by Eden Redd
A melodic plucking of strings filled the area. Heads turned as a woman in black, with leather straps and silver buckles tight around arms, thighs and waist, stepped from the forest gloom. She wore a cloak around her shoulders and hood over her head, shadows covering everything but her mouth and chin. She held a lute, fingers on strings and they moved with an expert touch as she continued to play. Edric noticed it sounded almost like a Spanish guitar and was impressed that a lute could sound like that.
The woman in black stopped but played a soulful tune as some of the trolls faced her. Edric watched as she continued, unfazed by the large blue monsters. Faye let a smirk slip and her body relaxed.
“May this humble bard play a tune or two for some gold?” The woman in black said in a sickly-sweet voice.
The commander’s eyes held the same tired stare. “No. You will be taken into custody and brought to the Middle Kingdoms before being released.”
The bard’s head remained still as she continued to pluck a playful tune. “I have to clear my tab at the tavern. Let me play for the gold and then you can take me into custody if you wish.”
One of the troll’s faces turned a pale blue. He muttered to another troll and his face blanked. Edric could see that whatever was being said, it wasn’t good. News traveled like lightning between the trolls before one gathered the courage to whisper in the commander’s ear. It was then that Edric recognized the bard’s familiar black leather and a wicked smile bloomed.
The commander’s eyes widened a hair before they hardened. Turning his black eyes to the bard, he drew his sword and pointed it at her.
“Drop the lute and pull the hood back, NOW!” The commander ordered.
The hooded figure lifted her hand and pulled back the hood to reveal a pale face. Short black hair with purple streaks was combed forward, a point covering one eye. The darkness under her exposed eye gave her a tired look but the small smile spoke of some pent up madness waiting to be unleashed. Hand falling back to the lute, she did not drop it. Instead, she hugged it close.
The commander’s eyes narrowed, “Rayna Discord, the bounty on your head is considerable. I may get a promotion from this.”
Rayna stood her ground, fingers moving lovingly along her lute. “But I haven’t played the song of my people to you yet.”
A troll pulled a thick crossbow from his back and aimed, arms trembling, “The lute! Drop the lute!”
Rayna’s smirk grew wider, “I can never part with my muse. Let me play for you?”
The troll’s finger touched the crossbow trigger but the trembling caused him to tense. The commander took a step forward to the bard while the troll with the crossbow accidentally jerked the trigger back. The bolt shot forward and time slowed down.
Rayna’s smirk never wavered as she spun her petite body, the bolt missing her by inches. Fingers touched the secret parts of her lute. Edric’s eyes widened as bodies burst forward toward all of them. Leeta growled her excitement as Faye took a step toward the wave of muscled blue bodies coming toward her. The troll’s ogre lifted up meaty fists and beat his chest, roaring into the forest. Time collapsed on itself as it returned to normal and bedlam erupted.
A crooked stick stabbed out from the top of Rayna’s lute, arcane energy glowing from the tip. Holding the lute like a short rifle, she played a note before energy swirled from the stick and lightning burst forth. The bard laughed maniacally as a stream of lighting slammed into a troll with the crossbow and burst out his back. The troll shattered into shards of light as the rest of the force charged.
Faye’s movements were smooth as she stepped toward the incoming trolls. Fingers curled into fists and as soon as she felt the putrid breath of a troll on her face, her arms became a blur. The troll’s eyes bulged as fists slammed into his chest three times, cracking digital ribs and rupturing virtual organs. The troll spit blood before his body was blasted away to bits of light. Faye’s feet dug in and she launched herself at three more trolls. Hands, elbows and kicks flew out, each strike true. Trolls grunted or screamed as the unarmed wood elf cracked their bodies into a greenish light.
The ogre rushed into the fray. Leeta roared her contempt as she rushed him. Spiked mace up, she brought it hard across the ogre’s face. The monster let out a chuckle as he snapped his horned head back, blood spilling from his mouth. Meaty fists shot out and Leeta moved her large nimble body. The ogre was big and all muscle but Leeta used her slightly smaller size and agility to dodge each fist before whirling around and slamming the spiked mace into his ribs.
Edric watched as the ogres continued to fight like titans, the very ground shaking. The summoner tried to take it all in and pick a target but almost everyone was already engaged. Rayna’s laughter filled the forest as she pointed the wand at the end of her lute into another troll and unleashed another bolt. The troll took the blast to the shoulder and spun in mid-air. The commander was nearly to her, sword up and gleaming in a shaft of sunlight. The bard’s hands moved in a blur, the lute opening up. Edric watched in disbelief as her small hands slipped in and each pulled out a wand. With duel wands, she pointed one at the commander’s hand. A lightning bolt streaked forward, striking the hand and blackening it before the sword went flying. The troll screeched as Rayna stepped into him and jammed the second wand into his stomach.
“Light my fire,” Rayna whispered.
The commander’s eyes widened as he was blasted in half. Each half fell to the forest floor before bursting into light. Rayna backed up, wand in each hand and a crazy grin on her lips.
Faye’s legs moved with perfect precision. Heel crashing down on a kneecap, the troll cried out as his body twisted. Fingers uncurling and forming a point, the monk drove the tip into his exposed neck and exited out the other side. The troll never made a sound as his body crumbled before her. Faye continued to fight like a martial arts master; killing trolls with one or one two strike combos.
Leeta was the only one having a difficult time. The female ogre gave everything she could, landing each strike but the enemy ogre pressed on. Edric knew she had to move faster. Holding her lock stone in his hand, the summoner used his channeling spell. He knew it wouldn’t be much but at this point but anything would be a benefit.
The summoner whispered the arcane words and a connection formed. Drawing on his Dexterity stat, he whispered the final word.
Channeling 14 Dexterity into Leeta! Dexterity: 0/14. Leeta’s Dex: (+10)44/30
The summoner lost his balance and fell on his rump as he watched Leeta’s movement’s blaze with extra energy. The ogre’ mace blurred as she struck twice and three times before the ogre could throw one punch. The ogre’s chuckling died as the female ogre smashed spikes against his sides and arms.
A shadow loomed over the ogre, causing it to hesitate. Edric stared as the health bar over the ogre turned yellow before a figure came down on him. A spear stabbed into the monster’s broad back, the tip disappearing under thick skin. The ogre roared for a second before a spiked mace slammed into his jaw.
The monster’s massive body twisted from the strike. Claudia’s face was grim as she pulled the spear and stabbed it deeper as he fell. Before the ogre hit the ground, the lancer pulled her spear and jumped. Edric was astounded as she flipped through the air like a graceful dancer and landed without making a sound. Leeta stepped to the downed ogre, lifted her spiked mace and brought it down with a hard crunch. The ogre’s body shattered into shards of light.
Faye’s fingers curled around a troll’s leather armor. Arms not even straining, she lifted him up and slammed him into the ground so hard, everyone felt it. The troll let out a groan before shattering to light.
The last troll stood with a club, arms shaking as the women turned their gazes to him. Dropping his club, he turned and made a run for it. Claudia planted her feet and lifted her spear. Edric could barely see the shaft as it launched through the air and buried in the fleeing troll’s back. The troll’s arms flailed as he fell forward and shattered when he hit the ground.
Silence once again returned to the forest. Faye and Claudia looked to Rayna. The bard picked up her lute, sliding her wands into it and pushing down the crooked wand above the lute’s neck. Putting the strap over her head, she shifted the lute to her back and gave the two women a pleasant smile.
Edric stayed on his ass, looking to the three women as Leeta hooked her mace to her belt and walked to his side. The silence between them was a little unnerving until Faye leaned forward and gave the bard a light hug. Claudia smiled before walking to her spear lying on the ground about forty feet away.
“What brings you out here,” Faye asked.
Rayna smiled. “Everyone was getting emotional at the guild hall. I saw you and Claudia leave and thought I’d follow. I wanted to see if you guys were going out for some fun. I wasn’t disappointed.”
The elf and bard turned their attention to the sitting summoner. Edric gave a half smile as he tried to get back up. Body not responding, he shifted but stayed where he was. Rayna turned and walked over, amused eyes on the summoner.
“Edric Temple,” the summoner said and put up his hand.
Rayna looked to it and crossed her arms, “Rayna Discord and I should smack your hand away. You looked right at me in the hall and didn’t bother to come over and say hi.”
“I…uh….” Edric’s hand lowered as he wasn’t sure what to say.
“Stand up so I can slap you,” Rayna said with a hard edge.
“Um…I can’t. I channeled all my dexterity into Leeta. I only regenerate one point per hour.” The summoner hesitated before he continued, “Anyway, I’m not sure I want to stand up if you’re going to hit me.”
Faye stepped over, “Rayna, leave him alone. He doesn’t know your sense of humor.”
The bard’s eyes narrowed, “Who said I was I was being funny?”
Edric stared up in odd confusion. Leeta knelt by him and her strong arms cupped under his body. Lifting him up, she held him like he weighed nothing.
“I’ll carry him for a few hours,” the female ogre said simply.
Faye nodded, “We will continue on and find a place to camp.”
Rayna’s eyes closed as she kept her arms crossed, “Where are you all going?”
The wood elf smiled, “Edric here bought some land not too far from the Middle Kingdoms. He’s trying to convince us to invest in it. We thought we’d look it over.”
The bard shook her head, “Land by the Middle Kingdoms? That sounds like a terrible and stupid idea. Could be fun. Want one more?”
Faye looked away with a small smile. Edric looked down from Leeta’s arms, eyes studying the bard in black.
“You can join us, if you promise not to slap me.”
The bard tapped a finger against her arm, “I can’t make that promise. We’ll see.”
Edric watched incredulously as Rayna turned and began walking. Claudia stepped over with spear in hand, eyes a little lost. Faye nodded to the lancer and began walking. The green haired lancer looked to Edric in Leeta’s arms, gave a shy smile, turned and began following.
Edric’s heart dropped in his chest for a moment before he smiled. Leeta held him close and began walking. The summoner was about to get comfortable before something glinted in the sunlight.
“Stop,” Edric whispered and the ogre stopped.
The summoner looked down at a blue crystal, slightly larger than his fist amid several gold coins littered about from the fight.
“Pick that up,” Edric whispered.
Leeta knelt down and scooped up the crystal. Standing up, she handed it to the summoner. Edric eyed the rhombus shaped crystal. Turning it over in his hands, he inspected it for a few seconds before opening his satchel and placing it inside. Thoughts spiraled on as Leeta began following their companions. The player’s mind worked as he wondered how he could use the crystal to their advantage.
Birdsong returned to the forest as the party moved on in the afternoon light.
Four
The campfire crackled in the evening air. The stars shined down their dim light as Edric sat, arms back and looking up. The player could hardly believe how beautiful the sky was as his fingers dug into the dirt. The amount of detail in the game continued to amaze him as he took a moment to let it wash over his senses.
Leeta sat by her master, red wine bottle in hand. The ogre took a long swig before resting the bottle in her lap. Pink touched her tanned cheeks and her eyes took on a sleepy, relaxed gaze.
Faye and Claudia watched the ogre from the other side of the campfire. Rayna sat farther away, back against a tree and lute in her hands. Tents stood off to the side and a cool evening breeze flowed over the party. Leeta picked up the bottle and took another swig. Resting the bottle once again, her half closed eyes shifted to her master, his eyes still gazing up at the beautiful sky.
Faye crossed her legs and sat, eyes moving from the tipsy ogre to the summoner, “How did you get an ogre again?”
Rayna and Claudia both looked to Edric as he lowered his head and smiled.
“Pure luck,” the summoner said in whimsical tone. “Summoners have to choose a starting sphere. I chose the monster one because it is the most difficult but there was a greater chance at a reward. Most tend to pick elemental, demonic or angelic summoning but the monster one was the most practical. Monster summoning is the only sphere where the monster stays by your side at all times, as long as you have a lock stone. The hard part is snaring a monster first.”
Edric sat forward, arms around his knees as the three women eyed him, interested. Leeta leaned in closer, yellow eyes on the summoner and licking her lips.
“My first day, I was traveling through a newbie area, figuring my next move when I came across a broken down cart. Crates lay scattered and there were empty wine bottles everywhere. As I moved in to investigate, I saw an ogre on the other side of the cart, sleeping.”
Leeta burped.
Edric continued, “Leeta was sound asleep. I stood before her but she must have been so drunk from all the wine. I knew I couldn’t take her so I was planning on slowly backing away when I stepped on a twig. Leeta’s eyes opened and she roared, scaring the shit out of me.”
The ogre nodded, “Naps are important.”
Faye and Claudia smiled. Rayna smirked.
“I was running for my life and Leeta was right behind me with a club in her hand,” Edric sighed. “After about a minute of running, I knew I couldn’t get away so I turned and readied for battle. It was a good thing Leeta was still drunk or she would have one-shot me.”
The ogre nodded. “I’m still a little hazy about what happened.”
“Long story short, I spent ten minutes dodging her club as she tried to bash me into dust. Thinking back, it was really funny. The wine made her clumsy but she managed to shatter a few trees. I thought I was a goner until she fell onto her knees, breathing hard.”
Leeta leaned in closer, arm circling the summoner and hand on his waist.
“Summoners can charm or snare a monster. I used both of my abilities. Charm made her docile but the snare was the important part. A monster must be willing to submit to be bonded to a summoner.”
Rayna barked out a laugh, “You promised her wine!”
The ogre’s hand engulfed Edric’s side, drawing him closer to her. Edric didn’t resist.
Edric nodded, “That was her only stipulation. Seeing how strong she was, I knew I could get farther with her at my side. I bound her to a lock stone and we have been together ever since.”
Claudia gave a shy smile, “That is strangely sweet.”
Rayna’s eyes connected with Edric’s, “So you and your ogre have been on adventures and now you’re trying to build a city or kingdom in troll territory? Why not stick to the newbie areas a while longer?”
Edric maintained the gaze while fighting the need to look away from Rayna’s almost demonic eyes. “I had originally planned to build up my gold reserves but when the Long Night event happened, the plan changed.”
Faye broke her silence, “Building a city in or by troll territory is dangerous. I know you mentioned that the land was cheap enough to buy but no one has been able to keep their land for too long. What makes you think you can do what so many have failed at?”
Edric’s eyes darkened as he looked to the fire, “I did my research. Unlike players who simply find a plot and build, I scoured the update notes. In the game, I asked around on what land was best to build on and what crops would produce the highest quality. You will never guess which crop will give you the best gold return.”
“Wine,” Faye smirked.
Edric smiled as he continued, “If we can set the kingdom up quickly, we can earn enough gold to build strong armies and maybe beat back the trolls. Plus, I have seen a lot of negotiations and deal making in my real life work. I think I can pull it off here, if I have a few strong and beautiful people backing me up.”
The player’s mind swirled as he resisted the urge to tell them about the runic stone mines they could build. The center of Lukken was filled with large deposits of runic stones. They could be ground up and used with many different enchantments, potions and gem crafting. There would be enough for him to create a kingdom as strong as the Middle Kingdoms, maybe even stronger.
Edric’s smile faded, “It’s been a dream of mine to build something that will stand the test of time. The Long Night pushed back my timetable, but if I went back to gold farming, it would take me three times longer to reach this point. After what happened in Lythor, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer.”
Faye and Claudia’s eyes widened a hair. Rayna’s head tilted forward, shadows covering her eyes.
“You were in Lythor when it happened,” Claudia said softly.
Edric nodded. Leeta hugged him with one arm, her face filling with a sad sorrow.
“Leeta and I were fighting for our lives and….witnessed some terrible things. We didn’t survive the event. Even with Leeta at my side, I was much too weak to do anything. There is no feeling like being helpless as so many die around you. I knew then, I had to do something.”
