Hero of Lichfrost

by M E Robinson

  “Good ones - the Mooncrests, Ravenhorns, Greenhills, and the like. I trust I have the support of the Wavesuns as well?”

  “Of course,” Wavesun swore.

  “We need to amass power and begin shoring up the defenses of the north. Too many villages are basically defenseless against an attack. Redclaw is far too cunning a commander to allow his plans to be foiled so simply. He's going to strike back, and soon. We need to ensure that our people at least have a fighting chance, and we need to make sure that we have the forces necessary to save those who don’t.”

  “We prepare for war then.”

  “Yes.”

  Falling silent once more, Wavesun followed Alistair, ducking into the empty village as they headed for the militia barracks. Outside the village walls, the feast raged on as the militia drank and danced.

  Epilogue

  “A strong ruler cannot rule through terror and fear alone. That was my father’s mistake. When my father fell in the Battle of the Four Kingdoms, our armies still held the advantage. Had we pressed the attack, the day would have ended with our victory. But instead of moving forward and avenging the death of their king, many tribes began to retreat. Without my father’s iron fist to maintain peace between them, they feared that their rivals would take advantage of their weakened state to attack. So like cowards, they fled, leaving my father’s corpse behind as a symbol of their defeat. I will not make my father’s mistakes. I have unified the tribes and clans, brought them together under one banner and earned their loyalty through actions, not fear. In the last war, the men of the south stood together as one, unifying to fight my father’s armies as a whole. Now they have forgotten why that was. The three kingdoms that once made up the Irmatei Alliance now fight among themselves, plundering each other’s trade caravans and skirmishing at the border. The nobles that stood on the frontlines, leading their people on the battlefield, now quarrel with each other, employing assassins to kill their neighbours and poison their rivals. They have fallen into ruin while we have rebuilt. Soon, they shall realize their mistake. But by then, it will be too late.”

  Inside a gilded hall, a tall figure sat upon an iron throne. Wearing a suit of plain, unadorned armour, he gave off an imposing aura, warning those kneeling in front of him to throw away any desires they harboured towards the throne beneath him.

  Barely daring to breathe, one of the kneeling figures struggled to speak, searching for the words as he confronted the man before him.

  “My liege, it’s not as if we don’t agree. But if you do not punish the cowards who fled Lichfrost, then others will begin to waver. If the troops think that desertion is preferable to charging forth, then our lines may collapse in the middle of battle.”

  “If I do not? Are you trying to tell me what to do, Vornok?” the figure asked with an amused tone. However, there was no amusement in his eyes, barely visible below the heavy crown upon his brow.

  “Not at all, I wouldn’t dare. None of us would, we would never -”

  “What he means to say, my liege, is that he is merely offering a different viewpoint. The final decision rests with yourself of course,” another figure cut in smoothly, emerging from her position behind the throne. Wearing a suit of heavy, black armour, adorned with a sigil in the shape of a large fish with sharp teeth, she cut a sharp figure, standing tall against the dull backdrop off the hall.

  “Orka,” the man upon the throne greeted her. “Do you agree with Vornok then?”

  “I agree with my liege’s decision. The survivors are not cowards. They fled only when the battle became unwinnable. Had Grimarok not fallen, and had it not been for the presence of Alistair Frostbane, the butcher of Crowsea, then the battle would have swung in our favour. Vornok’s suggestion isn’t wrong under normal circumstances, the context just doesn’t support executing our own soldiers.”

  “That’s fair,” the seated figure replied agreeably. “Then what would your suggestion be? How should we deal with the survivors of Lichfrost?”

  “Allow them to rest, give them new gear and rations. Promote those who were reported to have performed admirably. Then reform the division and send them back south. They will fight all the more fanatically if they know that they have the support of their king, rather than living under the fear of execution,” Orka replied smoothly. The seated figure nodded.

  “Then let it be done. General Vornok, General Crima, see to the survivors. Tend to their wounds and organize a new division with a survivor as the captain. It will be known as Grimtooth Division. Give the captain you choose full control in determining the division’s crest, formations, leaders, and other effects. After three days of rest they are to head south. Their mission will be to join up with Redclaw’s forces and attack Novanalban and Eirewick assets. Have the captain split up the division into squads to harry their trade and civilian settlements.”

  “Yes, my Liege!” the two kneeling figures in question affirmed.

  “The rest of you may depart, you have your orders.”

  “Yes, my Liege!” the other kneeling figures shouted, rising and giving the seated figure a bow before departing.

  “They will continue to question your authority until you make an example of one of them. Once one is dead, the other rats will fall in line,” Orka said softly. “They still don’t trust you as their king.”

  “I wouldn’t trust myself either. The prince disappears for years and reappears to take command of the leaderless horde. He could have changed, he could be under the control of another, he could even be someone else entirely, merely posing as one thought long dead.”

  “But you’re not. You are their rightful king, and they owe you their respect,” Orka argued.

  “They owe me their loyalty, their respect is something I must earn,” he replied.

  Going silent, Orka regarded her king with a critical eye before turning away.

  “I will return to my position,” she stated, giving him a salute as she left.

  Watching her leave, words sprung unbidden to the lips of the figure upon the throne.

  “As I earned yours,” he whispered softly.

  Glossary

  G3

  Gaming convention. A huge press event where companies unveil new games and show off their products.

  Hurricane

  The gaming company that developed Fate. A titan in the games industry that has fallen from grace in recent years.

  MMO

  Massively Multiplayer Online. Any game where thousands of people can interact with each other in a single continuous game world.

  VRMMO

  Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online. A game that can be played in virtual reality to fully immerse the player. MMO means that other players are also present in the world.

  RPG

  Role Playing Game. Any game where the player assumes the role of a character in that world, such as the role of a knight, or a merchant. In an RPG, the player integrates into the world, rather than observing impassively as an omnipotent being.

  VirtuNet

  The internet for Virtual Reality systems.

  Guild

  An organization that's created and run by players.

  PvP

  Player vs Player. Player against player combat, rather than player against the game.

  NPC

  Non-player-character. Any character in the game that isn't controlled by a real human.

  Skill

  A special move that allows the user to perform unique feats. A Flame Strike spell is a type of active skill that must be activated by the user to be used.

  DPS

  Damage per Second. The amount of damage to an opponent's health a character does.

  Tanking

  Soaking up damage. A tank acts as the frontline for a group, absorbing hits so that the more frail DPS classes can deal damage without getting hit.

  Questing

  Performing tasks for NPCs in game. Quests can be as minor as fetching water from the well, or as big as slaying th
e dragon that's been plaguing the kingdom and rescuing the princess.

  Endgame

  The activities performed at the end of the game, once a player is max level. Usually PvP focused, or involving massive quests that can alter the fate of entire kingdoms.

  IRL

  In Real Life. Actions performed outside of the game are actions that were done irl.

  PK

  Player killer. Someone who purposely kills other players for their own benefits.

  - Character Sheet -

  Eric Kingsley (Erick 'Kyp' Kystfyr)

  The protagonist.

  Griffin (Boreik)

  Eric's best friend.

  Mark (Bogs)

  Friend of Eric and Griffin, often acts as a leader.

  Jun-Ho (Shinvincible)

  Friend. Has a friendly(?) rivalry with Eric.

  Ryan (Nelo)

  Friend. A grade lower than Eric, Griffin, and Mark.

  Rob (Sweet_Temptation)

  Friend. Same grade as Ryan.

  Gio (OMGio)

  Friend of Ryan and Rob.

  Jaime (lolchar)

  Friend from another school. Same age as Eric, Griffin, and Mark. Mentioned but not introduced yet.

  In Game Only

  Eleanor

  FateGear Guide Fairy.

  Astrid

  Blond elf player. Eric met her in the tutorial. College-aged. Eric's first friend in game.

  Thomas Berro

  Half-orc. Runs a Tae Kwon Do school of provincial fame. In his 30's.

  Tamira

  Redhead spearwoman. Party leader of Alex and Kats' party.

  Alexnir

  Tall blonde sword-and-shield warrior. Party member of Tamira and Katzy.

  Katzy

  Diminutive brunette mage. Party member of Tamira and Alexnir.

  Seryllia

  Elven axe wielder. Uses flame magic and a large two handed axe. PKer.

  NPCs

  Firin

  Combat instructor in the tutorial. Very loud.

  Calyn

  Archery and Fishing instructor in the tutorial. Elven ranger.

  Arthal

  Mage of Cloudview Tower. Magic instructor in the tutorial.

  Flen Ironspear

  Chief of Tonbura village. Inducted Eric into the militia.

  Tom Smith

  Blacksmith of Tonbura village. Has a son named Tarn.

  Craig

  Fletcher of Tonbura village. Dark skinned.

  Alistair

  Militia captain of Tonbura village. A grizzled veteran.

  Owin

  A scout that Eric saved from an Elite wolf.

  Lucy Morningstar

  Mage of Tonbura Village.

  Maria

  Priestess of Tonbura Village.

  Burgess

  Halfling merchant of Tonbura Village.

  Real World Only

  Mirianne

  Classmate. Valedictorian.

  Kurt

  Classmate. Vice-President of the student council.

  Connor

  Classmate. Friend of Kurt's.

  Afterword

  -

  Thank you for reading Fate Online: Hero of Lichfrost. I hope you enjoyed reading it just as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please consider leaving a review if you liked the book. Every review helps new readers find the book, and encourages me to write even faster to get the next books done!

  Thanks for reading. And have a good one!

  - M. E. Robinson (Lighthouse)

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