The Mountain Valley War

by M. A. Carlson

  “Do we want to try another group anyway?” Icyhot asked.

  “Olaf?” I asked, looking to the Minotaur in charge.

  “I have bombs, so I should be able to make up some of the damage, but I am not sure I can compete with that,” Olaf replied.

  “I have bombs as well,” Duncan volunteered

  “How was the damage, Rose and Rock?” Olaf asked, looking to our tanks.

  “Minor,” Rock started. “Lots of minor but still minor.”

  Olaf frowned before looking to Baby.

  “They took a lot of little hits, but they add up fast. I could probably maintain healing on them for 10-minutes at most. If the mob isn’t dead by then . . . well, you get the idea,” Baby said.

  Ten minutes wasn’t a very big window. Especially without any more AoE attacks.

  “I know you lot are new to dealing with gremlins, but might you be willing to listen to someone that actually knows the best way to fight them?” Zid asked from his resting spot.

  “Sorry, you’re right, Zid,” Olaf started. “What do you suggest?”

  “For starters, we should only use one of the Area of Effect spells per mischief of gremlins, and always after you have piled them up as I did, that will give the greatest effect. However, for Mr. Jelloshot, because his cooldown is significantly shorter than ours, it would make sense for him to work on his timing as well as pairing it with the bombs Mr. Crushhammer and Mr. Donut offered,” Zid responded.

  “I say we try it,” said Icyhot, eager to press on, only to freeze. “Oh, and what’s a mischief of gremlins?”

  Zid chuckled. “Like rats, a large group of gremlins is called a mischief.”

  “I didn’t know a large group of rats was a mischief, I always thought they were a pack or something,” Icyhot replied, shrugging. “Oh well, let’s kill more gremlins already.”

  “Mischief awaits,” Heath added unhelpfully, but earning a few laughs.

  “Alright, let’s give it a shot. Rose, lead on,” Olaf ordered, appearing confident in the plan.

  “Ahem,” Rock coughed a little too obviously.

  “You too, Rock,” Olaf said, a small roll of his eyes.

  “Thank you very much,” said Rock, proudly walking ahead with Rose.

  “I’m feeling a little useless,” said Micaela as she came alongside of me, pouting.

  “You are not useless, boss,” said Vision, appearing in a rather timely manner.

  “Thank you, Vision, but its true. I wasn’t able to do anything,” said Micaela.

  “Then so was I, I could not do anything at all,” the wolf pup said, lowering his head.

  I needed to nip this in the bud, I didn’t want either of my friends feeling useless. It wasn’t good for the team dynamic. That said, I could only deal with one problem at a time.

  “Vision, why don’t you help us kill any that slip through the cracks in the next group like Panther was doing?” I suggested.

  “I won’t be in the way?” Vision asked.

  “Of course not,” I answered. “And I’ll tell you what, you kill more gremlins than Panther does, and we’ll give you a special treat.”

  “I accept,” said Vision, vanishing from view.

  “Did he just accept a quest?” Micaela wondered aloud. “Can you give quests now, Bye-bye?”

  “I doubt that. Maybe he’s just mimicking us. He is just a child,” I replied.

  “Maybe,” said Micaela sighing. “Well, at least Vision has something to do.”

  “Be patient, I’m sure things will get more difficult,” I promised her. Sure, her, Olaf, Heath, and Dawn didn’t seem to be able to do much right now, but I had a feeling the Gremlin Eater would change that completely. “Next time, you should help Jay and me. It might be a good time for Butch or Sundance to create an AoE . . . do they get AoE?”

  “Hmm,” Micaela hummed in thought. “I need to go into the spirit realm, back soon,” she said quickly, then running to the back of the group and taking a seat on the flatbed cart Gras was driving, this one on wheels and pulled by a single ox and free from the tracks. There was another Dwarf I hadn’t met yet driving another cart just behind him. I don’t know what they were meant for, we weren’t planning on doing any mining, but I suppose Digren had his reasons.

  We were maybe another two hundred yards in when the next wave hit. This time we let the gremlins pile up before Icyhot cast his spell, lighting the mischief on fire, which had the added bonus of spreading the fire through them as the little buggers suddenly scrambled, each time they bumped into one of their fellows the fire spread and if they were already on fire it added a second damage over time effect, stacking the damage though none of them lived beyond three stacks. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to wipe out the mischief in its entirety. As a result, we piled them up again, working our hardest to keep them at bay until Icyhot’s spell was off cooldown, or so I thought.

  “Fire in the hole,” Olaf shouted, lobbing something from behind us into the mass of gremlins. The boom that followed splattered gremlin all over the walls.

  “Fire in the hole,” Duncan shouted, tossing a similarly shaped object into the remaining gremlins. The explosion finished off all but a few which we were quick to kill off.

  “Does anyone know a water spell?” Rock asked, shaking his shield, causing guts and green blood to fly off it.

  “I wish,” said Rose, mimicking the move as she tried to shake the gunk from her own shield.

  “Digren, assuming we have another group that size again every 200-yards, how many more groups can we expect before we reach the bottom of the chasm?” Olaf asked, going straight to business.

  “Assuming every 200-yards, probably 15-17 more to the bottom of the chasm, maybe 22-25 to the bottom of the mine,” Digren answered.

  “Okay, everyone, check your supplies, make sure you have enough materials, drinks, and food to get all the way down. If not, speak up, we’ll see what we can spare,” Olaf ordered, opening his own bag to check his stock.

  “I might not have enough water,” said Jay, speaking up first.

  “See Micaela with your canteen, one of her gourds should be able to fill you up,” Olaf ordered, pointing to his wife, who seemed to be done with her spirit walk.

  Rock was quick to follow Jay, canteen in hand. Everyone else seemed to be in good shape. After the short resupply, we were moving again.

  “Thanks for the advice,” said Micaela, moving in line next to me. “I had been trying to figure out for a while what the next spell I wanted Sundance to learn was.”

  “Does he have a list you can choose from?” I asked. I was admittedly curious about Micaela’s totems even now.

  “No, every ten levels he gets a new spell slot, at level 10, he got his second spell, but we hadn’t decided what the spell should be yet. Butch knew exactly what he wanted so it wasn’t an issue. Anyway, Sundance and I just talked about it and we decided an AoE would be best for him. Then we decided if we wanted a weak attack with a quick cooldown or something powerful with a long cooldown, we went somewhere in between. Then we figured out a name for it that would explain what we wanted to happen.” Micaela explained, then clicked her tongue as if annoyed.

  Before I could ask anything, she continued, “Names are such a pain for Shamans. Why does a name have both meaning and power? Like, I so wanted to name Kody, Teddy but he protested immediately as the name was weak and didn’t convey power but instead weakness, which would be bad for armor. Long story short, Sundance is the proud owner of a new AoE with a 10-minute cooldown we named ‘Solar Winds’. It fills an area with a fiery tornado, it actually combines wind and fire which gives it a synergy effect according to Sundance.”

  Micaela paused to giggle, “Butch has been pouting ever since. I warned him that using his one new spell slot for a skill ‘Butcher Armor’ was hasty, still, his new skill is awesome even if it can only be used once a day.”

  “What does it do?” I asked.

  “Oh, it destroys armor . . . like, completely
destroys it. No repair possible kind of destroy,” Micaela answered.

  “That is absolutely terrifying,” I said, clutching at my own armor subconsciously as if making sure it was still there.

  “Butch says he likes you best now,” Micaela said, barely holding back a fit of giggles. Then addressing one of her axes, “No, I will not give you to him. He can’t even use you . . . I don’t care if he can learn, you’re my bonded spirit . . . brat.” Micaela continued to argue with her ax as we walked.

  If I didn’t know there were AI spirits in those weapons, I would have been worried for her sanity . . . heck, I was worried for her sanity. Thankfully, the next mischief was quickly approaching, it was time to work.

  Even at just +1-Exp per gremlin per person, we actually got quite a bit of experience wiping out between eight-hundred and twelve-hundred gremlins with each mischief we killed. It was enough that most of Icyhot’s group level up once by the time the 16th mischief was killed.

  Dawn, Kimmie, Dinger, and Denslo continued to check any side tunnel we came across, sometimes coming back with green bloodstains. It was like Zid had said, they were short and didn’t have enough room for a full mischief to form.

  It took a few hours to wipe out so many gremlins and to descend into the mine, but we finally stood a dozen yards short of the entrance to the chasm.

  After halting the group, Digren addressed us. “Beyond here is the chasm basin. The mine continues downward on the other side of it. Once upon a time, we had a small mining camp set up in the chasm, but that was a long time ago. After a gas pocket ruptured and killed a dozen sleeping miners it was decided it was best not to dwell down here so long as the mine stays active. Anyway, beyond this point, I expect the Gremlin Eater will have taken up residence.”

  “What can we expect from him?” Rose asked, diving into specifics and hoping to prepare herself for a fight.

  “I do not know. I have never faced a Gremlin Eater. I do not know of another Dwarf who has and lived to tell the tale,” said Digren.

  “Great, blind fight,” said Rose sarcastically.

  “Okay, Rose, is the main tank, watch for debuffs, Rock, be ready to taunt,” Olaf started barking orders. “if it is a straight tank fight, then watch out for more gremlins to spawn. If they do, it will be on you to pick them up and tank them. Baby, you’re on whichever tank has the boss. Duncan, you’ve got the group and the off-tank.”

  “Roger that,” said Duncan with a nod.

  “Kill priority, boss or adds?” Kimmie asked, ‘add’ was gamer lingo referring to any extra or additional gremlins that entered the room.

  “Adds,” said Olaf. “I get the feeling, that for every gremlin the Eater eats, he gets stronger.”

  “Where do you want us?” Zid asked.

  Olaf paused in thought. “I know you are soldiers. I know you have a job to do, but I am going to give you the option to sit this one out. I would much prefer you remain here with the miners, keep them safe. If we die, we can run back. If you die . . . well, you die. But the choice is yours.”

  Denslo scowled before answering for the group. “We are soldiers, we know the risks. I will not speak for Dinger or Zid, but I intend to fight. If we do not stop this beast then Hammerton is already doomed.”

  “Same,” said Dinger, standing a little straighter.

  “I have not had a good rumble for some time,” said Zid, sliding his wand into his belt. The Dwarf Mage closed his eye and mumbled under his breath before slowly breathing out a stream of fire, quickly forming into a giant battle ax made of fire. Zid’s eyes opened again and flames had taken up residence. Zid though just grinned and rested the shaft of the flame-made ax comfortably on his shoulder.

  “Zid, you are just full of surprises,” said Icyhot, grinning like a maniac. “I can already tell, you and I, are going to become great friends.”

  The flames in Zid’s eyes danced in what I assume was the approximation of an eye-roll. “Time will tell. For now, why not just focus on surviving the hell waiting for us in the chasm,” Zid said.

  “Fair enough, tanks, lead the way,” said Icyhot cheerfully.

  Rose and Rock ignored him, instead, they looked to Olaf.

  “Rebuff everyone, refill mana, and stamina if you need it,” Olaf ordered, grinning as he watched Icyhot deflate.

  “Don’t feel too bad,” I said, patting the man on the shoulder. “Olaf has been in charge of this from the start, his orders must be treated as absolute. You can make suggestions but ultimately his is the final voice.”

  “I get that, I’m just used to being that final voice,” Icyhot complained.

  “Remember, once the fight starts, Rose will be calling out warnings as necessary. I will call out any target swaps. If I die, Icyhot will take over for me. Any questions?” Olaf asked, making one final check.

  Icyhot seemed mollified by Olaf’s statement. “Just one, do you eat steak?”

  Olaf’s jaw fell slightly, the serious, professional atmosphere he’d been trying to create was just wiped out.

  “He’s a cannibal mate,” said Heath, appearing next to Icyhot, startling the Mage.

  “Don’t do that,” Icyhot hissed at Heath before he realized what Heath said. “Is he really?”

  “Yep,” said Heath grinning. “He’s also horny all the time.”

  “Heath!” my friends and I shouted at the same time, well, all of us except Micaela who seemed to be torn between blushing and giggling.

  “What? It’s true,” Heath said, holding both hands to his head with his pointer fingers pointing forward, making mock bullhorns.

  “That was just bad, mate,” said Olaf, burying his face in his hands.

  Heath just grinned. “Yeah, yeah, let’s go have some fun being stab happy on a monster gremlin that wants to eat us. Hey, anyone know what happens if we get swallowed whole? Do we get sent straight to the graveyard? Or do we wait for it to finish digesting us?”

  “Really, Heath? Really?” Rose griped. “Anyone know a suicide technique? I don’t personally feel like experiencing being digested.”

  “No, but I’m going to learn one now,” said Icyhot, shuddering at the thought.

  “Okay, enough goofing off, let’s get in there,” said Olaf. “Rose, lead the way.”

  Rose’s face turned serious as she began stalking forward, both shields raised and ready.

  As we got closer to the chasm, I could hear the sound of something crunching and snapping, then a gremlin tried to run past us, ignoring us completely until Panther struck, adding another gremlin to his kill count.

  “YUM-YUM!” a deep, scratchy voice echoed loudly from the chasm. It was unexpected and disturbing in equal measure. This was followed by the sound of more crunching and snapping sounds.

  “Oh no,” Zid whispered, his voice trembling with fear and his ax dimming slightly. “If it has begun to speak then it has most likely become a Greater Eater, or at least is close to becoming one. I had only ever heard legend of them.”

  “Jack, if we die, I’m blaming you, this is your fault. You got us into this quest,” Rose hissed at me, teasingly, but no less true. If we died to this thing, I would never hear the end of it.

  “Lights?” I asked, hoping for some light in the very dark cavern as my ‘Perception’ subskill ‘Dark Sight’ was not activating.

  “He’ll know we’re here,” Zid warned, his shaking voice made it evident he was still afraid.

  “Do it,” said Olaf. “We’re not going to be able to fight when half of us can’t see in the dark.”

  “Right, ‘Magelight’ on three?” Zid asked, looking at Icyhot.

  “Erm . . . I don’t know ‘Magelight’,” Icyhot replied reluctantly.

  “Great,” Zid grumbled, his fear seemingly melting away, replaced by annoyance. “Learn it, the sooner the better.” Zid closed his eyes again, the flames in his eyes glowed brighter when they opened again. “Flame of Light, keep the darkness at bay, ‘Greater Magelight’,” he said, casting his spell. A massive ball of f
lame formed in front of him, quickly turning bright until it was a miniature sun, one he casually tossed into the air of the chasm above us, where it seemed to hang suspended, shining light throughout the chasm.

  “Bright light, bright light,” the booming voice squealed as if in pain.

  With the room lit, I could now see the , it was massive, as big as a house. It now kind of crouched on two legs, its arms held in the air in front of it to block the light. The skin was still as smooth as the little ones but now had patterns to it that looked like tribal tattoos. Its eyes glowed red and the mouth now had three extra rows of teeth, and stuck between those teeth were gremlins, mostly parts but a few whole ones that were stuck and were squirming in a futile effort to get free. The giant hands opened, dropping a dozen smaller gremlins from its grip, the little beasts quickly trying to retreat, some from the tunnel they came out of and some heading for the tunnel we came from.

  My group was on point though, using the distraction of the light to kill the little ones that tried to scurry past us while Rose moved ahead to engage Yum-Yum, it would give her time to build aggro.

  “Kill, kill, kill,” Yum-Yum screamed, seeing Rose approaching, the bright light was quickly forgotten as he battered at Rose’s shields, her health dipping quickly, only for Baby to shore her up just as quickly.

  “Rose, move him to the other end of the chasm, away from his food,” Olaf ordered, eying the cave behind Yum-Yum carefully. “Rock, when she is clear, I want you guarding that entrance. Nothing comes out.”

  “You got it, boss,” said Rock, already moving.

  “Everyone else, fan out, once Rose has him in position, we attack,” Olaf ordered.

  “It,” Zid said, confusing us. “Gremlins are ‘It’s. Neither he nor she, just an it,” he clarified.

  “Right, well, once Rose has it in position, we attack,” Olaf repeated the order. “Just remember, slow down for milestones in health and be prepared for a special skill or spell.”

  Rose was slow to move Yum-Yum in position, mostly because it towered over her and she was forced to take quite a few steps, while getting beat on, just to get it to move a single step.