by Eden Redd
“You all should have been more careful,” the cloaked figure said as they continued to tap away at crystals.
Sybil kept her fans closed and at her sides, “You’re obviously a skilled player. Why are you helping that paladin? What is he to you that you would risk coming down here and receiving the Bone Queen’s wrath?”
Deidra’s fingers tapped out another sequence and a metal lock whirled. The vault door opened slightly and the cloaked woman turned to face Sybil who was half way across the room.
“Let’s just say I have a vested interest in his well being,” Deidra said with a smirk.
Sybil took a step closer, “You can hide from the dead. No rogue has such ability.”
Deidra’s hand dipped into her cloak and pulled out a flaming torch. With a backwards kick of her leg, the vault door swung inward, revealing shelves of scrolls in the torch light.
Sybil stopped her advance, “If you do this, the Bone Queen will hunt you down to the four corners of Lukken.”
Deidra continued to smirk, “She would have to find me first.”
Sybil burst forward just as Deidra tossed in the flaming torch onto a shelf of scrolls. The fire caught in a blink of an eye and contracts went up in flames. Sybil roared as she came at the cloaked figure. Deidra pulled her batons and parried an incoming strike. Fire consumed shelves of contracts as the two players locked in combat. Deidra’s body bent and spun, slashing out with her batons. Sybil tried to match her, sharp fans striking hard metal and magical sparks flying. The two continued their dance as smoke quickly filled the room.
Deidra smiled as smoke billowed from behind. Sybil cursed as she tried to keep the rogue in sight. As smoke bloomed, the dark paladin struck out again and again. With a wisp of curling black smoke, Deidra was gone. Sybil lashed out in all directions. The smoke consumed her vision and she screamed in frustration. Turning, she stalked through the smoke until a boney hand grabbed her arm. The dark paladin whipped her fan across, decapitating the skeleton but soon; white boney hands and skulls appeared from the black smoke.
“Fuck you!” Sybil screamed with madness in her eyes.
Corpses and skeletons crowded around her. Hands clawed at her as she whipped her fans back and forth. Spinning, she cut off several arms but more closed in. The player knew she wouldn’t suffer any combat status effects from the undead since she was immune but she was not immune from damage. Hit points fell away like dying leaves as boney fingers dug into her flesh. Reaching ten percent, she gave one last defiant shout as the undead moved in, clawing off chunks her digital body.
A lone shadow slipped up the stairs, dropping flaming torches, a secret grin on her lips.
***
Renner picked up a sword and looked it over before letting his hand fall to his side. Vass had two daggers, one in each hand. Ro and Jon each had a length of chain in their hands. Nugan held a sword in one hand, his other hand touching the pink haired troll’s lower back and bringing her in closer to him.
Renner glanced over at the guards, chained up and gagged, and then back to the group, “I would say we go down and make a run for it but we still have to retrieve our weapons. I’m open to ideas.”
“I have a high sneak skill. When we get down the stairs, I can search for our weapons,” Vass said.
“That’s assuming we still have the element of surprise,” Jon added.
“If they knew we were free, guards would already be here,” Ro said with a hard brow.
Renner nodded, “We still have the element of surprise. If we all make a run for it, they‘re going to send everything they have after us. I hate to say it but I think everyone should stay here while Vass and I sneak around for our weapons.”
The rogue looked to Jon and Ro, “You two can guard Nugan and Sora. If you hear any fighting, make a break for the front doors.”
Jon nodded, “If we get separated, we can regroup at the docks. Father Abel will be waiting for us.”
The troll master nodded, his dark eyes turning to the pink haired troll at his side. Sora looked up with a wide stare and her heart skipping a beat as she could tell he was about to say something he didn’t want to say.
“All of you, thank you for helping us but I must make a request before we attempt our escape. Whatever happens, I need you all to promise to ensure Sora makes it to Merlor safely.”
Renner shook his head, “No need to talk like that. You promised us….” Renner glanced at Vass who gave her own disapproving shake, “……We promised to help you escape and we are standing by it. A contract is a contract.”
The master troll nodded with sad eyes, “Then I am amending the contract. There will be a bonus payment when Sora is delivered safely to Merlor.”
Sora moved in close to her master, eyes wet and lip trembling. The troll held her close, taking in her scent and tendrils of rising warmth.
“We must complete the quest,” Master Nugan said softly.
Vass stepped closer as the master broke the loving embrace, “We will do everything we can to ensure both of you make it to Merlor safely. You have our word.”
Nugan looked to the elf rogue with kind eyes, “Thank you.”
Renner let out a yawn, “The sappiness makes me tired. Let’s go already!”
Vass glanced at the handsome rogue before sighing. The elf moved to his side. Renner stepped to the door and opened it with a bow. The elf stepped through and melted into the shadows.
“Remember, if you hear fighting, run for it. We’ll catch up,” Renner said and stepped through the doorway, closing the door behind him.
The two rogues melded with the dark edges of the stairs as they made their way down. Vass turned her senses to eleven as she took lead. Music played in the background as they took each step in turn. Slipping down to the bottom of the stairs, the elf looked out. The second floor was empty and it sounded like there were only a few people on the main floor, talking and drinking. Shifting her head, she could hear the sounds of sex from some of the rooms on the second floor. With everyone occupied, it made sneaking around that much easier.
Vass stepped out onto the second floor and stayed low. Glancing around, she had no idea where to go next. Their weapons could be anywhere at this point and the player began to rethink their priorities. A shadow nudged her from behind and the elf looked back.
“What’s the hold up?” Renner said in the barest of whispers.
“Maybe we should get everyone out of here instead. We can always find and buy new weapons,” Vass whispered back.
Renner grinned, “Trust me; our luck hasn’t given out yet.”
Vass was about to say something scathing when the sound of doors slamming open came over the railing. The elf snuck close to the edge and peered over the side to the main room. Bodies came spilling in with panic in their eyes as they crowded in and slammed the front doors shut. Something bashed against the heavy doors again and again. Renner slipped to Vass’s side and looked over the edge.
Hands and shoulders braced against the door as something heavy slammed into it again. The door shuddered from the impacts. A shard of wood broke from the door and spun through the air, landing on a table. Patrons and scared guards glanced at it before turning back to the door. Another bash and one of the doors cracked. A gray hammer broke through, sending splinters in every direction. When it pulled away, a stern face moved to it and looked in before pulling away. Vass smiled as she recognized the hammer and eye anywhere.
Vass tapped Renner and moved to the spiral staircase. The rogue followed the elf as they made it to the top and began their descent. When they were halfway down, one of the main doors cracked open from top to bottom. Guards moved away as both halves of one door fell to the floor with a “Crash”! Swords drawn, they backed up as a paladin stepped in with a glowing golden aura, hammer in hand.
“I didn’t come for you,” Thorrin said as he glared at the trembling guards. “I came for the Bone Queen! Send her out and you will have your lives.”
Vass heard a whisper of
magic and turned her eyes to the glowing edges of a hidden door. When it slid aside, the robed form of the Bone Queen stepped out. Tiara gleaming in the lantern light, she moved past the spiral staircase, gazing with unfeeling eyes at the paladin. The guards themselves saw their true master and their fear bled away to courage. Vass and Renner took it in as Thorrin stood his ground, no fear in his eyes.
The elf looked down at the door as a shadow slipped in. Vass tapped Renner once before leaping over the side and landing silently on her feet. Renner was behind her as she moved to the door and slipped in. Renner glanced back as the Bone Queen kept her dead gaze on the paladin. Thorrin stood with a glowing aura and purpose in his eyes.
“We’re coming buddy,” Renner whispered before slipping through the door after Vass just before it closed and sealed shut.
Nine
The air was still as a grave. Thorrin eyed the Bone Queen past half a dozen guards. Patrons had already exited the establishment and a menace hung in the air. The spheres of light and dark glowed deep within the paladin and necromancer. Energy ran along nerves as digital muscles flexed. The Bone Queen kept her icy chill as fingers began to move.
“You’re wasting your time, paladin. There is no one here you can save. Kneel and I will forgive you for your transgressions on my property,” The Bone Queen said with a frosty edge.
“There will be nothing to forgive. I must cleanse the dead infestation,” Thorrin said with righteous indignation.
Thorrin felt it stir in his heart, the powerful glow of light surging to his limbs. He couldn’t’ tell if it was the suit, game or something else but he knew what he had to do. Moon Haven was a desperate town where evil bloomed like a midnight flower. With the Bone Queen dead, maybe some light could return back to its citizens. Thorrin wasn’t sure if that would happen but he knew he couldn’t walk away from such a deep root of darkness.
“Fools and their souls are soon parted,” the Bone Queen said as her hands made arcane movements.
Thorrin cast Bless on his hammer and his golden aura of protection flared brighter. Glancing at his stats, the Sphere of Light modifiers glowed against his abilities and attributes. With his hammer’s abilities used up, he would have to rely on his paladin abilities. He might not have one shot kills but he knew he was damn close.
Two dozen arcane circles appeared all along the main floor of the Foxfire Inn. Thorrin decided not to wait. Legs bending, he burst forward at the cluster of guards. Swords slashed outward and the song of metal filled the room with vibrating bursts. Thorrin moved with power as his hammer knocked away a sword and slammed his shoulder into a guard’s chest, sending him back with his legs up. Thorrin’s hammer whipped around like a thick comet, smashing a sword to pieces and carrying through into the side of the guard’s cheek. The guard shattered instantly and the remaining five pressed on. The paladin brought his heel down on a knee, a guard crumpling from the impact. Another one took the hammer head to the stomach and shards of light burst from his lower back as his eyes went wide. A female guard slashed and slashed, her blade striking the golden aura and sliding off before the thick hammer head whipped around and smashed her into broken pieces of light.
Fear returned to the guards as the remaining few backed off. Spectral knights rose up from the arcane circles and the main floor of the Foxfire Inn was filled with ghostly undead. The ghostly shadow knights stood at attention, waiting for their queen’s orders. When the last guard was killed, Thorrin turned to the room of shadow knights, his aura blazing bright.
“Make him kneel,” the Bone Queen commanded.
The army of shadow knights turned inward to the paladin. Knees bending, ghostly swords were drawn and they moved as one. Thorrin lifted up a fist and it glowed with golden light. The player activated all his class abilities and was ready. The undead knights moved in cautiously at first but a moment later, they charged. Thorrin took in a deep breath and threw himself into the wall of shadow knights. Purple and golden power surged as the paladin threw his shoulder into a shadow knight’s armored chest. Light danced as the player swung his hammer with deadly accuracy. A hammer blow to the chest sent a knight stumbling back while a second one to the helmet shattered him into greenish light. A golden hand palmed a knight in the face, healing and protective light burning the undead thing. A hammer blow to the chest sent it to pieces.
Thorrin kept moving as spectral blades sliced at him. The golden aura surrounding him blazed brighter with each strike. Blades slid off the barrier or flashed brighter. Thorrin watched as the undead were having difficulty penetrating his golden light. The player used it to his advantage as he threw his weight into it. Hammer blows were followed by kicks to armored knees. Shadow knights silently fell one by one as others slashed at him. Thorrin glanced to his stats and he could see the barrier weakening from each strike. A blade punctured the aura and stabbed at his armored back, generating damage. The player spent Wisdom points to re-strengthen his aura and channeled them to his free hand. Lifting it up, he smashed another knight before a glowing light swirled around his fingers and blasted out. The paladin’s Holy Light was an expensive ability to use but if he could get a shot off, it would help his chances.
The Bone Queen stared as the beam shot past her minions. One shadow knight threw its self in the way of the beam, its body shattering. The Bone Queen’s eyes did widen a hair as she lifted her arm up. The force of the Holy Light burned her arm and knocked her back a few steps. Smoke rose from her forearm as she returned her icy gaze to the paladin.
Thorrin tried to keep the fight as efficient as possible. Turning and twisting, he shattered knight after knight. Hit points dropped a few points and then a dozen points. Swords rained down on him as he tried to keep up. The aura kept the shadow knights at bay but only about two feet. They were the elite soldiers of a powerful necromancer and Thorrin had to keep up.
The Bone Queen lifted her burnt arm, black energy swirling along her fingers. Thorrin continued to strike and move while the necromancer took her time aiming. The paladin pushed at the shadow knights until a blade punctured his aura and stabbed into his leg. The player grunted as numbness took over his right leg. Stumbling forward, he brought his hammer down on the shadow knight’s armored head and cracks shot down like lighting. The shadow knight’s body burst into light as Thorrin switched his hammer to his left hand and grabbed his leg with his right hand. Healing energy poured into his leg as he fended off the knights. Hit points rose up slowly as he took another strike and then another. The player could feel himself slow down as he gritted his teeth. Switching his hammer to his right hand, the paladin spun and attacked with renewed power.
A black lightning bolt streaked through the air. Thorrin managed to turn away, the bolt missing him by inches. Another streaked out but this time it slammed into his shoulder. The paladin whipped around with the force so he could remain standing, hammer smashing into a knight that moved in too close. Wisdom and hit points draining, the player knew he had to make a power move or he was going to lose this fight. Planting his feet, golden energy poured into his free hand as he looked to the Bone Queen’s blank stare.
***
Ro’s ears perked up, “I can hear fighting.”
Jon looked to the goblin and then to the troll master and pink haired troll, “We have to go.”
Nugan and Sora nodded their heads in agreement. Jon was first to move to the door with Ro close behind. Master Nugan and Sora made up the rear as they made their way down the steps. The fighting and crashing stormed on so loudly; the paladins and trolls made it to the bottom of the stairs and looked over the railing to the main floor. Eyes drank in Thorrin as he spun and attacked with unrelenting power. Shadow knights clustered around him but his aura blazed, keeping them at bay. Hammer striking true again and again, knights crumpled to the attacks.
“We have to help him!” Ro said with a length of thick chain in her small three fingered, goblin hand.
Jon looked to her and then to the trolls, “You two stay here and
out of sight. If the battle turns against us, go out a window.”
Ro looked up to the tall paladin and nodded.
Jon gave the goblin a kind smile and returned the nod. Looking down, they watched as a black lightning bolt struck the paladin in the shoulder. Thorrin spun around and smashed a shadow knight before energy flared around his free hand and he planted his feet. Jon and Ro grasped the edge of the railing, lifted themselves up and jumped. Bodies falling, they swung their chains as the light around Thorrin’s hand blazed bright and burst forth.
***
Renner and Vass crept closer to the room at the end of the hall. Lantern light flickered and shadows swayed. The rogues stayed to the shadows, eyes alert as they saw a shadow moving beyond the open double doors. Creeping closer, they reached the edge to see a cloaked figure taking weapons off the walls and placing them in her cloak.
“It’s about time you showed up,” the figure said, picking up a sword and shoving it into its cloak.
“You were in the fight before,” Renner said as he stood up, the shadows returning to their dark corners.
The masked woman turned and pulled down her mask, “Deidra Chalice, friend to your paladin.”
“Renner Wulf,” the rogue grinned.
“Vass Mistglow,” the elven rogue nodded.
Deidra nodded before looking back to the wall but pointing at several sacks on the floor, “Those are your weapons and the weapons belonging to your party. I’m simply helping myself to the extras.”
Renner and Vass moved over to the collection of sacks. Placing their hand out, a 2D item list appeared and their personal inventory screen appeared. The two players tapped at their items and they appeared on their person instantly. Renner reached down and took hold of the remaining sacks and turned to Deidra.
