Midnight War

by Eden Redd

  The raid group followed. The tunnel indeed opened up to a large cavern. Demonic arachnid bodies twitched before shattering to light. A large spider head lay to one side, shredded webs hanging from the walls and ceiling. Coins and gems littered the rough floor as the group moved single file. Edric judged from the size of the cavern, the place must have been filled to the brim with giant spiders. Jinn marched ahead as the group followed, torch light filling the cavern. A healthy respect grew as Edric felt they actually had a chance.

  ***

  Time began to lose all meaning as the party marched. Edric began to question if there was an end to the tunnel when Jinn stopped abruptly. Eyes peered past the assassin as they had reached a dead end. Edric moved to an empty torch holder and placed his torch in it, the light touching the entire area.

  Jinn rubbed his jaw, “We were in such a hurry to escape during the battle of the Middle Kingdoms, I don’t remember if we closed the entrance behind us.”

  “Neither do I,” Sonja added.

  Dumadin stepped forward, “Let me take a look at it.”

  The dwarf moved big hands over the stone bricks on the dead end and along the walls to the right and then the left. The group watched as the dwarf concentrated, fingers touching along dusty lines of stone. When he ran fingers over a specific brick, the dwarf leered.

  “Found the trigger. Open says me,” the dwarf chuckled and pushed at it.

  The stone slid in and stopped. Dumadin stepped back and all waited for the entrance to open.

  Nothing happened.

  Dumadin’s smile soured before he touched the brick again. Nothing happened. Balling a fist, he was about to punch it when Faye closed her hand over his fist.

  “Maybe a delicate approach? We don’t want to alert every troll in the area,” Faye said with a diplomatic edge.

  Dumadin’s demeanor relaxed before looking to the trigger plate. “It should work. The area doesn’t look anyone has been down here in years.”

  “Can you fix it,” Edric asked.

  Dumadin let out another small chuckle. “For fucks sake, yes I can fix it…erm…Lord Temple.”

  The dwarf stepped closer and tried to dig his big fingers into the side of the trigger brick. Unable to get a hold, Jinn and Vass stepped closer, drawing daggers. Each one stuck a point on either side and popped the false brick out. Dumadin captured it before it hit the ground and set it down silently. Peering in, he could see the gears and rods in place. Faye brought a torch over as the dwarf looked around, sticking his finger in and moving the small, delicate gears.

  “Do you want the bad news, or the good news, or the bad, bad news,” the dwarf growled.

  “Just tell us,” Edric, Jinn and Thorrin groaned.

  “The bad news is some of the gears are stripped. The good news is it can be fixed. The bad, bad news is, this is a human design and much too small for my impressive hands to fix it properly. If this was dwarven tech, I could have us through in moments but now…not so sure.”

  “Can someone be your hands,” Edric asked.

  Dumadin nodded as he pulled a small leather pouch from his belt. “Yes, if they do exactly as I say.”

  Vass stepped closer, “Will lock picking and disarming trap skills help?”

  The dwarf eyed the dark-haired elf, “It can but I don’t want your beautiful fingers caught once it opens. Please listen carefully as I instruct you.”

  The dwarf handed Vass two thin rod tools. The elf and dwarf stepped close to the open hole, Vass diving in with her hands while Dumadin squinted. The rest of the group watched as Dumadin talked in a low tone. Clicks and a small clang echoed out but the pair continued to work.

  Jinn stood by Edric, “When the door is open, everything may happen quickly. Are you ready?”

  The summoner nodded, “I am.”

  “We won’t let you down,” Jinn smiled. “After this, we will take on Harkkon and the trolls one last time.”

  Edric’s heart began to race in his chest, the realization that they were getting closer to the end.

  Jinn gave the summoner a knowing smirk. “I know it doesn’t need to be said…but you better be good to my little girl.”

  Juna’s eyes snapped up, glaring at the older assassin. Edric’s head snapped to Jinn’s smirking face. The summoner and half-troll stood frozen in shock as Sonja smiled and Thorrin tried to cover his mouth. Faye smiled as the tunnel corridor felt much smaller to Edric and Juna.

  Edric’s mouth hung open, not sure what to say when there was a loud crunch and the sound of metal on metal whirling to life.

  “It’s done,” Dumadin grinned.

  Bodies turned to the blank corridor wall as it shifted and slid away. Dust poured in as debris fell to the stone floor. Jinn stepped to the door and helped it along. When it was open enough for a body to slip through, Jinn stepped in.

  Faye reached out and closed her hand over the hanging torch, her chi snuffing it out. The rest of the group extinguished their torches as they moved silently, one after the other behind Jinn. Darkness parted as the group made their way into a basement, thick crates filling it from wall to wall.

  Jinn moved through the basement level, his green sword out. The assassin looked down in the small paths between crates, giant rat traps open and hungry to bite into flesh. Using his sword, he activated each trap with a tap as he moved into the middle of the basement. The group filled the middle of the crowded room, Thorrin closing the tunnel entrance behind them.

  The raid group listened, the floor above silent as a grave. Jinn pointed to the stairs and led the way. Single file, they moved. Jinn silently climbed the stairs as Faye, Edric and Juna followed. The rest of the group followed along. Jinn reached the top the stairs and opened the door. It opened easily and he peered in. Darkness greeted the assassin. Stepping out of the basement door, he moved silently, checking around corners before circling back to the group as they emerged from the basement.

  “I think this is just a storage home,” Jinn said in a low whisper.

  “Our luck seems to be holding out,” Thorrin whispered back.

  “We still have to get to the portal,” Edric reminded them.

  “Vass, you and I are up,” Jinn nodded to the elf rogue.

  The two broke from the group and stepped into a room with closed windows. Edric and Faye led the group to the entrance room of the stone and wood home. The group gathered in silence as Jinn opened a window and slipped out, Vass close behind.

  Sonja moved to the front door, unlocking it and cracking it open. The street was empty, street lanterns glowing. Cobbled stone streets stretched out as some nearby homes has lights on in some windows.

  “You see anything,” Edric asked in a low whisper.

  Sonja shook her head, “No. It looks dead out there.”

  A march of boots caused the blue knight to close the door. The group hunkered down as shadows past by dark windows. Everyone held their breath as the shadows marched by. After a long pause, Sonja cracked the door open, seeing the armored backs of six trolls marching down the street.

  “It’s a patrol and they look like they are moving on,” Sonja whispered to the group.

  Outside, Jinn and Vass scaled the side of the small alley as the march of trolls walked by. The assassin and rogue peered down to see the top of their helmeted heads as they moved on, not seeing the pair as they slipped onto a nearby roof.

  Jinn and Vass stayed to the shadows, scanning the area. Street lanterns lit up scorpion crossbows on nearby roofs, guards standing by them. Bats flew through the dark sky above the rooftops and the pair knew they must be sentries of some kind. Jinn glanced to the north, a wide area open between buildings. He assumed it was where the portal stood. The hard part was getting to it without alerting the entire city.

  Jinn’s eyes drank it all in as his muscles tensed. Strategies formed as he pictured getting over the two roofs and making their way down to the portal. The bats in the sky would detect their movement if they simply raced across.

&nbs
p; Vass looked up, studying the bat’s movements. They seemed to circle in the air a few times before landing and another group would take off. For a short moment, it looked like there was a window where they could slip by undetected. The elf tapped Jinn’s shoulder and made a quick hand signal. The assassin looked up and saw the same pattern. The pair on the same idea they waited until the circling bats turned and headed back to their resting area while others hanging upside from buildings let go and took flight.

  Two shadows leapt across a small street, reaching the other side and blending into the shadows. Bats flew overhead, multiple pairs of red eyes searching. The assassin and rogue waited until they changed their circular pattern and flew to new resting points, other bats falling from roosts and opening leathery wings.

  Two shadows leapt again across a street. Time sped up as they raced across the roof and dove for inky shadows just as bats flew overhead. Becoming still, Jinn and Vass waited until there was another break in the patrols and looked over the roof edge.

  A rectangular portal stood. Runic stones glowed with a dim magical light as it stood on a raised dais. Four troll guards stood; spears in hand and swords at their belts. Armor was covered in runes. Jinn watched as they seemed to not stand at full attention. Their stature seemed relaxed and the assassin smirked as one of them yawned.

  Vass pulled out her crossbow but Jinn made a hand signal for up close and personal. The elf nodded, putting her crossbow in her cloak and pulling out two daggers from her bandolier. Two shadows oozed down a dark alley until they reached ground level. Slinking along just out of sight, they circled the portal and crept up the small dais.

  A troll’s eyes grew heavy as he leaned on his spear. A light flashed behind him and his brow went up. Turning, eyes grew wider as a fellow guard fell into shards of light and a dagger stabbed into his throat. A small gurgle filled the area as Vass shushed him to sleep. The troll’s hit points drained as a shadow lopped off a head and then another in two strikes, green sword gleaming. When cracks of light raced up to his eyes, he shattered, his last moments in shock and awe.

  Vass and Jinn looked to the portal just as the sound of metal and boots reached the square edge. Jinn turned to see six trolls, eyes wide and hands reaching for weapons. Vass pulled out a specially designed portal crystal. Bodies moved in a planned symphony as the elf darted for the portal and Jinn pulled out six metal darts from his belt. Hands whipping out, the six darts flew silently toward the trolls and swords slowly pulled from sheaths. Vass leapt into the air, her hand outstretched, a red crystal pulsating.

  Jinn studied the trolls as hands moved to his belt for more darts. Each one of his flying darts struck true, striking an eye or throat. Strangled grunts rose up as poison and power shattered their bodies almost all at once, except for one. Jinn’s hand moved, releasing another dart as one large troll with a dart in his eye pulled a tube from his belt and pointed it up. The troll squeezed the tube just as another dart struck his other eye. It grunted loudly as a red bolt of energy blasted out from the tube and into the night sky. Body cracking into light, the troll shattered but the damage was done.

  Vass touched the red crystal to the portal opening; energy flaring as the bolt of magical energy touched the night sky. Jinn rolled his neck and shoulders as a red explosion filled the sky above them and the portal opened is a vibrant pulse. Vass turned around, crossbow in hands and aiming as more magical flares shot up, casting a bloody light across the Bellor Kingdom.

  Sonja watched as the crimson light lit up the sky. “Let’s go!”

  The rest of the raid party spilled out into the street. There was no doubt and confusion as everyone fell into their assigned rolls. Weapons drawn, the party charged down the cobblestone street, lanterns turning on, windows and doors opening.

  Battle for the Middle Kingdoms has begun!

  24-hour Lock-Out of Lewd Saga is in effect!

  “No one dies,” Sonja ordered.

  Edric’s hand dove into his satchel and pulled out three lock stones. Energy flared and snaked out, striking the ground and forming portals. Leeta, Drakkus and Nykor rose up from each portal as the main group continued to charge ahead. Leeta and Drakkus broke into a run while Nykor looked up at a large scorpion crossbow turning.

  “Take out the crossbows,” Edric mentally ordered the Drell-Kai.

  Nykor’s mouth opened and a thick stream of acid blasted out. The troll manning the crossbow aimed at the charging group when a stream of burning acid struck him. Garbled cries filled the night as the troll and crossbow melted and shattered to pieces.

  Edric looked ahead as his group passed one street, the activated portal a block away. Trolls spilled out into streets, some in armor, others simply brandishing weapons. In the blink of an eye, a flood of enemy trolls rushed out. Time slowed to a stop as the raid group witnessed the swell of trolls and the street quickly closing. Gritting their teeth, they pushed on until hard blue bodies clashed into their group and bedlam erupted.

  Feet turned into inches as weapons clashed and bodies jumped. Sonja’s body rippled before she separated into two and then four and then eight. Swords carved through trolls like butter as the group slowed to a charging walk. Drakkus smiled as he cut his palm with a sharp fingernail, blood spilling and forming into a long red sword. Leeta squared her shoulder as she bashed into trolls, sending them flying and then swinging her mace, sending another group airborne. Thorrin swung his hammers, each one shattering trolls with a single strike. Faye’s hand blurred, punching fist sized holes through armor and shattering trolls. Dumadin roared as he stayed low, axe swinging and separating legs from bodies. Troll blood sprayed as they fell, cracks of light running along their bodies. Juna’s swords flashed, separating heads from bodies. Halfway to the next street where the portal stood, the raid group slowed to a crawl as they carved their way through the trolls.

  Nykor galloped toward the group when swords struck out at her legs. A scorpion crossbow bolt sunk into her forward shoulder and another bolt flew past. Nykor raised her dragon-like head to another scorpion as one troll pulled back the cord and another stood behind him.

  “Load the bolt,” the troll said before his eyes went wide.

  The troll looked down to a sword point sticking out of his chest.

  “Sorry, those are my friends,” the troll behind him said and pulled the blade out.

  “Lornus…,” the troll hissed before his body shattered to light.

  The troll pushed past the shards of light, loading a bolt and turning the scorpion to another troll scorpion. Pulling the trigger, the bolt flew like a small javelin. The other scorpion was pointed at the fighting invaders when the bolt slammed into the guard’s chest and sent him flying off the roof.

  Lornus pulled back on the crossbow cord, locked it into place and loaded another bolt. Nykor saw the troll shooting at the other trolls and turned her many eyes to another scorpion crossbow. Acid streamed out, striking it and blasting it to shards of light.

  Lornus smiled as he aimed at another scorpion. “We will take it all back,” the troll said and pulled the trigger.

  Sonja’s mirror images pushed at the trolls surrounding them, cutting them down in blinks of an eye. Juna charged in between a pair of Sonja’s, body spinning into a blur. White swords cut through large blue bodies like paper, carving out a wide path. The carnage continued as they advanced.

  Edric pulled up a spell as he pressed on with the group and spoke the incantations.

  (Spell Casting)70+(Int)10-(Movement)15=65/(Encounter Roll)50! Summoning Spell successful!

  Summon Elemental! Mana: 235/260

  Edric moved in the center of their group, spell flashing. The ground shook with each step as an earth elemental clawed up from the cobblestone street. Blocky hands grabbed at surprised trolls and crushed them to shards of light. The hands turned into solid fists as the elemental grew to its full height and unleashed rocky death.

  The portal a mere sixty feet away, Sonja unleashed ghostly swords as Drakkus leapt into
the air. The vampire lord’s boots touched the wall and he ran sideways over the trolls, his blood sword slicing heads off two at a time. Leeta pushed on, her strength more than a match for the burly trolls. White mace swinging, each strike was true as light flashed around her.

  Jinn whipped his hand, darts flying and stabbing into weak unarmored necks and visor holes. The assassin watched with proud eyes as Juna spun to a stop at the bottom of the dais, shooting her father a smile before cutting down trolls. Vass fired her crossbow, hands moving with elegant grace as she reloaded and fired again. Bolts stuck trolls, surged with arcane power and exploded.

  Edric looked to the portal in the short distance, wondering what was taking so long for Rayna and Claudia to march through. Directing his earth elemental, it smashed through the troll ranks with ease as the summoner gritted his teeth amid the symphony of violence.

  Eight

  Rayna and Claudia stood in front of the three portals. Torches lined the walls as the stone dome flicked with light. Behind them, players stood at the ready, weapons drawn and eagerness in their eyes. The march to the portal dome made the air electric and now the bard and lancer stood at the ready, waiting for one or more portals to open.

  Rayna held her lute, black leather covering her body and eyes filled with wanting intensity. Claudia stood at her side, shoulders relaxed but eyes staring at the portals. The two ladies of Elora knew it would happen at any moment and they readied themselves for the fight ahead.

  A shadow curled around Rayna’s heart. Preparing to take the Middle Kingdoms, the conversation she had with Lunatina continued to invade her thoughts. She knew the jester alchemist would keep her secrets but how long could the bard keep her own secrets to herself? It was a maddening thought as the love and respect she felt for her companions gnawed at her like a rabid animal. Glancing to Claudia, an affection and love had bloomed for the once shy lancer. Claudia’s strength seemed to shine as bright as the sun and Rayna found herself doubting the reasoning she took when she began playing the game. She wondered if she had become compromised but the answer was already there, she just didn’t want to believe it.