AVARICE ONLINE: KEL'VAN RED HAND

by Titus Nettles

  “Ahem…” coughed Stonefist. “His name priestess?”

  She looked at the Ulgo strangely before she blinked and regained her senses.

  “Yes…yes of course,” She straightened her dress and then faced Kel’Van.

  “From now until the end of your days, you will be called Ulgo Kel’Van Red-Hand. Repeat it with conviction!”

  Kel’Van rolled the name around in his mind. For some reason, it just felt right. This was his life in a brand-new world. He needed a name that would reflect that. He breathed in heavily and stared at the crowd before him.

  “I am Ulgo Kel’Van Red-Hand!” he exhaled in a large voice.

  “Ulgo, stand behind me and join your new Ulgo family.

  Ulgo Stone-fist stepped toward the front. He slowly eyed the crowd of orcs as they waited upon his words.

  “These are the returning Ulgo’s who will once again protect our people, as they have done before. Laying down their lives for us all, as they will now do again! For G.A.I.A!! For ALGORA!!! To the Twenty Thousand!!!

  A raucous roar filled the night sky as the orcs, both young and old, yelled their reverence at the new warriors among them. Fist pumped rigorously in the air. Fathers held their children upon their shoulders so they could see the returning heroes of old once again walk among them.

  Ulgo Stone-fist turned around and faced the four orcs behind him.

  “Discard the black cloaks to the floor. You have returned to the people. Now walk among those you have protected and died for.”

  They left the stage together with Ulgo Stone-fist leading the procession, Meatgrinder, and the priest shortly behind him. Kel’Van and his group were in the middle, while the priest, shamans, and warriors walked behind them. It was a straight line off of the stage and into the crowd. As they reached the ground, the crowd parted enough for them to come through. While they traveled through the throngs of orcs, many of them reached their hands out to touch them.

  “Thank you, Ulgo” a woman said while holding her smiling child. A man who looked to be an old warrior past his prime patted Kel’Van on his shoulder. “Welcome home warrior!” Kel’Van noticed as they pass the orcs in the crowd, there were constant cheering and gratitude aimed towards them. The feeling was warm and genuine. It reminded him of the times whenever he came back home in the airport in his uniform, and people would stop him and say “thank you for your service.” Except this time, it was on a broader scale, like the NY Giants coming back home after winning a Superbowl and having to walk through the city, with everyone screaming their names and congratulating them. He was both humbled and in awe at the same time.

  Almost an hour later, they arrived close to the city gates, where carriage like vehicles awaited attached to ram-like horses, one behind the other. There were other carriages behind it with similar animals attached to them. Ulgo Stone-fist turned around and faced the newly named Ulgo’s.

  “We will be leaving you now,” said Ulgo Stonefist. “The carriage behind this one will take us to our offices, while this one will take you back to barracks where you can change into attire that is…more relaxing,” smiled the rugged orc. “Enjoy yourself tonight Ulgo’s.”

  The priests and shamans went to separate carriage’s behind them while Kel’Van opened the door to the one in front. The driver gripped the reigns to the animal and then wheeled off in the direction of the barracks.

  CHAPTER 31

  Another round for the new Ulgo’s!!!

  There was nothing but merriment, as both soldiers and the citizens of Algora continued drinking and laughing in earnest with Kel’Van and his patrol mates. While he had lost track of Voresh, Kel’Van was sitting at his rather full table as Fer’shad regaled everyone with the patrols past exploits.

  “-I bashed the Terran in the face and then proceeded to stomp her underfoot until she became one with the earth!!” cried a rather belligerent orc. Gales of laughter accompanied Fer’shad’s testimonial, as cups of dark ale sloshed while orcs slammed them on the tables repeatedly at his story.

  “Wait- you…burp…Are the Terrans as ugly as they say?” said a soldier who was almost wobbling as he pointed at the Fer’shad.

  “Aye, it is so,” he answered solemnly. “They are actually smaller than us. They got pale skin…well, only two were pale…but they had little arms, no teeth…and little arms- “

  “Ya said that already!!” yelled someone from the back. Then another round of laughs and table smacking resounded in the bar, as a waitress in tight leathers put another plate of dark ale and smoking meat in front of the orcs sitting at Kel’Van’s table. She bent over rather suggestively, giving him a rather provocative view of her bustline before she stood up.

  “I’ll be back to check on you Ulgo Kel’Van Red-hand,” she purred.

  Ulgo Stone-Fist tried to hide his smile behind the back of his cask of ale. Ulgo Meatgrinder openly started laughing and pointing in Kel’Van’s direction. He only smiled and watched the sway of the barmaid as she made her back to the front counter. Kelza, who was also watching her walk away, just sighed.

  “I would take her up on her offer captain. I didn’t regret it!” she said rather loudly before she too was slamming the table in hysterics.

  “That’s it…I’ve had enough,” said the priest, as she stood up with a small smile upon her face. She laid a hand on Kel’Van’s shoulder to get his attention. “Please make time to see me this week. If only to discuss your class elemental, good night.”

  She then patted his shoulder and walked towards the door. Leaving Kel’Van with a slightly puzzled look on his face.

  “Where did she get the idea I was an elemental?” he said a little louder than intended.

  “Are you calling the priest of Gaea a liar?” grinned Ulgo Stone-Fist behind his cask.

  “What? No!! It’s just that I’ve seen elementals, and they look nothing like me.”

  “We may have to adjust what we know about elementals after yesterday,” mused Ulgo Meatgrinder. “Ulgo Earth-Binder and his shamans were shocked to see after you claimed your name, you had the same aura of an elemental. Even your class is that of one and not of an orc,” he said as he took a sip of his ale.

  “Well, three of the four orcs came away with new classes, so there is plenty of “shock” to go around,” added Ulgo Stone-Fist, who was stroking his beard while watching some of the orcs in back dance to the thronging beat of the drum players.

  “At any rate, I need to retire for tomorrow’s forage into the west,” Kelza said while stretching her arms behind her head. She stood up and downed what was left of her cup, and smiled at Kel’Van. “I don’t expect to see you for another week captain, but when I do, I want you to be at least somewhat competent with your new abilities and that of your team. Be at the gate at first light a week from now. Is that clear captain?”

  Kel’Van, almost out of habit, stood up and addressed her immediately. “Yes, field captain.”

  Kelza’s eyebrow raised at his reaction. “Most of his time in the wild, and he already understands protocol? You will go far captain, enjoy your evening…with the barmaid, that is.” With a smile, she made her way to the exit through the crowd.

  “Well, since she spilled it already,” grumbled Ulgo Meatgrinder.

  “Spilled what?”

  Ulgo Stone-Fist laid his hand on the shoulder of Meatgrinder to calm down the irritated trainer. “You and your patrol are going to be under Kelza’s command in a week. One, because she is in charge of the area you were last seen in. We need to keep an eye out for these “Terrans” your subordinates are talking about. Second, well…To be honest, you’re too high a level to be a captain. If you hadn’t gotten lost, you would be a field captain. Especially, how fast you climbed to that level. Kelza, while reaching field captain quickly, has been at her position long enough to train another captain in her rank. She is only one level ahead of you and will most likely make rank at 15. But for right now, you are going to be on leave for a week. After everything you went through
to get home, I think it is well deserved.”

  “Thank you, Ulgo Stone-Fist,” my team can certainly use a break.”

  “Well, what I need from you Kel’Van is a full update on everything that happened. From the time your orcs chased those Holmgren into the depths, and everything between you showing up on our doorstep. Just stop by the office tomorrow, and we can go over it. We may have to change some strategies based on what you report on,” explained Meatgrinder.

  Kel’Van made a pained face. Somethings don’t change. At least he wasn’t asking for paperwork and just wanted an oral report.

  “Hah!” laughed Ulgo Stonebreaker, “The responsibility of being in charge doesn’t get any easier Ulgo, get used to it.”

  They got up together and found their own way past the raucous crowd to the exit. Kel’Van had put his head on the table and was startled by the chair close to him being pulled back. When the weary orc looked up, Voresh, with his roguish smile, was beaming back at him.

  “I am rather glad they are gone,” Voresh said as he drank a flagon of ale next to his captain.

  Kel’Van couldn’t help but chuckle at the orc’s candor. The last time he paid attention to his whereabouts, he was in a dark corner sharing ale… and other things.

  “Where is the orc you were having “quality time” with, hmm?”

  “Her? Oh, we spent time together captain. In the corner, upstairs, and even behind the tavern.”

  Kel’Van leaned back in his chair and burst out laughing.

  Voresh leaned in close, almost shoulder to shoulder with him, and stared in the direction of the front Tavern. “Shouldn’t you be trying to get some…how did you say it…quality time with one of these orcs pouring everyone drinks?”

  Kel’Van waved it off as he took a swig of his dark beer. He instead watched Fer’shad and Belar dance slowly but intimately near where the musicians were playing. He held Belar close as she laid her head upon his chest. Both of them, eyes closed, dancing leisurely in a circle. The dim-lit candle-like lights gave off an intimate feel among the loud and voracious merriment around them.

  “They do look good together, don’t they?” Kel’Van commented.

  “Yes, I suppose…but for me, I‘d rather look different every other night. Which brings us back to you captain,” smirked Voresh.

  “I’d rather know how you guys did with our sleeping situation,” he smiled back.

  Voresh hung his head down with a grin, consigned to his defeat of the situation.

  “Fer’shad found a home near the center of Algora. He tried finding something close to the gate but was told most of the soldiers live towards the back of the city.” Voresh took another swallow of ale and wiped his mouth. “By the way, we are going to have to buy one of those Elkane too so we can move around town.”

  “Hmmm, that might get pricey.” Kel’Van raised his cup to his lips, then stopped when a thought hit him. “You said, “A home.” Was there not enough lodging to go around right now?”

  Voresh emptied his cup and was waving down another barmaid. “No, there were plenty of homes, but why would we need more real estate?” he answered, looking at the bar maid’s derrière.

  Kel’Van looked at him and thought maybe the orc’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t as high as the guy let on. “Wait…you’re serious? Do you not see how all of us living in one place may be a problem? I mean, look at those two over there. Don’t you think they maybe, just maybe, might want some privacy for themselves?!”

  “They never needed privacy before.”

  “What do you mean before?” Kel’Van asked, rather loudly. The drink in front of him clearly forgotten.

  Voresh face was frozen for all of two seconds. Then he slapped the table and covered his face in hands.” Captain, those two have been spending “quality time” since I’ve known them. The caverns included. They did not care that I heard them.”

  “This whole time? How did I not notice?”

  “Well captain, you do snore loudly sooo...” he smiled.

  Kel’Van just shook his head and grabbed his mug. All of a sudden, he really did need a drink. If these guys were comfortable living in a house altogether, then he wasn’t going to pour water on their parade. He was going to have to come to terms that he wasn’t back in the states anymore and leave his cultural hang-ups back there.

  “Besides captain, this is normal. Most of the Ulgos live together, especially the patrol teams”.

  “Anything else that I need to know, besides my snoring?” he grinned.

  “Yes.” Belar tried equipping her gear alone before we got here, and she couldn’t. Then the rest of us attempted equipping our gear, and the same thing happened. The only thing we were able to use was the armor we brung back from the elemental and the Holmgren,” he said in a hushed tone.

  “That’s a complication we didn’t need, but it actually makes sense though,” Kel’Van said casually.

  Voresh wiped foam away from the ale being put on the table. “What do you mean captain?”

  “We were able to wear metal armor because we didn’t have a class. You heard both Field captain Kelza and her subordinates. Gaea’s people don’t wear metal armor. So as soon as we received a class, we became “Gaea’s people.” So that is why the gear we used in the caverns are no longer available to us,” Kel’Van said as he stuffed a piece of half-warm meat into his mouth.

  “I guess that’s an even trade, then right? We lose the armor but get a class instead.”

  “That’s easy for us to say. Your class doesn’t necessarily depend on your armor, and neither does mine. However, Fer’shad needs a shield to be effective in his class. Also, having strong armor is a plus for someone who is primarily defending. Belar’s fighting style is very effective because of the metal enforced blows she lands on whomever she was fighting. Can you picture her trying to block a sword blow with leather equipment? All of that has changed for those two, hasn’t it?”

  “You make a good point,” said Voresh. He picked off a piece of meat from Kel’Van’s plate and threw the morsel in his mouth. “Hmm, I wonder what spices they added for this flavor.”

  “I’m pretty sure you can find out when you start your apprenticeship tomorrow. Do the others already know where they are starting theirs?”

  “Yes, Belar will start a day from now with Bartering at the market place, Fer’shad will start his learning next week with one of the hunting expeditions with Field captain Kelza’s team. What of you captain?” Voresh asked.

  “Tomorrow, after I give a full report about our adventures to the council.”

  Voresh scrunched up his face as if the ale he was drinking was bad. “Ugh, I do not envy you that.” He then stuffed another piece of meat from his captain’s plate into his mouth, while Kel’Van looked on with a smirk on his face. He nonchalantly pushed his plate closer to Voresh.

  “Thank you, captain.”

  “Your welcome. I’ll be at the armorer’s shop with Shaman Earth-binder. Hopefully there I can find some way or person to help with our equipment situation for Belar and Fer’shad.”

  Voresh looked at his captain pointedly with a smile. Kel’Van, with a raised eyebrow, looked questionably back at him.

  “What?”

  “Captain, I sat here to get to you to enjoy yourself, and all you’ve done is talk about work. You do understand these people are celebrating us, right? Everyone is enjoying themselves except you.”

  “One day, you’ll understand when you are leading your own group,” the captain smiled back.

  “Captain, there is no doubt in my mind, even with the armor you gave us, that we would not have survived the Undercaverns. We are all here celebrating because of what YOU did. I’m sure you’re going to find a way to help Belar and Fer’shad. But tonight, how about you enjoy the fruits of your labor. We are home captain. Just enjoy it and let tomorrow take care of tomorrow.”

  And with that, Voresh ate what was left on his captains’ plate, patted him on the shoulder, and walked towards what
looked like a bathroom. Fer’shad and Belar walked towards the table, or rather stumbled. Belar was leaning against her beau haphazardly. He was all smiles and teeth as he sat down.

  “Have you had your fill already, captain?”

  “I think that Voresh has. That was him making his way to the bathroom, yes?” laughed Belar.

  “He’s fine. Probably looking for more debauchery to get into as we speak. I’m calling it a night.”

  “Hold on captain, I’ll get Voresh and we can all leave together.” Fer’shad tried to stand up and almost stumbled into Belar.

  “Hahaha, no worries Fer’shad. Stay here and enjoy yourselves. I got a meeting in the morning man,” laughed Kel’Van. “I don’t know where the house is, do the drivers outside know?”

  “Yes, just tell them to go to the third root and 4th branch. It will be the second house there,” Belar stated.

  “Got it. You guys have fun tonight.”

  And with a smile, he got up and made his way to the front door through the throngs of people around him. Once he passed the burly orc guarding the entrance, he started his stroll toward one of the three carriages parked straight across the street.

  “Can I get ride out of here?” he asked. One of the Elkane drivers approached, he slipped some coin into the orcs hand and helped himself into the boxed carriage. He then told him his destination and laid back in the fur-covered seat.

  “Might as well select the skills.”He opened his D.S. and looked at available skills to choose from for his new class. There were only four abilities available to him.

  Stone skin: An ability buff that reduces damage by 15% for 30 seconds. The talent itself costs 3 points.

  Seared Flesh: an ability that enables the casters sword to inflict 27 points of damage after a strike over 10 seconds. This talent costs 3 points.

  Crimson Blade was a sword enhancement that increased a sword's attack power by 5% while also imbuing the blade with flame damage by +10. This talent costs 5 points.