AVARICE ONLINE: KEL'VAN RED HAND

by Titus Nettles

“It’s a single massive server connected to smaller servers by region. I’m not going to pretend I know all the specifics behind it, but I do know this. G.A.I.A. created three expansion zones in preparation. We only recently found a way into this one a week ago, but it’s hard for us to even get here. It’s clear that G.A.I.A. intentionally placed it that way, and we don’t know why. That’s part of the reason we’re here. To give an advance report for the advance troops coming in.”

  “Troops?” A cold draft almost danced on his spine when he heard that word. “Why would you need advance troops for anything?”

  “We can’t get here the normal way. As modded characters, we can’t institute a save option to build something like we have in Northgate. But the advance team from the guild Onyx Blade were paid handsomely to do it the hard way, meaning doing it by the underground caverns leading here. They are carrying a town flag in the inventory of the head guildsman, and when he finally reaches this place, he is going to plant it and claim territory here so that we can have settlements by game law.”

  Kel’Van leaned against the rock. Now G.A.I.A.’s cryptic message about claiming that dungeon and the citadel behind it made sense. They were going to invade Gladys mountains. The highest levels are usually around 20-30. As far as he can tell, the highest levels of Algora were around the high thirties.

  They would get crushed. WE would get crushed.

  “How long before they get here,” he asked grimly.

  “The road is long, and actual high-level monsters are spawning the whole trip here, but even accounting for them, they feel they should reach the caverns connecting here at least an hour before the last update commences?” she said.

  “The last update?”

  “Yeah. Well, not the actual last update but the big one as far as the real world is concerned. This mega-update will upload all the people logging in for the 10-year long game and reducing all current players to level one equally. That’s why the rush to get here is so paramount. They need to establish the town save before the update, or there will be no connection for players to spawn here safely or build here.”

  Now Kel’Van could see the big picture. Kandice and her team were just scouts. Checking the area for danger, enemies, and where to start the town. The hired guild was just the muscle to get here and establish the colony. Once that happened, they will eventually kill off the Ulgo here. It wouldn’t matter that they were starting at level 1. They would eventually make it to level 30 and destroy the orcs, if not push them out of their lands, or at the very least farm them for the experience. After all, they were just NPC’s to them.

  “Kevin, why are you an elite, and where have you been all this time?”

  “Hmm?” the question jarred him out of his own head and back to the present moment. “Say what?”

  Kandice took a few steps toward the rock Kel’Van was leaning on. “I said, how did you become an elite monster, and where have you been all this time?”

  Kel’Van looked at her face and knew she wasn’t kidding. “Is that what you see when you scan my description?”

  “I don’t have to. It says so right above your head in red, just like most of the creatures we’ve seen in this place, including the orcs that were with you. All elites”.

  He was suddenly altogether glad he was leaning up against the rock. That was something that hadn’t even crossed his mind. But it should have. Any instance is going to be inhabited by elites, and the Aberrant elemental was for damn sure an elite. It just didn’t have the tell-tale signs of one over his description. But maybe that’s why he couldn’t tell. Because they were all elites here. He did not like where this was going. Kel’Van closed his eyes as he pressed his fingers up against his nose.

  “This just keeps getting better…Kandice, that would imply that this…and all of Gladys mountains wasn’t just an expansion, but a giant instance.”

  Kandice's mouth hung open agape. No one, not their group or even the big wigs running the show, even put that together. It just too far-fetched. But the evidence had been staring them in the face. It was definitely possible.

  “That may be so Kevin, and man does that change things. But you didn’t answer my other question. Where have you been all this time? Did you just pop-up the same time this “whatever this is” did?” She asked

  “I don’t know…The last thing I remembered was everything going dark and then a lot of pain, then having some orcs pool me out of a pool”. It suddenly occurred to him that he may be speaking too much. She didn’t need to know ALL the details. “For the past several weeks, I’ve just been trying to survive.”

  “Several weeks?” she asked. She had looked at Kel’Van in a questioning manner as if she didn’t know if he lying or pulling a bad joke on her. “Kevin, that’s not possible.”

  “What do you mean it’s not possible,” he remarked snidely. He was rather peeved at the situation and not at her. Nevertheless, it still came out badly.

  “Relax Kevin, I’m not calling you a liar. But the time doesn’t add up. Just a couple of weeks is what you recall?”

  “From the time I was… “stuck in the game” till now. It has only been weeks, 6 to 7weeks of them at the most.

  Kandice covered her mouth before she spoke. Then laid a hand on his shoulder. “Kevin, we buried your body in New Jersey, next to your father, 4 years ago.”

  Voresh was on his knees, squatting behind shrubbery and an overhanging tree. Kel’Van had just laid against a wall, staring at the rather short Terran elf wildly. Earlier, he had hugged the tiny Terran, which honestly made him wonder if he preferred these women than orcs. Even though his captain wanted to kill the elf-like one in the Undercaverns, he was a lot warmer to her than he was the orc females. He hadn’t even tried bedding any while in camp. What was he waiting for?

  “If Terrans are more your taste captain, I foresee a lot of lonely nights for you.”

  Voresh was about to get more comfy when he spotted a figure near the rocks. He tried to get a better look but whatever was there was now gone.

  ” Hmph,” he was about to just right it off as just the wind pushing the leaves or a scared animal when he saw the footprints in the dirt. He then got lower in his stance, knees and hands propped up his body as he intently stared around the area. The tall grass near the footsteps moved only a tiny bit.

  “It’s the Terran rogue,” thought Voresh.

  Then he saw multiple shadows creeping towards the same shrubbery of bushes where the rogue was.

  “And he has help,” he whispered under his breath.” Okay, playtimes about to begin.”

  He looked to the back of him and saw the giant shield bearer on his stomach. Once he was sure Fer’shad could see him in his line of sight, he jumped up from his position and started jogging at a fast pace toward Kel’Van.

  “Has anything changed since last we talked?” asked Gerald.

  R.J. only momentarily glanced over his shoulder. He knew the party was only a short distance from him from his last in-game message. He was not surprised when he crept up from behind him with Ara and Alex.

  “No. They’ve been talking together like old friends for a minute now.” He turned to face Gerald with a side glance. “Sorry I doubted you. I just didn’t think Kandice would sell everyone out,” said R.J. shaking his head in annoyance.

  “We don’t actually know that’s what’s going on, that’s why we- “

  Gerald's eyes went wide within his helmet.

  “Why we what?” asked R.J.

  “Holy shit, their Calvary just arrived!” screamed Gerald. He quickly looked behind him and gave orders. “Ara, you stay only close enough to line of sight heal. Leave the damage dealing to the rest of us. Let’s go!”

  R.J. was about to ask where are they going to, when he finally spotted the rampaging orc flying out of the woods with his gigantic sword in hand. The same orc who slammed the business end of his weapon through his chest the last time they met.

  “Oh, you son of a bitch.” He whispered as a red fla
sh of heat bloomed in his face. The rogue took off running and then vanished, intent on giving as good as he got from the last encounter he had with the giant sword-bearer.

  “This is all too much.”

  Kel’Van felt his back sliding down the rock behind him. He then landed unceremoniously on his backside with his head in his hands. Him being trapped in the game. The earth outside going through some weird “walking dead “scenario. The migration of humanity to Avarice, and now this. Kel’Van’s mind was drowning, and there was no one throwing out a line to save him.

  Kandice closed the distance between the two of them, placing a calm hand on his shoulder.

  “Kevin I don’t know what happened to you, but I think the Avarice techs can help. Think of what people can learn from your experience. More importantly, you wouldn’t be alone. You can come home.”

  The only thing that even registered with Kel’Van was You can come home. That’s it. Home. Everything was moving like syrup to his senses. He looked up and saw Kandice’s concerned smile on her face. Then a hoarse scream caused him to gaze forward. Running toward him and drawing the sword from his back was one of his own. He could not think of the name, only that he meant something to him.

  “Captain! It’s an ambush!”

  “Ambush?”

  The word was slow to make sense in his confused mind. He looked up again towards Kandice and saw her shirk backward from the light green behemoth barreling towards them. The green being had closed half the distance to him when a puff of black smoke appeared above him. A figure garbed in black and grey fell out of a dark cloud and slammed two daggers into his back. The green giant fell on its knees as the small figure began slashing at the now immobile being, looking dazed on the ground. The face on the green behemoth suddenly was super-imposed by the boy who had placed his faith in him years ago…Help me, Sergeant...

  That image broke through the haze in his mind.

  “Get your head out of your ass man, and deal with what’s in front of you!” a dark part of his mind screamed at him. He quickly eyed the woman only a few feet away from him, staring at the attack.

  “Traitorous cow,” he said menacingly.

  “Kevin, what- “was all she had time to say as Kel’Van’s short bone sword slashed its way through her chest, throat, and the inside of her jaw. The force of the blow lifting her off the ground, pinning her against the rock.

  Critical hit! Screamed across his peripheral vision but he paid no attention to it. All Kel’Van saw was red, and the cause of it was on the business end of his sword.

  “You want to talk to me of help? Of coming home?” Kel’Van spat out. He was close enough to her face that he could see the sword poke out of her ragged cheek. “I got a surprise for you; I don’t want your type of help. And as far going back anywhere with you?” Kel’Van then launched his foot against Kandice’s body, holding it steady against the wall.

  “I am home.”

  He then with both hands, ripped his sword sideways, wrenching it out of her body, scattering her teeth, jaw, and half her face across the surface of the boulder. He didn’t even bother to look back as the body sloughed to the ground. The light leaving her eyes as her mind left her avatar body. He ran at a full sprint toward his fallen comrade.

  “Hang on Voresh, I’m coming.”

  Voresh laid on his hands and knees immobile thanks to the rogue’s stun. The small Terran stood as if waiting for the charging masked orc to attack him. As Kel’Van cleared the distance halfway, he fired off his Flame spell in front of him. The grey and black-robed rogue barely dodged the attack leaping to his left. He did not expect a fire blast from an oncoming orc. He jumped backward to avoid the flame. Kel’Van immediately cast his stone skin spell, denoting 15% of any incoming damage to his body.

  “Where are the others?” He mused as he readied to attack the rogue again. Kel’Van stood there safeguarding Voresh till the stun wore off. He knew the rest of Kandice’s team had to be close by. The sunlight was being blotted out above him, and he looked just in time to put his bone sword in between himself and the shadow descending upon him from the sky. A two-handed sword came crashing upon Kel’Van’s own, forcing him down on one knee as he blocked the attack. He then quickly leaned to the left, falling on his side as he swept his sword horizontally at the attackers’ legs. The blow knocked the warrior down, getting a grunt from his human attacker. The Terran backed away, grabbing the wound with one hand.

  The rogue looked as if it was preparing another attack when Fer’shad barreled through them with an Auger rush skill from their rear with his shield. He had knocked the rogue to the left, closer to Kel’Van, and bashed the swordsman far to the right with his head-on collision. Voresh was just getting up from the stun attack from earlier and was about to land a haymaker swing of his sword at the downed human swordsman. Then a roar sounded off. Both Fer’shad and Voresh became enraged and charged at a shield-wielding warrior behind them.

  “AOE taunt,” mused Kel’Van. A skill allowing tanks to taunt multiple enemies into attacking them instead of everyone else.

  “That’s 3 of them, so where is the fourth?” He didn’t have time to ponder this as he spied the rogue attempting to follow his comrades and attack them from behind.

  “Damnit, I hate that skulking class,” he said under his breath. Before the rogue could go into stealth, Kel’Van sent another blast of fire between the rogue and his friends. “No, you sneaky little shit. You’re all mine.”

  “Run faster Or’Fan, they are in danger!” cried Belar.

  Ever since she saw Fer’shad take off running, she was trying to keep pace. The problem was that their resident map maker was not as agile as she was. The orc slowed their pace in half, but she couldn’t leave Or’Fan and chance him getting killed by something else. She knew not his fighting prowess, but by Kelza and the team's standard, he seemed to be lacking the stamina for such an endeavor. This was costing time, and she was not happy about it.

  I’m…huff…going…Oh by Gaea…I gotta stop!”

  The mapmaker stood with half his body pressed to his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Belar’s nostrils flared in impatience. She could hear the sword strikes and voices of grunts as the battle progressed. While here, she was babysitting a grown orc.

  “Fine, but heed what I say orc. While you “catch your breath,” I will be joining the orcs that have been protecting you so far. If you find yourself capable of attack, only do so while their back is toward you and not before. Understood?”

  The winded orc understood both the rebuke and the intent to keep himself safe and nodded his agreement. With that mattered settled, Belar ran full speed toward the battle she could hear raging on without her.

  Or’Fan, shamed and tired, got on one knee. He took out his two-handed ax from his inventory and laid it upon the ground. It took him a couple of minutes to catch his breath before he picked up his weapon and followed the sound of war himself.

  It had taken Belar only two minutes to reach the clearing where the battle was taking place. The scene before her made her catch her breath.

  It was the same group of players they fought a week ago. Kel’Van had said that they could come back, and she had no reason to disbelieve him. True to his word, here they were in the flesh. Their bodies hale as if no harm had come to them. Well, almost none.

  The one Kel’Van was supposed to meet lay nearly beheaded next to the boulder wall. The captain was squared up against a grey and black-garbed Terran, blocking him from joining the other group. Further away, Voresh and Fer’shad were voraciously attacking an armored metal Terran with a large shield. The sound of the battle was reverberating in the air from the multiple hits. Both of her comrade’s eyes were blood red. The tell-tale sign that they were enraged. She had fallen victim to this skill twice over already and known that the shielded one had used a “taunt” skill, as Kel’Van would say it.

  What railed her was the Terran with the two-hander behind them. While her enraged comrades were attac
king, the Terran was slashing heavily into Voresh’s back. Rivulets of blood began to run down from behind the orc's legs, signaling that he was at least 60% down in health. A manic grin pasted the pale Terrans face as he swung twice more at his legs. With a growl, she sprung from the top of the clearing.

  “I don’t hear you mouthing off now fucker” grinned Alex. His leg was aching from the earlier attack, but he could bear it if only to keep hacking away at this arrogant, green piece of filth that killed him a week ago.

  “I don’t hear ya talking ya-“was all he muttered before Belar’s Auger kick landed behind his back, sending him sprawling towards the ground. Dust sprayed in the air as he skidded across the gravel, and his sword clunked out his grip. He tried to push himself up by his hands when a foot kicked his arm out from under him.

  “Oof!” he cried out. He tried turning his head and grasp the hilt of his weapon, only to have a foot crunch down on his wrist. The scream of pain arched up his hands as if his nerves were hit with a live wire. “Why are the pain receptors not turned off in this place,” he wondered for the umpteenth time he’s had to be in Gladys mountains. “No matter,” he thought, as he grabbed a handful of dirt with his right and quickly rolled over on his back. As he faced his assailant, he threw the dirt and dust in the air.

  The orc jumped backward, the dirt missing her face, but it had done its purpose. It allowed Alex enough time to scurry on his back and frantically find enough purchase with his right hand on his sword, using it to steady himself to stand up. He leaned back against the wall of stone behind him. The female orc eyed him, ready to pounce like a coiled snake.

  Alex raised his sword in front of him in a guard position with one hand. Then a blue nimbus cloud, dotted with tiny ice crystals, surrounded him for 2 seconds, then disappeared. The gash his leg suffered from earlier was gone. His wrist, which was broken, healed along with the shooting pain it was giving him.

  “About time,” he mumbled. “ Now I..oh shi-“

  Alex pivoted to his left quickly with his sword still in the guard position, just as Voresh used his Rising star skill; an uppercut with his sword heaving the human into the air. The impact of his bone sword on Alex launched him almost six feet away, with him landing face first in the dirt.