by Eden Redd
“What’s happening?” Elora said with a hint of panic.
“Some sort of attack. We have to get out of here,” Edric said as he stepped further.
Even from the alleyway, the player could hear screams.
“I can hear soldiers,” Leeta’s voice whispered in Edric’s mind.
“I’m getting Elora right now. Be ready when we come back out,” Edric whispered back from his mind.
Elora was to the summoner’s side. Edric noticed she had strapped a sheathed dagger to her belt. Taking her hand, the two rushed out into the small alley and made their way to the street. A stampede of people pushed past the alley opening. Edric watched the stark terror in their eyes as they clutched at loved ones and ran like the devil was chasing them. The player stepped out and looked in the opposite direction from the panicked crowd. Leeta stood, shoulders heaving and mace in hand. Beyond her, large armored bodies moved in formation toward them. They were shoulder to shoulder, weapons drawn. Their armor glowed with arcane runes. Deep harsh voices barked orders and Edric caught sight of their dark blue skin.
“Trolls,” Edric muttered as he slowly stepped back into the thin alleyway. “Leeta, pull back to us.”
The ogre nodded as she stepped backwards, yellow eyes on the armored horde coming toward them. The crowd had thinned to nothing. Edric looked down the street to where the crowd had run and his heart froze in his chest. A decayed dragon flew silently down the length of the street. Its mummified maw opened. Black and gray fire poured from its mouth, burning along the street and the crowd below. Screams were silenced as people threw their arms up and the black fire blasted them to shards of greenish light.
Leeta turned her horned head to the wave of black and gray fire coming toward her. Powerful legs turned and she darted for the alleyway. Edric and Elora stepped back just as the tall ogre jumped toward them. Hooking her mace to her belt in mid-flight, the ogre then opened her arms and grabbed Edric and Elora. Her momentum forced them all to the floor just as black and gray fire flashed past them. Leeta stayed on top of the summoner and shopkeeper as the undead dragon flew past, a haunting roar filling the sky.
Leeta was on her knees as Edric and Elora scrambled to their feet. Edric looked down the alleyway and all he could see was darkness.
“Let’s get out of here,” the player said as he took a step forward.
Elora pulled back, halting Edric, “It’s a dead end.”
Edric looked back to the shop keeper and then turned his attention to Leeta, “Think you can break through a wall?”
The ogre smirked, “I’ll try.”
Leeta took a step closer when her golden eyes widened. The ogre turned around, an arrow sticking out of her back. Grunts and the sound of marching steel blanketed the area. Edric took a step back as he looked past Leeta to the gathering of trolls. Weapons raised, they rushed the alley entrance.
Leeta stood her ground as she lifted her mace. Swinging outwards, the spiked mace slammed into a thick troll chest plate and sent him upwards, crashing into a window. The ogre planted her feet as she swung again, sending a troll sideways into another troll. The “Twang!” of bowstrings and crossbows sounded off. Leeta grunted as three bolts and two arrows sank into her chest.
Leeta took 14 damage! HP: 206/220
Leeta took 12 damage! HP 194/220
Leeta took 15 damage! HP: 179/220
Leeta took 10 damage! HP: 169/220
Leeta took 11 damage! HP: 158/220
Edric watched as the ogre’s hit points filled the corner of his vision. Hand letting go of Elora, the summoner grabbed the whip at his belt and unfurled it.
“Get inside the shop and barricade the door,” Edric said as shadows covered his eyes.
“No,” Elora said as she drew her dagger.
Leeta swung her mace again, sending two trolls flying into two archers. Trolls created a semi-circle at the alley entrance, blades gleaming in the light. With a rallying cry, they charged the ogre. Leeta gritted her teeth as she raised her mace and brought it down hard. It smashed into a troll’s armored head and their body disintegrated into shards of light. Swords stabbed into the ogre’s sides as she lifted her mace and swung hard across.
Leeta took 24 damage! HP: 134/220
Leeta took 27 damage! HP: 107/220
A chill seeped into Edric’s heart for he knew they could not hold them off much longer. The summoner called up a spell and began the incantation. With the final word, a ball of light blazed before the incoming troll horde, blinding them.
You cast Light Spell! (Spell Casting)20+(Int)2=22/ (Encounter Roll)7. Success! Mana: 95/100
“Pull back!” Edric ordered.
Leeta’s hand was up and blocking out the light as she stepped back. Elora opened the door to her shop as the summoner and ogre retreated. Feeling like a trapped mouse, Edric’s mind worked. This was a world event and even with Leeta, he did not have enough power to keep them alive.
Elora and Edric stepped into the shop with Leeta in last. Closing the door behind her and pulling the wooden bar across, the ogre stepped back. Edric looked down to see the ogre was bleeding from multiple wounds.
“Is there another way out?” Edric asked as he prepared one of his abilities.
Elora looked to him, a sadness bleeding into her eyes. “There is only the cellar.”
Edric could see the fear and sadness blending together in her eyes. Something twisted at his heart but he forced a smile to surface.
“Then that is where we make our stand,” Edric said in a low tone. He wanted to be brave but he knew it was a losing fight.
Edric had to look away, a faint glimmer of hope filling the shop keeper’s eyes. Looking to Leeta, the summoner called on his Channeling ability.
“Leeta, I will give you some of my hit points. Fight as long as you can.”
The ogre glanced to the summoner and nodded. Edric called on his channeling ability and whispered the arcane words. Energy flared as it reached out and surrounded the ogre’s body. The player checked his stats and allocated an amount before giving the final word of the spell.
Channeling 50 Hit Points to Leeta! HP: 10/60. Leeta’s HP: 157/220
Edric felt his body weakened, “I wish it could be more.”
Some of Leeta’s wounds closed just as a hammer smashed through the wooden door. “It’s enough.”
Edric looked to Elora, “The fighting may get bad. Make your way to the cellar door and have it ready. We will hold them off……” the summoner was cut off as the door cracked and splintered.
Trolls rushed in one at a time, swinging swords and hammers. Leeta’s form took up nearly the entire front of the shop as she swung wide. One troll was smashed to shards of light. The ogre pushed forward, driving her elbow into another incoming troll and swinging her mace into his stunned form. Grunts and light filled the small store as Leeta threw her weight around, smashing trolls one by one. Edric brought an arm up as a troll raised their sword. Flicking his wrist, the whip coiled around the troll’s arm and the player pulled. Knocking the troll off balance, Leeta swung down, caving in the troll’s helmet and shattering him to bits of light. A crossbow went off, burying a bolt in Leeta’s chest.
Leeta has taken 15 damage! HP: 142/220
The ogre growled her contempt as she rushed the incoming horde. The tight space shook as she beat them down into shards of light. The thin alley way and close quarters made Leeta’s job easier as she dug in, marshalling her strength. The small window to the shop shattered as several more bolts flew in, stabbing into the ogre’s side.
Leeta has taken 16 damage! HP: 126/220
Leeta has taken 14 damage! HP: 112/220
Critical Strike! Leeta has taken 55 damage! HP: 57/220
“Leeta! Back up!” Edric shouted.
The ogre growled as she took a step back, the trolls reloading their crossbows. Edric watched a troll at the doorway charge the ogre, sword in hand. The summoner closed the distance, ramming his shoulder into the oncoming troll and knoc
king him off balance. Leeta capitalized on it and swung her mace into the troll’s face. The troll stumbled with his blade, slicing outward just as his body cracked into light.
Edric’s eyes went wide as the blade point stabbed into his stomach before the troll shattered into light.
You have taken 9 damage! HP: 1/60
Edric clutched at his stomach as the sword disintegrated. Vision blurring and weakness filling his legs, the player tried to step back. Trolls rushed in. A lantern fell and hit the wooden floor. Oil and wood caught and flames rose up. Leeta roared her rage, arms moving in a blur as she smashed troll after troll to pieces. Edric fell, unable to stand, watching helplessly. Leeta was unchained, roaring her defiance as the small shop grew crowded. Swords and hammers cut and slammed into her but she fought on.
Elora knelt down by Edric’s side, dagger still in hand. A troll loomed over them, raising a war hammer. The shop keeper drove her dagger in between plates in the armor across the troll’s stomach. The troll cried out and brought his hammer down.
For a brief instant, time slowed. The player watched helplessly as trolls stabbed at the enraged ogre. Leeta fought as flames streaked up walls and smoke billowed. The player had nothing left to give as sorrow painted his heart. Leeta cried out as a sword penetrated her body and the tip exited her back. The ogre fell back; body dissolving into light and snaking back to the lock stone in his hand.
The troll over the summoner brought his hammer down. Elora silently threw her body over Edric’s. Their eyes met as she lay on him before the hammer smashed against her back. Edric stared as the light in Elora’s eyes flickered. She mouthed something he couldn’t hear and the light died in her eyes. Cracks of light appeared along her face as fear melted away, eyes glassy like a doll.
Edric’s heart hammered in his chest as the shop keeper shattered into shards of light. Pain, rage and disbelief swirled in every cell of his being as he watched the troll lift the hammer up again. The player’s hand trembled as he lay helpless. No words were uttered or exchanged as the troll’s hammer rose up to its zenith. Darkness curled around the edges of Edric’s inner light. The troll brought his hammer down, smashing in the summoner’s chest.
You have taken 40 damage! HP: -39/60.
Light filled the player’s vision before the digital reality shattered into hundreds of tiny mirrors, the shop burning in each reflection.
You have died. Three day lockout begins now.
“Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.” –Lao Tzu
Two
Locks turned and the apartment door swung open. Thomas stepped in, body hunched and darkness under his eyes. Closing the door behind him, Thomas dropped his leather suitcase in a corner and walked to the kitchen. The dim late evening sun glowed from windows but the young man barely noticed. Reaching the refrigerator, he opened it in one smooth motion and reached for a beer. Twisting off the top, he tossed the metal cap on the counter by the trash and took a deep drink.
The young man savored the bitter taste as his body began to instantly relax. Letting out a deep sigh, he moved to the counter, scooped up the cap and deposited it into the silver trashcan. Stepping out of the open kitchen, he walked to the middle of the loft style apartment. Eyes scanned the plain room, looking to the bed above some wooden stairs. Under it was his office, complete with desk, chair, computer and a small book shelf. Across from the office was a comfortable leather couch and wide flat screen TV. Turning, he looked to the single chair by a wall sized bookshelf, filled to the brim with a wide selection of books, everything from the classics to fantasy to architecture.
Thomas eyed his bachelor pad with a little bit of comfort and sad loneliness. He lived in the most vibrant city in the world and yet he felt completely isolated. Reoccurring thoughts flowed through his tired mind of the insane rent he was paying for the place and considering a longer commute for a bigger place. Memories floated along, images of a greener Massachusetts, but the grim reality was that the better paying jobs were in New York City. Thomas took another swig, trying to push away the foul darkness as he moved to the couch.
The moment he sat down, his cell phone began to vibrate. Thomas fished it from his jacket. Seeing the name caused him to suck in his breath in contempt before he tapped “Accept”.
“What can I do for you James?” Thomas asked as he placed it on speaker and put the phone on the couch armrest.
“Tommy, you bad ass motherfucker, I wanted to give you the good news. Your design fucking knocked their socks off. I don’t want to celebrate yet but I totally think they’re going to accept it.”
Thomas didn’t smile, “That’s great news?”
“You bet your ass that’s great news. The inside word is they want the design but have to do some number crunching before they can sign. I think we got it in the bag.”
Thomas said nothing as he sat, beer in hand. James was one of those slick individuals who worked everyone around him to death and then claimed it was his leadership that made it happen. He was high up in a small company so pushing people to the breaking point was standard practice. James talked a good game but he was a snake and a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Thomas despised him but he wrote the checks that not only paid his rent but was just enough to keep him quiet. It gnawed at his heart every time James took credit for someone else’s work and it really stung when he would take credit for Thomas’s own work, every time.
James continued, “I’m going to help move this along but you totally earned a few days off. I know you’ve been putting in the long hours but what type of person would I be if I didn’t let you rest.”
Thomas’s brow hardened. He requested the time off two weeks ago and it was approved. James had nothing to do with it and it caused the acid in his stomach to boil.
“Thank you James, very generous,” Thomas said flatly and took another swig of his beer.
“Don’t mention it. Get your rest and I’ll text you after the deal is signed. I’m working on another project so I need you rested and ready to go when you get back. You did great work! Have a beer, you earned it,” James hung up.
Thomas looked at his beer and took another long swig before resting it on his leg. The last few weeks were beyond stressful. The design for the Flatiron District was a nightmare filled with navigating building codes, making sure the design would fit within the plans and be aesthetically pleasing to the clients. Research consumed him and bled into the weekends. Thomas juggled so much in the air that he knew if he didn’t take any time off, he was going to go crazy, march into James’s office and stab him with a pen.
The architect handed in the project first thing that morning but the damage to his body had been done. He was exhausted. Thomas spent the day tying up loose ends so no one would disturb him over his time off. It wouldn’t even be that bad if James was more of a team player and less of a smiling tyrant. Tempting thoughts of moving back home filled his quiet moments but that had become a dream for another time.
Thomas drank down several gulps of beer. Years of college to create wondrous structures, yet all he did was design what other people wanted. He lamented on how they never teach you when you finish college all you will be doing is working harder to do another people’s work. It was a difficult lesson learned when he first went looking for jobs after earning his shiny degree. He had become a design slave and it never truly sat well with him. The long hours prevented him from having a real relationship, and moving to NYC was a culture shock to say the least.
Turning his head slightly, he glanced upward to the loft bed, knowing the Lewd Saga console and gear were by it. He laughed when he saw the game commercials over the last few years but life in the city was hard. The escape had become an alluring one but what pushed him to buy the system was the latest Lewd Kingdoms update. With enough gold and allies, he could design and create the kingdom he always wanted. Thomas drank down the rest of the beer as he thought back to all the Sim games he’d owned since he was a teenager. The countles
s hours building and sculpting his cities to perfection. The only thing they lacked was the interaction with the citizens. He wanted to not only build but experience it firsthand. Many games tried to accommodate the need but the AI’s were flat and boring. Lewd Saga was a dynamic world with plenty of lifelike interaction. The news outlets were always filled with Lewd Saga stories and updates. It seemed most of the globe was plugged in, so the architect broke down and bought the system.
Thomas smirked, remembering how he poured hours of his off-time setting up a plan. He didn’t just want to adventure; he wanted to build something that would cause players to gasp upon first sight of his kingdom. From the beginning of his research, everything pointed to gold. Scouring the net, he studied hacks and places for high gold yield with as little work as possible. There was still a grind but he was ready for it. The first month in was amazing and fun, until that night.
Thomas’s smirk faded. The Long Night was about a month ago but it still clawed at his memory like a hungry sad beast. His three day lockout nipped at his waking and sometimes sleeping moments. The haunted expression in Elora’s eyes crawled around his mind like a ravenous worm. The time after the lockout was not much better. The dragon kingdoms had fallen and the entire continent of Lukken had changed. Thomas spent his time escaping the trolls and undead before he felt safe enough to resume his work. Every evening he logged in and every evening he worked to fill his coffers, trying to not think about what had happened. Now that Lythor was conquered, the player could never go back to see if Elora even respawned.
Thomas slowly stood up, pushing away the dark memories. Walking to the kitchen counter, he placed the empty beer bottle on it and turned to the wooden stairs. Climbing up, he looked to his wide bed. On a small table, the Lewd Saga console, MEG helmet and suit lay.
“Stay focused,” Thomas said as he stepped around the bed.
Fingers unbuttoned his shirt one by one as his mind worked. Plans formed as pieces of clothing fell to the floor. In a blink, Thomas stood naked before reaching for the suit. Arms and legs filled the muscled fabric. Once it covered his body, it hugged like a second skin. Picking up the helmet, the player slipped into bed. With his free hand, he picked up the love box and placed it over his groin. The box attached with a slight whirl and fixed into place. Lights on the helmet glowed red as Thomas put it on. Tapping a small button on the side, the helmet lights turned from red to green.
