by Eden Redd
Heads nodded in unison and the jester’s black lips formed a small smile.
Edric turned to the table, standing tall. “The plan hasn’t changed. The Middle Kingdoms are split into four cities, one in each section of the crossroads. The South East kingdom is Ludus. The South West Kingdom is Serk. The North West kingdom is Delkk and the North East Kingdom is Bellor. Lunatina’s tunnel leads us right to where we want to be, entering Bellor at a basement of a home not far from the main keep.”
Sekka stepped closer, her tail snaking behind her. “My mistress has surveyed the kingdoms from the air. She has told me the kingdoms have been repaired and rebuilt. She has also spied portals in many squares across dozens of streets. It has been the main staging points for attacks across the continent. Trolls from the southern kingdoms would portal in, gather their forces and portal out.”
“A frontal assault on the kingdoms is nearly impossible but with Lunatina’s tunnel, we have a chance,” Faye said as her finger touched a spot not far from the city models.
Edric looked to the group, “Basic plan as it stands, a small force will follow the tunnel, enter Bellor and make their way to one of the squares where there is a portal. The portal will be activated and our gathered forces will portal in from our portal gates. While the first gate is open, the small invading force must activate two more portals so we can keep a foothold on the city.”
Thorrin rubbed his jaw. “Why does a force need to enter the city to activate a portal? I thought the dark elves know how to force one open?”
Sekka eyed the paladin, “Normally they can with older portals. The ones in the cities are of a new design and radiate with stronger magic. It still runs on the same principles of standard portals so a crystal will be needed to open it within the city walls. My mistress believes any attempt to force them open from our side will cause them to warn the local populace and guards or stop the attempt instantly. Opening it from within is our best option to ensure success.”
“Thanks to Lyndra’s dark elves, the dome north of Elora has three working portals. The dome itself is not big enough to shelter all of our forces so many will have to wait in the Temple District. When our force enters the tunnel, a signal will be sent and our army can begin advancing on the portal dome,” Edric said.
The summoner let out a slow exhale before speaking again. “The small force that has to open the portal is called the Dagger. The army that will be spilling in will be the Sword. The force to stabilize the kingdoms when they are taken will be the Crown. We have to decide who is going to be on the Dagger force and who will lead the Sword.”
Rayna cleared her throat, “I’ll lead the Sword. I can help cause some chaos while our forces invade.”
Faye noticed the hint of uncertainty in the bard’s purple eyes.
Rayna looked to the wood elf and a wicked smirk formed. “I’ve held back a massive army of trolls before. I can do it again.”
Edric nodded. “We don’t know the condition of the tunnel so I will have to be on the Dagger team. I can summon earth elementals to shift through any barriers we meet. Dumadin, you will be on the team as well to help guide us through anything questionable.”
“Aye Lord Temple. Happy to be of service,” the dwarf nodded and crossed his arms.
Faye looked to the summoner, “You will need someone watching your back.”
Edric grinned toward the wood elf, “Couldn’t think of anyone else I trust more to watch my back.”
Rayna rolled her eyes. Leeta coughed. Magnys smiled and Drakkus raised an eyebrow. Edric looked to each of them in turn, his eyes widening in embarrassment.
“I mean…I trust all of you…I….” Edric said as his face flushed red.
Jinn shook his head slightly before speaking up. “Juna and I will join you. I have heard some rumors Maggar Wormwood is there and leading the troll forces in the city. You may need some big guns in case he decides to throw down.”
Edric and Juna’s eyes met for a fraction of a moment before they both looked away, warmth rising up their necks.
Sonja looked to Jinn, “I’m going. Can’t let you have all the fun.”
“I’ll go too,” Thorrin said. “Even with the new holy runic weapons, good old-fashioned holy light will keep the dead at bay.”
“I will have to stay and oversee the weapon and armor production to the last moment,” Magnys added.
“I’m sure the rest of us can help keep Edric and the party safe,” Drakkus said with a sly gaze toward the summoner.
“Renner or Vass should join us,” Thorrin said. “We will need a rogue to enter any place with a fortified lock or do scouting.”
“We can decide when they get here,” Edric said. “But it seems our teams are chosen. Lunatina, you will be part of the Crown force when the kingdoms are ours. Rayna, if Claudia makes it back soon, she will help you lead the Sword force.”
“Who came up with names for each force,” Juna asked with a smile.
Edric’s face continued to burn and his head tilted forward, “I did.”
Juna’s smile grew a little wider. “It’s nice, simple and to the…point.”
Edric looked to the half-troll with a loving gaze when the door to the War Room burst open. Heads and bodies turned to see Renner carrying Vass in his arms, her arm out and fingers spread. The rogues smiled with glee as they marched in and stood before the group and map table of Lukken.
“Renner proposed and I said yes,” Vass nearly squealed, light shining down on a glowing diamond ring.
Mouths shifted into smiles as everyone mobbed the couple. Renner put his bride-to-be down and the elf showed off her ring. Hands patted the rogue’s shoulders while others marveled at the diamond.
“Is this in or out of game,” Thorrin asked with a smooth brow and slight smile.
“Both,” Renner and Vass said in unison.
Vass stepped to the paladin, eyes bright. “We talked it over and we want you to marry us in game.”
Thorrin’s eyes widened a hair before he took the elf’s hands into his. “I would be honored.”
The paladin looked to Renner, “Thank you for making my sister happy.”
Edric, Faye and Rayna’s eyebrows went up as they eyed the human paladin and the elf rogue.
“She makes me happy too,” Renner winked.
Thorrin’s smile faded as the realization washed over him of his soon-to-be new brother in law.
Renner turned to the group, eyes falling to the map. “So, are we ready to start the meeting?”
Four
The meeting in the war room lasted longer than Edric had hoped. After the congratulations and a few wedding details, Renner and Vass were brought up to speed on the plans. When Edric was finished explaining, Renner’s demeanor took on a darker tone while Vass glanced to him with a slight concern.
“We can’t join you on the Dagger operation,” Renner stated.
Vass looked to the concerned rogue, now fiancé, “They need one of us, Renner.”
“What about Venner and Lydia? We can’t just leave them, not with so much happening. We can’t bring them with us either.”
Jinn gave a slight nod before looking to Renner. “We know it’s a tough decision but…”
Renner shook his head, “It is a tough decision and we can’t do it. We can’t chance something happening to them, I won’t.”
Vass touched the rogue’s shoulder, eyes filled with sad kindness. The mood in the room turned from joy to a subtle gloom. Edric watched as a sliver of pain touched Renner’s demeanor. The rogue was reliving a pain, something Edric knew all too well.
“We can try without you,” Edric smiled. “We may have to alter the plan a little but I’m sure we can do it.”
Renner looked to the summoner, eyes a hair wide and jaw tight. “I…I don’t mean to be difficult. We only want what’s best for them.”
Jinn stepped closer and placed a hand on the rogue’s shoulder. “You don’t have to explain.”
Renner’s shoulders san
k an inch as he exhaled. “I think I do. I lost Gylda trying to do the right thing. Now Vass and I are parents because of Gylda. They are a part of her just as much as they are a part of us. We can’t chance something happening to them. I….I could never forgive myself.”
“You and Gylda were close. It’s understandable that you wouldn’t want to take that chance with your kids,” Jinn said with a fatherly voice.
Vass’s lips trembled as she watched Renner crack; head tilting forward and profound sadness crawling up his spirit. The gathered group remained silent as the rogue worked through his emotions, eyes filled with understanding.
Vass stood straighter, “I’ll go with the Dagger team.”
All eyes turned to the elf but before a word was uttered, she lifted her hand and continued to speak.
“You can stay here with Venner and Lydia and help with the Sword operation. They are powerful but you can watch over them. I’ll go along and help the Dagger team in case they run into anything they can’t unlock or need some stealth.”
“You don’t have to,” Edric spoke up.
Vass looked to the summoner and smiled. “Yes, I do. If we are going to beat these bastards back to the grave, we need everyone pulling their weight. Venner and Lydia are young but they can deal a lot of damage during the Sword operation. They will be better suited to that than a stealth mission. If we play our cards right, there might not be much of a fight left once we get through with them.”
The elf looked to Renner and gave him a wicked smirk. “Besides, Renner has gotten soft in fatherhood. I, however, am still at my peak.”
Smiles filled the room as Renner gave his bride to be a wide toothy grin.
“You heard her,” Renner laughed.
The mood shifted and a thin serenity touched everyone. Edric was glad Vass would join them and felt a little better knowing her skills and stealth would be there as an asset to the team. Jinn squeezed Renner’s shoulder again before pulling away and glancing to Juna’s smiling face.
“Let’s finish the details before Renner cries,” Vass smiled as she turned to the group.
***
Edric walked along a corridor, Magnys at his side and Leeta trailing behind. The meeting in the war room had ended a few minutes earlier and everyone went their separate ways. The summoner remembered Faye’s oval eyes as she looked to him and as he turned away, Juna’s gaze caused him to nearly misstep. Magnys managed to quickly touch the summoner, fixing his next step so quickly, it looked like nothing had happened. The summoner held his breath until they were outside and let it out in a long exhale. The player’s love life was getting bigger and he wondered if he was taking on more than he could handle.
Edric glanced around to ensure no one was nearby when he looked to Magnys. “Thank you.”
The Sormir in a human looking body simply nodded, eyes facing forward. Magnys’ short white hair almost glowed in the corridor light. Edric couldn’t believe he actually snared a Sormir but the circumstances to it were dire on all sides. Magnys joined the summoner, knowing he too would be turned into one of the undead if he didn’t ask for Edric’s help. All knew the strange alliances were necessary in these dark times.
The trio reached a spiral stairwell and began their descent. Despite the urgency of the situation, the summoner and Sormir took their time with each step. Minds connected to a degree, Edric and Magnys knew there were questions between them. When they reached the main floor, Edric’s brow went up as a servant walked past them.
Something glowed deep in the summoner’s memory as the servant walked past, bowing for a moment and continuing on her path. A single pink braid hung from her temple as folded blankets were in her arms. A small urge to call out to her filled him before it passed, Magnys stepping from the stairwell entrance and walking to a northern facing corridor. Edric’s eyes followed the servant as she walked on, turning into a cross corridor and disappearing past the edge.
The summoner let the feeling go as he and Leeta quickly caught up to the Sormir in human skin. The northern corridor stretched on, guards occasionally appearing, saluting Edric and carrying on with their patrols. When no one was in sight, Edric let his guard relax a little.
“I summoned an earth elemental earlier to gather runic stone. It should be waiting for us at the northern entrance of the keep,” Edric said simply.
“Excellent. If we work quickly, we can have the spell forges finished in a few hours,” Magnys smiled.
Edric nodded. “Why do you need me for this? Mages have a better control over elemental magic. It’s an extra step when I have to summon and command them.”
Magnys continued to look forward as he spoke, “Would you impart secret knowledge to strangers?”
Edric smirked. “I suppose not.”
Magnys gave a small smile. “We are in desperate times but I still cannot part with all my knowledge. Those who know how to create spell forges would tip the balance once the war is over.”
The Sormir looked to Edric with kind eyes, “Besides, I know I can trust you.”
Edric nodded. “The flood of runic weapons may tip the balance anyway.”
Magnys looked forward once again, “Not if this war will turn as bloody as my nightmares. I have glimpsed in time and space and many will lose their lives before Lukken recovers.”
“It’s that bad?” Edric asked.
Magnys nodded. “It is. Most of my people are now undead and serving Harkkon. A few escaped his power by severing their minds from the hive mind but they are hidden deep in the oceans, fearful for their lives.”
Edric looked on, the weight of their plans growing with each step.
“I can never thank you enough for saving me,” Magnys continued, his voice taking on a lighter tone. “If you had not snared me from the jaws of death, we would not be having this pleasant chat.”
Edric tilted his brow forward, “It was the right thing to do. I knew we couldn’t fight Harkkon and I wanted to save everyone who was left. I’m glad I was able to save you as well.”
Magnys smiled. “Normally, no creature on Lukken could have snared a Sormir but with the hive mind destroyed and my body as weak as it was, you happen to be in the right place at the right time…and for that I will forever be grateful to you.”
“With your help, we might have a chance against Harkkon and restoring peace,” Edric said with a glimmer of hope.
“Yes, that is true,” Magnys smiled. “If you don’t mind me asking, why did you choose the summoner class?”
Edric’s brow went up as he was slightly caught off guard. “I…I heard it was a difficult class to master. Many give up since summoners can be a liability early on in the game…erm…I mean world. Very few have reached the top and I thought I could do it.”
Magnys looked to Edric again, eyes filled with some arcane knowing, “You don’t have to tell me what you tell others. I can sense a deeper meaning below the surface of your words. I’m sure Leeta can feel it too.”
Edric looked back to the beautiful ogre. Leeta gave a bright polite smile but remained silent.
The summoner looked forward, hand up and scratching his head. “I don’t suppose I can hide a lot from you guys.”
Magnys nodded. “And don’t concern yourself with any confusion about the game world. Despite being one of your summoned creatures, I still retain my knowledge. My power has diminished slightly but I know of the game world and the real one. I remember the Awakened, histories and arcane knowledge just as I had before.”
Edric could feel the tether between him and Magnys. The player could feel all the tethers, sensing Leeta behind him, Drakkus kissing Sonja and Nykor sleeping outside the city wall. It was surreal and comforting at the same time. They all felt like pieces of him and yet he felt like he was a part of each of them. He had no idea how the game designers pulled it off but it was an astounding feat none the less.
Edric let his hand drop to his side, “I read up on the game but I still wasn’t sure what to expect. I chose the summoner class be
cause I wanted a challenge and…well…I thought if I couldn’t connect with anyone…my summoned creatures would have to connect with me, if that makes any sense?”
Magnys nodded. “It makes perfect sense. The Sormir knew they could not be the only creatures on Lukken so they created the early races to fill the lands and seas. It wasn’t so much a display of power but a means to create company, to add to the diversity of this existence.”
“I didn’t expect to make so many friends,” Edric added with a smile.
“Or expect so much love and understanding,” Magnys smiled.
“You saw that too,” Edric fought down a chuckle.
“Everyone sees it. Your protective nature opens their hearts to you as your attentive demeanor snares their love.”
Edric let the words slide over his mind as truth swam to the surface. “I’m not sure why? I wanted to create a kingdom because I never had one…and I was lonely.”
Magnys gazed on the summoner as he walked; eyes on the stone floor.
“I worked at a good job, even if some of the people were bad apples. It was enough to pay the bills and live a somewhat comfortable life but I had no friends. I live in the greatest city in the world but I felt completely alone. I designed great structures, working myself to the bone only for others to take them away and put their names on them. I felt like….”
“A slave,” Magnys finished.
Edric raised his head up, walking a little taller. “I knew I could never stay like that. I knew there was more to life than just working for other people. I wanted to build something great and if I couldn’t do it in reality, I was going to do it here.”
The summoner and Sormir stopped at a pair of double doors. Magnys gave Edric an approving nod as he pressed his hands to the doors and shoved them open. Edric stepped out with Leeta and Magnys behind him.
The player looked to the Temple District as it lay out before him. Sunlight painted the buildings as cobblestone streets stretched out in different directions. Libraries, schools of magic and museums stood out against buildings similar to those one would find in downtown Manhattan. The sight of it with a clear mind sent a shiver down the player’s spine as he looked at the structural beauty he placed into each design. The war and affairs of the heart distracted him but now, he felt he was looking at it with a clear mind and heart. It dazzled his senses and sent his heart soaring. He had created something magical and the thrill was still there, the player knowing he just had to take a moment and look.
