by Edward Brody
Chapter Twenty-Five
2/20/0001
The loot we pulled from the camp was surprisingly decent. The orcs themselves were carrying shoddy weapons and armor, but after rustling around their campgrounds, we found a small pouch filled with a few gems and over 500 gold. Everything we collected was deposited in the guild shop, except for a stash of partially rotten meat, which Trynzen insisted on keeping for himself—a happily given reward for his efforts.
Back in Edgewood, Jax and I collected the longest shards of grass that we could find and provided them to Rina, who quickly used her rudimentary tinkering skills to weave them into a crude, but surprisingly strong rope.
After dropping off Trynzen and leaving the baby with Aaron, the three of us were ready to head back out into the Freelands in an attempt to execute plan B. Before we left the village, Rina pointed out that my robe was basically worn to the point of being rags, and since our shop was out of replacements, she offered me an old robe of hers that she had been saving.
You've received: Soft Nurse’s Robe. +1 Armor. Requires 12 Intelligence. Durability: 5/10. Quality: Average. Rarity: Common. Weight: 0.6 kg. +1 First Aid
White wasn’t my favorite color for a robe, but I figured I could just wear it until I found something better. The First Aid bonus was better than nothing, and a white robe with green belt was better than the nothing I’d have if my old robe fell apart while we were out.
Once set out, we rode around the outer perimeter of the vast array of Scourge camps, looking for another suitable group of orcs, but didn’t have immediate luck. Most of the camps were too large, having six or more orcs, ten or more goblins, and sometimes a large combination of both orcs, goblins, and giga-goblins. Others, while smaller, were situated too close to other camps and would certainly draw aggro from unintentional targets if we were to try to engage them.
Further into the Freelands was worse than I imagined. While there were few signs of large-scale battling, many homes and barns had been burned. Farms had been razed, and cattle were slaughtered. A few houses and structures remained untouched, but it wasn’t clear why. Had the Scourge only burned the homes of those who resisted, or did they leave some buildings standing so that they could keep them for themselves if they managed to hold control of the area?
We scouted for an hour or more and rode far from our forest, nearing the Crystal River and Dragon’s Crest. Once again, I worried about Conrad, but realized that even if I wanted to check on him, it would be far too dangerous due to the heavy concentration of Scourge.
“What about that one?” Rina asked, pointing towards a camp of three large orcs hovering near a leather tent and campfire. They all wore plate metal shoulder pads which extended down across their chest to form a sort of half-assed breast plate. Plate gauntlets and gloves covered their hands and arms, and the leather boots on their feet joined with plate shin protectors. Round, riveted metal shields were latched onto their backs, and hanging by their sides were weapons that looked like something between an axe and a sword. They seemed like giant, crude butcher knives more than anything.
Jax put his hand above his forehead to shield his eyes from the sun. “Nope, no good. I’m pretty sure those are orc enforcers. Two of them would be tough for us, and I’m afraid three would be too much.”
“Even with Fenris and Sora?” I questioned.
Jax sucked air between his teeth and tilted his head. “Maybe we could take them, but I’d rather us not risk our Great Beasts when there could be weaker targets.”
I was curious about the stats of an orc enforcer, but they were too far out of range for me to inspect.
“What about over there?” I asked, pointing towards a group of two orcs and two goblins running in a line formation between camps.
Jax turned in the direction I was pointing. “Might be a good target, but look around,” he said, waving his arm out in front of him. “They’re situated in view of too many other camps. We’ll either have to wait in between hills and hope they head our way or wait for nightfall. But if we wait around long, we might become the hunted rather than the hunters.”
I groaned. “This is taking forever.”
Jax laughed. “You were expecting this to be easy?”
“Not easy, but the first group wasn’t too bad,” I explained. “Maybe we should turn back, circle around towards Highcastle, and check around there.”
Jax tugged on Fenris’ fur a bit. “Alright, let’s head back, then.”
As we backtracked, Rina commented, “The Freelands look terrible now, but at least we’re getting some air. Staying in one place for too long really has a stressing effect.”
“Yep, I feel your pain,” Jax said. “Fucking orcs.”
“Are there orcs in the Endless Sands?” I asked.
“There are pockets of orcs here and there,” Rina answered. “Renegades, really. Nothing like the Scourge here.”
“Are you sure about that?” Jax said. “I’ve heard of an orc faction somewhere near the Endless Sands. Can’t remember the name.”
“Not that I’m aware of but—” Rina stopped mid-sentence and perked up. “What’s that up ahead?”
Jax once again shielded his eyes from the sun and stopped Fenris in his tracks. He scanned the area and said, “Hmmm… That’s bad. It looks like the Scourge are setting up a new camp right on our path.”
I squinted to get a look at what they were seeing, but it was difficult to make out anything but a few characters moving across the horizon. It was clear, however, whatever they were seeing was directly on our route.
As we moved into better viewing distance, it became clear that Jax was right. Around ten goblins were busily unraveling thin logs that were tied with thin leather, and sloppily trying to arrange them into a large tent and secure them to the ground. Standing in front of the goblins was an orc dressed like the enforcer we had seen earlier and two other orcs wearing mage’s robes.
Jax pointed towards the hill to the right of us. “We could try going around by climbing the hill, but I think it’s better to just swim across the Crystal River and avoid the risk altogether. We’ll cross again when we’ve got a clear path back.”
“Oh, dear,” Rina moaned. “I’m going to get my robe wet, aren’t I? You know this is a very thin fabric, right? And it’s white.”
Jax laughed. “Gunnar is a gentleman. I’m sure he won’t stare for too long. Right, Gunnar?”
I was mostly ignoring their banter as I continued watching the orcs setting up camp. A couple of goblins were arranging stones in front of where they were erecting a tent, and the enforcer gave one of the goblins a hard kick in the back, causing it to drop its stone and fall flat on its face.
“Why don’t we just take this camp?” I asked.
“This one?” Jax questioned, glancing back towards Scourge in question.
“The hill to the right should provide some cover from the other camps, and we won’t get attacked from the direction of the Crystal River,” I explained. “There’s also only one of those enforcers in their group as well.”
“It’s a lot of Scourge for just us three,” Jax countered. “And those two mages are unpredictable. Judging by their dress, I’d say they’re warlocks.”
“So, you don’t think we can take them?” I asked.
“No tellin’,” Jax answered. “We can take down a few of them for certain, but depending on the casters’ spells, there’s the possibility they could wipe us. Some warlocks have blinds and silences. Neither of you have a dispel, do you?”
Rina and I both shook our heads.
“Let’s not forget about the goblins,” Jax added.
“With Rina’s help, I can handle the goblins,” I said. “And you, Jax—Maybe you could take out one of the mages with a Snipe Shot. That would leave us with one mage and one enforcer. We only need to take out one more before trying to catch the last.”
“Can you?” Jax said. “Ten goblins?”
I nodded. “If they run straight for us, I’m prett
y sure Rina and I could take them down with a combo.”
Jax glanced to the camp again. “There’s no rocks or trees for us to sneak up to them, so I’d have to get damn lucky to land a clean Snipe Shot from a safe distance.”
“How about we leave Fenris and Sora a little further behind us. If you miss the Snipe Shot, we’ll retreat and use their speed to get away and cross the Crystal River.”
Jax rubbed his chin, straightened his shoulders, and glanced between me and Rina. “You’re becoming quite the strategist, Gunnar.”
I huffed and smirked. “Is that a yes?”
“What do you think, Rina?” Jax asked.
“I trust your judgement,” Rina said. “We might want to make the final call after we inspect some of them though.”
“Wise words,” Jax said.
“Okay,” I said as I dismounted Sora. “Let’s get in position and do this.”
“Looks like all the goblins are between level 12 and 16,” Jax said, lying in a prone position just out of sight of the orcs. “No, wait. One of them is level 20.”
Rina and I were lying right beside him, trying to assess the group. The only cover we had was the grass, so it was an especially vulnerable position.
Name: Greenskin Warlock
Race: orc
Level: 27
Health/Mana/Stamina: 180/250/140
Status: aggressive
Name: Greenskin Warlock
Race: orc
Level: 28
Health/Mana/Stamina: 190/250/140
Status: aggressive
The level 28 warlock wore a black robe with gold etching and a golden belt cinched around his waist. He held a straight black staff with a white, milky globe in his hand. No gloves covered his hands, and his hood was pulled over his head, hiding his features.
The level 27 warlock wore a dark red robe with the same gold etching, however the belt around his waist was thicker and jet black. He also had held a black staff, but the tip of his staff sprung into tiny, thin branches. His hood was pulled back, revealing slicked, short black hair and a receded hairline. He had a long black beard hanging down towards his waist, braided and cinched with a gold-colored material.
The warlocks were a bit shorter than the towering, muscular enforcer, who looked much the same as the enforcers we had seen earlier.
You have failed to inspect your target!
You have failed to inspect your target!
“Level 27 and level 28, and you’re right; they’re warlocks. I can’t get a read on the enforcer.”
“Level 36,” Jax said. He swallowed hard, and I could see the worry in his eyes.
“We can do it,” I supposed. “We’ve had harder challenges.”
“I believe in us,” Rina said.
Jax gritted his teeth and reached for his bow. “Alright, but only if I don’t miss my Snipe Shot. Get ready to run if I do.”
Rina and I both nodded.
I held my hand out in front of me and started channeling a Firebomb. “Rina, if they try to zerg us, use your spell that damages and stuns them temporarily, but only when they’re in throwing range. If I can time things just right, we’ll wipe all the goblins out before they get to us.”
Rina licked her lips. “How far is throwing range?”
I raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure the exact distance. Just stun them when you see me about to throw.”
“Okay,” Rina said.
“You guys ready?” Jax asked as he nocked an arrow.
“Ready,” I said.
“Ready.”
I watched the Scourge anxiously as I held a shotput-sized Firebomb in my hand. One of the goblins dropped a log that it was arranging, knocking another one of the goblin’s logs onto the ground. The goblin that had its log knocked away, ran forward and shoved the other goblin before they both started rolling on the ground fighting. The warlock in black raised its staff, and a thin stream of lightning shot out of the sphere on its tip and into the ass of one of the fighting goblins.
“Stop your nonsense!” the warlock roared. “Back to work!”
Both goblins took their quick shock and groaned as they rolled off of each other and limped back to work. A bit of smoke was rising from each one, and one defecated uncontrollably as it reached down to pick up its fallen log.
“Gawr!” the enforcer roared and turned its head before taking a menacing step towards the offending goblin.
The warlock in black lifted his staff in front of the enforcer, stopping him. “Don’t interfere! Let them work!”
The enforcer lurched its head over the blocking staff, and spittle flew from its mouth as it spoke. “Filthy goblins! Let me kill one!”
“You will not!” the warlock in black said.
The enforcer looked down in rage. “How about I kill you instead?”
“Or how about we both kill you?” the warlock in red finally spoke out, pointing the tip of his staff towards the enforcer.
The enforcer pulled back his lips, showing thick teeth and sharp fangs, but quickly jerked his head to the side and stepped back.
“Now!” Jax whispered, letting his Snipe Shot fly.
I prayed as Jax’s arrow whizzed through the air. We were at an incredible distance, and I could only imagine how much more difficult aiming from a prone position must have been. In less than a second, but what felt like minutes, the arrow struck, hitting the red-robed warlock in the side of the face so hard that he spun in place and fell to the ground.
“Critical hit!” Jax said.
The two other orcs looked down to their companion in horror before turning their heads, looking for the attackers. The goblins stopped what they were doing but seemed to have no idea what was going on.
All three of us jumped to our feet, and Rina started backing away, taking her defensive position as healer.
“There!” the warlock in black said as he noticed us. “Kill them!”
“For Ergoth!” the enforcer yelled, raising his butcher knife-shaped axe into the air.
As I had hoped, all of the goblins started running for us as a group, with both the enforcer and the warlock right behind them.
Jax quickly shot an arrow that landed in front of one of the goblins.
“Save your arrows for the orcs,” I said. “Leave the goblins to me.”
“Yep,” Jax said, readying another arrow, but holding it until he had a better shot at one of the orcs.
When the goblins were finally in throwing range, I took three fast steps forward and lobbed my Firebomb at the center of the group. “Rina!” I yelled, making sure she didn’t forget her instructions.
Rina raised her staff in the air, and tiny shimmers of energy fell from the sky into the heads of each goblin, causing them to pause in a brief stun.
My Firebomb was still in the air during the stun, and before it landed, I raised a Fire Curtain over the stunned goblins. When the stun was over, most of the goblins were standing right in a sea of fire, and before they could process the situation, my Firebomb landed in the center of the group, blowing several of them to smithereens. The ones not at the center of the impact were thrown aside or severely injured and still on fire.
You have gained 800 XP!
You have gained 800 XP!
You have gained 850 XP!
Jax momentarily lowered his bow in awe at the combo, but after quickly winking at me and saying, “Impressive,” he lifted his bow back up to readjust his aim.
The enforcer was right behind the goblins, and while some of the Firebomb’s blast should have affected him, he had raised his arm to shield his eyes and ignored the various chunks of goblin flesh that had been thrown in his direction.
The black-robed warlock further back had not been in the bomb’s range, but just seeing the effects was enough to cause it to slow down and jog forward a little more cautiously.
Jax released an arrow, which landed in the enforcer’s chest, piercing its metal chestpiece. It jerked a little and groaned but didn’t slow down its run.
When Rina’s stunning energy fell from the sky on the enforcer, Jax pulled out three arrows, loaded them, and let them all fly at once.
The enforcer seemed to break free from the brief stun a little faster than usual and raised its forearm right when Jax’s arrows were about to hit. One of the arrows still landed in its chest, one pierced its forearm, and the third ricocheted off its metal gauntlet. None of the arrows seemed to slow it down as it just kept running towards us, ignoring the pain.
I shot a Fireblast at the orc, which landed on its chest, knocking away one of the arrow shafts that was protruding from it and scorching its skin a little, but not much else. It continued to ignore our attacks and proceed with its charge.
I followed up by firing an on-cast from my staff, conjuring and releasing a ball of hard rock that slammed into the orc’s face. The rock attack caused the enforcer to jerk its head to the side briefly, but still, it continued forward.
When the enforcer was almost on top of Jax, he fired one final arrow at close range which pierced right into the enforcer’s neck. It roared, jerked back, and reached for the shaft as Jax fastened his bow and unsheathed the sword at his side.
“Let’s go!” Jax grunted as he dashed forward with his broadsword in his hands.
The enforcer ripped the arrow out of its neck, causing blood to spew from the wound. It roared even louder, grabbed the wound in an effort to stop the bleeding, then stumbled back when Jax stepped forward and slashed his sword across its chest.
“Hell yeah!” I yelled at the display, but just as it seemed we had made some progress, a purple beam of swirling magic extended from the black-robed warlock’s hand and struck Jax, causing him to freeze in place, arch his back, and rise a few inches from the ground. His sword fell out of his hand, and the enforcer stepped forward and removed his hand from his bleeding neck just long enough to throw a massive uppercut under Jax’s chin.
Jax flew back across the clearing and landed near Rina’s feet.