The power of the eternity stones was intoxicating, and a bit frightening, and he had only uncovered the tip of their full potential. He wondered what he could do with all five. Could he ring his entire border in fire? Probably not.
The earth stone did not allow him to raise a wall across such vast distances. Why he could do it with air he did not know. Perhaps because it was a natural phenomenon and could feed and propagate somewhat on its own.
The pursuing army’s lead ranks surged forward, most on foot but some on horseback. Jandar sent his elemental charging into them, kicking up clouds of sand first at the riders and then the slower archer infantry. Power prickled his senses and he focused on it. It felt as though the hairs on his arms were standing on end.
Jandar recognized it as the buildup of electricity, not unlike when he channeled power into his hammers. He concentrated on increasing it, altering the direction and speed of the wind around the elemental and finally channeling a bit of mana through the link between him and it.
Lightning began arcing across the elemental’s form, invisible except for the dust and sand swirling around it. He lashed out at an archer and smiled when small bolts of lightning struck the man, killing him after a dozen or so strikes.
He sent the elemental deeper into the enemy ranks, channeling as much mana as he could through the link. The ethereal construct shocked men and horses, creating panic. Some men tried to hack at the dervish, but the electricity simply leapt to their blades and up into their arms. Jandar thought himself invincible until a small squad of men and women raced to the fore.
He sensed the building magic in the air an instant before fire and lightning raced to meet him. The air spells, like lightning, had no effect on the elemental, but other forms of magic did. Jandar cried out when the pain transferred to his consciousness through the link. He quelled the swirling vortex and darted away, completely invisible with nothing but a stirring of air to mark his presence.
Fireballs exploded over the army as the mages lashed out blindly. Jandar retreated toward the caravan. A few bodies and the lingering scent of blood in the air gave evidence that Nyx had taken advantage of the distraction to eliminate a few of the enemy’s scouts or those who managed to get too close to the rear of the caravan.
The air stone’s power was dropping to low levels, so Jandar directed the elemental back inside his territory. The refugees were close enough now that he could see them through the eyes of his elemental while inside his borders but still too distant to make them out clearly with his own inferior vision.
The leading procession finally passed by him, and the last of them should reach him in an hour. They were going to make it! The same could not be said for those hunting them. Jandar saw the pursuing army make a final dash to stop them, noticing that the caravan had sped up and deduced they must be thinking safety was close at hand.
The trailing refugees also hastened their steps, pushing themselves as hard as they could with Nyx and Saefa’s urging and promises of salvation. Jandar harassed the nearest enemies with his elemental as best he could, but the mages targeted in on it and finally destroyed it with magic. He could now see the last of Saefa’s, of his, people stumbling and hobbling toward him.
The old, infirm, and a few healthy people who would not leave them behind comprised the rear of the caravan. Nyx and Saefa were the last to reach him. Lexon stood near his side strumming his harp, trusting Jandar could stop the hunters and figuring those in the lead no longer needed him.
Nyx ran up to Jandar with Saefa close behind her. “They’re still coming!” she panted, trying to catch her breath.
Jandar’s eyes narrowed as he gazed out into the desert. “Let them come.”
And come they did. The army marched as a cohesive unit, knowing that the ocean lay only a few miles away and barred any chance of the refugees escaping them. Between it and them were the haunted ruins that would kill them as certainly as their arrows would. They were wrong on multiple counts.
Jandar waited until the last of the soldiers crossed into his territory, the lead ranks nearly within bow range, before unleashing elemental fury upon them. He cast Major Wind Wall, compressing it into an area half its maximum volume. One hundred mile per hour winds engulfed Aelim’s army, picking up rocks, stripping weapons from hands, and flinging them around as deadly projectiles.
The wind did not blow in a single direction; it roiled and turned back on itself like the surf in a furious storm. It hammered the soldiers trapped within its churning mass, sand scouring flesh from bone. Those able to somewhat protect themselves from the flying debris were lost, unable to discern in what direction safety might lie. It would not have mattered if they could.
The storm was simply too ferocious and disorienting. The ever-changing wind directions kept projectiles aloft and confused the senses. Those able to locate some sort of refuge found their lungs filling with dust and sand. A handful of people nearest the distant wind wall may have found their way out as a few closest to the front did, but he, Nyx, and Saefa ensured they did not survive their momentary good fortune. For the refugees, the arduous journey was over, but many challenges still lay ahead.
Chapter 20: It Takes a Village
EVEN THOUGH THE ETERNITY stone had done most of the work, Jandar found himself exhausted nearly to the point of collapse. He used the eternity stone of earth to seal off the narrow pass leading into the valley created by the semi-collapsed volcano once the last of the people made it through.
They had nothing. The only structure somewhat intact was Nestor’s tavern, and it had lost its roof decades ago. The people had abandoned almost everything they owned in order to keep ahead of their would-be executioners, including tents, clothes, tools, and anything not immediately needed to survive.
Fortunately, the weather inside the coastal valley was mild and cloudless. They could sleep under the stars for a time, but not forever. Rain and the changing seasons were inevitable. There was a significant amount of work to do, and Jandar had no idea how to go about it. He had only minutes to ponder the innumerable challenges before sleep claimed him.
Jandar awoke to a bright, almost cheery morning. The sun was up but was not yet visible above the volcano’s high rim. He rolled to his feet, wincing at the knots in his muscles sleeping on the hard ground did little to alleviate, and made his way to the ruined tavern where he and the others had agreed to gather.
He checked the notices he had ignored last night on his walk over.
Due to your recent activities, you gain +2 to your Mind attribute. Your Arcane Channeling skill has increased to Level 14 Grade 1. You have reached the maximum amount you can manually level Mind and Arcane Channeling until you gain the next character level.
Congratulations, you have successfully completed the quest: Exodus. You gain 14,850 XP (50 XP x 289 survivors.) While some noncombatants died during the journey, none of their deaths was a result of your inability to protect them. Plus 2,890 bonus XP.
You gain +578 fame for saving the refugees. Your infamy among those loyal to King Aelim has a +578 point modifier.
Your reputation with the people of your new settlement is: Liked/Grateful. Your reputation with your people depends on what you do for them. Continue to prove your dedication to them and improve their lives to increase your reputation. Failing to do so will lower it and have a detrimental effect on morale and productivity. Should your reputation fall far enough, your people may abandon, betray, or even turn on you.
Jandar dismissed the notices, a bit put off with the continuing reference of these being his people. He promised to get them to safety and he did. What happened afterward was up to them. He had a greater quest to complete and could not get bogged down in politics and management.
He found Nyx, Saefa, Lexon, and surprisingly, Nestor waiting for him when he walked into the tavern.
Jandar squinted at the ghostly bartender. “Nestor, you’re looking…a bit more solid this morning.”
The bartender’s massive, curled mustache raised with
his smile. “Yes! It seems banishing the dark spirits has improved my being. I almost feel like my old self, other than being able to walk through walls and unable to enjoy a proper drink.”
Lexon brought a wineskin away from his lips and shook his head. “A downright travesty that is. Can’t imagine having the will to go on if that happened to me.”
“Shouldn’t you have departed with the rest of the shades?” Jandar asked.
Nestor shrugged. “I suppose I should have and even could have, but I didn’t feel the need nor desire. My place is here, serving drinks and tending to my new friends and patrons. Well, maybe not so much serving drinks anymore, but it’s still my place.”
“I see,” Jandar said, a bit unsettled at having, much less speaking to, a ghost living in his new settlement. He turned to Nyx and Saefa. “Where do we go from here?”
“There is much to do,” Saefa said, his voice a soft rumble. “We have very little food, no shelter, no tools to build with, and only the clothes on our backs. The colder season will soon be upon us.”
Jandar nodded. “We’ll get them organized and work on those problems. The important thing is we got them here and they are all safe.”
Saefa looked at him, his expression cold like the calm before a storm. “Not all,” he spat as he stomped out of the tavern.
Jandar looked to Nyx. “Did I say something wrong? I know we lost a few frail people on the march and some warriors, but everyone else made it.”
Nyx shook her head, and her eyes brimmed with tears. “Aelim’s men killed his wife and two sons.”
Her words knocked him back on his heels. “What? How? When? Did someone sneak into the camp and kill them? Why haven’t I heard of this before now?”
“It was before we arrived. Aelim’s soldiers reached Saefa’s village before they came to the town where he and the freed prisoners were resting for the night. The other adventurers probably infected them when they came through conscripting people. Naidu informed him of their deaths before he set out looking for us.”
“He never said anything to me,” Jandar said in a whisper.
“To me either. When he told me of it last night, he said there had been no time for mourning. There were other families, ones still alive, who needed him before he could spare the time to grieve. I guess he found the time last night.”
Jandar hung his head. “I know his pain—and his anger. Perhaps we can have a service or something for everyone we’ve lost.”
Nyx nodded. “Maybe later. Like he said, we still have a lot to do. We need food, clothes, and shelter. We have to make sure our defenses are strong enough so no one can march another army here and finish the job.”
Jandar wagged his head, still looking at the floor. “I can’t…I can’t be responsible for these people. I have things I have to do. I need to…”
“Get your revenge? It can wait. You are responsible for these people. They are looking to us, to you, to keep them safe. It’s your eternity stones and your settlement.”
“I could put Saefa in charge. They’re his people. They know him and will follow him more than they will me.”
“The eternity stones are the only thing keeping them safe right now. Are you willing to give them up as well so you can continue your quest? We got lucky finding just one creature powerful enough to possess a stone yet weak enough for us to defeat, and we’ve gotten two. I don’t want to keep counting on dumb luck to see us through this.” She looked at Lexon. “No offense.”
Lexon sipped from his wineskin. “None taken.”
Jandar shook his head. “No, I can’t give up the stones.”
“You are seeking the power to fight Matrice, a god for lack of a better word. A wise man from my world once said, ‘with great power comes great responsibility.’ Like it or not, you are responsible for these people, and they and this village may just be the key to acquiring the power you need. You cannot do this by yourself.”
Jandar took a deep breath. “You’re right. What do I need to do?”
Nyx smiled at him. “Saefa and I talked to the other leaders this morning. There’s fertile land above us for farming as well as a lake and stream for water. Some people are already fishing at the lake and sea while others are scouting the forest inside the crater and hillsides. We need tools to work the ground, cut timber, and build shelter. Those things need to be done immediately.
“After that, we have to focus on building a thriving, self-sustaining town with proper leadership and an economy. I’ve never been big on settlement or base building in these games, but I understand the basics. You should have some kind of interface that allows you to set tasks and manage people and construction. Study it and learn how to become a true leader. We have a lot of work to do, but no one more than you.”
Information and quests bombarded Jandar the moment he opened his interface.
You have been given a quest: Feed the Masses. Requirement: Find enough food to keep your people fed for both the short and long term. Difficulty: Challenging. Reward: 25 XP and increased respect from your community for every citizen who has enough to eat. Failure: Your people starve and will abandon the settlement.
You have been given a quest: The Right Tool for the Right Job. Requirement: Find or make tools so your people can work the land and build homes and businesses. Difficulty: average. Reward: 10 XP for every tool you make until you have equipped everyone who needs one to do their job.
You have been given a quest: Stay off my Lawn. Requirement: Construct adequate defenses around your settlement to ensure your people are prepared to face any threat. Establish some sort of defense force. Find or construct weapons with which to equip your defenders. Difficulty: Average. Reward: 50 XP for every guard or soldier you train and properly equip. 5 XP for every defensive point earned through building defenses.
You have been given a quest: If You Build it They Will Come. Requirement: Increase the size and level of your settlement. A new settlement requires a great many parts to function and prosper. You will be rewarded for every building you and your people construct. With enough infrastructure, your settlement will become a village. Continue to grow until Shibo becomes a town, a city, and a respected power within the region. Be warned, the bigger and stronger you become the more attention, both good and bad, you will earn.
Jandar scrolled through the settlement screen and felt overwhelmed at all of the information. There were dozens of jobs and rolls he had to delegate, each one requiring tools or entire buildings. There were pages detailing trade, construction, basic leadership, maintaining morale, producing basic necessities as well as luxuries.
He felt as if his shoulders just became the very foundation of an entire town, a responsibility so heavy he was sure it would crush him. Jandar never thought about how many moving pieces there were to a functioning town, each one needing to be balanced and working in perfect sync with the others. Taking a deep breath, he focused on the one thing he knew he could do. He needed to build a forge. With hammer, anvil, and fire, he could create anything.
Epilogue
VINCENT KURTZ STORMED INTO the ACR. “Someone give me some good news before I start firing people!”
Heads swiveled around then whipped back toward their monitors. The control room fell into deathly silence.
Michael Cho hastened over. “Aelim’s army chased the infected people south into what was once a haunted region designed for higher level players.”
Vincent turned his hands palms up. “So, what, they’re all dead?”
“No. It appears Jandar and the player with him managed to clear the area before the infected NPCs got there ahead of the army.”
“But they caught and slaughtered them?”
Michael shook his head. “No. Jandar used the eternity stone to block access to the area with a powerful wind the soldiers were not able to cross. It killed most of them in fact. All of them really.”
Vincent’s face reddened to the point of turning purple. “What fucking part of that sounds like good news
to you, Cho?”
Michael swallowed and raised his hands. “Capria is free of infected once again except for the refugees in Lahar, and we’ve resecured the borders. The debuff is once again limited to Truale.”
“Except for that damned blacksmith and all these pissants.”
“They’re trapped where they are, more or less. Once we can field adventurers strong enough to pass through the wind wall, we can destroy them and get Jandar’s source code.”
“How long is that going to take?” Vincent demanded.
“One of my ingame GMs is in contact with a player who has a vested interest in killing Jandar. He’s quite obsessed with it. He’s created a like-minded guild with several beta players amongst them, and we’re doing everything Matrice will allow to level and equip them. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks to level them up and find a way through the wind wall.”
“A couple of weeks, all the while the blacksmith and his friends continue to grow in strength as well. How do you know he’ll even stick around and not slip into another province and infect it?”
“Settlement and stronghold building is a major part of the game. Unless he completely abandons the NPCs to their fate, he will be very busy creating his stronghold. He’s already bound two eternity stones to it, so I doubt he will leave it right away. Besides, he is clearly gathering eternity stones for some purpose, and there are no more bosses he can likely defeat any time soon to get more.”
Vincent furrowed his brow. “Why’s he collecting the stones, for the resurrections?”
Michael shrugged. “Perhaps. They also allow for powerful settlement abilities, like the wind wall protecting his border, but I think there is more to it. I think he might be trying to reach Matrice’s tower.”
“Huh?”
“Matrice’s tower in Staria. The only way inside is if you have one of each type of eternity stone.”
“Why the hell does he want to do that?”
“Who can say? Perhaps he thinks she will bring back his family or grant him additional power.”
Chaos Unchained- The Mad Smith Page 36