by Jez Cajiao
Then it began. At first, it was a low rumble as a few started to say the words quietly, almost hesitantly, as though unsure they were doing it wrong. Then more joined them, and more.
Soon the clearing rang with the sounds, echoing down from the circling ships, and I felt the impending cost building further.
“I swear to obey Lord Jax and those he places over me; I will serve to the best of my ability, speak no lie to him when commanded otherwise, and treat all other citizens as family.
I will work for the greater good, being a shield to those that need it, a sword to those that deserve it, and a warden to the night.
“I will stand with my family, helping one another to reach the light, until the hour of my death or my Lord releases me from my oath.
“Lastly, I will not be a dick!”
“I, Lord Jax, do swear to protect and lead you, to be the shield that protects you and yours from the darkness, and the sword that avenges that which cannot be saved. As the Tower grows in strength, so shall you,” I called out, forcing myself to not sway as the last of my mana reserves bottomed out and my health started draining instead. It was nearly over, I knew, and I couldn’t afford to waste more potions. I’d used three Greater potions already, leaving me with only one of that caliber. I didn’t even know if Arrin had any, and we’d surely need them down below.
Several more seconds passed, the last voices dying away, and I felt the change in the air as almost six hundred people swore to follow me.
“Thank you all!” I called out to them. “Those who chose not to swear, please make your way forward to a Legionnaire and inform them, and they will make arrangements for you to be guided to a village.” With that, I turned away from the edge, moving slowly as I felt the drain finally stop, and my mana started to regenerate, along with my health.
“How many?” I asked Oracle, and she smiled.
“Just under six hundred took the Oath. I didn’t push it to the Legionnaires, as they already swore the Imperial Oath, as did Horkesh and her spiders.”
“Horkesh? Shit, I’d forgotten about her.” I grimaced, shaking my head at my poor memory. “Where…?” I immediately looked up and began searching the ships, until I found one on the outer edge, slowly circling. The hull was made of dark wood, or at least stained so badly that it looked dark, and as I watched, a spider clambered across one side of the hull and vanished over the top onto the deck. The ship trailed something as it went, and I frowned until I realized what it was… webs.
The entire ship was coated in them, and the spiders happily moved to and fro all over the ship.
“Uh, the crew of that ship...” I asked cautiously, and Mal spoke up.
“That’s the ‘Star’s Glory’, Bateman’s ship, if you remember that asshole? Turns out he was tryin’ to save money by not allowin’ his crew shore-leave, so when Horkesh and her pack took the ship, they got seven of the crew, the old captain included. The passengers, or former slaves, have been learnin’ to fly her, and seem happy to be with Horkesh, as it mighta been us that arranged it all, but it was her and her pack that freed ’em.”
“That’s a relief,” I said, exhaling shakily. “I’d never want to be on a ship full of them, myself…”
“You and me both,” Mal said with feeling.
“Jax…” Oracle interjected, and I turned to face her. “There were twelve that refused the Oath… not including Bateman and his crew; as slavers, I didn’t offer it to them.”
“Right?” I said, frowning and peering over the side. “I don’t see anyone talking to the Legionnaires, though…” I realized slowly as the group dispersed.
“I’ll make a note of any that come forward,” Romanus said. “Hopefully, they’re just waiting until there are fewer people to see them.”
“Hopefully,” I agreed, a sudden sinking feeling in my stomach.
“Jax, we can’t do anything here, not without unlimited mana. Once we’re back at the Tower, if they haven’t come forward, I’ll come up with a way to find them, and we can check it out to see what the problem was, okay?” Oracle reassured me, and I nodded in acceptance, relaxing slightly.
“Thanks, Oracle. Okay, where are we with the camps?” I asked Romanus.
“I’ve dispatched forty Legionnaires to each camp; they’re on their way already. Each team has orders to take command of the camps, secure anything and everything, and capture the ships. Both teams are led by a Primus, and they are under strict instructions to avoid casualties in the civilians, and to kill every last man who raises a weapon to us. The soldiers are to be given the chance to surrender. If they don’t… that’s their choice to make,” he finished calmly.
“Good enough for me,” I said flatly. “Do we have many spare potions?” Romanus nodded in affirmation. “We can find some. Which ones do you need?”
“Mana, mainly; a half dozen or so, if they’re not needed, and a few Health and Stamina? Ideally, I’d like my team to have two each of Stamina and Health, with myself and Arrin, and Yen, actually, carrying half a dozen mana each, if you can spare them.”
We’ll sort it,” was all he said as we crossed the deck and headed down into the ship again. As we passed a pair of Golems that were adding in sections of decking to the upper levels, I paused and watched them for a moment.
“How large are the entrances to the Sunken City?” I asked hopefully.
“Not large enough, unfortunately,” Romanus said, understanding my line of thought immediately. “The centuries of seawater and storms, combined with the growth of the plants, has resulted in increasingly small entrances, and while we could make them bigger, to make even one large enough for the Golems would take several days.”
“Damn, and that’d be several days of the Golems NOT working on the ship. Fair enough. Shame, though,” I said, having indulged in a momentary mental picture of me strolling casually through the ruins below, with the Golems clearing the way.
“It was something I considered as soon as you had stated that you wanted to explore the ruins, Jax. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. I did consider having Augustus take them along to the camps, but in all honesty, the difference they make to the ship’s construction here is immense, and considering that I need Augustus to remain with me here in order to direct them, I made the decision that it was best not to create an opening large enough.”
“That’s fine,” I said, nodding my acceptance. I’d have sent the Golems to the camps, personally, rather than risking the deaths of our people, but Romanus knew his men better than I did, and I accepted that. Besides, a single mis-phrased order could have disastrous consequences, and I really didn’t want to risk that. I thought back to the sight of the Golem literally ripping the arms off a troll and beating it to death ‘with the wet ends,’ as per an idle order I’d given, and I shook my head in fond remembrance of the goblin slaughter.
For now, until we had either a truly sentient Golem to command them, or Oracle and I were managing it together, I wanted them to perform basic tasks. Once we were back at the Tower and Heph or Seneschal could take over their direct control, that might change, but for now, simple laborers were more valuable.
Especially ones that could lift the equivalent of a car and hold it in place without complaint while skilled workers secured it.
I was directed through the ship, working my way down to the gangplank and out onto the clearing, where we paused our conversation as we joined my team.
“Be careful, Lord Jax,” Romanus said gruffly. “I know that you need to grow, that you need the experience that only battle can give you, and that, in this case, only you and your companion know truly what you are looking for, but remember: without you, the Empire falls apart, as do our lives.”
“I will, Romanus. But the Empire doesn’t fall if a single man does. You would need to take over in the Tower and look after our people, until you can find someone to rule in my place.”
“I couldn’t…” he said, aghast.
“You are in charge when I’m gone,�
�� I said firmly. “I have a council in place in the Tower already. If I die, you are to lead the people there and secure it, protect them, and keep the Empire alive. That’s an order, Romanus. I might not have known you long, but I trust you, and I know Augustus, and he and the rest of the Legion trust you. They’ll be needed.”
“I will look after things until you return,” Romanus said slowly. “But I cannot lead the Empire, Jax. I’m a Legionnaire, which means I follow and I protect. I do not lead. Please, choose another.”
“Then that’s something we need to discuss later, but for now, you’re in charge,” I insisted firmly before turning to the rest of my team.
Lydia, Jian, Arrin, Stephanos, and Miren stood waiting calmly. Bane moved around from behind me to lean against a pile of boxes, and Grizz, Tang, and Yen moved in closer from where they’d been standing, still talking quietly. As the others faded back and returned to the ship to carry out their duties, I looked around the small group and smiled.
“Well… who’s ready for an adventure?” I asked them.
Chapter Twelve
There were grins all around as the team got ready, and I checked my gear as well. In addition to the new Legion armor, I carried, of course, my naginata. The shield I’d looted from one of the Twins was secured by a convenient armor hook, covering my two back-sheathed silvery Drow short swords. As if those weren’t going to be enough, I had also equipped a dagger on my right hip and one strapped to my left ankle. My razorwire belt had yet to be repaired, so instead, it was looped up and stowed away in my Bag of Spatial Folding. As I checked myself over one last time, I decided that it should be enough.
Everyone else was doing the same, Miren and Stephanos were with Yen and Tang, checking their bows, arrows and generally going over their equipment, swapping spare bowstrings and so on, Jian and Bane were checking their weapons and making sure their blades were sharp, while Grizz checked my armor, Lydia’s, and his own. Arrin was packing mana potions away into his pockets and bag as fast as Legionnaires could hand them over.
After a few more minutes, we were all set, and I turned to where my escort stood next to the ship.
“Well, thanks for your help, Legionnaires,” I said, smiling appreciatively at them. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Sir, we could help further, join you down there…” one offered, but I shook my head.
“No; there are dozens of entrances into the city, and we need to cover as many as possible. Report to your Primus, and he will assign you a position.” I was tempted; I mean, honestly, I was very tempted. These were professional warriors and monster hunters; of course I wanted them to go with us, but the simple truth was that we needed to level, and they’d slow that considerably. I returned their salutes and dismissed them, turning back to where the team stood ready. “I guess it’s time, then,” I said, leading the way across the sodden, muddy grass to an entrance Romanus had pointed out earlier, flanked by its four Legionnaire guards.
The surface was dotted with openings, indicated by grassy mounds and caves, shallow pits and holes, all leading down into the lower levels. The Prax’s upper levels had once been a mixture of garden and marshalling areas, with the occasional structure to break it up. Now it was a grassy tree-covered island, and here and there, it led up or down at odd angles where floors had collapsed into the level below, or buildings had fallen into rubble.
I nodded to the guards, and they saluted, stepping aside as we filed inside the grassy mound.
Bane went first, followed by Tang. I went next ducking inside the dilapidated opening, followed by Arrin, Miren, Jian, and Stephanos, with Yen and Grizz bringing up the rear. I couldn’t help gazing around as we progressed further into the City, and I wondered at the way the entrance was formed. It really did give the whole ‘spooky cave system’ concept a run for its money.
The passage was misshapen and narrow. The torn metal that had once been a perfectly crafted part of the city was now a sagging, jagged, sharp, heavily overgrown and partially collapsed cave entrance and tunnel instead.
I could hear a constant trickle of water coming from somewhere overhead as it ran down one wall, and if not for my memories and knowing better, I’d have sworn it was a natural cave.
My DarkVision activated as soon as I’d gone a handful of feet, and the others either activated abilities they had, in the case of Tang and Yen, or attached small magelights to their armor in special holding slots to help them see. The ground was covered with mud and rubble, as were the walls, with fungus and moss creeping up a significant portion of the right side, fighting for primacy. On the left, the signs of something squeezing through and accidentally clearing the gunk off were obvious.
We moved forward slowly until we came to a second choke point in the tunnel, and we had to drop down onto our knees to crawl through. I could hear the disgruntled mutters of my people as the stinking muck squelched its way around their armor and into their clothes.
I sniffed one hand as I paused behind Tang and shook my head, grimacing and hoping it was just rust and muck. Whatever coated the tunnel floor smelled foul. I had visions of generations of animals using it as a toilet and tried not to retch. After a few seconds, Tang started moving again, and a dozen yards further on, the tunnel opened up slightly, allowing us to climb to our feet again.
This became the norm for at least an hour, working our way through to find collapsed sections and maneuvering our way around until we’d reach the next gap wide enough for us to move on. Sometimes we’d find signs of smaller creatures, or of the passage of other adventurers, and occasionally, we’d come across the tracks of something larger, but mainly, it was just us, in the dark, with the stinking muck.
We finally approached a fallen area of tunnel that was almost totally impassible. We had started to consider going back to the surface and trying to find another route, when Bane ‘sensed’ a hidden area.
A thin slab of steel had been placed across a section that looked for all the world like the rest of the tunnel, and behind it was a trail that led deeper into the city. Unfortunately, the overhead clearance was low enough that we all had to crawl again for a while, but as we went, we gradually noted less and less depth to the muck, and we started to hope that we had truly found a way forward.
We paused once we were all through, as the next cavern was more regular in shape, clearly delineated, if filth covered. Walls and a ceiling defined the space, with two other doors leading out. The first, on the left, was choked with debris and mud. Established roots were obvious as we looked it over and quickly dismissed it. The only sign that it had ever been a doorway was the rectangular lintel, the rest of it was so covered and buried.
We moved to investigate the far door, finding that it was open, more or less intact, and the opening was clear even beyond the frame, but here and there, in the filthy corridor beyond, clear marks had been left behind. The most distinct were boot prints and a smeared trail, as though something heavy had been dragged along recently.
We followed cautiously, due in part to having nowhere else to go, and eased our way through the next two rooms. The walls, floors, and ceilings gradually changed as we headed further into the depths. It hadn’t been apparent as much from above, mainly because over time, everything had built up, but inside, the slope of the city was clear. It was angled downward at about a ten-degree slant, and soon, it became a case of struggling to stay upright as much as continuing forward.
With each new room we entered, the general mulch from outside grew less and less, until the walls were consistently steel, the floors solid and dark, and the air was stale, as though it rarely moved.
We entered a corridor that culminated in a small square room, and finally found the thing we’d been tracking. The room was barely five meters to a side, square, with a sagging roof and light that glimmered weakly up from the far end.
Bane grabbed my arm, then whispered very quietly into my ear to look at the top right corner. I followed his verbal direction, and there, at the far end, perched a
creature the size of a child, gazing downwards.
It was clearly reptilian in nature, with a well-developed humanoid upper body and a long, scaly tail. Its blunt, triangular face was angled downwards and illuminated from below as it hissed to itself, watching something travelling along beneath it.
I frowned, then realized what it must be watching, judging from the growing light and the rising noise from below.
It was another party. I had no idea if it was ours or from one of the camps, but I couldn’t allow this creature to get the drop on them. I looked to my archers, who were all waiting for a signal from me, and I nodded to be ready before fixing my gaze back on the creature and using my spell to ‘Examine’ it.
Critical success! Your opponent is unaware of being observed and has no defense against your ability.
Naga Fiend
The naga as a species are not inherently evil, but their lack of compunction regarding killing, the pleasure they take in eating raw meat, and their choice to regard all that lives as food, have resulted in in them being labeled as such by most sentient races.
Distantly related to the Merrow, the Naga’s Deepwater cousins, these Naga are split into three ‘Castes,’ of which this ‘Fiend’ is considered the lowest, both in mental capacity and strength. Its caste is most often used for advance scouts and general soldiers.
Weaknesses: Fire, Earth, and Life magics do 50% more damage.
Resistances: Water, Darkness, or Death magics used against this creature suffer a 25% damage penalty.
Critical Weaknesses: Neck, Eyes, Liver, Lungs.
Level:7
HP: 90
Stamina: 40/40
Mana: 0/0
“Kill it,” I said abruptly, and the air was suddenly alive with first the creaks of bows being drawn back, and then the ‘thwack’ of the strings slamming forward. The juvenile Naga jerked backwards from its attempt at hiding and was slammed into the back wall, three arrows protruding from its chest.
