by Eden Redd
Edric turned to his companions, eyes wide. “I will explain everything from this point on. I know it’s all not much to look at now but I believe we can change that. When I’m done, you can decide if you want to be part of making this place great.”
The three women looked to one another as Edric opened the door and stepped inside. The party followed, Leeta taking up the rear and closing the door behind them. Eyes widened as they all stepped into a circular chamber. Hovering over a small stone lined pit, a large rhombus shaped crystal floated, spinning slowly and sending out a small pulse every few moments. The crystal was the size of large person, six feet tall and about three feet wide. The surface was transparent, but inside a white and gray cloud morphed and pulsed with some undefined energy. Against one side of the room, a large blank parchment hung. Next to it, a small alcove stood, rolled up scrolls filling the stone shelves within.
“Welcome to Elora’s City Core,” Edric said as he opened his arms. “Every player kingdom has a core. It allows players to build their kingdoms any way they want and it takes care of some of the smaller tasks of ruling a kingdom.”
The player turned and faced his companion’s wide gazes, arms dropping to his sides. “Like building a character, city cores need to be expanded and upgraded. Right now, Elora is a simple core. She can only assist with building structures and alert me of any events that might need my attention. She is the living, breathing part of the city and requires the most protection. If she is destroyed, the entire city will decay and crumble. The citizens will flee and the kingdom will be no more.”
Edric felt himself fall into the speeches he mentally prepared, “Elora uses gold, gems and items as currency to build the kingdom. Under the crystal, down the well, is the Treasure Hold. There are several entrances to it but the core must be above it so the treasure is sucked into her core and she is able to set to task of building what is desired.”
“How does the city core build a city?” Claudia asked with interested eyes.
Edric grinned. “The core summons elementals to do the hard work. Earth elementals are the least expensive and work fast. They can build simple structures easily but the more complex a structure, the longer it will take to finish. Other kinds of elementals can be called on to create unique structures.”
The summoner walked over to the large parchment framed against the wall. Eyes turned to it, noticing small drawings of the main keep, several simple homes, the lake and forests surrounding the area. Stepping closer, they could see the keep was directly in the middle of the nearly blank parchment.
“This framed parchment represents the land I bought. It’s a top view of how far we can build; providing a detailed map of the city and lands beyond. At the edges, you can see forests and woods. Whatever changes we make will reflect on the map in real time.”
Edric moved to the scroll alcove and pulled out a rolled up scroll. Opening it, he showed it to his companions. It was mostly blank but showed the keep, buildings, lake and woods just like the larger parchment on the wall.
“These scrolls allow you to build while you’re in the city and you can also see what others are building. It will display the amount of treasure we have in the hold and how much things will cost. Once we have a larger population, the taxes will help stabilize the amount of treasure we have in the hold.”
Edric put the scroll back and moved to the larger wall map. Finger up, he traced lines from the keep outward. Lines appeared as he created four cone sections and a wall around the entire city. When he was done, he turned with a devilish smile.
“I had originally planned to split the city into three districts, one for each of us. Since there are four of us now, the city can split into four districts. If you stay, we can be partners, building whatever you want in your own district.”
Faye, Claudia and Rayna were silent, questions forming in their eyes. Edric looked to them, the glow in his eyes diminishing as he could see the hesitation. The player felt he made it as enticing as possible but his companions didn’t seemed convinced.
Faye was first to speak, “It seems like a good idea but Elora is only four days from the Middle Kingdoms. How long before they take notice of a city being built in their backyard? We ran into a troll patrol just yesterday. They will set their sights on Elora if they haven’t already.”
Edric nodded, “I know it’s a risk but with strong resources I think the Middle Kingdoms will take their time and allow us to develop the fruitful land before trying anything. All sides are exhausted from the recent fighting. The reprieve will allow us to build a strong foundation here, be able to provide a safe haven for those who cannot protect themselves and maybe turn the tide of the war.”
The summoner’s voice took on a serious tone, “I know we all have reasons to be careful about getting our hopes up but I believe we can accomplish this, together. If for some reason it doesn’t work out, I won’t stop you if you want to leave. I’m only asking for a chance.”
Faye looked to the summoner, heart beating with uncertainty. She tried to justify her inner concerns with the fantasy dreams of a player she’d only met the other day. The wood elf could see Edric’s passion rising to the surface. Glancing to Claudia, Faye knew the lancer would follow her if she was on board. Claudia returned the gaze and gave a small head nod. Faye’s heart beat with warmth as she turned to Edric.
“I think we….” The wood elf was cut off as a melodic voice rose up.
“Ogre raiders have entered the lands,” a voice sang from the core crystal.
Edric looked to the giant map, red dots moving from the north. “Dammit!”
Leeta pulled her spiked mace from her belt. Edric stepped from the three companions and stood by Leeta’s side.
“We can discuss after we stop the raiders,” Edric said with determination.
Faye nodded and moved to the summoner’s side, “We’ll help.”
Claudia nodded. Rayna gave an evil grin.
Edric nodded, “Thank you.”
The group set out the door and back into the keep. Edric and Leeta led the charge as they burst from a side door into the muddy street. Turning northward, they moved in a running pace northward. Some of the town’s folk looked to their lord, eyes filled with fear.
“Get inside!” Edric shouted as they ran past.
People rushed through doorways and shut them behind them. Edric ran beyond the small homes into the grassy northern field. Leeta looked ahead, yellow eyes on the large figures walking through the short grass. Edric noticed them too, hand pulling his whip from his belt and unfurling it. Faye stared as six ogres made their way, bare-chested and carrying woodened clubs.
“They’re primitive ogres, strong but not very bright. They will have a lot of hit points and can deal a lot of damage,” Faye said with a firm voice. “We can’t let them stay grouped together. We must split them up and take them down.”
The wood elf looked to Claudia, “I’ll try to split them up while you come from the air.”
The lancer nodded, spear in hands.
Faye turned her gaze to the bard, “Can you confuse them?”
Rayna turned her lute from her back and held it against her stomach, “I thought you’d never ask,” the bard said with a wicked smile.
Faye nodded and looked to Edric and Leeta, “You two support Claudia. Edric, stay out of range and direct Leeta to assist. If the ogres bunch up, they will be tougher to kill.”
Edric nodded as his heart clenched in his chest. He wanted to be in the mix but they all knew he didn’t have the strength to fight such a battle. Everyone in the group took a battle stance as the ogres marched toward them. Dark clouds filled the sky and the scent of rain carried on the wind. Ogres stared with malice as they approached the group of women and one lone male. With every step closer, the companions steadied their hearts. Faye eyed them with the serenity of a still mountain pond. Claudia spun her spear, eyes calculating moves and counter moves. Rayna stood with lute in hand, fingers hovering above strings and a vile
excitement in her eyes.
Edric stood, Leeta at his side. The ogre glanced down at her master, heart filling with a protective need. Edric stared at the six monsters, ideas forming and desire to prove himself among skilled warriors at his side.
Several drops fell from the heavens as the storm rolled in. The ogres huffed for a moment as they slowed their pace. Crooked yellow teeth showed as the muscle bound monsters breathed from their open mouths.
Edric glanced at his stats, fingers gripping the handle of his whip tighter.
Edric Temple
Summoner
Hit Points- 65/65
Mana- 105/105
Armor- 5
Strength-12(+1)
Intelligence- 16(+2)
Wisdom- 11(+1)
Dexterity- 14(+1)
Stamina- 16(+2)
Charisma- 16(+2)
Spell Abilities
Charm- 22
Snare- 22
Channel- (+STR/HP/DEX)
Lock Stones (1)
Leeta (Ogre)- HP-220/220
Spells
Summoning Spell- 10 Mana
Light Spell- 5 Mana
Primary Skills
Spell Casting- 20
Spell Craft- 12
Gem Craft- 12
Rune Craft- 12
Enchantment- 12
Melee- 14
Wilderness Lore- 13
Equipment
Whip- 5 to 9 damage
Dark Green Robe- 5 Armor
The ogres growled as they approached. Before a word or warning could be given, the burly monsters roared and charged. The wave of muscle came barreling toward the group, clubs raised and menace in their eyes. Frothy saliva burst from their mouths as they closed the distance in mere seconds.
“Party time!” Rayna shouted as fingers cascaded down strings.
Guitar music blared to life, louder than any real lute can play. Purple energy seeped into the bard’s hands as she kept her steely gaze on the incoming monsters. Shockwaves rippled across the air, striking the incoming ogres and causing their charge to falter. Some grabbed at their small ears while others marched with weapons. Rain began to fall as Faye held up her fists, mind and body focused.
“Now!” The wood elf shouted and charged.
Claudia’s legs bent at the knees as she kept her hard gaze. Power pulsed and she launched into the air. Edric watched as the lancer flew forty feet in the air. Spear aiming down, her body began to fall, right in the path of an incoming ogre. The dumb beast looked up just as a spear penetrated its yellow eye. The monster wailed as it spun. Claudia’s boots touched the monster’s shoulders and pushed. Pulling her spear from the monster’s eye socket, the lancer spun and slashed the sharp edge across the ogre’s face. Landing on the ground, the lancer held her spear behind her as she launched again.
Ogres fought through the song of discord as a small wood elf charged toward three of them. Clubs lashed out as Faye tumbled into the muddy ground. The clubs missed her by inches as she rolled back onto her feet, between all three. The wood elf’s body moved like an acrobat, legs flying up and crashing into an ogre’s face. While it stumbled back, an ogre came from behind the wood elf.
Faye focused her attention on the incoming club. Fingers curling into a fist, the wood elf punched the incoming club, shattering it to kindling. The ogre continued his attack, dropping the useless wooden nub and punching with head sized fists. Faye dodged, dipped and bent her body at odd angles, evading the monster. Planting her feet, Faye launched upwards, clamping her legs around the ogre’s thick neck and raining down punches. The ogre grunted as Faye’s fists cracked digital bone.
Rayna poured on the discord but the two ogres stunned in the back began to break from the attack. Claudia was airborne once again, her body becoming a spear as she came down on the one she blinded in one eye. The monster reared back a fist just as the lancer’s spear penetrated its chest. Claudia planted her feet in the monster’s chest, ready to launch off of him when a meaty fist came around and slammed into her side. The spear was pulled as the lancer was hurtled through the air and crashed into the mud.
Leeta roared as she charged into the fray. Edric ran to the down lancer, falling to his knees as she lifted up her head. Mud caked her light armor and she spit out a glob of blood. Edric went to help her up but the lancer pushed him away, standing on her own feet.
“It’s nothing!” Claudia grunted, and she was back to her feet, spear in hand.
Edric watched as she bent her knees and launched into the air once again. The summoner turned his gaze to Faye as she continued to rain down attacks. An ogre lifted a club behind her. The summoner was about to warn her when the wood elf uncurled her legs and let gravity take hold. As she fell, the ogre behind her brought his club down; smashing the stunned ogre Faye was just attacking. A sickening crunch mixed with the rain as the ogre’s body cracked with light and shattered to pieces.
Leeta joined the battle, spiked mace swinging into an ogre’s side. The monster grunted as it turned on the smaller ogre. The two clashed with mace verses club, and the very air radiated from their attacks.
Rayna stopped playing as fingers touched secret buttons along her lute. The crooked wand slid out from the top. The bard laughed with heartfelt madness as she pointed the wand and unleashed a lightning bolt. An ogre grunted as the bolt smashed into its thick chest, leaving a blast mark but little else. Rayna continued to fire, bolt after bolt into the large ogres.
Claudia landed on an ogre, driving her spear deep before leaping away like a cricket. Faye moved with the agility of a dancer, punching muscled stomachs and kicking at exposed knees. Despite all their efforts, the five remaining ogres continued to fight. Most had yellow bars over their heads. One had a red bar and another had a full green bar.
Edric couldn’t stay by the sidelines any longer. Rushing to Leeta’s side, the ogre was giving it as much as she was taking it. A club blurred forward striking the side of her face and causing her to stumble back. The monster held a murderous rage as he advanced on the stunned female ogre.
Edric reached Leeta’s side and faced the incoming ogre. It lifted its club, ready to smash him to paste. The summoner stayed his ground as his hands went up. Calling on his charm ability, he whispered the arcane words and shouted the word of power.
(Charm Monster)22+(Charisma)2= 24/ (Encounter Roll)36! Charm Unsuccessful!
Edric cursed as he readied to try again. The ogre’s club came down and made a dull “Thud” against Leeta’s spiked mace. The female ogre parried the blow, arms straining against the ogre’s superior strength.
The summoner gritted his teeth as he called up the spell ability. Arcane words filled the rainy air once again before Edric shouted the word of power once more.
(Charm Monster)22+(Charisma)2= 24/ (Encounter Roll)21! Charm Successful!
The ogre’s eyes took in a hint of confusion as it backed off. Little yellow eyes turned to the summoner and a small smile appeared.
“Defend us!” Edric commanded.
The ogre’s smile disappeared. It turned to the melee and a new fire blazed within. The creature hefted its club as it charged the other ogres. Faye continued to move through just beyond the ogre’s reach when one blindsided her. The club struck her side and sent the monk crashing into the mud. Lightning bolts slammed into the ogres but they began to shrug them off as a minor nuisance.
A roar vibrated as one ogre slammed its shoulder into another. The other ogre fell into the mud. Before it could recover, the crazed ogre that knocked him over began pummeling him. The club was a blur as it rained down again and again. Light cracked along the monster’s body before it burst into shards of light.
Edric kept his gaze steady as the ogre he charmed turned on another. A timer appeared in the corner of Edric’s vision, counting down until the spell ability wore off. He only had sixty seconds and they had to make it count.
Rayna cheered on the rogue ogre as she blasted the remaining three. One with a red bar over
its head tried to back off when a lightning bolt slammed into its neck. The monster let out a gargled moan before falling and shattering to light.
The lancer bolted forward at another. The ogre’s eye’s bulged as the spear point stabbed into his mid-section. The ogre lifted a meaty fist to punch the lancer when Faye jumped and punched under the raised arm. Bone cracked and shattered as the arm fell to its side, useless. Claudia planted her feet, pulled the spear from the monster and drove it into its throat. The point emerged from the back of the neck. It let out a mournful grunt as its body cracked and shattered into dozens of pieces.
The rogue ogre beat down the last one standing. Leeta joined at its side, raining down her spiked mace. The two of them beat the last ogre to its knees before its body cracked and shattered before them. Leeta backed up as the charmed ogre turned to Edric and knelt to one knee, a stupid smile on its face.
Edric stepped closer as Faye and Claudia huffed ten feet away. Rayna watched as she pointed the wand from her lute at the kneeling monster. Leeta was by Edric’s side, mace at the ready.
“I did good” the ogre asked with a simpleton smile.
Edric nodded, “You did.”
The time was almost up and the summoner had to act fast before the monster regained its wits and attacked them. Calling up his snare ability, he pointed a hand and began the incantation.
The ogre stared stupidly as the summoner whispered the arcane words and finished with the trigger word. A golden band appeared and encircled the ogre’s thick neck just as the timer reached zero.
(Snare)22+(Stamina)2= 24/ (Encounter Roll)12! Snare Successful!
The golden band tightened around the ogre’s neck just as its face twisted into rage. The monster struggled, its arms refusing to work as they stayed at its side. Edric kept his hand up, fingers curled. The summoner knew time was of the essence. He wouldn’t have been able to snare the ogre if it wasn’t charmed first. The charm made it easier but the snare was already beginning to break.
“Submit to me and I will always take care of you. Swear loyalty and you will have it in return,” Edric stated firmly.
