by A. C Carter
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
The Flood
The Boat Ride In
Quest 1: Welcome to the Island
Report to The Healer
Report to The Blacksmith
Report to The Scout Marshall
Quest 2: Scout The River
The Campfire
Trouble in The Forest
Quest Interrupted
Quest 3 Escape
The Corrupted Forest
Dreams of Rain
Report to the Commander
The Trainer
Quest 4: Find the Goblin Cave
Follow Scout Thomas
Strung Up In The Corrupted forest
A Surprise Visitor
Quest 5: Assault the Goblin Cave
Operation Elfbait
Goblin Stew
Goblin Stew Part 2
Drumming in the Deep
Finales Have Fireworks
Festival of Fire
Items and Loot
Legend of Starcall
One Last Talk
Boat Ride Out
After The Flood
Book 1 of The Elven World
A.C Carter
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 A.C Carter
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Dedication
This book would not have been possible without the help and inspiration of many friends and family. None of this would have been possible without the love and support of my parents. My dad who first introduced me to fantasy books. My mom who painstakingly helped me edit page after page. My grandparents who taught me how to tell stories.
The Flood
Prologue
The world was afire all around him. The enemy’s horde was a dark blot stretching towards the horizon. Geleb Cúthsbane pulled his blade Celeste, wrapped in the light of the stars, from the body of a fallen enemy. His arms were beginning to feel heavy. Geleb’s Golden Armor of the High Elven Army no longer shone with the radiance of sunlight. Now it was covered in ash, mud, blood and soot. The Dark Elves were endless. The bodies of the fallen, friends and enemies alike, were strewn around Geleb. He felt the end of these dread and weary days coming.
All hope was fading, from not just Geleb, but the entirety of the Elven World. He felt ready to collapse. He didn’t even remember how long he had been fighting anymore. Days? He closed his eyes for just a brief rest. He thought of the First Summers of the world, before these dark days began. When life was simple and young.
The scrambling of a dozen footsteps and clanking of armor told Geleb that his brief rest was a costly mistake. When he opened his eyes he was surrounded by Dark Elves, level 80 floating about their heads. Their swords and spears were all pointed at him. He didn’t even raise Celeste. The Level 95 High Elf Star-Warrior stood, with enemies on all sides, defeated. There were too many, he was too tired. Geleb knelt into the mud, accepting his fate.
Here in the heart of the Light Wood, Geleb looked up one last time at the Mother Tree, the first Great Tree of the Light Woods, surrounded by smoke and flame. The Mother Tree used to be the center of the Wood Elf home, now the last refuge of all Elves that fight for the Light. Even now the flames began to touch its branches and leaves. The Dark Elves moved in closer around him. Their deep-blue and green hued forms blending into the night.
Suddenly, starting from deep in the battlefield, a thunderous boom echoed through the Light Woods and rolled across the land. A massive shockwave that rocked both armies and the very ground itself shook. The Dark Elves surrounding Geleb stumbled. All was still for a moment.
Then came a cry that pierced the air from the top of the Mother Tree. There was a flash of light so bright that Geleb was forced to close his eyes. It was followed by a sudden monstrous wind that blew in from the South. It howled and wailed as it blew across the battlefield. Geleb found himself clinging to the very grass below him. He cautiously looked up to see massive dark storm clouds rolling in across the skies.
And then he felt a raindrop.
And then another. And another. And another. And then, the skies opened up.
An ocean fell upon the land. The fires went out. All around Geleb, the Dark Elves were beginning to run. It only took mere seconds for water to pool up around Geleb’s ankles. He could barely see an inch in front of his face anymore. His armor quickly began to feel waterlogged and weighing him down. This was it, he thought to himself.
But then, a light descended in front of him. Coming from the darkness above, as if a gift from the gods. It was a rope!
“Grab it quick! Climb up!” Geleb heard faintly from above him.
Geleb quickly unequipped his armor, it splashed in the water gathering below him. He grabbed the rope and began to climb. He looked below him to see a rushing current building in the flood below. It swept his armor away. He could make out the forms of Dark Elves desperately clinging to what they could before rushing away in the sweeping water. Geleb kept climbing.
As Geleb neared the top of the rope, he saw hundreds of other glowing ropes dangling down below from branches with survivors climbing up. Above him, he saw Wood Elves and High Elves helping the survivors. He saw Men and Dwarves as well. The Wood Elf Tree City was smoking and charred, but enough of it survived. Geleb made it to the top and pulled himself onto a branch.
The rain continued to fall.
The Boat Ride In
Chapter 1
The hull of the transport ship groaned as the stormy waters whipped it through the ocean. Arilee sat with her back against the wall at a table, watching the other two dozen passengers. Almost everyone was Level 1, like her. Few were able to afford the expensive Level Up Scrolls. Water dripped onto her table from the deck above. She pulled her cloak tighter around her. Her fingers fidgeted with a worn scroll in her hands. Giving in again, she unrolled the letter and read it again.
My dear Arilee,
If you are reading this, my soul has left this mortal realm. Do not be sad for me. I lived a long life, longer than many of those from my youth. I enjoyed looking over you in the last of my years. I am proud of you. You are strong and smart. I have no worries you will do well in the world. There is still much for you to learn about the world, and about yourself. Leave the Valenwoods and take a ship to the Capitol City. From there, you should be able to find information about the Caravan of my old friend Geleb Cuthsbane. Find him. Tell him who you are and he will take care of you.
In this envelope, you will also have found an amulet. Your mother told me to give this to you when you were ready. There is much about your parents I never told you but in time, you will learn about them. May the Light of the Goddess be with you always Arilee.
Forever your guardian,
Faenor
Arilee finished the letter and tucked the scroll back into her belt pouch. She could not believe it’s been a month since he passed. It still felt like yesterday. She wished Faenor was here now. She had never been to the Capitol City before, and she felt lost in the openness of the world.
She gazed longingly, watching a father and daughter play cards together at a table.
Arilee never met her real parents. Her parents died during the Dark Elf Wars just after she was born. Faenor was their closest companion before the War and raised Arilee in their honor. To her, Faenor was her real family. But now he was gone. Now she had no one.
A wave rocked the boat causing Arilee to grasp the table. A nearby passenger in a white gown stumbled into Arilee.
“Oh. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. This is my first time on a boat,” said a high pitched female voice.
Arilee recognized the blue eyes, light blonde hair, and high cheekbones of a High Elf.
“It’s okay. I’m not use to boat rides either. You can sit with me. There is plenty of room.”
A crash of thunder boomed through the ship causing the High Elf to jump. She quickly sat down next to Arilee.
“Thank you so much. To be honest, this storm has me pretty nervous. It seems like it came out of nowhere. My name is Leela. What’s your name?”
“Arilee. It’s so nice to meet you. So why are you going to the Capitol City? Are you travelling alone.”
“Well, I, uh,” Leela’s cheeks turned red and she looked down shyly. “My teacher gave me a quest. Here I will show you.”
The air in front of Leela shimmered and a small floating scroll appeared. Leela turned it so Arilee could see it.
Quest Scroll - Further Your Training
-
Find the Temple of the Goddess in the Capitol City and report to the High Priestess
“It’s my first time away from the Caravan by myself.”
“I am actually on my own quest.” Arilee tilted her scroll so Leela could see it. “Here, since you show me yours.”
The air in front of Arilee shimmered and a floating scroll appeared in front of her.
Quest Scroll - Find Geleb Cuthsbane
-
Go the Capital City to find information about Geleb Cuthsbane
When Leela finished reading it, she turned the floating scroll back towards Arilee.
“Do you know anything about this person you were sent to find?” asked Leela.
“No, my guardian never mentioned him. This quest was the first time seeing his name.”
“Where is your guardian now? Couldn’t you ask him for more details.”
Arilee briefly touched the rolled up scroll on her belt pouch.
“He’s… He is not here anymore. He passed away recently.”
Leela understood. She reached across the table and grabbed Arilee’s hand. Surprised, Arilee fought the urge to jerk her hand back but something about the genuine look on Leela’s face kept her hand there.
“I will help you look when we get to the Capital. Us Elves have to stick together in this human world.”
Arilee gently squeezed Leela’s hand. “Thank you. I appreciate it. Truly.” Arilee let go.
Leela continued, “I think I’ve heard of Geleb Cuthsbane before. From the stories of the Old World we use to tell in the Caravan I grew up in.
Arilee’s pointed ears perked up. “Do you remember anything about him?”
Leela stared at the lantern swinging from the ceiling with a look of concentration on her face. A look of disappointment followed.
“No I’m sorry. I think he was a soldier before The Flood but that’s all I can remember.”
Arilee sighed. “Thanks anyway, it’s something to go off of at least. I appreciate it.”
Just then, the boat lurched again. Harder. Caught unprepared, Arilee and Leela were thrown out of there chairs. A loud thunderous boom shook through the hull. Shouts were coming from the deck. Arilee saw the guards in the hull sprint up the stairs above.
A passenger nearby walked over and helped Arilee and Leela to their feet.
“I thought Elvesss were ssssupossse to have good balance. Be more careful,” he said.
Arilee looked up to see the protruding snout of a Lizard Person. She brushed herself off and turned to say thanks but she saw his black and white scales already walking away.
“Did you see him?” said Leela, excitedly.
“I didn’t think Lizard People left the Swamps.” Arilee paused and looked to the stairs. “What do you think is going on up top?”
“I’m not sure. It doesn’t sound good.”
Arilee looked over the passengers faces. Panic set in as the boat continued to rock and the shouts above deck grew louder.
Suddenly, a giant crunch hit the side of the hull, and splinters flew inwards. Leela braced herself against Arilee.
Arilee looked down at Leela. “Let’s go up and look.”
Leela froze for a second, looking at Arilee in disbelief. But then she pushed her shoulders back and steadied her face.
“Okay, let’s do it.”
Arilee lead Leela through the panicked passengers to the stairwell up. At the top of the stairs was a latched door.
As they made their way through the hull of the ship, a young man in expensive mage robes tried to stop them.
“You, you aren’t going up there are you?” he stuttered out, frightened.
Arilee pointed to splintered wood and water starting to dribble in.
“It’s better than staying down here isn’t it?”
The mage looked at her, stood up and grabbed a staff leaning on the wall nearby.
“I’ll come with you. I’m Chip.”
Another sickening crunch hit the otherside of the hull. The wood began to splinter there now too.
A massive roar shook the ship.
“That wasn’t thunder.” said Chip, starting to sweat.
The three of them approached the steps to the deck above.
“Wait. If you are going, ssssso am I,” said the Lizard Person from earlier.
“Come on then. There isn’t much time,” said Arilee.
“What’s your name?” smiled Leela.
“Slickssss.”
As the four began to ascend the stairs, the howling wind grew louder. Thunder boomed.
Another loud crunch slammed into the door in front of them, blowing it open towards them. A large blur flew through the door. Rain started pouring inward. Arilee and Leela ducked in time, but heard a clashing noise. They turned to see Slicks on the ground with one of the crew lying on top of him.
“Quick, Leela, help me get him up.” Arilee shouted.
“Oh Goddess bless us. Look! We’re all going to die.” shouted one of the passengers.
Arilee looked out the door to see a massive tentacle lying across the body of the ship, wrapped around the edges and squeezing. Its massive suckers latched into the wood, . She could see more tentacles rising from the ocean. Guards and crewman on the deck rushed to throw spears and shoot arrows in a desperate attempt to ward them off.
As if in a trance, Arilee walked into the storm. Never before had she seen anything so massive. The tentacle around the ship was at least as thick as she was tall.
>Level 50< floated above each tentacle.
Another massive roar thundered through the sky. A piercing shriek that shook Arilee’s soul. The water off the left side of the ship started churning and whirling. Dark blue scales began to emerge just below the surface.
“That must be the head coming up there!” shouted Arilee over the howling winds.
“Well, it was nice meeting you all at least,” said Chip, laughing nervously.
The tentacle gave a final squeeze and the boat cracked. The cold endless water rushed up to meet Arilee. Everything went dark.
Quest 1: Welcome to the Island
Chapter 2
A shimmering floating ball of light glimmered over the crashing waves of the ocean on a beach. Lightning flashed in the storm above, followed by a loud crack of thunder. The rocky turmoil of the surf crashed upon the sand, sending water splashing. Weathered gear littered the sand. Below laid a female Half-Elf on the verge of death. The shimmering ball hovered, watching as her healt
h bar slowly dwindled...
Health -1
5/100
Health -1
4/100
Health -1
3/100
Health -1
2/100
... but then the Light bounced. With a twinkle, an aura of green energy radiated outward from the ball. It flowed towards the Half-Elf, wrapping her in a green blanket of light. "With this Healing, you will live. Live for me Half-Elf. Live for me Arilee."
***
Arilee awoke with a jolt, gasping for breath. She was on a beach, surrounded by wreckage. She tried to remember what happened but it was like thinking through a fog. Nothing made sense. The health meter in the bottom right of her vision flashed at her.
Health
20/100
"At least I'm not dead. No coming back from that," she thought. "What have you got yourself into this time girl?" Closing her eyes, she laid back on the sand.
A gruff voice in the distance called out, "Oy I found another one! She looks alive, although her health is low. Call the priestess. We need a healing spell."
Arilee felt hands grab her arms. She struggled to move, but her muscles wouldn't budge. She was too tired.
"Just rest. You're safe for now," the gruff voice said.
Arilee drifted to sleep, dreaming dark things.
***
When Arilee awoke again, she was no longer by the beach. She was on a cot in a small room. A small dresser stood next to the bed, and across the room from that was a mirror. She carefully placed her feet on the ground, testing her strength. Once she was sure she wouldn't fall, she walked to the mirror. She examined her body, looking for signs of scratches or bruising but found none. "That's good at least," Arilee thought to herself, walking to the dresser a few feet from the bed.
