by G. R. Cooper
Wulfgar nodded, glad of the information. He wondered what level Clive was. Clive had admitted that the rules of the world applied to himself as well as others, but Wulfgar wouldn’t be surprised if the alien xenoanthropologist had access to a cheat code or two.
He was brought back to the present by her laughter.
“We really got a kick out of your choice for familiar. A stone troll.”
Wulfgar laughed with her. It hadn’t really been a conscious choice to choose the troll - which he’d named Tim - but there was no going back. He was going to have to make the best of it. He shrugged mentally. Tim had been a valuable addition already, providing him with a much needed skill-set. Wulfgar had no doubt that the dwarves he’d contracted with could build his defensive wall quickly enough, but he also had no doubt that Tim would be a tremendous boost to the effort.
“Is there anything you can tell me about familiars?”
“A little. Your troll won’t be much use in the normal fashion. Most creatures that are chosen have at least some magical benefit. Even cats, which aren’t magical, provide a symbiotic boost to meditation. But a troll?” she shook her head, “They’re entirely non-magical.”
“However,” she continued, “You do have the abilities to control his actions, so you have a nice tank for yourself. That could be handy. Also, as with all familiars, you can see what they see and hear what they hear, in real-time.”
“How?”
She shrugged, “Just will it.”
He did. He closed his eyes and willed himself to see what Tim saw. The darkness of his closed eyes was replaced with a view from the troll’s perspective. Tim was currently cutting through stone like butter, his hands moving through the solid rock. Wulfgar heard the weird, happy, grumbling-humming sound that Tim made while happily working. The troll was busy, still building the wall. Wulfgar decided to check back in later, hoping to see through the eyes at a time that would give him an indication of how the work on the wall was progressing.
“Are there any benefits that come with a basic membership?”
“Sure!” said Scarlett happily, “You have access to the member’s only guild store. Lots of good magical stuff there you can buy.”
“Where is that?”
“Anytime you’re in any of our guild halls, or affiliated magic shops, you can pull up a menu that will show you the current offering. It also has a built in auction function. If you get some nice magical loot you want to sell, you can add it directly to the shop, wherever you are.”
“Even in a dungeon?”
“Yup. You’ll be able to tentatively sell the object from wherever you are, but first you have to at least get to a town or village for delivery. Sale won’t be complete until delivery.”
“How is that handled?”
“Birds. Upon completion of a sale, a bird of appropriate size will meet you, take delivery of the item, and deliver it to the buyer.”
“Handy. What’s the cost?”
“One percent of the sale price. Just enough to cover costs.”
“How does the guild raise other funds?”
“Sale items. Guild leaders can create items for sale. Scrolls, mainly. The guild takes a cut from that and in return the seller gets a big discount on any materials required in creating the item. It works out pretty well for everyone.”
Wulfgar nodded, “Mind if I do a little shopping?”
“Be my guest.” Scarlett sat back in her chair and her eyes became glazed and distant, as she apparently accessed a menu of her own.
Wulfgar closed his eyes and willed the guild shopping menu to open. He began reading down the list, looking for items that would come in handy for himself or his friends. He was going to take Rydra’s generosity of loot and use much or all of it to buy the tools he thought he would need to win the coming fight.
The first thing that caught his attention was a scroll.
Levitation (10). Allows the caster to lift and move an object in space. The duration of the spell is mana dependent. The rate at which mana is depleted is dependent upon Levitation skill level as well as the weight of the object being levitated and the distance of the object from the spell-caster. Increased distance and weight lower the amount of time that the object can be levitated. Restricted to Night. Cool-down 1 minute. Active.
Wulfgar couldn’t think of any particular uses off-hand, except maybe being able to lift large blocks to help in the construction of the wall. Or, maybe, he chuckled to himself, dropping large rocks on advancing troops. That would, of course, depend upon experimentation - the scroll gave no indication of just how heavy an object he could lift and move. That made sense, there were too many variables for an easy answer.
The scroll was fifty gold pieces. An absolute fortune. Mind bogglingly so. It was a level ten scroll, automatically giving the sorcerer - who had to be a Magus of Night, so Soulcatcher - that level of spell ability. If her level in Sorcery was less than that, she would have a percentage chance of failure each time she initiated the spell. Wulfgar kicked himself for not studying the character sheets of his friends before coming on this expedition, then he shrugged - there were no scrolls of Levitation at a lower level, so he couldn’t buy a lower level scroll even if he wanted to.
Besides, he told himself again, Catcher can probably use that to help lift stones and build the wall. We need every advantage we can get.
He pondered for a second, trying to weigh the benefits against the cost.
Screw it, he thought, this thing just sounds too damn useful to pass up.
He purchased the scroll and ensured that it was transferred to his inventory, then continued looking through the list of items for sale. Wulfgar came across another scroll that seemed to jump out at him.
Confer (10). Grants the spell-caster the ability to confer temporary non-magic skill to another player. The skill level granted is half of the current level of the spell-caster’s modified skill level. Duration is one (1) minute per Confer level or the natural duration limit for the skill at the conferred level, whichever is lower. Mana cost is one (1) per level of skill conferred, and skill level transferred is capped at half user level or mana pool, whichever is lower. Restricted to Evening. Cool-down 1 hour.
Wulfgar would be able to grant another player any skill he possessed for ten minutes, and it seemed to indicate that would include any skill level bonuses such as those he received in Stealth from his Clandestine Gauntlets and Slippers. Being able to give someone a quick level seven Stealth would be pretty handy. Of course, since he was only level four in Sorcery, he probably stood a fairly decent chance of failure until he reached level ten.
The scroll was ten gold pieces. Still a hefty sum, but nowhere near the cost of the Levitation scroll. Wulfgar assumed that had something to do with both the difficulty, and thus rarity, in making the scroll as well as the high costs of any materials involved.
He bought it and immediately pulled it out of his inventory, then spread the scroll. After reading it, the scroll disappeared and, he assumed, the spell was added to his spell-book.
He looked back to the list of spells for sale.
Heal (3). Allows caster to heal another being within sight. Damage heals at a rate of one (1) hit point per level of spell skill per second. Mana is drained from caster at one-half the rate of damage healed. Cool-down 1 minute. Ingredients required: (1) Gotu Kola, (1) Goldenrod, (1) Yarrow.
Wulfgar thought that would be especially useful on the wall. Once the fighting started, he would be hard pressed to help heal just by running back and forth applying healing poultices. He saw a potential need to be able cast a heal on any of the people on his side of the wall at any given time.
And it’s only a gold piece! laughed Wulfgar inwardly as he bought and read the scroll.
Wulfgar continued scrolling through the sales list, looking for any spells he thought might help. He was concerned - he had already spent about sixty gold pieces out of the two hundred that he’d received in looting Clive’s palace. There was a lot
that he could use to expand and help in the defense of the town, and that could cost a great deal of money as well. He had to factor that against any personal gain he might get from any other scrolls.
Though there were several spells that seemed to jump out at him, he couldn’t justify them against the current need - he really didn’t think a fourth level sorcerer standing on the walls lobbing fireballs and lightning bolts would really make any sort of difference in the fight to come. He sat back to think.
He tried to pull up the Marchstone town management screen, but it was grayed out - apparently inaccessible this far from the town. He sighed.
“Problem?” asked Scarlett.
He explained his conundrum. She nodded.
“I think you’re right, any other small spell you can learn is unlikely to change the course of events. And,” she smiled, “you’ll always be able to buy those scrolls at a later date should you win.”
Wulfgar nodded. As much as he’d like to buy up each and every scroll he was able to use, he couldn’t justify using the gold for that purpose. His head was a swirl of all of the planning that he had to do. Of everything he needed to accomplish in order to get Marchstone not only up and running as a viably self-sufficient community, but one that could withstand the coming fight that loomed over them. He wondered how long he had. What he was missing. What was he forgetting to consider? He felt a bit overwhelmed; like he just needed to reboot his brain to clear it.
“Can you,” he asked Scarlett, “wake me up later tonight? I’m going to take a nap.”
Chapter 2
Wulfgar had sprinted from the guild hall after Scarlett had woken him. He’d slept longer than he wanted, and, although he physically didn’t need the rest, his mind seemed to appreciate the small break. He’d taken the back alleys and unfrequented byways until he’d made the city wall. After an easy climb followed by an ungraceful fall, he’d managed to get to the grove to meet Rydra by their midnight rendezvous before leaving for Marchstone.
Wulfgar spurred his horse through the night, moving down the westward road over the hills and valleys as fast as he dared. After a while he noticed his stamina slowly begin to drop, but he didn’t let up on the horse which seemed indefatigable at first. As the night purpled toward dawn, he passed the village where he had encountered the sorcerer Tim. Even knowing that Tim was in Edonis, currently recruiting and preparing to bring war against Wulfgar and Marchstone, he gave the town a wide berth. He rested his horse occasionally as the beast’s stamina gave out, but the horse recovered much faster than he did. His own stamina finally gave out as he reached the troll bridge on the frontier between his kingdom and the kingdom of Clive, known as Heim.
He dropped from the saddle and bent to the river, drinking deeply of the clear, cool water. His stamina slowly began to rise again as he sat back and looked at the mountains looming just to the west and watched the first light of day move from the top of the peaks toward the valley floor. He breathed a deep sigh; going as fast as possible, he had cut nearly half a day off of his previous trip, a ride which had seemed fast and exhausting to him. He didn’t think the passage could be done any faster, at least not without some sort of magical mount or the Omegaverse’s version of Gandalf’s Shadowfax.
Wulfgar laughed, thinking on the skill his pet Bernese Mountain Dog, Bear, granted him.
Blissful Belly Rub (1). Gives player real-time increase in Stamina regeneration when rubbing dog’s belly. Level equals percentage increase.
He stretched his back out and felt his stamina slowly rising, Man, Bear, I could use you right about now.
The troll bridge caught his eye and his mind began working. Would this make a good defensive position? He looked back over his shoulder. The approaches to the bridge were shallow. There was no higher ground, at least on this side of the river. He wondered if his familiar, Tim, could build him a nice quick and dirty castle keep around either side of the bridge. Make it into a fortress, a battlement, that would turn the river into a border barrier.
He looked back to the river. The water ran through it swiftly; it roiled and swirled. It wasn’t a major rapids, but it was fast enough to make fording difficult - especially for an army. A force of any size would be at a disadvantage while trying to cross.
Wulfgar shook his head. First, he didn’t have time to fortify this crossing - not at the cost of finishing the wall in the high pass, at any rate. The wall was vital.
In any case, a large enough force could afford to send out small parties that would be able to cross the river at different points and Wulfgar would be unlikely to be able to find, much less defend, all of the crossings.
Once a force was able to make the other side of the river, they’d be able to gather on the far side and attack the bridge from both sides. Wulfgar might be able to bring the fight here, but, he thought, the position wasn’t tenable enough that he wouldn’t have to burn through his troops in what was more than likely to be a losing effort.
No, Tim would have to focus on the wall. Wulfgar could, however, put some scouts here. On the other side of the river, with the crossing in view, to let him know when Clive’s forces approached. He made a mental note to remind himself to send someone.
Maybe Connor, he thought, depending upon whether he’s back from his visit to the elves.
At that moment, he received a message.
King Clive of Heim has declared war on King Wulfgar of Marchstone!
Wulfgar nodded. There it was. He was unsure which was the more important point - that Clive had declared war or that Clive had recognized and acknowledged Wulfgar as a king. That had to be an important development. How important, however, he was unsure of - but he was sure that he’d find out before long.
Wulfgar stood, mounted his horse, and spurred over the troll bridge and into his kingdom.
Wulfgar’s jaw dropped. The wall had progressed beyond his hopes. As he rode up the long sward that climbed toward the pass, the original tower rose into his view and was buttressed by a stretch of wall that reached to the northern end of the pass. As he got close, he saw that one full row had been created between the mountainside to just at the front of the keep. That was where they had decided that the drawbridge over the moat would go. The moat that would form from the quarrying of the wall material.
The wall curved slightly, with the mountain-side of the wall forward of the area of the drawbridge - the dwarves had pointed out that the curve on both sides, turning the wall into a shallow “u” with the drawbridge at the center, would allow archers to more easily target any forces massed in front of the gate.
The half wall at this point was only a meter tall, but given that Tim and the dwarves had only been working on the wall in the couple of days since Wulfgar left for Edonis, he was ecstatic at the progress. He now hoped that within the next week a swath of stone would reach the length of the pass, providing a speed-bump for any raid that the enemy might try. It wasn’t enough to stop them, but it might slow them down and would certainly allow his people to shelter within the tower and warn the town of the raid’s approach.
He also had hope that by the time the enemy forces were recruited, trained and moved, the wall might be three blocks high. Three meters. Enough to keep the enemy out. He hoped. Wulfgar spurred his horse and rode toward the keep.
“Owen!” Wulfgar yelled as he rounded the wall. The dwarves hailed him loudly and their boss, Owen, raised an arm in greeting and walked toward the human’s horse. Wulfgar dropped from the saddle and took the dwarf’s massive hand in his own. He only came up to Wulfgar’s waist - he was short even for a dwarf - but he was as wide as the human and powerfully built.
“Welcome back, your majesty. Work proceeds quickly,” said the dwarf, down to business, “and, if I’m honest, beyond my expectations.”
“And mine,” agreed Wulfgar, smiling.
“That troll of yours is a wonder,” the dwarf shook his head in disbelief, still trying to come to terms with working alongside a stone troll - ancient enemy of his
people. “He never tires, he never grumbles. He’s here dawn to night and only stops then to eat and regenerate his seemingly endless energy.” He shook his head again, “If I only had an entire crew of him, there’s no telling what I could build.”
“He’s not for sale,” laughed Wulfgar lightly, then looked down at the foreman. “Expect a raid from the valley within the next week or so. End of the week is most likely, but be prepared.” He waved to the keep, “As soon as you see any party of horsemen, take your men and Tim and get into the keep. Lock it up tight and let them go about whatever they want. I can’t afford to lose a single one of you. The wall is too important for the big fight to come, so no heroics.”
Owen nodded, “At your command, but if I happen to find myself a bow and arrows within, I’m not going to forgo taking a few shots at them,” he winked, “you know, just for practice.”
Wulfgar nodded, “As long as you and your men are safe. That’s my highest concern.”
“Additionally,” he continued, looking back to the wall, “I’d like a plan to make the wall into a fortification before it’s finished. I doubt, seriously, that we’ll be able to build it up to the full ten meters before the invasion comes and, truthfully, I’ll be happy if we can get one third that high.”
The dwarf nodded in agreement.
“So, I want you to come up with a plan on how to make a one-third high wall defensible.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem. We’ll just need some wood to build a scaffolding. That will allow the defenders to stand behind the wall as it is at the time of the battle. It won’t be as solid, but they’ll at least be able to see over to shoot arrows and spells.”
Wulfgar nodded, “Make it happen. Requisition whatever materials you need. Highest priority.”
“One problem, though. That won’t be high enough to support the drawbridge we’re having made, even if it’s complete by the time we need it.”
Wulfgar nodded. “Good point. Shit.” He thought for a moment, “Can we just put wall blocks in there temporarily? Make a complete wall? Then when we’re ready for the drawbridge, remove those stones?”