Lewd Saga Omnibus: 7 Book Collection: An Epic Digital Fantasy Adventure of Lust, Love and War

by Eden Redd

  Jayson gave a grave nod.

  The paladin nodded and turned away, “Let’s start moving.”

  The party started to turn when Wynter spoke up.

  “What about coming back? We need that portal to get back to the kingdoms.”

  Thorrin turned his gaze over his shoulder to the necromancer, “What makes you think any of us are going to make it back? Slytha put us on a suicide mission.”

  Jayson looked to the paladin, “No she didn’t.”

  Thorrin stopped walking and faced the party, “She told us about the Sormir and how powerful they are. We can’t be the only ones looking to find out more about them. The war is pretty much at a standstill but it won’t stay that way. Whoever can find out more about the serpents, the more the tide of war will change. You’re right, we have to keep going and stick to the quest.”

  “What crawled up your ass,” Renner shot at the paladin.

  Thorrin’s brow made a hard V, “I’ve been in raids where everyone helps each other. All I see are a bunch of players not willing to pull together for the greater good. It’s obvious that this team doesn’t work. A real team considers all their members.”

  Thorrin eyed Renner and Vass, “You both decided to go sneaking around a lord’s castle for the fun of it, not considering the rest of us.”

  The paladin turned to Jayson, “And you made us stay another night, not considering the effect it may have on Lyra and myself. Our abilities have diminished the two nights we stayed here. On top of that, we were in a vampire lord’s castle, a vampire who swears to protect his people but stays behind his walls while a town under his protection burns.”

  Vass stepped forward, “Thorrin, we….”

  The paladin cut her off, “Save it. I’m going to soldier on but at this rate, our entire group of misfits is marching to a failed raid. I will do everything I can to help and protect but if we don’t pull it together then it’s over.”

  Jayson stepped toward Thorrin and stood in front of him, eye to eye, “You’re right. It was wrong to stay when it was having such an effect on you and Lyra. I’m sorry.”

  Thorrin’s brow eased up as his eyes looked away, “Jayson, you seem like a good guy. I understand how hard it is to do the right thing when there are so many wrong things going on around you. I have never been in this situation before where I couldn’t take down an undead and didn’t know it would have had such an effect. I thought this was a simple raid but the longer we’re here, the more difficult it seems. I will back you but I only ask to take all of us into consideration.”

  Thorrin turned to the party, “And we will look to you to lead us as one group.”

  Heads nodded in agreement.

  Jayson stuck out his hand, “I will.”

  Thorrin looked down at the knight’s outstretched hand and took it, giving it a shake, “We know you will.”

  Vass stepped closer as Jayson and Thorrin let go. The elf threw her arms around Thorrin’s neck and held him close.

  “I’m sorry little brother. I didn’t think it was bothering you so much,” Vass whispered to him.

  Thorrin hugged her back, “It’s okay. I’m just worried about you and I can’t help being protective of you and everyone here.”

  “You really are the best of our family,” Vass whispered.

  “We will make it through this. I know it’s just a game but it has become more than that,” Thorrin whispered.

  Vass pulled back and looked the handsome paladin in the eyes, “What do you mean?”

  Thorrin kept his blue eyes on the dark-haired elf, “I know about some of the NPC’s, waking up in the game. I have been keeping track of the rumors and…..I see it in Emma’s eyes.”

  “She’s one of them?” Vass said in a low voice.

  Thorrin nodded, “I think so. If we end this war, then maybe she will be safe a little longer. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been stressing this entire time. I’m glad she is not here but I want us to complete the quest and end this war.”

  “Can you two stop whispering to each other, we’re burning daylight!” Renner smiled.

  Vass let her arms drop to her sides as the paladin and elf gave each other one last comforting glance. Jayson eyed them and made out some of what they were saying, his heart twisting in his chest. He looked over to Oksuna and the troll smiled at him with a loving gaze.

  “Let’s get moving. We have to be at the mountain pass before nightfall,” Jayson said with a commanding flare.

  The party turned and followed the three knights as they led the way, Journey Road stretching out before them and a shadow city in the distance.

  ***

  Mist rolled down from the side of the mountains as the sun sank lower in the sky. The party moved with wide eyes toward the pointed shadows of the long dead city. Jayson lead the way as the party followed, eyes alert for anything. The mist was knee deep and sometimes along the side of the road, the mist would bubble up and settled down as if something was moving just below the surface. The wide road stretched out before them as mist swirled around their boots as they walked. The chill in the air seeped deeper into their bones. Kai sniffed at the air and wrinkled his nose; the stench of death was everywhere.

  Jayson kept his eyes forward as they walked. No one spoke as the mountains blocked out part of the sun. Shadows loomed from peaks, covering the city and well into the road. The party had just crossed from the light into the dark and the chill dug deeper into their spirits.

  White stalks and something grotesque appeared amid the mist. Jayson stopped and a moment later so did the party. Hands on weapons, the party tightened their ranks and stepped closer, ready to take on anything ahead of them. Hearts thudded as they walked toward something as it looked at them from the road. The closer they stepped, the bigger it became. It was still as mist flowed around it. Jayson’s eyes adjusted and he eased his hand off the pommel of one of his swords.

  A large skull lay on the road, the biggest skull Jayson had ever seen. Party members moved up to get a better look and eyes widened. The skull’s mouth was open and almost acted like a tunnel. Beyond it was a skeleton, ribs poking up from the ground and a spine still intact just beyond the gaping mouth. Jayson looked to the left and right, thinking he was seeing white stones. Instead he could see they were actually the boney remains of hands and arms, just above the misty floor. Looking back to the skull, Jayson couldn’t stop the shiver as dark hollowed out eyes seemed to gaze down on him.

  “That looks like a giant,” Lance said at Jayson’s side, “a long dead one.”

  “I didn’t know there were giants in the game?” Sonja added.

  “I just hope this doesn’t mean we are going to run into any live ones. Let’s keep moving. The sun is getting lower and we still have to go through the city.”

  Jayson stepped forward, keeping his eyes on the ancient dead giant. The party moved through the open mouth and under the spine. The weathered white bone almost glowed in the darkening sky. Each rib bone was thicker than a person and more than one party member felt a chill as they walked through the remains. When they passed hip bones, they walked along giant femurs on the right and left side of the road.

  Jayson thought he would have felt relief but as soon as they cleared the feet, another giant skull loomed into view. This time the party turned their walk into a steady jog, trying to get past the second one as quickly as possible. It was Lunatina who stopped and ran a gloved hand down the sides of one of the ribs. Sardyna looked back to see the jester take out a small leather pouch and knife. She shaved down along the side, getting a piece of bone and then another. When she had a few shavings, she placed them in the pouch and put it away. With a smile, she turned back to the road and skipped along.

  Sardyna walked up to the happy jester and eyed her, “What was that about?”

  “I never knew there were giants. I could use pieces of their bones for my experiments,” Lunatina said with a smile.

  Sardyna returned the smile, “You have been very happy a
ll day.”

  The jester looked forward as she skipped, “Wouldn’t you if you knew you weren’t going to die.”

  Sardyna’s ear stood up in a questioning manner but the jester continued her skipping without a care in the world.

  Jogging past the skeletal feet of the last dead giant, the party resumed their normal pace, eyes on the crumbling spires of Nekross. The shadows from the mountains covered the strange dead city. Crumbling towers came into view and mist billowed along the ground. Cracks rose up along decaying towers and buildings. The party stepped closer until they reached the edge of the city and stood there, eyeing it like it was a sleeping bear.

  Wynter’s eyes fluttered and her body swayed. Kai was to her side and she took hold of his shoulder, steadying herself.

  “I can sense them, all of them,” The necromancer said calmly.

  “How many?” Jayson asked, never taking his eyes off the city.

  “Too many to count, thousands, maybe tens of thousands,” Wynter said as she stood on her own, pushing away the siren call of the dead.

  Jayson pulled up an inventory screen and cycled through to the bottom. Tapping on the Lantern of Thunn, it appeared in his hand. A light began to glow from the simple rune covered lantern and grow brighter with each passing second. Jayson held it up and looked out to the broken city, then to the right and left side of the road. Shadows moved and a cold breeze washed over every party member. Mist swirled and then fell to a white blanket across the ruins and the road. Ancient buildings with odd designs stood up against the mountain backdrop. Jayson could see many broken statues along the sides and the player wondered if the city had focused on art.

  “Thorrin, you’re up,” Jayson said as he moved the lantern from left to right, its glow illuminating some buildings at the edge.

  The paladin stepped closer, his skin crawling. He didn’t even have to cast his Detect Dead ability because the place was an ocean of darkness. The tall blonde paladin reached out and took hold of the lantern. As soon as he touched it, its light brightened. Jayson let go and stood back as Thorrin stepped to the edge, the white light pushing away the darkness. It was then when they saw movement.

  Bone white skulls appeared for a moment before falling back to the safety of shadows. Some skulls were bare while others wore old rusty helmets. Metal clanked as things moved among the ruins, stepping back from the holy light.

  Jayson turned to the group, “We keep a tight formation around Thorrin and stay in the light. We can’t afford to have anyone snatched away. Draw your weapons and be at the ready. If they have archers, protect the lantern. Something tells me if that light goes out, they are going to attack all at once,”

  The sound of swords and daggers unsheathing caused the ruins to move like a living thing. Shadows and light clashed as the dead prowled as close as they could stand. Hollowed eyes looked down or across to the party as they gathered at the edge. Jayson took point with Sonja to his right and Lance to his left. Thorrin stood behind Jayson, holding the lantern up. The rogues took position behind the paladin as Lyra and Kai took up the rear. The concubines moved around, encircling the players in a protective formation.

  Jayson turned his head to see Oksuna at the edge, her eyes alert and sword in hand, “Oksuna, stand behind Thorrin.”

  The troll ignored her lord as she stood on the outer edge, next to Sonja.

  Jayson’s heart thudded as he said “Oksuna” again but she didn’t budge, watching the dead as they tried to hide from the light.

  “Sun’s going down,” Renner said with a touch of urgency.

  Jayson let out a deep exhale as he turned to the sky. The sun was setting. They had a little over an hour before it was behind the horizon. If they were going to survive then they had to move now.

  Jayson squared his shoulders, a short sword in each hand. Without ceremony, he stepped forward with one step and then another. The party moved as a tight ball down the middle of the wide road. A creak of metal or the occasional falling stone caused nerves to tighten as did virtual muscles. Eyes darted from side to side as they walked. A skeleton in cracked armor stepped from the side of the road and hissed as the edge of the light touched it. It quickly stumbled back to the safety of darkness.

  From the higher parts of the ruins, ghostly women floated from dark windows. Their hair was wild and their faces sunken in as they floated above the group, just beyond the touch of lantern light. Their shapes added to the gloom as they filled the sky, the light of the setting sun above them and the shadows of mountains keeping them safe.

  An arrow whistled by and clanked against a broken wall. The group turned to see a skeleton with an arrow notched, looking down at them indifferently. Kai had his bow in hand and pulled back his bowstring when a small laugh echoed through the ruins.

  The group continued to march, not wanting to slow down for anything but more skeletons appeared in tall buildings, bow strings pulled back and arrows pointed down at them. Jayson wondered why they were hesitating. Preparing his techniques, he readied himself to take down anything they would throw at them.

  “Visitors…..how interesting….” A voice bounced along the ruins in a sardonic tone.

  “Keep moving,” Jayson ordered as they marched.

  “You are all too well armed to be from that simple town. Tell me, what brings you to the dead city of Nekross?”

  Jayson gritted his teeth as they pushed on. The mountains loomed closer. Jayson could see they were already halfway across the city and getting closer.

  “Strong silent types, how amusing,” The voice said and a giggling laugh filled the city.

  The party moved as Thorrin held up the lantern. The white light worked well pushing back the skeletons and ghosts as the group pressed on.

  From a tall decayed tower, a figure stepped into view from a jagged hole along the side. Eyes looked down at the party as they moved along, the lantern keeping the undead at bay. Jayson looked up to see the thin figure and took in its features.

  Long white hair was twisted together into a thick braid. High cheek bones and almond shaped eyes stared down at the group. The body was slender and even in the growing darkness; Jayson could make out hips and a small chest. The knight kept his gaze as he narrowed his eyes, thinking the shadows were playing with him.

  “What brings you to my home,” The figure asked with a leer.

  “Just passing through,” Jayson shouted back as they continued.

  The figure crossed their arms, “You won’t get very far. Stay a while and tell me of your journey. Perhaps I can help.”

  “No thank you,” Jayson said with a hard edge.

  The figure tapped a finger against their arm, “You have been speaking to Drakkus Thorne. What lies has he spoken of? What mistruths has he infected your minds with? I promise to not take it personally.”

  “Enough to know that you talking to us is a waste of time,” Jayson said with a bitter tone.

  The figure stepped closer to the edge, “He told you my name.”

  The group ignored the figure as they walked.

  “He told you how I treated him and then cast him out because he bored me.”

  Eyes in the party glanced to Jayson but the knight stayed steadfast in his pace.

  Renner gave the figure a hard gaze as they walked before opening his mouth, “I thought all the Dread Lords were male?”

  The figure’s evil smile melted away and brow pointed, “I am a male.”

  Renner’s mouth broadened into a toothy smile, “You have to be the prettiest male I have ever seen.”

  The party looked up and then murmured their agreement. The figure’s mouth twisted into a grimace and eyes shot daggers at the rogue.

  “I am Dread Lord Riktess Grimm and you would do well to show respect in my lands!”

  Renner turned his attention to the group, “Dread Lord looks like a lady.”

  Vass was first to laugh but a light chuckle filled the ranks of their party.

  Riktess glared down at the party as
they walked along, “You fools will learn what it means to kneel for eternity.”

  “Are you a trap?” Renner shouted to the dread lord.

  Riktess raised an eyebrow, “What?”

  Renner cupped his hands, “ARE YOU A TRAP?”

  The dread lord remained silent as the rogues chuckled.

  Renner continued, “You know, a trap? A man who looks like a woman? You entice them to bed and then spring the trap with your cock. Not my thing but I have a few friends that would love your company.”

  The group chuckled a little more as the dread lord’s dainty hands balled into fists at his sides. Jayson tried to keep his serious expression but the edges of his mouth wouldn’t stay down and instead curled upwards into a smile. Wynter tried to hide her smile with her hand. Sonja and Lance’s shoulders shook as they tried not to laugh. The concubines looked on confused. Kai smirked as did the orc, Rekt. Thorrin tried to hide his smile and failed as Lyra looked away with a smirk.

  Riktess’ rage seemed to pass as his mouth once again turned into a knowing smile, “You don’t know what waits for you beyond the city. You seek the Serpent Throne.”

  The laughing silenced and smiles disappeared.

  The dread lord continued, “I have seen it with my own eyes. It pulses with power and grants wishes if someone is brave enough to sit on it. Too bad you will not make it past the mountain pass.”

  The group moved on as Riktess kept his gaze steady, “There is a reason there is a mountain range here. A door waits for you in the pass. Many have tried and all have failed; the secrets to unlocking it long dead.”

  The dread lord raised his hands and spread them out as he spoke, “Fortunate for all of you, I am a master of the dead. I have ferried out the very secrets you seek. I don’t expect any of you to survive but I would enjoy the company before you become my slaves. Leave one of your party here to entertain me and I will give you the secret.”

  “Fuck that,” Jayson, Lance, Sonja and Thorrin said at the same time.

  Riktess lowered his thin arms, his dark outfit making him look like a white head and hands floating in the air.