by Eden Redd
Jayson stepped over to the dryad and put his arm around her shoulder, “Petal, are you okay with this?”
The dryad nodded, “I am my lord. I live to serve and protect.”
Jayson nodded, “We all will do the same for you.”
The concubine let out a long sigh, “I will miss Oksuna. She is special.”
Jayson gave a kind smile and pulled away. Turning, he walked to the pink haired troll as she sat on the ancient throne. Emotions spiraled deep within but his love cast a calm he never felt before. Oksuna stared at nothing, white eyes lost to the hive mind of the Sormir.
The knight knelt down before the troll, shadows covering his eyes, “Oksuna, I love you. I will always love you. No matter what happens, I will be there for you.”
The knight stood up and gazed into her perfect face. The player committed every line, color and curve to memory. Savoring her beauty, his shoulders relaxed and he couldn’t fight the tear forming at the corner of one of his eyes. With one last look, he turned away and marched to the group.
“We’re ready,” Lance said with a small smile.
Jayson looked to Lance and Sonja with a heavy heart. Thorrin and Lyra stood at the ready. Wynter, Kai and Rekt were next to the paladin and cleric with a soothing calm expression. Some concubines stood, ready to fight. Dalya eyed her lord and gave him a wide smile. Renner and Vass were nowhere to be seen. Petal turned from the sun, half of it behind the watery horizon. The concubine stood by her lord’s side as she put on a robe and pulled up the hood.
“No more speeches,” Jayson smiled. “Just hit them with everything we’ve got. They won’t give us an inch and we will return the favor.”
The party nodded. Silently everyone turned and moved into formation. Jayson took point with Dalya by his side. Wynter stood behind the knight. Behind her, Rekt and Kai stood. Lance and Sonja took their positions while concubines made lines to either side of them, Kell at his lady’s side. Thorrin was next with Lyra and Lunatina behind him. Luk and Balog took the rear.
Jayson took one glance back before turning back to the white bridge, took one step forward and then another. The party marched, no one looking back at Oksuna as she sat, her ghostly eyes staring at them and a tear forming. Determination painted their brows as they marched forward along the bridge, eyes drinking in the small stairway pass and the trolls lining each side along the cliffs. The sun dipped lower, the sky darkening and a silence flowing over the land like a dying whisper. Hearts beat as one as they marched closer to the small pass.
Trolls pulled back strings on bows, their dark eyes on the marching party. No muscle moved as they waited like thick statues. Stepping off the bridge, Jayson looked up the small stairwell to see trolls in heavy armor waiting at the halfway point, before them stood a man in black heavy armor. His hair was a little wild as sideburns framed his pale face. Half-closed eyes and a smug smirk peered down as he held a double-bladed battle axe, red runes glowing against the black blades. Each booted foot was on a different step as his smile grew broader and the party began their slow ascent up the stone steps.
Jayson took each step, looking up to the right and left. A line of trolls on each side pointed their arrows at the group, the setting sun causing their blue bodies to glow. A glimmer shined off arrow points as Jayson turned his eyes forward to the dread lord.
Mad Morgan took a step down, holding his battle axe sideways across his thighs, “Contrary to what I wish to do, my master has sent me to ask you one final time, hand over the star and you may walk away…unharmed.”
Jayson stared at the dread lord and the trolls lining up in two rows behind him, “I do have an answer for you……..” Jayson took a deep breath, “…SHEILDS!”
Mad Morgan’s smile twisted into an insane grin as shields appeared on arms and lifted up. Trolls let arrows loose just as shields rose overhead and clanked against one another to create a river of metal. The trolls moved with liquid accuracy as they drew new arrows, notched them and let them fly. The party remained calm as some moved under the shields, taking up new positions. Mad Morgan hefted up his battle axe and charged down the stairs with wild eyes. Jayson was at the front, shield up but not over his head. A cloaked figure moved to his side, raising up green hands. The dread lord barreled down, closing the distance in seconds and raising his battle axe into the air. Maddening urges pushed the dread lord, ignoring the green hands as they moved together with leaves along the forearms spreading open. Yellow energy bloomed as the dread lord laughed with manic glee, bringing his axe down hard.
“Sun Cannon,” Petal whispered and a burst of yellow energy surged and fired just as Jayson pushed up his shield and knocked away the incoming axe swing.
Mad Morgan was pulling back his axe as a wide pulse of energy slammed into his body. The black armored dread lord was lifted up and blasted a hundred feet in the air, his eyes turning to surprise. Energy blasted his armor and cracked it as his body hurtled upwards like a comet. Gritting his teeth, he twisted his body and was thrown from the stream, spiraling through the sky and landing amid the troll soldiers.
Petal pointed her sun cannon back down to the stair well as trolls rushed down to meet the party head on. Light crashed into them, cracking their bodies and shattering them to light a pair at a time. They pushed on to their deaths as light shattered them to pieces until it roared past, scorching the white steps to the very top.
Jayson pulled back his shield as one hand touched a red crystal on his belt. Arrows rained down as the air vibrated and a two-headed hydra stood under the covered ranks. Dalya pulled her shield aside as Kara and Nara lifted their heads up, each facing a side of the pass. Behind the hydra, Wynter continued her incantations with soul shards in her hand and staff held close. Rekt and Kai held shields over the necromancer as she continued her arcane work.
Kara and Nara looked up as trolls pulled arrows from quivers. Their mouths opened and lighting blasted upwards. Trolls pulled back on bowstrings as their bodies were cut in half by unrelenting lightning. The hydra took an arrow to the shoulder but didn’t hold back as lighting sliced and blasted any troll along the pass edge. As trolls shattered to light, new ones took their place and were immediately cut down.
“Forward!” Jayson shouted as he braced himself behind his shield and began marching.
The armored party moved slowly, shields up and nerves calm. Kara and Nara continued to shout lightning streams, blasting away as before until several arrows struck them. Wynter whispered the final words to her incantation and soul shards blazed with dark light before fading away. Arcane circles appeared before Jayson as he marched forward with Petal and Dalya by his side. Spectral knights rose up from the arcane circles with ghostly swords drawn. When the circles died, six shadow knights formed into a triangle and marched up the stairs.
Trolls rushed the top of the stairs like a flood. Ghostly swords up, arrows bounced off their armor as the flood of trolls streamed down the stairs and clashed. Jayson watched as shadow knights cut through the troll ranks and maintained formation. The party slowed but they still made progress with each step up. The trolls rained down hammers and swords but the shadow knights sliced and cut upwards, opening up the thick blue bodies before they shattered into greenish light.
The clang of arrows and swords sang on as the party moved against the tide. Jayson kept his cool as he looked through an armored slit to see the shadow knight reach the top of the small pass and onto even ground. The hydra continued her assault as several more arrows sank into her flesh. Sonja reached up to the hydra with one hand while holding a shield up with the other. The knight pulled arrows from the partially protected concubine as she continued to fire lightning bolt after lightning bolt. Lyra cast healing on the hydra while Thorrin held his shield over her.
Jayson pushed on until they reached the top of the stairs. Shadow knights spread out as they grabbed a toe hold past the stairs. The knight joined their side as the arrows stopped. Bringing his shield down, the knight stared out and took in a deep inhal
e at the sight before him.
Trolls lined the right and left, weapons drawn and steadily moving in. In front of the knight, rows of undead soldiers spread out, covering the flat land. Hollow eye sockets sent a chill through the knight as they bended at the knees and began their march toward them. As if on cue, two bonfires quickly lit as the last of the sun’s rays disappeared behind the horizon. Flames leapt into the air as darkness shrouded the heavens and stars twinkled into existence.
Glancing up from the rows of undead soldiers, the light of the bonfires illuminated two large objects in the distance. Jayson’s eyes adjusted and anxiety stabbed at his heart. The mountain pass stood, the metal wall once there was ripped asunder and on each side of the pass, two giant skeletons stood. They were about two hundred feet tall, dark sockets looking out over the battle. Jayson remembered the fallen giant skeletons on the road as they approached the undead city of Nekross and now they stood, ready for battle. On a small cliff to the left of one of them, Kurss, Harkkon and Riktess stood, watching the battle with amused smiles.
The rest of the party was moving up the pass, taking their places to either side of Jayson. The arrows stopped and the sound of steel being drawn filled the air. Kara and Nara walked forward, each head eyeing the armies to the front, left and right. Lance moved up, his rapier drawn and Shatter Light against his back. Sonja moved up with sword drawn. Kai had his bow in hand, arrow notched. Wynter held her staff at the ready and soul shards in her hand. The shadow knights readied themselves as the enemy armies moved in closer. Dalya twirled her fire staff before holding it before her, each end blazing with fire. Thorrin stood tall, hammer in hand. Lyra stood at his side, mace in one hand and her other hand glowing with healing light. Concubines stood at the ready as Kell whispered incantations.
Kurss stepped forward to the small cliff edge, his voice blanketing the area, “Valiant attempt but as you can see, you are hopelessly outnumbered. You have merely slowed your death. There will be no mercy. Our victory is assured.”
Jayson bent his knees and swiped his shield back into his inventory. Hands reaching up, he took hold of each short sword and drew them. Holding them before him, he looked past the endless rows of undead to the master and dread lords on the other side of the battlefield. Trolls and armored skeletons moved with caution, stepping closer and closer to the party.
“Is everyone ready,” Jayson asked out the side of his mouth.
“We are,” said several players and concubines.
“Whatever happens, we push through to the mountain pass,” Jayson said through gritted teeth.
Kurss looked down as his forces inched closer to Jayson and his party, “Bring me the Star of the Sormir.”
The troll and undead hordes picked up their pace, their forces turning into a full-on charge.
Shields faded from view and the party braced themselves as screams hurtled at them, calling for their blood.
***
Renner looked up as the two Nalik lizard women as they scaled over the edge of the cliff. Before they made it over, his eyes looked to their toned bottoms and skin tight black suits. Vass looked over at him, her fingers holding onto outcropping stones, and kicked him with her foot.
The rogue turned to her and smiled, “What’s wrong baby?”
“Focus,” Vass sneered as she scaled the cliff wall past him.
“I’m always focused,” The rogue said as he moved up.
A lizard woman peered over the side of the cliff and reached down with a scaled hand. Renner took it as she helped him up over the edge and onto the cliff.
“The battle has started. We have to move,” one of the lizard women hissed and pulled a crossbow slung against her back.
The two naliks moved forward, their bodies practically shadows. Renner continued to eye their figures as they stayed low, moving with purpose. Vass was by Renner’s side with a crossbow in hand. The four moved across the terrain easily, eyes looking ahead to see the large crowds moving like a black monster in the night. Two bonfires rose up to illuminate the battlefield as the clash of weapons rang out.
“I was never into lizard women but Jayson’s concubines have a certain je ne sais quoi about them,” Renner said as he watched one of their asses move like a caged tiger.
“When we make it out of this, I’m going to punish you,” Vass hissed.
Renner’s grin broadened, “Punish me baby, punish me.”
The four rogues slowed down as they approached the troll army. The trolls had their backs to them, bodies ready to join in the battle. When they were within two hundred yards, the four shadows knelt down, crossbows in hand.
Renner put his crossbow down and pulled out a quiver of crossbow bolts. Taking hold of a bunch at a time, he handed ten bolts to each of the lizard women and another ten to Vass.
“I only have forty so that’s ten shots apiece. Use every one and then we retreat to the cliffs,” Renner whispered.
“We will not leave our lord,” one of the naliks hissed.
“Alright then, Vass and I will retreat to the cliffs,”
Vass shook her head, “We can’t run.”
Renner’s mouth twisted into a grimace, “This is going to be a blood bath. We’re rogues. We’re not built for mass combat. Better to retreat and see if we can help later.”
“We’re not leaving and neither are you,” Vass said with a harsh whisper.
“Vass…” Renner began.
The elven rogue cut him off, “My brother is out there. We don’t leave family.”
Renner raised an eyebrow, “Oh…the paladin. Well he’s not my family.”
Vass bit her lip as she gave the handsome rogue a hard stare, “Your part of my family, whether you like it or not.”
Renner eyed the elven beauty and his eyes drooped, “Shit.”
Renner turned and hefted his crossbow, aiming high, “Fire into them and let the bolts do the work. They come at us, stay close.”
The four rogues aimed high and pulled triggers. Four bolts went skyward before shifting and falling toward the large trolls gathered. A troll grunted as a bolt sank into his shoulder. Several trolls around him looked at the troll and then at the bolt. Eyebrows raised as runes along the shaft blazed to life. Mouths opened to shout commands but they never had a chance to make another sound. Explosions ripped through their ranks as four more bolts rained down and then another four. Trolls turned around just as explosions hurtled their bodies. Some shattered to light while others fell, wounds smoking and some missing limbs.
Renner hummed a tune as he loaded and fired again and again. The naliks giggled hisses as trolls went flying from the exploding bolts. Vass was the one who noticed trolls had turned and charged in their direction.
“They’re coming!” Vass said as she loaded a bolt and fired.
Some of the troll’s un-slung bows and pulled arrows from quivers. Renner fired another bolt as two arrows hit the grassy ground by his feet.
The rogue looked up at the incoming trolls and stood up, “Hey! Watch it! You can hurt someone!”
A wave of trolls had turned and charged at the four. Renner pulled back on a trigger, sending his last bolt into the crowd. Troll bodies flew in several directions as the rogue calmly slipped his crossbow into his cloak and pulled out two daggers. The lizard women pulled long, curved blades and took a stance. Vass pulled two daggers from her bandolier and readied herself.
Renner was about to say something when Vass cut him off.
“Stay golden pony boy,” The elf smiled.
Renner let out a laugh, “Oh man, we are going to have so much sex after this.”
The trolls rushed the four rogues, blades, maces and hammers held high. Renner let out a tired sigh and burst forward to meet the incoming horde. Body shifting, he became a shadow, whipping past the two naliks and into the troll line. Daggers flashing, the trolls looked with wide eyes before their guts spilled out and they shattered into shards of light. Renner moved through them, slipping and somersaulting around as daggers
cut with lethal accuracy.
Vass flicked her wrists, daggers burying into troll throats. With a burst of speed, she ran toward them, her own body shifting to a shadow. As trolls died, her daggers fell and she grabbed them midair and flicked her wrists again. Trolls sliced at the dark shadows but seemed to miss with each strike. The lizard women launched themselves at the trolls, cutting and carving their way into them. The trolls swung wide and for a second, it appeared the rogues were successfully keeping them at bay.
A Nalik rogue drove her blade deep into the gut of a troll but as she pulled back, several blades came down, hacking into her shoulder and head. She shattered without a sound. The other cried out as her blade came down and a troll grabbed it mid-swing with its bare hand. Digital blood flowed as it maintained its grip, giving his fellow soldiers time to hack at the lizard woman struggling to pull away. She whimpered as her body shattered into shards.
Vass kept moving, trying to stay one step ahead when a blade came across her thigh. Hit points drained and she pushed on until a few more caught her legs. Trolls burst into light but the rogue noticed her leg wasn’t working right. Stumbling, she flicked her wrists, sending daggers into troll eye sockets. The enemy crowded around, leers appearing as they raised their blades. A shadow sliced through their ranks and was to Vass’s side. The elf looked up as Renner curled an arm around her and held her close, the troll close by falling and shattering into light.
“I won’t let you die again,” Renner whispered as he took hold and they stumbled back.
Renner held out a dagger as trolls rushed them. Vass pulled a dagger and flicked it at one of them. The dagger sank into his neck before it exploded. Renner picked up the pace as trolls re-gathered from the explosion. Soon the rogue turned and ran, holding Vass close to him.
“I’m sorry,” Renner said.
