AVARICE ONLINE: KEL'VAN RED HAND

by Titus Nettles

  “If you know where the exit point is, why haven’t you left already?” She paused for dramatic effect before she went further, pressing two fingers to her lips. She knew the answer as soon as he mentioned knowing where the exit was. Now to play the game on her terms.

  “Well, that would mean you’re not as strong as you think you are, am I right?” Ora’El said as she tilted her head to the side, her smile growing ever wider.

  Kel’Van stood in silence.

  “There can only be up to five members in that instance. Though your party is not weak, there is no one in your group who fits the description of someone who can play the support role.” Ora’El sashayed a bit with her eyes and a smile plastered straight at Kel’Van. “I am not a healer, but I definitely can fulfill the role of supporting the other players and keeping them alive longer. That is what I bring for you, captain.”

  In his mind’s eye, he had already bathed this woman in fire and decapitated the burning head with that stupid grin on her face. The sad thing is the truth, is the truth no matter who says it. They had gained quite the levels from when they first eyed the aberrant elemental through the portal. But you do not go into an instance without someone who can support and at least someone who could take punishment. You just didn’t. So, unless you were pumping out monstrous damage per second (D.P.S.) there was a slim chance, if any, for winning. They needed her skillset, especially now. But she was not getting off that easy without answering the first question.

  “I repeat… how this is beneficial for you?” asked Kel’Van.

  The smile drifted off her face. What replaced it was something he could not place at the moment, but he’d seen it before, and it wasn’t good.

  “There is a power deeper in that instance. Everyone believes that it is just guarding the back entrance into the depths, but my sect remembers what others do not. There is a wider dungeon there. The elemental holds the key to that dungeon, and I would have it.”

  Everyone, including the guards with her, stared at how she said those words. Then it occurred to him what her face looked like when she stopped smiling. It reminded him of a cat his brother once owned. There was a fishbowl with some goldfish in it, and every day the cat would perch on the table with the bowl. He would stare doe-eyed with anticipation while he dipped his paw every once in a while at the fish. It was the same look Ora’El had when speaking about why she wanted into that instance.

  Hunger.

  “And I would share whatever we find in there, of course,” she added at the last minute.

  “Of course, you would,” Kel’Van replied dryly. “If we are to do this, it’s best we get going. Once we reach the instance, we will stop and then form the party and not before. Let’s get this thing straight now so that isn’t any confusion once we get inside that instance. I am in charge. If you do anything to impair the mission or put any of my team in harm’s way, I will kill you first before that elemental gets me. Do we understand each other, Ora’El?”

  “Of course, I wouldn’t dream of making things more complicated than it needs to be?” Ora’El said with a sickening grin that made Kel’Van want to gut her and leave.

  “Let’s loot these bodies and be off.”

  CHAPTER 23

  There were four guards at the obsidian cave as Kel’Van’s’ party had taken to calling it. After their last assault upon it, the rotation and manpower had changed. Now, 4 armed guards manned the front, and another four stayed inside. They knew this from observing the changeover of guards from one set to the next. Eight guards showed up, and then eight guards left. What they didn’t know was how the four guards on the inside were setup. Hopefully, it didn’t change from how it was initially the first time. They were in the same weeds or tall trees as before. Fer’shad was actually having a worst reaction with the floating seeds in his mouth and nose than he did the last time. So, the team needed to attack the cave before Fer’shad gave away their position.

  “Can you wall off the cave entrance Ora’El?” asked Kel’Van. “Separating them from their help inside will go a long way into making this easier.”

  “Yes, that is possible,” Ora’El answered plainly.

  “Good. Wait for my signal and then wall off the exit. Don’t have your men attack. Just have them watch out for patrols.”

  “Understood.”

  “Team ready yourselves,” Kel’Van ordered.

  They nudged together in their basic formation. Fer’shad with his shield up, took point. Voresh, just a little to the side on his right. Kel’Van a little off to his left, with Belar bringing up the rear. With everyone in a ready position, Kel’Van turned to Ora’El and said, “Now.”

  The Korai woman raised her hands as they glowed brown. Then a black sheet of rock grew behind the four guards covering the mouth of the cave. At the same time, Kel’Van put his arm forth and with the reddening of his hand, cast Heat wave. The area around the cave entrance formed a wave of heat and then burst into flames three seconds later.

  In the midst of the guards' confusion and burning, the party charged quickly into the fray. Fer’shad led with his shield, bashing one and stabbing another in the legs, hampering its movement. A grey orc on the left end tried to run, but Kel’Van broke off from the formation blasting a cone of fire to its face with his left hand, then quickly jabbing his bone sword into his gut with the other. He then kicked the burning Holmgren to the ground, slapped the enemy's weapon to the side, then plunged his blade into its neck.

  Only one had the withal to strike back initially. A level 12 that was on the right side of the entrance. The grey orc yelled “Cross-cut” and leaped into the party with his duel-blades in the air, while fire was still burning across his back. Fer’shad already had his shield in front of him and took the brunt of the skilled attack on his shield. As soon as he landed, Belar eased up behind him and kicked the Holmgren in the back., pushing him forward. Voresh quickly stabbed his sword forward mightily, punching his blade through his stomach and out of his back. The Holmgren clutched the blade of the sword that was fully embedded in him. He tried to talk, but all that came out was choking sounds and spittle. Belar jumped on it’s back and bit into its neck, the tusks in her mouth piercing through flesh and spraying dark blood. Voresh kicked him off his blade and he fell on his knees. As soon as Belar released her hold on the Holmgren, Voresh quickly stabbed him through the chest, twisted his sword, then snatched his weapon back out.

  The orc who Fer’shad stabbed in the thigh was still on the ground. The Holmgren tried crawling to his dropped weapon, but Belar had begun stomping on his hand repeatedly with her metal boot. Then she quickly kicked him in the face with her other foot, crushing his lips and nose. Voresh ended its life with a stab and twist similar to his last victim. When Voresh and Belar had looked up from their handiwork, both Kel’Van and Fer’shad were already pulling their blades out the last guard who they had pinned to the rock wall.

  “Everyone loot these bodies so there is no evidence to alert others too quickly,” their captain said quietly.” Voresh, scout ahead. We will be about 25 meters behind you as we normally do. Ora’El, you and your crew will be just a short distance in case we need to change tactics quickly, understood?” They all nodded in agreement. Voresh bowed his head and then set off into the darkness of the cave.

  50 seconds. The attack took less than a minute.

  As she followed her would be “partners” down into the cavern, part of Ora’El’s mind was going over what she witnessed earlier with the dismantling of those guards. She had seen far stronger feats of mastery in the courts and in the arena games. But she had never seen a party of 4 attack in the manner that they did.

  They struck fast.

  They were efficient.

  They were brutal.

  They all seemed different as well. Fer’shad and the large square metal…whatever it was on his arm, used it with more confidence and expertise than she remembered. Voresh did not wow her with his expertise, but he was brutally effective. Belar didn�
�t even possess a weapon, but the orcs viciousness made her no less deadly than the others.

  Kel’Van was an even bigger enigma. Here was an orc with no apparent elemental, casually using fire magic. He even used a spell she had never seen before. Add the apparent swordsmanship he displayed at only level 10 made him a deadly combatant. As she mulled over how quickly they defeated the guard again, she had to admit what it was that made them so deadly.

  It was their tactics.

  They performed in almost perfect sync with each other. They played off each other’s strengths as a team. Did all surface orcs fight in this manner? If so, it would significantly explain why the Korai have not bested them yet. A smiled played on her lips as she considered what she witnessed. It reaffirmed her choice in going into the gate with these adventurers. These beings will be the key that unlocks the power that was rightfully hers….

  The pack traveled together quietly. Kel’Van and his party about 5 feet ahead of Ora’El’s group, while Voresh was 20 meters ahead. About halfway down the path, the captain held up his hand for everyone to stop.

  “This is where we stopped last time for Voresh to do recon on his own. We will wait here until he comes back,” he explained to Ora’El.

  Seven minutes later, Voresh returned, still staying low to the ground even when he reached the group. “It’s the same set-up as before captain,” he whispered. “Two near the mirror, I mean instance,” said Voresh correcting himself.” One patrols from one point to the next, while one oversees them all.”

  “I would prefer stealth here normally, but we don’t know how much time we have before they think to look here for us,” said Kel’Van. “Since we got the numbers, we are going to attack them head-on with brute force. Voresh you go ahead and lead with Fer’shad. Belar and I will be right behind you. He turned Ora’El. “You and your guards will attack anyone who comes between you and the gate. As soon as we kill the Overwatch guard, we will attack from the other side.”

  “Understood,” said the Korai woman.

  She was a little too agreeable for Kel’Van’s taste, so he imparted some words of encouragement to Ora’El. “Don’t fuck with me on this. You betray me, and I will cut your head off as promised.”

  He eyed her for 20 seconds to make sure she understood the gravity of the situation before he followed after his team.

  Ora’El silently began grinding her teeth as he left. “The things I do for power,” she whispered as she left in the opposite direction.

  “Gaaahhh”

  This time, Voresh didn’t go for anything subtle when he shoved his sword through the watchman’s back. Time was of the essence. Pulling his sword out, Fer’shad added two plunges of metal through the Holmgren of his own. Then they let him lie in the dirt with blood leaking out of him. As they progressed down the circular path leading to the instance gate, the sounds of battle could be heard on their opposite side.

  “I think we would’ve gotten to the gate quicker if we took the front instead of meeting them from the back,” remarked Fer’shad.

  “You trust the witch who got us in this predicament to begin with, to watch our backs?” asked Voresh, who was looking at the giant orc incredulously.

  “Hmmm, good point,” answered Fer’shad.

  The captain laughed to himself at the two men leading the charge down the path. Even as dangerous as this mission was, they had time to bring some levity to the situation. The more time he spent with his crew, the more he had to admit that these guys were starting to remind him of days long gone with his troops back in the armed forces. Able to bring a smile or laugh to the group, even at the worst of times.

  “I can see the gate captain,” Fer’shad whispered. “The guards there have engaged Ora’El’s group along with the one-man patrol.”

  “This might be over depending on the level of the three remaining guards. Since the last time we came here, the patrol guy was a high level; I’m going to presume this guy is too,” said Kel’Van

  They rounded the corner and arrived at the foot of the instance gate. In front of them were two-level 12 Holmgren and a level 14. “Seems like someone upped the protection a bit. “said Kel’Van. One of the level 12 warriors was already on its knees when the other raised his hands, and a glowing nimbus of light surrounded the downed Holmgren, who raised itself up again and began fighting even harder.

  “Shit, they got a healer,” said Kel’Van angrily. “Okay, change of plans, everybody attack that guy in the robes!”

  “But Kel’Van there is a level 14- “Voresh started to say.

  “KILL THE HEALER!!!” screamed Kel’Van, brooking no misinterpretation of what his orders were.

  The strain on the Ora’El’s team was becoming apparent even though they outnumbered them. The guard’s healer was mitigating the damage her guards were inflicting. What little aid she was giving her team with her stone spells, either trapping her enemy or just putting up barriers, was only prolonging the inevitable. Both spellcasters were running out of mana, but the guards had a level 14 swordsman. It was only a matter of time before the attrition of the battle would fall in the guard’s favor. All of a sudden, the dispelling stopped on her spells. She didn’t wonder how it happened; she just began her earth spells once more. Her powers were slowing down the guards while her personal vanguard began renewing their attacks.

  Once they got within striking distance, Belar, the fastest of their group, jumped and landed a flying kick to the back of the robed figure while its hands were glowing blue. Whatever spell it was about to cast stopped, as the mana user fell face-first into the ground. The healer tried to push themself upright, but Belar stamped her knee into the small of the healer’s back, then grabbed a hand, yanking behind it, until an audible snap occurred in the shoulder.

  “Graaaahhh” screamed a rather feminine voice.

  Belar was about to begin pounding on the back of its head, when a bubble of force pushed her off the healer’s body. Then a yellow nimbus surrounded the healer from head to toe. The mishappen shoulder that was now hanging at an awkward angle, suddenly made a popping sound. The arm that Belar, initially broke was now healed. The healer looked up with a snarl on its face, which took Belar momentarily by surprise. The healer was a grey-white looking elf.

  As she started to get up, Voresh slammed his large sword against the translucent bubble. Then Kel’Van splashed fire across it before he got close enough to begin slashing his sword against her shield. The healer herself was still on the ground on one knee, her hands glowing yellow and white, pressing up against the bubble as if she pushing up a massive weight.

  “That’s it everyone, keep pouring it on!!” Kel’Van cried out.

  They continued pounding on the healer’s shield. Her face grimaced while beads of sweat started to flow down her face onto the ground. The healer’s hands were shaking as the pressure from the onslaught kept coming in waves. Voresh pulled back, jumped in the air, and slammed his sword on the bubble. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back as the shield dissolved. Belar’s foot again connected with her chin, knocking her onto her back. It was followed up by another slash by Voresh to its shoulder, trailing blood in the air as the healer screamed. He followed the blow with his usual finishing move of planting his sword right in the middle of its chest and twisting.

  The healer gripped the sword in her chest and started repairing the wounds, but it was hard to heal when a blade is pinned firmly in your body, but she kept flashing that yellow nimbus of energy around herself. Then the others started in on her again. Belar kicking her in the sides, Fer’shad slamming his shield on her legs, and Kel’Van just shot off his fire cone spell repeatedly on her body. There was just too much damage to heal through. Soon enough, she ran out of mana, and the screams started dying off. In the end, there was nothing left but a smoking carcass with bits of broken bones scattered around what once was a living being.

  “That took a while,” said an exasperated Voresh as he leaned on his sword.

  “This is
why the first person you kill in a group of enemies is always the healer,” said Kel’Van “If you think it was tough to kill her, how do you think it would have gone trying to kill the people she was healing?”

  “Ugh, we don’t have to. It looks like Ora’El’s people are starting to make it an even fight now, said Belar.

  “Yeah, let’s finish this so that we can get to the actual hard part of this thing.”

  The rest of the battle was a rout. Once the healing stopped, the others were able to regroup, while Kel’Van’s party attacked from the rear. Though battle-weary from fighting the guards being constantly healed, they rallied seeing the carnage Kel’Van and his party had set upon the remaining two guards. Belar and Kel’Van killed the lone 12 level with little effort. Two broken legs and a sliced neck ended that one. While the rest of the combined effort of the two groups quickly overwhelmed the level 14. Within minutes, the guard was on his knees, bleeding from several wounds, while trying to hold his intestines in. Despite all of this, somehow the Holmgren was able to raise a bloody smile towards Ora’El.

  “You have cough…cough… failed yet again Ora’El,” the guard said through bloody lips.

  The Korai woman breathing heavily stepped up to dying Holmgrin and slapped him across the face, smacking sweat, blood, and spittle onto the ground. Yet, after reeling from the blow, he returned the same stare and bloodied grin.

  “That is not how you speak to your better’s mongrel! What was that Korai healer doing here?! Upon whose orders was that woman following?!”

  “The grand sect council…. Madam,” he said icily. “The other sects knew you were up to something. Digging…into cough, cough, matters above your station.”

  Ora’El stepped back in shock. She had thought she had been careful. Looking in old texts in private. Never asking or bringing undue attention to herself concerning her personal goals. She had believed she masked them well.

  “Wait…he said other sects,” thought Ora’El.