War in the Greenwood: A LitRPG Novel

by Galen Wolf

  A loud click sounded behind us. Wolf pricked up his ears. I walked back to the foot of the stairs to see a slab had slid into place, closing off our retreat.

  "I guess that won't open until we're done down here."

  Elfhair said, "I think the story must be that Lord Armboth discovered something in the elf ruins—something that took him over and made its home there - a master vampire and it transformed him into one of its own kind."

  I laughed. "You could write these plots, Elfhair."

  "Do you think so?"

  Just then stone grated, the lid of the sarcophagus slowly pushed to one side and a tall dark figure in chain-mail groaned and rose. He regarded us with cold gemstone eyes set in a pale white face. His fangs protruded white and boar-like across his pale lips. He was a vampire sure enough.

  "What kills vampires?" I whispered as if I was afraid he might hear me.

  "Silver?" Elfhair said.

  "No, that's werewolves," Astral Bob said.

  "Then what?"

  The vampire pulled itself out of the coffin, sliding his iron booted feet to the floor with a grate of metal. He peered at us hungrily.

  "We better think of something quick," I said.

  The vampire moved.

  "Go," I said out loud. Tiger and Wolf leapt at the vampire. He stood at the foot of his coffin and lashed at them with talon like fingernails. I saw from my HUD his attacks caused slash damage with a disease damage over time effect. The pets were making some inroads into his health, but the damage they were doing was small and although his health bar was going down, every now and again it juddered up again. He had a regenerate ability, and they didn't have the DPS to take him down.

  "This could be tough." I fired my arrows at him but he had high damage reduction and the arrows did little harm. He appeared to be completely resistant to fire. What was worse his regenerate was ticking up after every hit and he would soon be at full health again.

  "These quest items must do something," I said.

  Astral Bob rushed at the vampire with his rapier but hardly hurt him. The vampire turned, giving Astral Bob his full attention and hurled the Scryer with superhuman strength, sending him crashing against the crypt wall. Astral Bob fell in a heap and I saw he'd lost 35% of his health. Elfhair turned and healed him but he was still the focus of the vampire's aggro. It strode over to him.

  Trying to pull the vampire's aggro from Astral Bob, I fired arrow after arrow into the thing. He noticed me and walked towards me, but Lord Armboth was in no hurry. He felt sure of his victory.

  "Think, Barcud," Elfhair said. "What on earth can these quest items do?"

  Astral Bob rose painfully from the floor and rushed and jabbed the vampire in the back as advanced on me. Lord Armboth roared in anger, turned but instead of slashing at Astral Bob, he gazed at him and commanded; "Now you will stand still."

  Astral Bob fell into a trance, standing there motionless, mesmerized by the vampire's will.

  "Oh shit," Elfhair said. "What on earth is going on now?"

  I said, "Get all the quest items and put them on the floor. I need to think."

  But before I could think, Armboth advanced on Elfhair. He looked and commanded her. Now she stood motionless as his thrall.

  Tiger and Wolf attacked again but without Elfhair to heal them the vampire threw them against the wall smashing down their health. They whined in pain but tried to get up to attack again. This time the vampire turned to finish them.

  Then I realized what the smelling salts were for. I grabbed the box and pulled the lid off, thrusting it under Elfhair's nose. The pungent stink brought her to her senses. "Oh, my god that's disgusting," she said. But it broke the trance.

  I gave her the box. "Now while he's finishing off the pets go and wave this under Astral Bob's nose."

  My heart was sickened as the vampire killed my Wolf. I grabbed the handbell. I had no clear idea what it would do, but it must do something.

  I rang it.

  With the first peal of the bell the vampire hesitated. And I remembered the rhyme - I had to ring it three times, so I clattered the bell again and he paused again. The third time I rang the bell he stopped. I didn't know how long this would last but I grabbed the ghostly sword. I ran across the room and jabbed the sword into the vampire. It seemed to break his damage resistance. I looked with satisfaction as I saw his health bar go down 10%. I was less satisfied when I saw him start to regenerate. After around five seconds he came back to life and launched himself at me.

  He smashed me with an upper cut and I flew against the wall, taking about 15% of my health. He'd also inflicted a disease effect on me that was going to chip away at my health over time.

  Tiger tried to defend me but the vampire slashed him with his foul talons and Tiger expired.

  While the vampire was distracted by Tiger, I ate a Hale Fruit and took an Athillias leaf. The fruit restored my health to full and the Athillias cured the disease. But it was clear, the vampire could damage me severely. I ran at him and jabbed again with the ghostly sword and again did around 10% damage. Ten stabs would kill him - except he was regenerating. We had to stop him regenerating.

  Astral Bob stood groggy from the effects of the vampire's attack. I yelled at him to catch the bell. It jangled as it flew towards him but Astral Bob caught it neatly. "Astral Bob," I shouted. "Ring the bell three times."

  Astral Bob did as he was told and I jabbed the vampire as it stood motionless. I managed to get three stabs in so he should have been at 70% health but his regeneration power was taking him up again.

  I knew there must be more to it than this. It seemed that the ghost's sword was useful because it broke his damage reduction. The handbell stunned him for a period of five seconds, and the smelling salts were to wake us from the trances he commanded us into.

  That left the sledgehammer.

  While I was thinking of this, the vampire caught me with a slash across my breast and another then another. I was down 40% of my health. I tried to sip a blue potion but he knocked it out of my hand, sending the potion bottle smashing against the wall. I saw the blue liquid splash across the floor. It was useless to me now. I had healing herbs in my herb pouch, but I could still do with support. "Elfhair," I called. "I'm going to need some healing. Astral Bob," I shouted, "Ring the bell again."

  Astral Bob rang the bell three times, but it seemed it was on cool down. We could only stun Lord Armboth once every ten seconds. Then he stood still for five seconds and was free again.

  We had to be cleverer than this. I looked at Elfhair and appraised and saw her mana bar was about 50%. This was going to be a war of attrition and, with his regenerate skill, it was one the vampire would win. Then I thought about the sledgehammer. I dodged the vampire's slashing talons and passed the ghostly sword to Elfhair. "Maybe it's better if Astral Bob uses the sword because he's a high level and you ring the bell Elfhair?"

  They arranged it between them and whenever they could, they rang the bell three times to stun the vampire and Astral Bob jabbed him. Even when he was stunned he still regenerated.

  I looked around the room and saw there were six pillars supporting the roof of the crypt. As I took them in, I had sudden thought. I said, "I'm sure that the riddle about the six that you bring low to escape your doom has something to do with the pillars holding up the roof."

  Elfhair nodded. "If we could make the roof collapse, we would allow the light in."

  "Except it isn't completely light outside. I hate to say it, but I told you so. We should have waited until it was properly day."

  "That's what the riddle said."

  I stood back and with all my strength slammed the sledgehammer against the first column. I hoped it wouldn't collapse in and kill me but after the third smash the column crumbled away and fell in pieces onto the floor. The roof sagged, and I saw a crack. Through it was a gleam of grey dawn light. But it wasn't enough.

  While Astral Bob had the vampire's aggro, I went to the second column and began to sm
ash it down.

  When that collapsed, more light began to come in, but still not enough. I looked to Astral Bob, he was down to 70% health. And Elfhair's mana bar was now 10%.

  I ran to the third column, and with all my strength and as fast as I could, I hammered it down until it collapsed. The hole in the roof was larger now and grey light spilled across half the floor. I said to Astral Bob, "Try to get him in the light."

  Astral Bob nodded and stepped into a pool of dawn light to entice the vampire to come after him, but the vampire knew the danger and it stopped before entering the lit part of the floor. At least we now had some protection if we stood in the daylight. But we couldn't defeat Lord Armboth this way.

  I ran to the fourth column then the fifth smashing them down in turn, and finally the collapse of the sixth column caused the whole roof to come in with a scattering of tiles and debris on the floor. I stood coughing from the dust but now there was nowhere for the vampire to hide and he was caught in the grey light. Smoke rose from his face and arms. I guessed that full sunlight would have been better but this dawn light was clearly something he didn't like.

  Astral Bob jabbed the vampire again and caused him a further 10% damage, but this time the vampire, did not regenerate.

  Astral Bob cried out in exultation. "That's it! The light stopped it regenerating." He jabbed him again but Armboth wasn't finished and with a roar grabbed Astral Bob and with both hands picked him above his head and threw him against the wall. The blow was enormous and Astral Bob's health went down by 80%. Astral Bob lay groaning and insensible among the rubble. Elfhair threw him a heal spell, and he went back up to 30% but that's all she had. I looked at her mana bar and she was now dry.

  The vampire stomped across to Astral Bob, picked up a piece of masonry from the fallen column and slammed into the Scryer. Astral Bob was now within a hair's breadth of dying.

  I saw where he'd dropped the ghostly sword and tumbled over to get it. I snatched it and with two hands on the hilt I stabbed the vampire in the back. It reduced him by 10% again and he was now down to 60% health and no regeneration. The vampire Lord Armboth turned to me. I now had his full attention.

  I danced out of his way, lunging forward to stab him then darting back before he could rip me with his talons. I had him down to 30% when he connected and hurt me badly. I was down to 45% health from two quick ripostes. I stumbled backwards, dazed from his attack. I had to focus. I tumbled over the floor out of his way and got behind him pivoting round to stab him again, then again. He was now down to 10%. He lunged, but I managed to stagger away and when he was unbalanced, I delivered the killing blow.

  The vampire died in an explosion of light. Then he was gone. In his place materialized a chest. The lid flew open to reveal piles of gold with beams of yellow light emanating from it. This was a standard treasure chest icon in the Greenwood. There was also a beautiful chord signifying that we had successfully completed the quest. In addition to this I was suffused by a blue glow and leveled to Level 11. On my HUD I saw the new skills that came from getting this level. I would look at those later when I had more time. I saw Astral Bob had also leveled. One beneficial effect of leveling was that it restored you to full health and mana.

  Astral Bob stood and said, "You know when we first met you Barcud, I wasn't sure about you but now I think you're a good guy."

  "The feeling's mutual."

  "I'm sorry to disturb this bromance," Elfhair said. "But let's look in the chest, please?"

  "What about you Elfhair?" I said. "You must have leveled."

  She looked very pleased. "Yes, I got three from that so that's taken me up to 6. Very welcome, thank you ever so much boys."

  She gave us each a kiss on our cheeks. Astral Bob blushed and furtively wiped it off.

  We looked for loot in the chest. The loot was instanced which meant that we each got unique quest items and there was no squabbling. Not that I would have squabbled with Elfhair. Of course, you could leave your loot in the chest if you didn't want it and assign it to another player in the party.

  I reached in. I got a Ring of the Werewolf. Ring of the Werewolf: gives 5 silver Damage Reduction. + 4 STR. Even better there was a Bow of Stone. 1-8 damage, + DEX Bonus + 1-8 Acid Damage. Crit 10%. On Crit encase enemy in stone. Willpower save negates.

  Astral Bob got the Stellar Binoculars: Summon Being x 2 per day, + 4 INT.

  And Elfhair got a Holy Tiara. Holy Tiara 2 x Resurrection per day + 4 WIS.

  We also got a bunch of gemstones and gold pieces each. That would be useful and I could convert the cash into supplies for Pennred.

  Pennred – I'd forgotten about my village while I was in the quest and now I began to think about it again. I wondered if it had leveled yet. I wondered how my troops were doing in their training. And I wondered if the Rangers’ Guild had managed to protect it from the attacks of Horrabian spies. I knew I had to get back there.

  We walked up the stairs to the Entrance Hall. Drexel was gone, but the door was open.

  We hurried to the front door, each lost in our thoughts of what we had to do when we got back from the quest. The gravel crunched under our feet. Outside the cast-iron gates, the exit portal to Vinab hummed and swirled. We stepped through it and found ourselves back in the side streets of Vinab. It was night.

  As soon as we emerged from the portal, a dove fluttered to Astral Bob and dropped a letter at his feet. He stooped down and picked up the letter, breaking the red wax seal.

  "Who's that from?" Elfhair said.

  "Someone."

  "What does it say?" I asked.

  He wasn't smiling. He sucked his teeth and looked at me. "The first Horrabian troops have emerged from the city gates. There's an army heading east towards Keld and the other is moving south down the Vale of Tears."

  "But that's in the direction of Pennred." A cold fist squeezed my heart.

  Elfhair said quietly. "It looks like it's begun."

  Level 11

  Race: Elf

  Profession: Ranger

  Hp 147, 110 mana

  Saves: Dodge 18, Toughness 13, Willpower 2.

  STR - 12

  DEX - 22

  INT - 10

  CON - 16

  WIS - 8

  CHA - 8

  Gear:

  Ring of the Werewolf DR Silver 4, + 4 STR

  Biter - Minor Acid Dagger 1-4 pierce damage, plus 1-3 acid damage

  The Weakener - STR damaging dagger 1-6 pierce damage+ 5% chance to remove 1-4 Strength Points

  Goggles of The Darkest Night - gives dark-vision, no matter how little light—

  Mournblade 5% Critical Chance—nerfed from 20%—On crit, removes 1 level—nerfed from 1-4—

  Bracers of Constitution +2

  Figurine of the Forlorn Tiger—Calls Level 10 Warrior Tiger - scales with owner's level—

  + 2 Studded Leather Armor with +1 STRENGTH

  Bow of Flame 1-8 pierce damage + DEX bonus + 1-6 fire damage. 5% crit chance.

  Bow of Stone. 1-8 pierce damage, + DEX Bonus + 1-8 Acid Damage. Crit 10%. On Crit encase enemy in stone. Willpower save negates.

  New Skills:

  Poisons:

  Hiddledust - Removes poison immunities in an enemy

  Amaranth: Makes enemies Friendly

  Stealth:

  Shadow Walk - 20% incorporeal, broken on interaction. 20% movement speed

  Sense Rituals: Touch the ground to sense rituals nearby with distance.

  Herbs:

  Honeysuckle: repairs charisma damage

  Jasmine: Regenerates Mana 10 per sec for 1 sec per level of character

  Survival:

  Clot Wounds—Stops bleeding DOTs inflicted—

  Make Poultice—Cures non-magical disease—

  Ranger Skills:

  Friend Animals

  Remove poison

  12

  Pennred, Mon Amour

  I had a new message on my HUD: You have begun the quest: War with Horrabia. Base XP 250,000.

/>   I was beat when we finished the quest. Even so, I wanted to see the truth of what Astral Bob said. I whistled my eagle from the centre of Vinab square and mounted her feathery back. I clicked my tongue in encouragement and she took off. Soon we were soaring north past the city walls of Vinab and over the eaves of the Old Forest. I navigated by the Old Stone Cross then cutting northwest along Ermine Street and past the Jeweled Tree. The village of Pennred had grown since I'd been away and had almost filled the wooden stockade with houses and workshops. I didn't stop there. I headed further north over the Forest of Nightmares and up the Vale of Tears until I saw the huge sandstone city walls of Horrabia, glowing red in the westering sun.

  Although I was a mile or two off still, I could see the cloud of raptors patrolling Horrabian airspace. I didn't want to get too close, but I needed to have an idea of the scale of the Horrabian troop movements. Astral Bob said an army had gone north of the Midnight Lake and was pushing east towards Keld, while another was massing at the southern gates in preparation for an assault on us. I went as close to the city walls of Horrabia as I dared.

  I could see the tents and campfires of the Horrabian southern army outside the southern gate of Horrabia, the so-called Gate of Terror. There seemed an enormous number of them with their tents and the smoke rising from their campfires. I could see the heavy cavalry of the Cavaliers’ Guild but there were also ill-formed beast-men in the army as well as the mailed foot soldiers that made up the bulk of the Horrabian host. I needed to get closer. I saw their bat emblem fluttering on a thousand banners. I was counting them when I noticed the first black specks peel off and move in our direction.

  The raptors had noticed me. I gave them my full attention as they flapped toward us. I saw them climb preparatory to swooping down but I wouldn't be caught like that so I urged Aquila up. I was south west of them and had the advantage of the sun behind me; it would be in their eyes, but this was only an advantage if they hunted by sight.