by Eden Redd
“How about a little hellfire,” the dwarf cackled and pulled another lever.
A catapult arm extended out from the back of the golden dwarf, a flaming orb blazing to life. Dumadin slammed a fist on a button and the catapult arm swung forward. The orb of flaming death struck the trolls before him, blasting them to ash.
“Time to clear the field,” Dumadin pulled another lever.
Steam shot up from the shoulders as hands closed. The golden fists detached, thick chains connecting from the wrist. Dumadin pulled another lever and pressed a button. The entire top part of the golden mechanical dwarf spun, fists like ball and chains. Dozens of trolls were smashed and flung as the dwarf slowly advanced humming a dwarven tune.
Edric looked back to the dazed Drell-kai. The monster shook its head, trying to refocus. The summoner held up his hand once again and called on his ability.
(Charm)50+(Cha)10=60/(Encounter Roll)59! Charm successful!
The Drell-kai’s spider eyes turned to the summoner, blinking like it just woke from a nightmare.
Edric’s mind connected to the monster and was instantly assaulted with pain, fear and rage. The summoner grunted as he tried to shift through the jumbled chaos in the creature. Latching on to its fear, Edric could see that it was not afraid of him but of the dread lord who created him. It feared serving him and it feared its new, unnatural life. Just being born, it held the knowledge of its former dragon kind and the monster wept to a song it could never hear again.
The summoner’s eyes bore into the monster as it looked down with tortured sadness. Hand reaching into his satchel, the summoner pulled out a lock stone and whispered arcane words.
(Snare)45+(Sta)7=52/(Encounter Roll)40! Snare successful!
A golden band appeared and tightened around the drell-kai’s neck. It whimpered as it looked down, its rear touching the ground like an obedient dog. Multiple eyes blinked in unison as it stared at the summoner and felt his power.
“Submit to me and I will always take care of you. Swear loyalty and you will have it in return,” Edric stated firmly.
The giant monster whimpered. Edric could feel it hesitate, emotions forming thoughts and asking if life with him would be any different.
Edric gave the monster a gentle smile. “There will be no hatred or rage. There will be no punishment for your existence. I offer loyalty, compassion...and love.”
Black eyes blinked as the drell-kai’s tail flipped back and forth like a puppy. A long second passed before the monster gave a slight head nod. Energy arced around the giant monster, blue-ish light engulfing him. Edric lifted the lock stone as the drell-kai folded into itself. Body contorting and swirling into energy, it bolted forward and slammed into the lock stone. When the last bit of energy sucked into the stone, it flashed and a small carving of the monster appeared on the stone’s surface.
“Thank you,” Edric whispered, his heart growing a little bigger.
***
Claudia wiped away sweat from her brow. Staring up, the three-armed drell-kai advanced as explosions pelted its thick chest. A dozen lancers had fallen back but a dozen more continued to jump, stab and jump away, unable to slow the monster down. Despite their best efforts, the monster slowly stepped along, its health bar still yellow.
Swarms of trolls rushed around the giant, running to Elora’s defensive wall. The explosions were deafening as the lancer tried to think of something to slow them down. Claudia’s eyes centered on the monster’s remaining eye. It had been careful, guarding against her attempts to strike its only visible weakness. Arms rose up, slapping lancers to shards of light in mid-air. Claudia could see; if it continued like this, she would lose all her lancers in minutes.
“Fall back! Defend the kingdom!” Claudia shouted to her lancers.
Heads turning, they received the order and retreated. Legs hit the ground and bounded away over the streams of trolls. Claudia gripped her spear and readied her resolve. Knees bending, the lancer launched into the air straight up.
The drell-kai eyed the lancer as she shot up nearly to snout level. Claudia reared back her arm and threw her spear like a javelin. The spear shot forth like it was launched from a cannon. A hand shot up, the spear penetrating and stuck halfway through the palm. Hand lowering, the drell-kai gave the lancer a single seething glare.
Gravity took hold and the lancer began to fall. The monster took a long step forward and one of the arms shot up with a closed fist. Claudia crossed her arms and brought in both of her knees as the scaled fist hit her dead on. Pain flared as her body was sent flying. Hit points draining, a dazed status effect filled her vision. The lancer turned her head just as she struck the cold earth and bounced twice. Body rolling to a stop, the dazed lancer checked her hit points. She was down to three and hanging on by a thread. Weakly, she reached into a small side pouch and pulled out an elixir. Popping the cork, she brought it close to her lips when shadows crowded around her. Trolls surrounded the fallen lancer, weapons at the ready.
Claudia’s eyes flashed with fire as she drank deeply, blades slashing down on her prone form.
***
Maggar stood tall as he watched the battle. Troll mages cast spells, thick streams of rock and dirt sprouting up like giant worms. The earth elementals fell, making stairs and ramps up the walls of Elora. Guards turned their weapons on the structures, blasting trolls attempting to climb them. Several large elementals tried to break down the walls, only to be blasted to pieces from the magical scorpion crossbows.
The dread lord held his staff as legions of trolls pushed on, trying to gain a foothold. Shifting his gaze, an annoyed crease filled his tattooed brow. The dread lord watched as Edric charmed and snared one of his beloved children. Rage flared along his undead heart. Hand reaching into his robe, he pulled out a vial and held it at the ready.
Kadvar walked through the lines of trolls and made his way to Maggar’s side. The dread lord was a little roughed up but his face was a mask of indifference. When he reached Maggar’s wide, he turned his attention to the battlefield.
“Kadvar, Edric has taken possession of one of my children. You will retrieve the lock stone and smash it. No one other than us will control a drell-kai.”
Kadvar turned his gray eyes to the taller dread lord. “I’m not some errand boy. He has your child and you should retrieve it.”
Maggar’s mouth widened into a razor smile, “You will destroy the lock stone and kill Edric if you can. If not, I’m sure Harkkon will be pleased at your refusal.”
“I don’t fear Harkkon like you do,” Kadvar sneered.
The tall, thin dread lord removed the cork and drank down the vial. When the last drop touched his tongue, he placed the empty vial back in his robe. Kadvar turned his head, eyeing the dread lord when he took a step back. A growing astonishment filled his cold gray eyes as Maggar’s body began to convulse.
Maggar kept his twisted smile as his body thickened. Growing taller, his frame underwent a drastic change, muscles bulging. A shrill moan rose up as the dread lord appeared in the throes of ecstasy. White eyes turned black as the dread lord reached the height of twelve feet tall and built like a mountain.
Maggar turned his thick head and neck, looking down at the stunned Kadvar. “You will destroy the lock stone or I will be sure to make you a subject of one of my experiments.”
Kadvar drew his blade and held it at his side, “I don’t care how twisted you become. You will not bully me into servitude.”
Maggar’s shoulders shook as he chuckled. “You think my current form is meant for brutish fighting? You are mistaken, master of knowledge. My body is conduit to the abyssal plane. I have discovered some of Harkkon’s secrets. Do this favor for me and I will give up those secrets. You and I can become stronger than our lord. Chase down Edric and smash the lock stone.”
Kadvar’s eyes narrowed. “You cannot fool me like you fooled the rest of our fellow lords.”
“You require a demonstration? So be it.” Maggar turned his attention to t
he battlefield. “It is taking far to long for our troll allies to take the kingdom. I shall triple the odds, as it were.”
“Adding a few thousand undead will not increase our chances,” Kadvar stated matter of fact. “Only Harkkon can raise an army big enough to increase our edge.”
Maggar nodded. “Then perhaps I should change your world view.”
The massive dread lord lifted two thick arms, purple and black energy swirling around tight fists. Kadvar took another step back as the tattooed dread lord vibrated with power. Black eyes widened as energy snaked around his body. Opening his fists, a shockwave of power blasted out from his brutish body.
Kadvar was thrown to the ground, as were several hundred nearby trolls. The dread lord watched in disbelief as his own power tingled, feeling the dead moaning to be free. Voices by the tens of thousands of dead filled the dread lord’s mind. The immense power did indeed mirror Harkkon’s power and Kadvar looked up to Maggar with wide eyes.
Maggar looked down with a kind smile. “Do this favor for me and I will have such secrets to show you.”
Kadvar slowly stood up. Nodding to his fellow dread lord, he turned and charged into the marching troll armies focusing on the summoner in the thick of it. Power dazzled his senses as a deep greed swirled. Gray eyes focused as his form melted into the chaos of battle.
“Tonight, the living will be no more,” Maggar grinned.
***
The giant golden dwarf spun, fists attached to chains, whirling and smashing any troll foolish enough to stay to close. Leeta fought with a mace in each hand, striking down troll stragglers. Around them, the tide of trolls pushed on. In the middle, Edric stood with a lock stone in one hand and his other arm wrapped around Faye’s waist, keeping her on her feet.
The summoner looked into Faye’s oval eyes with a dark edge. “Do you have any elixirs?”
“No,” the wood elf said in a low tone. “I gave them to others who might need them.”
Edric lifted the satchel flap and placed the new lock stone inside. When he pulled his hand out, two elixir vials came with it. The summoner handed one to the monk. Edric and Faye popped the corks and drank deeply. Healing and mana-charged energy engulfed their bodies. In a few seconds, the two players were healed.
Edric Temple
Summoner
Hit Points- 140/140
Mana- 230/230
Armor- 5
Strength-20(+3)
Intelligence- 32(+7)
Wisdom- 28(+5)
Dexterity- 25(+4)
Stamina- 33(+7)
Charisma- 45(+10)
Spell Abilities
Charm- 50
Snare- 45
Channel- (+STR/HP/DEX)
Lock Stones (1)
Leeta (Ogre)- HP-300/300
Nykor (Drell-Kai)- HP- 6,000/6,000
Spells
Summoning Spell- 10 Mana
Summon Demon Spell- 2o Mana
Summon Angel Spell- 40 Mana
Summon Elemental- 25 Mana
Light Spell- 5 Mana
Mana Shield- 1 Mana for 2 points of Protection
Primary Skills
Spell Casting- 65
Spell Craft- 36
Gem Craft- 36
Rune Craft- 27
Enchantment- 20
Melee- 40
Wilderness Lore- 23
Equipment
Lightning Whip- 10 to 15 damage
Whip Gem Slot-Lightning damage 10% Stun
Whip Gem Slot- Power Surge, Extra 20 to 50 Damage
Dark Green Robe- 5 Armor
Healing Potions (8)- Heal 100 HP
Mana Potions (8)- Restore 100 Mana
Elixirs (1)- Heals all damage and restores Mana
Edric noticed the Drell-kai added to his locked stone inventory.
Faye’s body healed completely and she stood on her power. Checking her stats, the Stone Mountain Gate technique had a three day cool down. Looking up to Edric’s stern face, the wood elf’s heart clenched in her chest as her eyes took on a sad edge.
“Edric…” Faye began.
“Thank you for trying to save her,” Edric cut her off. “But right now, we need to get back to…” the summoner stopped when a shadow darted from the sidelines, directly for them.
Faye’s body moved automatically, shoving Edric away as her body spun. Arms came up as the shadow materialized into a cloaked figure raising a gray blade with red lines. The monk slammed her hands together into a clap, stopping the blade in mid-swing.
Kadvar grinned. Faye’s eyes widened as some of her chi and life force was sucked into the blade. Weakness ran through her limbs as she struggled to keep the blade between her palms.
“Blood for the blood sword,” Kadvar leered.
Faye tried to let go and spin away but her palms were glued to the sword. Hit points and chi drained from her body, a cold chill filling her chest. The monk’s body shuddered as she fell to one knee. Kadvar pressed his power down on the monk when arcane words touched the edge of his senses. Looking up, eyes locked on the summoner as he sat, whispering the final word to the incantation.
(Spell Casting)65+(Int)7=72/(Encounter Roll)45! Spell successful!
Summon Demon! Mana: 210/230
Cracks splintered in several directions across the digital reality. An opening stretched along the cracks and a thick leg stepped out. Edric watched as a hulking, winged demon stepped from the crack and the portal sealed behind it. No words were spoken as the demon’s flaming eyes fell upon the dread lord and its entire body burst forward.
Kadvar pulled his blade back, cutting Faye’s palms in the process. The wood elf ignored the slivers of pain as she slowly rose up. The demon held out a hand and a flaming sword appeared right before he brought it down. Kadvar parried the strike, muscles barely straining against the demon.
“You’re blood sword will not work on me,” the demon growled.
Kadvar pushed the demon’s sword away and backed up. Edric grabbed Faye and began to pull her along. The summoner knew the demon wouldn’t stand a chance but he needed a long enough diversion for them to get away. Faye stumbled along, her limbs returning to normal. Leeta glanced back to see Edric and Faye running as a demon fought the smaller dread lord. The ogre slammed her spinning mace into a troll’s face before turning and running to her master, the troll shattering into shards of light.
Dumadin yawned inside the golden construct as the trolls had backed off to a safe distance. Turning the guardian’s head around, the dwarf’s hands and legs moved in a blur. He watched Faye and Edric running away as the dread lord fought a demon.
Golden fists reconnected to mechanical wrists. The giant construct was ready to barrel toward the dread lord as the sky filled with a brilliant light. Dumadin raised a golden arm to block the white light filling the sky.
***
Shouting and explosions lit up the night as Juna lay in her father’s arms. The two had not moved; the poison and loving embrace of Jinn keeping her still while the entire kingdom fought on. Rayna’s songs played on, filling the fragile kingdom with courage. Lightning and fire filled the sky above; the battlements and wall trembling from continued strikes. Sadness wormed into the half-troll’s heart as she lay helpless.
Juna turned her eyes, looking up at Jinn. The assassin looked away, unable to return the troll’s gaze. She could feel it, his shame and strength. He didn’t want her to die again and she loved and hated him for it. Her new friends were fighting for their lives and she was unable to move her body to aid them. Frustration coiled into a heated storm as she tried to think of anything to free her.
“I can’t let this go on,” Juna whispered in her mind.
The awakened half-troll brought up her stat sheet. It was the first trick she learned as she wandered; a ghost in a digital realm. Stats glowed in her vision and she looked them over, trying to find something. Ability and skill lists ran down her eyes but the paralyzed status effect blinked in her vision. Every skill and ability we
re grayed out except for one, her Arcane Surge ability.
Juna’s eyes stared at the words. The half-troll wanted to wait before using her strongest ability but it seemed, if they were going to survive the night; she had to bring her ace card to the battle. Next to the ability, a six hour cool down glowed. If she used it now and the enemy had any more surprises, it might mean the end of the kingdom and her friends.
Juna looked past the glowing stat screen to Jinn’s scarred face. A small smile appeared as she saw past his avatar shell and could see Jason’s living light. Love swelled as she knew he was trying to save what was most precious to him. The anger faded into the background and Juna knew what had to be done.
Mentally tapping on the Arcane Surge ability, she whispered her love to Jason. Jinn turned and looked down, eyes filling with dread as a white light engulfed the stunning half-troll. The assassin stayed where he was as Juna regained the use of her limbs. Body curling forward, Juna stood up, hands reaching over her shoulders and drawing her short swords. A spiky white aura encircled her strong form as she turned to Jinn, eyes filled with sad understanding.
Jinn smiled, “Go get em’, my daughter.”
Juna’s aura flared brighter, bathing the wall in white light. Rayna turned her attention to the light, fingers playing chords. The bard grinned as Juna burst into the air like a comet. When she reached the zenith of her ascension, she turned her eyes to the full battlefield and the drell-kai walking toward the city wall. Power pulsating, the half-troll fell into a dive and burst forth, toward the giant monster.
“You go you beautiful bitch!” Rayna shouted at the top of her lungs.
