudia and Rayna stood, 2D screens floating by their raised hands. Juna, Thalia and Leeta stood off to the side, watching the ceremony take place. Dumadin stood by the core crystal, head bowed and thick hands folded over one another.
Edric smiled. “Choose accept or deny if we want Dumadin Ironfoot as our newest courtesan.”
Fingers moved as all four rulers chose “Accept”. The city core glowed as did an aura around the dwarf. Dumadin looked up and bowed.