by Eden Redd
“She’s a beaut!” the rogue laughed in the bright morning light.
***
The sun sank to the west. The darkening sky was broken up by the songs of gulls as they flew in the dying light. Thorrin, Nugan and Sora stood on the dock as the rest of the party disembarked. The seaside town of Merlor stood to their backs as lanterns lit one by one in the coming dusk. Red and pink light bathed the paladin’s armor as he looked to his fellow companions, walking the gang plank to join them. Vass and Renner stepped onto the dock, followed by Deidra and Ro. The captain waved as the group waved back their goodbyes.
Master Nugan had turned and began walking. The rest of the group followed behind. Sora clung to her master, beaming a smile. The paladin couldn’t help but feel good, looking to the happy pink haired troll. The things she and her master had endured had finally come to an end. They were ready now to start a new life, away from the Kunarr Kingdoms.
“Please follow me,” the troll said as he turned at the end of the docks and began walking away from the town.
Thorrin picked up his pace and walked alongside the troll master, “I thought we were getting you both on a ship?”
Nugan smiled, “We will but I had an arrangement I must honor before leaving at first light. You don’t mind spending a little more time watching over us, do you?”
Thorrin gave him a nod, “No, I don’t mind.”
The paladin gave a quick glance back to the nodding heads of the rest of the group before turning to Master Nugan, “The team doesn’t mind either.”
Master Nugan bowed his head, “Excellent. It shouldn’t take long but we should all have free lodgings, food, wine and rewards for your deeds.”
Thorrin nodded as the group followed a winding path toward a large mansion on a hill. It stood like an old seaside home, lanterns in the windows to help guide the way. Thorrin took in the smells of the ocean as it drifted on the clear evening air. The sounds of crashing waves sent a gentle white noise, calming everyone’s spirit as they followed along. Renner began talking about the fish he caught again and Vass tried to be annoyed but really found his excitement beyond endearing. She looked to him with warm eyes, her arm wrapped around his as he spoke of his mighty battle with the river fish.
Deidra followed along, silent as a ghost. Ro walked behind her, eyes to the setting sun. The goblin let out a cleansing breath as she looked to the front of the group, to a certain paladin and a quickening in her heart.
Reaching the front door of the mansion, Nugan stepped up the small set of stairs and tried the door. It opened easily and the troll beckoned everyone to follow. Without hesitation, the group stepped into the warm entryway, Ro the last to step in.
The group took in the grand foyer as lanterns and candles burned. The air held a comforting scent of jasmine and myrrh. A large staircase split from the second floor and flowed together into one. At the top, a shadow moved from the edge. A hand touched the railing and moved along the smooth, polished wood. All eyes were on the man with short white hair and kind smile as he descended down the stairs. His features were soft and his eyes a bright gray. He wore a white robe as he took each step in turn. When he reached the bottom, he looked to the large T shaped troll.
“Master Gloom Spear,” the man smiled.
“Magnys, it is an honor to finally meet you. Thank you for taking us in before we leave for the islands.”
Everyone stared blankly except for Thorrin whose ears perked up.
“Magnys….from the Harkkon ruins?”
The kind man turned his attention to the paladin, “You know of me?”
Thorrin looked to the group, seeing their questioning stares before turning back to the kind host.
“You are one of the Sormir. You tried to stop Master Kurss from waking the Dread Lord Harkkon.”
Magnys eyed the paladin with a curious gaze, “You must forgive me but were you at the ruins? I don’t recall a paladin at the battle. I would surely remember you.”
Thorrin gave a polite smile, “I know someone who was there, a necromancer by the name of Wynter Nightkiss. She told me what happened down in that dungeon.”
Magnys kept his smile, “Ah yes, the beautiful necromancer who tried to stop the evil acts of raising a dread lord from his prison. If I remember correctly, she came into possession of Harkkon’s eyes. Tell me, does she still have them?”
Thorrin nodded, “She does.”
Magnys bowed before the group, “You are all my guests for the evening. It would seem we have much to talk about.”
Eleven
The dining room was medium sized and lavish. It wasn’t some great hall like the one at Lord Throne’s castle but it had an aura of comfort that Thorrin couldn’t deny. It glowed with welcoming energy as the host raced around, placing hot plates down with his bare hands. The group wanted to help but the host refused and insisted everyone sit down to be served.
Magnys appeared to be enjoying his role as he moved with almost supernatural speed from the kitchen to the dining room. In a blink of an eye, corks were pulled from wine bottles and Magnys poured into glasses with a sense of occasion. When the wine was poured, he blinked to the kitchen and back again with more meat, fruit, vegetables and small cakes.
“I hope you don’t mind that I serve dessert with the meal? I feel we may have much to talk about and I rather enjoy sitting with such beautiful people,” Magnys smiled.
The group nodded as they settled down. Nugan sat at the seat closest to the head of the table with Sora at his side. To Sora’s right was Deidra and then Ro. To the left side of the table, Thorrin sat with Vass next and Renner taking the other seat next to her. The table was filled with hot plates, wine bottles, and varied deliciousness, steam still rising up from freshly cooked meals. Magnys took a seat at the head of the table with a proud flair. Hands out, he beckoned everyone to eat. Forks stabbed into chunks of meat while large spoons poured fruits and vegetables onto plates. Renner took three small cakes and placed them on a second plate. Gylda floated down to Renner’s dessert plate and was quickly shooed away. The rogue gave the fairy a shake of his head and she stuck her tongue out.
Thorrin looked to the motley crew gathered and couldn’t help but feel warmth flowing over his heart. With the events of Moon Haven long behind him, it felt nice to simply sit down and enjoy a meal with new friends, even if it was a virtual one.
Vass nodded as she drank deeply from a wine glass. The paladin recognized her familiar head shake and leaned in.
“Are you listening to music?”
Vass turned to the paladin and smiled, “I have it playing in the background. I can still hear it even with the helmet on. I tried a mod to stream music into my MEG helmet but it clashed with the sound system of the game. I thought I would low tech it and just have it playing in the background.”
“I didn’t know you could even do that,” Thorrin said.
“You should try it sometime. It adds a new layer to the game and fills in the long drawn out travelling I sometimes do.”
Thorrin knew there was no ongoing soundtrack to the game. The creators thought a soundtrack would lessen the immersion in the game and decided against it. It was good to know that he could still play music in the background if he really wanted too.
“I still have one or two allies in Moon Haven. They informed me the town nearly burned down with your escape,” Magnys said as he took a sip of wine.
“It was a difficult escape but thanks to these strong adventurers, we made it out mostly intact,” Nugan smiled.
Magnys turned his attention to Thorrin, “You have done well. You fit your reputation.”
Thorrin gave a polite smile, “I was only doing the right thing and helping a friend.”
Master Nugan nodded, “My trust in Talisa is well founded. If Thorrin had not come to my aid, I fear Sora and I would have become play things for the Bone Queen. We thank you, all of you.”
Wine glasses rose up before warm liquid coated tongues and throats.
Nugan looked to Renner and Vass, “I have not forgotten our bargain. I will have gold for all of you before we depart in the morning.”
“Thank you,” Renner grinned and began eating a small cake.
Magnys turned his attention to Thorrin, “Please tell me more about Lady Nightkiss. Is she safe?”
“I haven’t spoken to her in a while but last time we talked she was fine. She is in Talon Guard with her guild, helping the dragons to fortify their defenses.”
Magnys nodded, “It was a truly a dark moment when the masters came for Harkkon. I pledged my life to guard his prison but even I was not strong enough to keep out such evil. Time had taken its toll even on my kind. I fear I may only have a few thousand years left before I return to the stars.”
“I have heard that before, about returning to the stars. Is that where you’re from?” Thorrin asked.
Magnys kept his gaze gentle as he sipped wine and leaned back in his chair, “The legends have it that my great race fell from the heavens just as the dragons. The Sormir saw the barren oceans and land masses and decided to help nurture life. I have been here a long time but even I was born here on this world. As we age, we gain knowledge stolen from us. I hope to know the secrets of the stars once again.”
Magnys turned to Nugan, “And that is why we are here. I hope to return to my people but I’m not sure they will have me back.”
All movement at the table stopped and eyes turned to their gracious host.
Magnys continued, “The hive mind of my people can cause madness over a period of time. I managed to conquer it with love and separating myself from the ocean. I wish to return to my people but only to warn them of the growing threats across Lukken. Master Nugan heard my plea and offered to help.
“You see, if I return now, I would be swallowed up by thousands of minds, lost to the intricate workings of the universe. I must keep my thoughts and sanity in check if I am to make a useful argument to bring peace to Lukken. Master Nugan and the lovely Sora will aid me in my journey when the time is right. The Rose Seer will keep my madness at bay while Master Nugan will aid me with information from the troll kingdoms. The three of us may be able to turn the tide from inaction to action in the war.”
Thorrin’s hand clenched into a fist on the table, “You wish to stop the Dread Lords.”
“You see the implications well, paladin. Many of the trolls are misguided in their goals but the Dread Lords are darkness incarnate. They wish to snuff out all light. If they continue to grow their power and all of Lukken falls, their darkness will seep into the very oceans. All life will be extinguished and dark twisted beings will roam before the entire planet becomes one of their shadow engines. A planet turned into a black comet, searching for other living worlds to consume.”
Renner bit off another piece of cake as he looked to the end of the table, “I thought since Oksuna sat on the Serpent Throne, the Sormir’s madness had calmed down?”
Magnys nodded, “I have not returned to the oceans so I don’t know how far the effects of the throne have had on my kind. You can understand the need to go with caution and an effective plan.”
Master Nugan looked to paladin, “It is safe to say, your desire to stop the dread lords goes beyond gold, yes?”
Thorrin gave a grim nod.
Master Nugan continued, “We might be able to give you information to help achieve your goals.”
Magnys looked to the troll, “Is it still there?”
The master nodded, “It is. The other masters had planned for it to be the last quest to achieve before the true war.”
“By the stars, you cannot think to send them there?”
Shadows covered the master’s eyes, “I am only parting with the information. They can decide if it is worth the risk.”
Everyone at the table leaned in, eyes and ears pointed to the troll master and sormir serpent. Renner chewed his cake quickly while Gylda fluttered down on his shoulder. Ro leaned in as did Deidra. Vass looked to Thorrin as he kept his steel gaze on the host and troll. Thorrin could feel the itch of something he had been searching for to help kill the dread lords and end their reign of darkness at his fingertips.
Master Nugan cleared his throat and continued, “During the dark hunt, groups of knights, paladins and clerics hunted for each of the remaining dread lords. It had become a holy mission to exterminate their foul darkness so Lukken would be free of their shadowy grip. A large band of paladins and clerics made it their quest to find and destroy the second strongest dread lord, Vyle Rath.
“Vyle’s power nearly matched that of Harkkon’s’. Powerful and an excellent general, he followed his lord’s commands to the letter. When their power was outmatched and they fled, Vyle stayed, imparting his darkness to everything around him. The band of heroes cut through his armies and the dread lord was forced to flee but not by the power of heroes but by command of Harkkon. The powerful dread lord knew if Vyle stayed, he would be destroyed and ordered him to flee and wait for their return to power.”
Magnys leaned in with wine glass in hand, “The battles were terrible. Vyle made the heroes fight endless groups of undead as he retreated to the coast. The heroes nearly lost their taste for battle if not for a certain Sormir offering aid to them.” Magnys winked.
“You were there?” Thorrin asked as his eyes widened a hair.
The gracious host nodded, “I was. The band of heroes needed extra strength and I came to them, offering my power. Their leader, a strong paladin by the name of Byrus Lothen, accepted me into their ranks and together we hunted down the dread lord. It took months before we cornered him at the south-east coast. Byrus led the charge as we cut through Vyle’s remaining undead armies.”
Nugan continued, “As you may know, Dread Lords cannot be killed in conventional ways. They are truly masters of death and the abyss. If their bodies are destroyed, their fractured black souls will reform their bodies over a length of time but they can be killed just like any creature in Lukken. Byrus had an item that could tip the scales in their favor. Do you know about the dragon, Thunn?”
“He was a dragon who despised the abyss and any who aligned with it. He created items to help fight the darkness and put down their minions,” Thorrin said matter of fact.
Nugan smiled, “You know of him well. He indeed was a dragon with a particular hatred for the undead. He created many items and hid them across Lukken. Byrus managed to find one of his holy bands, a thin piece of curved metal that fits over your forearm. It is covered in holy runes of Thunn’s design and amplifies a holy warrior’s power. Most clerics and paladins can create a holy weapon of light. The arm band will amplify its power and burn away the darkness. It is so effective; the few that were found were used to kill every dread lord, save the remaining eight.”
Thorrin’s eyes glanced to the side. He had not achieved the ability to create a weapon of light just yet. He spent so much time crafting his hammer that he didn’t go about trying to discover all of his abilities. Remembering the dark paladins in Moon Haven, he saw that they created their weapons from darkness. Thorrin felt a pang of unease as he knew he wasn’t strong enough just yet.
Magnys interjected, “It wasn’t on a lack of trying. The remaining dread lords were the strongest of the strong. When they couldn’t be put down, they were imprisoned until a means could be discovered to stop them.”
Thorrin looked to Nugan and Magnys, “But Byrus had one of the bands?”
Shadows lengthened under Magnys’s eyes as he tilted his head forward, “True, he did but we haven’t finished telling the tale.”
Nugan looked to the sormir, “I can tell the rest if it is too painful?”
Magnys lifted and shook his head, a light returning to his eyes, “No, they should hear it from someone who was there.”
Magnys took a long sip of wine before putting the glass down, “It wasn’t far from the beach, a primal forest lay rooted to the area, teeming with undead. Our group had fought east, through the groups of undead. On the final leg
of the quest, we were twenty-five strong. By the time we cut through the dark primal forest, eleven of us remained. Even with my power, we were outnumbered nearly a hundred to one. They fought with grace and power, their light driving back the fingers of death. When we emerged from the edge of the forest, Vyle was waiting and that is when he sprung his trap.
“The dread lord sent groups of undead to whittle down our forces but kept his main armies from the fight. When we saw him, he called for his armies to rise up from the north and south. Never had I seen so many undead. They moved under his command and charged us when we were exposed and exhausted.”
Magnys’s eyes watered for a moment before he blinked it away and continued, “Byrus and our companions fought with brilliant power. Their combined light held most of the undead at bay and slaughtered each skeleton and ghost as they approached. My power was used to its full advantage, breathing molten hot steam at the undead ranks. At first, we thought we could stand a chance but the sheer numbers quickly pushed back against our attacks. Byrus knew if it continued, we would be overrun.
“The paladin hefted his axe of light and charged through the undead ranks, each strike true and shattering any enemy too close. We fought on, trying to keep the armies back as Byrus carved a path to the dread lord. Vyle was waiting, chains made of abyssal energy and blue flames surrounding his sunken in features. The paladin and dread lord clashed and the very ground shook. It seemed like the heavens themselves would fall from their battle.
“We began to lose companions as they fought on. The undead pushed with undeniable might at our meager defense. Without walls or some kind of barricade, they cut us down until only I and two other companions remained.
