Legends of Tarthirious: The Complete Collection

by Zachariah Dracoulis

  “Now, you stay right where you are,” the man warned, “and only get in when I’m in and I’ve shut my door.”

  From there Bishop paid witness to the slowest display of movement he’d ever seen and gave a loud sigh when a full five seconds had past and the original driver had barely made it passed the bonnet.

  It was in that moment that Bishop thought to himself that it probably would’ve been just as fast for him to have kept walking.

  Armelia: Chapter 12

  Night dragged its lazy arse into the sky after ages of Gerry and me sitting in complete and utter boredom at the base of the old oak. The few times we’d heard something rustling, or seen some kind of movement it had turned out to be a rabbit or something else equally disappointing.

  “For Gods’ sake!” I shouted at the sky, “Why is this taking so long?”

  Gerry shrugged defensively, “Don’t ask me. I’m sure they’re just taking their time. For all we know they could already be out there, eyeing us off and waiting for the perfect time to strike.”

  “Bull. Shit. Vilor’s clearly just screwing with u… oh bollocks…” I muttered as I saw the glowing red eyes slowing approaching us from all directions.

  A pack of Shadow Wolves has found you.

  4x Level 15 Shadow Wolves, HP: 1200/1200.

  Shadow Wolf discovered.

  Journal entry made.

  I slowly drew my sword and twirled it in my hand, “I don’t think I can take any one of these things head-to-head, you got a plan?” I asked while internally judging myself for not guessing what they were from the description.

  “Nothing yet, if just one of them knocks me down I’m screwed, and since magic’s out I don’t see what I can do beyond swordplay.”

  The humongous wolves were getting restless. They growled fiercely and chomped at the air as if to show off their glinting silver teeth as they drew nearer and nearer with each passing moment.

  “What about trees and stuff? Can’t you use that against them?”

  Gerry shook his head, “Not with the way they move, the time it takes for me to charge something like that and they could smoke over to us. No, our best chance is holding our ground.”

  That’s when I got an idea, “You think you could make a bubble?”

  “Do you see any water around here?”

  “No, with sticks and stuff, like a shell.”

  He didn’t wait to tell me he could do it, instead choosing to spin on his feet and punch the ground and encased us in a protective shield of wood and grass right as one of the wolves pounced at us, smashing into the wood and disappearing in a puff of smoke.

  “There,” Gerry said sounding only slightly exhausted, “what’s the plan from here?”

  I gave him a weak smile and raised my shoulders uncertainly.

  “So… We sit here waiting for death, is that right?” he asked sassily.

  “No,” I said dismissively, “this just… buys us some time!” I shouted excitedly, failing to hide the fact that I’d just thought of it.

  Gerry smiled and shook his head, “Okay, new plan.” he said before punching a hole through the wall, “Come and get it!”

  “What the Hel are you doing!? They’ll get in!”

  “Exactly.”

  I went to continue with questioning his sanity, but a viscous plume of smoke spilling through the hole interrupted me.

  Once the entirety of the creature was in, Gerry shut the hole just in time to stop another one getting in, but not fast enough to stop the wolf from smashing into him and sending him to the other side of the wood bubble.

  It was just about to charge for him as he struggled to his feet, but that’s when I decided to do something really stupid and take a slash at its hind legs. There was a deafening yowl of pain followed by reverberating growls as the monster turned to face me.

  His health was down to 1095/1200, the iron doing its work against the ghostly creature, but that by no means meant that I was in the clear.

  The wolf turned to me, its glowing red eyes boring into my soul as its teeth gnashed between body trembling growls.

  I got into a combative stance, the best one I could anyway, and got ready to have some real pain put on me. My breaths came out cold and measured, my heart slowing to the point where it was as if I were asleep, and that’s when the wolf took its chance.

  Without even thinking about it, I rolled, the beast going over me and narrowly missing me with its silver claws, but what I didn’t count on was the thing bouncing right off the wall that’d been behind me and going in for another attack.

  There was nothing I could do but watch in terror as the wolf caught me in its maw and chomped down hard, sending blood every which way and a lightning bolt of pain through my whole body, before throwing my limp body into the wood on the other side.

  Shadow Wolf used bite.

  Torso wounded.

  500 damage inflicted.

  -35 bleeding damage per minute.

  HP: 2300/2800.

  “Bollocks…” I groaned as I dizzily rose to my feet with my left arm across the bleeding wound, the wolf licking its chops as it eyed me off. “Gerry… I could really use some help.”

  “On it.” I heard him say as a flurry of splinters zipped through the air and tore through the wolf, splattering the wall behind it in blood.

  I went to make a move on the wounded wolf, but my body just wasn’t working as it should, my arms flailing like limp spaghetti and my general gait consisting of a great deal of zigzags.

  -35 bleeding damage.

  HP: 2265/2800.

  My first instinct was to use Ky-Len’s heal, though another part of me was screaming that that would be selfish, trapping Gerry in the wood bubble with me as the ground exploded beneath us. Then I figured I’d like to see what happened when we used it on stable ground.

  I fell to my knees and got to work on the sigil while Gerry kept the wolf distracted, an act that was like shooting an MP in the face with a water pistol while running around in your underwear.

  Also, the MP can teleport.

  And eat you.

  Placed Ky-Len’s Heal.

  Activated Ky-Len’s Heal.

  Full health restored.

  All debuffs removed.

  HP: 2800/2800.

  I rose to my feet stronger as the ground shook beneath me and lifted my sword above my head.

  ‘Twas an exciting moment.

  I ran full ball at the creature that’d backed a mana-less Gerry into a corner, its health dwindling at 75/1200. The bloodstained dirt beneath us had just started to collapse right as the wolf was about to close its jaws around Gerry, but I was faster.

  Driving my sword into the creature’s side, I roared victoriously as it let out a final pained yowl and fell to the ground.

  +1 Singlehanded Blade Skill.

  Progress: 9/100.

  +10 XP.

  Progress: 1710/2500.

  As I pulled my sword from the fallen beast I discovered that, though we’d only sunk two or three feet, the shield had begun to splinter and fail.

  “How many of these things do you think we can take?” I asked hesitantly as claws scratched across and through the wood surrounding us.

  “I’ve just got my mana back, so maybe one? I could try rebuilding, but there’s no guarantee that they wouldn’t get in first.”

  Defeat had clearly found us, and I was sure that this was the end. That is, until I had a bright idea.

  “These things go into the town, yeah?” I asked with an excited grin as I sheathed my sword.

  “That would be a fair assumption ye-…” the look of realisation washed over him, followed by a broad smile, “Oh Gods, you are brilliant. But how do we get out?”

  “I reckon we blow a hole right there, where they’re attacking least. From there we just leg it, you think you can make it?”

  Gerry started forming a ball of yellow energy in his hands, “Depends.”

  “On..?” I asked, nervously eyeing off the medic
ine ball sized energy orb not two feet from me.

  As he got into a position to cast the ball, Gerry gave me a cheeky grin and a wink, “If I can run faster than you.”

  Armelia: Chapter 13

  My lungs felt about ready to tear their way out of my throat as the wolves’ warm breaths burned into my neck.

  “Do you at least remember seeing any guards?” Gerry asked between heaved breaths.

  I shook my head, “I’m sure there will be more over the course of the night though. Worse comes to worse we have ourselves a nice little fight in the streets which, in my opinion, is a whole lot better than trying to fight them off in a field.”

  We were barely fifty feet from the edge of town when one of the wolves used its ability to teleport in front of us, forcing us to grind to a halt.

  “That’s… That’s bad, right?” Gerry asked as if it were a completely valid question.

  “No, it’s fantastic. Of course it’s bloody bad!”

  We were back in the same position as we were before, surrounded by hungry wolves and waiting for death, except we’d managed to piss them off.

  “You think you could hit them with a fireball?” I asked as I tried to keep my eyes on all three of the wolves as they stalked around us.

  “No, same problem as before, I try to hit them, they teleport, we die.”

  “Use that…” I trailed off, getting into a position to run.

  “What?”

  “Use that, we start running right at that ugly bastard, you cast fireball, and then we make it to the town.”

  “I honestly don’t see a reality in which that works at all how you want it t- Armelia!” he shouted after me.

  I’d gotten sick of the snideness and decided death by evil spirit monster was better than having my ideas belittled.

  Gerry, on the other hand, decided I was worth saving.

  Once he started running after me it wasn’t long before he cast a brilliant ball of fire at the creature, which promptly went into its smoky form, and joined me on the safe side of the death circle.

  It took no small amount of luck, but we’d finally made it to the town, the wolves hot on our tail and the guards there to help us. We turned to face our enemies as soon as the guards let their arrows fly at the beasts, Gerry preparing to cast more magic, and me pulling out my sword, which, if I’m being perfectly honest, was more of a thing to show that I wasn’t a coward than to actually defend myself.

  One of the wolves, having chosen me as its target, made a move for me, and made me sure that I was a goner, but then a flash of blue light streaked past me and sent the wolf flying back. I turned to the source, half expecting to see Dillop, but instead saw Vilor charging up for another strike of blue energy.

  I smiled and turned back to the wolves, with two left after Vilor’s OP spell, I picked the one with the least health, 355/1200, and charged. As it decided that I was the more pertinent threat it switched its attention to me, but it didn’t matter, I was already upon him, and boy was I upon him.

  I slashed and stabbed, narrowly dodging as it swung at me with its claws, before successfully pulling off a rather grim finishing move that involved several wince-inducing slashes at its neck, before having the wolf’s head finally tumble to the floor with an uncomfortable squelch.

  +1 Singlehanded Blade Skill.

  Progress: 10/100.

  +10 XP.

  Progress: 1720/2500.

  By the time I was finished the guards had just hit the final wolf with a volley of arrows, giving Gerry just enough help to put it down for good with a spray of splinters.

  End of Conflict Report:

  Grand Gerry the Good: 1x Level 15 Shadow Wolf.

  Armelia Fireheart: 2x Level 15 Shadow Wolves.

  Total experience awarded:

  Grand Gerry the Good: Max Level Reached.

  No Experience Points awarded.

  Armelia Fireheart: +1000 XP.

  Level 9 Completed!

  Level Up!

  Level 10 Progress: 220/3000.

  5 Skill Points awarded.

  Progress made in mission: Bad Wolf.

  Objective completed: Find and Exterminate the Wolves Terrorising Girit.

  Objective added: Talk to Vilor.

  There was a brief pause after the standard EoC report finished up and suddenly a yellow scroll opened itself to me and effectively blocked the rest of the world from view.

  ‘As you’ve grown as an adventurer, so has your ability to perceive the world around you. When you look over armour and weapons you can see the slight imperfections, and can gauge their overall durability and wear as you use them in travels. You know that you have learned a great deal, but are wise enough to know that there is still much to learn.’

  Progress made in mission: Join the Girit Mage’s College.

  Objective completed: Reach Level 10.

  Objective added: Talk to Vilor.

  I quietly whooped to myself at reaching the first milestone as Vilor and Gerry approached me, “Quite a forward thinking move there druid, what made you decide to bring the creatures to our gates?”

  I couldn’t tell if Vilor was being sarcastic or was genuinely impressed, so I decided to operate under the assumption that he was both, “I simply knew my limits. The guards may have had a hard time fighting the wolves off to begin with, but, with our help, I was confident they could help us get the job done.”

  A smile played across Vilor’s lips for a second before quickly disappearing, “I’m impressed. Few know when they’re out of their depth, and those that do tend to live far longer. Well done.” he said before spinning on his feet and walking off.

  Mission Completed: Bad Wolf.

  +1000 XP.

  Progress: 1220/3000.

  I was slightly annoyed that he’d stalked off before I could ask if I could join the college, but at the same time I was glad to get the opportunity to get some pelts.

  “Want to go back and get the other?” Gerry asked as we skinned our kills.

  Acquired:

  Shadow Wolf Pelt: Weight: 5(-5), Value: 100.

  Shadow Wolf Claws: Value: 25.

  I shrugged as I stuffed my second pelt into my knapsack, “I don’t know, they’re not worth that much and it’d take ages to go there and back agai-”

  “Is that the phone?”

  “What?”

  Kylia: Chapter 7

  I pushed my headphones off my head so they came to rest over my neck, and heard my ringtone. Without thinking I went to make a run for it and nearly garrotted myself with the headphone cord.

  “Hold on!” I shouted to the person who couldn’t hear me on the other end of the line as I clumsily untangled myself.

  After nearly accidently kicking Gerald in the face, I made it into the kitchen, overturned my bag, and got my phone out just in time to answer it, “Hello, Armel- sorry, Kylia speaking.”

  “Evenin’,” Detective Will said in his regular, cranky voice, “this is just a sort of courtesy call, have you seen the news?”

  I looked at the clock that let me know it was half nine and sighed at the fact people still called at that time, “No, not tonight anyway, how come?”

  “Well there’s been some… unrest. Nothing the MPs can’t handle, but we still think that it might be best if you stay out of the public eye for a few days, maybe even stay indoors.”

  That suggestion unsettled me a bit, enough so that I fell quiet for a few seconds longer than I normally would have.

  “Why?” I asked, swallowing my fear, “Am I in danger?”

  I hated myself for asking that question, it was like I was the dumb protagonist in some daytime television crime drama, but Will didn’t seem to think that.

  “Not really, no, the press and protestors are just looking for extra ammo. Chuck on the telly in a bit and I’m sure you’ll agree it’s just plain safer to be inside right now.”

  Something about the whole thing reeked of ‘don’t talk to the press because it’ll make it bad for me�
�. Pointing that out didn’t seem like the best course of action for someone in my position though, and I wasn’t exactly dying to call out the MPs.

  “Oh, also, the Commissioner wanted to know if you wanted to release another statement next week. We can do a whole thing regarding your progress and how your life’s getting on. Who knows, maybe we'll have caught the hacker by then.”

  The idea of giving another speech that had the potential to have people scream at me didn’t sound all that appealing, but, again, I didn’t want to piss the MPs or the Commissioner off.

  “Sounds good.” I said colder than I’d expected to.

  “Bril,” the Detective said, apparently not noticing how despondent I sounded, “I’ll give you another call in the next couple o’ days, ‘til then don't talk to any reporters or anythin’ like that, and maybe keep your online presence to a minimum"

  “What about playing LoT?" I asked nervously as Gerald came out of the room with a curious look on his face.

  “That should be fine, just be careful’s all. Cheers for this Kylia, I’ll remember it."

  “Not a problem, night.” I said, hanging up before he could respond.

  “Is everything alright?” Gerald asked, walking over to me and not quite knowing whether or not to offer a hug.

  “Yeah, yeah. Detective Will wanting to let me know I should stay inside for the next few days.”

  Gerald looked at me blankly for a second, “Why?”

  I shrugged, “Apparently there’s some ‘unrest’, nothing to worry about though. Wanna keep playing?”

  “Sur-oh… Maybe not…” he said, looking at the time, “Is that alright?”

  “Course it is you numpty. Do you want to at least spend the night here?”

  “Do you even have to ask?” Gerald asked with a big smile, “I’ll go get ready.”

  I stood there a while, looking out the window worryingly. I couldn’t stand the thought of having a riot happening out there because of me, and I most certainly didn’t enjoy the idea of having MPs showing up at my house to move to a secure location.

  I always did have such an active imagination.