《Squad Games [Squad Building LitRPG] [Book One Complete]》 Chapter 1 Avolo PART ONE Company Accounts: Finances: ¡ê0 Mercenaries: 0 Assets: 0 There was a stir from the other passengers on deck. Lothar opened one eye and looked in the direction they were gesturing. At last. The land of Gal¡¯azu, their destination. A new world, barely explored. The perfect place for a fresh start. He studied the men and women who had shared his voyage, clutching bags full of worthless possessions. The only things they¡¯d brought were the junk they couldn¡¯t sell. As they looked at their new home, he saw no great enthusiasm or joy on their faces. Lothar felt the same. That¡¯s the thing with people who want a fresh start. They lost the first time. Only those who¡¯d lost everything would make this journey into the unknown. And when you¡¯ve already lost once, or more than once, you act more in hope than expectation that the next time will be any different. It had certainly been more than once in Lothar¡¯s case. It was only natural to reflect on those losses. The mistakes made. The people who had left him. Those who had died in his arms. Those who had left without a goodbye, sneaking away in the night, their faith in him evaporated. The people he had loved, who he had somehow failed. Not through lack of effort. Lothar didn¡¯t think they would say that of him. I¡¯m a trier, he assured himself. Things just never quite went my way. He got to his feet and studied the coastline. I¡¯m in the same boat as everyone else¨Cmetaphorically as well as physically. This is it. Nowhere else to escape to if this doesn¡¯t work out. It¡¯s my last chance. His fellow passengers stood on the docks of Avolo, looking lost. Now they¡¯d arrived, they didn¡¯t know what to do. They had to find shelter. Supplies. And as soon as possible, work. Lothar had no such worries. He knew where he should head. He made for the nearest inn, peering inside. Measuring and judging. Made for the next. There were only so many to inspect. Avolo called itself a city, but that was overdoing it. The streets were mud; the buildings put up quickly, with whatever materials had been found locally. Still. Lothar could look ahead a few years and he wasn¡¯t disappointed by his first impression. The place had promise. His inspection of the inns complete, he returned to the largest and busiest. The Anchor. This was the place where business would get done. Relationships forged and contracts made. This was where he needed to be. He took a seat in the centre of the lounge. Not too close to the heavy drinkers; not in the corner where the knaves skulked. Where a man of good reputation might sit. A serving wench approached him in a timely manner. ¡°Is your mild drinkable? Or is it full of dregs?¡± The girl studied him. No doubt she saw a man well past his prime. But, Lothar liked to think, still a man it was best not to mess with. ¡°I suggest you go for the stout.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± She soon returned with his drink, served in a well carved wooden tankard. Pleased, Lothar relaxed into his chair and surveyed the scene before him. Late afternoon, but the place was already busy. Most folks looked decidedly poor and useless, as far as Lothar¡¯s needs were concerned. But there were others. Men whose attire indicated they had an income, and not from ploughing fields all day. Lothar had been in the business long enough to spot the kind of fellow he wanted. They wore precious metals or gems at their belts, round their wrists and necks, in earlobes, beards, or other parts of their face. They carried the tools of their trade with them¡ªweapons hooked onto belts, dangling from leather straps, or stuffed into trousers. Most mercenaries like to look the part. He spotted a couple of likely lads sat together. When he met eyes with one, he gave the man a nod and it was returned friendly enough. Lothar made his move, leaving his spot. ¡°Mind if I join you?¡± ¡°Certainly,¡± the first man said. Lothar took a chair, close enough to get a good look at faces. They were of a similar age, both in their twenties, he reckoned. The best age. One had a scar on his forehead, but otherwise they were free of serious physical injury. Brothers, by the look of them, even though one had a full beard and the other was clean shaven. Same wide nose, same dark brown eyes and thick, dark hair. ¡°New here?¡± the friendlier one asked. He was the one with the scar and beard. ¡°Just got off ship today. But looking to get going.¡± ¡°For certain. If you¡¯re looking for work, we can point you in the right direction.¡± It was said in a doubtful tone. ¡°Thing is, lots of people are coming here looking for work. More every day, feels like.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Lothar said. ¡°That¡¯s where I¡¯m different. I¡¯m looking to provide the work.¡± Sure as hell getting too old to do it myself. ¡°And you just got in today?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for reliable fellows. As soon as I get the clients, you get the work.¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Makes sense. Well, you¡¯ve met the right pair here. Honest and professional. My name¡¯s Usa. This is Izil. We¡¯ve done most kind of work, big and small. We¡¯re signed up with another outfit. But like I say, there¡¯s lots of people looking for work right now. If you can get us something, we¡¯re likely to be interested. Short term or long term, doesn¡¯t matter to us.¡± He gazed around the room, before his voice turned confidential. ¡°And we¡¯re not squeamish.¡± ¡°Good to know. I need a record of your skill sets. Matching the right people to the right job is crucial.¡± ¡°For certain.¡± The stats for Usa and Izil appeared for Lothar to inspect.
Usa
Name Usain Bizra
Nickname Usa
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 23
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 8
Grit 8
Intellect 5
Skills Spear (proficient) Shield (competent) Sword (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Short spear (damage 3-18) Shield (damage 2-6) Sword (short, damage 2-12)
Armour Ring Mail, (+Shield)
Other
Izil
Name Izildra Bizra
Nickname Izil
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 19
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 7
Grit 6
Intellect 4
Skills Spear (competent) Shield (novice) Sword (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Short spear (damage 2-12) Shield (damage 1-3) Sword (short, damage 2-12)
Armour Padded, (+Shield)
Other
Lothar studied them with an experienced eye. Not bad. Usa was the better of the two in every respect, capable of standing up to most adversaries they were likely to meet. Izil, though less impressive, was younger. He could improve his stats under the right guidance. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll let you know when the right job comes along.¡± Back at his table, Lothar was pleased with his first interaction. Usa and Izil were nothing special, that was true. But the work he could get was probably nothing special, either. Gal¡¯azu was a new world of small farms and communities, eking out a place amongst the wilderness. The work would be simple and routine for the most part. But Lothar didn¡¯t mind that prospect. What was more, Usa had made it apparent he and his brother weren¡¯t getting as much work as they wanted. That sounded like Avolo was a perfect environment for Lothar to establish himself. He scanned the inn once more, looking for his next recruits. But it looked like the mercenaries of Avolo were ready to come to him. There were Usa and Izil, stood with half a dozen comrades who, by the looks of them, were more experienced fighters than the first two. Usa was gesturing in his direction as the others interrogated him. Soon, the half dozen had stopped at Lothar¡¯s table. The men wore comfortable leather armour, had nice looking scabbards at their belts, and displayed gold and other treasure about their person. Their leader looked as fierce as any of them. What she lost in height to those who followed her, she made up in muscle and a savage countenance. Her hair hung shoulder length and loose, decorated with a variety of trinkets: coloured ribbons, beads, and tiny animal bones. Lothar enjoyed the looks of an athletic woman as much as any man, but this one was too lean for his tastes, skin tight across the sharp bones of her face. Her eyes had the look of someone who had seen and done terrible things, and Lothar suspected there was a touch of madness there. A trait often found in those in charge, he mused to himself. ¡°A little birdie¡¯s told me you¡¯ve been recruiting in The Anchor,¡± she said. ¡°Aye. You interested? I¡¯m taking names and details.¡± The woman looked at her followers, sharing a mean grin with them. It was the first inkling Lothar had that he was in trouble. ¡°We¡¯re not interested, old man. Me and my brothers run the premier recruiting firm in Gal¡¯azu. The Order of The Golden Blades. And we recruit out of The Anchor.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Lothar muttered. Shit. Rivals. ¡°I¡¯m fresh off the sea today. Didn¡¯t realise. I apologise, er¡ªI didn¡¯t catch your name?¡± ¡°Fresh off a boat, ignorant of your new home, yet you set yourself up here on day one without learning about the place? I thought the one advantage of getting to your later years was picking up a bit of wisdom on the way. You ain¡¯t shown a smidgen.¡± The woman nodded at her followers. One grabbed Lothar¡¯s hand, laying it flat down on the table. Another had a knife in his grip and a sadistic smile on his face. Chapter 2 A New Order ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, honestly,¡± Lothar said, trying not to let fear make him stutter the words. ¡°Look, my name¡¯s Lothar. Friends call me Stiff. I admit, I got a little carried away after so many days at sea. Got a little overexcited. But now I know how things stand, I¡¯ll exit The Anchor immediately and not return. I have no wish to interfere with your family¡¯s business.¡± The woman studied him for a few agonising moments. At last, she sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t take pleasure from hurting greybeards. Just break a finger.¡± The man with the knife wasted no time in pocketing it away and then grabbing Lothar¡¯s ring and little fingers. With a vicious pull and an audible crack, he snapped the bones. Lothar swallowed the pain, not wishing to humiliate himself any further. ¡°You¡¯re lucky it was me heard about you, and not one of my brothers. Ain¡¯t he?¡± ¡°If it were Rylan,¡± said the man who had just broken Lothar¡¯s fingers¡ªaffably enough¡ª¡°he¡¯d be fish food by now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the truth,¡± the woman said. ¡°Now then Lothar, known as Stiff to his friends. Be on your way and learn your lesson.¡± *** The Rose Tavern was poorly named. It stank of piss, as if the wooden floorboards and walls had been treated by a tanner. The beer tasted of piss, served in chipped clay pots. It was dark inside at all times of the day. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m starting at the bottom,¡± Lothar muttered. Why had I thought it would go any other way? He asked himself. What got into me? Still, not so much harm done. His fingers were bound tight and would heal. He¡¯d suffered far worse. He drummed the fingers of his other hand on the rancid table top. For the fifth time, he made to reach for his drink, then thought better of it. Usa and Izil were lost to him. All the members of The Order of the Golden Blades were forbidden fruit. He would be plucking the most rancid of local crops for his basket. He allowed himself a bitter smile. Have I arrived at a name for my company? The Order of the Rotten Apples? The door of The Rose swung inwards. His first potential recruits shambled inside. SELECT MISSION RESCUE LIVESTOCK, ¡ê1 PROTECT FROM BRIGANDS, ¡ê2 STEAL RELIQUARY, 4 shillings RECOVER FAMILY HEIRLOOM, 5 shillings When Lothar was done, he had eight individuals on his books. Half of them he hoped he would never have to use. The best only had an Experience Level of 3. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Once upon a time, he had led a professional outfit. Here in Gal¡¯azu, he would have to start from the bottom and work his way up. So be it. No point in whining about the situation. He studied the four missions available to him. The first two, he discounted immediately. They involved going out beyond the city of Avolo, into the untamed lands. Here, the bravest of folks had claimed their own patch of land, creating farmsteads or other industries, selling their produce back to the city. They had to struggle against the elements, monsters, and each other. There was no law or order once one left the relative safety of the city. No. I simply don¡¯t have the muscle to take on such a mission. Most of my line up are rogues¨Cat home on the city streets, but useless out in the wild. Any half decent fighter had signed up with The Order of the Golden Blades. After his encounter in The Anchor, Lothar had made sure to learn about his rival¡¯s business. They provided hired muscle to the merchants operating along the coast, inside the city, or up the River Auster. They had every lucrative angle sewn up. Lothar was left with the jobs they didn¡¯t want. Maybe that¡¯s for the best. I don¡¯t want any more broken digits. Or whatever punishment they mete out if broken fingers don¡¯t work. That narrowed things down to two options. Steal or recover. All things being equal, Stiff would rather recover an item than steal from someone. And the recovery job actually paid a little more. That¡¯s decided then. Lothar made his way to the east side of Avolo, a district he had not visited before. A feature of the city was that migrants from different realms tended to congregate together. It provided that extra level of security in a strange new world. On the east side, Lothar could hear Livanian accents; and it was a Livanian household he visited. Their house was nothing out of the ordinary. Much nicer than the slum dwellings in the centre of the city, or by the docks. It was wood built, the cheapest material available. He was a little surprised to find the owners had staff. A woman answered the door and led him to a reception room. He was deposited into a comfortable chair by the fire, and told to wait for the ¡®master¡¯ and ¡®mistress¡¯. When the couple arrived, Lothar reckoned the husband was a little older than himself. He had a full head of grey hair pushed back. His wife, a brunette, was considerably younger. Lothar stood, unsure if a handshake was in order. But the gentleman directed him back into his chair. The man saw his wife seated first, then joined them. ¡°My name is Marek Bartol. This is my wife, Julia.¡± ¡°Lothar Sauer.¡± ¡°Mr Sauer. We have not been long in this city.¡± Lothar could tell. The man¡¯s Livanian accent was still very strong. ¡°My wife went out with her handmaiden. They were attacked, and her brooch was ripped from her cloak. I won¡¯t make the mistake of letting her go out without protection again. There are no lawmen we can turn to. A very disappointing experience,¡± he added, as if it was somehow Lothar¡¯s fault. ¡°It is very important to me, Mr Sauer,¡± his wife said. ¡°It¡¯s not the value of it. If it was just a matter of money, I would have sold it to pay for our resettlement here. It has been in my family for generations.¡± There was clearly a story here, of a once relatively well-to-do family, forced to leave their home. But then, Lothar told himself, everyone who has come to Gal¡¯azu has a story. That is none of my business. ¡°What does it look like?¡± ¡°It is tear shaped,¡± Julia said. ¡°Silver gilt. There are two pink garnets at the top and bottom, and pearls all around it. Quite distinctive.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re offering five shillings for its recovery?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± said Marek. ¡°Five shillings is all we can afford. I just want our property returned.¡± ¡°Five shillings is a fair price. I can have my people search for it. But I¡¯m paying their wages. If they don¡¯t find it, I still have to pay them. If you catch my drift.¡± ¡°You want some payment up front?¡± Julia asked him. ¡°That is reasonable. How about two shillings now, and three upon its return?¡± ¡°Julia¡ª¡± her husband remonstrated. ¡°What? Either we trust the man, or we don¡¯t. If we don¡¯t, let¡¯s speak with someone else.¡± ¡°One shilling will be fine,¡± Lothar offered. ¡°That¡¯ll cover my initial expenses. I am setting up a new service for the people of Avolo. I intend to prove my organisation is trustworthy. If this brooch is in Avolo, we¡¯ll get it for you.¡± Back at The Rose, Lothar looked through his merc files, trying to decide who to pick for his first mission. I really need my first job to be a success. One thing I¡¯ve learned the hard way is not to cut corners. Better to employ the best available, even if it costs more. Going cheap is just asking for trouble. With that in mind, two of his rogues stood out. They were connected enough to know where a stolen brooch might have ended up. Chapter 3 Mission #1 Recover Family Heirloom Part One
Wade
Name Trent Wade
Nickname Wade
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 35
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 7
Agility 9
Grit 11
Intellect 5
Skills Thievery, Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour None
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
The Baron
Name ?
Nickname The Baron
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 31
Daily Wage 7 pence You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 3
Hit Points 13
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 11
Grit 5
Intellect 11
Skills Thievery, Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour Padded
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
¡°I say. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet a fellow Durnishman. There aren¡¯t so many of us here.¡± Wade gave the man a dubious look. ¡°There aren¡¯t so many as there are in Durnost, that¡¯s true enough. Still more than enough for my liking. Anyway, name¡¯s Wade. You?¡± ¡°They call me The Baron.¡± Wade studied the man. He wore the finest clothes he had seen in Avolo. That wasn¡¯t saying much. He spoke posh, like a nobleman¡ªat least Wade assumed so, having never met a nobleman in his life. But if he was really a baron, then Wade was a nun. And I¡¯m not a nun. ¡°Who calls you The Baron? And why? Never mind, I¡¯m not interested. All I ken is, I cannae be calling you that! How about your real name?¡± For some reason, the man looked offended. ¡°Sorry, old boy. I can¡¯t reveal that. It would mean putting the lives of others in danger.¡± Well. This one is a deluded eejit. But I¡¯ve worked with my fair share of cranks. ¡°Anyways. I know the miserable criminals who would rob a woman of her brooch. I¡¯ll find out who has it in no time. Then we can decide how best to retrieve it.¡± ¡°I know all the art and jewellery dealers in Avolo,¡± The Baron replied. ¡°That¡¯s where it will have ended up. I¡¯ll let you know when I find out.¡± This eejit was starting to annoy Wade more than a little now. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re better ¡¯n me?¡± ¡°No.¡± The Baron narrowed his eyes. ¡°Why? Are you insinuating you¡¯re better than me?¡± They were both Level 3 rogues. But Wade was clearly the superior thief of the two. ¡°Let¡¯s find out, shall we?¡± Most people will spill their guts when they¡¯re drunk. Especially when you buy them their next pint. Suddenly, they¡¯re your best friend. Wade found the trio who had taken the brooch. Though, the way they told it, they had bought it from the owner. He got the name of the dealer they had sold it to as well. All without raising any suspicions about his interest. It had cost him a few pennies in drinks. That was true. But that would be worth it if this Stiff fella was satisfied with his efforts. The Hargon had promised there would be regular work in the future for those who proved themselves reliable. That was music to Wade¡¯s ears. The options in Gal¡¯azu had turned out to be even more limited than his old life. He could join one of the gangs of petty criminals in Avolo and carry on with his old ways. But he had come to Gal¡¯azu to escape that life. The alternative was to go out into the country and work for a living. Ploughing, and sowing, and chopping wood. His back twinged at the thought of it. But Stiff offered a career. Progress. Success. Respect, even. That was what Wade wanted. He would do things the right way for a change. So he met The Baron eejit where they had agreed. By the docks, where it was loud and busy, and no one could eavesdrop. Wade slouched against the side of a warehouse, keeping to the shadows. It wasn¡¯t long before he caught sight of his accomplice. Still draped in his fancy clothes, The Baron walked down the centre of the street, attracting everyone¡¯s attention. Wade sighed. What kind of thief is he? ¡°Well met, Wade.¡± ¡°Hi. You¡¯ll be pleased to know I found the item. It¡¯s in the possession of¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªOne-eyed Boris,¡± said The Baron, looking inordinately pleased with himself. ¡°Huh,¡± said Wade, pausing to grate his teeth together. ¡°So, you found it, too.¡± ¡°I did. The Baron enjoys shopping. I spotted it amongst Boris¡¯s wares. Do you know he¡¯s charging twelve shillings for it?¡± Wade whistled. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of money.¡± ¡°It is. Now, I know you¡¯ll be tempted to keep it for yourself. But I have to tell you, I fully intend to deliver the treasure to Stiff. Apart from anything else, it¡¯s the honourable thing to do.¡± ¡°I have every intention of delivering it to Stiff,¡± Wade snarled. The Baron had the nerve to look about, as if it was Wade who was drawing attention to their conflab. ¡°Wonderful. Then we¡¯re in agreement. The only thing left to decide is how we take it. I say we have two options.¡± ¡°First,¡± Wade interrupted, ¡°break into his place at night. But even then, his valuables will likely be guarded. The other option is to take it in plain sight somehow. You could cause a distraction and allow me to grab it.¡± ¡°Or you could cause the distraction. The problem is, Boris knows me. I don¡¯t want The Baron becoming a suspect. It would ruin my persona.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to become a suspect, why meet me here at the docks?¡± ¡°This was your idea, Wade,¡± The Baron reminded him, as if talking to a forgetful greybeard. ¡°If it were up to me, we¡¯d be meeting somewhere much more private.¡± Wade was fuming now. ¡°If you had just let me find the brooch, the distraction idea could have worked. Now you¡¯ve gone bumbling in already, it¡¯s off the table.¡± The Baron looked at him. Wade was expecting another retort. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± The Baron admitted. ¡°I was a little hasty. I think, because I wanted to prove I was your equal. But not to worry. It just means our choice is made for us. A night-time break-in, it is.¡± ¡°Huh. I suppose so.¡± Wade met The Baron in the dead of night, when even the most inebriated revellers had stumbled off somewhere to sleep it off. He was relieved to see The Baron¡¯s flouncy outfit was gone. It was replaced by dark clothes, more suitable for their mission. Indeed, everything the man wore was pitch black, all the way up to a black hood that covered his face, save for eye openings. They made their way to the rear of the property, where the row of shops shared a yard. It was especially dark here, the buildings overhanging the space. Like most townhouses, Boris¡¯s shop was narrow and tall, three stories high. Wade studied the barely visible roofing. It was often the best method of gaining entry. But this one had slate tiles, not easy to remove without making a noise. The Baron began to climb. An attached storage shed proved very helpful in getting him started. From the shed¡¯s roof, he clambered up, using the wooden beams for support. He was a good climber. I have to admit, he¡¯s more agile than me. This was no time for professional jealousy. Instead, Wade felt more confidence in his partner. We might just do this without getting caught. Or killed. The Baron clambered up to the roof. He¡¯d made some noise, but that didn¡¯t matter too much. He began to remove the overlapping slates. Time for my part, Wade told himself. Chapter 4 Mission #1 Recover Family Heirloom Part Two Wade left the yard, walking around to the street, and the front of the premises. There were no lights to alert anyone to his presence. The only threat of getting noticed was the night watch, who would patrol up and down Goldsmith Street a few times each night. But there was no sign of them right now. He approached the front entrance to Boris¡¯s shop, the overhang couching him in shadow. He placed his bag of tools on the ground. The first task was the lock on the door. Wade inserted his skeleton key. With only a little jiggling, the lock clicked open. But he knew it wasn¡¯t going to be that easy. He pressed at the door in different places. There were several bolts on the inside. He removed his crowbar from his bag. Despite all his intricate tools, this was the best way to gain entry into a building. The problem was, it was impossible not to make an attention-drawing noise. He listened at the door. The shop, full of valuables, would be well guarded. Dogs were the universal choice. They didn¡¯t demand wages, and weren¡¯t tempted to steal what they protected. But richer traders could afford to employ armed guards, day and night. Wade heard alarmed shouts. They were coming from inside the property, but he could also hear them coming from the hole in the roof The Baron had made. He heard feet thumping on stairs, and barking. He grinned. The Baron had done his job, drawing all the attention to the top floor of the property. Wade¡¯s heart was pumping, the familiar mixture of fear and excitement filling him. It was time to act. He shoved the tip of the crowbar as far into the space between door and frame as he could, just beneath a bolt, and levered with strength and speed. For a few moments, the door held, then there was a wrenching sound, and the bolt popped. He had to do it twice more, at different points, before he could swing the door open. It was dark inside, but Wade¡¯s eyes were already adjusted, and he wasted no time in entering. There was no one waiting for him¡ªbut he might have been heard, and had to act quickly. He was already familiar with the shop¡¯s layout. There were several display cabinets, currently empty. Each cabinet had padlocked drawers, but his crowbar made quick work of them. He pulled out drawers, searching for the tear-shaped brooch. Naturally enough, other items of interest made their way into his pockets. ACTION ROUND Oh no. An action round meant an enemy was close, and Wade hadn¡¯t noticed anyone. He turned to the far end of the room. A guard dog had appeared. It must have descended the stairs without Wade noticing.
Guard Dog
Beast Dog
Action Stats
Action Points 3 Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
Hit Points 16
Action rounds limited Wade¡¯s actions. Calculated from his hit points and experience points, he had four points to spend per round. He found the limited options really focused the mind. The worst part: the guard dog went first, having caught him unawares. Fortunately, the dog wasn¡¯t quite in attack mode yet. With a sleek black coat, teeth out in a snarl, legs bent and ready to pounce, it seemed only a matter of time, however. It paced towards him, growling. Perhaps, having found Wade in its home, it wasn¡¯t quite sure if he was friend or foe. Wade¡¯s turn. He wasn¡¯t such a fool as to come unprepared for such an encounter. Reaching into his coat pocket, he withdrew a tasty meat steak and threw it towards the beast. He¡¯d splashed out on a top quality cut of meat. But if it kept the attention of the dog elsewhere, it would be worth it. For his second action, he replaced his crowbar with a dagger. He was proficient with the weapon, knowing exactly where to strike to cause maximum damage¨Ceven on a dog. It was safest to have a weapon in hand should things go south. With action three, he searched another cabinet drawer. He tried to concentrate on his task, but the thought of those teeth sinking into his flesh, gripping tight and not letting go, was a distraction. Nothing. With one action point left, he moved on to another cabinet and searched the top drawer. Relief flooded him. There it was, exactly as described. Two pink garnets, and generously decorated with pearls. He pocketed the brooch. The guard dog scoffed down Wade¡¯s offering. It stared at him with animosity. Probably weighing up whether he had more treats to offer. The sound of running feet on the stairs reached Wade. More defenders of the shop were coming. One of them emerged from the stairs. Another dog, slightly larger than the first. And angrier. Maybe because it had missed out on the free food.
Guard Dog #2
Beast Dog
Action Stats
Action Points 3
Hit Points 17
It pelted into the room and didn¡¯t stop, heading straight for Wade. Wade¡¯s turn came before it reached him. The gods must be looking out for me, he had time to think. Time to go. But this second guard dog was a problem. There was no chance it was going to leave him be. Wade threw his dagger. The target was small, but his aim was true. 5 damage, taking the beast¡¯s hit points down to 12. Wounded, its action points fell to 2. Knowing that might be enough, Wade ran. He used his three remaining action points to get out of the shop and scarper down Goldsmith Street. From the corner of his eye, he picked up a black figure running parallel to him, across the roofs of the buildings on his left. The Baron had done his part and was making his own escape. Wade envied him. There was no one chasing The Baron, his exit a lot more straightforward than Wade¡¯s. He heard a growl, not enough warning to react before the second guard dog sank its teeth into the calf muscle of his left leg. Two action points, and it had still reached him. He fell to the ground, his assailant still not letting go, and took 2 damage. It could have been a lot worse. He still had his four action points intact. He used one of them to withdraw another dagger from his belt. With his second, he stabbed into the dog¡¯s shoulder. It was a successful hit, dealing 8 damage, taking the beast down to four hit points. Wade was relieved when the beast let him go. Hopefully, the fella would make a recovery. But he had no more time to wonder about that. Emerging from the shop was the first guard dog, closely followed by a well-armed guard, who looked as fierce as the animal. Wade turned and ran, using his last two action points. Despite putting distance between himself and the shop, he knew he was far from safe. If the dog caught and slowed him, the guard would close the distance in no time. And more than likely, there were more of them heading his way, now that The Baron¡¯s distraction was over. He stopped agonisingly close to a side street. The agony got a whole lot worse when an arrow took him in the back. Again, he was lucky to come away with only 2 more damage. He didn¡¯t even know where the missile had come from, but the distance perhaps explained why the wound wasn¡¯t more severe. His hit points were at 17, but his action points stayed at 4. Just. When his turn came, Wade didn¡¯t give in to temptation and look behind. He just ran. His first action point got him into the side street, and a less exposed location. More relief. Ahead, at the end of the street, a pink haze delineated the edge of the mission zone. Reach that point, with the brooch, and the mission was over. Two more action points, and he was within range. Now, he allowed himself a glance behind. No dog in view. No archer. And there was no chance they¡¯d identified him. An important consideration for a thief. Wade passed through the pink barrier. MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: The family heirloom was recovered Your mercs improved their stats: Wade: Might +1 Hit Points +1 Action Points +1 The Baron: Agility +1 No mercs levelled up Chapter 5 One-Eyed Boris Lothar returned the brooch to the Bartols. They were genuinely happy to have it back, and he felt some satisfaction from a good deed done. Of course, Boris might see it differently. But there¡¯s always two sides to every story, he reminded himself. ¡°I will tell everyone I know about your services,¡± Julia told him, while her husband handed over the remaining payment of four shillings. Perhaps more missions would come from word spreading of his success. For now, it was time to review his finances and decide what to do next.
Finances
Income
Mission #1 5s
Expenses
Wages 14p
Profit 3s 10p
Total 3s 10p
At this rate, I¡¯m not going to get rich any time soon, Lothar complained to himself. He reviewed the missions available to him. SELECT MISSION RESCUE LIVESTOCK, ¡ê1 PROTECT FROM BRIGANDS, ¡ê2 Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. STEAL RELIQUARY, 4 shillings He was disappointed that no new missions had appeared to replace the one he had completed. Of the three on offer, he was still reluctant to tackle the first two, even though they paid more. He had not recruited the type of mercs capable of handling themselves out in the wilds. That left the stealing mission. Lothar sighed. Four shillings weren¡¯t much. And he couldn¡¯t help thinking that the thieves on his roster were overpaid for what they offered. They could barely fight, and carried only basic weapons and armour. Wade had a dog bite and an arrow wound for his troubles. It could have been a lot worse. And having his mercs die, or fail their mission, was not good business. You knew this wasn¡¯t going to be easy, Stiff, he reminded himself. Best get on with it. It wasn¡¯t a friendly welcome at Boris¡¯s shop. His security gave him baleful stares. One of his dogs had a cone around its neck to stop it from biting its stitches and gave Lothar a look as if it was all his fault. Which was hardly fair. Boris appeared from the back. He was tall, with a shock of white hair and an eye patch. ¡°You¡¯re Stiff?¡± ¡°Aye. Had a break in?¡± Lothar asked, nodding at the damage Wade had done to the front door. ¡°Last night. Thieves got in and made away with some of my pieces.¡± Some? Lothar said to himself. I¡¯ll need to have a word with that Wade. ¡°Sorry to hear that.¡± Boris looked at him with suspicion. ¡°None of your crew, I assume?¡± ¡°I doubt it. Did you identify any of them?¡± ¡°No. There were only two. We didn¡¯t get a look at either.¡± That was a relief. ¡°One came in through the roof. Gave my wife a real scare. I¡¯d love to get my hands around his neck.¡± ¡°Well. Let me know what they took and I¡¯ll keep my ear to the ground for you.¡± Boris shrugged. ¡°Alright. Anyway, time to talk business. Come up.¡± Boris led him upstairs to the second floor, where he had his living quarters. It was well furnished and spoke of a man doing well with his business, despite last night¡¯s setback. He directed Wade to a chair and put a glass of something strong in his hand. It was just the two of them, and quite pleasant. Compared to drinking in The Rose, certainly. ¡°You¡¯re new in Avolo, and I know what that¡¯s like,¡± Boris said. ¡°The Golden Blades won¡¯t make your life easy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already run into them.¡± ¡°Then you know. But you¡¯re from the old country, and I wanted to give you a helping hand.¡± ¡°I appreciate that.¡± I almost feel sorry for burgling you last night. ¡°The item I want is a reliquary¡ªa holy vessel, containing saintly and other relics. It¡¯s located in an Alinko temple, on the west side of the city. Before you get any ideas, I have a buyer lined up for it. You won¡¯t make anything trying to hawk it around the streets of Avolo.¡± ¡°Of course. Your dealings are no concern of mine. If I take a job, I deliver. It¡¯s as simple as that as far as I¡¯m concerned.¡± ¡°Very good.¡± ¡°My concern is how easy it is to get in and out of this temple. How well guarded it might be.¡± ¡°Oh, make no mistake. These are holy relics, and to those with faith, the greatest treasure the Alinko community in Avolo has. They will be well protected. How you take it is your concern, not mine.¡± Boris rubbed at his chin. ¡°Given you are a fellow Hargon, and this is the beginning of our relationship, I will give you five shillings for the reliquary. But for that price, it must contain all the individual items. No pilfering from its contents.¡± ¡°What kind of relics are in there?¡± Lothar asked. ¡°I was assuming bones, hair, clothing, and the like.¡± ¡°I assume the same. Religions are a strange set of ideas that I don¡¯t pretend to comprehend. But to some people, each of those items, which you or I might view as useless oddments, are precious. Hence, the value of an untampered with reliquary is higher.¡± ¡°My people will treat it with care and respect. I agree to take the mission.¡± Back at The Rose, Lothar reviewed his mercs. I may regret this, but I need to bolster my team a little. Trent Wade and The Baron were the best he had, and had proved their abilities on his first mission. But they needed some backup. He pursed his lips. He had a couple of others on his roster that were worth trying out. I might as well blood them now, on a basic mission. See whether they can handle it. Chapter 6 Mission #2 Steal Reliquary Part One
Wade
Name Trent Wade
Nickname Wade
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 35
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 9
Grit 11
Intellect 5
Skills Thievery, Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour None
Other
The Baron
Name ?
Nickname The Baron
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 31
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. 3
Hit Points 13
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 12
Grit 5
Intellect 11
Skills Thievery, Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour Padded
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
Mila
Name Liudmila Stradenko
Nickname Mila
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 20
Daily Wage 3 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 13
Core Stats
Might 3
Agility 10
Grit 8
Intellect 4
Skills Thievery, Knives (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 1-4)
Armour None
Other
Stricken
Name Jurgen Stricker
Nickname Stricken
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 27
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 17
Core Stats
Might 11
Agility 8
Grit 4
Intellect 3
Skills Thievery, Cleaver (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Cleaver (damage 3-15)
Armour None
Other
Wade barged the door of the temple open with his shoulder. ¡°Help!¡± he shouted. He carried Mila inside, spattering the floor of the temple with blood. Half a dozen men rushed over and stared at the woman in his arms¡ªat the dark red stain on her tunic, which clung to her stomach. ¡°You can¡¯t bring her in here!¡± The speaker wore the chain of office of a priest of the temple, and spoke like he held some position of authority. ¡°She¡¯ll die!¡± Wade claimed. ¡°Then take her to a doctor.¡± ¡°You must provide assistance,¡± demanded a second man. He was dressed in the most flamboyant costume Wade had ever seen. The Alinko were known for wearing bright colours. Even the inside of this temple was beautifully decorated, compared to the stark churches Wade was used to back home. But this man wore a garish combination of hat, top and breeches, with not one colour of the rainbow left out. A pile of gold jewellery hung around his neck. ¡°I will not,¡± the man continued, ¡°be donating my family¡¯s money to this temple. Not if this is how those in need are treated.¡± ¡°Bring her in,¡± said the priest urgently. Wade followed him, arms straining with the weight. His eyes fell on Mila¡¯s chest, where a low cut top revealed her ample cleavage. ¡°A thousand thank yous,¡± said the gaudily dressed man, following behind. The man¡¯s accent was a close approximation to Alinko, Wade had to admit that. It was just so exaggerated that it bordered on caricature. In short, The Baron was overdoing it. ¡°In here,¡± said the priest. They entered a side room, and at last, Wade could relinquish his burden, laying Mila onto a table. Her blonde hair splayed on the surface and her top left little to the imagination. Wade and the six men goggled at her, saying nothing. She moaned, putting a hand to her stomach, that came back red. ¡°We don¡¯t have healers here,¡± the priest said, worried. ¡°I can patch her up,¡± Wade said. ¡°Carl, fetch my medicine from my bag,¡± said The Baron, still in character. ¡°It is holy ointment that will help her,¡± he assured those present. ¡°Carl!¡± he repeated, louder. ¡°Oh, right,¡± Jurgen said, tearing his eyes away from Mila. ¡°Right away, boss.¡± Wade had to prevent himself from sighing in disgust. He wondered why he was always stuck working with amateurs. Jurgen exited the room. ¡°I¡¯ll need to strip her clothes off to get to the wound,¡± Wade said. The men nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Come, gentlemen,¡± The Baron said. ¡°Let us give the lady some privacy.¡± With some reluctance, the priest and the others allowed themselves to be ushered out of the room by The Baron, who closed the door behind him. Wade looked at Mila and rolled his eyes. ¡°That could have been smoother.¡± She licked at the fake blood on her hand. ¡°Mmm.¡± She offered him a finger. ¡°Tastes nice. Sweet.¡± Wade wasn¡¯t sure how to respond. Was the girl coming on to him, in the middle of a mission? In the middle of a church? ¡°What?¡± Mila asked. ¡°I see the way you look at me.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m a red-blooded male, aren¡¯t I? Can¡¯t help noticing those knockers spilling out of your top. Might be we would have some craic together.¡± She gave a knowing smile. ¡°But right now I¡¯m focused on completing this mission.¡± ¡°After, then?¡± she asked. ¡°Sounds good.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t charge very much.¡± ¡°Oh. It¡¯s like that, is it?¡± Wade couldn¡¯t help feeling disappointed. If she sold her body that was her business. But for a moment he¡¯d thought she actually liked him. ¡°A girl¡¯s gotta eat, hasn¡¯t she? Besides, you¡¯re getting paid twice as much as me.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m near twice as old, with twice as much experience. Ask me again when I¡¯ve been drinking all night and feeling lonely, and I might be tempted. At this particular moment in time, it¡¯s a pass.¡± Mila shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re the one missing out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure. Anyhoo, that eejit Stricken shoulda come back by now.¡± He sighed. He moved to the door, pulling it open a crack. He couldn¡¯t see or hear anyone. The Baron had led his group away. ¡°I¡¯m gonna have to go looking for him.¡± He pointed at her sternly. ¡°Lie down and act like you¡¯ve been stabbed.¡± With a pout, the girl lay down. Wade exited the room, moving silently. He heard The Baron, talking loudly, and turned in the opposite direction. He had to admit¡ªgrudgingly¡ªthat The Baron was doing his job. He was a damn sight more professional than the other two. He moved swiftly from room to room, barely taking in his surroundings. His senses were tuned to finding people; and avoiding them if necessary. A sound made him stop. Squelching. A noise both unexpected and concerning. He peered around a corner and caught sight of Stricken. He was wielding his cleaver, hacking into a body. Blood had sprayed his face and clothing, and there was a widening pool of it on the floor. ¡°I think he¡¯s dead now,¡± Wade said wryly. Stricken looked up from his work and gave Wade a psychopath¡¯s smile. Chapter 7 Mission #2 Steal Reliquary Part Two ¡°Got the reliquary?¡± Wade reluctantly asked, realising Stricken wasn¡¯t going to speak. ¡°No. Round there,¡± Stricken replied, nodding in another direction. Then why are you here, hacking at a corpse? Wade wanted to ask. Why didn¡¯t you come tell me you¡¯d found the damned thing? But he didn¡¯t voice such thoughts. Stricken¡¯s demeanour¡ªcombined with Stricken¡¯s cleaver¡ªdissuaded him. Wade had his dagger at his belt and he knew how to use it. But compared to the slashing power of that rectangular chunk of sharpened metal, it felt more like a toothpick. Wade left him to it, following Stricken¡¯s nodded directions, and came upon the temple¡¯s treasury. The doors of a wooden cabinet were wide open¡ªno doubt Stricken had been here. Wade scanned the area for bodies. He couldn¡¯t see any, but that didn¡¯t mean the psycho hadn¡¯t stashed one somewhere. Turning to the cabinet, he immediately spotted the reliquary. It was a life-size replica of an arm. Decorated with silver and gems, it had a gilded silver hand at the top; the forefinger and middle finger pointing up. Wade took it from its shelf and gave it a little shake. The rattling noise reassured him the relics were inside. The arm and hand bones of a saint would make sense, considering the vessel. But any further musings as to the contents were cut short when Wade realised he wasn¡¯t alone. A few feet down the corridor, a young priest was staring at him. ¡°Uh. The high priest asked me to fetch it,¡± Wade offered. ¡°To show our guest.¡± Crap. Really shoulda learned a name or two. ¡°Who are you?¡± the young man asked, clearly suspicious. ¡°Look, you take it to him if you want,¡± Wade said, holding out the reliquary, and making out that he was offended. ¡°I will,¡± the priest said, stalking forward. Wade handed him the reliquary. As soon as the priest took it, he drew his dagger. ACTION ROUND
Priest
Human Priest
Action Stats This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 13
He wasn¡¯t fast enough. The priest, already suspicious, smashed the reliquary into his face. Wade took one hit point of damage, which brought his action points down from five to four. When the priest followed up with another strike, Wade shifted out of the way. For his last action, the priest grabbed hold of Wade¡¯s dagger hand. Wade¡¯s turn. He struggled with the priest, trying to wrest his hand free. In the tussle, both lost their footing and fell to the floor. Wade felt something sharp enter his side. He¡¯d fallen on the blade, taking a further two points of damage. ¡°Stricken!¡± he hissed. Surely the bastard could hear the commotion? Why wasn¡¯t he coming to help? *** Alone in the room, Mila felt vulnerable. She stared at the door, wondering who would come through next. She had three allies in the church. Her role was as simple as it could be. Just lie here and act injured. Then why is my heart beating so fast? Not sure I¡¯m cut out for this business. The door swung open. Stricken. Like her, his tunic was soaked red. The difference was, his was real blood. ¡°Did you get it?¡± He had an unpleasant smirk on his face, and as he sauntered over to the table, his eyes were all over her. Not like Wade, who stole glances despite himself. Stricken¡¯s gaze was hungry and creepy. ¡°Got what?¡± he asked. ¡°The reliquary!¡± ¡°Wade¡¯s on that.¡± His hand grabbed at her chest. ¡°Get off me!¡± Mila was used to men putting their hands where they didn¡¯t belong and pushed his arm away. But Stricken was strong and insistent, placing a hand on her stomach. She drew her dagger and, in the fraction of hesitation it caused, she scrabbled off the table. She pointed the blade at him. ¡°Touch me again and I¡¯ll slit your throat.¡± He looked at her shaking hand and smiled. ¡°I like it when a woman fights back.¡± The door opened. The Baron bustled in, his gold jewellery clinking. He took in the scene. ¡°What is going on in here?¡± he demanded, though it was pretty obvious. ¡°This creep thought he would take advantage,¡± Mila said. ¡°Get out,¡± The Baron said to Stricken. ¡°Or what, fancy man?¡± Stricken removed the cleaver from his belt. Like him, it was blood spattered. The Baron drew his dagger. ¡°We can cut each other up here and now, if you insist. I¡¯d rather complete the mission and get paid than take a blade to the guts. Decide what you want, but decide fast.¡± Stricken sneered. He made no move towards The Baron, but neither did he put his weapon away. The door barged open again. Wade staggered in. One hand was pressed to his side, dark with blood. The other held a crooked metal arm. He stared in disbelief at the sight of all three of them with blades drawn. ¡°Now what are you bag of dicks doing?¡± ¡°What happened to the reliquary?¡± The Baron asked. ¡°It got bent on my face. That¡¯s what happened to it. Why am I the one getting stabbed and lamped in the face, while you three are in here titting about? Are we taking this thing to Stiff, or not?¡± He glared at Stricken. ¡°Just give me the say so, and I¡¯ll shove this thing up your arsehole.¡± Stricken smiled, unperturbed. But he shoved his cleaver back into his belt. ¡°Right,¡± said The Baron, sheathing his weapon. ¡°Follow my lead. Here,¡± he said to Wade. He took the reliquary and stuffed it in his hose, covering the top with his tunic. ¡°Stricken, with me.¡± He led them from the room. A gaggle of priests turned in their direction and headed over. Mila put her dagger away and put a hand on her stomach. She did her best to shield Wade next to her, so they couldn¡¯t see his wound. ¡°Be back soon,¡± The Baron called over. ¡°Just taking this poor young lady home.¡± The priests slowed, and The Baron wasted no time in making for the exit to the church. Outside, a pink haze twenty feet from the building marked the edge of the mission zone. They half-walked, half-jogged over. Mila felt more than a little relief when they crossed the line to safety. MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: The reliquary was stolen Some of your mercs improved their stats: The Baron: New skill: Disguise Stricken: Might +1 Hit Points +1 Action Points +1 No mercs levelled up Chapter 8 Wilson Turk Lothar went to see Boris. ¡°It¡¯s a little damaged,¡± he said, handing over the reliquary. Boris¡¯s eyebrows raised as he studied the arm¡ªdistinctly wonky, the metal was bent in the middle. ¡°I¡¯m sure it can be fixed,¡± Lothar offered. ¡°You promised me your people would treat it with care.¡± ¡°To be fair, it was one of the priests who used it as a truncheon.¡± ¡°I see. Look, Stiff, I will give you the original price for it. Four shillings.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Lothar said. He¡¯d been expecting as much. ¡°Let me know when you have more work for me.¡± Lothar returned to The Rose to make his plans.
Finances
Income
Mission #2 4s
Expenses
Wages 21p
Profit 2s 3p
Total 6s 1p
¡°Barely a profit,¡± he muttered to himself as he took a chair at the back of the inn¡¯s lounge. ¡°I¡¯m going nowhere fast.¡± Before he began to review his missions, he noticed Mila on her way over. The girl swayed her hips as she made her way past tables. Lothar thought it unnecessary. The cleavage she had on permanent display was plenty enough to attract male attention. ¡°Grab a seat,¡± he offered. ¡°Thank you. I wanted to talk about the last mission.¡± She looked hesitant. Nervous, even. It went against the image she liked to portray. ¡°It¡¯s about that Stricken guy.¡± ¡°Ah. He was out of order. I¡¯m sorry about that.¡± ¡°You heard?¡± ¡°Aye. Wade and The Baron have already had words with me. I probably won¡¯t be hiring him again. Certainly not on a mission with a woman.¡± Mila looked relieved. It was a damn shame that she¡¯d been nervous about telling him about the psycho. Lothar shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m new here. I¡¯m still learning who I can trust.¡± ¡°You think you can trust me?¡± ¡°So far.¡± ¡°Is there another job coming up?¡± ¡°Maybe. I¡¯ll let you know.¡± ¡°Oh. Cos money¡¯s tight right now. If you could pay me something in advance?¡± She pouted at him, giving him a look that wasn¡¯t hard to read. ¡°Or if there¡¯s anything else I can do for you? Perhaps I can find out how you got your nickname?¡± Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°Mila, I¡¯m old enough to be your father. And no, I¡¯m not rolling in money. I can¡¯t afford to pay anyone in advance. Now be off with you. I¡¯ll be in touch when I need you again.¡± The girl smiled sweetly at him and got to her feet. She turned to go, then looked back at him. ¡°Don¡¯t forget about me.¡± He shook his head as he watched her go. In his younger days, all Stiff would¡¯ve noticed was the tits and ass. Now he could see the vulnerability. But while he was old enough to be Mila¡¯s father, he wasn¡¯t. I have enough problems of my own. The noise of someone clearing their throat interrupted his thoughts. Lothar looked around but saw no one. Then he looked down. ¡°Ah, Wilson! Apologies! Please grab a seat.¡± The red-haired gnome glared at him, then attempted to climb onto the chair. Lothar looked off to the side, wary of causing further offence. When the scrabbling noises had stopped, he returned his gaze to the gnome, relieved to find he had completed the task. ¡°Wilson, I need money.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t we all?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a mission I¡¯ve been offered. Rescuing livestock. But it¡¯s out in the countryside.¡± ¡°Of course it is. Where else would cattle be?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just that. You¡¯re the only warrior I have on my books. The Golden Blades have recruited everyone else, and they don¡¯t take kindly to competition.¡± ¡°Those miserable sons of bitches? I¡¯d be working for them too, if they weren¡¯t a bunch of gnome-hating racists.¡± ¡°Well, their loss is my gain. But if I¡¯m going to expand my operations outside the city, I need someone to go out in the wilds and recruit some mercenaries with the skill set I need. What do you say?¡± ¡°I say why in Gehenna do you need to recruit more people for a simple cattle rustling mission? You enjoy pissing away your money? I¡¯ll do it for you by my ownsome.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ll need some people to watch your back travelling out there. And if it comes down to a fight¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªIf it comes down to a fight, perfect. Bring it on. That¡¯s meat and potatoes to me.¡± The gnome gave him a manic look. ¡°Right.¡± Lothar scanned Wilson¡¯s details. He was a Level 3 warrior. Nothing special. He couldn¡¯t see where the immense self-confidence came from. By the same token, he didn¡¯t want to offend the man. He was the only fighter he had. ¡°How about this? Find out the exact nature of the mission. If you need some extra help, get it. If you think you can manage on your own, I¡¯ll trust your judgement.¡± ¡°Fine!¡± the gnome exclaimed ill-temperedly, loud enough for the entire inn to hear. He thrust out a short arm. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll shake on those terms, then?¡± Lothar took his hand. ¡°Wonderful.¡± Leaving Wilson to begin work on his first mission outside Avolo, Lothar focused on those inside the city. Or mission, since there was currently only one. He therefore found himself knocking on the door of an Alinko church. ¡°Welcome, welcome!¡± said the high priest, who invited him in. ¡°We are so grateful for your help after what befell us. Those terrible people murdered one of our flock. And Emeka here had his head battered so hard against the floor that he was out cold for days.¡± Emeka, his head in bandages, had an irked expression. Lothar recalled Wade telling him something about such a struggle. The thief seemed to have an unfortunate habit of getting into scraps that left him hurt. ¡°I see. And they stole something from you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The reliquary of Saint Nnamdi. It contains his hand and arm bones. It¡¯s quite distinctive. I¡¯ve heard you are very proficient at retrieving items. I was told all about a brooch.¡± ¡°Ah. The Bartols. Yes, they were thrilled to have the item back. It had a sentimental value.¡± ¡°Yes. Well, the value of our reliquary is far more important. The relics of Saint Nnamdi strengthen the power of our prayers. It is vital that we get them back.¡± Lothar nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡± *** The land in the vicinity of Avolo was given over to agriculture. Mostly arable farming. Families and friends had banded together, claimed as much land as they could till, and took their produce to the city market. They were close enough to Avolo¡¯s city guard, and the sway of The Golden Blades, that they didn¡¯t have to worry too much about their personal safety. As Wilson made his slow but steady way northwest, things changed. The distance between settlements grew. The farmers who had dared to make a home inland were more likely to be pastoral farmers. They had to defend themselves from the animals and monsters that roamed the unexplored lands of Gal¡¯azu, and were no doubt attracted by the herds of sheep and cattle. They also had to defend themselves from each other. Not that Wilson minded one bit about entering the rough-and-ready world of the borders. With a mean stare, two axes on his belt, and a willingness to use them, no one tried to impede his progress. Aiden¡¯s home was a simple log cabin. The man had poured all his family¡¯s resources into his herds. Wilson was given a hearty bowl of broth¡ªa bigger portion than Aiden or his family members got. ¡°We¡¯ve still got most of our sheep,¡± he explained. ¡°But they took every last one of our cattle. Sixty-two of ¡¯em. All branded with an ¡®A¡¯ for Aiden. Inside a circle.¡± ¡°And you know who the rustlers are?¡± ¡°Aye. The Harris¡¯s. Me and the lads went over and saw for ourselves. We had it out with ¡¯em. They lied to my face and then it got physical. That family is bad news. They¡¯d kill a man and think nothing of it. They¡¯ve got our animals well fenced in, and guarded. There¡¯s more of ¡¯em than us, and they¡¯re armed to the teeth.¡± Aiden shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t afford to buy new stock and start over. If I did, those crooks would just steal them. We¡¯re gonna have to leave this place soon. Either go farther west and take our chances with the bandits and goblins. Or give up and ask for work at other farms.¡± Wilson understood the man¡¯s worries for his family. ¡°You don¡¯t need to do that. I¡¯ll get ¡¯em back for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be eternally grateful. I can pay your crew a pound. That¡¯s all the savings I¡¯ve got.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to negotiate. I¡¯m just here to do a job.¡± Aiden nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± A confused look appeared on his face. ¡°Where are your crew, Wilson?¡± ¡°Crew? I said I¡¯ll get them, didn¡¯t I? I don¡¯t need a crew.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°I said I¡¯ll get them,¡± Wilson repeated, raising his voice. It was a shame he¡¯d had to speak harshly, but there it was. People only listen when you talk tough. Chapter 9 Mission #3 Rescue Livestock
Wilson Turk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname ?
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 50
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 20
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 5
Grit 3
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axe (proficient)
Equipment If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Weapons Hand axe (damage 3-18), Hand axe (damage 3-18)
Armour Breastplate
Other
Wilson approached the Harris¡¯s farmstead at night. His gnomish eyesight gave him an advantage over his adversaries. He doubted the defenders Aiden mentioned spent all night in the fields on the off chance rustlers appeared. No. Quick and efficient, and I can reclaim the herd without too much trouble. He clambered over an unnecessarily high gate into a field of cattle. His eyesight allowed him to avoid the many cowpats. One misstep on a wet one, and the top of his boots would be breached. The cows lay on the grass. It made them slightly less intimidating. Even so, the size differential between a cow and a gnome was significant. Wilson approached a group of four, moving slowly and quietly. The nearest got to her feet, mooing indignantly, and her friends stood. ¡°It¡¯s alright, girl,¡± Wilson reassured her. ¡°Let me take a look at you.¡± The cow had been branded with a filled circle. It was therefore impossible to know for sure whether she was one of Aiden¡¯s herd. ¡°Cunning bastards,¡± Wilson muttered. If he couldn¡¯t locate the herd for sure, he¡¯d have to do the next best thing¡ªlead sixty-two cattle back to Aiden¡¯s farm, and call it a fair settlement. Rounding up the beasts was more challenging than Wilson had anticipated. His height was a real disadvantage. The stupid bovines paid little attention to him, apart from wandering away when he got near. He had a rope. After several attempts, he got it around a cow¡¯s neck. When he led it towards the gate, none of the others followed. ¡°Damn it to Gehenna!¡± he shouted, losing his temper. His one prize jerked away at this outburst. Struggling to drag it back, Wilson was pulled through a cowpat. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s great! Just fucking great! Thanks for your gods'' damned help while I try to rescue you!¡± ¡°What in Gal¡¯azu do we have here?¡± Wilson let go of the rope. At least four of them had crept up on him unawares. A lot of things could have run through his mind at that point. But he was a professional. The only correct option was to attack. ACTION ROUND
Cattle Rustler
Human Rustler
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 4
Hit Points 18
Three and a half feet of gnome swung into action. Wilson used his first action point to advance on the rustler to his right. His axes swung. Both blades hit home, cutting through his enemy¡¯s hide armour. Eight damage. Followed by thirteen. The bastard hadn¡¯t stood a chance, slumping to the ground. Dead. The gnome moved against his next opponent. With his last action point, he let fly. His first strike was blocked by the man¡¯s cudgel, but the second struck his arm. The rustler took seven points of damage, shrieking in pain. Now it was the rustlers¡¯ turn. The cudgels fell. Hit. Miss. Hit. Hit. Miss. Four damage. Another four. Again, four. Just like that, he¡¯d been knocked down to eight hit points. ¡°Wait!¡± one said. ¡°Let¡¯s have some fun before we finish him. It¡¯s what Billy would have wanted.¡± Wilson felt woozy. One axe had been knocked from his right hand, but he still held the other. ¡°Alright,¡± said the injured rustler. ¡°But I get to kill him.¡± He struck at Wilson, but the blow rang off his breastplate, causing no further damage. A final blow from behind caught Wilson on the shoulder. His hit points fell to seven. The injured rustler had one more action point. He aimed low, the cudgel cracking against Wilson¡¯s knees. Three damage and Wilson was grounded, barely conscious. He retained enough sense to notice being lifted from the grass. ¡°What are we going to do with the little fucker?¡± Wilson didn¡¯t hear the reply, on account of a ringing in his ears. But he heard the gales of laughter that followed. They weren¡¯t reassuring. He was carried towards the rear end of a cow. And they didn¡¯t stop. His head penetrated the cow¡¯s rectum. It was warm inside. Not as smelly as one might have thought. On the negative side, he couldn¡¯t breathe. Of all the indignities Wilson had suffered in life, this had to be in the top ten. He was withdrawn, and dropped onto the ground. The breach encouraged the cow to empty its bowels, much of which landed on Wilson¡¯s head, to the delight of his tormentors. Wilson Turk had not inherited many typical gnome characteristics. He was born without magic. He was not jolly or playful. He took no pleasure from tinkering with objects, or making things. But he was, when he needed to be, fucking fast. Wilson got to his feet and sprinted away, making for the murkiness of the hedge that ran along one side of the field. With a cry, the three rustlers gave chase. They had longer legs. More stamina, too¡ªWilson only had a puny one action point per turn left, after they had beaten him into the ground. Every bone and muscle in his body ached. He knew he had to escape fast, or he was a goner. He burrowed into the hedge on hands and knees, ignoring the scratches of thorns. He feared a hand on his ankle, dragging him out. ¡°Where is he?¡± came a shout, and he dared to hope. He felt the hedge shake as it was struck with cudgels. He kept burrowing until he had crawled out of the field. Back on his feet, he ran for it. The pink haze of the mission zone appeared before him. He¡¯d failed, of course. He¡¯d lost both his weapons. But he¡¯d not lost his life. He passed through the zone and was struck with the unique heady sense of relief one gets after escaping death. But the exhilaration was short-lived. With the pain of his injuries returning, Wilson turned to the south-east. He had a long walk back to Avolo ahead of him. Not to mention the humiliation that was waiting for him. MISSION COMPLETE FAILURE: The livestock were not rescued None of your mercs improved their stats No mercs levelled up Chapter 10 Mission #4 Recover Reliquary
Finances
Income
Mission #3 0
Expenses
Wages 14p
Loss 14p
Total 4s 11p
¡°I need some good news, Mila.¡± ¡°I got some information for you,¡± said the girl. Lothar had asked the young thief to infiltrate Boris¡¯s shop. That was where the reliquary was stored. But after the earlier break in, the dealer was on full alert. More guards had been hired, working shifts day and night. Lothar¡¯s collection of crooks had no chance of getting in a second time. ¡°This boy Wilky is well into me. Can¡¯t keep his hands off me, honestly. Tells me anything I ask.¡± ¡°And what has he told you?¡± ¡°They¡¯re taking it to the docks tomorrow. The relic-thingy. Wilky and three others are going to do the deal, and then it¡¯s being taken abroad. This is the only chance to get it back, Stiff.¡± ¡°I see. Well, with how things are going, I have to take the risk. I¡¯ll set Wade and The Baron on it.¡± ¡°Make sure Wilky don¡¯t get hurt. You can pay me now.¡± ¡°Pay you? For getting felt up by this Wilky fellow?¡± ¡°Yes. I coulda spent the last two days getting felt up by someone else who pays for it.¡± Lothar sighed heavily. ¡°Alright. What can you tell me about this Wilky? Apart from what you and he get up to. I don¡¯t need to hear any more about that.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a proper gentleman. Very protective.¡± Lothar stored that nugget in his noggin.
Finances
Income
Spying on Boris 0
Expenses
Wages 6p
Profit -6p
Total 4s 5p
Some of your mercs improved their stats: Mila: Intellect +1
Wade
Name Trent Wade
Nickname Wade
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. 35
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 9
Grit 11
Intellect 5
Skills Thievery, Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour Padded
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
The Baron
Name ?
Nickname The Baron
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 31
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 3
Hit Points 13
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 12
Grit 5
Intellect 11
Skills Thievery, Disguise, Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour Padded
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
It was a very uncomfortable thing to admit to. But The Baron looked good as a woman. It was almost enough for an old thief to question his sexuality. The brunette wig seemed to bring out feminine features on his face that Wade had never noticed before. And his eyes¡ªhis eyes were pools of light that someone could easily get lost in. If that someone wasn¡¯t careful. The Baron wore a fur shawl over his dress, which did much to hide his real figure. His legs and ankles were visible, though, and they were rather shapely. As for Wade, he looked no different than usual. The only addition was the padded armour he now wore beneath his clothes. Recent missions had persuaded him it was sensible to invest in some protection. ¡°I''m really not keen on this plan,¡± he complained. ¡°I¡¯m not an actor like you.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all actors, sweetheart.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®sweetheart¡¯ me.¡± The Baron sucked in his cheeks. ¡°Look, just let me do the talking. It¡¯ll be fine.¡± They positioned themselves in an alleyway and waited. Sometimes, in the crime game, one has to be patient. Sometimes one has to wait hours to carry out a few moments'' worth of work. At least The Baron was as used to the boredom as Wade. He had no desperate need to fill the silence, like so many of the annoying knaves Wade had been forced to work with in the past. ¡°That Stricken is a piece of work,¡± he commented. ¡°The worst,¡± The Baron agreed. ¡°A killer and a predator. Where in hell did Stiff get him from?¡± ¡°At least he listened to our complaints.¡± ¡°True, I suppose. I like the Mila girl, though. Quite adorable.¡± ¡°Oh, you like her?¡± ¡°Not in that way, Wade. She¡¯s really not my type. I had to tell her so.¡± ¡°Oh? She came on to you as well, then?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you want to call it. She hardly whispered sweet nothings in my ear. She was very upfront about money.¡± Wade grinned. ¡°Yep. I¡¯ll admit, for a few moments, I thought I was special. Doesn¡¯t happen very often. I reckon she tries it on with everyone.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure. Still, I like her. Not sure she¡¯s cut out for our line of work, though.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Wade admitted. ¡°She¡¯s probably realised she can make more from sex than this. Not everyone has the commitment to the profession we do.¡± The Baron laughed. ¡°True. Look here. I think they¡¯re our boys.¡± Four men were walking down the main thoroughfare. All were armed and looked like the group Mila had described. ¡°Looks like it. Are you ready?¡± ¡°Is my wig straight?¡± ¡°You look captivating. Come on.¡± Wade dragged The Baron out of the alley into the path of the marks, taking care not to pull too hard and dislodge his hairpiece. ¡°You saucy wench!¡± he bellowed. In the heat of the moment, he found he was giving a pretty good performance. ¡°Help!¡± The Baron cried, full of emotion. ¡°Get your hands off me. Leave me alone!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± came the inevitable question. Wade said nothing but still gripped The Baron. He studied the four men. One of them had a hand near the hilt of a sword. They had to play this carefully if he was going to avoid getting stabbed. Again. ¡°He¡¯s a jealous bastard. He won¡¯t leave me alone.¡± ¡°Is this man your husband?¡± ¡°My husband? No. He¡¯s just a drunken pervert.¡± That prompted Boris¡¯s guards into action. ¡°Let her go if she¡¯s not your wife,¡± one of them demanded, squaring up to Wade. ¡°Alright,¡± Wade said, releasing him. ¡°But she¡¯s a cheating whore.¡± ¡°Enough of that language. Listen, mate, get on your way and calm down, or you¡¯re going to get a beating.¡± Wade put his open palms in the air. ¡°Alright, alright,¡± he said, scanning them over one last time before he retreated towards the alley. ¡°Thank you so much,¡± The Baron said, fake crying. ¡°I¡¯m so lucky you fine gentlemen were here.¡± Wade had identified his target. A bulge beneath the man¡¯s coat had to be the reliquary. He prowled from behind, and grabbed the man around the neck. ¡°You interfering bastard!¡± he cried. A scuffle ensued as the man and his companions tried to pull Wade off. He grabbed the reliquary and put it behind his back. Quick hands took it from him. He was wrestled to the ground, and then a fist took him square in the mouth. He lost two damage and tasted blood. And something else. He spat out a tooth. ¡°You bastards! You knocked my tooth out!¡± ¡°You¡¯re lucky that¡¯s all you got, you rotten piece of shit.¡± ¡°Wait a minute,¡± said the guard Wade had latched himself onto. ¡°The reliquary! The bastard took it off me!¡± They surrounded him, pulling at his limbs, lifting his tunic. ¡°Gerroff! I ain¡¯t got nothing!¡± ¡°The woman! She must¡¯ve took it. Where is she?¡± This was Wade¡¯s moment to scarper, in the precious moments while they looked for The Baron. He was careful at first, avoiding attention. He used one action point to sneak away. When he had a few yards on them, he used his remaining three to peg it towards the alley. ¡°Hey!¡± one of them called. The sound of pursuit followed. Over a fence, through a garden, then up a wall. He¡¯d planned his escape route well in advance. Too many twists and turns for them to follow. He hauled himself onto the roof of a house and looked down on them. They¡¯d given up on The Baron and were searching the alleyways for him, realising that he and the ¡®woman¡¯ had been working together. For a moment Wade felt the satisfaction of a job well done. Then his tongue found the hole where his tooth had been. ¡°Motherfucker,¡± he grumbled. ¡°Why is it always me?¡± MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: The reliquary was recovered Some of your mercs improved their stats: Wade: Agility +1 No mercs levelled up Chapter 11 Frantic Jacks Weapon Warehouse
Finances
Income
Mission #4 6s
Expenses
Wages 14p
Profit 4s 10p
Total 9s 3p
The money from that mission was much needed. Lothar¡¯s finances had been on a downward spiral, and he¡¯d started to worry. Things still weren¡¯t healthy. I need to sort out a team for missions out in the wild; he acknowledged to himself. It was easy to blame Wilson for the failure of mission 3. But Lothar had been hesitant to take on these missions, then too willing to trust in the gnome¡¯s overconfidence. The high priest of the Alinko church was delighted at the return of the reliquary, and agreed to spread the word about Lothar¡¯s services. He needed all the customers he could get. It was only when Lothar left the building that he realised he¡¯d made a rookie mistake. Someone was watching him from an alleyway, the hood of their cloak hiding their features. Lothar couldn¡¯t know for sure. But if that was one of Boris¡¯s employees, he was in trouble. Why wouldn¡¯t Boris suspect Lothar¡¯s involvement? Or at least have the church watched? And he had blundered in, virtually confirming his involvement. Maybe that wasn¡¯t Boris¡¯s man, he considered, as he returned to the familiar surroundings of The Rose. But Lothar recognised the sinister comforts of delusion. Boris knows. And for all Lothar could point to the stress of recent events to explain it, he had blundered badly. Own it, he told himself. Maybe I¡¯m getting too old for this? That was an unwelcome thought. I don¡¯t know anything except this life. Wilson was perched on a bar stool and Lothar joined him. ¡°What are you drinking?¡± Lothar asked. Wilson peered at the murky contents of his leather cup. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Two more of those,¡± Lothar asked Suzie. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Stiff,¡± Wilson said, eyes fixed on his drink. He sounded it, and Lothar felt it best to go easy on him. ¡°I need to do some recruiting out in the wilds. Then you can lead a team back to that farm.¡± ¡°Of course. And thanks for paying me.¡± ¡°My mercs always get paid. I suggest you use it to get yourself a new weapon.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°There¡¯s something else I might need you for. Things might be getting a bit hairy between me and One-Eyed Boris. I could use some muscle. A bodyguard. Just in case.¡± Wilson nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go get me an axe.¡± ¡°I got some news, Stiff.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t suppose it¡¯s the good kind?¡± ¡°Nah,¡± said Mila, taking a seat next to him. ¡°You were right about Boris. Knows you were seen going back to that church.¡± ¡°So he¡¯s going to kill me, I suppose?¡± ¡°No doubt. He¡¯s playing it cautious, though. Wilky says he¡¯s worried you¡¯ve got a considerable gang of thugs at your disposal.¡± She glanced over at Wilson, stood to attention by the table. ¡°If only he knew the truth, right?¡± ¡°Just get on with it,¡± Lothar said sourly. ¡°Apparently, he¡¯s gonna leave a trap for you. Hire your mercs for a job, then ambush them. Leaving you alone and easy to finish off.¡± Lothar looked up his available missions. SELECT MISSION Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. RESCUE LIVESTOCK, ¡ê1 PROTECT FROM BRIGANDS, ¡ê2 STEAL WEAPONS, 8 shillings ¡°Steal weapons?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it. A friend of his is going to offer you the job. They¡¯ll send you to a warehouse near the docks where Boris¡¯s thugs will be waiting.¡± ¡°Cunning bastard. Thanks for the heads up, Mila. I appreciate it.¡± She held out a hand until Lothar gave her thruppence. Then she smiled. ¡°What are you gonna do, Stiff?¡± ¡°Think things through.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Alright. Good luck.¡± She left The Rose. ¡°You don¡¯t trust her,¡± Wilson commented. Lothar turned to him. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know what I¡¯m going to do. But yeah. I only trust her to a certain point. It¡¯s past time I started thinking more shrewdly, and before I act.¡± ¡°What you need is a right hand man,¡± the gnome said. ¡°To talk through your strategy with.¡± I had that and more, once, Lothar thought. It would be nice to have it again. But he was worried the gnome was about to nominate himself for the role, and so moved the conversation on. ¡°One thing¡¯s for sure. It makes sense for me to leave Avolo for a while, until this mess dies down. Maybe you can look after things?¡± ¡°What ¡°things¡±?¡± It was a fair question. What, exactly, do I have here that needs protecting? ¡°My team. Look out for them, will you?¡± ¡°Alright. Anything you need right now?¡± Lothar opened his books. He had eight mercs. He¡¯d used five. The others he had hoped he¡¯d never need to use. But the beginning of a plan was forming in his mind. ¡°I need you to fetch someone for me.¡± Lothar was no expert on the shadowy world of the common thief. But he imagined having a hand missing was a distinct disadvantage. Despite that, and what Lothar assumed to have been a hard life, Magnus ¡®Mags¡¯ Nold was a generally cheerful fellow. He perused the man¡¯s stats. ¡°It says here you¡¯re ambidextrous.¡± ¡°Aye, that¡¯s true.¡± Mags grinned amiably, showing off his few teeth. The sight complemented his tatty clothes and unwashed body odour. The true colour of his hair was impossible to guess at, beneath the layers of dirt and grime. The lice looked so big Lothar wondered if he was deliberately growing them as a food source. ¡°But you¡¯ve only got one hand,¡± Lothar said. ¡°Why am I paying extra for a skill you can no longer use?¡± The grin faded. ¡°That¡¯s a little unfair, Stiff. Surely it would be punishing me twice over to dock my pay for losing a hand?¡± Lothar sighed. He gestured across to Mags¡¯ friend. Murder was a terrifyingly large Alinko man of few words. ¡°I don¡¯t have any skills recorded for him.¡± ¡°Mada,¡± said Murder. ¡°That¡¯s correct. No skills.¡± ¡°Then why is he a mercenary? What use is he?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a fair question. We come as a package, I suppose. He¡¯s not very good at anything, to be honest. He¡¯s a kind hearted soul, though. And at first sight, quite menacing.¡± ¡°Alright. The other fellow I¡¯m looking for is Harry Lypt.¡± Mags shrugged. Lothar checked his file. ¡°Known as Kacker.¡± ¡°Oh, Kacker. Yes, I know him.¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t find him anywhere.¡± ¡°Kacker will be in a drug house somewhere. I can find him for you.¡± ¡°Alright, Mags. When it¡¯s time, bring Kacker with you.¡± ¡°Thanks, Stiff,¡± Mags said, getting to his feet. ¡°You won¡¯t regret this.¡± ¡°Mada.¡± Lothar watched them go, feeling like the worst kind of lowlife. But what choice did he have? The world was a harsh place, and he wasn¡¯t running a charity. He glanced at Wilson, standing to attention. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± The gnome shrugged. ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s meet our client.¡± They left The Rose and made their way across the city to the south side. Here the tang of the sea did a reasonable job of hiding the unpleasant smells of a rough part of town. They passed The Anchor, where Lothar had his run-in with the Golden Blades. Around the corner, they met The Baron. ¡°Well?¡± Lothar asked him. ¡°She entered with a couple of heavies. They¡¯re a few tables away. But there¡¯s no sign of an ambush. Looks legit.¡± Lothar gave his thanks, and they carried on. The Sailor¡¯s Knot was neutral ground, frequented by the many crews on shore leave. ¡°Wait at the bar,¡± Lothar said to Wilson as they entered. He trusted the gnome to come to his aid if needed. But Lothar had some lying to do, and he wasn¡¯t sure Wilson was as practised in the art as he was. A scan of the lounge area and Lothar found his client easily enough. Rosalind De Cheney sat alone. She was slim, middle-aged, raven haired, with a distinctive lock of white hair. Lothar joined her at the table¡ªthough table was a generous word for a slab of warped wood balanced precariously on two stools. She already had a bottle of wine and two cups and poured him a drink. ¡°To business,¡± she said, offering her cup. Lothar clinked it. ¡°To business.¡± It didn¡¯t taste half bad. Then again, my palate has probably been ruined from drinking at The Rose. ¡°I¡¯m stealing weapons?¡± ¡°Yes. You have a crew ready?¡± ¡°Aye.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Four.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all I have and all I need.¡± It wasn¡¯t all Lothar had. And it was the most miserable group of reprobates he¡¯d ever laid eyes on. Rosalind studied him, looking for the lie. ¡°There¡¯s my bodyguard,¡± Lothar added. ¡°The gnome I came in with. But he doesn¡¯t do this kind of job.¡± ¡°I see. Well, if you think four is enough, that¡¯s your call. There¡¯s an arms dealer known as Frantic Jack. He gets his weapons brought in by ship and stores them in a warehouse nearby. There¡¯s security, but it¡¯s minimal.¡± ¡°And who does he sell these weapons on to?¡± ¡°Anyone who wants them.¡± ¡°Like the Golden Blades?¡± ¡°Sure. But you¡¯re not stealing from the Golden Blades. You¡¯re stealing from Frantic Jack.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re getting eight shillings. That¡¯s the minimum for a half decent haul. There¡¯s a good chance that four of your mercs can grab more valuable items, and carry out a nice quantity of gear. The more the take, the more your cut is. Here.¡± She opened a piece of parchment on the table. Lothar held down one end and leaned over, close enough to inhale her perfume. ¡°This is the warehouse,¡± Rosalind said, using a long, lacquered nail to identify the target. ¡°It has entrances front and back. This is where your people drop off their haul. It couldn¡¯t be any easier.¡± Maybe not, Lothar mused. Unless you and Boris are planning an ambush. He gazed into her dark eyes for a moment, but she was unreadable. ¡°Alright, we can do it. When¡¯s a good time?¡± ¡°There are fewer ships coming into port this time of year. But as soon as I hear of Jack getting a new shipment, I¡¯ll let you know.¡± ¡°Sounds like a plan.¡± She smiled. ¡°Here¡¯s to a profitable relationship, Stiff.¡± ¡°Well?¡± Wilson asked as they left the Knot and made their way back to The Rose. Lothar looked around, but no one was following them. ¡°Well, there was no ambush. Rosalind could be on the level, or she could be setting us up for Boris. Boris could be planning to murder us all, or he might not.¡± ¡°Mila could be lying to you,¡± Wilson offered. ¡°She could.¡± ¡°You must be feeling pretty paranoid?¡± ¡°I sure am. And I¡¯m getting the hell out of this city tonight. But I need to know what the situation is. So I¡¯ve got four mercs who are going to do this job. None of them will be a loss if things turn sour. Then I¡¯ll know for sure how things stand.¡± Lothar glared at the gnome, who was making one of his faces. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I was just wondering when I¡¯ll be sacrificed for your greater good.¡± ¡°Well, since you¡¯re so concerned, I¡¯ve got good news. When I¡¯m gone, you¡¯re in charge. And when this job happens, you can look out for the crew.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t warn them, or they¡¯ll bail. Don¡¯t tell them you¡¯re going to be there. Find somewhere to hide. That shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you.¡± ¡°Hide?¡± Wilson repeated, as if offended by the notion. ¡°Aye. Hide. Observe. Only intervene if you have to.¡± The gnome made another face. ¡°I think you owe me.¡± ¡°Alright, Stiff. Fair enough. But what if you can¡¯t trust me?¡± Lothar smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got someone trailing you.¡± He watched, amused, as that idea sank into the gnome¡¯s head. ¡°Now who¡¯s feeling paranoid?¡± Chapter 12 The Bowman Lothar didn¡¯t realise quite how tired he¡¯d got of life in the city until he left. But stepping out into the great untamed lands of Gal¡¯azu felt freeing. There were opportunities here, for those with the guts to take them. He wasn¡¯t sure why it had taken him so long. Many Hargon immigrants had taken land on the west side of the Auster River, and that seemed the natural place to begin his quest. He found slim pickings. Most people here had a different notion of what a life of adventure looked like. To them, it was waking up early and cleaning out the pigsties, before tackling an endless list of other chores, until one staggered into bed, woke up again in five hours, and did it all over again. When Lothar talked about fighting bandits, finding treasure, and the experiences that got his blood racing, all he got were polite nods. As he moved from farmstead to hamlet to village, he began to wonder if he hadn¡¯t simply made a great mistake in coming to Gal¡¯azu. It made sense in theory. An unexplored continent, full of dangers, but equivalent rewards. But he needed to find explorers ready to face danger, who craved such rewards. It seemed the folk who had come here had different motives. They craved the sort of freedom that provided independence and peace. It was all rather inconsiderate. He had a go at recruiting the local youth in one village, buying them a round of drinks. They were excited at the idea of fighting monsters and discovering untold riches. They just didn¡¯t see themselves doing it. ¡°Imagine me doing that!¡± a lad with a fuzzy beard said. ¡°I¡¯d mess my breeches in terror!¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t fight,¡± said his friend. ¡°I¡¯ve got two left hands. I¡¯d stab meself before someone else.¡± Lothar leaned back, disappointed. The crowd he was with looked sorry for him. ¡°What kind of person are you looking for, mister?¡± ¡°Someone who can use a weapon. Any weapon would do.¡± He sighed. ¡°An archer. Been a while since I had an archer in my crew. Always adds an extra dimension to a skirmish.¡± The group looked at one another. ¡°There¡¯s Christoph the Bowman,¡± said the bearded youth. ¡°Lives on a farm two miles out west.¡± Lothar gave him a stare. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± ¡°No, mister. We can take you. If you want.¡± Two of his new friends led him across a muddy wasteland towards the isolated farm. It had been hacked out of the woodland which bound it to north and west. There were a few wooden buildings and plenty of animals in the fields. ¡°What is an archer doing living here?¡± ¡°Well, Christoph isn¡¯t really an archer,¡± said fuzzy beard. ¡°He¡¯s a farmer, working here with his family. His parents, aunts and uncles¡ª¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Lothar said, stopping. ¡°Christoph the Bowman, you said. That¡¯s why I came here.¡± ¡°Well. Bowman is more of a nickname, really,¡± said the girl who accompanied them. ¡°See, he once met an archer. Wouldn¡¯t stop talking about it. So everyone calls him Christoph the Bowman.¡± ¡°He once met an archer,¡± Lothar repeated. ¡°And you dragged me out here for that? How is that helpful?¡± They both looked hurt. ¡°We can go back¡ª¡± ¡°No. We¡¯re here now. It¡¯s my fault, I suppose, for not asking the right questions before we left.¡± Lothar really didn¡¯t think it was his fault. ¡°Might as well meet him.¡± At least the family of the ¡®bowman¡¯ were a friendly lot. They were one of those traditional families who produced a feast when they had guests. Lothar was seated at a table in the kitchen, which was soon groaning with food. Hams, sausages, cheeses, eggs, sauerkraut, bread, sauces¡ªand homebrew. Lothar was in his element. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The commander of the feast was a handsome woman who turned out to be the Bowman¡¯s aunt. When the eighteen members of the family and their three guests were seated¡ªa spread of ages from six to sixty¡ªshe led the prayers, then the interrogation. ¡°So,¡± she said, after Lothar had introduced himself, ¡°you have come to recruit Christoph?¡± Her puzzled look was shared by the other family members. Christoph beamed, perhaps at being the centre of attention. ¡°Well¡­if he has the skills I¡¯m looking for,¡± Lothar said, doubtfully. Christoph was nineteen, still skinny, despite his labours on the farm. He had a mop of dark blond hair and wide, blue eyes. ¡°Oh, he¡¯s a quick learner,¡± said Christoph¡¯s father, ¡°and a hard worker. I think spending some time with Mr Sauer will benefit him no end. It¡¯s time he left the nest and explored the world.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t mercenary work dangerous, Mr Sauer?¡± his mother asked. Yes. Of course it bloody is, Stiff said to himself. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve reached a good age. A few scars along the way, of course. But as your husband says, I¡¯ve seen the world, and made good money doing it. Someone of your son¡¯s age doesn¡¯t have to do it for long. He can earn a nest egg, then buy some choice land and retire at thirty.¡± He probably won¡¯t see twenty-one if he comes with me. Christoph¡¯s family all looked pretty keen on the idea. Lothar feared this was because they liked the idea of ridding themselves of a useless mouth to feed, rather than thinking a soldier for hire was the perfect career path. ¡°You¡¯ll want to speak to Christoph, Mr Sauer, I am sure,¡± said his aunt. ¡°To see if it¡¯s something that would truly work out.¡± ¡°Most definitely.¡± Lothar and Christoph strolled around his family¡¯s steading. Lothar could see the attraction of the farming life, even if he knew he was ill-suited to it. In his experience, there was something about such places that often created the best warriors. And, indeed, there was nothing wrong with Christoph. He was healthy, and young enough to mould into what Lothar needed. ¡°I must ask about this nickname of yours. You spent some time with an archer, I hear?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. The best time of my life. Ever since, I¡¯ve imagined such a life for myself. Which is why I am so excited about your offer, Mr Sauer.¡± ¡°And he taught you some skills with the weapon?¡± Lothar pressed. ¡°Oh, no,¡± Christoph laughed. ¡°But on one occasion, he did let me carry it.¡± ¡°Carry it?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr Sauer.¡± ¡°So, your sole experience with a bow is that you once carried one? You don¡¯t own one, or¡ª?¡± ¡°Oh, no. I wish I did!¡± ¡°Then ¡®the Bowman¡¯ is rather a misleading nickname, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± ¡°Very much so. It was said in jest at first, and then it just kind of stuck. And I suppose I kind of liked it, too.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re keen to become a bowman for real? You¡¯d work at the weapon?¡± ¡°Definitely!¡± ¡°Practice every day? Until your fingers bleed, and your shoulder aches? I can¡¯t carry people who give up when things get hard.¡± ¡°I understand, Mr Sauer. If I ever had a bow, I would practise every chance I got.¡± What else was there to say? The sad truth was, Christoph was the only recruit Lothar had found. He wouldn¡¯t make any difference to the Rescue Livestock mission Wilson had bungled. At the very best, he was a long-term prospect. But the boy was all he had. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m taking you on.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go see your folks and break the joyous news.¡± Christoph¡¯s mother cried, and Lothar could hardly blame her. ¡°Is your sister here?¡± he asked. ¡°Femke? My sister-in-law. She¡¯s in the maternity pen. We have a cow ready to give birth and she never leaves her for long. I can take you.¡± ¡°Point me in the right direction.¡± Lothar peered around the entrance to the barn, fearing the worst. ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Femke asked him, wiping her arm on a towel. She had her nephew¡¯s blonde colouring and big blue eyes. ¡°Blood and guts.¡± ¡°Odd that someone in your profession should be afraid of that.¡± ¡°Yes and no. You look after all the animals here?¡± ¡°Not only me. But when it comes to birthing and healing, I¡¯m the one they call.¡± ¡°Huh. Christoph is coming to work for me.¡± ¡°Will you look out for him?¡± ¡°Of course. But I¡¯ll be putting him in danger.¡± ¡°I understand that. But I have a good feeling about you, Mr Sauer.¡± ¡°Everyone calls me Stiff.¡± ¡°Do they? Anyway, I¡¯m usually a good judge of character.¡± ¡°Then I have something to ask you. My outfit needs a medic. You¡¯ll be paid well, and I¡¯ll keep you away from the fighting.¡± ¡°I¡¯m no doctor.¡± ¡°You have the skills I need. Patching people up mid-mission. Those who need more specialist care can get it afterwards. Come on, Femke. Give it a try. Your family can keep this farm going without you.¡± ¡°If I was ten years younger, Mr Sauer, then maybe you¡¯d have convinced me. But I have bad knees, bad sleep, bad headaches, and most of the time, I¡¯m in a bad mood.¡± ¡°What if Christoph were to get an injury that you could have dealt with? If you¡¯re not there, he¡¯ll probably get treated by a gnome with anger issues.¡± ¡°You bastard! Using my nephew to recruit me? That¡¯s low.¡± Lothar shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve sunk far lower in my time. I¡¯m not a bad judge of character myself, Femke. I want you on my team.¡± ¡°Alright. But I¡¯m not calling you ¡®Stiff¡¯.¡± ¡°You have special dispensation to call me Lothar.¡± He offered his hand, and she took it. ¡°But we can¡¯t leave ¡¯til this cow has foaled.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Lothar returned to the main house. He allowed himself a big grin. He¡¯d come looking for warriors to boost the strength of The Order of The Rotten Apples. He¡¯d not found any. It was more confirmation that The Golden Blades had sucked up any decent sellsword in Gal¡¯azu into their organisation. But in the mercenary business, killers were commonplace. Competent healers could be priceless. Chapter 13 Mission #5 Steal Weapons Part One
Stricken
Name Jurgen Stricker
Nickname Stricken
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 27
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 4
Hit Points 18
Core Stats
Might 12
Agility 8
Grit 4
Intellect 3
Skills Thievery, Cleaver (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Cleaver (damage 3-15)
Armour None
Other
Mags
Name Magnus Nold
Nickname Mags
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 28
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 15
Core Stats
Might 6
Agility 4
Grit 7
Intellect 6
Skills Thievery, Ambidextrous, Dagger (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour None
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
Murder
Name Unknown
Nickname Murder
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 34
Daily Wage 1 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 1
Action Points 2
Hit Points 12
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 3
Grit 2
Intellect 1
Skills [None]
Equipment
Weapons Stick (damage 1-3)
Armour None
Other
Kacker
Name Harry Lypt
Nickname Kacker
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 33
Daily Wage 1 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 1
Action Points 1
Hit Points 7
Core Stats
Might 3
Agility 3
Grit 3
Intellect 4
Skills Thievery
Equipment
Weapons None
Armour None
Other
There were guards at the front, so they approached the rear of the warehouse under night¡¯s cover. Mags got to his knees and inspected the lock on the door, before selecting the tools he needed. Jurgen and the other two stood behind him. One was a silent statue, the other a jumble of shakes and ticks. The brick wall of the warehouse defended them from the biting wind that came in off the sea. It whistled through the holes in the building, loud enough to cover any noise they made. And yet, Jurgen had the feeling they were being watched. Mags fumbled with the locks, cursing under his breath. It was a pathetic sight, and Jurgen¡¯s contempt made his hand itch for the handle of his cleaver. Mags turned around, as if he sensed it. ¡°Why am I the only so-called thief among us who actually owns any tool of the trade, eh?¡± Jurgen stared at him. What was he hoping to achieve with the comment? Jurgen hated pointless blather, perhaps more than anything else. He didn¡¯t understand why people felt the need for it. Mags looked away and resumed his work, grumbling under his breath. Each murmur; every clack of tongue on teeth; every time those wet lips met; set Jurgen on edge. At last, the one-handed fool got the door open, and they entered the warehouse. It was dark, the only light seeping through occasional holes in the ceiling and walls. But if there was one thing any thief was good at, it was moving about in the dark. The giant fool kicked something that skittered along the floor, then let out a pitiful ¡°Mada.¡± ¡°Hush!¡± hissed Mags. It wasn¡¯t a noise; just some undefinable sense that alerted Jurgen. He took his cleaver in hand. ¡°There¡¯s people in here,¡± he whispered. ¡°Waiting for us.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s scarper,¡± Kacker whispered back. ¡°No. We need to get the weapons.¡± The drugged fool was almost totally useless, but at least he¡¯d be able to carry things. Jurgen led them farther into the warehouse. Shelving reached from floor to ceiling, with gaps between each row. It was like a maze, and somewhere within were the prizes they had come for. Somewhere, too, were the defenders. As this concept came to his mind, a plan formed, and a thrill ran down his body. He gestured to his three companions to continue towards the centre of the warehouse, while he took a different route. Instantly, Jurgen felt more comfortable. He was no longer the prey, but had become the hunter once more. He could hear the three fools shuffling about. They would attract whoever was inside the warehouse, and Jurgen would pounce. The excitement of the chase consumed him, the mission set by Stiff now completely subsumed to the goal of killing his enemies. Jurgen imagined himself following the three fools. He envisaged how close he would get; what route he would take; when he would ambush them. It revealed to him the likely locations of his targets. He crept this way, then that, coming from behind. Despite the care he took, he came close to walking into his target. The figure was crouched at the end of a row of shelving, listening to the progress of Jurgen¡¯s crewmates. Waiting patiently for the moment to strike, it didn¡¯t cross the guard¡¯s mind that someone might be stalking him. ACTION ROUND
Warehouse Guard
Human Guard
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Jurgen used an action point to creep closer. He needed to get his cleaver in range. He could make out the line of a cudgel in his target¡¯s right hand. Longer than his own weapon, it would cause him problems if he didn¡¯t get the first strike in. Chapter 14 Mission #5 Steal Weapons Part Two Within range, he let the cleaver do its work. Maybe Jurgen was too excited, because his first two strikes failed. Only with his final action point did the blade puncture his opponent¡¯s body, inflicting nine points of damage. The guard lived, but he only had one action point with which to respond. Naturally, with a cry, he struck out with his cudgel. Jurgen failed to anticipate the low blow, the weapon cracking against his knees and taking six hit points from him. Jurgen¡¯s eyes watered and fear and anger washed over his body. With only two action points per round now, he had to finish his opponent. His first strike was enough, the cleaver coming close to decapitating the guard. He wished he had the time to appreciate the kill. But knowing his enemy¡¯s cry had probably attracted more guards, all he could do was spare some moments to search the corpse. He grabbed a bunch of keys, then wasted no time in departing the scene. Jurgen refused to panic. Another confrontation would likely be fatal. He was even more careful, creeping along, and listening for the approach of the enemy. He froze when he sensed movement. On the opposite side of the shelving to his left, a guard was coming in his direction. He could make out the man¡¯s form, moving at some speed towards the scene of the fight. Jurgen stayed still. The guard kept going, unaware he had passed so close to his quarry. Deciding against risking a confrontation, Jurgen moved more quickly, though still hobbling from the effects of the cudgel strike, towards the centre of the warehouse. He realised that by luck rather than by judgement; he had caused a diversion. The warehouse guards¡ªand he had no real clue how many there were¡ªhad followed the sound of his victim¡¯s cry and were searching for him. He might get a window of time in which to get his hands on the weapons. He heard hissed conversation and followed it, turning one way, then the next, before he found his crewmates. Mags turned at his approach. ¡°We found them,¡± he said. They stood before a weapons rack that was close to being full¡ªspears, swords, axes, hammers, bow staves, and more. It was just as Stiff had said it would be¡ªa new shipment, waiting to be sold to The Golden Blades. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time,¡± Jurgen warned them. ¡°The guards will be back soon. Put them in your sacks. Leave the spears, they won¡¯t fit.¡± Mags and Kacker joined him in stuffing sacks. The big fool seemed unable to do anything quickly, and Mags passed him his bag and began filling a fourth. ¡°We need to go,¡± Jurgen warned. ¡°I¡¯m nearly done.¡± Jurgen shrugged. He didn¡¯t care. ¡°I¡¯m going out the back way. You go out the front. It¡¯ll confuse ¡¯em.¡± ¡°What?¡± Mags said. ¡°No way, there are guards out the front. We¡¯re going out the back.¡± He had a point. These fools wouldn¡¯t stand a chance leaving by the front. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go out the front. You know where the drop off point is?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Mags gave him a curt nod. ¡°Good luck.¡± Jurgen left. He gave them little to no chance of getting out. But having them clanking about with sacks full of weapons improved his own odds of escaping. He made his way to the south side of the warehouse, balancing speed with stealth. He didn¡¯t expect to meet any guards here, but with twelve hit points left, he couldn¡¯t take too many chances. There was a row of locked doors to choose from at the front entrance. Outside, they¡¯d seen four guards sheltering by a fire. The wind was howling, so he had little concern they would hear him trying out the keys. He chose his door and then went through the bunch of keys. The sixth one worked, and he breathed easier. Nearly there. A sound from inside the warehouse, and he dropped the keys and took his cleaver in hand. A figure approached him. ¡°Oh. It¡¯s you, Kacker. You¡¯re lucky I didn¡¯t gut you, creeping up on me like that.¡± Kacker emerged into the dim light that seeped through the doors. Enough light to reveal the sores that covered his face. ¡°I knew it would be a good idea to follow you instead of staying with them,¡± Kacker said with a grin. His pupils were dilated and his breath stank of blue smoke. Jurgen eyed the man¡¯s sack. Quite a valuable stash. ¡°Not necessarily, Kacker,¡± he said, and sank the cleaver into his crewmate. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Kacker¡¯s eyes widened, and Jurgen put a hand over his mouth. ¡°See you in Gehenna, Kacker,¡± he whispered. He savoured watching the addict die. There was so little left in life that made him feel something. *** Wilson heard a scream, then a loud shout of ¡°Mada!¡± Mags and Mada emerged from the rear of the warehouse at speed, and the gnome got the impression he might need to intervene. He left his hiding spot at the same time as a guard appeared, chasing after the thieves, and an action round kicked in.
Warehouse Guard
Human Guard
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Wilson Turk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname ?
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 50
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 20
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 5
Grit 3
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axe (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Hand axe (damage 3-18), Hand axe (damage 3-18)
Armour Breastplate
Other
Wilson used his action points to run towards the melee. The guard struck out while the escaping thieves ran from him, giving his attack an advantage. Mags was hit across the back, a glancing blow that only dealt two damage. Murder was clipped around the ankles. The big man fell to the ground, also taking two damage. The guard successfully landed a third blow on Mags, taking the thief¡¯s hit points down to eleven. Mags slashed twice with his dagger, but neither strike connected. Murder was more successful. From his position on the ground, he lashed out with his stick, somehow connecting both times. The guard took four damage in total. Wilson used his gnomish speed to reach the melee. It cost him two action points, but that left him two more to swing his axes. His first double strike, perhaps affected by his sprint, missed the target. His next struck the guard, a perfect hit that killed him outright. The action round ended, but they weren¡¯t necessarily safe. More guards might come for them at any moment. Wilson and Mags lifted Murder from the ground and they ran north, away from the warehouse, towards the drop-off point. Wilson looked behind them periodically. His eyes were pretty good in the dark, and he couldn¡¯t see anyone following. ¡°Stricken and Kacker?¡± ¡°They went for the south exit. Both were alive when we last saw them.¡± They ran down a street of terraced houses. A pink haze surrounded one of the properties¡ªthe drop-off point, and safety. They bundled across the threshold. ¡°Mada!¡± said Murder in relief. Wilson inspected their bags. ¡°A pretty good haul!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°But there were guards inside the warehouse?¡± ¡°Aye,¡± said Mags. ¡°Waiting for us, they were. Someone must have tipped them off we were coming.¡± He gave Wilson a questioning look, and the gnome tried to hide his discomfort. He¡¯d have to tell Stiff that Boris and Rosalind had probably betrayed them. The door of the house burst open and Stricken dragged himself and a bag of weapons into the house. ¡°Kacker?¡± Wilson asked. The Hargon stared at him for a few moments, before shaking his head. ¡°Kacker didn¡¯t make it.¡± MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: The weapons were stolen Some of your mercs improved their stats: Stricken: Agility +1 Grit +1 Intellect +1 Hit Points +2 Improved skill: Cleaver (expert) Mags: Agility +1 Murder: Agility +1 New skill: Staves (novice) Some mercs levelled up: Stricken is now Level 3 Fallen Apples: Harry ¡®Kacker¡¯ Lypt Chapter 15 Rosalind De Cheney Lothar returned to Avolo with two new recruits and a healthier looking financial situation.
Finances
Income
Mission #5 9s
Expenses
Wages 17p
Profit 7s 7p
Total 16s 10p
At The Rose, he organised rooms for Femke and Christoph, then met with Wilson in the bar. ¡°Rosalind paid me!¡± he told the gnome. ¡°Ah, I was wondering about that.¡± ¡°So there was no ambush? The mission went fine?¡± ¡°There was an ambush. Guards waiting for them inside the warehouse. Somehow, they got the weapons and escaped. Well, Kacker didn¡¯t make it out. But the other three did.¡± ¡°Ah. That¡¯s a shame.¡± In truth, Lothar hadn¡¯t expected any of them to get out alive. But something was off. If there was an ambush, why did Rosalind pay him for the weapons? And an extra shilling as well? ¡°I need to meet with Rosalind and find out what¡¯s going on. In the meantime, I have two new recruits. It¡¯s time for you to return to the Harris¡¯s farm and get those cows.¡± Wilson nodded. ¡°Time for revenge. Got a couple of hardy types, have you?¡± ¡°Well. Not exactly. One¡¯s a medic. The other¡¯s a trainee archer.¡± ¡°Trainee?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t have a bow yet.¡± Red flared across Wilson¡¯s face. ¡°How is that gonna change things? Could be as many as a dozen armed ruffians on that farm.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°True. I¡¯m going to send everyone I¡¯ve got. That should be enough to get the job done.¡± Lothar flicked through his notebook. ¡°That Stricken is pretty handy with a cleaver. He¡¯s up to Level 3.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t trust that one. He gets a look in his eyes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right not to trust him. I¡¯ll need you to keep an eye on him the whole time. Don¡¯t let him wander off, or get near any women.¡± ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s not ideal, Wilson. But things are on the up. If this mission goes to plan, I have some money to play with. I won¡¯t need to hire the likes of Stricken again.¡± Lothar was taking a chance going looking for Rosalind De Cheney without an appointment. Crime lords who robbed weapon dealers weren¡¯t exactly the type who hesitated over snuffing someone. But she had been fair to him so far. And he had questions that needed answers. It was The Baron who led him to her house, in the affluent part of Avolo. Lothar knew not to ask how they knew each other. The Baron had his secrets, and Lothar respected that. The two heavies on the door looked ready to kill him. But when Rosalind appeared, her eyes held more interest than murderous ire. ¡°Mr Sauer. You¡¯ve somehow found my abode. I like to keep work and home separate, as a rule.¡± ¡°I understand. It¡¯s only a matter of urgency that¡¯s brought me here.¡± She studied him. ¡°You¡¯ve been a man of your word so far. Come in.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a nice place,¡± Lothar said as she led him into a reception room. Dressed stonework and wooden beams had been tastefully decorated, with no expense spared. She shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s mine. An advantage of relocating to Avolo. I get to live how I want. I find as I get older, that becomes more important. Perhaps you¡¯re the same, Stiff?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a chance to start over.¡± He looked around the room as she fixed him a drink. ¡°I¡¯m not quite living how I want, yet. Renting a room in The Rose is a few rungs lower than this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get there.¡± She handed him his drink, allowing their fingers to touch. She was a handsome woman, with a trim figure. Stiff wondered whether she liked him. She seemed to have hinted that she lived alone. And some female companionship would be nice. On the other hand, she was miles out of his league, and highly dangerous. ¡°So, this wasn''t a social call?¡± she asked. ¡°It¡¯s about the job.¡± ¡°Which I was very happy with,¡± she said. ¡°Thing is, when my people got inside the warehouse, there were guards inside. Waiting for them, so it was described to me. One of my mercs got whacked.¡± Rosalind frowned. ¡°Sorry to hear that. If you¡¯re thinking I had anything to do with it, you¡¯re mistaken. The information I had was up to date¡ªa few guards stationed outside the front entrance every night. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°I was wondering if you¡¯d be willing to divulge why you offered me the job. If it was a set up, I have my suspicions, you see.¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking a lot, Stiff.¡± ¡°I know. But I got you your weapons, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°You did. And if someone has tried to use me to get to you, I would be quite annoyed. How about this? Give me a name and I¡¯ll respond in the affirmative or negative.¡± ¡°One-eyed Boris.¡± ¡°Yes, it was him. How about you return the favour, Stiff, and tell me why Boris might do such a thing?¡± ¡°Ah, well. A little misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bullshit me, Stiff.¡± ¡°Alright. He hired me to steal something from a church. Then the church hired me to steal it back.¡± Rosalind put her hand to her mouth. ¡°That¡¯s a little naughty, Stiff. You must admit.¡± ¡°I suppose. I needed the money.¡± ¡°It must have been a nice sum.¡± ¡°Six shillings.¡± She giggled. ¡°This feud is over six shillings?¡± ¡°It does sound silly when you say it like that. But I think Boris is planning to do me in. Killing my squad was just the first part of the plan.¡± ¡°Look. Boris has a grievance against you, and now you have one against him. I¡¯m more than a little annoyed that he used me to get to you. The three of us could send our thugs out on the streets of Avolo and start a gang war. But it all seems a little unnecessary. And I don¡¯t get the impression that either you or Boris are the type who enjoy that. Why don¡¯t you leave this with me and see if I can patch things up?¡± ¡°I suppose that makes the most sense,¡± Lothar acknowledged. ¡°Better for all concerned.¡± ¡°Sometimes things need a woman¡¯s touch. And I don¡¯t want to lose The Order of the Rotten Apples. Neither does Boris, I suspect. A rival to The Golden Blades is good for us. They¡¯re too powerful as it is.¡± ¡°You risked something by taking those weapons?¡± Lothar realised. ¡°I risked a little. But you stole them, not me.¡± ¡°Oh, great. If The Rotten Apples are useful to you, how about a little helping hand?¡± ¡°You mean another helping hand?¡± ¡°If you like. I have a bowman with no bow.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy enough to solve. Your people brought me some bows. I¡¯ll get one for you.¡± ¡°Thanks. There¡¯s one other thing I¡¯m after. A bit more unusual.¡± Stiff left Rosalind¡¯s place feeling a little better about things. The woman¡¯s perfume seemed to linger, and he kept thinking about her when he returned to The Rose. Chapter 16 Mission #3 [REPLAY] Rescue Livestock Part One Wilson Turk was struggling. Stiff had implied he was the leader of this little expedition. But Wilson had been given no formal position, and the bunch of bastards he was leading to the Harris¡¯s farm didn¡¯t recognise his authority. All they cared about was getting paid, and it wasn¡¯t Wilson who was paying them. Was it so much to expect a basic level of respect? Some of them complained about the route he took. Some complained about the plan for a night attack. Stricken was the worst of the lot. He just stared back at him, as if he was contemplating cutting the gnome¡¯s throat. Naturally enough, Wilson tried to get the rebellious squad into shape by shouting at them. But none of them seemed to care, except for the big lump, who just cried and shouted ¡®murder¡¯ continuously. Wilson told him to shut it, but that didn¡¯t do anything. Then the others had the gall to give Wilson dirty looks, as if somehow it was all his fault. More than once, he was close to storming off and leaving them all to it. But his previous failure at the farm hung heavy. Stiff had been more than understanding about it. He needed to prove he could do it. That The Golden Blades, and all the others who had rejected him in the past, were wrong. It was a relief when the steading with its farm buildings and fields came into view. This was crunch time. This, he could do. *** Character Sheets:
Wade
Name Trent Wade
Nickname Wade
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 35
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 10
Grit 11
Intellect 5
Skills Thievery, Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour Padded
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
The Baron
Name Unknown
Nickname The Baron
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 31
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 3
Hit Points 13
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 12
Grit 5
Intellect 11
Skills Thievery, Disguise, Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour Padded
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
Wilson Turk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname None
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 50
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 20
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 5
Grit 3
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axes (proficient)
Equipment This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Weapons Hand axe (damage 3-18), Hand axe (damage 3-18)
Armour Breastplate
Other
Stricken
Name Jurgen Stricker
Nickname Stricken
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 27
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 20
Core Stats
Might 12
Agility 9
Grit 5
Intellect 4
Skills Thievery, Cleaver (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Cleaver (damage 4-20)
Armour None
Other
Mags
Name Magnus Nold
Nickname Mags
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 28
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 15
Core Stats
Might 6
Agility 5
Grit 7
Intellect 6
Skills Thievery, Ambidextrous, Dagger (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour None
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
Murder
Name Unknown
Nickname Murder
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 34
Daily Wage 1 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 1
Action Points 2
Hit Points 12
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 4
Grit 2
Intellect 1
Skills Staves (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Stick (damage 1-3)
Armour None
Other
The Bowman
Name Christoph Gerd
Nickname The Bowman
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 19
Daily Wage 1 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 1
Action Points 2
Hit Points 12
Core Stats
Might 7
Agility 7
Grit 4
Intellect 4
Skills Bows (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Short bow (damage 1-6)
Armour None
Other
Femke
Name Femke Gerd
Nickname None
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 48
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 20
Core Stats
Might 4
Agility 5
Grit 13
Intellect 11
Skills Medic
Equipment
Weapons None
Armour None
Other Medical kit
¡°I haven¡¯t had a chance to practise with the thing yet,¡± Christoph complained. ¡°Just take your time,¡± she reassured her nephew. ¡°There¡¯s no rush.¡± ¡°Alright, Auntie.¡± Femke understood his concern. Lothar had sourced specialist arrows for their attack on the farm. Both the wooden shafts and the two-bladed arrowheads were longer than usual. It made Christoph¡¯s task of pulling back the string and firing accurately more difficult. The gnome had tasked Femke and Murder with preparing these fire arrows. Murder kept a small fire going, poking it with his stick. Femke attached a bag of tow to an arrow, then lit it when her nephew was ready for the next missile. Wilson¡¯s ¡®help¡¯ was verbal, while Stricken stood to one side, as if nothing they did was of any concern to him. Another arrow twanged off to one side, falling nowhere near the thatch-roofed building Christoph was targeting. Lothar had set the string extra loose. Any tighter, and the fire would blow out as the arrows travelled. But it meant the arrows flew with no power behind them, flopping up in the air, then diving to the ground. Certainly, if by chance they happened to strike an enemy, they would inflict no damage. Christoph sighed with frustration. ¡°You¡¯re getting better,¡± Wilson lied. ¡°And like your aunt says, there¡¯s no rush. Well¡­we do need to attack before dawn. And there isn¡¯t an endless supply of arrows.¡± The gnome seemed to understand the look of irritation the boy sent him. ¡°Tell you what, Stricken and I will get into position. Fewer eyes on you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get it soon.¡± The two of them crept closer to the farm, away from the light shed by the fire. They were soon lost in the shadows of the long barn that was the nearest building to their position. Christoph¡¯s efforts continued. Every so often, it looked like he¡¯d made the shot. But one arrow went too far, sailing over the farmhouse. One landed on the roof, but the flame had snuffed out before it got there. ¡°I can¡¯t do it anymore,¡± Christoph complained. ¡°My shoulder aches. I think I¡¯ve injured it.¡± ¡°Here,¡± Femke said. She struggled to her feet after kneeling in the mud for so long. ¡°I¡¯ll have a go.¡± She needed a change of activity herself. She taught Christoph how to attach the fire. Her first shot was hurried, nervous of the flames. But after that, she got accustomed to the action. It was only her sixth shot that landed on the roof. For a while, she assumed the flame had fizzled out. It was too dark to see smoke. But then, she could see flickers of flame coming from the thatch. It had caught. She glanced at her nephew, worried he might be angry with her. But he gave her a rueful grin. ¡°We¡¯ll tell them you did it,¡± she told him. ¡°You won¡¯t say otherwise, will you Murder?¡± ¡°Mada.¡± *** They waited behind a hedge, eyes on the prize. This was the first time in Wade¡¯s career that the prize was a herd of cattle. One had to be flexible in this line of work, but he was out of his comfort zone. It was cold, muddy, and smelled of dung. The Baron nudged him. At last. The main farmhouse had caught fire, and it looked like the flames were spreading nicely. The Baron was in his all-black outfit, while Mags was the kind of fellow who was naturally good at staying in cover. Nevertheless, they waited a while longer before leaving their hiding place. The plan was that the fire would draw away any farmers on night watch. Wade thought he heard someone moving out in the fields beyond the hedge, but it could just as likely have been a cow stretching her legs. They couldn¡¯t hang around forever, so Wade led them over the fence into the field. Sixty-two head of cattle had been stolen, though Stiff had said not to worry too much about getting that precise number. With rope in hand, Wade joined Mags and The Baron in rounding up the first beasts to be liberated. They were probably the last three people in Gal¡¯azu who should have been given the job. But they worked together and roped up a few of the beasts. The theory, according to Stiff, was that once they led a handful away, the others would follow. Wade certainly had his doubts. But they were about to find out. They led the animals towards the gate. Only at the last moment did Wade catch the blur of movement that came for them from the darkness. Chapter 17 Mission #3 [REPLAY] Rescue Livestock Part Two ACTION ROUND
Cattle Rustlers
Human Rustler
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 4
Hit Points 18
Fortunately, The Baron was quicker to react, stabbing at the rustler. Three times, in quick succession, he found his target, causing a total of thirteen damage. The rustler staggered away from the assault, then wielded his cudgel. At Wade. Wade had time to think, Why me, damn it?, before he was struck across the chest. The two points of damage were nothing to the subsequent crushing blow on his left thigh, costing him a further six hit points. The pain caused him to cry out. He wanted to lie down, but he couldn¡¯t move his left leg. He was relieved to see Mags slash at the rustler. One of his strikes failed, but the other two punctured flesh. The rustler collapsed to the ground, dead. Wade looked around, but no other assailants appeared. It was only now that it dawned on him what had happened. ¡®That damned beast kicked me,¡¯ he said, directing his ire at one of the cows they had leashed. ¡®I think it¡¯s broken my thigh bone.¡¯ ¡®It won¡¯t have,¡¯ Mags reassured. ¡®You can¡¯t break your femur.¡¯ Wade wasn¡¯t in the mood to be reassured. ¡®You can¡¯t break your femur? At all? Not an ogre wielding an axe? Or a fall from a tower?¡¯ Mags shook his head. ¡®It¡¯s impossible. I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re an eejit.¡¯ The Baron hushed them. ¡®Try walking on it, Wade.¡¯ Wade found he could limp along a little. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t broken, but he wasn¡¯t about to admit that. Nonetheless, The Baron looked relieved. They didn¡¯t need a hobbled merc to transport as well as a herd of cattle. ¡®I think you should go see the nurse.¡¯ ¡®Nurse?¡¯ ¡®Femke. The medic. She¡¯ll be able to give you something for it. One of us has to go over and tell them we¡¯re on the move. It might as well be you, since you¡¯ll be of little help now.¡¯ The thought of wandering across the farm on his own with a badly injured leg didn¡¯t appeal. Not one bit. But then herding cattle for miles was probably worse. ¡®Damn it. Why¡¯s it always me?¡¯ Wade acquiesced to the situation. ¡®Alright. I¡¯ll go.¡¯ *** At last, The Bowman had fired the roof of the building. Wilson could hear the alarmed shouts of those inside. They came out to investigate. Some began work on putting it out. Others searched for the culprit. As he crouched on the opposite side of the barn to the fired farmhouse, he heard some of the rustlers heading in his direction. Perhaps they¡¯d seen the fire. Christoph was still firing his arrows. This was all part of the plan. Drawing them in this direction allowed the three thieves to depart with the cattle unmolested. The gnome wasn¡¯t the only one lurking in the shadows. Stricken had pulled himself onto the roof of the barn, waiting for the enemy to arrive from a position of height. The Hargon¡¯s presence should have reassured Wilson, but it didn¡¯t. He had the feeling Stricken was as likely to jump him as a rustler. He heard low murmurs of conversation. The squelch of booted feet in mud. They were coming. He crept to the corner of the barn, flat against the wooden planks. He drew his axes, waiting for them to come to him. ACTION ROUND The footsteps got closer, coming down the short side of the barn. Only a few feet away, and closing. They didn¡¯t know he was waiting. Wilson breathed, trying not to tense. Then a figure emerged next to him. The gnome took a sliver of time to check it was a rustler, then launched his attack. He got the drop on his opponent. Both axes sank home, taking sixteen points of damage. The rustler collapsed to the ground, barely alive. The battle rage was on him. With three action points remaining, Wilson decided to leave the dying man where he was, and rush around the corner of the barn. He was rewarded, with only one other rustler following the first. The man¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the dual-wielding gnome coming for him. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. It took a second action point for Wilson to reach his next opponent, but that still left him with two. Again, both axe strikes penetrated the rustler¡¯s defences. The first took him in the chest, the power of the strike pinning the man against the wall of the barn. Wilson launched himself into the air and the second took him in the neck, decapitating him with one blow. Exultation filled him. ¡®Don¡¯t test Wilson Turk!¡¯ he crowed into the night. Wilson listened for the sound of more enemies. There was a thud, followed by a gasp, back in the direction he had come from. He retraced his steps around the corner of the barn. He ignored his first victim, still bleeding out. Ahead of him, Stricken had jumped a rustler. They wrestled on the ground. Stricken pulled a hand free and slashed with his cleaver. Behind them, a second rustler approached along the long side of the barn. It was lucky for Stricken that Wilson had come to help, because the man would likely have got in a free strike as Stricken scuffled with his current opponent. The gnome ran for the second rustler, using his speed to rush his enemy. But the rustler saw him coming, and as they met the human was quick enough to get in the first strikes. The cudgel wasn¡¯t much of a weapon, and Wilson¡¯s breastplate protected him from all but one of the man¡¯s strikes. The strike that got through, however, landed square on the gnome¡¯s crown, giving him a headache and four points of damage. Wilson¡¯s action points dropped to three. But at least it was his turn to attack now. Except the first two axe strikes both missed. It seemed Wilson¡¯s vision had been affected by the blow to his head. Another strike missed, but at least his fourth finally struck, taking the rustler in the hip, and taking eight hit points to boot. Steadying himself, Wilson landed his two final blows. Vicious chops into his enemy¡¯s legs sent him to his maker, blood spurting from the ruptured arteries. He turned to see Stricken finishing off his victim. Slowly, the bastard got to his feet. With a grin, he set off in the opposite direction. ¡®Where d¡¯ya think you¡¯re going?¡¯ Wilson demanded. Stiff had told him to keep an eye on the snake, and he meant to. ¡®The house.¡¯ ¡®No you¡¯re not. We have no business there. We¡¯re just buying time while the others take sixty-two head of cattle. That¡¯s our mission.¡¯ ¡®You gonna stop me, little man?¡¯ Stricken asked, running a finger down the length of his cleaver¡¯s blade. That thing wasn¡¯t a proper weapon. Wilson¡¯s two axes were more than a match. He smiled. ¡®Please. Take me on. I¡¯ll enjoy chopping you down to size.¡¯ Stricken shrugged. ¡®Maybe another time.¡¯ He gestured back towards the fire. ¡®Lead on. Gnome.¡¯ ¡®Aye. Any time you like,¡¯ Wilson muttered. He made sure to keep the son of a bitch in sight. *** Femke heard a shout from the barn. It sounded like the gnome, but she couldn¡¯t make out what he said. Did he need help? She exchanged glances with Christoph. They¡¯d been told to wait until he returned. But what if he didn¡¯t return? So new to this, she felt unsure about making a decision that might be costly. Her nephew and the big man with them were certainly no more seasoned. A grunt to the left made her whip around in surprise. She was relieved to see it was only the thief, Wade. On closer inspection, he was hobbling, and he grimaced in pain. ¡®Has something gone wrong?¡¯ she asked him. ¡®Not really.¡¯ He joined them by the fire, clearly uncomfortable. ¡®The other two are leading the herd away. I got a kick from one of the stupid beasts for my troubles though.¡¯ ¡®Ah. That can certainly be painful. Whereabouts?¡¯ ¡®Thigh.¡¯ ¡®Let me take a look.¡¯ Femke knelt on the ground and opened her kit. ¡®I can¡¯t bend the leg at all.¡¯ ¡®Christoph, Murder. Be useful and help the man get down.¡¯ They got Wade on the ground and Femke wasted no time in pulling down his hose and locating the injury. There was a red mark where the hoof had struck him and significant tissue damage, but nothing too serious. Also, the way the thief was eyeing her up as she looked at him suggested he was perfectly fine. She smiled to herself. Men were the same the world over. She reached into her kit. ¡®Drink this for the pain,¡¯ she said, handing over a potion. ¡®I¡¯m going to put a poultice on it to help with the swelling.¡¯ ¡®Will it be alright?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s fine. You can walk on it.¡¯ She eyed Murder. ¡®Maybe when we leave, Murder will lend you his stick so you can keep the weight off it.¡¯ ¡®Mada.¡¯ ¡®Auntie!¡¯ From the direction of the farm, a rustler was heading for them, cudgel in hand. Femke had a bad feeling that meant something had gone wrong. Christoph released an arrow that twanged into the air. It flew up and over the approaching enemy. Femke had no weapons of her own and realised that was less than ideal. All Christoph had was that useless bow. Murder had a stick. The big man positioned himself between them and the approaching rustler. But Femke wasn¡¯t confident that he¡¯d be able to see the man off. ¡®Get me up!¡¯ Wade demanded. Femke grabbed him under the arms and somehow lifted the thief back to his feet. In that time, the rustler was on them. Murder blocked the first strike with his forearm. But the rustler landed three blows on the big man, causing five points of damage. Slow to react, Murder swung his stick but the rustler easily avoided the strike. Christoph joined the fray. He used his bow as a staff, lashing at the rustler and inflicting a hit point. Wade hobbled over towards the fight. Moving much faster than the thief, Femke used two action points to reach the rustler. A jab with her left, followed by a right hook that landed with a satisfying crunch, gave the man something else to think about, not to mention the loss of three hit points. With a roar, the rustler swung his cudgel. Femke nearly shimmied out of the way, but the tip of the weapon cracked her on the elbow, costing three hit points. She did avoid the second swing, lurching to one side. But this meant she was slower to regain her balance and the cudgel cracked down on her shoulder, taking her down to fourteen hit points in total. The rustler had done his worst, but now it was their turn. Murder struck him this time, and Christoph landed two blows, taking his hit points down to ten. Femke was down to three action points, but two of her punches landed. The rustler had taken plenty of hits but he still had seven hit points. He knew he was beaten, though. He held up one hand and backed away. Murder whacked him with his stick, and the man staggered backwards. Wade finally hobbled onto the scene, dagger in hand. ¡®Murder! Stop!¡¯ Femke said. ¡®We didn¡¯t come here to kill. Just to take back what was stolen.¡¯ She eyed the rustler. ¡®I suggest you leave, before I change my mind. And leave your club.¡¯ The others let him go. Not long after the rustler sloped away, Wilson and Stricken appeared. Their weapons were slick with blood, and each had a face like thunder. But neither seemed badly injured. ¡®Well?¡¯ the gnome asked. ¡®The Baron and Mags will have the herd well on its way by now,¡¯ Wade said. ¡®Good. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡¯ MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: The livestock were rescued Some of your mercs improved their stats: The Baron: Might +1 Hit Points +1 Wilson Turk: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 The Bowman: Might +1 Hit Points +2 Action Points +1 Femke Gerd: Might +1 Hit Points +1 Some mercs levelled up: The Bowman is now Level 2 Chapter 18 Manslayer
Finances
Income
Mission #3 ¡ê1
Expenses
Wages 6s 10p
Profit 13s 2p
Total ¡ê1 10s
Lothar was yet to hear the details from his returning mercs, but the Rescue Livestock mission had been a success the second time around. At last, he had some substantial money in the bank. The wage bill had been high, sending eight mercs out on a two day job. But in this area, too, things were looking up. The ships arriving in Avolo had brought new settlers, and Lothar had hopes he might be about to improve his roster of mercs. He waited in The Rose for his first meeting. The man who entered the lounge was exactly what he had hoped for. Lothar could tell by his gear¡ªbelt, scabbard, coat, boots¡ªthat he was a warrior. Not that he was flash, as so many of his type were. The charms and trinkets he wore had a faded glamour to them, that spoke of hard won victories. In that regard, Lothar suspected he saw a kindred spirit. Indeed, as the warrior glanced around the inn, he seemed to know Lothar was the man he was looking for. ¡®You¡¯re Stiff.¡¯ ¡®Aye. Take a seat.¡¯ Lothar looked at his details.
Manslayer
Name Edmund Rigge
Nickname Manslayer
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 34
Daily Wage 1 shilling
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 6
Hit Points 28
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 9
Grit 10
Intellect 7 This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Skills Swords (master), Shields (master) Spears (expert), Knives (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Slayer, To Hit +2, Damage +1, damage 10-45), Short Spear (damage 4-24), Knife (damage 4-16), Shield (damage 5-15)
Armour Chain mail, (+Shield)
Other
¡®Your sword?¡¯ Edmund Rigge smiled. He withdrew the weapon from its scabbard. ¡®Here. You can hold it.¡¯ ¡®Thank you.¡¯ Lothar studied the magic runes captured in the blade. When he stared too long they shifted, refusing to give up their secrets. Otherwise the sword was long, perfectly balanced, and an excellent multitasker, capable of inflicting most types of injury one desired. ¡®It¡¯s beautiful,¡¯ he said, handing it back. ¡®Slayer?¡¯ ¡®Aye. The sword was named first. My nickname followed.¡¯ A man named after his sword. Lothar turned his attention to Edmund¡¯s stats. Rigge was exactly what he was after. With an experience level of 4, his value for money was unrivalled. For a measly shilling a day, Manslayer provided excellent fighting capability, far more than any other merc Lothar had. It was when they hit level 5 that mercs¡¯ costs spiralled. He sighed. There had to be a catch. ¡®I have to ask. Why not get work with The Golden Blades instead of with me?¡¯ Rigge smiled. ¡®My wife¡¯s decision. She didn¡¯t like them. Your outfit suits us better.¡¯ ¡®Your wife?¡¯ ¡®The brains of our partnership. She¡¯s getting us lodging in the city. We come as a pair, non-negotiable. She¡¯s Level 4 as well. A good swordswoman. I taught her the blade. And she¡¯s deadly with a bow.¡¯ Lothar was drooling. Literally. Drooling. ¡®Let me sign you both up.¡¯ As if Mr and Mrs Slayer weren¡¯t enough, another potential recruit visited The Rose not long after Rigge left. This one was a young woman. Her brunette hair was as long as a madchen¡¯s, albeit tied up behind her. She didn¡¯t quite have the same look of a seasoned warrior; didn¡¯t have the same easy confidence as Manslayer. But she had a sword at her belt, and even if she didn¡¯t know how to use it, she might add something. ¡®Ashlyn Sawrey,¡¯ she said, offering a hand. Her accent was Durnish, Lothar supposed. He hadn¡¯t heard one quite like it before, but Durnost seemed to have nearly as many accents as it did people. When she took a seat, he examined her stats:
Ashlyn
Name Ashlyn Sawrey
Nickname None
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 21
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 19
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 9
Grit 8
Intellect 8
Skills Swords (proficient), Shields (competent), Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Shortsword (damage 3-18), Knife (damage 2-8), Shield (damage 2-6)
Armour Leather
Other
Lothar whistled. ¡®How did you get to be so good at such an age?¡¯ ¡®My father taught me weapons.¡¯ ¡®He must be proud.¡¯ Ashlyn gave him a dead-eyed look. It told him not to tread in that direction again. ¡®Well, anyway. I¡¯d be more than happy to have you on the team.¡¯ Ashlyn wasn¡¯t as good as Manslayer, in any respect. Except, perhaps, potential. ¡®Though I do wonder why you chose The Rotten Apples.¡¯ Ashlyn glanced across at the bar, where Mila stood. ¡®I heard good things about you, Stiff. About how you treat women.¡¯ ¡®Right, well,¡¯ he said gruffly, lost for words. ¡®I also heard about Stricken. If you use him again, I walk.¡¯ ¡®I see. An ultimatum from someone who¡¯s not even on my roster yet.¡¯ Ashlyn shrugged. ¡®It is what it is.¡¯ ¡®Aye, well. I wasn¡¯t planning on hiring him again anyway.¡¯ Lothar offered his hand. ¡®So we have a deal, on one condition. I need you for a couple of hours tomorrow. Call it pro bono work.¡¯ Ashlyn shook on the offer. When she left, Mila sidled over. ¡®You put in a good word for me. I appreciate it.¡¯ Mila shrugged. ¡®I¡¯m a useful asset, Stiff. Got more for you. Wilky says Boris has agreed with De Cheney to meet with you. I asked him if it was a trap¨Cyou know, if he was planning to ice you. Wilky said no, Boris is on the level. He¡¯s actually a nice guy. Wilky really respects him.¡¯ ¡®Huh, nice guy my arse. Still, that¡¯s useful information to have.¡¯ Mila presented her palm. Sighing, Lothar handed over some coin. ¡®You realise that if I make up with Boris, you won¡¯t have anything useful to tell me anymore?¡¯ ¡®I can think of something I can do that you¡¯d pay good money for.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve already told you, Mila.¡¯ She pouted at him. ¡®Then find me some other job.¡¯ The girl would be useless out in the wilds. She wasn¡¯t much better in the city. But Lothar had developed a soft spot for her. ¡®I¡¯ll think about it.¡¯ Chapter 19 Reconciliation ¡®I won¡¯t be long, Betty.¡¯ Edmund¡¯s wife sat cross legged on the bed in their cramped room above the inn. She frowned at him, her usual cheery disposition gone. ¡®What does this Stiff want of you exactly?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m not sure. It sounded like a small job. Stand behind him with a hand on my sword hilt. That kind of thing. I¡¯ll be back before long.¡¯ She caught him in her piercing blue eyes. ¡®And I don¡¯t suppose he¡¯s paying you?¡¯ ¡®No. But we¡¯ll get work soon. He said he has plenty of missions coming, for both of us. It¡¯ll be just like old times. Won¡¯t be long before we get enough money to ditch this place and get one of our own. A fresh start.¡¯ She said nothing to that. Edmund left, worrying he had said the wrong thing. He found his new employer waiting for him in The Rose. ¡®Ah. Manslayer,¡¯ Stiff said. ¡®Thanks for coming. Edmund, this is Ashlyn.¡¯ Edmund nodded at the girl. ¡®We arrived on the same ship?¡¯ ¡®Yes.¡¯ She held out a hand, very formal for someone of her age. They shook, and Edmund sensed a melancholy in her. It was a shame for someone so young. ¡®I have a meeting with One-Eyed Boris, a merchant in the city,¡¯ Stiff explained. ¡®A meeting of reconciliation, you might call it. It¡¯s been organised by Rosalind De Cheney, a¡ª¡¯ He seemed unsure how to describe Ms De Cheney. ¡®A mutual acquaintance. Of course, I hope it all goes well. But there is a slim chance that it disintegrates into violence, so you two are my insurance.¡¯ The old man patted a sword at his belt, a similar length to Ashlyn¡¯s. ¡®Not that I can¡¯t take care of myself, you understand.¡¯ ¡®Three swords are infinitely better than one,¡¯ Edmund offered. ¡®Quite. I had thought your wife might come along, Edmund?¡¯ ¡®When we spoke about it, you asked me to come.¡¯ ¡®Ah. No doubt you¡¯re right. No offence intended on my part. I¡¯ll have a proper mission coming up for you both in a couple of days. You too, Ashlyn.¡¯ The girl nodded solemnly, and Stiff led them out into the city. Edmund had noted The Sailor¡¯s Knot when he had arrived in Avolo. It was a rough joint, but Stiff said it was considered neutral ground and therefore an appropriate place for a meeting of reconciliation. The table had been prepared for the meeting. There was an empty chair waiting for Stiff. Opposite it sat a tall, older gentleman, wearing an eye patch. In between, sat a striking, raven haired woman of middle years. Both had their goons standing behind them. Stiff took his seat, while Edmund and Ashlyn took up position behind it. They were eyed up by the other heavies, but Edmund refused to make eye contact. Just as well Betty didn¡¯t come for this, Edmund decided. I¡¯ve become a hired thug. He wondered if he had made a huge mistake in coming to Gal¡¯azu. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡®Let¡¯s get to it,¡¯ said Rosalind. ¡®There has been a certain amount of bad blood between us. Between you two, in particular. But it¡¯s in none of our interests to let that continue. It¡¯s not in the interests of the city. Working together, we can amount to something. We are safer from those who would like to control every business venture in Gal¡¯azu.¡¯ ¡®Agreed,¡¯ Stiff said. ¡®I should go first.¡¯ He looked up at Boris. ¡®I admit, I betrayed your trust when I took back that reliquary from your men, after you had been nothing but welcoming. I was desperate for the coin, and desperate men make bad decisions.¡¯ He put a hand into his coat pocket. Everyone around the table reacted, and hands went to weapons. Stiff pulled out a purse. ¡®Here¡¯s the money I made from that job.¡¯ He passed it along the table to Boris. ¡®I hope it goes some way to making amends.¡¯ The tension at the table noticeably eased. Edmund was impressed. It took a big man to apologise like that in front of so many. Boris took a peek into the purse, then pocketed it away. ¡®I appreciate that, and the way in which you said it. For my part, I could have spoken to you about it, instead of escalating the dispute with that business at Frantic Jack¡¯s.¡¯ He turned to address De Cheney. ¡®And I apologise for using you, Rosalind. You have proven to be a good friend to me, and to the city. I don¡¯t see why the three of us can¡¯t work together in the future, to our collective benefit.¡¯ Hands were shaken, and all parties left the inn satisfied. Edmund was encouraged. He had witnessed a different side to Gal¡¯azu, one that suggested some cause for optimism. ¡®Who was Rosalind referring to,¡¯ he asked Stiff, as they returned to The Rose, ¡®about controlling everything here?¡¯ Stiff grimaced. ¡®The Golden Blades. Everything truly profitable, they have their hands on. Hence I have been grubbing about for small scale work. Until now. Things are opening up out west, where the Blades have no presence. If you two can come back to The Rose tonight, I will tell you all about your first mission.¡¯ *** Having patched things up with Boris without anyone getting stabbed, Lothar felt able to turn his full attention to the future. He could sense things were changing. Dare I even think it? I am building some momentum, at last. He examined his mission board: SELECT MISSION PROTECT FROM BRIGANDS, ¡ê2 LOCATE WARG DEN, 4 shillings STEAL GOLD AND SILVER PLATE, 4 shillings RECOVER WEAPONS, 8 shillings The recovery mission involved returning the very weapons he had stolen to Frantic Jack, and Lothar resolved not to get involved in such shenanigans any longer. The stealing mission was the same low level affair he had done before, and he had little interest in it. Locating a warg den sounded more than a little dangerous for four shillings payment. No, Lothar only had eyes for the protection mission. Of course, there was the money. It was about as much as all his previous missions put together. But he was also keen to deploy his new recruits on something substantial. Seeing off brigands was the kind of job that would spread his reputation far and wide. He invited his team to The Rose, and talked them through as much as he knew, trusting them to deal with the details when they reached their destination. Stricken was definitely out of the picture now. Wilson and he had apparently come close to hacking at each other. He¡¯d received a few comments about Wilson¡¯s own attempts at providing leadership. He hoped that Manslayer might provide them with a bit more direction. When that was done, he met Wade for a private chat. The Durnishman was still limping from the last mission. ¡®Things are looking good out in the wilds,¡¯ he told the thief. ¡®That¡¯s where most of my attention is going to be from now on.¡¯ ¡®I see,¡¯ Wade said, sounding disappointed. ¡®No. This could be good for you, Wade. I need someone to run the city based missions for me¡ªkeep things ticking over. I¡¯ll split profits with you fifty-fifty. You can recruit The Baron; Mags and Murder; and Mila, as you see fit.¡¯ ¡®Alright, aye. I thot you were getting rid of me for a wee minute. I can do that. I appreciate it, Stiff.¡¯ ¡®Good. I don¡¯t want any heat, do you understand? Anything that would bring unwanted attention, leave it. Err on the side of caution¡ªdon¡¯t try to do everything yourself.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve got you, pal. Nice and smooth. You won¡¯t hear about a single problem. Just a trickle of coins coming your way.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s music to my ears, Wade.¡¯ Chapter 20 Mission #6 Protect From Brigands Part One
Wilson Turk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname None
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 50
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 5
Grit 4
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axes (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Hand axe (damage 3-18), Hand axe (damage 3-18)
Armour Breastplate, helmet
Other
The Bowman
Name Christoph Gerd
Nickname The Bowman
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 19
Daily Wage 3 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 14
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 7
Grit 4
Intellect 4
Skills Bows (novice), Knives (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Short bow (damage 1-6), Dagger (1-4)
Armour Padded
Other
Femke
Name Femke Gerd
Nickname Auntie
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 48
Daily Wage Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 5
Grit 13
Intellect 11
Skills Medic, Staves (novice), Bows (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Cudgel (damage 1-4)
Armour Padded
Other Medical kit
Manslayer
Name Edmund Rigge
Nickname Manslayer
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 34
Daily Wage 1 shilling
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 6
Hit Points 28
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 9
Grit 10
Intellect 7
Skills Swords (master), Shields (master) Spears (expert), Knives (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Slayer, To Hit +2, Damage +1, damage 6-41), Short Spear (damage 4-24), Knife (damage 4-16), Shield (damage 5-15)
Armour Chain mail, (+Shield)
Other
Ashlyn
Name Ashlyn Sawrey
Nickname None
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 21
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 19
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 9
Grit 8
Intellect 8
Skills Swords (proficient), Shields (competent), Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Shortsword (damage 3-18), Knife (damage 2-8), Shield (damage 2-6)
Armour Leather
Other
Ashlyn began the journey west, wary of her companions. Manslayer, despite his name, had given her no reason to be distrustful. Yet there was something about him she wasn¡¯t sure about¡ªa missing, or hidden aspect. When he and Stiff had spoken, there had been talk of a wife, who might accompany them on the mission. But she was nowhere to be seen. As for the others, she soon found wariness was unnecessary. Each, in their own ways, wore their hearts on their sleeves. Christoph, for reasons unknown to her, was named The Bowman, despite his lack of expertise with the weapon. He was like a wide eyed child, finding everything they did new and exciting. His aunt, Femke, was more serious. She had a gruff, straight talking manner that put Ashlyn at ease. Ashlyn had never met a gnome before, and Wilson didn¡¯t fit in with her expectations. He seemed intent on taking a leadership role, quick to make decisions and issue orders. Any time this led to debate, and especially if an alternative plan was implemented, he was quick to sulk and ignore everyone. None of them were inclined to engage her in small talk, and that was the way she liked it. In this way, they crossed the wild lands towards their destination. With the land so newly settled, there were no roads or signposts, and it was easy to get lost. They had to stop at the settlements along the way and ask for directions. These settlements became increasingly remote, until they found the more sizable village of Eisenberg. Eisenberg looked on its way to becoming a town, and it was strange to Ashlyn to suddenly come across it in the middle of the wilderness. The houses were all simple affairs. But the main road was well organised. A smithy, a church, and an inn had been established, pointing to a well developed community. They entered The Pig and Iron and took a table. Ashlyn was glad when Femke insisted they get food, the travelling having left her tired and famished. It was only after they¡¯d eaten that a village representative arrived to greet them. ¡®I¡¯m Steben, the mayor of Eisenberg,¡¯ he introduced himself. ¡®It was me who asked The Rotten Apples for help.¡¯ He gave them the once over. ¡®Is it only the five of you?¡¯ ¡®Five is plenty!¡¯ Wilson said. ¡®Fill us in on what¡¯s been going on,¡¯ said Femke. ¡®Alright. Eisenberg is a collective community. Iron was found in the ground here, and consequently miners and their families, who came to Gal¡¯azu from all over, took a chance and settled here. We have excavated an open pit. We all work, and we share the proceeds. None of us are getting rich, but we¡¯re getting by. ¡®When Redblade¡¯s men first came, everything was fine. They bought their weapons from our smith. They told us about their fight with the goblins and orcs, out beyond their camp. We all felt grateful they were out there, dealing with such a threat. Then they¡¯d ask for freebies, telling us how the fighting had got worse; how they¡¯d lost friends. They needed armour and weapons. Then, they couldn¡¯t afford to pay any more. It was a tax we had to pay, to keep them armed. Then they needed more than just weapons. I resolved to stand up to them. I told them they were taking everything we worked for, that they were impoverishing us. Redblade came himself after that. It was a raid. Took what he wanted. Took our people¡ªsix of our girls, and two boys. Told me I would never say no to him again, or I knew what would happen.¡¯ Ashlyn felt sick at this, as Steben¡¯s face crumpled in what looked like shame. ¡®I realised then that we had become his slaves. The worst part is, I helped arm him and his men. I sent word to The Blades, then The Apples, asking for help. It¡¯s been a long wait for someone to get here.¡¯ It was some story. Wilson and Femke looked unsure about what to say. Edmund, whom Ashlyn had expected might take charge, just sat there, staring into space. ¡®Tell us about this Redblade,¡¯ she said when she realised no one else was going to speak. ¡®He¡¯s a Durnishman by origin. I don¡¯t know much else. Rumour is he has established a camp out west, capable of holding off the greenskins. He¡¯s named for his sword. It glows red. People say on account of the amount of blood it has spilled.¡¯ Suddenly Manslayer was interested. ¡®You mean, it¡¯s magic?¡¯ ¡®I suppose so. I don¡¯t know about such things. But it¡¯s a fearsome looking weapon. He only came here the once, but that was enough. I knew we were out of our depth after that. We need help. Some folk are talking about leaving. But others say they can¡¯t, what with him holding their children hostage.¡¯ ¡®His men still come regularly?¡¯ Ashlyn asked. ¡®Aye. They¡¯re due in two days.¡¯ She looked at her companions. Still, not one of them had anything to say. ¡®Leave it with us, Mayor Steben,¡¯ she said at last. ¡®We¡¯ll sort this out for you.¡¯ The mayor gave them another look, a concerned expression on his face. ¡®I¡¯ll leave you to talk it over. Just ask around when you need me again.¡¯ He left them to it. ¡®So what¡¯s the plan?¡¯ Christoph asked. ¡®Plan?¡¯ Wilson said. He shrugged. ¡®When they get here, we kill them.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s more complicated than that,¡¯ Ashlyn said. ¡®Redblade has these children. If we kill the bandits who come here, he¡¯ll punish the people for what we do.¡¯ The gnome shook his head. ¡®That¡¯s not how it works. Our mission is Protect From Brigands. That means the gang who come here looking for trouble. It¡¯s not our job to worry about Redblade and all the rest of it. The repercussions are for Stiff to deal with, not us.¡¯ That answer didn¡¯t satisfy her. She looked around the group. Femke and Christoph looked unsure. ¡®Edmund?¡¯ she demanded at last, frustrated with his silence. ¡®Eh? Well, Wilson is right about how missions work. But we can do it in such a way to protect the villagers a little.¡¯ ¡®How?¡¯ ¡®How about this? We allow the brigands to come here, take what they came for. On their way back to their camp, we ambush them. Take back the gear, but make it look like someone else did it.¡¯ He clicked his fingers as inspiration came to him. ¡®We make it look like goblins. Then Eisenberg won¡¯t get the blame. It buys us time for whatever else Stiff decides we need to do.¡¯ Ashlyn was relieved that he had come up with something. ¡®I can live with that.¡¯ Chapter 21 Mission #6 Protect From Brigands Part Two They slept in the inn that night, and the next day prepared to implement Manslayer¡¯s plan. ¡®Where is Redblade¡¯s camp?¡¯ Ashlyn asked the mayor, Steben. ¡®That I don¡¯t know. The only one who might have an idea is Jaelin. He¡¯s not a miner. He comes and goes.¡¯ ¡®Comes and goes?¡¯ ¡®Aye. Explores the land hereabout. Travels between settlements. Does odd jobs.¡¯ Ashlyn gave him a puzzled look. ¡®Some men can¡¯t stay in the same place for long. There¡¯s nothing wrong with it.¡¯ ¡®Is he in Eisenberg now? There¡¯s little point if he¡¯s days away.¡¯ ¡®He got back a few days ago. I¡¯ll fetch him for you.¡¯ Jaelin Topolski was a quietly spoken man. He wore his hair long, and with his slim build, Ashlyn thought he looked prettier than most girls she knew. Prettier than me. ¡®I¡¯ve seen Redblade¡¯s camp from a distance,¡¯ he told her. ¡®It¡¯s a hillfort that dominates the surrounding countryside. They can see anyone coming from miles away. You¡¯re not thinking of attacking him there, are you?¡¯ ¡®No. It¡¯s the gang he sends to Eisenberg we¡¯re interested in. We just need to know which route they¡¯ll take when they leave the village.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re going to kill them?¡¯ he said with obvious distaste. ¡®You disagree with that? How else are we supposed to stop them?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t disagree with it. Killink people just isn¡¯t my thing.¡¯ ¡®We¡¯re not asking you to do that. Just get us in the right position for an ambush.¡¯ Jaelin appeared to think about it. ¡®No. I¡¯ll help you hit them. The people of Eisenberg have been good to me and don¡¯t deserve what¡¯s happened to them.¡¯ He looked at her with almond shaped, green eyes. ¡®I know a good place for an ambush.¡¯
Jaelin
Name Jaelin Topolski
Nickname None
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 26
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 19
Core Stats
Might 6
Agility 10
Grit 10
Intellect 8
Skills Scouting, Bows (competent), Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Shortbow (damage 2-12), Knife (damage 2-8)
Armour None
Other
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. On one side was the beginnings of a forest. On the other, a rocky scarp. The narrow stretch of level grass between them had been worn into a path, probably by the local wildlife. Ashlyn could see why the location had come to Jaelin¡¯s mind. He took up position on the scarp and looked out the way they had come. He seemed content to stand there forever, unmoving, as if he had become part of the landscape. The rest of them went over their plan once more. ¡®Make sure you eat something,¡¯ Femke told them, in her mothering way. ¡®Alright, Auntie,¡¯ Christoph said obediently. ¡®Alright, Auntie,¡¯ Ashlyn mimicked, with a grin. Femke put a thumb and forefinger to Ashlyn¡¯s cheek and squeezed. ¡®You can call me Auntie all you like, dear.¡¯ ¡®Then that should be your nickname. Every merc needs one, you know.¡¯ ¡®Alright. On the basis that it could be a lot worse, let¡¯s go with Auntie.¡¯ ¡®Huh,¡¯ said Wilson. ¡®A stupid convention that I want no part of.¡¯ ¡®Oh, you¡¯ll be getting a nickname too, gnome,¡¯ Ashlyn warned him. ¡®I will not!¡¯ ¡®It isn¡¯t up to you.¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t up¡ªby Gehenna, it is up to me.¡¯ ¡®I can see them,¡¯ Jaelin said, interrupting Ashlyn¡¯s fun. ¡®Best get into position.¡¯ ¡®Numbers?¡¯ Manslayer asked. ¡®Ten. A couple of them are pulling a cart behind them. Must be the items they¡¯ve taken from Eisenberg.¡¯ There were a few nervous looks at that. Ten armed brigands was a lot. ¡®Huh. Easy,¡¯ Wilson said, then stomped off towards the treeline. The rest of them moved back from the scarp edge, making sure they couldn¡¯t be seen. Ashlyn was on the side nearest to the approaching brigands, while Manslayer took up position on the opposite end. Christoph and Jaelin readied their bows. It was more than a stroke of luck that Jaelin had decided to join them. This ambush, combined with having an extra archer, might make the difference between success and failure. Even so, Ashlyn had no faith they were all going to make it through alive. But that was the lot of a mercenary. At the end of the day, they were disposable pawns in a larger game. She worried about the newbies she waited with. They looked nervous, their pallor white. ¡®You need to learn to enjoy this,¡¯ she advised them. ¡®Hush, now,¡¯ said Manslayer. It was said without anger, but it was a reprimand nonetheless, and Ashlyn felt a brief mixture of shame and irritation. She heard the noise of the trundling cart, slowly reaching their position. Manslayer made his move, shuffling down the steep scarp. Ashlyn desperately wanted to lean forward and look, but knew better. She heard the tramp of feet, the jangle of metal armour. The cart rolled beneath her position. Then the brigands stopped. ¡®Well, what do we have here?¡¯ a voice said. ACTION ROUND
Brigands
Human Brigand
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Jaelin shuffled forward, aimed, and fired his first arrow at a brigand near the front of the ten man pack. Ignoring the ring mail that covered most of his target¡¯s torso, his arrow struck the man¡¯s face. The brigand was sent to the ground, suffering a full twelve points of damage. Ashlyn admired Jaelin¡¯s composure, as he fitted another missile to his string, and shot. This one hit the shoulder of the man next to his first target, taking four hit points. Next, Manslayer took an action point to close the space to the first of the brigands. He shoved with his shield, the brigand avoiding the move. His sword Slayer came in next, but clattered against the mail, failing to cut through. With his third action, he connected with his shield. The brigand stumbled back, and Slayer swept into empty space. Only five points of damage. Springing forwards, Manslayer missed with his shield, but finally connected with his blade. The point pierced the metal defences and sank deep, their group¡¯s first kill. With two action points left, Manslayer continued his assault. His shield barge did little except mess with his opponent¡¯s stance, but Slayer struck again. A low slash was enough to finish a second brigand in one strike. His final action point was almost an exact repeat, a strike from Slayer making a third corpse. Ashlyn moved quickly, knowing her role was crucial. Manslayer and Jaelin had done a good job of mangling the front of the brigand group. She had to ensure those at the rear couldn¡¯t escape. She slid down the scarp, nearly losing control in her haste. Holding both sword and shield hampered her movement. It took her an entire action point to get to the bottom. Then, a second to make her way around the cart and come at the nearest brigand from behind. Knowing she had to make her attack count, she struck first with her sword. Picking her spot, she slammed the edge into the back of his neck. Twisting her torso around, her shield slammed into his head. He tottered over like a felled tree, knocked unconscious. Her second sword strike missed its target, but her follow up shield strike at least connected. The second of the cart pullers was down to twelve hit points; his action points dropped to two, which might prove useful. The Bowman only got one arrow away in his turn, but it dropped another brigand by four hit points, and thus one action point. With Femke under instructions to hold her position, Wilson was the last of the squad to move. The only other route of escape for the brigands was through the trees, and so the gnome came at them from his hiding place. He was fast, but his legs were short, and it took him three of his four action points before he could engage with the nearest brigand. No doubt exhausted, neither axe strike was powerful enough to get through his opponent¡¯s quality armour. With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, Ashlyn readied herself for the brigands¡¯ response. Had they done enough to withstand the counter attack? All the brigand with the arrow in his face could do was stagger back to his feet. That left only five brigands to have their turn, and three of those had reduced action points. The one who Ashlyn had struck took an action point to draw his short sword. She was close to blocking his strike, but the blade glanced off the surface of her shield and bit into her arm, taking her hit points down to thirteen. When the next brigand¡ªtotally fresh¡ªdecided she was the easiest obstacle to break through, she knew she was in trouble. When his spear went for her chest, she moved to block it. At the last moment, he sent it lower, and the iron head lodged into her thigh. Bursts of black and white swam in her vision, and Ashlyn barely kept her footing. He yanked at the shaft. Thankfully, the blade slid out cleanly, but it caught in her leather trews. The brigand panicked, pulling at it, until it wrenched free. With his last action point, he launched a finishing strike. Ashlyn lurched out of his way, somehow still on her feet. Meanwhile, the brigand with the arrow in his shoulder attacked Manslayer. Despite Rigge¡¯s substantial chain mail and mastery of the shield, one of the two strikes crept through, taking eight points of damage. Perhaps seeing this success, the brigand shot by The Bowman picked the same target. But this time, Manslayer parried one strike and took the second blow on his shield. Wilson¡¯s opponent, unharmed, had three action points to bring down the gnome. He blew it. The gnome¡¯s size, his shiny breastplate, and new helm, all conspired against the brigand. Ashlyn, barely able to keep her feet, was able to breathe a sigh of relief. Surely they¡¯d won. Recognising that Ashlyn was in trouble, Jaelin targeted the spearman who had nearly killed her. Both arrows struck, bringing him down to six hit points. Manslayer again started slow, only his second sword strike connecting. The brigand with the arrow in the face was put out of his misery. Injured, Edmund only had two action points left. His next stroke decapitated his target. A shield and sword combination slew his final opponent, taking his body count to six. Ashlyn, with only one chance to hit, swung wildly. She caught the stronger of her two opponents, taking him down from twelve hit points to six. The Bowman, like Jaelin, tried to help Ashlyn. His first arrow lodged in his target¡¯s armour, causing no damage. The second missed¡­and struck Ashlyn in the chest. For a moment, she was able to focus on the arrow sticking out of her leather armour. Then everything went black. Chapter 22 Mission #6 Protect From Brigands Part Three Wilson saw the girl collapse, but couldn¡¯t tell if the arrow had killed her or not. All he could do for now was focus on his enemy. His first attack scored a hit and a miss. Second, just the same, but fifteen damage sent the brigand to his maker. He launched himself at the two men stood over Ashlyn. He took the spearman from behind with a vicious, well-timed strike. With one action left, he moved on to the last brigand standing. A miss. And another miss. Oh no. I¡¯m sorry, girl. But before the brigand was able to strike at the defenceless Ashlyn, Femke appeared. Relief, and hope, flooded Wilson. Her first cudgel strike was on target, but a pathetic one point of damage wasn¡¯t going to cut it. Her second, and final strike, missed completely. Femke had failed to stop the brigand from taking his one action. But she had succeeded in putting herself in between him and Ashlyn. When the brigand hit out, he fluffed his lines anyway. Femke saw it coming and ducked underneath. Then Manslayer arrived and delivered the final strike of what had been an up and down kind of encounter. Femke knelt next to Ashlyn and began unbuckling her leather vest. ¡®Help me!¡¯ she demanded. ¡®Jaelin, bring my kit down here!¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sorry!¡¯ The Bowman cried from the top of the escarpment, staring down. ¡®Is she dead? I¡¯m sorry, Ashlyn. I¡¯m sorry!¡¯ *** Ashlyn blinked. As her eyes gradually focused, the fog retreated to reveal ten heads sat on spikes. They had been scalped. ¡®What the¡ª¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re alright,¡¯ said a voice full of relief. Femke put a hand to her neck, then examined the bandaged wounds on her chest and thigh. ¡®I think you¡¯ll make it.¡¯ The events of the battle returned to Ashlyn¡¯s mind, ending with the arrow stuck in her chest. ¡®Thank you, Femke. Yes, I think I¡¯ll make it.¡¯ Her hit points had recovered to five. Not great. Far from great. But surely better than she had been when Christoph¡¯s arrow struck her. ¡®You¡¯re welcome, dear. That¡¯s what I get paid for.¡¯ There was a blur, and The Bowman was by her side. ¡®I¡¯m so sorry, Ashlyn. I should have thought. I don¡¯t have the skill to shoot into a crowd like that. I was trying to help.¡¯ This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡®Christoph. Give me your hand.¡¯ He gave it to her without question, still so like a child. ¡®I want you to promise me something.¡¯ ¡®Of course. Anything.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t use this as a reason to give up and go home. Shit happens. We¡¯ve all made stupid mistakes. But I¡¯m fine, so I don¡¯t want you to dwell on it. Learn from it, sure. Please do. But don¡¯t use it to give up.¡¯ The Bowman shared a look with Femke as if they had been discussing that exact thing. ¡®Remember, you promised me.¡¯ He sighed. ¡®Alright. I¡¯ll learn from it, and I¡¯ll give the job another chance.¡¯ ¡®One more thing. Why are there ten heads looking at me?¡¯ ¡®Oh, that. Manslayer¡¯s plan to make this look like a goblin attack. Apparently, that¡¯s what they do.¡¯ He didn¡¯t turn to look. Her other companions approached. Manslayer, Jaelin, and Wilson looked down on her. ¡®You¡¯re feeling better?¡¯ Edmund asked. ¡®Yes. Thank you all for coming to my rescue. It¡¯s appreciated.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re welcome,¡¯ Jaelin said. ¡®If you¡¯re able,¡¯ Wilson said, ¡®we should get going. It¡¯s not a good idea to wait out here any longer. Also, the mission isn¡¯t over.¡¯ ¡®Thanks for waiting for me. But how come it¡¯s not over?¡¯ ¡®We assume that we need to return the items the brigands took back to Eisenberg. That¡¯s a long way to drag that cart. Protect From Brigands was the mission, and well¡ªwe didn¡¯t really.¡¯ ¡®Makes sense. Give me a few moments and I¡¯ll get to my feet.¡¯ Everyone turned to go. ¡®Jaelin. A word?¡¯ Jaelin squatted next to her while the others readied themselves for leaving. ¡®I want you to come back with us to Avolo and meet with Stiff,¡¯ Ashlyn told him. ¡®I¡¯m not a big city guy.¡¯ ¡®I figured that. But listen. We may have kept Redblade away from Eisenberg for a while, if they buy this ruse. But not forever. Help me talk to Stiff. You would be a more than useful addition to his squad if we are going to operate in this area. It might persuade him to take on Redblade.¡¯ ¡®Alright. Since you nearly died, I can hardly say no. I¡¯ll speak with him. But I¡¯m not promising anything.¡¯ He offered a hand and pulled Ashlyn to her feet. The Bowman insisted on taking one handle of the cart all the way back to Eisenberg. It was obviously a method of atoning for his near fatal error, and no one argued. Edmund and Jaelin took turns taking the other handle. Wilson didn¡¯t offer¡ªwhether it was beneath him, or too high for him, Ashlyn wasn¡¯t quite sure. She walked with Femke, who made her take regular rests. She would check her wounds, reapply a salve, and make her drink some foul tasting concoction. Ashlyn was desperate to lie down and sleep, but Auntie¡¯s attention was working, and she was strong enough to walk back to the village. When the settlement came into view, there was a faint pink haze across the entrance. The end of the mission was in sight, and they shared a collective sense of relief. They¡¯d done it, and in the end, no one had died. MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: Eisenberg was protected from brigands Some of your mercs improved their stats: Wilson Turk: Agility +1 Manslayer: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 Ashlyn Sawrey: Intellect +1 No mercs levelled up Chapter 23 The Rose
Finances
Income
Mission #6 ¡ê2
Wade Enterprises 1s 1p
Expenses
Wages 9s 3p
Miscellaneous 6s 3p
Profit ¡ê1 5s 7p
Total ¡ê2 15s 7p
Lothar supped at his pint. He hadn¡¯t thought it possible that the beer in The Rose could get worse, but there it was. The building was disintegrating around him. Meanwhile, his bank balance was healthier than ever. I¡¯m not a clever man. But this particular opportunity is staring me in the face. ¡®Suzie?¡¯ he called. Dutifully, the girl appeared before her one customer. ¡®How is your father?¡¯ ¡®No better, Stiff.¡¯ ¡®I need to speak with him.¡¯ Her eyes widened, as if no one had ever made such a request before. ¡®Sure. I¡¯ll take you.¡¯ In the kitchen of The Rose, Suzie¡¯s mother stirred something foul smelling in a pot that looked like it had never been washed. Her father was crumpled in a chair. Grey of pallor, his life was leaching away at the same pace as his premises. Lothar briefly wondered what kind of man he had been when he built this place, and what kind of hopes he¡¯d had for it. ¡®I can¡¯t help but notice business isn¡¯t going well,¡¯ Lothar commented. It was obvious they were losing money every day. Money they didn¡¯t have. The man coughed, a dry sound that didn¡¯t bode well. ¡®No, sir.¡¯ ¡®I have an offer. It¡¯s non-negotiable. Two pounds for The Rose. More than enough for you and your wife to buy a small retirement dwelling in the city. I will keep Suzie on if she wishes.¡¯ Suzie stared at him with wide eyes. She nodded slowly, as if not believing that such an outcome was possible. How long has the poor thing been stuck in this predicament? Suzie¡¯s mother had dropped her spoon into the slop. Her father had tears in his eyes. His family would be provided for when he was gone, and that is the only concern of a dying man. ¡®What have you done, Stiff?¡¯ Rosalind asked him. They were standing outside The Rose. She refused to go in. ¡®You just need some imagination, is all. New materials and a good clean.¡¯ She shook her head. ¡®That¡¯s more imagination than I have. Who will the clientele be in this neighbourhood?¡¯ It was a little snobby, but Lothar was more than happy to overlook that if she was genuinely considering his proposal. ¡®I have close to ten mercs on my books now. They¡¯ll set the tone. It¡¯ll be a safe, warm place to spend an evening. People round here don¡¯t need more¡¯n that.¡¯ ¡®If you say so. Against my better judgement, I¡¯ll lend you a pound. Will that be enough?¡¯ Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡®Thank you, Rosalind. It will. I just need the materials. I have enough people to help me sort the place out. Now, in terms of interest?¡¯ ¡®Interest free. I just want it back.¡¯ ¡®I appreciate that. I really do. Give me two months, and you¡¯ll have it back.¡¯ Rosalind offered a hand, and Lothar shook on it. They shared a smile, and Lothar kept a hold only slightly longer than was proper. The heroes of Eisenberg were back in Avolo. Some, especially Ashlyn, needed rest. Femke and Christoph rolled their sleeves up and helped Lothar with the renovations. They were hard workers, and Femke was good at organising people without irritating them. Lothar was a little more surprised that his criminal wing was also present. Mags was willing, if limited in what he could help with. But Murder did whatever Mags told him to. He was strong, uncomplaining, and prepared to work from dawn till dusk. Wade had responded to the responsibility Lothar had given him. He was keen for the Order to succeed, and that included the future of The Rose. Lothar had thought manual labour would be beneath The Baron, but even he turned up. Finally, Mila worked with Suzie in the kitchen, keeping everyone supplied with food and drink. Their willingness to help, and without pay, affected Lothar. He felt like he had built a little family in Gal¡¯azu, from all these individuals who had left what they knew behind for a new life. He realised he had become a sort of father figure to them, and that they all, in some way, needed his guidance. Responsibility for them is a privilege, not a burden, he told himself. But he had run merc companies in the past. He¡¯d enjoyed some success along the way. But it never lasted. There had been failures; betrayals; deaths; recrimination. No one ever seemed to stay for the long haul. How can I know if this will be different? Amongst the work on The Rose, Lothar knew there were important conversations to be had. First, a possible new recruit. Ashlyn had brought a young man named Jaelin who had helped his crew deal with the brigands. Lothar liked what he saw on the Livanian¡¯s stat sheet. He could use a bow, which put him ahead of Christoph in that department. And the Scouting skill was exactly what he needed if he was going to be operating out in the wilds. ¡®Eisenberg will continue to need your help,¡¯ Jaelin told him. ¡®Redblade still has plenty of warriors.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sure. But taking out ten of them must have made some kind of dent?¡¯ ¡®Yes. But it will also have made him angry. And dangerous.¡¯ ¡®I understand that.¡¯ Lothar eyed his mission roster. KILL REDBLADE had appeared once the previous mission had been completed. But Lothar was keen to keep that to himself for now. Firstly, there was no reward offered with it. Secondly, he was unsure that his crew was strong enough for the mission. ¡®I¡¯m all for saving Eisenberg,¡¯ Lothar told Jaelin. Indeed, a functioning iron mine is hardly something I can ignore. If it doesn''t end up in my hands, it¡¯ll end up in someone else¡¯s. ¡®But I need more resources before I can take on Redblade and win. That¡¯s where you can help. Join my crew. You have skills that no one else does.¡¯ ¡®To do what?¡¯ Jaelin asked him. ¡®I don¡¯t like killink.¡¯ ¡®LOCATE WARG DEN. That¡¯s the next mission. No killing. No dealing with people at all. Just exploration. And I pay you. How does that sound?¡¯ ¡®Sounds like it¡¯s suited to me, I admit. What¡¯s the catch?¡¯ ¡®The catch is you can¡¯t go alone.¡¯ ¡®But I¡ª¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve tried that once. It¡¯s too dangerous.¡¯ ¡®Then who?¡¯ ¡®Wilson.¡¯ ¡®Oh.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s not so bad. I trust him. And I expect he¡¯s more bearable as part of a duo than in a group.¡¯ ¡®I suppose I¡¯m going to find out if that¡¯s true.¡¯ Lothar grinned. ¡®Excellent. Good to have you on board.¡¯ Next, Lothar got Christoph alone. ¡®You heard about what happened?¡¯ asked the lad morosely. ¡®Yes. It¡¯s happened to everyone. But especially to archers, of course. It¡¯s all part of the process, I¡¯m afraid. And Ashlyn has no hard feelings?¡¯ ¡®Oh, she was very good about it. And I¡¯ve learned my lesson. I¡¯ll not shoot into a melee again.¡¯ ¡®Well, of course you must think twice. But there might be occasions when you need to do precisely that. So the real lesson is, get better. You¡¯re still practising daily?¡¯ ¡®Yes. And I¡¯m getting better. That¡¯s the annoying part. I thought I could make that shot.¡¯ ¡®The practice field is different to the battlefield. That¡¯s why we need to keep putting you in those situations. It¡¯s the only way to really improve.¡¯ ¡®I understand.¡¯ ¡®Good lad.¡¯ Lothar knocked on Ashlyn¡¯s door. ¡®It¡¯s Stiff.¡¯ ¡®Come in.¡¯ She was propped up in bed, in one of the guest rooms of The Rose. ¡®You¡¯re doing alright? Sorry about the racket we¡¯re making.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s fine. I was going to come and help today, but¡ª¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re exhausted. I know the feeling. Your body borrowed from its reserves to get you through, and now it¡¯s payback.¡¯ ¡®Yeah. Auntie is helping me though.¡¯ Lothar shook his head ruefully. ¡®What? You don¡¯t like the nickname?¡¯ ¡®Not the most fearsome I¡¯ve heard. But appropriate, I suppose. I wanted to ask you about Manslayer.¡¯ ¡®Ah.¡¯ ¡®Sounds like he got you through the combat.¡¯ ¡®He sure did.¡¯ ¡®As I expected. But his wife, Betty, never showed up. And if you recall, she also missed the meeting at The Sailor¡¯s Knot.¡¯ ¡®I do. Thing is, Stiff. I came to Avolo on the same ship as Edmund. And he was alone.¡¯ ¡®Alone?¡¯ More than one explanation ran through Lothar¡¯s mind. ¡®It¡¯s possible she came here separately.¡¯ ¡®Possible,¡¯ Ashlyn said, but the doubt in her voice was clear. ¡®What do I do? Have it out with him? I can¡¯t afford to lose him.¡¯ ¡®Leave it be for now,¡¯ Ashlyn suggested. ¡®Whatever it is, it¡¯s not doing us any immediate harm. If I get the chance, I¡¯ll talk with him.¡¯ Lothar studied the girl. Manslayer was the ace in his pack, it was true. But Ashlyn had a savviness about her that was rare; especially in one so young. He wondered whether she might prove to be just as important to The Apples. Chapter 24 Mission #7 Locate Warg Den Part One
Jaelin
Name Jaelin Topolski
Nickname None
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 26
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 19
Core Stats
Might 6
Agility 10
Grit 10
Intellect 8
Skills Scouting, Bows (competent), Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Shortbow (damage 2-12), Knife (damage 2-8)
Armour None
Other
Wilson Turk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname None
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 50
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 6
Grit 4
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axes (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Hand axe (damage 3-18), Hand axe (damage 3-18)
Armour Breastplate, helmet
Other
¡®Stocksby lies due south of Eisenberg,¡¯ Jaelin told Wilson. ¡®You¡¯ve been there?¡¯ the gnome asked him. ¡®Just the once. Not much there, but it serves as a focal point for the farms in the neighbourhood. They¡¯re small, and isolated. It¡¯s pastoral land, not much good for growink crops.¡¯ Jaelin could see the stress in Wilson¡¯s disposition ease when he realised Jaelin knew the way. He sensed he had misjudged the gnome¡¯s irascibility from the previous mission. They travelled west by foot. Horses weren¡¯t native to Gal¡¯azu, and were extremely expensive to transport over here. Their short supply made them far too expensive for the likes of Jaelin. Not that he minded. Walking gave him more peace than anything else. He matched his pace to Wilson¡¯s, whose legs were significantly shorter. Neither of them felt the need to fill the silence with chatter, and Jaelin¡¯s remaining concerns about his companion evaporated. The ground began to rise and fall. It was the beginnings of the rocky landscape that lay out west, beyond the reach of even the boldest settlers. As evening came, Jaelin stopped at the top of a rise. Above, reds and yellows were pushing the blue from the sky. Below them was a sheer drop down to rocks below. Ahead, they could see all the way to the murky swamp that stretched out to the ocean. ¡®Some view. Eh, Wilson?¡¯ The question had come unbidden, without stopping to think whether the gnome had any interest. But Wilson stopped, dropped his pack, and gazed out for some time. ¡®This is why you came to Gal¡¯azu?¡¯ he asked after a while. ¡®I suppose so. It¡¯s freedom I value more than anything. I was born a slave, you see. My mother was a slave. But at night she would tell me stories all about the most fantastical places. Most of them were made up, and she had seen none of them herself. Yet she painted such a picture with only her words, that I imagined I was there. When I got the chance to, I left¡ªdetermined to visit such places for myself. Now, when I awake, my time is my own. I can go where I like; see the world for myself.¡¯ Wilson nodded in understanding. ¡®Perhaps we could make a camp here, and watch the sun set.¡¯ ¡®I would like that.¡¯ ¡®Why did you come to Gal¡¯azu?¡¯ Jaelin asked the gnome, as they sat in their blankets, waiting for nightfall. ¡®I was always different. Gnomes might be explorers, like yourself. But crafting, and tinkering, is in our blood. I always wanted to be a warrior. There were no role models for me, only disapproval. When I left my people and travelled the world, that disapproval turned to scorn. A puny gnome, become a warrior? My ambitions were a joke. I was a joke.¡¯ ¡®You thought it might be different here?¡¯ ¡®I thought, in a land where everyone is making a fresh start, there might be more acceptance. Of who I am, not what I am. But The Golden Blades would have nothing to do with me. Stiff never judged me in that way. Even when I messed up. I¡¯m grateful for that.¡¯ ¡®He seems alright,¡¯ Jaelin admitted. ¡®But unlike you, I¡¯m not one for fightink and killink. It darkens my soul. I don¡¯t understand people who want to make that their life.¡¯ ¡®A true warrior makes a choice who and what he fights for,¡¯ Wilson said. ¡®But I don¡¯t believe I made a choice to take the warrior¡¯s path. It is what I am.¡¯ It was market day in Stocksby. All the neighbouring farmers had come, and most had a story about wargs. The beasts came at night. No fence was tall or thick enough to stop them. Sheep were their usual target. Some they killed for food. Others, it seemed, for pleasure. ¡®If it goes on like this, I¡¯ll have to leave,¡¯ was the common refrain. ¡®I can¡¯t sustain such losses any longer.¡¯ One farmer had gone out with his family to confront them. ¡®They weren¡¯t scared of us in the slightest. Just looked at me with those black, devil eyes. Daring me to try and stop them, it seemed.¡¯ He looked at the ground. ¡®I wasn¡¯t going to risk the lives of my wife and sons. I took us back inside the house.¡¯ ¡®Where do you think their den could be?¡¯ Jaelin asked. ¡®Out west, beyond our farms. I heard a theory that they escaped from a goblin camp, and made a home for themselves in this area. But they can¡¯t be that far away, because they range across these lands now. It¡¯s the lucky few who haven¡¯t had an incident with them. That¡¯s why we all got together and came up with the money. Something needs to be done.¡¯ Having collected all the information they could, Jaelin and Wilson left the village to explore the territory out west. Once they passed the last farm, they shared a nervous energy. It was just the two of them out in the wilds¡ªand somewhere, there was a warg den. ¡®What kind of place do you think such creatures would choose?¡¯ Wilson asked him. In a group, the gnome had been determined to take charge. Now it was just the two of them, he seemed content to defer to Jaelin. ¡®Somewhere safe for their pups. Somewhere remote.¡¯ ¡®That makes our task a lot harder,¡¯ Wilson ventured. ¡®There are ways to find them.¡¯ Jaelin kept to the high ground. It allowed him to get a feel for the territory. He knew where the wargs who passed through were heading. He needed to work out what route they were likely to take. ¡®Down here, Wilson,¡¯ he said when he finally spotted what he was looking for. He led the gnome off the ridge, and down a steep slope. A depression in the ground had formed a pool. ¡®You¡¯re thinking the wargs come here to drink?¡¯ Wilson asked him. ¡®Certainly possible. After a hunt, and after eating a big meal, they can get thirsty.¡¯ Jaelin crouched on the muddy edge of the water. ¡®See here?¡¯ Wilson took a look. ¡®I see. Paw print. Pretty big one at that.¡¯ ¡®Aye. Adult wargs are a fearsome size. Powerful in the back, shoulder, and limbs¡ªstrong enough to carry the weight of a goblin rider.¡¯ Wilson looked less than enthused at Jaelin¡¯s description. Jaelin moved on to examine the patches of grass and bush that dotted the area. It didn¡¯t take long for him to find scat. It was dry; a few days old. From the accounts of the farmers he¡¯d heard in Stocksby, he reckoned the creatures ventured out on raids every five days or so¡ªtaking enough meat on each raid to keep them satisfied for long periods. With increasing confidence, Jaelin circled the pool and continued west, charting a likely route the wargs might have taken. He spied grey cliffs to the north. At the top of them was a jumble of rocks on thin grass that made the surface uneven. ¡®I think we may have found it,¡¯ he said. Wilson looked up. ¡®I don¡¯t like the look of it, that¡¯s for sure. You think there could be caves up there?¡¯ ¡®If not caves, crevices and overhangs that would serve their purpose. Sometimes, our instincts tell us what we need to know, if we listen to them. Mine are telling me not to go up there.¡¯ ¡®Mine too. I suppose that means we have to?¡¯ Chapter 25 Mission #7 Locate Warg Den Part Two Wilson allowed Jaelin to lead the way. The explorer found a route up the cliff. It was steep in places, requiring them to hold onto the rock and climb. They knew better than to talk now¡ªthe only noise was the scrabble of boots on stone, and their laboured breathing. All the while, Wilson¡¯s instincts were screaming at him to turn back. It was as if the wargs had left traces of their presence on the rock, that only a sixth sense could detect. At the top, they paused for breath. The wind blew hard here. It carried a musty smell. Jaelin pointed to the tallest pile of rocks. It was the likeliest place. Wilson reluctantly nodded his agreement. As they drew nearer, he peered between the irregular lumps of grey, looking for the darkness of a cave entrance. Jaelin stopped, then put a hand on Wilson¡¯s arm. Wilson looked for the reason. There. It had come around from the opposite side of the rock pile. The warg was staring at them. Its black eyes were small in its massive head. Wilson could see huge fangs in its partially open mouth. Its fur was black and brown. A muscular hump above its shoulders, with a line of long fur, was its highest point. It was a good foot taller than Wilson there. The mismatch in size rooted his feet to the ground, as fear paralysis gripped him. ¡®Another one,¡¯ Jaelin murmured. Coming around from the opposite side, it was the same size as the first. ¡®Why aren¡¯t they attacking?¡¯ ¡®They¡¯re assessing us. They have younglings close, I expect.¡¯ The second warg growled, the threat unmistakable. Wilson didn¡¯t want to die here, of all places. But a warrior didn¡¯t get to make that choice. Slowly, he moved his hands to the handles of his twin axes. Jaelin slowly turned his head and looked at him wide-eyed. ¡®Are you mad?¡¯ he whispered. ¡®They¡¯ll tear us limb from limb in moments.¡¯ ¡®Then what do you¡ª¡¯ ¡®We run. On three. One, two, three¡ª¡¯ The explorer turned and ran for the cliff face. Wilson debated with himself. He¡¯d done enough running away recently. And what chance was there to outpace these creatures? None. But when your one companion turns and flees, it¡¯s not easy to stand your ground. He ran. ACTION ROUND
Wargs
Warg Riderless wargs
Action Stats
Action Points 7
Hit Points 40
On flat ground, over a short distance, Wilson was fast. He reached the route down the cliff only just behind Jaelin. In his ears were the growls of the chasing wargs. He felt the vibrations through the ground as they pounded towards him. He had to fight off the instinct to hunch over and protect himself from a slash or bite. He needed to turn around to begin the descent. He saw the pair, slowing down as they approached the cliff edge. Behind them, a third warg had appeared. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Wilson clambered down the side of the cliff. He leaned back to avoid a paw swipe, and experienced some relief when he managed to descend out of range. The warg put its lead paw down onto the steep decline, intent on following. Wilson was caught in two minds about what to do. He missed his footing, and before he knew it, he was tumbling. He crashed into Jaelin, knocking him over. Then they were both falling; somersaulting; crashing into the jagged rock on their way down the cliff. Wilson sat up, dazed. He¡¯d taken 13 points of damage from the fall, leaving only 8 remaining. Jaelin had come off a little better, losing only 8. He pulled Wilson to his feet, and glanced up the cliff. The wargs were coming for them, picking their way down the cliff. ¡®We¡¯ve gotta get out of here,¡¯ the explorer said. He ran towards a small hillock, covered in trees. Wilson staggered after him. He didn¡¯t see any way in which they could escape the beasts. They couldn¡¯t outpace them; they couldn¡¯t hide¡ªthe wargs would smell them out. Did Jaelin think they could climb a tree and outwait them? He doubted it. Maybe Jaelin just hoped they would get Wilson first, and he¡¯d be able to get away. He stumbled up the hillock. Barks from behind told him the wargs were off the cliff, and they could see him. He pushed his way through the trees, cutting himself on the branches. He heard the wargs climbing the hill behind him. They¡¯d be on him soon. Ahead, he heard Jaelin let out a cry. There was a thump, followed by an ominous growl. How had a warg got ahead of them? The beasts weren¡¯t stupid. One of them had raced ahead and cut them off. ¡®Jaelin?¡¯ he shouted, heading in the direction he¡¯d heard the noise. Silence. ¡®Jaelin?¡¯ He heard branches snapping behind him as the powerful warg got closer. ¡®This way!¡¯ Jaelin¡¯s voice. ¡®Jump!¡¯ Jump? Wilson followed the sound of Jaelin¡¯s voice, until he came to a sheer drop. It was only a few feet. But that wasn¡¯t what made him hesitate. Down below, only a short distance away, a warg bared its teeth and snarled. A sound behind him. Wilson jumped. He felt the chasing warg launch itself at him, but as the gnome dropped to the ground, the warg sailed past him, its jaws snapping on empty air. Wilson landed heavily on the ground, losing another hit point. The snarling warg launched itself at him, but hands grabbed the straps of his breastplate and slid him backwards. The warg followed. Then something strange happened. It yelped, as if in pain, then whined in complaint. Wilson shuffled back on his arse until his back came up against a wall. ¡®Aren¡¯t you going to shoot it?¡¯ ¡®I lost my bow in the fall.¡¯ The warg who had been chasing Wilson loped towards him. But when it got as close as the first warg, it too yelped in pain. It snapped its teeth at invisible antagonists on either side, before glaring at Wilson with hard, beady eyes. ¡®What¡¯s happening?¡¯ Wilson asked. ¡®Something is preventing them from getting close. This place.¡¯ Wilson dared a glance behind him. They had their backs to a stone wall. The squared stones were layered from the ground to the top of the mound, as if blocking up an entranceway. What was stopping the creatures from getting closer? Magic? ¡®What is it? There is something under this hill?¡¯ ¡®I have no idea what we¡¯ve found, or for how long it will keep these wargs from ripping out our throats. But I suggest we try to get inside before it fades.¡¯ That was motivation enough for Wilson. They pulled at the stones. It was difficult at first. They were packed tightly together, and Wilson wondered how long the wall had been here. But once they removed a few at the top, their task became easier. The third warg joined its companions. Like them, it was stopped from reaching its quarry. They growled their frustration, but showed no signs of leaving. Wilson didn¡¯t expect them to give up any time soon. They were pulling away stones in one go now, chucking them onto a pile between themselves and the wargs. Stale air escaped from inside. It was dark and uninviting. But not so uninviting as staying outside. Wilson stepped over the reduced wall and entered. The roof was only just high enough for him to walk without stooping. Ahead, a corridor stretched into darkness. Even with his gnomish eyesight, he couldn¡¯t make out where it led. But he could see large stones had been spaced out on each side of the corridor at regular intervals. Jaelin clambered inside with him and rested on his haunches. He watched as Wilson took out his flint and steel. ¡®Got a torch?¡¯ Wilson asked him. ¡®Or did you lose that as well?¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re not suggestink we go explorink in here, are you? We¡¯ve entered a barrow. The gods only know what we will find.¡¯ ¡®Might be we find treasure.¡¯ ¡®Might be we find somethink else that wants to kill us. Isn¡¯t three monsters enough for you? How many hit points do you have left?¡¯ Wilson¡¯s first instinct was to argue back. But maybe Jaelin had a point. If it was a barrow, they could return and explore some other time. When he wasn¡¯t quite so close to death. ¡®Then what do you suggest?¡¯ Jaelin pointed into the corridor. ¡®Those stones. Why don¡¯t we drag the nearest to the threshold, and barricade ourselves inside? If the wargs try to break through, you can swing your axes. With some luck, they may just give up.¡¯ It was a sensible, if unexciting, proposal. With a lot of huffing and puffing, they rested the first chunks of stone against what was left of the wall. The next, they layered on top. Barely any light filtered in now, and Wilson got the uncomfortable sensation that he was burying himself alive. He felt a creeping sensation on the back of his neck. Was there really something in here with them? Outside, the growling, and the restless pacing, gradually stopped. Perhaps the wargs were still close, lying in wait. Or maybe, they¡¯d decided to get far away from this place and return to their den. MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: The warg den was located No mercs improved their stats No mercs levelled up Chapter 26 Eden Wade
Finances
Income
Mission #7 4s
Loans ¡ê1
Expenses
Wages 2s 4p
Purchase of and repairs to The Rose ¡ê3
Loss ¡ê1 18s 4p
Total 17s 3p
Loans outstanding ¡ê1
Money had got tight again. But Lothar now had a business capable of bringing in a steady income, and he was optimistic things would turn around eventually. With The Rose refurbished, he threw an opening night celebration, invite only. His mercs were there. Mila had taken to waitressing, and in need of staff, Lothar had given her a job at The Rose. Mags and Murder were his bouncers. Neither of them were really cut out for the role. But they looked intimidating. And if they encountered any trouble, there were plenty of people inside who could lend a hand. The Baron had reserved a table for himself and his guests. None of them were prepared to reveal their identities when Lothar came over for a chat. One of the women wore a mask all night. But they ordered his best wine, and Lothar wasn¡¯t going to complain about that. His allies, Rosalind and Boris, popped in for a few drinks and to talk business. Even his very first clients, Marek and Julia Bartol, made an appearance. He made sure Mila looked after them, and they promised they would spread the word about the establishment amongst their friends. The next day, Wade came to see Lothar at The Rose. ¡®It was a good atmosphere last nicht. Really felt like we¡¯re building a family here.¡¯ ¡®Aye, it was.¡¯ Lothar had noticed a few changes in Wade recently, especially since he had put the man in charge of his city missions. Now, he looked agitated, as if there was something he needed to say. ¡®Out with it, Wade.¡¯ ¡®Well, I was wondering. Now you have the rooms done up here. I was wondering if there might be space for me.¡¯ If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡®You want a room here?¡¯ ¡®Aye. It¡¯s not so much for me, you ken. As for my son.¡¯ ¡®You have a son?¡¯ Lothar was astounded. Wade put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. A skinny, dark haired boy appeared. He was perhaps about eight, though Lothar wasn¡¯t an expert on such things, and may have been several years out. ¡®Eden, he¡¯s named.¡¯ ¡®Hello, Eden.¡¯ ¡®Hello, sir.¡¯ ¡®Alright. You can feck off again now.¡¯ The boy left them to it. ¡®You¡¯ve been keeping that a secret,¡¯ Lothar said. ¡®He¡¯s the reason I came to Gal¡¯azu. Wanted to give him a better life. Except we¡¯ve been living in a bit of a dive, and I¡¯ve been looking for a better place. Only, last night, it crossed my mind that this would be a good place for him. He wouldn¡¯t get in the way. He¡¯s a useful lad; lots of jobs he could do. And I would pay you the rent, of course.¡¯ Lothar didn¡¯t see many negatives. A room taken by someone he more or less trusted. Wade could help him steer the place in the right direction. No doubt young Eden could learn some chores. And while he hadn¡¯t bought The Rose to be a literal family home, why not? He could appreciate the peace of mind it would give Wade to have him here. Lothar offered the thief his hand. ¡®Very well. Let¡¯s try it.¡¯ When Wilson and Jaelin returned from their mission, Lothar knew it was time to make a decision on his next mission. He had been mulling over the options ever since they had located the warg den: SELECT MISSION KILL REDBLADE DESTROY WARG DEN, ¡ê2 EXPLORE BARROW Lothar no longer received updates on criminal missions¡ªthese went straight to Wade. It helped him focus on the big picture. The KILL REDBLADE mission had no reward attached. It looked very much like an end of section mission. In his younger days, Lothar would have rushed headlong into it. These days, he was more circumspect. It might be better to strengthen his squad first. The location of the warg den had made two new missions available. The farmers out west were offering ¡ê2 for the destruction of the warg den. He could do with that kind of money. But apart from the cash, it probably offered little else. Then there was EXPLORE BARROW. No one was paying them to do it. Indeed, from what Jaelin and Wilson had told him, no one else knew of its existence. It could be dangerous. Their talk of a magic barrier worried him, especially since they had no wizards in their crew. As far as he knew, no magic users had made the journey to Gal¡¯azu. But still. The potential rewards might be worth the risk. Treasure, and perhaps more. Lothar gathered his crew in the lounge of the inn. There was one addition to the squad who had worked together in Eisenberg. Lothar had decided a thief might be useful, and had recruited The Baron for this one. Manslayer had doubled his wages, from one to two shillings. It was an eye watering increase. But Lothar could hardly argue¡ªhe still represented great value. ¡®Well, look who it is,¡¯ Ashlyn said, when she caught sight of Jaelin and Wilson. ¡®The Explorer¡­and Twerk.¡¯ ¡®Are those to be their nicknames?¡¯ Christoph asked her. ¡®I think so.¡¯ ¡®Twerk?¡¯ Wilson repeated, his face going red. ¡®That will not be my nickname.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s not how it works,¡¯ Ashlyn said. ¡®You don¡¯t get to choose your own nickname. It¡¯s whatever everyone else decides to call you.¡¯ Wilson¡¯s hands went to his twin axes. ¡®Anyone decides to call me that, won¡¯t live to regret it.¡¯ ¡®Steady,¡¯ Ashlyn said. A mischievous grin came to her face. ¡®Twerk.¡¯ Axes were drawn, then swords. Lothar bellowed at them. ¡®Enough! There¡¯ll be no violence in my establishment. I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve all got surplus energy, because it¡¯s time to send you out on your next mission.¡¯ ¡®I hope it''s to deal with Redblade and his brigands,¡¯ Jaelin said. ¡®The people of Eisenberg need our help.¡¯ Lothar was getting more than a little annoyed. ¡®Funny. There was me thinking this is my Order, and I¡¯m the one who makes the decisions.¡¯ He eyeballed Jaelin, then stared at each of them in turn, daring any of them to answer back. No one said a word. Just as well. For them. ¡®Now listen. Wilson and Jaelin happened upon a barrow on their mission. I want it fully explored. As well as paying you two days wages, I will give you each a fair cut of any treasure found. We need this to go well, to strengthen ourselves before we take on Redblade. But be careful. There may be some sort of ancient spell on the place. If it looks like there¡¯s more than you can handle, get out of there.¡¯ Chapter 27 Mission #8 Explore Barrow Part One
The Baron
Name Unknown
Nickname The Baron
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 31
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 3
Hit Points 14
Core Stats
Might 6
Agility 12
Grit 5
Intellect 11
Skills Thievery, Disguise, Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour Padded
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
Twerk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname Twerk
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 50
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 6
Grit 4
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axes (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Hand axe (damage 3-18), Hand axe (damage 3-18)
Armour Breastplate, helmet
Other
The Bowman
Name Christoph Gerd
Nickname The Bowman
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 19
Daily Wage 3 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 14
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 7
Grit 4
Intellect 4
Skills Bows (competent), Knives (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Short bow (damage 2-12), Dagger (1-4)
Armour Padded
Other
Auntie If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Name Femke Gerd
Nickname Auntie
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 48
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 5
Grit 13
Intellect 11
Skills Medic, Staves (novice), Bows (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Cudgel (damage 1-4)
Armour Padded
Other Medical kit
Manslayer
Name Edmund Rigge
Nickname Manslayer
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 34
Daily Wage 2 shillings
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 6
Hit Points 29
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 9
Grit 11
Intellect 7
Skills Swords (master), Shields (master) Spears (expert), Knives (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Slayer, To Hit +2, Damage +1, damage 6-41), Short Spear (damage 4-24), Knife (damage 4-16), Shield (damage 5-15)
Armour Chain mail, (+Shield)
Other
Ashlyn
Name Ashlyn Sawrey
Nickname None
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 21
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 19
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 9
Grit 8
Intellect 9
Skills Swords (proficient), Shields (competent), Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Shortsword (damage 3-18), Knife (damage 2-8), Shield (damage 2-6)
Armour Leather
Other
The Explorer
Name Jaelin Topolski
Nickname The Explorer
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 26
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 19
Core Stats
Might 6
Agility 10
Grit 10
Intellect 8
Skills Scouting, Bows (competent), Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Shortbow (damage 2-12), Knife (damage 2-8)
Armour None
Other
¡®That¡¯s it,¡¯ The Explorer said, pointing to a tree-covered hillock. They had trekked a long way west. Christoph had kept his bow stave close at all times, but they had not been bothered once. Apparently, there was a warg den in these parts, but they hadn¡¯t caught sight or sound of the creatures. Their attention was on this barrow. ¡®That¡¯s how you left it?¡¯ Manslayer asked. Chunks of stone had been pulled from the walled up entrance and dumped in a pile outside the barrow. Larger stones had been piled up against the remnants of the wall. ¡®Aye,¡¯ Twerk said. ¡®Doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s been messed with since we left.¡¯ ¡®What about this sorcerous barrier,¡¯ Ashlyn said, looking uncomfortable. ¡®That didn¡¯t allow the wargs in. What if it prevents us from entering?¡¯ ¡®We¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡¯ Manslayer said. ¡®But how does it work?¡¯ the Durnish girl persisted, looking fearful. Christoph felt exactly the same. Talk of ancient magic gave him the jitters. Manslayer sighed. ¡®Most likely a hex was placed here by a sorcerer, at the same time they closed the barrow up. It prevents certain creatures from entering. Animals, let¡¯s say. Or anything evil.¡¯ ¡®How can it have lasted all this time?¡¯ Christoph asked. They had no way of knowing how long the mound had been here. But it clearly predated the arrival of the settlers to Gal¡¯azu. In which case, if it was the work of some lost civilisation, it could have lain here for hundreds of years. Thousands. He gave an involuntary shudder. Manslayer was in general a patient man, but he now put his hands on his hips and looked from Christoph to Ashlyn. ¡®I¡¯m no expert on magic. First, we need to see if we can all get inside. Then, we¡¯ll take it from there. We don¡¯t need to understand all the whys and wherefores to complete the mission.¡¯ ¡®But there may be other spells in place here, as well as the hex,¡¯ Christoph said. The thought of crawling into the underworld unnerved him. He hoped the hex spell would stop him from entering. He could stand guard outside, with his bow. ¡®Perfectly possible,¡¯ Manslayer agreed. ¡®Likely, even.¡¯ Christoph gulped. But The Explorer and Twerk, growing impatient, climbed over the wall and entered. Manslayer and The Baron followed them. The Baron¡¯s all black outfit meant he virtually disappeared as soon as he entered. Christoph shared a resigned look with Ashlyn. ¡®It¡¯s alright, sweethearts. Auntie will look after you.¡¯ Christoph¡¯s aunt ushered them both towards the entrance. Christoph was disappointed when whatever spell had been cast on the place ignored him and let him enter. He had to crouch to fit inside. The barrow was only about four feet high. He could sense the packed earth above, pressing down. Inside it was dark and still, like death. Twerk was trying to light a torch. Christoph took his bow stave in hand and strung it, readying himself for trouble. He patted his quiver of arrows, making sure they were close to hand. ¡®Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea?¡¯ Jaelin whispered to him. ¡®It¡¯s a tight squeeze in here.¡¯ He wafted a knife in Christoph¡¯s direction. ¡®One of these might be better.¡¯ Christoph couldn¡¯t help receiving The Explorer¡¯s words as a criticism. The last time he had used his bow, he¡¯d shot Ashlyn by accident. No. He wasn¡¯t going to be dictated to by someone only a few years older than himself. ¡®I¡¯ve spent every day since I left the farm practising with this thing, until I have blisters on my blisters. I¡¯ve only just reached competent level. I¡¯m not going to swap it out for a weapon I have no skill with.¡¯ ¡®Fair enough,¡¯ said The Explorer. ¡®Hush!¡¯ Twerk hissed irritably. He¡¯d got his torch going. It issued some light, and a lot of smoke. At least Christoph could now see a few feet into the tunnel ahead of them. It continued at the same height. The gnome was able to walk ahead. Everyone else had to crawl or crouch walk behind him. The tunnel had a slight curve. On each side, stones had been positioned at regular intervals. For decoration, or ritual, perhaps. Whatever had been in the minds of the people who made the place, it had taken no small effort. Twerk stopped. The flickering torchlight illuminated half of his face and cast the rest in shadow. It made him look like a demon who had arrived from his underground lair. ¡®It opens up ahead,¡¯ he whispered, his voice strained. Ahead of Christoph, Manslayer turned around. ¡®Auntie, I suggest you stay here, where it¡¯s safer. If anyone gets injured, we can bring them to you.¡¯ Auntie Femke silently nodded her agreement. So, Manslayer was expecting danger. Christoph¡¯s mouth went dry. He hadn¡¯t really felt fear when they had fought against Redblade¡¯s brigands. But down here, fear seemed to swirl amongst them. It was invisible, but not imperceptible. Slick and greasy, it clenched his guts, and closed his throat. Chapter 28 Mission #8 Explore Barrow Part Two Wilson led them into a chamber. Ashlyn was grateful to be able to stand up at last. She rolled her shoulders to relieve the tension. The mud roof was still low, and the men had to hunch over as they searched the room. The Bowman had an arrow on his string and was looking around the room, ready to release his missile at the earliest opportunity. She hoped he wouldn¡¯t be too hasty after what happened in the previous mission. ¡®It¡¯s circular,¡¯ Manslayer declared. Edmund had followed the chamber wall to the left. ¡®And there¡¯s a mini chamber here,¡¯ he said, gesturing at a dark opening. ¡®Another one here,¡¯ The Explorer added. He had gone to the right, and his opening was roughly the same distance away from the entrance tunnel. ¡®Look at this,¡¯ said Twerk. He stood next to a rectangular stone plinth in the centre of the chamber, his torch struggling to beat back the darkness. The gnome peered over the top, straining to see. ¡®What is it? A body?¡¯ Ashlyn joined him. Atop the stone structure was a skeletal figure encased in metal armour, from greaves all the way up to an iron helm. It looked human size, perhaps smaller than average. Open to the elements, it was covered in dust and dirt. Who knew how long it had been lying here? But the location of the figure indicated this was their barrow. She noticed that the figure¡¯s right hand had been placed on the handle of a longsword. She caught a glimpse of colour on the pommel and reached for the weapon. It was hard to resist examining any sword; let alone an ancient weapon such as this. ¡®Stop!¡¯ Manslayer hissed, a worried expression on his face. Ashlyn turned, and with an apologetic grimace, showed him the sword already in her grip. Then the noise began. It sounded like the grinding of bones, and it echoed around the chamber. Ashlyn glanced down at the figure whose sword she had taken. They lay still. But from two openings at the far corners of the chamber, opposite the two they had already found, the first skeletons shuffled into the chamber. ACTION ROUND
Skeletons
Undead Skeleton
Action Stats
Action Points 5
Hit Points 24
Unlike the figure on the plinth, these skeletons wore no armour. But they carried sword and shield¡ªand even though they were animated corpses, with no mind or muscle, the way they held them suggested they knew how to fight. Ashlyn expected an arrow to fly through the air, but The Bowman had frozen, rooted to the spot. The Explorer was the first to react, as a skeleton emerged from the opening he had discovered. He slashed at the bag of bones with his knife, and the strike took eight points of damage from the creature. So they could hurt these things. But Jaelin¡¯s second strike was blocked by the skeleton¡¯s shield. Jaelin went low, and again, the shield followed him. With his last action point, he aimed for the skeleton¡¯s head. Not only did it block the strike a third time, but it knocked the knife from The Explorer¡¯s hand, the weapon falling to the ground. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Ashlyn had to trust someone else would go and help The Explorer. Because two of the creatures emerged from the opening ahead and to her left. It took her one action point to reach them. With her second, she used shield and sword. Neither strike was perfect, but both managed to hit, delivering eleven points of damage. Encouraged, she struck again, but this time, her sword was parried, and her shield blocked. One final chance. Her shield was stopped again, but an angled sword strike got through her opponent¡¯s defences. Fifteen hit points and the thing collapsed to the ground, whatever force had been holding it together gone. They were killable. Just as well, since she still had one creature to face. But she couldn¡¯t expect help from Manslayer. After checking that his opening was empty, he went for the opposite opening. In the far right corner of the chamber, four skeletons had entered the chamber. Still with five action points to work with, Edmund got to work. But his opponents crowded him, and he missed with both shield and sword. He got in a sword strike on his second attempt, a chop lopping a head off and finishing one of them in one go. Another sword strike connected, and another one hit kill. If Manslayer could do the same twice more, the odds of victory would be transformed. His next hack struck home again, but this time failed to finish the skeleton. With an overhead smash, he landed the boss of his shield into its skull and drove it to the ground. With a roar of frustration, Manslayer¡¯s final strike was collected on the last skeleton''s shield. His own shield hitting home was only a consolation, taking its hit points down to eighteen. And that was it. The skeletons had their chance for revenge. Jaelin¡¯s skeleton had at least been reduced to three action points. Unfortunately, both shield and sword strikes hit home. The Explorer wore no armour, and twelve points of damage brought him dangerously low. He managed to avoid its next shield thrust, but not the all important sword strike. Jaelin was clattered to the ground. Knocked unconscious, he was completely vulnerable. For some reason, the skeleton ignored him. Instead, it approached Twerk, who backed up against the stone plinth, and dropped his torch onto the dirt floor. But with its points spent, the gnome could breathe a sigh of relief. Not so Ashlyn. The skeleton she faced had all five action points intact, and she knew she couldn¡¯t resist it. She defended its shield strike, but not its sword swing. She hadn¡¯t anticipated a low strike. It slashed through her leather trousers, dealing eight points of damage. The same happened again, the creature¡¯s shield barge putting her off balance for the sword that followed. Six more hit points taken, and five left. Ashlyn knew one more hit would finish her. Then, from the darkness behind the skeleton, The Baron emerged, interrupting its turn. His surprise strike took it unawares, and his dagger bit, taking four points of damage. With the element of surprise gone, his follow up strike failed, blocked by the skeleton¡¯s sword. The thief¡¯s intervention wasn¡¯t much, but he¡¯d done enough to take away an action point. Ashlyn thought her chances of survival might now be even. Maybe The Baron wasn¡¯t much of a fighter, but he moved quickly. The skeleton¡¯s shield failed to connect, and its sword strike only gave him a glancing blow, taking his hit points to twelve. With its final action points, it missed him both times. That left only Manslayer¡¯s opponent, with four action points. Even if the skeleton got past his skilled defences, Edmund¡¯s chain mail also had to be breached. In its first turn, it failed. But with its second, it struck with both shield and sword. Edmund was taken down to eighteen points. Fortunately, that was the only time the skeleton saw success. Next up was Twerk. With a wounded skeleton in proximity, all he needed to do was unleash his axes. One struck on his first attempt, taking Jaelin¡¯s assailant down to five hit points. On his next turn, he finished the creature. He moved quickly, reaching Ashlyn¡¯s opponent, who still had twenty hit points left. Facing The Baron, it had little chance to defend against his final swings. His axes took precisely twenty points of damage, and it collapsed into a pile of harmless bones. The Bowman seemed released from the fear that had taken hold of him. Hands shaking, he aimed at the one remaining skeleton, in combat with Manslayer. A bad miss that clattered against the wall of the chamber. But at least his arrow hadn¡¯t struck anyone in their party. He managed to grab a second missile and fire. Unfortunately, with the same outcome. Auntie rushed over to The Explorer. She knelt next to him, opened her medic kit, and stripped away his clothes to examine his wounds. Manslayer¡¯s shield attack was blocked by the final skeleton, but not his sword blow. Slayer cut through bone, and the battle was done. Ashlyn rushed over to Jaelin, guilt flooding her. She should never have grabbed that sword when the party was unready. ¡®How is he?¡¯ Auntie was dressing the main sword wound, but had tears in her eyes. She shook her head. ¡®He¡¯s hanging on by a thread. I don¡¯t have the skill to save him.¡¯ Everyone had joined her now, standing solemnly over the Livanian. Femke¡¯s words struck Ashlyn like a hammer blow. It can¡¯t be true. ¡®No. You have to save him.¡¯ Auntie ignored her, and kept on working. ¡®We need to explore the barrow,¡¯ Manslayer said. ¡®But be careful. There could be more sleepers waiting to wake up.¡¯ He examined Ashlyn¡¯s injuries. ¡®Stay here. Auntie and The Explorer need protecting.¡¯ He eyed the opening in the chamber close to where The Explorer had fallen. ¡®We can¡¯t afford any more losses.¡¯ ¡®How can you worry about exploring the barrow when Jaelin is like this?¡¯ she demanded of him. ¡®Because we might find something to help him.¡¯ Hope fired inside Ashlyn. Then embarrassment followed, that she had sounded like a foolish child. Chapter 29 Mission #8 Explore Barrow Part Three Manslayer lit a second torch. ¡®You come with me,¡¯ he said to Christoph. ¡®Twerk and Baron¡ªstick together.¡¯ Christoph dutifully followed the Durnish warrior to the opening at the other end of the chamber. On the way, he caught a glimpse of the figure whose tomb this was. He was encased in steel and chain armour, like a great king of old from the stories. Manslayer turned to look at him sharply, probably fearing he would do something stupid and bring more undead down on them. It wasn¡¯t deliberate on Edmund¡¯s part, but he made Christoph feel useless. He¡¯d single handedly taken down four skeletons; while Christoph hadn¡¯t inflicted a single point of damage. Why am I even here? Why is Stiff paying me money? Manslayer seemed to sense his mood. ¡®Don¡¯t beat yourself up over things, Christoph. It takes time to build up the experience I¡¯ve got. But there¡¯s no reason you can¡¯t get there.¡¯ ¡®Really? You started off as bad as me?¡¯ ¡®Of course I did. You¡¯re a quick learner. You¡¯ve every chance.¡¯ ¡®Chance?¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ve a chance. Look at young Jaelin. On any mission, that could happen. If you¡¯re lucky, and you survive, you get better. Harder to kill. In my experience, it¡¯s a game of luck, more than skill.¡¯ That was a sobering thought. The opening was short, leading them into a subchamber. It stretched away left and right, but it was narrow, the far wall only a few feet away. The only objects were two stone plinths, located at each end. They were like the one in the main chamber, but much lower, making them look more like beds, and presumably were where the two skeletons had been lying in wait. Manslayer and Christoph examined one each, but there was nothing of interest. They left for the opening from which the four skeletons had emerged. This led to a very similar shaped room, but slightly longer. On one side were three more stone beds. On the other, behind a fourth bed, was a wooden chest. ¡®Could be a reason for revelry,¡¯ Manslayer said, as they approached the chest. The warrior took a while to study the lid, then the sides of the chest. He examined the walls around it. Christoph realised he was checking for traps. ¡®Let¡¯s do it,¡¯ Manslayer muttered, stretching out the fingers of one hand. He opened the chest. Nothing terrible happened. Inside, they found gold and other precious metal, in bars, coins, and finely worked jewellery. There were gemstones, and other items. Christoph¡¯s eyes widened. He¡¯d never seen so much in one place. ¡®How much do you think it is worth?¡¯ ¡®Quite a bit, no doubt,¡¯ Edmund answered, almost dismissively. He was uninterested in the treasure. Instead, he pulled out a rod, about three feet long. The shaft appeared to be made from a long, single bone. At one end it had been carved and worked, and a large transparent diamond set on top. Manslayer frowned, as if concentrating. A clear light appeared in the centre of the jewel. It grew, until the entire stone was filled. It didn¡¯t stop, expanding outward, the light stronger and more intense. Christoph had to close his eyes and look away. ¡®Sorry,¡¯ Manslayer muttered. When Christoph looked again, he had somehow muted the light back to a reasonable power. ¡®How did you do that?¡¯ Christoph asked. ¡®It can understand what you want. Here, try it.¡¯ Christoph soon mastered the rod, picking the exact amount of luminescence he wanted. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡®Shine it here.¡¯ Christoph held the rod over the treasure chest. The gems inside sparkled, revealing their beautiful reds, blues, and greens. It also revealed something pinned to the inside of the chest¡¯s lid. Manslayer took care when detaching it. Just as well. It was parchment, probably made from animal skin. It crackled when he opened it up. It seemed to be a map, representing four locations. ¡®I think this one,¡¯ Christoph said, pointing to the diagram at the bottom, ¡®is supposed to be this barrow. See? That¡¯s the mound with trees on top. And the stone wall.¡¯ ¡®I see. You¡¯re right. In which case, it can be studied later. It¡¯s of no immediate help.¡¯ Manslayer returned the parchment to the chest and they carried it out into the main chamber. Twerk and The Baron had already deposited a similar looking chest by the central plinth. ¡®Well?¡¯ Manslayer asked them. ¡®Treasure,¡¯ The Baron said. He flipped a coin across his knuckles. ¡®Quite a lot actually. But nothing to help our friend here.¡¯ ¡®And that coin, which he refuses to return to the chest,¡¯ Twerk said with a scowl. ¡®I did not refuse at all. I just don¡¯t see why¡ª¡¯ ¡®¡ªThen put it back,¡¯ Manslayer said. ¡®Stiff will adjudicate who gets what. We don¡¯t get to decide we deserve this or that.¡¯ ¡®Alright, old chap,¡¯ the thief said. ¡®Keep your hair on.¡¯ They carefully studied The Baron as he returned the coin, watching out for tricks. ¡®There. Now, one last place to search,¡¯ he said, indicating the opening by Jaelin. The Explorer lay stretched out; the rod Christoph carried revealed grey skin, as if he were already dead. Auntie Fem could help him no further, and was now seeing to Ashlyn¡¯s wounds. Christoph dearly hoped they might find something to save him. He led them into the last subchamber, which had the same shape as the other two he and Manslayer had visited. His heart sank. Two stone beds, and nothing else. ¡®Only one skeleton emerged from this room,¡¯ The Baron reminded them. ¡®Let¡¯s have a proper look.¡¯ But there was nothing out of the ordinary about either stone. ¡®Pull them aside,¡¯ the thief persisted. It was desperate stuff, but they did as he instructed. Moving the stones revealed nothing, except dust. The Baron got down on his knees. ¡®Bring that light here, will you, Christoph?¡¯ The thief scrabbled in the dust with his fingers. Christoph thought the man had gone mad, but then he saw it. When The Baron brushed the dust away, he revealed a thin, straight depression in the floor. Manslayer and Twerk got on their knees to join him. They found two corners, the lines continuing at a right angle, until they had traced the outline of a rectangle on the floor. Manslayer brushed aside the dust in the centre of the rectangle. ¡®Nothing.¡¯ The Baron dropped his bag to the floor and retrieved a crowbar. ¡®This might work.¡¯ He jammed the sharp end under the rectangle and heaved. ¡®Give me a hand, will you, Edmund?¡¯ Muscles bulging, they heaved, and the stone rectangle lifted. Christoph bent down to grab it. ¡®Mind your fingers,¡¯ The Baron warned him. He and Manslayer used the crowbar to manoeuvre the heavy stone a few inches aside. This then allowed them to shift it away safely. A dank smell emerged from below. When Christoph reached over with the rod, the light revealed stone steps going down. ¡®Well done, Baron,¡¯ he said. The thief shrugged. ¡®It¡¯s my job. Now, we must be careful not to go charging down there. Would you trust me with that rod, so I can get a good look?¡¯ Christoph handed it over, and The Baron shone the light down into the depths. ¡®No more risen, at least,¡¯ he said cheerfully. When Christoph looked down, he found there wasn¡¯t much to see. After the stone steps ended, there was only a few feet of space dug out, lined with stone slabs. The floor was a muddy puddle. ¡®There¡¯s another chest, at the far end,¡¯ he said, upon seeing the only piece of furniture. It sat on a stone plinth, keeping it out of the water. ¡®There must be something valuable down there, since they went to so much trouble to dig out this level.¡¯ ¡®Perhaps,¡¯ said The Baron. ¡®But we must take care. Look at the stone walls. Do you see?¡¯ ¡®I do,¡¯ said Christoph, surprised he hadn¡¯t noticed at first. There were drilled holes at various locations, of differing heights, in both side walls and the far wall. ¡®You think they are some kind of trap?¡¯ ¡®They could be a way of draining away water. But I rather think they are there to kill the uninvited, or unwary.¡¯ ¡®What do you think might issue from those holes?¡¯ Manslayer asked. ¡®I really don¡¯t know. I propose we poke something down there, until it passes near one of those holes, and see what happens. Ideally, something long enough to keep us safe.¡¯ ¡®Well,¡¯ Manslayer said. ¡®We have plenty of bones.¡¯ Chapter 30 Mission #8 Explore Barrow Part Four They gathered up the largest bones and tied them together, to form a long device stable enough to direct down into the underground space. Manslayer and The Baron took charge of the bone prodder; Christoph shone the light rod; and Twerk issued them all instructions. They fed the prodder down the stone steps, into the murky water, which only turned out to be a few inches deep. When they lifted it up, the ropes tied around it held the contraption together. They pushed it out a bit farther, before a metal bolt shot forth from one of the holes, so fast they had no time to avoid it. The sharpened end of the bolt struck a femur, before returning to position. The light from the rod was strong enough to show a long crack in the bone where it had been hit. With their prodder knocked aside, Manslayer and The Baron lifted it to get the thing back under control. As they did, they triggered the same bolt. This time, the bone was fractured, and part of it fell to the ground. ¡®Well, that¡¯s that,¡¯ The Baron said. ¡®Each bolt is deadly, lightning fast, and is fired every time it detects movement. I had hoped they might be single shots, and that we could trigger each and thereby disarm them. But there is no way to get to that chest.¡¯ ¡®Is there some kind of mechanical structure behind the walls?¡¯ Christoph asked. ¡®No. This is a spell. Only a sorcerer can undo this trap, and we don¡¯t have one.¡¯ ¡®But Jaelin?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sorry, Christoph. I just don¡¯t see a way. And we¡¯re hoping there is a healing potion inside that chest. The odds are too high. It¡¯s not worth it.¡¯ ¡®Maybe there¡¯s some kind of solution we¡¯re not seeing? What if I crawled under the holes?¡¯ ¡®Some of those holes are very low. And what if there are others beneath the water level that we can¡¯t see? No. Not an option.¡¯ Christoph racked his brain. They couldn¡¯t just give up on Jaelin. Maybe there was nothing in that chest that could save him. But maybe there was. He was holding a rod of light. Surely, there was something of at least equal value or power in the chest these people went to the trouble of hiding. If the figure in the main chamber was an ancient king of some kind, who had a sorcerer cast spells on his tomb; he would surely want his most treasured possessions buried in his barrow with him. ¡®That¡¯s it!¡¯ he said. ¡®The king in the main chamber. His armour looks special. I bet it¡¯s magic. I could put that on, and go and grab the chest.¡¯ Twerk shook his head. ¡®Even if it is, magic armour doesn¡¯t make you invincible. It just protects you a little more. You¡¯d die in the armour, and then we¡¯d struggle to get you and the armour back.¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s the alternative?¡¯ Christoph asked. ¡®Just leave him to die? How can we do that?¡¯ Manslayer shared a look with the other two and sighed. ¡®He¡¯s not family, is he Christoph? Maybe if it was your aunt¡¯s life at stake, it would make some kind of sense. But you only met him a few days ago. In this game, people die. All the time. You have to get used to it. Getting yourself killed on top of it doesn¡¯t help anyone.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s my decision, though, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ ¡®I suppose so. But he wouldn¡¯t have done the same for you. He didn¡¯t even like fighting.¡¯ That was unfair. The Explorer didn¡¯t like killing. But he had fought the skeleton today; and the brigands before. ¡®I¡¯m doing it. Help me put the armour on. And please don¡¯t tell my aunt.¡¯ ¡®You are kidding,¡¯ Manslayer said. ¡®There¡¯s no way in Gehenna I¡¯d keep that from your auntie. She would have my nuts if I let you kill yourself without warning her.¡¯ ¡®Fine. I¡¯ll tell her myself.¡¯ Christoph stomped back into the central chamber, angry at the attitude of the others. ¡®Did you find anything?¡¯ Ashlyn asked, hopeful. She had been badly hurt too, but all she cared about was The Explorer. He knew she blamed herself. ¡®There is a chest. Not easy to get to. How is he?¡¯ ¡®No better,¡¯ Aunt Fem said. ¡®I think if we try to move him, he¡¯ll die. I will stay with him, if everyone else needs to leave.¡¯ This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡®I think I can get to the chest, Auntie. But I¡¯ll need to put on that armour.¡¯ ¡®Why you?¡¯ ¡®I need to do this.¡¯ She searched his eyes and saw his determination. ¡®Alright.¡¯ Christoph¡¯s palms were sweaty. Manslayer, Twerk, and The Baron stood around the plinth with their weapons drawn. Tentatively, he reached out and placed a hand on the armour of the old king. He held his breath, waiting for him to wake, or for more of his minions to appear. But nothing happened. Manslayer sheathed his sword. ¡®Fine. Strip him.¡¯ They took the pieces of armour and began to dress Christoph. Some parts were plates of pure steel, while others were made of chain¡ªlighter, and therefore making the ensemble easier to move in. They had been made for a smaller man than Christoph¡ªperhaps a woman¡ªbut they got them to fit alright. Twerk carried the helm, which would go on at the last moment. ¡®I was looking at this shield, belonging to the skeleton that fought Jaelin,¡¯ Ashlyn said when they were done. ¡®It has markings on it, and I wondered if it was special.¡¯ Manslayer studied it. ¡®I believe you¡¯re right, Ashlyn. Well done. Let¡¯s check the others.¡¯ It was the only shield with the markings. ¡®Hold it in front of you,¡¯ Manslayer told Christoph. ¡®You need to protect your head, even with that helmet on.¡¯ ¡®What about these other shields,¡¯ Twerk said. ¡®What if we somehow attach them to him?¡¯ Back in the subchamber, Christoph stared down the stone steps at the chest. He had a shield attached to each limb. In one hand he held the shield that might, or might not, be magic. His other hand was free, ready to grab the chest. Manslayer held the rod as close as was safe, at maximum light intensity. ¡®Go on your hands and knees. I don¡¯t see any low holes in the opposite wall. Go fast, and don¡¯t stop for anything.¡¯ Twerk and The Baron shoved the iron helm onto his head, tucking the coif into his vest. It was several sizes too small, and he could barely see out of it. He held the shield in front of him and crawled down the steps. Of course, the temptation was to go slowly, inching his way to the chest. But Manslayer was right, that wouldn¡¯t work. So he went at the fastest pace possible when using only one arm to crawl. He got off the stone steps, into the water of the tunnel. The first bolt buffeted him, slamming into the shield on his shoulder. He nearly lost his balance, but the shield saved him from harm. The second took him in the arm that held the shield. It pierced his armour, dropping his hit points to eleven. He managed to keep his grip on the shield. Just as well, because the third bolt struck there, and the shield probably saved his life. A fourth took him on the top of his neck, crunching into the coif of the helm. A loss of four hit points dropped him to seven, and he began to panic. When he reached the chest, a bolt came out from the facing wall, clattering into his shield once more. He swung around on his knees, grabbed the handle of the chest with his free hand, and began to crawl back to safety. A bolt¡ªprobably the same as the last¡ªtook him in the right buttock, and he lost one more hit point. Should have put a shield there, he found the time to think. He could make out the stone steps ahead of him. Another bolt slammed into his arm. He lost balance, collapsing to the tunnel floor. His energy was gone now, and dark spots swam before his eyes. Damn. So close. Then Twerk was there, grabbing him with one hand and the chest with another. A bolt slammed into the gnome¡¯s leg. Christoph saw it come through the other side. ¡®Shit on it!¡¯ Wilson roared. And that was when Christoph passed out. *** ¡®He¡¯s awake!¡¯ Ashlyn¡¯s voice. Jaelin forced his eyes open. He was still in the cursed barrow with the skeletons. His heart pounded, and he sat up. ¡®It¡¯s alright,¡¯ Ashlyn said, grabbing him with strong hands. ¡®You¡¯re safe.¡¯ ¡®What happened?¡¯ ¡®We killed them all. But not before the one you fought with took you to death¡¯s door.¡¯ Auntie sat down next to him. She peered into his eyes first, then checked his wounds. ¡®You were in trouble,¡¯ the healer said. ¡®I couldn¡¯t save you. But my Christoph grabbed a chest. Three potions of healing inside. I had to use a full one on you, then a second on Christoph and Wilson.¡¯ ¡®And for some reason I don¡¯t get the third,¡¯ Ashlyn complained. ¡®You¡¯ll live,¡¯ Auntie said roughly. ¡®I¡¯m keeping the third for an emergency. Something tells me I¡¯m gonna need it.¡¯ ¡®Sorry,¡¯ Jaelin said. ¡®Thank you.¡¯ He looked up as the other members of the party gathered around, pleased to see him up. ¡®All of you.¡¯ MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: The barrow was fully explored Some of your mercs improved their stats: The Baron: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 Skill with knives: proficient Twerk: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 Action Points +1 The Bowman: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 The Explorer: Might + 1 Hit Points + 1 No mercs levelled up Chapter 31 Sal Blair Lothar sat in his office in The Rose. He had a headache. The money side of things was getting complicated. The loot from the barrow had to be converted into coins and shared out. It came to ¡ê20, give or take. ¡ê1 to each merc who went to the barrow left ¡ê13 for his own funds. When his squad arrived back in Avolo, he would have to examine the items they¡¯d found and do the same. Still, ¡ê13 income was transformational:
Finances
Income
Mission #8 ¡ê13
Wade enterprises 1s 1p
Profits from The Rose 3s
Expenses
Wages 10s 6p
Repay loans ¡ê1
Profit ¡ê11 13s 7p
Total ¡ê12 10s 10p
¡®Mister Stiff! Mister Stiff!¡¯ Eden, Wade¡¯s boy, burst into the room. ¡®What are you thinking, boy? You knock before you enter.¡¯ ¡®Me Dad sent me. Said I should get you immediately. There¡¯s trouble downstairs.¡¯ Trouble that Wade couldn¡¯t handle? Lothar buckled his sword to his belt, and followed the boy to the lounge. It seemed everyone was waiting for him. Mila and Suzie stood near the bar looking nervous. Wade put a hand on his son¡¯s head when Eden rejoined him. Mags looked anxiously over at Murder, who was sprawled on the floor of the lounge. He was unconscious, his face beaten to a pulp. Ten individuals had entered Lothar¡¯s inn. He recognised two of them. Usa and Izil, the two mercs who he¡¯d tried to recruit in The Anchor when he¡¯d first arrived in Avolo. Their presence told him The Golden Blades had come to The Rose, and he had better be careful if he didn¡¯t want anyone else to come to harm. ¡®How can I help?¡¯ One of their number looked him in the eye, a smile appearing on his face. There was nothing that made him immediately stand out. He was medium build, with straight brown hair. His clothes, weapons, and accessories were no more extravagant than the other mercenaries. But he had a confidence, and an intelligence, that made him stand out. ¡®You must be Lothar. Known as Stiff. I¡¯d heard the news that The Rose had a new owner. You¡¯ve done the place up nice.¡¯ ¡®Thank you. I¡¯m keen to keep it that way,¡¯ Lothar said, eyeing Murder laid out on the floor. He returned his gaze to the speaker, trying to work him out. ¡®Am I speaking with Sal, leader of The Blades?¡¯ ¡®You are. The reasonable brother, which is good news for you. I didn¡¯t come here to undo your hard work, or rough up your employees. But your doorman didn¡¯t want to let us in.¡¯ The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡®We have a no weapons policy,¡¯ Lothar said, taking in the many weapons that had been carried inside The Rose. ¡®He¡¯s simple. Wouldn¡¯t have understood who you were. Just doing what I asked him.¡¯ ¡®Then it¡¯s your fault, either for employing him, or not training him properly.¡¯ ¡®Aye. It¡¯s my fault.¡¯ ¡®I appreciate a man who can admit when he¡¯s wrong. That¡¯s the kind of man I can do business with. I¡¯ve been very busy in recent months, founding a city of my own. Upriver.¡¯ ¡®Is that right?¡¯ ¡®Yes. But I don¡¯t want people here in Avolo to think The Golden Blades have disappeared. That they can be replaced.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sure no one thinks that.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve heard tell that you¡¯ve got your own little crew going.¡¯ ¡®Yes.¡¯ ¡®Where are they? Surely this isn¡¯t it?¡¯ ¡®No. They¡¯re out on a job.¡¯ ¡®A job, eh? What kind of a job?¡¯ ¡®Destroy Warg Den,¡¯ Lothar answered quickly. He didn¡¯t want Sal and The Blades knowing about the barrow. ¡®Sounds dangerous. How much are you getting for that?¡¯ ¡®We¡¯re getting two pounds.¡¯ ¡®Two pounds for risking the lives of your crew?¡¯ Sal looked about his mercs with astonishment, and they grinned at him. ¡®And you can still turn a profit? Well. I was told not to worry about The Rotten Apples. That they were in a different league to us. Seems it was good advice.¡¯ ¡®Absolutely,¡¯ Lothar said. ¡®We just do the smaller, trickier jobs.¡¯ ¡®The Rose, though. Seems to me like this place could do with the protection of The Golden Blades. Imagine if, after all your work, some hoodlums burned it to the ground.¡¯ ¡®I see,¡¯ Lothar said. ¡®Very kind of you. How much does that service cost?¡¯ ¡®Only four shillings a week.¡¯ ¡®Ah.¡¯ ¡®A problem?¡¯ ¡®The Rose only makes me three shillings a week.¡¯ ¡®Three shillings? That¡¯s all? Thing is, Lothar, known as Stiff. The Golden Blades don¡¯t come cheap, like your lot. Here¡¯s what you should do. Find a way to increase your profits. Because that four shillings a week price is the best we can do. Have I made myself clear?¡¯ Sal¡¯s eyes drifted over Lothar¡¯s people. ¡®I could always have my boys take your waitresses outside and explain everything to them.¡¯ ¡®No, that won¡¯t be necessary. I get it.¡¯ ¡®Good. Because I¡¯m a busy man, Lothar. This is a one off visit for me. If there are any problems with our arrangement, I will delegate the matter to my brother, Rylan. He¡¯s not as understanding as me, is he boys?¡¯ ¡®Rylan¡¯s a stone cold killer,¡¯ said one of Sal¡¯s mercs. ¡®I don¡¯t foresee any problems,¡¯ Lothar said. Lothar¡¯s crew returned to The Rose in good spirits. He handed out their rewards, and took in the items they had found. They were his to inspect and distribute. His mercenary contracts stipulated that any object of value recovered on a mission was his, to be kept or handed out as he saw fit. He¡¯d learned the hard way that allowing mercs to fight over such spoils ended in broken relationships and feuds. He decided to keep the armour. The map, also. It showed four locations, each with a different coloured sword depicted. They had discovered the green barrow. The next location along the line which stretched northwest was a hill fort, with a red sword. It seemed obvious to Lothar that this was Redblade¡¯s camp. The brigand had named himself after the sword he had discovered, and the weapon and treasure had allowed him to recruit his thugs and set himself up as a warlord, beyond the borders of the settled lands. As distracting as all of this was, he couldn¡¯t help stewing over Sal and The Golden Blades. Just as things had begun to swing in his favour, they had arrived to turn it all to ash. He fantasised about destroying them. But his little crew were no match for their hardened warriors. He¡¯d have to pay The Blades their protection money, which meant The Rose had been turned from a small source of profit to a financial drain. His mind turned to various solutions to his predicament, but any path he envisaged ended in the same place. He¡¯d have to pay Sal the money he wanted, until he came upon some means of escape. There was a knock on his office door. Before he could respond, Mila entered. ¡®I wanted to talk to you, Stiff.¡¯ She took the seat on the other side of his desk. ¡®About the other night.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sorry about what happened. I¡¯ll find a way through it.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sure you will,¡¯ Mila shrugged, more blas¨¦ than he had expected. ¡®I¡¯ve thought of a way to make some money for The Rose. I can take customers to my room. You would get a fair cut of the money.¡¯ This wasn¡¯t the topic Lothar had been expecting. But I shouldn¡¯t be so surprised. It wasn¡¯t the kind of thing Lothar had envisaged for his pet project. Prostitution might put off clientele as much as attract others. There was Wade¡¯s boy to think about, and other considerations. That said, his passion for The Rose had been dulled. And it might make the place more profitable. ¡®I don¡¯t know, Mila,¡¯ he admitted. She stood. ¡®Understandable. Have a think about it and let me know.¡¯ As soon as the door was closed, it was barged open again. ¡®Gods!¡¯ Lothar exclaimed. ¡®Sorry, Stiff,¡¯ said Jaelin, not sounding particularly sorry. ¡®But Steben has travelled here, and it¡¯s urgent.¡¯ A second man entered the office with The Explorer. Lothar racked his brain for a few moments, until the name registered. ¡®Steben, mayor of Eisenberg?¡¯ ¡®Aye, that¡¯s right. Terrible news. Redblade came to Eisenberg with nearly his whole force. No way we could stop him.¡¯ ¡®I told you they needed our help,¡¯ Jaelin added, rather unnecessarily. ¡®Redblade told us the town is now his. Needs our mine, he said, to stave off the goblins. And the townsfolk are to become his workers. Slaves, more like. He¡¯ll have us work night and day to get him the iron for his army. We need your help, Stiff.¡¯ Chapter 32 Choices SELECT MISSION KILL REDBLADE DESTROY WARG DEN, ¡ê2 KILL SAL LIBERATE EISENBERG Lothar¡¯s mission board seemed to stare at him, his fate written in that short list. There had been times, since arriving in Avolo, when he had felt like he had been given choices about what to do, and how to do it. Now those choices seemed like a mirage. He had been pushed in one direction all along. The warg den was an irrelevance: the money offered wouldn¡¯t change his situation. No. Taking on Redblade, either at the brigand¡¯s headquarters, or Eisenberg, was his only option. It had become inevitable. Despite coming to such a conclusion¡ªor maybe because of it¡ªLothar dithered. I don¡¯t like the thought of having no choice. He sought out Femke. ¡®What¡¯s next, Lothar?¡¯ she asked him. ¡®Taking on Redblade comes next.¡¯ ¡®Redblade, not Sal? You saw what his men did to Murder. He¡¯s still not right.¡¯ ¡®Oh, I¡¯d like to deal with Sal and his siblings. I¡¯d like to take on The Golden Blades and win. But right now that would be suicide, and I¡¯m not quite at that point yet.¡¯ ¡®I see. Give it time.¡¯ Her dry humour made him crack a smile, the first time he¡¯d done so since The Blades had barged their way into The Rose. ¡®There¡¯s something else I wanted to get your opinion on. Mila.¡¯ ¡®What about her?¡¯ ¡®She asked me if she could entertain men in her room. I¡¯m in two minds about it all. I wanted a woman¡¯s perspective.¡¯ ¡®And what would a woman such as myself come up with that you can¡¯t work out for yourself?¡¯ Lothar wasn¡¯t sure. He¡¯d already weighed it up from a business perspective. But it seemed there was more to the decision than money. ¡®I dunno. Whether it¡¯s right or wrong, I suppose.¡¯ ¡®And only women know right from wrong?¡¯ Lothar shrugged. Femke sighed. ¡®Alright. I¡¯ll go talk with her.¡¯ ¡®Thanks,¡¯ Lothar said, relieved. ¡®What can you tell me about how Redblade operates?¡¯ Lothar was grilling Steben, the mayor of Eisenberg, before he made the final decision to take back the town. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡®Redblade is cunning, and has complete control over his brigands. But he won¡¯t be in Eisenberg. He¡¯s gone back to his fort. He put the town under his second in command, Brickhouse.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re sure about that?¡¯ ¡®Yes. Redblade rarely leaves the hillfort, and never for long. It¡¯s impregnable and gives him control of the region.¡¯ Impregnable? That didn¡¯t bode well for Lothar¡¯s next mission. But he¡¯d worry about that another day. ¡®Alright. Tell me about Brickhouse then.¡¯ ¡®Not as clever as Redblade. A brute. He¡¯s loyal to his boss, and a bully to everyone else. Once he had Eisenberg, he made sure people understood he was in charge. Nasty. Had our smith whipped, just for being big and strong. Only stopped because they need the man to make their weapons for them. I dread to think what¡¯s going on there as we speak.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s it on Brickhouse? Nothing else? What does he fight with?¡¯ ¡®A big weapon. A pike. He even calls it a name.¡¯ ¡®It has a name?¡¯ ¡®Aye. That matters?¡¯ ¡®Yes, it matters. I suspect this hillfort Redblade took offered up treasure and weapons. Magic weapons.¡¯ ¡®I see. Breaker. Yeah, Breaker, he called it.¡¯ ¡®And how many thugs did Redblade leave with this Brickhouse?¡¯ ¡®No more than twenty.¡¯ ¡®Twenty?¡¯ ¡®Aye. Our mine is very important to Redblade. You can handle twenty?¡¯ Lothar shook his head. ¡®We¡¯ll have to. I suppose some good may come of it. If by some chance we actually succeed, that¡¯s twenty brigands out of the picture. We took out ten the other day. He can¡¯t have many left at his fort. Can he?¡¯ ¡®No one knows for sure. But he brought about forty to Eisenberg. Let¡¯s say he left another twenty to guard the fort. Taking out twenty might cut his force by a third.¡¯ ¡®Alright. There¡¯s one more thing, Steben. I¡¯m not risking the lives of all my mercs out of the goodness of my heart.¡¯ The mayor nodded, a nervous look on his face. ¡®We¡¯ll give you what we have, Stiff. But it¡¯s not much.¡¯ ¡®Let me put it this way,¡¯ Lothar said. ¡®If I take Eisenberg, I get the proceeds of the mine. Your people will get paid and be left in peace to live their lives. But that¡¯s my price. Your alternatives are to stick with Redblade, or go ask The Golden Blades for help.¡¯ ¡®Those aren¡¯t much of an alternative, Stiff.¡¯ ¡®No. They¡¯re not.¡¯ ¡®Alright. I guess I don¡¯t really have a choice but to agree.¡¯ ¡®No. I don¡¯t see that you do.¡¯ ¡®Stiff!¡¯ It was Wade. He didn¡¯t look happy. ¡®I hear you¡¯re taking The Baron to Eisenberg. And Mila as well?¡¯ Femke had spoken with Mila. Somehow, Auntie had persuaded the girl that a career in medicine might be more appropriate than the profession Mila was interested in. As well as taking lessons from her, Femke wanted her to get experience in the field. Which was music to Lothar¡¯s ears. He had little doubt he would have need of their skills. ¡®I¡¯ve got a mission to do, Stiff. Murder still isn¡¯t up to work. Not sure he ever will be again. If you take The Baron and Mila, that just leaves me and Mags.¡¯ ¡®I know, Wade, I know. But Eisenberg is going to need everything I¡¯ve got. Can this job not wait?¡¯ ¡®No. It¡¯s time dependent and I¡¯ve shaken on it. You want the details?¡¯ ¡®No. I trust you to deal with that. Look, this is a one off. But maybe we need to separate the teams in future so you¡¯ve always got a reliable crew. For now¡ªwhat about Stricken?¡¯ ¡®That bastard? For real?¡¯ ¡®He¡¯d be a third thief for you. He¡¯s handy with that cleaver. I know I said I¡¯d never use him again, but that was mainly when there were women in the crew. And we don¡¯t have anyone else available.¡¯ Wade was silent. Lothar could tell he was angry. ¡®I guess I don¡¯t have much of a choice,¡¯ he said at last. The thief¡¯s words sounded similar to those of Steben, the mayor, and Lothar didn¡¯t feel good about forcing people into a corner. But I¡¯ve been forced into a corner as well. If I don¡¯t break out of Avolo and defeat Redblade, I¡¯ll be in Sal¡¯s grip forever. The Golden Blades will crush me, sure as eggs are eggs. ¡®None of us have the luxury of choices right now, Wade. We all have to do what needs to be done.¡¯ Chapter 33 Mission #9 Liberate Eisenberg Part One
The Baron
Name Unknown
Nickname The Baron
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 31
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 3
Hit Points 15
Core Stats
Might 6
Agility 12
Grit 6
Intellect 11
Skills Thievery, Disguise, Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour Padded
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Coin of Deception
Twerk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname Twerk
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 50
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 6
Grit 5
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axes (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Hand axe (damage 3-18), Hand axe (damage 3-18)
Armour Breastplate, helmet
Other
The Bowman
Name Christoph Gerd
Nickname The Bowman
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 19
Daily Wage 3 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 15
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 7
Grit 5
Intellect 4
Skills Bows (competent), Knives (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Short bow (damage 2-12), Dagger (1-4)
Armour Padded
Other Arrows of Conflagration
Auntie
Name Femke Gerd
Nickname Auntie
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 48
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 5
Grit 13
Intellect 11
Skills Medic, Staves (novice), Bows (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Cudgel (damage 1-4), short bow (1-6)
Armour Padded
Other Medical kit, Potion of Healing
Mila
Name Liudmila Stradenko
Nickname Mila
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 20
Daily Wage 3 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 13
Core Stats
Might 3
Agility 10
Grit 8
Intellect 5
Skills Thievery, Knives (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 1-4)
Armour Padded
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Medical kit
Manslayer
Name Edmund Rigge
Nickname Manslayer
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 34
Daily Wage 3 shillings
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 6
Hit Points 29
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 9
Grit 11
Intellect 7
Skills Swords (master), Shields (master), Spears (expert), Knives (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Slayer, To Hit +2, Damage +1, damage 6-41), Short Spear (damage 4-24), Knife (damage 4-16), Shield of Resistance (damage 5-15; double shield defence)
Armour Chain mail, (+Shield)
Other
Ashlyn
Name Ashlyn Sawrey
Nickname None
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 21
Daily Wage 9 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 19
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 9
Grit 8
Intellect 9
Skills Swords (proficient), Shields (competent), Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Greenblade, ?, damage 3-24), Knife (damage 2-8), Shield (damage 2-6)
Armour Leather
Other
The Explorer
Name Jaelin Topolski
Nickname The Explorer
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 26
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 20
Core Stats
Might 7
Agility 10
Grit 10
Intellect 8
Skills Scouting, Bows (competent), Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Shortbow (damage 2-12), Knife (damage 2-8)
Armour Padded
Other Rod of Light
¡®It¡¯s dangerous, Betty,¡¯ Edmund said, trying to pacify his wife. ¡®There¡¯s a town full of brigands. And my companions aren¡¯t exactly the professionals we¡¯re used to working with.¡¯ ¡®And I haven¡¯t faced countless dangers in the past?¡¯ ¡®This is different.¡¯ ¡®How? We used to take on our enemies together.¡¯ ¡®Because I can¡¯t afford to lose you again.¡¯ She said nothing to that. Her silences were getting more frequent, and longer. They left Avolo for Eisenberg. There were eight of them, sent to defeat a force of twenty. Edmund was reluctant to take on the role of leader of their group. All the same, he knew they were reliant on him. Ashlyn and Twerk offered solid support. But the three of them were the only fighters in the group, and it was fighters who were needed for this mission. When they stopped for the night, he and Ashlyn went through their sword drills. She was learning to fight with Greenblade. It had a longer reach than her previous sword, which took some getting used to. ¡®It¡¯s no heavier,¡¯ she declared, seemingly pleased with her new weapon. ¡®Try it with your shield,¡¯ Edmund suggested. ¡®That¡¯s where things can get tricky.¡¯ She did as he suggested. He had already noticed that about her¡ªshe accepted tuition well, with none of the defensiveness that was common amongst warriors. He struck out with Slayer, forcing her to defend, then let her move on to the attack. ¡®What?¡¯ she asked. ¡®I can tell by your expression I¡¯m doing something wrong.¡¯ ¡®Not wrong, exactly. But you¡¯re very aggressive with the shield.¡¯ ¡®I was always taught to use the shield as a second weapon.¡¯ ¡®Which is true. But think of it like this. Your sword¡ªeven more so now you have one with magic¡ªwill get you your kills. Use your shield strike in a way that opens up your opponent to your sword strike. And make sure you can bring it in for defence. You¡¯ll do more damage in a battle if you can preserve your hit points.¡¯ ¡®Makes sense,¡¯ Ashlyn conceded. The Bowman had returned from target practice and watched them train. ¡®When will I learn the blade?¡¯ he asked. ¡®When you¡¯ve mastered the bow,¡¯ Edmund suggested. ¡®Huh. What about this sword, then, Ashlyn? Have you worked out what it does yet?¡¯ She frowned. ¡®No.¡¯ The green jewel in the pommel was the only clue they had as to what magic had been imbued into the weapon, and it had revealed nothing so far. ¡®Perhaps you¡¯ll find out when the fighting begins,¡¯ Edmund suggested. ¡®That¡¯s your concern?¡¯ Twerk demanded. Edmund hadn¡¯t noticed the gnome was there. ¡®At least you were given a magic item! I¡¯ve been left empty handed!¡¯ ¡®But none of the weapons were the right size for you,¡¯ Ashlyn said. She held her sword out, as if offering it to Twerk. ¡®Exactly! It¡¯s discrimination.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s discrimination that the barrow had no gnome-sized weapons?¡¯ Edmund asked, genuinely confused. ¡®Of course it is! Humans don¡¯t notice it, because everything in the world is human sized. Makes everything ten times harder for the likes of us.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ Ashlyn said. ¡®Next time, we¡¯ll look out for something for you.¡¯ Twerk couldn¡¯t find anything to object to in that statement, and wandered away, grumbling to himself. Next morning, they took it easy. There was no point in tiring themselves. They would attack at night, when the brigands were in bed. Even if they had a night watch set up, Edmund didn¡¯t expect it to be very serious. The Explorer led the way. Twerk walked with him. Edmund couldn¡¯t tell whether that was because the gnome thought he was in charge, or because he enjoyed Jaelin¡¯s company. He and Ashlyn formed the rearguard, drifting back far enough to allow them to talk in private. ¡®Whoever taught you the sword did a fine job,¡¯ Edmund commented, reminded of his thoughts from yesterday¡¯s practice. ¡®My father.¡¯ They walked on in silence, and Edmund thought that was all she would say. ¡®It was just me and him. When he died, the local sheriff used his friends in the courts to take my family¡¯s lands. They left me with nothing but the clothes on my back, and the weapons in my belt. I¡¯d heard about Gal¡¯azu, and decided I had nothing to lose. I thought it might be a fresh start.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sorry, Ashlyn. I came here for a fresh start, too.¡¯ She was silent again for a while. ¡®Edmund?¡¯ ¡®Yes?¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s the story with your wife?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t help but smile at the way she asked. ¡®Me and Betty were inseparable. We crewed together for years¡ªa perfect team, you might say. She got ill. A horrible disease. I didn¡¯t know what to do with myself after she died. Like you, I ended up on a ship to Gal¡¯azu. But Betty came with me. I still speak to her sometimes. When we¡¯re alone.¡¯ The rest of the crew had stopped, curtailing their conversation. ¡®What is it?¡¯ Edmund asked. ¡®Eisenberg,¡¯ The Bowman said. ¡®In striking distance.¡¯ Chapter 34 Mission #9 Liberate Eisenberg Part Two [Bonus Chapter - 100 followers!] Edmund approached the south of Eisenberg in the company of Ashlyn, The Bowman, and The Baron. It was dark, and bitterly cold. The moonlight afforded him a refresher of the layout of the town. From his direction, the church dominated the town on the left. To the right, half a dozen houses started small, while those on the road were larger. On the opposite side of the road was the inn and the smithy, with more houses behind and to the left. Altogether there were around twenty buildings. The brigands were likely concentrated in the more important ones, but could be anywhere. He rubbed his hands together, then exercised his fingers to stop them going numb. At least the temperature outside meant they were unlikely to encounter any enemies until they entered the buildings. It wasn¡¯t as if Stiff¡¯s crew were expected. There was a small graveyard. Eisenberg hadn¡¯t existed long enough for the dead to take up much space. The church looked dark and empty but that didn¡¯t fool Edmund. The second largest building in the town, it was an obvious place to position some of the warriors who had descended on the place. Taking care not to make a sound, they reached the rear of the church. The Baron¡¯s crowbar made short work of the back door. Edmund hoped it wasn¡¯t as loud as it sounded to his ears. He then gave the thief a leg up, and The Baron began to climb. A small tower with a spire on top was the highest point in town, and therefore a key strategic objective. They waited, watching him slither his way up, until he was out of sight. Christoph put an arrow to his bowstring, while Edmund and Ashlyn had their swords at the ready. He nodded at the girl, and she swung the door open. Edmund entered quickly, but there were no brigands waiting for them. The other two followed as he slowly made his way through the small rooms at the back of the church, then into a corridor. A head poked out from a doorway, the darkness making it hard to identify the individual. Edmund stopped, ready to react. But there was no shouted challenge. Instead, a hand emerged and gestured towards the other end of the corridor with one thumb. A priest, perhaps, or some other church official who had been forced to share their home with Eisenberg¡¯s occupiers. Edmund resumed his careful approach, until he drew level with a lanky man. ¡®How many?¡¯ he whispered. ¡®Four,¡¯ came the reply. ¡®And one upstairs.¡¯ Four was a good number. Edmund carried on into the nave. He stopped once more, letting his eyes adjust. The large open space, and the high windows, allowed more light, and he made out his quarry. Four lumps, all laid out. Two were on the floor, the other two had constructed makeshift beds from the wooden pews. He pointed them out to his two companions and they advanced slowly. Every step closer was a small victory¡ªclosing the distance, giving the four brigands less time to react. One of the forms shuffled, and Edmund decided he¡¯d got close enough. ACTION ROUND
Brigands
Human Brigand
Action Stats
EXP Level 2 Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Edmund launched himself at the closest brigand. Holding Slayer with both hands, he plunged it down, killing him before he knew what was happening. The other three struggled to their feet. Edmund¡¯s surprise was lost, but he still had the initiative. He hurled himself at the next, but his overhead strike was telegraphed, and the brigand leapt out of the way just in time. But death was stalking him, and he couldn¡¯t avoid Edmund¡¯s next strike. The blade went through the padded armour, far enough to kill him. With one action point left, he didn¡¯t have enough time to move and strike, and had to settle with two kills. Ashlyn attacked the third brigand. He parried her first strike with his short sword, but her second went under his block and Greenblade sank into his guts. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor of the church. Ashlyn was able to finish him with her final action. The Bowman aimed for the last brigand from where he stood. The first arrow was a clean strike in the centre of his chest, halving his hit points. The second skittered to the floor, but the third struck the brigand in the neck, killing him instantly. The Bowman punched the air in celebration, but remembered not to make a sound. They had cleaned out the nave quickly, with very little noise. Edmund was confident they had not been heard, but nonetheless eyed the entrance to the church warily. ¡®Keep that bow trained there,¡¯ he whispered to Christoph, then gestured for Ashlyn to follow him. They located the tower, and began to creep up the winding stone steps. Edmund heard footsteps coming down, and readied Slayer. ¡®I hope that¡¯s you,¡¯ came a small voice. ¡®Baron?¡¯ The Baron appeared. Edmund noticed a bloody dagger in one hand. ¡®I was told there was one of them upstairs.¡¯ ¡®Not anymore,¡¯ The Baron grinned. Edmund allowed himself a smile in return. Five down with no injuries to any of their own crew. Fifteen left. ¡®We might just do this.¡¯ ¡®Indeed. Our odds have improved markedly. Send The Bowman up and we¡¯ll progress to stage two.¡¯ *** Mila approached Eisenberg from the north in the company of Twerk, The Explorer, and Auntie. They were a sort of a backup to the other half of the crew, who had entered from the south. When asked, Mila had said she understood the tactics. She didn¡¯t completely, but she knew they were supposed to join in the attack, not start it. Oh, and they had to be quiet. The gnome led them towards the first houses, set farthest from the road. They were simple wooden huts. Inside were the families who had made their homes in this remote part of Gal¡¯azu. But there could also be brigands, and so they had to be quiet, and crawl beneath the level of the windows. Twerk didn¡¯t need to crawl, and instead put his hands to his hips as he waited for the others to catch up to him. They stopped between two houses, facing the road. Opposite them was the church. They all looked at the building. ¡®What now?¡¯ she whispered. Wilson and Jaelin frowned at her for speaking. ¡®We just wait,¡¯ Femke whispered back. Mila liked Auntie. She could be strict, but she could also be kind. For her, she tried to be patient. At last, Twerk pointed out movement from the church. The door opened. Manslayer and Ashlyn exited, crossed the road, and made for the inn. Meanwhile, from the roof of the church, a beam of light shone towards the roof of the Pig and Iron. The Baron had been given Jaelin¡¯s Rod of Light. It allowed Mila to spot an arrow soar into the sky, then fall, until the neighbouring house blocked its descent from her view. Smoke coming from the direction of the inn indicated it had set fire to the thatch, even if Mila couldn¡¯t see the flames from her position. Tense moments of silence followed, before they could hear shouts of alarm. Nervous energy ran up and down her body. She took the dagger from her belt, gripping the hilt until her knuckles turned white, as the anticipation of violence grew. The shouts grew louder¡ªthe sound when fear meets anger. Then, the first clash of weapons. Mila, Auntie, and Twerk were fixed on the events at the inn, waiting to play their part. They were lucky that Jaelin was checking behind them. ¡®Turn!¡¯ he gasped, his voice strangled, so she could barely decipher the word. She did as The Explorer bid her. The door to a house behind them had been barged open. The three figures who exited looked as surprised to find them crouching in the shadows as Mila felt at seeing them. The one in the centre was a giant of a man, wielding a large pike. Oh shit. It¡¯s Brickhouse. Chapter 35 Mission #9 Liberate Eisenberg Part Three They slew the first two who exited The Pig and Iron. It was tempting to stay and do more damage, but that wasn¡¯t the plan. If they got overwhelmed here, it could all go wrong. Edmund pulled Ashlyn away, and they retreated back towards the church. Outside the church entrance, they turned to face their enemies. A mass of people escaped the burning inn, six of whom were brigands. Three more of them exited the smithy, no doubt after hearing the commotion. Another came from the direction of a house on the same side of the road as the church. That made ten in all. The Baron highlighted the nearest with the Rod of Light. The Bowman¡¯s arrow flew down from the church roof and slammed into him, doing six points of damage. ¡®Is it me,¡¯ Ashlyn commented, ¡®or is he getting better?¡¯ The brigands kept coming, but something was wrong. No missiles came from the opposite side of the road. That was the whole point of the plan, catching the enemy between the archers. Edmund peered into the shadows of the houses where he expected The Explorer and the others to be, but couldn¡¯t see anything. The brigands were getting closer now, threatening to rush them. There was no time for prevarication. ¡®Come on,¡¯ he said to Ashlyn, silently cursing. ¡®We need to get inside.¡¯ They retreated into the church. ***
Brickhouse
Human Brigand
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Weapons Pike (Breaker, To Hit +2, Damage +2, damage 3-12)
Armour Ring mail
The Explorer shot at the big target of Brickhouse. His arrow pierced the man¡¯s ring mail. Jaelin nocked another arrow and released it. The second struck home as well. In total, he took ten hit points from the brigands¡¯ leader. Mila was the next to react. The intimidating figure of Brickhouse persuaded her to select one of the other brigands. She got in close and surprised herself when her dagger pierced the tough hide of his armour and took two points of damage. Her final stab was a miss, much more in keeping with her expectations. Brickhouse charged at The Explorer, intent on taking out an archer. Jaelin was fortunate that he had reduced the big man¡¯s action points to three. Nevertheless, he reached him with one action, and slammed Breaker down with horrendous force. Jaelin fell to nine hit points, and his bow stave lay broken on the ground. Brickhouse¡¯s final strike was a poor miss, betraying a lack of skill with the weapon, which probably saved The Explorer¡¯s life. Twerk ran for the third brigand. His twin axes swung¡ªa hit and a miss, dealing nine damage. His next action was the same again, but it was enough to kill the brigand outright. The gnome still had enough points to reach Mila¡¯s opponent and launch a final attack, for which she was grateful. Neither strike penetrated. But it meant that now it was the brigand¡¯s turn, he decided to target the gnome instead of Mila. He only caught Twerk with his third and final hit, causing three damage. Auntie¡¯s turn. She took up position by Jaelin¡¯s side and swung her cudgel. Her first two strikes connected, but took a paltry three hit points from Brickhouse. With his bow stave broken, The Explorer drew his dagger. His first cut took four hit points from Brickhouse, taking him down to five. But Jaelin¡¯s next strike was weak, and failed to get through his opponent¡¯s armour. Uninjured, Mila had three chances to wound the brigand she and Twerk faced. Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t make a single one count. Brickhouse flailed with Breaker, but again failed to strike Jaelin. His one action point used, it looked to Mila like her crew now had the upper hand. Both of Twerk¡¯s axe strikes sunk home, killing the brigand he faced. He moved behind Brickhouse, and despite the height disparity, landed a blow. Brickhouse slumped to the ground, unconscious. The gnome raised his axe to deliver the coup de grace. ¡®No!¡¯ Auntie shouted at him. ¡®Remember, Stiff said to take him alive.¡¯ With some reluctance, Twerk dropped his arm. Auntie knelt by the side of Brickhouse. ¡®Come on, Mila! Help me with him.¡¯ ¡®With him?¡¯ Jaelin asked, slumping to the ground. ¡®You¡¯ll live,¡¯ Auntie said. ¡®He might not.¡¯ Mila caught movement on the other side of the road. An arrow flew down from the church roof and struck one of the brigands. One of ten. As she watched, they barged open the door of the church and swarmed in. ¡®They¡¯re in trouble over there,¡¯ she warned. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡®I see them,¡¯ said Twerk. ¡®You help Auntie. I¡¯ll go help the others.¡¯ *** ¡®We¡¯ll need our shields for this,¡¯ Edmund said. They wasted no time in securing their shields to their left arms, then he led Ashlyn to the winding stone steps that led to the tower. ¡®This is the best place for a stand,¡¯ he told her. ¡®They can¡¯t surround us and make their superior numbers count.¡¯ Ashlyn nodded. She looked uncertain, rather than afraid. ¡®Do you think we can beat them?¡¯ ¡®Christoph has softened them up for us. And the others should arrive at any moment.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t an answer, but the girl accepted it. The door burst open. They retreated a few steps, so they were out of sight of the brigands. Edmund heard them searching the ground floor rooms. But it was no surprise when a group approached the stairs. After all, they knew Stiff¡¯s crew had an archer on the roof. The first brigand wasn¡¯t stupid. Unfortunately. He led with a short spear, which made it hard to take him by surprise. Edmund pushed it aside with his shield, then came with his sword. But the steps were steep, the angle of descent tight, and the brigand easily escaped him before he had a chance to thrust with Slayer. The brigands called their comrades, and Edmund retreated to his original position on the outside wall of the steps. The brigands gathered at the bottom of the steps, calling out challenges. But Edmund had no intention of going down to meet them, and it seemed they weren¡¯t in any rush either. He wondered what that meant in regard to the fates of Auntie, Twerk, and the others. But whatever had happened to them, there was no point in getting him and Ashlyn killed, and so he waited. Sound from the steps above made him turn. It was only The Bowman, no doubt drawn by the noise. ¡®They¡¯re all down there?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Yes. Unless you¡¯ve seen anything outside?¡¯ ¡®Nothing.¡¯ He wafted his bow stave. ¡®Should I shoot them?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s not safe,¡¯ Edmund answered. ¡®The angle is so tight you¡¯d have to be on them before you could shoot, and at least one has a spear. Better if you position yourself at the top of the stairs. Should we need to retreat up there, you can be ready to catch them.¡¯ ¡®Alright.¡¯ With a brief nod at Ashlyn, the lad returned upstairs. ¡®You can see he cares about you,¡¯ Edmund commented. Ashlyn said nothing, staring ahead. Meanwhile, the brigands had evidently decided to break the deadlock. The spearman was back, and this time he wasn¡¯t stopping. The angle of the steps meant Edmund was his natural target. He tried to move out of the way, but the space was too tight. To his frustration, it was a clean strike to his midriff. He lost six hit points, and his action points dropped to five as a result. At least when the second strike came, he had the strength to block it with the Shield of Resistance. Now it was his turn. He still had five action points. Enough to do some damage before they took him down. He led with the shield, and followed with Slayer. The spearman fended him off at first, the weapon working well in the close quarters of the stairwell. Edmund connected with his shield¡ªa blow on the head that stunned his opponent, but he still struggled to get his sword going. He was frustrated now, his chances at making an impression on the enemy evaporating. His second shield strike finally felled his opponent. The next brigand was so close, he was able to slam Slayer in his direction on the same action round, but the thug somehow blocked it with his short sword. Finally, on his fourth action, he got in a sword stroke that left a corpse. Blood pumped down the steps. Keen to make amends for his lack of progress, he rushed and slipped on the spattered stone, barely keeping his feet¡ªhis turn done. Eight brigands still left. Sorry, Ashlyn, he had time to think. The girl appeared on his right, shield held up, Greenblade at the ready. He was proud to see her draw her opponent¡¯s club to her shield, then strike with her sword in the space she¡¯d created. The strike was true, and she slaughtered the brigand with one stroke. She didn¡¯t hesitate to continue, this time landing a blow with her shield rather than her sword. Two fails on her third action and she had one chance left. This time, both shield and sword struck and Ashlyn slew a fourth brigand. But that still left six. They had to climb up the gore covered steps, over bodies. Perhaps, Manslayer dared hope, that would be enough to slow them. The first came for Edmund. Another damned spear. Two chances. The first strike missed. The second clashed against Slayer, then somehow slid on into his shield arm. Three damage. He could live with that. The next reached Ashlyn and thrust forward with a short sword. She stopped it with her shield, then leaned flat against the wall and avoided the follow up. A third squeezed his way between the others, his club aimed at Edmund¡¯s knees. He dropped his shield to take the blow, then failed to stop the brigand giving him a sharp crack on the head for one more point of damage. There were three more of the bastards, but they couldn¡¯t get past their comrades. Edmund grinned. His turn. Shield and sword dispatched the spearman. With his second action he crunched his shield against the clubman¡¯s wrist, making him drop his weapon. With his third, Slayer severed his head from his shoulders. With his fourth, the sword penetrated the swordsman¡¯s hide armour, through his chest and out the other side. Ashlyn didn¡¯t hesitate to continue the attack. Making her way around the steps, she found the three remaining brigands. All looked hesitant. All had an arrow wound, courtesy of The Bowman. A shield blow reduced the first from ten to seven. On her final two turns, she only managed one hit. It was more than enough to finish the injured brigand. The remaining two brigands took a moment to look at one another. Then turned and ran. *** Wilson tore across the road towards the church, knowing every moment counted. He barged open the door. Two wild-eyed brigands were coming straight for him. He let his axes fly. A miss. A miss. A miss. A miss. Crap on it. A hit and a miss. His hit saw his axehead sink into the forehead of a brigand, killing him instantly. But the other one smashed a gauntleted fist into the side of the gnome¡¯s head as he ran past and burst out of the church. *** The door of the church was flung open once more. It took Mila a few moments to identify who it was. One of the brigands. Then she realised he was sprinting in her direction. So intent was the man on escaping that he didn¡¯t notice Mila, Auntie, and Jaelin before he was on them. Two stabs with her dagger and both struck home, reducing his hit points from thirteen to nine. I¡¯m getting good at this! Auntie joined her, swinging her cudgel with venom, and not getting close even once. The Explorer, badly wounded and keen to avoid another blow, threw his dagger. It struck Mila between the shoulder blades, doing four points of damage. She then received a gauntleted fist in the face, before the brigand broke off and ran past them, heading for the north of town. He stumbled, and Mila realised he had taken an arrow in the back. As he regained his feet and pressed on, she saw The Bowman putting another arrow to his string. The second took the brigand in the buttocks. He fell to the ground, and didn¡¯t get up. MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: Eisenberg was liberated Some of your mercs improved their stats: Twerk: Skill with axes: expert The Bowman: Agility +1 Might +1 Hit Points +1 Auntie: Agility +1 Mila: Might +1 Hit Points +1 Skill with knives: competent Manslayer: Intellect +1 Ashlyn: Might +1 Hit Points +1 Skill with shields: proficient The Explorer: Skill with bows: proficient No mercs levelled up Chapter 36 Brickhouse
Finances
Income
Mission #9 -
Wade enterprises 1s 1p
Profits from The Rose 3s
Expenses
Wages 13s 4p
The Golden Blades Protection 4s
Loss 13s 3p
Total ¡ê11 17s 7p
¡®They¡¯ve taken Eisenberg,¡¯ Lothar explained to Wade. ¡®I need to go there myself and sort things out. Can you run The Rose for a while?¡¯ ¡®Sure.¡¯ The thief could hardly object after Lothar had given him and his son a room at the inn. He still looked a bit sour though. ¡®Oh. How were things on the last mission? Was Stricken alright?¡¯ ¡®If by ¡®alright¡¯ you mean he didn¡¯t stab me, then I suppose so.¡¯ ¡®Well, that¡¯s something, isn¡¯t it? Look, I know things are stretched at the moment. Give me a bit of time over in Eisenberg and I¡¯ll make things right. I need it to go well there, you understand? For all our sakes.¡¯ ¡®I get it, Stiff. I can handle The Rose for you, dinnae worry about that.¡¯ ¡®I know.¡¯ Steben, mayor of Eisenberg, was Lothar¡¯s companion on the journey to the town. Their relationship had become complex. Lothar had liberated his town and its people from Redblade¡¯s control. But he had demanded ownership of the mine in return. Going forward, neither could be sure how things would work out. They found a calm situation when they arrived. The town¡¯s inn had some fire damage, but none of the other buildings, or the townsfolk, had been harmed in the fighting. All eight of his mercs had survived, too. They had established good relations with the locals, who had put them up in their own houses. The Rotten Apples provided them with security, and they were grateful to have them. The icing on the cake was that his crew had also managed to capture Brickhouse, and one other brigand. They were being held in the smithy, and so that was where Lothar and Steben headed. ¡®Stiff, this is Henrik, our blacksmith,¡¯ Steben introduced. ¡®Henrik, this is Mr Sauer of The Rotten Apples.¡¯ Henrik was a powerfully built man with a square jaw and a full black beard that reached his chest. They shook hands. ¡®I hear you¡¯re in charge of our prisoners?¡¯ Henrik gave him a wolfish grin. ¡®Oh yes. I¡¯ve enjoyed that.¡¯ Lothar recalled Steben telling him that Brickhouse had the smith whipped while he was imposing himself on the town. Henrik had obviously been given ample opportunity for revenge. ¡®He¡¯s capable of speaking with me?¡¯ Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡®Oh, sure. I haven¡¯t sunk to his level. You want to see him now?¡¯ ¡®Yes please.¡¯ Brickhouse was a mean looking bastard, even bigger than Henrik. He sat on the floor of the workshop, hands and ankles fastened with manacles. Henrik had made sure there was no chance of escape. ¡®Brickhouse. My name is Lothar Sauer. You can call me Stiff. I run the crew who took you out.¡¯ ¡®So what?¡¯ ¡®So I¡¯m the one who decides whether you live or die; and how you die.¡¯ ¡®Huh. There¡¯s a chance I¡¯ll live?¡¯ ¡®The way I see things there is. But I need information. About Redblade. You¡¯re ready to give him up?¡¯ ¡®If I do, you''ll kill me anyway.¡¯ ¡®Not true. I can see from your perspective, you have no guarantees. But I suggest you trust me. I¡¯m your only hope of living. And it¡¯s Redblade I want, not you.¡¯ ¡®Why? Why get involved in this?¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s the mine. Then there¡¯s the loot you found in the hillfort. The sword he wields, and the pike he gave to you. Some other items of interest too, I have no doubt.¡¯ Brickhouse looked at him with surprise. ¡®How do you know that?¡¯ ¡®We found another of the barrows. The green one. I presume there was a map in one of the chests?¡¯ Brickhouse looked deflated now. ¡®Aye. There was a map. Redblade¡¯s been trying to find the other barrows. It¡¯s been difficult, having to fight off the goblins as well. That¡¯s why he needed Eisenberg.¡¯ ¡®Well I¡¯m taking over his projects. I have the mine. Soon I¡¯ll have his sword, and his fort. And you¡¯re going to tell me how I get it.¡¯ Brickhouse shook his head. ¡®You can¡¯t. Earthworks mean it¡¯s virtually impossible to climb. There¡¯s a wooden palisade at the top, and those inside can see you coming from every direction. The only way up is a rope ladder, which is reeled in at night-time, and whenever there¡¯s danger. We had a horde of goblins besiege us and get nowhere. Trust me, you¡¯ve got no chance.¡¯ Lothar spent the next day organising his new asset. The miners of Eisenberg would be paid generously, from his purse. The metal they took would be his. Henrik could turn it into weapons, armour, and anything else The Rotten Apples needed. If there was a surplus, Lothar could sell it for a profit. A secure supply of iron was essential for the survival of his crew. But while Redblade was around, it would be permanently threatened. He had to find a way to deal with the brigand leader. That evening, he took his meal amongst his crew at The Pig and Iron. He nodded over at Ashlyn¡¯s new weapon, Greenblade. ¡®Learn anything about that sword?¡¯ She shook her head. ¡®The crystal didn¡¯t light up, and it didn¡¯t give me a single bonus.¡¯ ¡®Huh. I¡¯m not completely surprised. I suspect each sword, assuming there is one at each location, provides a bonus to a specific enemy. You just need to find the right kind of enemy for Greenblade.¡¯ ¡®I see. Makes sense. And what¡¯s next, Stiff? Do we take on this Redblade?¡¯ ¡®We need him out of the picture as soon as possible.¡¯ ¡®Why?¡¯ ¡®The Golden Blades. I have a chance to build up our strength quickly here, so we can challenge Sal. There¡¯s the mine; there¡¯s Redblade¡¯s stronghold and any items we can take from him. After that, maybe these goblins I keep hearing about. ¡®But I can¡¯t afford a long drawn out conflict with him. If we can¡¯t get into his fort¡ªand he doesn¡¯t have the strength to get Eisenberg back¡ªit becomes a series of skirmishes and ambushes between us, sapping our strength. It could go on for months. In the meantime, Sal learns what we have here, and comes to take it. Just like he took The Rose. ¡®No, next time I meet with Sal or his siblings, it needs to be as an equal. And that means taking out Redblade quickly.¡¯ ¡®So what are you going to do?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t know. This is the part where you give me an idea.¡¯ ¡®Oh.¡¯ Ashlyn, willing to help, looked about the rest of the crew, as if an answer lay there. Lothar both admired and envied her optimism. ¡®The Baron?¡¯ she said at last. ¡®Could he sneak into the fort? He climbed into the church tower when we got to Eisenberg.¡¯ ¡®Apparently not. Redblade has complete control over who goes in and out. Even if he could somehow get in, he¡¯s a thief, not an assassin. It¡¯d be a suicide mission.¡¯ Lothar stared at The Baron. The secretive thief had certainly been the most flexible of his mercs. He¡¯s agile. He disguised himself as an Alinko benefactor at the temple; even as a damsel in distress on the streets of Avolo. Hang on. Lothar clicked his fingers. ¡®I think I¡¯ve got it.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve got a proposition,¡¯ Lothar said to Brickhouse. ¡®It sees you live. Gets you out of here with all your digits and limbs still attached. And gets you your freedom.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m listening,¡¯ the big man said. Lothar reckoned he was ready to hope. ¡®You help me kill Redblade. In return, you get the hill fort. You rule in his stead. You owe allegiance to me. I supply you with all the weaponry you need, free of charge.¡¯ Brickhouse thought about it. ¡®Breaker?¡¯ ¡®Of course you get your weapon back.¡¯ Brickhouse pursed his lips. ¡®What about Redblade? I mean the sword Tomas wields, and the other artefacts?¡¯ ¡®Tomas?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s his name.¡¯ ¡®Kinda ordinary.¡¯ ¡®Well?¡¯ ¡®We split the items fairly between us. What does Redblade do, exactly? You sound keen to claim it.¡¯ Brickhouse appeared to wrestle over whether to reveal the weapon¡¯s secrets. He sighed. ¡®It gives its wielder an advantage over greenskins. The goblins fear it. It would be hard to hold them back without it.¡¯ No one else in Lothar¡¯s team was in desperate need of a new sword. ¡®Very well. You get Redblade and Breaker. You become the new lord of the hillfort. How about it?¡¯ ¡®Very well. But how exactly do you propose we get to him?¡¯ Chapter 37 Mission #10 Kill Redblade Part One Lothar knew he had to risk everything to kill Redblade. He also knew, when he had settled on his plan, that he would be leaving most of his mercs behind in Eisenberg. ¡®I can¡¯t take you,¡¯ he explained to Wilson. The gnome looked outraged. ¡®You can¡¯t pass as one of Redblade¡¯s brigands.¡¯ Even Twerk couldn¡¯t argue with that. ¡®I can''t take you,¡¯ he told Ashlyn. ¡®Or Femke and Mila. Redblade doesn¡¯t have female brigands.¡¯ ¡®Take us? That means you¡¯re going?¡¯ He nodded. ¡®Without us, your chances of making it out alive are much reduced.¡¯ ¡®I have to go. There aren¡¯t many I can send who will both look the part and have a reasonable chance of not getting killed. Manslayer is one of those. Did you end up speaking with him?¡¯ ¡®I did. I haven¡¯t asked his permission to tell you the details. But I can say, I think you can trust him.¡¯ That would have to do. Then there were those lives it wasn¡¯t worth risking. ¡®You¡¯re staying,¡¯ he told Jaelin and Christoph. That left The Baron; Manslayer; Brickhouse; Pavel (the other brigand they had captured)¡ªand Lothar himself.
The Baron
Name Unknown
Nickname The Baron
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 31
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 3
Hit Points 15
Core Stats
Might 6
Agility 12
Grit 6
Intellect 11
Skills Thievery, Disguise, Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Short sword (damage 1-6), Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour Leather
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Coin of Deception
Manslayer
Name Edmund Rigge
Nickname Manslayer
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 34
Daily Wage 3 shillings
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 6
Hit Points 29
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 9 Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
Grit 11
Intellect 8
Skills Swords (master), Shields (master), Spears (expert), Knives (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Slayer, To Hit +2, Damage +1, damage 6-41), Short Spear (damage 4-24), Knife (damage 4-16)
Armour Hide
Other
Brickhouse
Name Bartek Arcacz
Nickname Brickhouse
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 24
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 13
Agility 6
Grit 6
Intellect 6
Skills Polearms (novice) Knives (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Pike (Breaker, To Hit +2, Damage +2, damage 3-12), Dagger (1-4)
Armour Ring mail
Other
Pavel the Brigand
Name Pavel
Nickname None
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 21
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 6
Grit 4
Intellect 4
Skills Swords (novice), Spears (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Short sword (damage 1-6), Short spear (1-6)
Armour Hide
Other
Stiff
Name Lothar Sauer
Nickname Stiff
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 50
Action Stats
EXP Level 7
Action Points 8
Hit Points 36
Core Stats
Might 13
Agility 9
Grit 16
Intellect 15
Skills Swords (expert), Shields (expert), Spears (proficient),
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (damage 4-32)
Armour Hide
Other
Brickhouse led them west to Redblade¡¯s fort. Lothar needed to rely on the man¡¯s personal ambition. If he turned against Lothar and stayed loyal to Redblade, they would be in trouble. Too much trouble to deal with. ¡®If you so much as think of betraying us to your old master,¡¯ Lothar said to Pavel as they walked, ¡®I won¡¯t hesitate to butcher you on the spot. Even if I achieve nothing else. You understand me?¡¯ ¡®I understand you,¡¯ said the brigand. Lothar eyed Brickhouse, but there was no reaction from him that revealed his inner thoughts. The hill fort came into view, dominating an otherwise flat landscape. Earthworks followed the contours of the mound in concentric rings. At the top, wooden stakes defended whatever buildings were inside the settlement. It looked impregnable, even if one had a small army to send against it. In that sense, it only confirmed in Lothar¡¯s mind that trickery was the best option he had. Brickhouse led them around a sharp bend in the hill. Before them, a white chalk path rose towards a giant cleft in the earthworks that reached all the way to the top; completely vertical, and impossible to climb. The brigand looked at Lothar, who gave him an encouraging nod. Brickhouse shouted up to the top of the fort, his voice loud enough to reach such a height. ¡®Drop the ladder. It¡¯s me, Brickhouse!¡¯ Lothar could just make out a figure at the top of the fort, peering down at them. This was the moment of truth. It should work, Lothar told himself. Why wouldn¡¯t it work? The trick they played was only small. After all, Brickhouse was Brickhouse. Pavel was also Pavel, if anyone up there cared about it. The Baron looked more like the dead brigand whose brown leather clothes he wore than the dead brigand himself did. Lothar and Edmund wore hide armour taken from two of the brigands killed in Eisenberg¡ªLothar disappointed at having to leave the Armour of Resilience behind. Neither carried a shield, since Redblade¡¯s brigands didn¡¯t. They made sure to stand behind Brickhouse, so no one so inclined could study them in detail. ¡®Why have you come?¡¯ a voice carried down to them. ¡®Eisenberg was attacked,¡¯ Brickhouse answered. ¡®Get the ladder dropped!¡¯ he added, allowing some irritation into his voice. Good, Lothar thought. Sounds believable. Something was hurled off the edge of the fort. The rope ladder reached all the way to the ground. Brickhouse began to climb. The Baron followed, then Manslayer. Lothar went last, behind Pavel¡ªready to fling the brigand from the rope should he try anything. By the time Lothar reached the top of the ladder and dragged himself onto solid ground, Brickhouse had begun striding from the edge of the fort towards the centre of the settlement. The Baron and Manslayer walked with him across the grass, as well as several brigands. Lothar hurried to catch up. ¡®Help me with the ladder, will you?¡¯ a woman¡¯s voice asked. Lothar side eyed her. He was in trouble. She wasn¡¯t studying him now, but get involved with the task, and she would almost certainly realise she didn¡¯t recognise him. The whole mission would be discovered before they were ready. He peered over the edge, wondering how long it would take her to reach the bottom, and what kind of noise she might make when she landed. ¡®I¡¯ll do it,¡¯ Pavel offered, perhaps alarmed at the sight of Lothar contemplating sending her over the edge. ¡®You get on.¡¯ Lothar nodded his thanks and caught up with the others. Brickhouse slowed, and the others followed his lead. Approaching from the opposite direction came half a dozen brigands. Lothar fixed his gaze on the pommel of a sword held in a scabbard. The crystal was pink, but he imagined it might shine red when goblins were near. Its owner was tall, with shoulder length brown hair, and looked quite dashing in his expensive looking armour. ¡®You lost Eisenberg?¡¯ Redblade demanded of Brickhouse. ¡®To who?¡¯ ¡®The Blades,¡¯ Brickhouse answered. It was a reply Lothar had given him. The two sides closed on one another. Redblade frowned as his gaze took on Manslayer. ¡®Who¡¯s this?¡¯ he demanded. Manslayer¡¯s hand went to his hilt. Chapter 38 Mission #10 Kill Redblade Part Two ACTION ROUND
Redblade
Name Tomas Krezinsky
Nickname Redblade
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 30
Action Stats
EXP Level 6
Action Points 7
Hit Points 33
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 11
Grit 13
Intellect 13
Skills Swords (proficient) Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Redblade,?, damage 3-24), Dagger (2-8)
Armour Piecemeal
Other Necklace of Agility (+2 agility)
Brigands
Human Brigand
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3 Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Hit Points 16
Lothar didn¡¯t know why Edmund put his hand to the hilt of Slayer. But it was a mistake. It drew Redblade onto him, and the brigand leader was fast. He hacked at Manslayer with sword and dagger. Edmund couldn¡¯t stop Redblade tearing through his limited hide armour with his very first strike, taking nineteen hit points from him. It was a blow that would have killed most men; Edmund had a mere ten points left. Next turn it was the dagger rather than the sword that struck, dealing a further six points of damage. Edmund swayed on his feet now, barely hanging on. Somehow, he blocked Redblade¡¯s next sword strike. But again, the dagger got through. It tore a third wound, and Manslayer collapsed to the ground. Implacable, Redblade¡¯s gaze turned to Brickhouse, letting him know he was next in line. With one action point, he closed in. With the next, he swung sword and dagger. It was Redblade that got through Brickhouse¡¯s defences, piercing his ringmail. It was another punishing strike, and Brickhouse was left with four hit points. Redblade still had an action point left to finish him. His sword struck again. Brickhouse shuddered as the length of blade entered his chest¡ªwhen it was ripped out he was already dead. The disastrous nature of those brutal few moments threatened to root Lothar to the spot. Slayer and Breaker hadn¡¯t even been given a chance to be used in anger, their wielders dead or dying. If The Baron hadn¡¯t moved next, Lothar might have simply given up. The thief wielded his dagger with his good hand, using the short sword he had claimed from his dead brigand as a second attack. It was the dagger that sank home, taking nine hit points. His final two strikes both missed. But The Baron had wounded Redblade, and Lothar knew he had to finish the job. Whatever happened afterwards¡ªshould these brigands cut him down¡ªhe would complete one last mission. Lothar used his first action to engage with Redblade. As he closed in, he bent low and took Slayer from Edmund¡¯s hands. The sword would be a useful second attack to his own longsword. He hadn¡¯t fought in the melee for a while¡ªnot since arriving in Gal¡¯azu. He¡¯d told himself those days were over. He was past it. But the blood flowed through his veins just like it always had, and his body remembered exactly what to do. Both swords cut into the brigand chieftain, taking exactly the number of hit points needed to send him to the ground. Lothar¡¯s hands itched to do more damage; to swing those weapons at the brigands who surrounded them. He felt sure he could take enough down with the action points he had left. But sense prevailed. Better to end it now, if he could. Better to make these men fight with him, than against him, if at all possible. ¡®Redblade and Brickhouse are dead,¡¯ he bellowed, turning to look each in the face, daring them to take him on. ¡®There will be a new leader here.¡¯ The new leader was meant to be Brickhouse, but he was no more. He caught sight of Pavel, who had been occupied with pulling up the rope ladder. Lothar pointed the tip of Slayer¡¯s blade at the brigand. ¡®Pavel will be your new leader. The new Redblade.¡¯ ¡®Hurrah for our new leader,¡¯ The Baron joined in. Pavel was surprisingly quick to catch on. ¡®Yes,¡¯ he agreed, marching over. ¡®I will take charge here.¡¯ The nine brigands who stood with them in the centre of the settlement looked bemused at the idea. But they weren¡¯t attacking, and that was the important thing. Lothar wasted no time in dropping his own sword and taking Redblade from the cold hands of its former owner. He presented it to Pavel, whose reaction of wide-eyed disbelief wasn¡¯t ideal, but at least the man had the presence of mind to grasp its hilt. Lothar went on one knee, raising Slayer in the air. ¡®The new Redblade,¡¯ he uttered, glaring around at those present. ¡®The new Redblade,¡¯ The Baron repeated. The brigands took the hint, mumbling an affirmation. ¡®I will protect our settlement,¡¯ Pavel declared. ¡®And I will ensure it is well supplied from Eisenberg,¡¯ Lothar added. The other brigands looked more cheerful at these words. If Lothar kept the fort supplied with food and weapons, he thought Pavel would have a decent chance of keeping his position. That suited Lothar fine. The fight formally ended, meaning they no longer had to spend action points. Lothar knelt by Manslayer¡¯s side. His life blood was leaking into the grass on which he lay. ¡®A healer!¡¯ Lothar demanded, but those assembled looked at him like he was mad. ¡®We have no one who can heal those wounds,¡¯ Pavel said, sounding genuinely sorrowful. Lothar cursed himself for following a plan that risked Edmund¡¯s life without having Femke available to treat his wounds. Edmund stirred, emitting a weak groan. Lothar could see the man was dying, but he somehow had the willpower to reach out a hand, which Lothar gripped. ¡®Did Ashlyn tell you?¡¯ the mercenary asked in a whisper. ¡®No.¡¯ Edmund grinned. ¡®She¡¯s a good one. Promise me you¡¯ll look after her.¡¯ ¡®I promise you.¡¯ ¡®My Betty is already dead, Stiff. She waits for me. So don¡¯t mourn my passing. I am leaving this world of pain to be at my wife¡¯s side once more.¡¯ With those words, Edmund Rigge, known as Manslayer, breathed his last. MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: Redblade was killed None of your mercs improved their stats Fallen Apples: Edmund ¡®Manslayer¡¯ Rigge *** Lothar divided Redblade¡¯s treasure with Pavel. Breaker was given to one of the brigand¡¯s friends, who became his second in command. It was sensible to have an ally with some skin in the game. Lothar left with a decent haul. He had the Necklace of Agility Redblade had worn around his neck. There was also a wizard¡¯s staff and an amulet. Pavel told him there had been other treasures found in the hidden chambers in the hill fort, but they had been sold or used by Redblade a long time ago. The brigand did hand over the map of the barrows, however. Like the one found in the first barrow, it depicted two other locations, somewhere out to the north and west. Lothar climbed down the rope ladder and returned to Eisenberg. Accompanying him were The Baron, and those boys and girls who had been taken from Eisenberg. He would tell his crew about his success. But he would also have to tell them about Manslayer, and guilt and pain followed him all the way to the town. Leading a mercenary crew was hard. He¡¯d lost people before: no doubt he¡¯d lose more in the future. Some people liked to say he got his nickname on account of the number of dead bodies that seemed to pile up wherever he went. But whenever it happened, and however much he blamed himself, he kept going. HERE ENDS PART ONE OF SQUAD GAMES Part Two: Chapter 39 Usa & Izil PART TWO: Brid Company Accounts: Finances: ¡ê11 16s 5p Mercenaries: 11 Assets: The Rose Inn in Avolo; the mine in Eisenberg Manslayer¡¯s death cast a shadow over Lothar¡¯s defeat of Redblade. The morale of his remaining mercenaries had taken a hit. None were openly hostile. But their confidence in him was shaken, and several mourned Edmund, none more than Ashlyn. Lothar felt terrible at first. Then he realised he didn¡¯t have to pay Edmund¡¯s wages for the mission. It was a distasteful, mercenary thought. But then, I am a mercenary. In truth, saving a few shillings didn¡¯t outweigh the strategic problems he faced from losing Manslayer. He had been the killer in the crew, the one whose fighting prowess had seen them through the tougher missions. Without him, the Apples didn¡¯t have the capacity for the battles to come. He would have to leave those to one side until he could find some replacements. He had to take a fresh look at the available missions: SELECT MISSION DESTROY WARG DEN, ¡ê2 KILL SAL PATROL AROUND EISENBERG LOCATE BARROW He held a meeting with Wilson, Ashlyn, Jaelin, and Christoph in The Pig and Iron in Eisenberg. ¡®You four are staying here for the time being. There¡¯s a new farm established in this area every day at the moment. It¡¯s good news for Eisenberg. But the area needs patrolling.¡¯ Lothar had established Pavel in Redblade¡¯s hill fort. But he didn¡¯t know how effective he would be at holding off the goblins to the west, or for how long. Humans could be a threat to law and order as well. If Lothar¡¯s ambitions for this region were to bear fruit, he needed peace. ¡®Just us four?¡¯ Christoph asked. ¡®What about Auntie?¡¯ ¡®I want your aunt to keep training Mila. And I need Mila to return to Avolo. I promised Wade he¡¯d get his rogues back. And The Rose needs looking after.¡¯ ¡®Alright,¡¯ Christoph acquiesced. ¡®What is it?¡¯ Lothar asked Ashlyn. She had a pet lip out. ¡®Patrolling? I thought we¡¯d be going for the warg¡¯s den.¡¯ ¡®Do you think the four of you could handle the wargs?¡¯ he asked the others. Twerk and The Explorer shook their heads vigorously. ¡®We could if you came with us,¡¯ said Ashlyn. ¡®The Baron said it was you who took Redblade down.¡¯ ¡®That was a one off. I¡¯m not making a habit of doing missions.¡¯ ¡®Why?¡¯ ¡®Because I don¡¯t fancy getting killed.¡¯ ¡®But it¡¯s alright if the rest of us get wasted?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s the life of a mercenary.¡¯ It was true, but harsh, and none of them appreciated the comment. ¡®Look. I¡¯m getting too old for all that. My job is to manage The Rotten Apples. I can¡¯t do that if I¡¯m running around on missions as well.¡¯ ¡®I take your point,¡¯ Jaelin said. ¡®But what about finding the third barrow? I can make a start now.¡¯ ¡®Not on your own you can¡¯t. And I can¡¯t spare these three to go with you right now, or there''ll be no-one left to defend Eisenberg.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t need anyone¡¯s help. I¡¯m used to explorink on my own.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s too dangerous. We know there¡¯s goblins about, and probably a lot worse than that.¡¯ ¡®I can handle myself.¡¯ ¡®I said no. Any more questions?¡¯ Thankfully, the gnome stayed quiet. Lothar was fed up with Eisenberg. He¡¯d envisaged a place where he was free of the reach of the Blades, or any other rival. Where he could build his own little empire in this corner of Gal¡¯azu. Now he just wanted to return to Avolo. They got a drenching on the journey back to Avolo. When they got back to The Rose, the hearth was lit; Suzie had been baking bread; and it felt like coming home. Lothar filled Wade in on the events in Eisenberg, and was pleased to hear it had been largely uneventful at the inn. ¡®Save for the folks who¡¯ve come looking for you.¡¯ Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡®What folks?¡¯ Lothar asked, nervous that it was the Blades or some other trouble. ¡®That swanky woman you fancy.¡¯ ¡®Swanky? Who? Oh, you mean Rosalind. I don¡¯t fancy her. I¡¯m not a teenager.¡¯ ¡®Whatever. She looked disappointed you were gone. Then there were two mercs from the Golden Blades.¡¯ Lothar¡¯s blood ran cold. ¡®What the hell did they want?¡¯ ¡®Wouldn¡¯t say. Wouldn¡¯t be surprised to see them back here later, they¡¯ve come every day.¡¯ By the time Lothar had freshened up, the two mercs had returned. It was Usa and Izil, the brothers he had tried to recruit back on his first day in the city. Usa, the older, looked pleased to see Lothar when he joined them at their table. Izil had a sceptical expression. ¡®What are you doing here?¡¯ Lothar asked cautiously. ¡®Looking for work,¡¯ Usa said with a wry smile. Lothar relaxed. Recruiting a couple of fighters was just what he needed. ¡®You¡¯re not getting it from The Golden Blades?¡¯ ¡®We get work when it suits them,¡¯ Usa said. ¡®Always the last to get hired, always the meanest of assignments, or the most dangerous. Alright, there are better, more experienced mercs on their roster. We get that. But we¡¯re tired of being treated like dogs.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯d not be treated like that here,¡¯ Lothar reassured him. The brothers exchanged a glance. ¡®We¡¯ve also heard about your success.¡¯ ¡®Success?¡¯ ¡®Aye. Magic swords and the like. That would really up our profile if we were to share in that kind of loot.¡¯ So that was why they were here. It didn¡¯t make a whole lot of sense otherwise. News of the loot from the barrow had spread. I shouldn¡¯t be surprised. ¡®It¡¯s not like I have a rack of magic weapons to hand out.¡¯ ¡®I get that,¡¯ Usa said. ¡®We¡¯re quite willing to wait our turn. But we¡¯re hard workers, and I think we can help your outfit out.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯d get the respect you deserve, for a start,¡¯ Lothar said. It looked like Izil, though still silent, had come round to the idea. ¡®I can hire you now,¡¯ Lothar told them. ¡®It would involve you travelling out west to a town called Eisenberg, picking up the remainder of my crew, and going on a mission with them.¡¯ ¡®We can do that.¡¯ ¡®Good. I¡¯ll write a note for you to hand over when you get there.¡¯ Rosalind arrived at The Rose early that evening. Lothar had a table laid out for them in the corner of the lounge with instructions that they should not be disturbed. ¡®You didn¡¯t tell me you were leaving Avolo,¡¯ she told him. In the dim light of the inn, her white forelock stood out all the more amongst the raven black. ¡®Sorry. It was all a bit of a rush.¡¯ ¡®You were successful?¡¯ ¡®I have a mine in Eisenberg. The local brigand chieftain is dead. And I¡¯ve added to my stash of items.¡¯ ¡®Well, congratulations are in order then.¡¯ She raised her cup of wine and they clinked them together. She held his eyes as she sipped her drink. ¡®Stiff, this is actually drinkable.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m glad you approve.¡¯ ¡®What items did you obtain?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m not entirely sure about all of them.¡¯ She tsked him. ¡®You know I buy and sell all kinds of objects. Why haven¡¯t you shown me?¡¯ ¡®It didn¡¯t cross my mind. They¡¯re in my room.¡¯ ¡®Then let¡¯s see them now. We can take our drinks upstairs.¡¯ Lothar wasn¡¯t about to argue with that. He unlocked his chest and placed the items he was unsure about on his bed. ¡®Redblade wore this. It seemed to enhance his agility.¡¯ ¡®Yes. A necklace of agility. Highly prized by warriors.¡¯ High agility usually allowed someone to get in the first strike, which was often decisive. ¡®Certainly.¡¯ Rosalind picked up the staff his crew had claimed from the first barrow. She caressed its wooden length, as if stealing its secrets. ¡®A Staff of Warning. It will tell its owner when any danger is close.¡¯ ¡®And anyone can use it?¡¯ She gave him a frown. ¡®Only a wizard can use a staff, Stiff.¡¯ ¡®Ah. I know nothing of magic.¡¯ ¡®Clearly.¡¯ she swapped the first staff for the second, which Redblade had owned. It had a purple gemstone fitted at the top. ¡®Ooh.¡¯ ¡®What is it?¡¯ ¡®A Staff of Hither-Thither.¡¯ ¡®Hither-Thither?¡¯ ¡®It allows a wizard to establish two portals, and travel between them.¡¯ Lothar stared at the carved wood and repressed a shudder. He wasn¡¯t keen on such things. ¡®It would fetch a lot of money?¡¯ ¡®Of course.¡¯ ¡®Then maybe you should sell it for me.¡¯ ¡®I could. But you shouldn¡¯t be giving away such powerful objects, Stiff.¡¯ ¡®Why?¡¯ She rolled her eyes at him. ¡®If you¡¯re going to expand your reach in Gal¡¯azu, you¡¯ll need a wizard or two in the Apples.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve never had a wizard in my crew.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s not a reason not to.¡¯ ¡®I suppose so.¡¯ The final unidentified object was an amulet that had also been part of Redblade¡¯s hoard. ¡®An Amulet of Disguise,¡¯ Rosalind pronounced. ¡®It strengthens any disguise, making those who observe it believe it more fiercely.¡¯ ¡®Ah. I should give it to The Baron then.¡¯ ¡®You said there were more of these barrows out there in the wilds?¡¯ ¡®Two more.¡¯ ¡®Then you should make finding them one of your priorities. They will help you challenge The Golden Blades when the time comes.¡¯ ¡®When? Not if?¡¯ ¡®You really think you can avoid it?¡¯ ¡®No. I guess not.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s the reason I came looking for you, Stiff.¡¯ ¡®What is?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s past time you started forging relationships with the city councillors of Avolo. They¡¯re the only ones in Gal¡¯azu capable of standing up to The Blades, since they pay their wages. But The Blades are the only ones with the muscle to carry out the council¡¯s needs. It makes the council vulnerable. You need to demonstrate that The Apples are a viable alternative.¡¯ Lothar puffed out his cheeks. ¡®But are we?¡¯ ¡®Not in every area. Not yet. But you have a strong enough team to help this particular councillor I have in mind. Urkal Foberoy. Will you see him?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll meet him. When? Tomorrow?¡¯ ¡®Tonight. Now would work. Better for it to be an informal meeting, without prying eyes.¡¯ ¡®Now? Oh. Alright then.¡¯ ¡®What? You had something else in mind?¡¯ ¡®Well¡ª¡¯ Rosalind grinned as she approached him. Her perfume enveloped him. ¡®You are a wicked man, Lothar ¡®Stiff¡¯ Sauer.¡¯ ¡®I do my best.¡¯ She went up on her tiptoes and kissed him. It was the most exhilarating feeling Lothar had experienced in years, as if he was a youngster all over again. She pulled away. ¡®A kiss is all you get from me at first, Stiff. I don¡¯t do quickies in men¡¯s bedrooms.¡¯ ¡®Of course not,¡¯ he said quickly. ¡®You¡¯re too classy for that.¡¯ ¡®Classy. Hmm. I¡¯ll take that compliment. Come on, let¡¯s visit Mr Foberoy.¡¯ Chapter 40 Urkal Foberoy In a small part of Avolo¡ªfar from the docks, or the inns of the city centre¡ªwas a street of less than twenty houses where the richest merchants had their homes. These were the men and women who had risked their fortunes on exploiting the new lands of Gal¡¯azu and had made it big. These were the men and women who voted each other onto the city council, and made all the decisions that affected the future of Avolo and its hinterland. Rosalind led Lothar to one of them. Servants ushered them into a study, where Urkal Foberoy was waiting. He was a big man, who seemed to take immense care of his moustache, while letting the rest of his body do whatever it liked. ¡®Drink?¡¯ he asked, gesturing to his cabinet. ¡®I have everything.¡¯ ¡®Two of your most expensive whiskies, then,¡¯ Rosalind said. Urkal raised an eyebrow, but obliged her. ¡®So, this is Lothar Sauer,¡¯ he said, handing over the drinks. ¡®Rosalind tells me you might be able to help me.¡¯ ¡®Apparently, though she¡¯s told me nothing about what you need.¡¯ ¡®I see. The Blades are tied up in Viscula. Now is the perfect time to act.¡¯ ¡®Viscula?¡¯ ¡®The largest of the islands off the coast,¡¯ Rosalind explained. ¡®It has been occupied by a pirate band. Not an easy job to eradicate them. Tough work for the Blades.¡¯ That checked out with Lothar¡¯s earlier meeting. Usa and Izil probably fancied easier work than being the first bodies sent into a pirate den. ¡®So, you want the Blades out of the way?¡¯ Foberoy¡¯s lips pressed together. ¡®I need your word that whether you take this job or not, you won¡¯t repeat the details.¡¯ ¡®You have it.¡¯ ¡®Very well. I¡¯ve spoiled my daughter, Clara, Mr Sauer. I fooled myself that she was still the bright, daddy¡¯s girl¡ªfull of promise¡ªwhen she was five, six, seven. She¡¯s sixteen now, and she¡¯s a tramp. Gets into bed with any lowlife who bothers to flatter her. This time it was one of the Blades¡¯ best. Raimy Molleker, a man who fucked his way across the old world and when he¡¯d rogered every piece of skirt there, came to Gal¡¯azu to carry on. She ran off with him to Dorwich City. Out of my grasp. I want her back, before it¡¯s too late and she¡¯s ruined her life. If she hasn¡¯t already.¡¯ ¡®What makes you think she¡¯s still in Dorwich if the Blades are on Viscula?¡¯ ¡®They came through Avolo,¡¯ Rosalind explained. ¡®I looked for her, and asked the right questions. The hangers-on were all left behind. The Blair siblings have built themselves a big palace in Dorwich. She¡¯s there.¡¯ ¡®The job is to get her back for me,¡¯ Urkal said. ¡®You¡¯re asking me to go against the Blades?¡¯ ¡®Not really,¡¯ Rosalind said. ¡®The Blairs won¡¯t care about this girl. I doubt Raimy will, either.¡¯ ¡®Do they know she¡¯s your daughter?¡¯ Lothar asked the merchant. ¡®Yes.¡¯ ¡®Then they care. They have a hold over you. A way to influence the council.¡¯ Foberoy held his hands up. ¡®Alright. Maybe they care. But I¡¯ll pay you well. It¡¯s up to you to make sure the rescue doesn¡¯t get traced back to the Apples.¡¯ Lothar thought about it. ¡®What exactly is going on with this island? How long will it keep them there? I don¡¯t want my crew in Dorwich when the Blades return.¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s developments in Gal¡¯azu,¡¯ the merchant explained. ¡®Again, keep this to yourself. The Kuthenians have arrived.¡¯ ¡®Kuthenians?¡¯ The Kuthenians were a people whose homeland was located far from the original settlers of Gal¡¯azu¡ªthe Durnish, Hargons, Livanians, and Alinko. It was said their population was boundless. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡®Aye. They¡¯ve established a bridgehead on the other side of the bay. It¡¯ll soon be a rival port to Avolo. These pirates work for them. They¡¯re harassing our shipping, scaring off traders. If we let them do it, Avolo will die off and the Kuthenians¡¯ city will take over. We can¡¯t let that happen. We¡¯re paying the Golden Blades a small fortune to eradicate those scum. It won¡¯t be easy for them¡ªweeks of digging them out of their bases and hideouts. Messy work. While they¡¯re at it, you can get Clara and bring her home. By the time the Blades are done, Raimy will have forgotten about my daughter and shacked up with someone else. With any luck, he¡¯ll get a rusty pirate blade up his arsehole and die slowly.¡¯ Lothar doubted that. But it seemed there was a window to act. And, as Rosalind had said at The Rose, a councilman would owe him one. That might be very useful. ¡®How much?¡¯ ¡®Ten pounds, so long as she¡¯s returned to me unharmed.¡¯ Rosalind eyed Foberoy, who gave a resigned expression. ¡®And I¡¯ll give you the first two pounds up front, for your expenses.¡¯ Ten pounds. Ten pounds was a lot of money. Maybe enough to pay the wages of a few more mercs from the Blades, if they felt inclined to switch employers. Lothar held out his hand. ¡®Very well. It¡¯s a deal.¡¯ *** They roamed the region between Eisenberg and the hill fort. Most settlements they stopped at were small farms, owned by extended family groups. A few were larger, where several families had grouped together. There were no goblins to fight. The brigands didn¡¯t bother anyone. When they got as far as the earthworks, they found that Pavel, the new leader, had also begun the business of farming, marking out fields over which his fort could watch and defend. They came across a small graveyard and found Manslayer¡¯s resting place, next to that of the man who killed him. Ashlyn had started to warm to Edmund Rigge, and wished she¡¯d stopped herself. The same feelings of hopeless pain that had followed her father¡¯s death returned, and she struggled to bury them. Meanwhile, Twerk and The Explorer chafed at the work they¡¯d been set. The slowness of it didn¡¯t suit their temperaments. But Ashlyn and Christoph enjoyed it. They both had country backgrounds, and the cheer and hospitality of the families they visited perked them up. It was when they set off to the northeast of the hill fort that Jaelin announced he was leaving. ¡®I know what Stiff said. But I¡¯m wasting my time doing this. I¡¯m goink to find the next barrow.¡¯ ¡®He won¡¯t be happy with you,¡¯ Ashlyn warned him. ¡®Maybe. But if I find it, he¡¯ll come round. And if I get myself killed, he¡¯ll have no one to be angry with.¡¯ Wilson appeared to be gripped by some internal struggle, as if unsure whether to forbid Jaelin leaving or wish him well. The upshot was he stared at the man in strained silence. ¡®Good luck,¡¯ Christoph said. ¡®I understand why you want to go. You are The Explorer, after all.¡¯ Jaelin grinned. ¡®Exactly.¡¯ He nodded at Ashlyn and Wilson, then wasted no more time in taking his leave. Ashlyn couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on why she felt let down by him. She knew he was a loner¡ªunderstood that. But she thought he might have had more to say to her. The three of them completed their patrol and returned to Eisenberg. Wilson retired to Henrik¡¯s smithy where he boarded. Ashlyn and Christoph took a meal at The Pig and Iron. ¡®There¡¯s hardly any of us left now,¡¯ he observed. Ashlyn nodded. There had been a moment, after they had liberated Eisenberg, when it felt like she was part of a team: a group of misfits that somehow worked together. Now it felt like she¡¯d been abandoned. ¡®I suppose you miss your aunt especially.¡¯ ¡®Not really. It¡¯s about time I stood on my own two feet. Besides, I still have you, so I¡¯m happy.¡¯ Ashlyn studied him. He was handsome, she supposed, with dark blond hair and blue eyes. And only a couple of years younger than she was. ¡®Since it¡¯s just the two of us now, maybe you should invite me up to your room?¡¯ He stared at her, as if he had just been given his winter solstice present a day early. She supposed it was flattering. ¡®Are you sure?¡¯ ¡®Are you trying to get me to change my mind, Christoph?¡¯ ¡®No! Absolutely not.¡¯ The two mercs arrived the next day. They had a letter from Stiff, explaining they were new recruits. He wanted them to do the Warg Den mission. Wilson eyed them balefully. ¡®You¡¯re Golden Blades.¡¯ ¡®We were for a while,¡¯ said Usa, the older brother. ¡®We¡¯re Rotten Apples now. All signed up.¡¯ The younger one just stared. ¡®Well, crap,¡¯ Ashlyn said. ¡®Jaelin¡¯s gone. Do you still think we can do it, the five of us?¡¯ Wilson considered it. ¡®I¡¯m not scared of ¡¯em. But they were flaming big, I can tell you. Forty hit points each.¡¯ Usa and Izil looked at one another. All of a sudden they were less keen. ¡®How many?¡¯ Usa asked. ¡®Three of ¡¯em chased me and Jaelin. We only escaped by luck. Could be more in the den. We never got that far.¡¯ ¡®Stiff wouldn¡¯t be sending us if he didn¡¯t think we were capable,¡¯ Christoph offered. Ashlyn thought his faith in their employer was somewhat na?ve. ¡®They¡¯re big,¡¯ she suggested. ¡®But surely we can outthink them?¡¯ The five mercenaries looked at one another, with varying degrees of doubt. ¡®Can you get us there, Wilson? Without Jaelin to guide us?¡¯ ¡®Of course I can damn well get us there.¡¯ Chapter 41 Mission #11 Destroy Warg Den Part One Mercs: Twerk | The Bowman | Ashlyn | Usa | Izil Character Sheets:
Twerk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname Twerk
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 50
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 6
Grit 5
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axes (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Hand axe (damage 4-24), Hand axe (damage 4-24)
Armour Breastplate, helmet
Other
The Bowman
Name Christoph Gerd
Nickname The Bowman
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 19
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 8
Grit 5
Intellect 4
Skills Bows (competent), Knives (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Short bow (damage 2-12), Dagger (1-4)
Armour Padded
Other Arrows of Conflagration
Ashlyn
Name Ashlyn Sawrey
Nickname None
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Age 21
Daily Wage 9 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 20
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 9
Grit 8
Intellect 9
Skills Swords (proficient), Shields (proficient), Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Greenblade, ?, damage 3-24), Knife (damage 2-8), Shield (damage 3-9)
Armour Leather
Other
Usa
Name Usain Bizra
Nickname Usa
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 23
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 8
Grit 8
Intellect 5
Skills Spear (proficient) Shield (competent) Sword (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Spear (short, damage 3-18) Shield (damage 2-6) Sword (short, damage 2-12)
Armour Ring Mail, (+Shield)
Other
Izil
Name Izildra Bizra
Nickname Izil
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 19
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 7
Grit 6
Intellect 4
Skills Spear (competent) Shield (competent) Sword (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Spear (short, damage 2-12) Shield (damage 2-6) Sword (short, damage 2-12)
Armour Padded, (+Shield)
Other
They were lost. Twerk knew the den was southwest of Eisenberg. But his sense of direction wasn¡¯t good enough to tell him exactly where. The more annoyed and embarrassed he became, the more he muttered under his breath and put his hands to his axes. No one dared speak. The two Alinko brothers¡ªpretty experienced warriors, it seemed¡ªlooked at one another with consternation. No doubt, after a spell in the Golden Blades, they wondered what kind of outfit they had signed up with. You¡¯ll get used to it, Ashlyn thought. ¡®We came from the east last time, not the north,¡¯ Wilson kept saying, as if that fact explained away his inadequacy. ¡®We need to find the barrow,¡¯ Ashlyn whispered to Christoph when the gnome was out of earshot. The farmer¡¯s boy-turned-archer squinted up at the sky, then looked across the rocky and wooded terrain. ¡®Reckon it¡¯s that way,¡¯ he said, pointing. ¡®How sure are you?¡¯ ¡®Pretty sure.¡¯ ¡®Then why haven¡¯t you said anything?¡¯ The Bowman gestured at the gnome. ¡®I didn¡¯t want to interfere.¡¯ ¡®Well I damn well do.¡¯ Be diplomatic, Ashlyn, she told herself. ¡®Well done, Wilson,¡¯ she called out. Twerk turned around to face her with a scowl. ¡®There¡¯s the forested area where you discovered the barrow,¡¯ she said, pointing in the same direction Christoph had. The gnome was a stubborn bastard, but he wasn¡¯t stupid enough to reject a way out when he was offered it. ¡®Yes, that¡¯s where we¡¯re going,¡¯ he somehow had the nerve to say, as if he¡¯d known all along. ¡®I¡¯m just taking us this way.¡¯ He gestured over to Usa and Izil. ¡®They haven¡¯t been here before, and I assumed they wanted to take in the scenery.¡¯ They reached the old barrow they had explored. Ashlyn shuddered as she recalled placing a hand on Greenblade, triggering the skeletons to emerge from the darkness. Surely, some giant wolves couldn¡¯t be as bad as the undead? ¡®You know the way from here?¡¯ Twerk nodded. He¡¯d gone pale. ¡®I¡¯m hardly going to forget that. Look, these things are ferocious. When they come at you, it¡¯s not easy to keep your head.¡¯ Ashlyn nodded. ¡®We need a plan.¡¯ She glanced at the two brothers. They offered little¡ªprobably used to taking orders rather than thinking for themselves. She couldn¡¯t expect Christoph to offer much. ¡®What is the area around the den like?¡¯ she asked the gnome, as he led them on. He pointed ahead, to grey cliffs. ¡®It¡¯s a steep climb to the top. Pretty much as soon as we reached the top, they came for us. Probably smelt us.¡¯ They arrived at the base of the cliffs and began to climb, a mounting sense of dread enveloping them. Ashlyn peered up, expecting to see a giant wolf¡¯s head watching them. ¡®What exactly happened when you got to the top?¡¯ Twerk let out a breath. ¡®We decided to head towards that jumble of rocks. Hadn¡¯t got very far when the first two arrived.¡¯ ¡®From where?¡¯ The gnome thought about it. ¡®The first from one side; the second from the other.¡¯ ¡®Suggesting their den is the other side?¡¯ ¡®Yes. Why, you have a plan?¡¯ ¡®Sort of. As soon as we get to the top, we run for that jumble of rocks, and climb. Get The Bowman into a good shooting position. We use our shields and their spears,¡¯ she said, nodding at Usa and Izil, ¡®to hold them off.¡¯ ¡®What about me?¡¯ ¡®Get behind us. Use your axes where they¡¯re needed.¡¯ ¡®Behind you? Alright. I like the sound of that.¡¯ Ashlyn went over her plan with the other three, who accepted it without question. When they clambered onto the clifftop, there was still no sign of the wargs. ¡®Move it,¡¯ she encouraged her crewmates, and they ran for the irregular jumble of rocks. A strong wind buffeted them as they crossed the distance to the rocks. Christoph went climbing, until he found a perch that gave him good sight lines. Ashlyn readied her shield and gripped Greenblade. ¡®Link with us,¡¯ Usa said. He and his brother held shield and spear. ¡®What do you mean?¡¯ The Alinko warrior gave her a look. ¡®You¡¯ve never been in a shieldwall before?¡¯ ¡®Oh. No, I haven¡¯t.¡¯ ¡®Get between us,¡¯ said Izil. It was so rare for the younger brother to speak, that Ashlyn did as he asked. They showed her how to link shields to present a solid wall of defence. ¡®We get bonus to defence like this,¡¯ Usa explained. ¡®Even against monsters.¡¯ ¡®Good.¡¯ With the spears to keep the wargs at bay, Ashlyn dared to believe they might make it off the cliff alive. Until she heard the deep, throaty growl of the first warg. Chapter 42 Mission #11 Destroy Warg Den Part Two The creature paced towards them slowly, then stopped. It sniffed the air, as if identifying what kind of threat it faced. For Ashlyn¡¯s part, she finally understood what Twerk had been telling her. It was terrifyingly large and muscular, with a hump at its shoulders. Its eyes looked small in its large head, and it had a mouthful of oversized teeth capable of shredding a human of its flesh, or locking onto a limb and never letting go. It raised its head, as if it had detected Christoph above them on the rocks. It growled again, a deadly animosity in the noise. All the moisture had left Ashlyn¡¯s mouth. ¡®Does it know he has a bow?¡¯ she croaked. No one answered her. A second warg joined the first, then a third. They were all about the same size, with the same black and brown fur. Then, suddenly, they were running¡ªstraight for Ashlyn¡¯s position. ACTION ROUND
Wargs
Warg Riderless wargs
Action Stats
Action Points 7
Hit Points 40
The three monsters were coming at Ashlyn¡¯s position lightning fast. Despite that, a stunning shot from The Bowman saw his arrow hit the centre warg in the right shoulder, taking 8 hit points. Not only that, but the creature slowed, trailing behind those to either side. Christoph had time for a final shot before the wargs reached the crew¡¯s defensive line. It sailed harmlessly overhead. The first warg crashed into Usa who stood on Ashlyn¡¯s right. His defensive position limited the damage he took to only 3. But he couldn¡¯t prevent it biting his leg, its massive jaw gripping like a lock. Usa lost another 8 points, taking him down to 10. On Ashlyn¡¯s left, Izil also felt the impact of a warg attack. He lost 6 hit points on initial contact. The creature struck him with its deadly claws, clouting him on the side of the head. He hit the ground, unconscious. Ashlyn said a silent thank you to Christoph that her warg only had enough action points to reach her, and not launch an attack. It was only as she prepared to strike it that she noticed Greenblade was glowing. The sword¡¯s magical bonuses were revealed to her: against monsters, it gave +4 to hit, and +8 damage. The news couldn¡¯t have come at a more welcome time, and gave her a much needed morale boost. She slashed at the creature. When the steel struck, the warg howled in pain, its hit points halved in one stroke. The creature¡¯s instincts kicked in, and it used its agility to avoid her second hit. But it couldn¡¯t escape her return strike, which slid into its side, instantly killing it. Ashlyn had one more action left, and was close enough to reach another warg. Deciding she couldn¡¯t afford to lose Usa as well as his brother, she struck at the warg to her right. She failed to connect, and had to hope the others were able to do their bit. Christoph had time to get off one shot, but missed. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Usa slid his spear into the warg clamped to his leg, wounding it and forcing it to release him. Injured, he only had one chance left. The warg avoided his spear this time, but at least he was able to slam his shield into its face. He¡¯d taken a total of 13 hit points from the creature, reducing its action points to 4 next turn. Ashlyn feared that was enough to kill one of them. Twerk moved into the fray, replacing the downed Izil. One of his axes struck the beast, causing 15 damage. On his third action, both axe heads bit into the creature¡ªthe sequence of three hits enough to see it collapse to the ground. It took Wilson an action to move across to the last warg standing, which was now surrounded. His final strike landed, and the warg was reduced to 14 hit points. The creature tried to escape, lashing out at Twerk. Its claws failed to penetrate his breastplate. Its second swipe connected with his arm and caused 4 damage. Ashlyn¡¯s thrust with Greenblade penetrated its hide. It sank to the ground, dying. A final strike finished it. She wasted no time in moving over to the surviving warg, laid out next to Izil. She claimed that kill as well. The green gem in her sword¡¯s hilt slowly faded, and the action round came to an end. Usa immediately rushed to his brother¡¯s side. Ashlyn took a look, wincing as she saw the parallel gouges across the side of the boy¡¯s head where the warg¡¯s claws had connected. If they had Femke with them, she would have been able to heal Izil. Without a medic, it looked touch and go whether he¡¯d make a recovery on his own. Another hit point or two, and there would have been no chance. Ashlyn and Twerk muttered a few empty words, then left the brothers, surrounded by the three huge warg carcasses. The Bowman came sliding down the rocks after them. They still had a den to find. They walked around the rocks, to the other side. Here, a shallow cave had the smell of wargs, and the gnawed on bones of a recent meal. There were no more creatures lying in wait for them. ¡®Only three,¡¯ Ashlyn commented. ¡®Not much of a pack.¡¯ ¡®The locals suggested they were escapees from the goblin horde, somewhere out west,¡¯ said Wilson. ¡®Who knows. There may have been more at one time. But it was the three of them who chased us when we were here. It felt like we didn¡¯t have a chance that day.¡¯ ¡®You wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance, just the two of you,¡¯ Ashlyn said. ¡®Your axes dealt with them, but only after Usa and Izil soaked up their first attack.¡¯ ¡®That sword of yours did some mighty work ¡¯n all.¡¯ ¡®You noticed?¡¯ Ashlyn put a hand to the hilt. ¡®It¡¯s for fighting monsters,¡¯ she explained. ¡®Wow!¡¯ Christoph exclaimed. ¡®Does that make you a monster hunter?¡¯ ¡®I suppose so. I mean, maybe.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s pretty amazing. And I guess we should call you ¡°Greenblade¡± from now on. Now we know the sword works.¡¯ ¡®Greenblade?¡¯ Twerk repeated. ¡®She gets to be called Greenblade, while I get Twerk?¡¯ Ashlyn shrugged. ¡®We don¡¯t choose our own nicknames.¡¯ The gnome looked set to retort, when a frown came to his face. ¡®What was that noise?¡¯ He moved carefully into the cave, searching for something. Then Ashlyn heard it. A growl. She drew her sword and joined him. A small warg¡ªprobably a pup, even though it was the size of a normal hound¡ªfaced off against Wilson, its hackles raised, showing its vicious teeth. Twerk eyed her drawn sword. ¡®You¡¯re not going to kill the thing, are you?¡¯ Ashlyn considered it. ¡®I dunno. Our mission is to destroy the den.¡¯ ¡®Yes, but you can¡¯t kill this little fella.¡¯ He picked it up. ¡®Ouch! It¡¯s alright, he only nipped me.¡¯ Blood was pouring from one of the gnome¡¯s fingers. ¡®He didn¡¯t mean it.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m pretty sure it did mean it,¡¯ Christoph said. ¡®I think I¡¯ll call him Sharptooth,¡¯ Twerk said, with a little smile. It was slow going on the route east to Stocksby. The terrain was rugged. At least Twerk seemed to remember the way. But he insisted on regular stops for Sharptooth. ¡®He gets tired easily,¡¯ he insisted. The little fucker doesn¡¯t get tired of nipping at my heels, Ashlyn dearly wanted to say. Then there was Izil. He had gained consciousness and could walk, suggesting he was tough enough for mercenary life. His brother took good care of him. When he wasn¡¯t looking after Izil, Usa¡¯s eyes were wandering to Greenblade. Ashlyn didn¡¯t think it was pure avarice that motivated him; doubted he meant to steal it from her. But like most warriors, he was obsessed with swords, and a magic one was the ultimate status symbol. Finally they arrived, sore and bedraggled. The villagers gathered around, and Christoph dropped a sack onto the central green. ¡®You won¡¯t want to see this, Sharptooth,¡¯ Wilson muttered, taking the creature away. Christoph tipped the three warg heads onto the ground, and the villagers cheered with relief. MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: Warg den was destroyed Some of your mercs improved their stats: Twerk: Agility +1 The Bowman: Intellect +1 Ashlyn: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 Izil: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 No mercs levelled up Chapter 43 Retrieve Clara Foberoy Part One Mercs: Wade | The Baron | Mags | Murder | Auntie | Mila Character Sheets:
Wade
Name Trent Wade
Nickname Wade
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 35
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 10
Grit 11
Intellect 5
Skills Thievery, Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour Padded
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Necklace of Agility (+2 agility)
The Baron
Name Unknown
Nickname The Baron
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 31
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 3
Hit Points 15
Core Stats
Might 6
Agility 12
Grit 6
Intellect 11
Skills Thievery, Disguise, Knives (proficient), Swords (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Short sword (damage 1-6), Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour Leather
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Coin of Deception, Amulet of Disguise
Mags
Name Magnus Nold
Nickname Mags
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 28
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 15
Core Stats
Might 6
Agility 5
Grit 7
Intellect 6
Skills Thievery, Ambidextrous, Dagger (competent)
Equipment Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour None
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
Murder
Name Unknown
Nickname Murder
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 34
Daily Wage 1 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 1
Action Points 2
Hit Points 12
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 4
Grit 2
Intellect 1
Skills Staves (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Stick (damage 1-3)
Armour None
Other
Auntie
Name Femke Gerd
Nickname Auntie
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 48
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 6
Grit 13
Intellect 11
Skills Medic, Staves (novice), Bows (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Cudgel (damage 1-4), short bow (1-6)
Armour Padded
Other Medical kit, Potion of Healing
Mila
Name Liudmila Stradenko
Nickname Mila
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 20
Daily Wage 3 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 14
Core Stats
Might 4
Agility 10
Grit 8
Intellect 5
Skills Thievery, Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour Padded
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Medical kit
¡®The usual?¡¯ the barmaid at The Cracked Nuts asked him. ¡®Please.¡¯ ¡®And for your wife, too?¡¯ ¡®Eh?¡¯ ¡®Is your wife in?¡¯ ¡®Oh, yeah. Same for her as well, please.¡¯ Wade took the ales to his table, handing Femke her drink. ¡®Cheers!¡¯ ¡®Cheers,¡¯ she said, clinking mugs and taking a healthy glug. ¡®It¡¯s not bad.¡¯ ¡®Tastes even better knowing Stiff is paying for them.¡¯ Stiff had given Wade expenses for their mission to Dorwich City. The mercenary leader probably hadn¡¯t intended for his coin to get spent on beer. But there was a reason why Wade and Femke had been spending money here the last few nights. It wasn¡¯t long before the day shift came in. Wade had spent the first couple of days in the city simply observing the comings and goings at what the locals called Blairs Palace. It was more of a mansion than a palace. But that was beside the point. Wade had soon picked up on the routines of the guards who controlled entry. The guards on day shift finished late in the evening, and invariably took their supper together at The Nuts. Wade and Femke had made their acquaintance a few nights ago. They¡¯d played it very carefully, not arousing any suspicion¡ªgetting a little more friendly each night. Tonight was the night to go for it. ¡®Welcome, welcome!¡¯ Wade cried as they entered. ¡®Let me get you boys a drink.¡¯ ¡®You were buying last night, Kent,¡¯ one of them resisted weakly, using the name Wade had given them. ¡®I know but it¡¯s a special night tonight,¡¯ Wade said. ¡®My old dad¡¯s birthday. He always liked a celebration. Tell me you¡¯ll have a drink with me.¡¯ Very few people resist a free drink. The guards at Blairs Palace were not amongst that special group. Wade kept the chat and the beers flowing. Femke was just the right balance between friendly and flirty. The guards forgot about getting supper. They just kept drinking. ¡®You know,¡¯ one of them said to Wade, already slurring his words and speaking louder than he realised. ¡®You are one lucky fella, Kent. That wife of yours is something else. Ever thought of sharing her with a close friend?¡¯ ¡®I haven¡¯t. But I¡¯ve heard that girl over there is very generous when it comes to sharing.¡¯ He pointed at Mila, drinking at the bar. ¡®Is that right?¡¯ ¡®Aye. Very pretty, don¡¯t you think?¡¯ ¡®She¡¯s got generous assets, for sure.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t tell the wife I said so. But honestly, if my missus wasn¡¯t here, I¡¯d be straight over there asking the lass how much she charges.¡¯ Soon after that conversation, Mags joined them. He bought yet another round of drinks. ¡®Ask me why I¡¯m feeling so generous tonight, folks,¡¯ the one-handed thief said. ¡®Go on,¡¯ Wade asked him. Mags gestured over to the far end of the lounge, where men played cards, dice, and coins. ¡®The fellow playing shufflegroat. He has a couple of tells. Sticks his tongue into the corner of his lips when he has a good hand. Screws up his nose when he¡¯s losing. It¡¯s so easy, I promise ya. And he has money to play with.¡¯ Mags produced a filthy looking purse, open for all to see. It was stuffed full of coins Stiff had given them. The palace guards accepted their drinks, but none took Mags¡¯ bait. Wade went over to the shuffleboard, where The Baron had set up a game. Murder stood to one side. He had been typecast into the role of mute bodyguard. ¡®Well?¡¯ The Baron asked, as they pretended to play. ¡®I think they¡¯ll bite when I return.¡¯ ¡®Got them drunk yet?¡¯ ¡®Oh aye, they¡¯re good and steamin¡¯.¡¯ The Baron handed over more coins, and Wade returned to his new friends to tell them how easy it was. It was when he showed them the money that the first guard cracked. ¡®I need in on this.¡¯ ¡®Come,¡¯ Wade said. ¡®I¡¯ll go over with you.¡¯ The Baron¡¯s tendency to overact worked a treat with Wade¡¯s new pal. His tongue wouldn¡¯t quit slobbering, and when he screwed up his nose, his top lip rose with it. Wade gave his friend encouraging, knowing looks. The guardsman cleaned up at the shuffleboard, winning more than Wade had. When they returned to share the good news, the other guards almost came to blows over who should go next. The Baron let the next guard win as well. He was the lusty one, and Wade was pleased to see him wander over towards Mila at the bar. It was the third guard, named Daniel, who lost to The Baron. He returned disconsolate. ¡®Did you watch carefully for his tells?¡¯ Mags asked him. ¡®Of course I did, damn you!¡¯ the guard shouted. Mags shrank away. ¡®Come now,¡¯ Wade said. ¡®Let us all go and help you win back what you have lost. I¡¯ll give you some of my winnings to play with.¡¯ ¡®Mighty good of you, Kent.¡¯ Wade, Femke, and the guards gathered around the table. The Baron¡¯s Coin of Deception, a treasure the crew had gathered from a barrow, made the thief¡¯s task effortless. However it was flipped, it would always land on the side he wanted. At first, Daniel kept winning small amounts. He risked more and more, until the coin went The Baron¡¯s way three times in a row, and he lost everything. ¡®Again,¡¯ the guard demanded. He held a hand out to Wade for more money. ¡®I can win that back.¡¯ ¡®Come now, Daniel,¡¯ Wade said. ¡®Perhaps best to quit while we¡¯re even.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m not even though, am I?¡¯ the guard snarled, his face turning red. ¡®I¡¯m down, and you¡¯re still up!¡¯ The Baron slowly pushed the pile of coins he had taken back onto the table. It sat there, a heap of gold, silver, and bronze¡ªdrawing the eye of everyone at the shuffleboard, singing its silent refrain of need and avarice. ¡®If you¡¯re struggling for funds, I would take that uniform of yours as part payment. The helmet ¡¯n all.¡¯ The palace guards were all equipped the same. Their armour was a mix of leather and ring mail, with pale blue and violet cloth. Quite dashing, to be fair. The helmet was regular looking, save for metal flaps that protected the ears and cheeks. The Baron needed a full set if he was going to get into the Blairs¡¯ place. ¡®Don¡¯t do it, Daniel,¡¯ one of the guards warned. ¡®Rylan won¡¯t be understanding if you lose your outfit. You remember why this place is called The Cracked Nuts, don¡¯t you?¡¯ ¡®I can win it back,¡¯ Daniel insisted. The Baron pointed at his mail vest, and Daniel began to strip. ¡®Fetch my helmet, will ya?¡¯ ¡®I ain''t fetching it,¡¯ said his friend darkly. ¡®Here you go!¡¯ Mags arrived with the helmet tucked under his arm. Daniel put it on the table, along with his vest and trews. ¡®Come on, then.¡¯ ¡®I said part payment,¡¯ The Baron reminded him. Wade sighed, grabbing a handful of coins from his purse and placing them with the uniform. ¡®That enough?¡¯ The Baron nodded his agreement, and they played. His victory was brutally quick. ¡®That ain¡¯t fair!¡¯ Daniel railed. He put a hand on his uniform, refusing to let The Baron take it. ¡®Mada,¡¯ said Murder, and Daniel withdrew his hand. ¡®This is your fault!¡¯ said the guard, turning on Wade. ¡®You set me up!¡¯ ¡®Set you up?¡¯ Wade retorted. ¡®It¡¯s my money you¡¯ve been losing at the board!¡¯ There was some shoving and pushing, until the other guards pulled Daniel away, back to the bar. The Baron shoved his winnings into a bag, and he and Murder left via the back entrance. Wade, Femke, and Mags didn¡¯t wait much longer before leaving. As the fresh air hit them, Mila appeared from around the corner. ¡®Well?¡¯ Wade asked. She reached into a pocket and retrieved a set of keys, jangling them. Wade grinned. They had what they needed. Best to move fast, in case any guards started to wonder about what had just happened. Chapter 44 Mission #12 Retrieve Clara Foberoy Part Two They got The Baron dressed in his disguise as quickly as possible. Wade thought it looked convincing. The amulet the thief wore would help persuade the people who mattered¡ªthe night shift¡ªthat he was one of them. It hadn¡¯t escaped Wade¡¯s attention that Stiff had given The Baron two magical items. He wondered if his gift to Wade¡ªthe Necklace of Agility¡ªwas an attempt to address the balance. Was The Baron Stiff¡¯s premier thief? While Wade had been left to run the bread and butter operations? It was an uncomfortable thought, because it had a ring of truth to it. He watched from the shadows as The Baron approached the main gates. He stopped. A conversation with the guards ensued. Only magic could convince them he was one of their own, even if he was wearing the right uniform. He entered. Wade had to hope they¡¯d allowed him entry, rather than arresting him. He turned to Femke. ¡®He¡¯s in.¡¯ The two of them walked around to the rear of the mansion. The rest of their team were waiting here for them. The first obstacle was a stone wall. They helped Wade climb it¡ªMurder¡¯s raw strength proving essential in lifting him up so he could put both hands on the top and haul himself up. Femke was next, Wade able to help pull her up. Next came a length of rope. When Murder, Mags, and Mila were ready to take his weight, Wade clambered down into the property, followed by Femke. They moved into the shelter of an out of control bush and waited, just in case they¡¯d been heard. Wade stared at the rear of the building, getting a closer view from here than the other glimpses he¡¯d got. He¡¯d not once seen activity outside, and things looked the same tonight. Perhaps, when the Blairs weren¡¯t in residence, security was more lax. He was acutely aware of Femke¡¯s presence next to him. He¡¯d enjoyed playing the role of husband and wife with her over the last few days. He¡¯d felt proud to have a woman like that by his side, even though it was a lie. How sad is that? He asked himself. He turned to her, wondering if she felt anything similar. Probably not, you eejit. Femke raised an eyebrow. ¡®Let¡¯s go,¡¯ he said. They crept towards the mansion. Wade knew instinctively where to walk to avoid anyone inside the building catching sight of them, and Femke trusted him enough to follow in his footsteps. ¡®Here,¡¯ he whispered, stopping by a tree. He pointed up to the fourth story balcony. It was impossible to climb the walls and reach it. But it was the only visible means of covert entry. Femke took the bow and Stiff¡¯s contraption from her bag. Their boss had ordered a bespoke grappling arrowhead. It consisted of three steel prongs, a hook for attaching the rope, and a hollow end to attach an arrow shaft. Wade had his doubts. ¡®I bet I could reach it just by swinging the rope.¡¯ The truth was, he was far from confident he could make that throw, even with his new necklace. And whirling a grappling hook on the end of a huge length of rope without getting seen? Not good odds. The arrowhead wasn¡¯t a bad idea for the distance they needed. It was just that Femke wasn¡¯t an experienced archer. ¡®If I can¡¯t do it,¡¯ she said, ¡®by all means, you can try that method.¡¯ ¡®Fair enough.¡¯ Wade picked up the coiled rope. ¡®I reckon The Baron might be ready now.¡¯ Femke put the strange looking arrow to her string, aimed, and released. The arrow didn¡¯t disintegrate, as Wade had feared. It sailed up towards the balcony, but died before it reached the distance, falling back to the ground with a clatter. They waited, the still night returning to silence. Their noise hadn¡¯t alerted anyone. Wade pulled the rope back in, coiling it up once more. The arrow was still intact. ¡®I need to get closer,¡¯ Femke said. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. That would mean leaving cover and standing in the courtyard directly outside the mansion, fully exposed. ¡®I don¡¯t like it,¡¯ Wade growled. ¡®It won¡¯t reach otherwise.¡¯ She didn¡¯t wait for his approval, marching into position and aiming for the balcony a second time. She was right. The hook went the full distance, over the balcony¡¯s railings. Tentatively, Wade pulled on the rope. The shaft broke free and fell to the ground, but that didn¡¯t matter. At least one of the hooks gripped tight. He gave it a full blooded yank just in case, but it held firm. Damn it. That means I have to climb up. First, he had to pull on the looped rope. The lightweight section of rope, perfect for the initial arrow shot, slid through the metal hook and returned to the ground. The thicker hempen rope it was tied to¡ªmore able to take his weight¡ªrose up to the balcony. When he had fed through the correct amount, it was time to go. He put a hand to the rope. Above, a door opened, and a figure appeared on the balcony. Wade froze. ¡®It¡¯s fine,¡¯ came a voice he recognised. Wade watched as The Baron put a hand to the grappling hook, perhaps checking it was secure. ¡®There¡¯s nothing here. Maybe it was a bird.¡¯ Wade heard a voice responding through the door, but he couldn¡¯t make out the words. ¡®Of course you get nocturnal birds. You¡¯ve never heard of a fucking owl?¡¯ Wade had never heard The Baron swear before. Clearly, he was in character. He didn¡¯t do things by half. But when the thief gave the all clear by wiggling the rope, Wade felt relieved, knowing his ascent would be covered. ¡®Good luck, husband,¡¯ Femke said, with a grin. ¡®Thank you, wife.¡¯ On impulse, he kissed her on the lips. Femke looked shocked, then smiled, and Wade was relieved to see it was a good kind of shock. He climbed. Stiff had made sure knots had been tied into the rope at regular intervals, giving him handholds, then footholds. It made the climb infinitely easier. He had to admit, the mercenary leader had some good ideas. No doubt gleaned from experience of climbing into places he shouldn¡¯t. A voice from inside the mansion again. ¡®What are you doing out there, Neal?¡¯ Who is Neal? ¡®Can a man not have a smoke in peace?¡¯ The Baron answered. He signalled for Wade to hurry. Bastard wants me to hurry myself? He just strolls into the place, while I have to climb four storeys on a damned rope. The Baron held out a hand, and Wade reached for it. Between them, they managed to haul him over the balustrade without making a racket. The Baron pointed past the far end of the balcony towards a window. It took Wade a few moments to realise what he was suggesting. A thin ledge ran from one to the other, only a few inches deep. Wade shook his head. The Baron nodded his. Wade grabbed the bastard by the guard¡¯s uniform he was wearing. ¡®I can¡¯t walk across that,¡¯ he hissed, ¡®even wearing the necklace.¡¯ The Baron gave him a surprised look. ¡®Hang walk it.¡¯ Wade stared at him. Had the bastard gone mad? He¡¯d just climbed a rope, now he wanted him to hang off a tiny ledge by his fingers and get across to a window, with a paralysing drop below? Once again, Wade shook his head. He gestured towards the open door. The Baron¡¯s eyes went wide with alarm. He shook his head and passed a hand across his throat. It was true, Stiff had told them not to kill anyone. Breaking into the Blairs¡¯ home and murdering their people was an act that would have to be avenged. They¡¯d find out who did it and come looking for them. If, instead, one of their mercs¡¯ women simply disappeared one night, no one would care for very long. Wade gritted his teeth. He didn¡¯t like being told what to do, especially by The Baron. But with great reluctance, he moved across the balcony, then climbed over the short side of the balustrade. Hanging from a baluster, trusting it with his weight, he put his left hand onto the ledge, then pressed his left foot against the wall. Just do it, he told himself. Not waiting to convince himself it was a terrible idea, he released his hold on the baluster and put his right hand onto the ledge. He didn¡¯t fall, but the pain came instantly. He was holding most of his bodyweight up by his fingers, his feet contributing little. He had to make it to the window quickly, before his strength gave out. He began to shuffle across horizontally, left hand followed by right. His feet pressed against the sheer wall, his leg muscles squeezing. But there was very little purchase for his feet. He kept going, glancing across at his destination. The more it hurt, the more the window seemed to get farther away rather than closer. His hands and arms were trembling. He heard, and felt, a pop in his left middle finger, and lost a hit point. No, he told himself. You can¡¯t kiss Femke and then have her watch you fall off this wall and end up as a wet splat on the ground. That is the most embarrassing way to go. What will they tell Eden? Chapter 45 Mission #12 Retrieve Clara Foberoy Part Three Wade forced himself to keep moving. The window opened, and the irritating head of The Baron appeared. ¡®Nearly there,¡¯ he said cheerfully. As well he might be cheerful, since he isn¡¯t the one about to break his neck. A bit farther across, and The Baron was able to put a steadying arm on Wade. Once more, he hauled him to safety. Wade wriggled through the open window and found himself in a dark room. He sensed the walls around him, telling him the room was small. That was all he was interested in for the time being. With his feet on solid ground, he sat on the floor, while his breath steadied and his fingers went from feeling like they¡¯d been ripped from their sockets to feeling like they¡¯d been crushed by a hammer. A warhammer. Wielded by an ogre. He tried clenching his left hand, but he couldn¡¯t make a fist. As he recovered, he took in the details of the room. It was dominated by a desk. It was solid, carved wood. Expensive. There were items on it. His thief¡¯s curiosity pushed the pain to the background and he got to his feet to examine them. ¡®Salvador Blair¡¯s study,¡¯ The Baron suggested. Wade didn¡¯t much care whose study it was. The desktop held parchment, books, writing tools, and other small items that would quite easily fit into one¡¯s pockets. He picked up a leatherbound book. Such things were rare, especially in Gal¡¯azu, and it would fetch a good price. ¡®I¡¯m not sure we should be stealing from the Blairs,¡¯ The Baron commented. ¡®It would raise their suspicions about a break-in.¡¯ Wade sighed, silently annoyed that The Baron was right. He returned the book. ¡®Perhaps there will be some other items of worth you can take without arousing suspicion,¡¯ The Baron said. ¡®That¡¯s a patronising sentiment,¡¯ Wade said. ¡®You¡¯re a thief as well, aren¡¯t ya? Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re above pilfering.¡¯ The Baron said nothing, somehow maintaining an air of moral superiority. ¡®Come on,¡¯ said Wade, ready for the job to be over. ¡®Let¡¯s find this girl.¡¯ ¡®The rooms belonging to The Golden Blades are mostly on the floor below.¡¯ ¡®Then lead the way.¡¯ They left Salvador¡¯s study. The corridor outside was only dimly lit, lanterns shedding enough light for the night watch to make their rounds. The Baron went ahead, strolling along like he was meant to be there. Wade followed, more furtively¡ªkeeping to the shadows. The Baron reached the stairs without incident. But once there he began to loudly greet someone coming up. Wade immediately pressed himself against the wall of the corridor. He could hear two other voices talking with The Baron. Damn it. If they come this way, I cannae evade them. He looked back down the corridor to a door he had passed. But he had no idea what might be inside. The Baron was now drawing out a long and loud farewell. I¡¯ve no choice. Wade flitted across to the door. He slowly turned the handle to avoid making a noise. The Baron was still speaking, but the conversation was one sided now. His stalling for time had come to an end. The door didn¡¯t open. Shit. Locked. Wade was quick to get one of the keys Mila had stolen into the lock. It didn¡¯t work. He tried a second. A welcome click, and he was able to push the door slightly ajar. He peered into the crack he¡¯d made. It was dark inside. He could see shelving. A store room, perhaps? That was better than a bedroom. Footsteps. He opened the door wider and snuck inside, taking care when closing it. Turning, he found himself in an armoury. Racks and shelves of weapons, armour, and ammunition¡ªwall to wall, and floor to ceiling. It was only at the very last moment, with his foot hovering over a straw mat in the centre of the room, that he pulled his leg away. His thief¡¯s instincts had kicked in just in time, while his mind slowly caught up. Unfortunately, the movement had left him unbalanced. He tried to fall softly. In doing so, he twisted the ankle of his standing leg. Wade lay still on the floor of the armoury, listening out for the arrival of the two guards, while his ankle throbbed. He heard them approaching the door. He put a hand to the hilt of his dagger. The truth was, he was in a rather compromised position to defend himself. The gods must have been looking out for him, because he heard them walk past the room. Wade returned his attention to the room he had hidden in. Why place a mat on the floor of an armoury? He got to his knees to inspect it. It wasn¡¯t attached to anything. But he caught an unpleasant whiff in his nostrils. With care, he pulled the mat aside. Sure enough, it was covering a three foot deep hole in the middle of the floor. A nasty looking spike sat at the bottom. It had been coated in excrement, or some similarly unpleasant substance. Anyone landing on it would not only receive a horrendous injury, but a probably fatal infection. The Golden Blades had gone to some effort to protect their weapons store, and with good reason. It was a treasure trove. Wade didn¡¯t have free rein to grab what he wished. But some of the smaller items quickly found their way into his pockets. He replaced the mat as he had found it, retreated to the door, and put an ear to it. The corridor was quiet. Beyond, he heard the faint sound of someone whistling cheerfully. Wade exited the room, looking along the corridor both ways. Empty. He locked the door behind him, and followed the sound of whistling all the way to the stairs. The Baron stopped his noise, gave him a brief nod, and descended. Wade followed at a safe distance, arriving on the third floor of the mansion, and another long corridor. Apparently, Clara Foberoy was likely to be in one of the many rooms. Probably asleep. But they had no idea which one. Logic suggested most were empty, since the Blades were apparently all in the islands to the south, fighting pirates. But Wade was experienced enough to know missions like this rarely went to plan. The Baron went to the far end of the corridor, and knocked on the door of the first room. Wade turned the handle of the nearest door at his end of the corridor. Unlike the armoury, it was unlocked. He crept in, scanning the room as he did. Four beds had been crammed into the small space. None of them were occupied, and the room was bare. The mercs based here had left. Wade quickly exited back into the corridor. The Baron had disappeared. Wade waited, in case something had gone wrong. His associate reappeared from the first room and gave him a thumbs down. He proceeded to knock on the next door. Wade entered his second room, only to find a similar situation to the first. He returned to the corridor to find The Baron standing in the doorway of a room in conversation with its occupant. The brief hope that it was their target died when he heard a man¡¯s voice. But the conversation sounded friendly enough, and he had little doubt The Baron would charm his way through it. Meanwhile, it gave Wade some cover to continue his own search. The third room immediately felt different. It smelled of incense, and his senses told him it was occupied. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. There were two beds. One was empty. The other wasn¡¯t. Its occupant faced him. Fortunately she was asleep. Long blonde hair splayed out on her pillow. Wade exited the room in silence. His thumbs up encouraged The Baron to extricate himself from his conversation and join him. ¡®I think it¡¯s her. She¡¯s asleep,¡¯ Wade whispered. ¡®Let me do the talking.¡¯ Wade¡¯s initial instinct was to take offence at the suggestion. On further reflection, he had to admit that was the better option. The Baron was disguised as a guard, and his amulet would convince her she knew him. And, for some reason, most women didn¡¯t take to Wade on first introduction. It usually took several meetings for them to warm to his personality. Being woken in bed by an intruder probably wouldn¡¯t have put her in the right frame of mind. Wade nodded his acceptance and re-entered the bedroom. He knew he wasn¡¯t the most sensitive of men. But he was aware there was something very wrong about the pair of them sneaking into a sleeping woman¡¯s bedroom. He had to content himself with the thought that it was all for her own good. The Baron fixed a friendly smile to his face as he woke the girl. This was slightly undermined by the hand clamped over her mouth. Her eyes went wide and she began to struggle. ¡®Shh. Don¡¯t make a noise. It¡¯s Clara, right? Nod if it¡¯s you, Clara.¡¯ She nodded, close to panic. ¡®It¡¯s alright. We¡¯re friends. We¡¯re here to protect you. But we can¡¯t have you making a noise. If you do, my friend here will have to knock you unconscious. Nod if you understand.¡¯ She nodded. ¡®I¡¯m sorry we had to burst into your room like this. I¡¯m going to take my hand from your mouth now. But remember, we need you to be quiet.¡¯ The Baron took his hand away. The girl didn¡¯t scream. He backed away. She still didn¡¯t make a sound. Wade studied her. Based on Stiff¡¯s description of Raimy Molleker, the rake who had taken her here, he expected her to be ravishingly beautiful. She was rather plain. But she smelled nice, and had the advantages of money and time to maximise her looks. She met his eyes and he looked away, a little ashamed. ¡®We¡¯ve been sent by your father to take you home, Clara,¡¯ The Baron explained. Understanding dawned on her face, and she relaxed. No doubt she had feared the worst at first. She sat up in the bed, self consciously pulling her blankets to her. ¡®He doesn¡¯t want you here any more. No doubt you already know this. He wants you back in Avolo. Obviously, it would make our lives a lot easier if you were to agree to come with us.¡¯ The girl seemed to think about it. ¡®It is rather boring here,¡¯ she said at last. Boredom wasn¡¯t the emotion Wade had been expecting. But he¡¯d take it. ¡®I am known as The Baron,¡¯ said The Baron. ¡®And this is¡ª¡¯ ¡®Hey! You¡¯re allowed to hide your identity,¡¯ Wade hissed at him, ¡®but it¡¯s alright to go telling everyone my name?¡¯ ¡®You know my name,¡¯ Clara reminded him. Wade made a sour face. But she was right. ¡®Alright. You can call me Wade.¡¯ ¡®Raimy said he would write to me every day when he was gone,¡¯ Clara said. ¡®But I haven¡¯t got a single letter.¡¯ Wade fought hard to stop his eyes from rolling. ¡®That¡¯s a rotten shame,¡¯ said The Baron. ¡®And there¡¯s barely anyone else here I¡¯m friends with.¡¯ ¡®So you think you''ll come back with us?¡¯ The Baron asked. Clara seemed to give it some more thought before making her mind up. ¡®Alright. But on one condition. Bletcher has to come with us.¡¯ Relief flooded Wade, quickly followed by suspicion. ¡®Bletcher?¡¯ Maybe it¡¯s her pet dog. ¡®He¡¯s in the cell. Down in the cellar. I can¡¯t leave him there.¡¯ Wade shot The Baron a desperate look. ¡®Oh dear. I¡¯m sorry, Clara,¡¯ The Baron said. ¡®But it would be just too difficult to rescue this Bletcher chap as well. It¡¯s really quite difficult and dangerous to get you out as it is. But I promise we¡¯ll tell your father and our boss about Bletcher. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll do their best to negotiate his release and bring him back to Avolo.¡¯ Clara eyed them with a shrewd look. All of a sudden, she looked every inch a merchant¡¯s daughter. ¡®How about this? If you don¡¯t go down with me to the cellar right now, I will scream bloody murder, and bring every guard and resident of the palace down on you so fast you won¡¯t know what hit you.¡¯ They took Clara down to the cellar. As before, Wade followed some way behind The Baron and the girl. Being the middle of the night, there wasn¡¯t much traffic to negotiate on the way down. The only interaction was with another couple of guards who were patrolling the ground floor of the mansion. Clara told them she was going to see Bletcher. They acted as if such a midnight visit was the most natural thing in the world, which struck Wade as rather odd. The Blairs¡¯ cellar was mostly full of wine. But they also had a small cell down there, made from iron bars. It was the kind of detail that made Wade compare working for the Apples with working for the Blades; and for all Stiff¡¯s imperfections, he decided he was better off with his current outfit. The cell had only one occupant. He was a one-armed man who stood facing them, as if expecting their arrival. His clothes were dishevelled, he stank, and he was plastered in dried mud. Pale blue eyes stared out from amongst the facial hair and dirt. Wade suspected that beneath the hair and grime was a relatively young man. ¡®Bletcher,¡¯ Clara said. ¡®These men have been sent by my father to rescue me and take me back to Avolo.¡¯ ¡®Rescue you? Child, don¡¯t you see? Go with them, and you will be less free than me. And I¡¯m locked in a cell.¡¯ ¡®I insisted they take you with us.¡¯ Suddenly, Bletcher threw his head back. ¡®The gods speak to me,¡¯ he gasped. ¡®Oh,¡¯ Wade said. ¡®He¡¯s one of those.¡¯ Clara gave him a salty look. ¡®The gods communicate with Bletcher via his arm,¡¯ she insisted. Wade was about to ask her which one, when she pointed at the missing one. ¡®Can¡¯t you see?¡¯ Wade could indeed see that the arm was missing. What he couldn¡¯t see was how that might prove the man could talk to supernatural beings. But in his experience there was little to gain in arguing with believers over such things at the best of times. And surely, this was not the best of times. ¡®The gods say they want you to release me from this cell and go with you to Avolo,¡¯ Bletcher declared. What a fricking surprise. Wade gave The Baron a baleful glare. ¡®Do you have the slightest doubt that we¡¯re going to regret this?¡¯ The Baron shrugged. ¡®Please,¡¯ Clara said, adding some cajoling to her earlier threat. With a deep sigh, Wade retrieved his set of keys once more and placed the first in the lock of the cell door. As soon as he heard the click, a sharp pain in his forearm caused him to gasp. A small needle had spiked him, causing a point of damage. He turned to The Baron with a resentful glare as his eyes filled with tears. ¡®That hurts.¡¯ ¡®The cell door is trapped,¡¯ Bletcher informed him. The Baron ran over to the guards stationed at the front entrance of the mansion. ¡®Bletcher has escaped from his cell! Come and help me track him down!¡¯ ¡®We¡¯re not meant to leave our post,¡¯ one of them reminded him. ¡®What do you think Rylan will do if he hears we let him escape?¡¯ To a man, the guards followed The Baron in the direction of the cellar. ¡®Remind me never to meet this Rylan bastard,¡¯ Wade muttered under his breath. With the coast clear, he led Clara and Bletcher through the main gates, then into the city. He was peculiarly short of breath, and his heart began to hammer in his chest. He shed another hit point. He was even more pleased to find Femke and the others waiting for them than he ordinarily would have been. She gasped and put a hand to her nose as she caught Bletcher¡¯s stink. ¡®Who¡¯s this?¡¯ ¡®Bletcher. And this is Clara Foberoy.¡¯ ¡®Welcome, Miss Foberoy,¡¯ Femke said. ¡®We have a boat waiting to take you to Avolo.¡¯ ¡®First,¡¯ Wade said. His legs decided to give out, and he landed on his bahootie. ¡®I think I¡¯ve been poisoned.¡¯ Femke and Mila fetched their medical kits and crouched down next to him. Femke retrieved a medium sized ceramic jar. ¡®Step one with poison,¡¯ she told Mila. ¡®Get them to drink this.¡¯ ¡®Step one is prayer,¡¯ Bletcher contradicted her. ¡®It is for the gods to decide whether he will live or die.¡¯ ¡®Since he was poisoned while freeing you,¡¯ Clara said with a fretful expression, ¡®will the gods not look kindly on him?¡¯ Wade appreciated that at least someone was showing a modicum of concern. He took the offered concoction from Femke and downed it. ¡®The gods are a mystery,¡¯ Bletcher droned on, seemingly in no hurry to actually say a prayer. ¡®They follow paths not comprehensible to mortals. Even I, a traveller amongst the stars, touched by the divine, cannot see what their plans are for this man.¡¯ He looked Wade up and down. ¡®But he¡¯ll probably be fine.¡¯ MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: Clara Foberoy was retrieved Some of your mercs improved their stats: Wade: Intellect +1 The Baron: Intellect +1 Auntie: Skill with bows: competent Mila: New skill: Medic No mercs levelled up Chapter 46 Single Missions
Finances
Income
Mission #11 ¡ê2
Mission #12 ¡ê10
Profits from The Rose 3s
Expenses
Wages 15s 4p
The Golden Blades Protection 4s
Profit ¡ê11 3s 8d
Total ¡ê23 1s 3p
Lothar had money in the bank. Usa and Izil had done a reasonable job of replacing Manslayer. He could afford more mercs, if he could get his hands on them. His crew¡¯s rescue of Clara had put him in the good books of Urkal Foberoy, the city councillor. Altogether, things were looking up. Foberoy had invited him for a discussion about a spying mission, and Lothar took The Baron along. ¡®What if it¡¯s weeks long?¡¯ he asked the thief. They were nearing the street where Foberoy, along with the other richest figures in Avolo, had his house. ¡®I can do it.¡¯ ¡®Alone?¡¯ ¡®If it¡¯s a spying mission, I¡¯d be better off alone.¡¯ The Amulet of Disguise allowed the Durnishman to convince most people he was someone he wasn¡¯t. If that didn¡¯t make The Baron a perfect spy, he didn¡¯t know what else would. ¡®Those files you stole from Sal¡¯s office will prove very useful. Well done.¡¯ The Baron had handed him a roster of the mercs who worked for The Golden Blades. Even if it was incomplete, it was a treasure trove. Sal had scribbled down some attributes next to each name. Just as useful, he¡¯d recorded their daily wages. It would allow Lothar to negotiate with them from a position of strength. ¡®Good. You think you have a chance of detaching more of them from The Blades?¡¯ Lothar shrugged. ¡®Most of the rumours I get are from Rosalind. No doubt you¡¯ve heard them already.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t know Mrs De Cheney as well as you seem to think I do.¡¯ ¡®Huh.¡¯ Lothar doubted that. The Baron was acquainted with Rosalind in some way, and neither were willing to discuss it. ¡®Well, she tells me The Blades have finished mopping off the last of the resistance on the islands. They¡¯ll likely be passing through Avolo on their return to Dorwich any day now. That¡¯s my opportunity to put out feelers.¡¯ The Baron nodded. ¡®It¡¯s a dangerous game, Stiff. Challenging the Blades. The right thing to do, I have no doubt about that. But don¡¯t be surprised if you get some push back from them.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll do my best to be careful.¡¯ Foberoy invited them into his study, just the three of them. They drank whisky, and Lothar thought the lifestyle he was getting a glimpse of was one he¡¯d be able to get used to. ¡®Clara has settled back into her old life?¡¯ Lothar asked. ¡®She¡¯s fine,¡¯ Foberoy said, pulling at his moustache. He didn¡¯t seem keen on discussing his daughter any more. ¡®We¡¯ve driven the pirates out of the isles, but the diversion has allowed the Kuthenians to execute their colonisation plan. Fuyang, they call their new city. New docks, a large fleet. Everything they need to challenge Avolo. We reckon they¡¯ve pushed into the hinterland as well. But we have little reliable information. We want to place someone in the city to gather intelligence for us. How much trade are they doing? What¡¯s the city layout? Population size? Military strength? How deep into the countryside have they extended their control?¡¯ The Baron sipped at his drink. ¡®I can do all that. Given enough time.¡¯ ¡®We¡¯ll pay you for as long as you need,¡¯ said Foberoy. ¡®It won¡¯t be on the council¡¯s books, of course. But we¡¯ll get you the money. There¡¯s nothing more important than this to securing our future.¡¯ ¡®You think it could come to war?¡¯ Lothar asked him. ¡®I hope not, but I¡¯m willing to prepare for the worst. So far, the colonisation of Gal¡¯azu has been carried out by small groups. Individuals from four nations, all willing to tolerate each other, but essentially doing their own thing. The Kuthenians are different. It¡¯s all centralised. Everyone follows orders. They have paid soldiers and sailors. If it does come to war, they¡¯re better placed than us to win it. There¡¯s no guarantee that Avolo can work with the other towns and settlements. We¡¯re reliant on the Blades for our military.¡¯ He paused, speaking more softly when he resumed. ¡®Can we trust the Blairs to fight for us if things get hard? Or will they switch over to the Kuthenians if they get a better offer?¡¯ A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡®I see,¡¯ Lothar murmured. He hadn¡¯t fully realised that things might get quite so bad. ¡®On that note,¡¯ Foberoy said, ¡®I have another mission for your crew. We¡¯d have asked the Blades to deal with it before now.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m listening.¡¯ ¡®Outlaws. Relatively small scale stuff, raiding farms and smaller settlements. Probably only about ten of them. They retreat into The Swamp, where they must have a hideout. No one knows where.¡¯ ¡®The money?¡¯ ¡®Five shillings per head. Each head needs to be delivered to the council. We need to be seen to be providing law and order.¡¯ Lothar thought about it. It would keep his mercs occupied. He worried about Usa and Izil¡ªthe thought that the Blairs might want to punish them for switching to The Apples had crossed his mind. On the other hand, sending his team slogging through swampland they didn¡¯t know was dangerous. If only that damned fool Jaelin hadn¡¯t gone off looking for the third barrow against his wishes. He¡¯d have been the ideal leader for such a task. ¡®I¡¯ll shake on it,¡¯ he said to Foberoy, offering his hand. ¡®Both missions.¡¯ Urkal took his hand and shook. ¡®I¡¯m going out on a limb entrusting you with all this,¡¯ he said. ¡®Don¡¯t let me down.¡¯ *** Now that he had discovered the aboveground portions of the barrow, Jaelin felt stupid for not identifying it earlier. He had crisscrossed the area around it several times. The mound itself was quite small, which hadn¡¯t helped. On top of it was a circle of standing stones. He discovered the remains of three creatures inside the circle. They had been there long enough to desiccate into skeletons; but some of their outer garments remained. Smaller than most humans, he wondered if they were goblins. He could see no trauma on their bodies, and no other evidence to suggest how they died. None of the stones were large, and to be fair to his scouting skills, they were hidden by dense foliage which had obviously encroached over the years. Two paths had once led up to the stones¡ªboth had barely survived. When he followed them, each path led to a second and third set of stones¡ªthe same size, number, and arrangement as those atop the barrow. They, too, were linked by an old path. What purpose these stones had once held was almost certainly lost to the mists of time. The only thing Jaelin could say for sure¡ªand using the word ¡®sure¡¯ didn¡¯t seem quite right¡ªwas that the whole area gave him a unique sense of peace. Certainly, he hadn¡¯t felt anything like it at the other two barrows. The first, close to a warg den and filled with skeletons, had carried a sense of foreboding. The hill fort, which he had passed on the way here, seemed to him a man made blot on the landscape. Perhaps it was because he was alone in the glorious wilds. But this third barrow seemed to offer him protection. He was almost loath to leave it behind, and seriously considered breaking through the stone entranceway and entering alone. But there had been a lingering magic at the first barrow. What if this sense of peace he felt was a trick, to lure him in? The sensible thing was to return with help. Jaelin left the barrow, retracing his steps southeast. He stopped once more at the hillfort, now commanded by a second Redblade. He knew Stiff would be grateful for an update. The new wielder of the magic sword, formerly named Pavel, welcomed him for the night. He was keen to give him the latest news. The goblins had returned, but the hill fort¡¯s occupants had seen them off. Jaelin doubted it had happened quite so heroically as Redblade recounted it. But it had happened, and he promised he would tell Stiff about it all when he saw him. Next morning, after paying his respects at Manslayer¡¯s grave, he journeyed to Eisenberg. He found the settlements between the two locations were thriving. The town was also doing well. Its mayor, Steben, had regained the day to day control of things. The smith, Henrik, had crafted an impressive collection of armour and weaponry, waiting for Stiff¡¯s inspection. But Stiff had not yet returned to the town. Jaelin was disappointed to find his companions had gone too. Absence from them had made him think all the more fondly of Ashlyn, Wilson, Christoph, and the others. Steben and Henrik could offer little about their likely whereabouts. Avolo was the obvious destination, and so Jaelin decided against staying in the town, preferring to make good time. He walked until sunset, and slept under the stars. By late afternoon the next day, he had arrived in the city. Not a lot seemed to have changed in Avolo. Every previous time he had returned, the population had grown during his absence. This time, he saw no evidence of that. On his way to The Rose, he came across several posters, hand written on parchment. He had never seen such a thing in Gal¡¯azu before. Most people could not read, for a start. For someone to have gone to such trouble and expense, suggested it was important. They all read the same, in the same handwriting. WANTED Escaped dark sorcerer Goes by the name Bletcher Dangerous, do not approach Report his whereabouts to The Golden Blades Significant reward for useful information ¡®A sorcerer?¡¯ he repeated out loud, unable to repress a shudder. This was a development, and an unwelcome one. He¡¯d hoped Gal¡¯azu, for all its imperfections, would be free of such perils. He decided to unpin the poster and take it with him. The Rose was busy, without being hectic. Suzie had him sat down with food and drink. Before long, she had fetched Stiff, who joined him at table. ¡®Jaelin,¡¯ the mercenary captain said, eyeing him carefully. ¡®What does your return portend, I wonder?¡¯ ¡®I found the third barrow.¡¯ Stiff tried to play it cool, but he couldn¡¯t hide the eager look in his eyes. ¡®I¡¯m sorry for going off alone. Against your wishes.¡¯ ¡®I didn¡¯t like it. For your own safety as much as anything. But maybe I need to start trusting my crew a bit more. It looked like you were the first to find it?¡¯ ¡®Most definitely. It¡¯s ready for exploration whenever The Rotten Apples are ready.¡¯ ¡®Good. That¡¯s very good. Anything else?¡¯ ¡®The hillfort is secure. Saw off a goblin attack recently. Easily enough, it seems. Eisenberg and its dependencies are doing well.¡¯ ¡®Excellent. I appreciate you looking out for them. Jaelin, you returned at an opportune moment. I¡¯ve sent the crew out to The Swamp on a mission. Some outlaws that need bringing to justice. They¡¯re only a day¡¯s journey ahead of you.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t do killink.¡¯ Stiff held his hands up. ¡®I know, I know. But they¡¯re liable to get lost and drown in a bog. Wilson and the others barely found the warg den without you.¡¯ ¡®Alright,¡¯ Jaelin relented. ¡®I¡¯ve kind of missed them. I¡¯d feel guilty if they all died.¡¯ ¡®Thank you.¡¯ ¡®Oh. One more thing. I found this. Just gone up, by the looks. In case you hadn¡¯t seen them.¡¯ Stiff took the poster and read it. It took him a long time, and so Jaelin witnessed his reaction to the words, as his eyes widened in surprise, and his mouth twitched in worry. ¡®I take it you know this dark sorcerer named Bletcher?¡¯ Jaelin asked him, a little taken aback that Stiff had come across him. ¡®Aye. Well, sorta. Might just be that it was your colleagues in The Rotten Apples who sprung him from his cell.¡¯ Chapter 47 Mission #13 Kill Outlaw Gang Part One MERCS Twerk | The Bowman | Greenblade | Usa | Izil | Auntie | Mila | The Explorer Character sheets:
Twerk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname Twerk
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 50
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 7
Grit 5
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axes (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Hand axe (damage 4-24), Hand axe (damage 4-24)
Armour Breastplate, helmet
Other
The Bowman
Name Christoph Gerd
Nickname The Bowman
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 19
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 8
Grit 5
Intellect 5
Skills Bows (competent), Knives (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Short bow (damage 2-12), Dagger (1-4)
Armour Padded
Other Arrows of Conflagration
Greenblade
Name Ashlyn Sawrey
Nickname Greenblade
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 21
Daily Wage 9 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 9
Grit 9
Intellect 9
Skills Swords (proficient), Shields (proficient), Knives (competent) Spears (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Greenblade, Monsters only To Hit +4 & Damage +8, damage 3-24), Knife (damage 2-8), Short spear (damage 1-6), Shield (damage 3-9)
Armour Leather
Other
Usa
Name Usain Bizra
Nickname Usa
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 23
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 8
Grit 8
Intellect 5
Skills Spear (proficient) Shield (competent) Sword (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Spear (short, damage 3-18) Shield (damage 2-6) Sword (short, damage 2-12)
Armour Ring Mail, (+Shield)
Other
Izil
Name Izildra Bizra
Nickname Izil
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 19
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 17
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 7
Grit 7
Intellect 4
Skills Spear (competent) Shield (competent) Sword (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Spear (short, damage 2-12) Shield (damage 2-6) Sword (short, damage 2-12)
Armour Padded, (+Shield)
Other
Auntie
Name Femke Gerd
Nickname Auntie
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 48
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 6
Grit 13
Intellect 11
Skills Medic, Staves (novice), Bows (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Cudgel (damage 1-4), short bow (damage 2-12)
Armour Padded
Other Medical kit, Potion of Healing
Mila
Name Liudmila Stradenko
Nickname Mila
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 20
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 14
Core Stats
Might 4
Agility 10
Grit 8
Intellect 5
Skills Thievery, Medic, Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour Padded
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Medical kit
The Explorer
Name Jaelin Topolski
Nickname The Explorer
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 26
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 20
Core Stats
Might 7
Agility 10
Grit 10
Intellect 8
Skills Scouting, Bows (proficient), Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Shortbow (damage 3-18), Knife (damage 2-8)
Armour Padded
Other Rod of Light
The Explorer¡¯s arrival in the squad provided some much needed direction. He was the only one who had travelled in The Swamp before. To Mila¡¯s eyes, it was a monochrome landscape of unpleasant smells and bogginess. If she were an outlaw, she would sooner hand herself in and face the consequences than spend her days in this quagmire. It became apparent that Jaelin did not see it like that at all. He seemed to understand how the land worked, taking them from one dry plot to the next, examining the locations their quarry might have passed through, or stopped to rest. These little islands amongst the marsh were a respite from the mud and brackish water that sapped at their energy. It was getting dark¡ªtoo dark to see¡ªbut he kept them moving. There were grumbles of complaint now. Twerk was the loudest, though Mila sympathised. While her legs were mud-splattered, the muck reached his chest in places. He was proud, and stubborn, and she could see the shame on his face when one of the Alinko brothers offered him the butt of their spears, which they used to pull him free whenever he got stuck. The Bowman whispered to Greenblade, and she cleared her throat. ¡®Might this not be a good place to camp for the night?¡¯ Ashlyn asked Jaelin. He turned to look at her with a blank expression, as if he had forgotten he had company. ¡®Yes. Of course. Please make a start. I¡¯m nearly done.¡¯ The others dropped their packs to the ground with relieved groans, rubbing at shoulders and stretching backs. But Mila was intrigued by her countryman, and accompanied him farther. He took his rod in hand and shone the light ahead. With a gasp of pleasure, he picked out the remains of a campfire. He studied the blackened remains, then circled around it. ¡®You can tell how many people sat by the fire,¡¯ Mila realised. He looked at her with his green eyes. Again, it was as if he was surprised to find her there. She liked his eyes. They looked at her just the same as they looked at everyone else. Without lust, or judgement. ¡®About ten.¡¯ ¡®They¡¯re the outlaws we¡¯re after?¡¯ ¡®Yes. There¡¯s no one else out here.¡¯ How did he know that? ¡®What else can you tell from looking at their camp?¡¯ ¡®They were here last night. We¡¯ll catch up with them tomorrow.¡¯ ¡®How is it you can tell all that? It¡¯s like magic.¡¯ He gave her a quizzical look. ¡®How is it you have the skills of both a thief and a medic? You are far more impressive than I.¡¯ Mila was taken aback. It was nonsense, of course. Ordinarily, she would have assumed he was offering false praise to charm her into bed. But she knew well enough when a man was interested in her. And he wasn¡¯t. They returned to the squad, and everyone readied themselves for a night in the open. Femke, Ashlyn, and Mila claimed a patch of grass that was for women only, where they might do their business. But it was an artificial exercise, since there was nowhere private in the flat landscape. The Explorer shared his discovery with the rest of the group as they settled down for a sleep out in the open. The prospect of a battle tomorrow created a sombre atmosphere. ¡®Why do men become outlaws?¡¯ Christoph asked, as if blaming their quarry for the fact that they were hunting them down. ¡®People come to Gal¡¯azu with not much more than a handful of hopes and dreams,¡¯ Wilson said. ¡®Then their farm or business fails. Or they get screwed over by someone they trusted. They fall ill, or fall back on their old bad habits. And suddenly they¡¯re in a harsh land with no means of escape. They¡¯re hungry, so they steal. They¡¯re angry, and powerless, so they hurt others. They get sick in the head, and lose their sense of right and wrong. When that happens, it¡¯s too late to help them. They need to be put down.¡¯ No one said much after that. Tired, Mila lay down and rested her head on her pack. She looked across at the shadowy form of The Explorer. He was sitting on the ground, still as a statue. She derived some comfort from his presence. She wondered when he would lie down and get some rest, but she fell asleep before he moved. They had to travel with care the next morning. It wouldn¡¯t be easy to come upon the outlaws unawares in this landscape. As it happened, the terrain the outlaws had retreated into was higher and drier than elsewhere. It seemed likely this was where they had their hideout. They began to come across mallorn trees. Mila had never heard of them before. They stood alone, apart from their fellows, as if there were only enough nutrients in the soil to feed one of them. But they rose over thirty feet tall, and were wider than any tree she had come across before. They looked like they had stood here across the ages, silently observing the passing of time. Humans, in all their self important haste, must seem nothing more than a temporary, irritating interruption to their vigil. It was one of these trees that caught The Explorer¡¯s attention as he called a halt. ¡®It looks like they have carved out a shelter at the base of that mallorn,¡¯ he said quietly, pointing. Like everyone else, Mila peered over. She couldn¡¯t see what he was getting at, but by this point she trusted him implicitly. ¡®The plan?¡¯ Ashlyn said. ¡®If we go charging over, they¡¯ll almost certainly see us coming, and probably scatter. We get paid per head, in case anyone needs reminding.¡¯ Jaelin had a look of distaste on his face. ¡®Agreed. The archers should circle around and cut off any retreat. I suggest Auntie and The Bowman to the right, and I¡¯ll go to the left.¡¯ He held out both hands to indicate where they might go. ¡®Three different points should be enough to cover any attempt at retreat.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll go with you,¡¯ Mila told him. She indicated the two brothers and Ashlyn. ¡®I¡¯m no use in a shieldwall.¡¯ ¡®Very well. When I am in place, I will give a signal with the rod.¡¯ She followed the scout, treading only where he trod. Even so, she made far more noise than he did¡ªhe seemed to glide across the ground, barely touching it. He led them far away from their quarry, so that Mila nearly asked him whether he had changed his mind and decided to leave. Only when the others were long out of sight did he turn around and return towards the mallorn tree from a new direction. Mila did her best to crouch walk behind him. He stopped behind a brittle, dead looking bush, without a single leaf on it. But there was no better cover around. He used the Rod of Light to signal his position, first to Ashlyn and the others who had waited in position, then across to where he expected Auntie and her nephew to be positioned. It wasn¡¯t long before she saw figures approaching the outlaws¡¯ hideout. Ashlyn walked between Usa and Izil, all three holding spear and shield. Behind them was Twerk. He didn¡¯t have the height to stand in a shieldwall with them, and carried his trusty axes instead. There was a warning shout from the mallorn. Soon, outlaws were pouring from their den. Chapter 48 Mission #13 Kill Outlaw Gang Part Two She could see them looking around, as if expecting the very trap Jaelin had set for them. Mila forced herself still. She and Jaelin were too far away to get noticed. Ashlyn¡¯s group stopped, suddenly looking nervous. Emboldened by the prospect of a fight with good odds, the outlaws organised themselves to face the two Alinko warriors, the woman, and the gnome. They lacked shields, but all eight of them held spears, and Mila worried that would negate the defensive line her three crew members offered. ¡®Crap,¡¯ Jaelin hissed, pointing. Two more outlaws held back, in the shadow of the giant tree. They both held short bows. Mila¡¯s confidence faded. ¡®We need to help them.¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ Jaelin agreed. But they had run out of time. ACTION ROUND
Outlaws
Human Outlaw
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 14
Restricted to action rounds, Jaelin and Mila would struggle to correct their poor starting position. But they did have the advantage of going first. Jaelin took his bow in hand and ran towards the tree. It took him two action points to get into a good enough position to use it. Then he targeted the nearest outlaw archer. Taking them out of the main fight was the first priority. Mila decided to be kind and call his first effort a sighter. His second arrow struck his target, however. It took nine points of damage, leaving the archer with five left and only one action point. Mila ran, stopping next to Jaelin. With one action point left, and no bow to shoot, she felt useless. She didn¡¯t even have a shield to protect him. All she could do was stand there, dagger in hand. Ashlyn, Usa, and Izil formed their shieldwall, spears at the ready to interrupt the outlaws'' attack. Next came The Bowman, not much closer to the action than Jaelin and Mila had been. It also took him two action points to reach a good spot, by which point he only had one chance to hit. His arrow thunked into the mallorn¡¯s trunk. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Auntie joined him. She compensated too far in the other direction, her shot going wide. It was now the outlaws¡¯ turn, and Mila knew her squad was in trouble. The first archer took his one shot at Jaelin. Mila was relieved to see it hit the dirt before it reached them. The second, still with all his action points, took aim at The Bowman. The arrow struck him so powerfully in the chest it floored him. The head sliced through his padded armour, dealing ten damage. With Christoph on the ground, the archer targeted Auntie. His second arrow struck her in the thigh, taking her down to 17 hit points. The remaining eight outlaws closed on the Apples¡¯ shieldwall. The first thrust slipped through Usa¡¯s defences, taking two hit points. Ashlyn failed to stop the second, taking the same damage. Izil lost four. Usa managed to take the fourth strike on his shield. Ashlyn avoided the fifth. Izil was caught on the hand and lost another hit point. A long gash up Usa¡¯s leg took him down to fourteen. Ashlyn¡¯s leather armour took most of the final blow, taking her down to eighteen. The three of them had taken the initial blows from the outlaws and held the line. It gave them each an interrupt hit¡ªa golden chance to strike back. Usa made his count, ramming his spear through his opponent¡¯s hide armour, causing nine damage. Ashlyn fumbled her strike, the spear thrust jarring her arm, causing her to drop the weapon. Izil¡¯s opponent blocked the younger brother¡¯s thrust. Seven of the outlaws still had a final action. Usa took a blow to the head, losing six hit points. Ashlyn defended with her shield. Izil blocked with his spear. Usa produced a vital shield block. Ashlyn missed a low blow which dealt three damage. Izil took a spear blade to the guts, doubling over in pain. The final blow on Usa¡¯s shoulder sent him sprawling to the ground. With four hit points left, he was barely conscious. The shieldwall was broken, and the outlaws had come close to killing them. Mila knew they would finish the job in the next round. She ran for the wounded archer, knowing it was unlikely she would be able to land a blow. But if she could occupy him, she would free her crewmates to deal with the greater threat. It took her two action points to reach him. She stabbed him. He tried to block with his bow stave, but she reached underneath, and her blade sank home. He lost four hit points and collapsed, unconscious. Jaelin needed to use his first action point to make up ground on the line of outlaw spearmen. His proficiency with the bow gave him a shot for each of his three remaining actions. Two arrows hit, enough for one kill. Christoph was badly hurt, but he managed to get to his knees and fire off one shot. It landed nowhere near the target. His aunt got off two shots. The first whistled past the outlaw archer¡¯s ear. The second took him in the shoulder, dropping him down to six hit points. Ashlyn still had three action points. With one fluid motion she drew Greenblade and let fly. She only connected with the sword once, but it was an outright kill. In the tight space of the melee, her shield proved just as effective. Two heavy strikes knocked another outlaw unconscious. Both Usa and Izil had sustained injuries that restricted them to one action. They missed with their spear thrusts, but like Ashlyn used their shields well. Two of the outlaws were taken down to 11 hit points. Twerk, protected behind the shieldwall in the first round, slid between Ashlyn and Izil, his axes whirring. The outlaws simply couldn¡¯t stop him. After three actions, three outlaws lay dead. His eighth strike was the first to miss, but his seventh had already accounted for a fourth outlaw. Only one spearman was left¡ªthe heavily wounded outlaw who had taken a spear blow from Usa. Twerk struck again, and a limb went flying into the air. For a moment, time stood still, as all eyes were on the devastation Wilson had caused. Of the spearmen, seven were dead, one was unconscious. Of the archers, the first was unconscious, the second had six hit points left. He turned and ran. But with only one action point left, he didn¡¯t get very far. Jaelin¡¯s first shot took him in the back, and the fight was over. The Explorer walked away. Mila didn¡¯t know why at first. Then the gnome dispatched the two outlaws who still clung to life, before beheading the corpses. MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: The outlaw gang was killed Some of your mercs improved their stats: Usa: Skill with shields: proficient Mila: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 The Explorer: Intellect +1 No mercs levelled up Chapter 49 More Recruits
Finances
Income
Mission #13 ¡ê2 10s
Wade enterprises 1s
Profits from The Rose 3s
Expenses
Wages 8s 6p
The Golden Blades Protection 4s
Profit ¡ê2 1s 6d
Total ¡ê25 2s 9p
¡®I feel responsible,¡¯ Lothar explained to Rosalind. They were drinking in The Sailor¡¯s Knot. For some reason, he didn¡¯t want to have this conversation in The Rose. ¡®My people can probably track him down, if he¡¯s still in the city.¡¯ ¡®Wade can probably track him down. It¡¯s what we do when we find him that I¡¯m concerned about.¡¯ Rosalind thought about it. He didn¡¯t completely trust her. He¡¯d learned not to completely trust anyone. But he respected her intelligence. ¡®I think you should recruit him.¡¯ ¡®Recruit him? I was thinking more along the lines of slitting his throat.¡¯ She gave him a stern look. ¡®A wizard could be very useful to you. It would enhance your squad. Who knows what dangers they will face in the future? And don¡¯t forget, The Blades had him in their cell. They didn¡¯t kill him. No doubt they intended to use his powers in some way.¡¯ ¡®But he¡¯s a dark sorcerer. What if he does something to my mind? I don¡¯t want to be controlled.¡¯ He shuddered at the thought. Rosalind picked up the poster The Explorer had given him. ¡®The Blades claim he¡¯s a dark sorcerer. They¡¯re probably just saying that to get him back. If he¡¯s really so terrifying, why would they be trying to retrieve him?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s all very well being reasonable, and using logic,¡¯ Lothar complained. ¡®But I¡¯ve got a bad feeling. Here,¡¯ he added, putting a fist to his chest. ¡®At your age, that¡¯s probably just indigestion. Look, you¡¯re going to have to get over your aversion to magic. Now is as good a time as any.¡¯ ¡®Will you come with me?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea.¡¯ ¡®Not a good idea for you, I¡¯m sure! Sending me on my own without any backup doesn¡¯t seem like it¡¯s in my interests.¡¯ ¡®Is that really what you think of me, Stiff? That I¡¯m a coward, who wouldn¡¯t help you if I could?¡¯ ¡®No.¡¯ That wasn¡¯t what he thought at all. The truth was he admired her¡ªso much, in fact, that he didn¡¯t dare tell her. ¡®It¡¯s just my nerves talking.¡¯ She didn¡¯t say a word. Her face was an expressionless wall. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡®Alright. I¡¯ll speak with him.¡¯ Wade told him it wasn¡¯t hard to find Bletcher. He was living rough in a patch of wasteland not far from the docks. It seemed he held court amongst the homeless of the city. When Lothar approached, they shuffled away, leaving just the two of them alone. Pale blue eyes looked out from the grime and stink. They were unnatural eyes. The kind of eyes that could see inside someone¡¯s head. ¡®I¡¯m Stiff. It was my people who freed you from The Golden Blades.¡¯ Bletcher just stared at him. ¡®In Dorwich City.¡¯ ¡®Ah. Lothar ¡®Stiff¡¯ Sauer. I knew you would come.¡¯ ¡®Did you now? Then you probably know why. I¡¯m offering you a place in my squad. You¡¯d work for me. Doing whatever missions I send you on.¡¯ ¡®I work for no mortal man. I do the gods¡¯ bidding.¡¯ ¡®I see. Well, you wouldn¡¯t work for me, exactly. I would pay you for each mission. Maybe the gods bid you to do this?¡¯ ¡®Maybe. Pay me, you say? I require two pounds for each mission.¡¯ ¡®Well. How about you let me check your stats? I can tell you how much you¡¯d get paid.¡¯ ¡®Very well.¡¯ Lothar quickly scanned down the column. He wasn¡¯t interested in the basic stats, though Bletcher¡¯s age caught his eye. Twenty? He looks at least a decade older. He fixed on the magic stuff. He¡¯d never studied the stats of a magic user before. It wasn¡¯t very detailed. Under Arcane Powers were only two attributes, and no numbers. Beneath the first, Sanctity, it simply said ¡®Touched¡¯. Beneath the second, Erudition, it said ¡®Dolt¡¯. He¡¯s a Touched Dolt? I¡¯m left none the wiser about his powers. Except for a general impression that he¡¯s useless. This impression was confirmed when he saw the recommended wage. It was lower than most of his crew. ¡®I can pay you sixpence per day. I will also provide you with a magic staff to use, free of charge.¡¯ ¡®A magic staff? That would be very useful. In case you hadn¡¯t noticed, I only have one arm. The gods took my other one.¡¯ ¡®I had noticed. Does that mean we have a deal?¡¯ Bletcher reached out with his one arm, offering his hand. It was the dirt, more than the fear of the wizard¡¯s psychic powers, that stopped Lothar. ¡®That¡¯s not necessary.¡¯ ¡®Then let me give you a gift, in exchange for this staff of yours.¡¯ Bletcher reached under his garments and produced the oddest item Stiff had ever seen. Bits of straw had been folded over and tied. There were sticks, pieces of broken pottery, and other odds and ends, bound inside. The thing had a handle, which looked like it had once been part of a hairbrush. Lothar took the object, at a loss for what to do or say. He decided to put it into his cloak pocket. ¡®Thank you.¡¯ Bletcher held out a hand. ¡®That will be two pence.¡¯ Grumbling to himself, Lothar found two coins and placed them in the wizard¡¯s palm. At this point, he just wanted the meeting finished. ¡®I¡¯ll send for you when there¡¯s a mission. You¡¯ll come to The Rose, where you¡¯ll be given a free bath before you set out.¡¯ Bletcher wasn¡¯t the only potential recruit Lothar was interested in. When The Golden Blades had passed through Avolo on their way back to Dorwich, he¡¯d put out feelers to see if he could detach any of the less committed mercenaries from the Blairs¡¯ company. He¡¯d told Wade, Mila, and Mags to be subtle about it, so that the Blairs didn¡¯t get wind of his attempt. They must have done a good job. Because only a few days after speaking with Bletcher, he met with three of them at The Rose. ¡®Fortune,¡¯ said a warrior whose black hair was streaked with grey. He had to be the same age as Lothar, and was in no better shape, if his protruding gut was anything to go by. ¡®Pecs,¡¯ said the next. He was a giant of a man, with tree trunk limbs and a huge chest, which was presumably the origin of his nickname. ¡®Georg Hoffman. Everyone calls me The Hoffmeister.¡¯ ¡®Ah. A Hargon. From the north, I would wager?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s correct, sir.¡¯ ¡®Well, thank you for hearing me out today. How were things on the islands?¡¯ he asked, fishing for the reasons they might have for jumping from The Blades employment. All three of them gave him uneasy looks. ¡®It was hard,¡¯ Fortune said at last, begrudgingly. ¡®But the Blairs paid us for our work. They always do.¡¯ Well, that line of approach didn¡¯t get me anywhere. ¡®Indeed. I like to think I also have a reputation for paying my people promptly. I also have plenty of work lined up for those who want it.¡¯ None of the three said anything to that. It was Fortune who broke the silence again. ¡®We¡¯ve heard that many in your crew have been rewarded with items. Magic swords, so the rumours say.¡¯ Ah. So that¡¯s what¡¯s tempted them to cross the aisle. ¡®It¡¯s true. There are most definitely opportunities to gain such weapons.¡¯ All three were interested now, their eyes fixed on him. ¡®Though all decisions over who gets what are reserved to me.¡¯ ¡®Of course,¡¯ Pecs said. ¡®I¡¯d expect nothing else. I¡¯d be keen to demonstrate my loyalty over time, and earn such a reward.¡¯ ¡®Well it just so happens that the next mission I¡¯ll be sending out is to explore a barrow. There¡¯s no guarantees that we¡¯ll get the same kind of haul as we¡¯ve got before, however.¡¯ ¡®I am ready for selection,¡¯ said The Hoffmeister. ¡®Are we discussing wages now?¡¯ Fortune asked. ¡®Thing is, I used to be Level Four, before my knee injury. Lost some fitness as a result, I''ll freely admit, and my stats dropped. But I¡¯m getting back into shape. I have expertise in swords and shields, and my own set of chain mail. In most respects, therefore, I¡¯m a Level Four, and would be expected to be paid as such.¡¯ ¡®But your wages take into account your skill set and items,¡¯ Lothar argued. ¡®I think it¡¯s a fair system. As soon as you get those stats back up, I¡¯d be happy to pay you on the Level Four scale.¡¯ Fortune shrugged. ¡®Fair enough. I¡¯m in as well. Happy to prove my worth to your squad.¡¯ Chapter 50 Mission #14 Explore Another Barrow Part One [Bonus - 200+ followers] MERCS: Wade | Twerk | The Bowman | Greenblade | Usa | Izil | Auntie | Mila | The Explorer | Bletcher | The Hoffmeister | Pecs | Fortune
Wade
Name Trent Wade
Nickname Wade
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 35
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 10
Grit 11
Intellect 6
Skills Thievery, Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour Leather
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Necklace of Agility (+2 agility)
Twerk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname Twerk
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 50
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 7
Grit 5
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axes (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Hand axe (damage 4-24), Hand axe (damage 4-24)
Armour Breastplate, helmet
Other
The Bowman
Name Christoph Gerd
Nickname The Bowman
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 19
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 8
Grit 5
Intellect 5
Skills Bows (competent), Knives (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Short bow (damage 2-12), Dagger (1-4)
Armour Ring Mail
Other Arrows of Conflagration
Greenblade
Name Ashlyn Sawrey
Nickname Greenblade
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 21
Daily Wage 9 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 9
Grit 9
Intellect 9
Skills Swords (proficient), Shields (proficient), Knives (competent) Spears (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Greenblade, Monsters only To Hit +4 & Damage +8, regular damage 3-24), Knife (damage 2-8), Short spear (damage 1-6), Shield (damage 3-9)
Armour Leather (+Shield)
Other
Usa
Name Usain Bizra
Nickname Usa
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 23
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 8
Grit 8
Intellect 5
Skills Spears (proficient) Shields (proficient) Swords (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Spear (short, damage 3-18) Shield (damage 3-9) Sword (short, damage 2-12)
Armour Ring Mail, (+Shield)
Other
Izil
Name Izildra Bizra
Nickname Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Izil
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 19
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 17
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 7
Grit 7
Intellect 4
Skills Spear (competent) Shield (competent) Sword (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Spear (short, damage 2-12) Shield (damage 2-6) Sword (short, damage 2-12)
Armour Ring Mail, (+Shield)
Other
Auntie
Name Femke Gerd
Nickname Auntie
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 48
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 6
Grit 13
Intellect 11
Skills Medic, Staves (novice), Bows (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Cudgel (damage 1-4), short bow (damage 2-12)
Armour Leather
Other Medical kit, Potion of Healing
Mila
Name Liudmila Stradenko
Nickname Mila
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 20
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 15
Core Stats
Might 4
Agility 10
Grit 9
Intellect 5
Skills Thievery, Medic, Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour Leather
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Medical kit
The Explorer
Name Jaelin Topolski
Nickname The Explorer
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 26
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 20
Core Stats
Might 7
Agility 10
Grit 10
Intellect 9
Skills Scouting, Bows (proficient), Knives (competent) Spears (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Shortbow (damage 3-18), Knife (damage 2-8), Short spear (damage 1-6)
Armour Leather
Other Rod of Light
Bletcher
Name ?
Nickname Bletcher
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 20
Daily Wage 6 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 3
Hit Points 15
Core Stats
Might 4
Agility 5
Grit 8
Intellect 6
Arcane Powers
Sanctity Touched
Erudition Dolt
Skills None
Equipment
Weapons None
Armour Padded
Other Staff of Warning
The Hoffmeister
Name Georg Hoffman
Nickname The Hoffmeister
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 22
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 20
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 7
Grit 8
Intellect 6
Skills Spears (proficient), Shields (competent), Hammers (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Short Spear (damage 3-18), Shield (damage 2-6), Hammer (damage 2-12)
Armour Ring Mail (+Shield)
Other
Pecs
Name Victor Balinski
Nickname Pecs
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 24
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 24
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 6
Grit 7
Intellect 4
Skills Spears (competent), Shields (competent), Polearms (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Pike (damage 2-16), Shield (damage 2-6)
Armour Ring Mail (+Shield)
Other
Fortune
Name Eddie Rich
Nickname Fortune
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 52
Daily Wage 9 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 24
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 4
Grit 12
Intellect 10
Skills Swords (expert), Shields (expert), Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (damage 4-32), Shield (damage 4-12), Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour Chain Mail (+Shield)
Other
The Rotten Apples had suddenly grown in size. No doubt Stiff was pleased. But Ashlyn didn¡¯t like it. Three of the new recruits were ex-Blades. When the thirteen of them left Avolo, they immediately kept company with Usa and Izil. It was natural enough, she supposed. But immediately, the squad felt divided. She found herself wondering who would win if it came to a fight. Usa and Izil she didn¡¯t mind. They had encouraged her to fight with a spear, as part of a shieldwall. But beyond that, they were too reserved to get close to. When the two brothers spoke with their old comrades, it wasn¡¯t long before they were glancing at Greenblade at her belt. She didn¡¯t think they were plotting to kill her and dump her in a ditch. At the same time, if she ended up in said ditch, she doubted they would care very much, except to take her sword for themselves. She and Christoph were close now. Femke, of course, was on their side. Christoph¡¯s aunt was, in turn, close with the thief, Wade. Mila and Jaelin she considered friends. Though she noticed the girl casting appreciative looks at the big man, named Pecs of all things. She and Twerk had never really hit it off. But she sensed that he was also uncomfortable with the situation. He swung between giving everyone orders, and sulking when he was ignored. Stiff hadn¡¯t put anyone in charge. He¡¯d just sent them all off to the barrow The Explorer had found. Being the only one who knew the location did give Jaelin a certain amount of authority. When they stopped for the first night¡¯s rest, she resolved to talk with the other newcomer. Bizarrely, Stiff had him bathed before they set off. Cleaned up, he looked her age, which made him more approachable. ¡®Bletcher, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ she asked him. ¡®Probably not. I answer to it,¡¯ he said. He sat cross-legged, the staff Stiff had given him laid across his legs. ¡®But the gods took my name. Most likely, at the same time when they took my arm.¡¯ Ashlyn struggled to make sense of that. ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s nothing to be sorry about. If the gods choose you, it¡¯s a wondrous thing.¡¯ ¡®I suppose.¡¯ She eyed his staff. ¡®That means you have magic? Spells, and the like?¡¯ ¡®Spells?¡¯ he repeated, as if scoffing at the idea. ¡®I have no spells. I have sight beyond sight, and knowledge beyond knowledge.¡¯ ¡®How does that work then?¡¯ He screwed his eyes at her, as if trying to figure her out. ¡®You ask all the wrong questions.¡¯ He dipped his one arm into his cloak and retrieved an odd looking item. It had been made from straw¡ªsome strands used to tie it together and shape the object. It showed some skill, especially if Bletcher had made it with only one hand. But while she could appreciate that some skill had gone into it, she had no idea what it was supposed to be. And it looked spooky. ¡®What is it?¡¯ ¡®A gift.¡¯ ¡®Oh.¡¯ She took it from him. ¡®Thank you.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re welcome.¡¯ He held out his hand. ¡®Tuppence, please.¡¯ ¡®But you just said it was a gift.¡¯ ¡®A gift I took great care over.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s not how gifts work.¡¯ She placed it on the ground between them. ¡®Either it¡¯s a gift, freely given, or an item you wish to sell. It can¡¯t be both.¡¯ He screwed his eyes at her. ¡®You see the world all wrong. An object can be two things. Just like people.¡¯ The thing¡ªit still didn¡¯t have a name¡ªlay there, demanding a response. Take me, or leave me? It asked. Pay him, or don¡¯t pay him? It was a trick; a trap; and whatever she did might be wrong. She took it, refused to pay, and left. Reaching Eisenberg reminded her of Manslayer, and a sense of loss ate at her. Still, the town seemed to be thriving. They were invited into the smithy, where Henrik had been busy since they were last there. There was a choice of weapons; even more useful, pieces of armour with which they could upgrade their current setup. Ashlyn stuck with her leather jerkin and trews, since it offered her the best combination of protection and weight. But the others said goodbye to their cheap gambesons, substituting them for leather or metal. The only one who kept their padded armour was Bletcher, and she had no desire to consider what reasons he might have for the decision. Henrik looked Pecs up and down with a wry smile. No doubt the smith only rarely met men who made him feel small. ¡®Nothing to fit you, I¡¯m afraid,¡¯ he told him. ¡®But I can take your measurements, and work on something. I¡¯d see it as something of a challenge.¡¯ ¡®I would be most grateful for your efforts,¡¯ the big man rumbled. He seemed humble enough, and Ashlyn supposed there was a chance he was alright. They dined at the Pig and Iron. Femke caught Ashlyn looking across at the table where the ex-Blades had finished their meal. Fortune and Pecs were drinking; the other three weren¡¯t. ¡®You don¡¯t trust them?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s that obvious?¡¯ ¡®Young people tend not to hide their thoughts as much as old maids like me.¡¯ ¡®Huh. You¡¯re not old.¡¯ ¡®Why don¡¯t you go over and speak to them?¡¯ Ashlyn¡¯s natural instinct was to refuse. But she didn¡¯t like the idea of ducking a challenge. She picked up her spear and strode over. ¡®These two have been trying to teach me the spear,¡¯ she said, indicating the Alinko brothers. ¡®I still suck.¡¯ ¡®May I say,¡¯ said The Hoffmeister, ¡®that is because you have selected very poor teachers. Let me instruct you.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re no better than me,¡¯ Usa responded. ¡®The mistake,¡¯ said Fortune, ¡®is less with the teacher than the choice of weapon. Why waste your time on spear lessons when you could have that beautiful sword in your hand?¡¯ There was a scraping sound as Pecs stood from the table, and claimed his pike, which he had leaned against the wall of the inn. He brandished it with a grin. ¡®Call that a spear?¡¯ He had a point. His weapon was at least twice the length. More scraping of chairs, and the lot of them were grabbing weapons and shields, then bowling outside to the dusty courtyard. They began to practise, as one emphasised the importance of a well aimed riposte; another the integrity of the shieldwall; while Fortune decried the use of such weapons as beneath him. The rest of the Apples, and a good number of the inn¡¯s customers, came out to watch them go at it. Before long, Ashlyn had a smile on her face. Chapter 51 Mission #14 Explore Another Barrow Part Two Jaelin led their party northwest from Eisenberg, past the small settlements that had sprung up recently, until they reached Redblade¡¯s fort. They brought weapons, armour, and other supplies for the new lord of the hill fort. In return, Redblade gave them hospitality, making sure they were well fed¡ªeven Pecs, who ate for three people. ¡®How goes things with the goblins?¡¯ Ashlyn asked him. ¡®They have been quieter of late. We found a battle site, where they fought against an orc band. There were many fatalities, on both sides. I think the goblins are weakened. For the time being, at least.¡¯ They rested in safety at the hill fort. Jaelin had them leave in the middle of the night. ¡®It¡¯s a long walk to the barrow,¡¯ he explained. ¡®I want us to reach it while there¡¯s still daylight.¡¯ Ashlyn walked with him for a while, observing how he was able to navigate a route even in the darkness. He looked strained; on edge. ¡®There might be creatures out there?¡¯ she whispered. ¡®Of course there might.¡¯ He looked behind him with an irritated expression. Ashlyn hadn¡¯t registered until then, but there was an almost constant accompaniment of sound behind them, even if no one in particular was being loud. Scabbards scraped against armour; shields swung on their straps; boots clumped into the ground. ¡®We¡¯re so much louder than when you travelled alone,¡¯ she realised. ¡®Stiff just sent too many of us.¡¯ Ashlyn nodded. They were well beyond the limits of civilization now. Who really knew what monsters had their home out here? She checked her sword, but Greenblade wasn¡¯t warning her of danger yet. Mila gave her a glare as she pushed by and took her place next to The Explorer. Ashlyn liked the girl, but she was a strange one. She¡¯d spent the last two days staring dreamily at Pecs, and now acted jealous that Ashlyn and Jaelin had shared a brief, hushed conversation. When the sun appeared, casting its first watery rays over the land, they could make speedier progress. The group¡¯s half asleep stumbling gave way to a sense of anticipation. Like a group of children, the mercs began asking Jaelin how close they were to their destination. Then Bletcher called a halt. Everyone turned to look at him. He stood there, a deep frown on his face; saying nothing. ¡®Well?¡¯ Twerk demanded. ¡®There are enemies near.¡¯ Knowing he held the staff from the first barrow, Ashlyn didn¡¯t waste time. She unhooked her shield, and took her spear in hand. Christoph followed her lead, stringing his bow. Others looked at Bletcher doubtfully. ¡®Where?¡¯ Fortune demanded. He cast his gaze around. There was a line of trees to the north and west, but it was still some distance away. To the east, a rise in the ground that could generously be called a hillock. Otherwise, they were in flat terrain¡ªnowhere for enemies to ambush them. ¡®The gods have not revealed their location to me.¡¯ ¡®Probably because they aren¡¯t here,¡¯ Fortune sneered. ¡®No harm in taking precautions, though,¡¯ Ashlyn said. She didn¡¯t trust Bletcher. But that didn¡¯t mean she would disregard whatever powers he might have. The Apples followed her advice, drawing their weapons. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡®Come,¡¯ said Jaelin, pointing towards the treeline. ¡®We are close.¡¯ They resumed their walk, wary now. They cast glances in Bletcher¡¯s direction. He said nothing more, but his frown never left his forehead. When they came within distance of the trees, Ashlyn received a warning of her own. ¡®Wait.¡¯ Shoving her spear blade into the ground, she slid Greenblade from its scabbard. Its gemstone glowed with a faint green light. ¡®Monsters.¡¯ ¡®In the trees,¡¯ Jaelin said. ¡®Must be.¡¯ ¡®Shieldwall!¡¯ Usa said, and four of them joined him to make a shieldwall of five, Ashlyn included. As they did, there was sudden movement. They burst from the trees in several places, so quick Ashlyn¡¯s mind reeled as it tried to assess the threat. Wargs. As big as those they had fought before. More of them. And something else. They had riders. Small, green-skinned figures. Goblins. While she processed the information, the great beasts raced towards their position. There were six mounted goblins in all¡ªenough to present a real threat, despite their own numbers. She overlapped her shield with Izil and The Hoffmeister, bracing herself for impact. But as soon as they readied themselves, the goblin riders changed direction, flowing around to the side. Christoph¡¯s arrow sailed into the empty space the wargs had vacated. ¡®Move!¡¯ Usa cried. It was a mess. A simple change of direction from the goblins led their shieldwall to collapse. Spears clunked into shields, and no one turned in the same direction as anyone else. No doubt seeing their simple tactic had worked, the goblins gave their mounts new orders, sending them into the disordered Apples. ACTION ROUND
Goblin warg riders
Goblin Rider
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 17
Wargs
Warg Mounted warg
Action Stats
Action Points 6
Hit Points 36
The wargs, fast and agile, dominated the first moments of the battle. Within two action points, five of them had got within range of an Apple. The sixth hung back, while its rider took a bow from its saddlebag. The goblins atop the beasts again demonstrated a base cunning. They ignored the five spear wielders who had failed to present a defensive block. Instead, they targeted the others, just like a predator seeks the weakest animal of the herd. Wade had placed himself between the first oncoming warg and Auntie. He now had to see off the creature and its rider, wielding only a dagger. At least he was quick. He avoided two swipes from the creature¡¯s deadly claws¡ªonly the enhancement from his necklace saving him from the second. The third clawed strike took six hit points. Having finally knocked him off balance, it sank its sharp teeth into his arm, holding him tight with its powerful jaw. Another eight hit points lost, and he was down to only eight left. The second warg attacked Twerk. Despite his size and armour, it landed three of its four blows. It took the gnome in its jaw like he was dinner, and shook. Wounds of twelve, nine, and six, tore him to shreds, and demonstrated just how dangerous the creatures were. It let go of him, and Wilson¡¯s bloody remains fell to the ground. Next was Fortune. His chain mail did nothing to stop all four attacks getting through. Hits of six, eight, six, and three left him unconscious on the ground, and bleeding from several wounds. Jaelin¡¯s new leather armour saved him from only one of the four warg attacks. He was lucky to lose only sixteen hit points. Even that left him with terrible wounds, and only just able to stay on his feet. Ashlyn felt her stomach turn to rock as the fifth warg targeted Christoph. Three of its hits got through. One too many for his meagre sixteen hit points. It took her a while to realise the screaming sound was coming from her, as his lifeless body fell to the ground. Chapter 52 Mission #14 Explore Another Barrow Part Three With the sixth warg waiting outside the melee zone, the monsters¡¯ savagery came to a temporary end. Jaelin stabbed at the warg who had him in its jaw. His knife punctured its hide, doing six points of damage. Wade tried to do the same, but neither of his dagger strikes got through. ¡®Take this!¡¯ Auntie shouted at Mila. Mila grabbed the one healing potion they had, and ran towards Christoph. Under the maw of the warg, she cradled The Bowman¡¯s head and carefully tipped half of the potion down his throat. Ashlyn instantly forgave the girl for her earlier shenanigans. But that wasn¡¯t all. As Christoph¡¯s hit points recovered to four and he sat up, she ran towards Twerk. The warg lashed out as she left, its claws raking down her back and causing five points of damage. Still she ran, sinking to her knees besides the gnome as her action points ran out. With thoughts of using her spear forgotten, Ashlyn ran at the warg that stood over Christoph. That had almost killed him. With three action points remaining, she unleashed her fury. Greenblade pierced its side, halving the creature''s hit points. Her second sword strike finished it. As the warg sank to the ground, its goblin rider lurched forwards and tried to swing its feet out of its stirrups. It took Ashlyn¡¯s shield in the face, knocking its hit points to twelve. With her final action, she hacked into its neck, killing it instantly. She was relieved to see Usa put himself between Mila, Twerk, and the warg that had killed the gnome. He attacked the beast with spear and shield. His spear blade slammed into its shoulder, reducing its hit points to 23. He struggled with his second spear strike, but his shield battered its snout, taking it down to 18. Another eight points with his final attack left it on 10. The goblins went next. Usa was caught by surprise by the rider of the warg he had hurt. It lashed at him with its short spear, grazing his neck and taking one hit point. He quickly raised his shield, and successfully defended the next two attacks. The next goblin lunged at Jaelin, scoring two hits with its spear. They only amounted to three hit points, but it was too much for The Explorer. He slumped to the ground, unconscious. Wade was struck twice, for a total of eight damage. It brought his hit points to zero, and just like Jaelin, he slumped to the ground, unmoving. Sat so high on its mount, the next goblin was unable to reach the prone form of Fortune with its short spear. The final goblin able to attack was the archer. It aimed at Ashlyn¡ªher glowing blade rather drawing attention to herself. The first arrow only just got through her armour, taking a measly one hit point. The second didn¡¯t carry. Christoph scrabbled next to her, reclaiming his bow. The Hoffmeister ran over to protect his comrade, Fortune. His first two attacks completely failed. Only with his last, did he skewer the warg with his spear, reducing it to 25 hit points. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Izil joined his brother. He, too, only saw one spear strike succeed. But the eight points of damage were enough to see the warg keel over, leaving the brothers with only a goblin to fight. Pecs took his pike to fight with The Hoffmeister. His first blow wasn¡¯t true, but it had enough power to take three hit points. His second strike was better, puncturing the beast and causing nine further damage. Blows from pike and shield reduced its hit points again, to five. His last pike thrust missed, but an overhead blow with his shield on the top of the creature¡¯s head sent it to the ground, and it didn¡¯t get up. Auntie faced off against the mounted warg that had all but killed Wade. With a cudgel. In fairness, a couple of her strikes landed. They just didn¡¯t hurt the thing. Bletcher looked quizzically at the warg that stood over the prone form of The Explorer, wondering if the beast truly wanted to harm them. The warg turned away from Jaelin, transferring its attention to the warg rider who faced Auntie. It loped towards him. ¡®No!¡¯ its rider cried, yanking at the reins. To no avail. It lashed at the other rider, knocking it from its seat onto the ground. The goblin defended itself with its spear, yelling at the beast to stop, while its comrade continued to pull at the reins. The warg continued to attack, taking its target down to six hit points. The second warg, relieved of its rider, turned its attention to its rogue companion, leaving Auntie completely forgotten. It looked bemused, unsure what to do or whose side it was on. At last, Mila was able to administer the second half of the potion to Twerk. Ashlyn wasn¡¯t convinced it would do any good. The girl looked up at Femke. ¡®He¡¯s not waking!¡¯ she shouted. ¡®Use the medical kit now,¡¯ Auntie shouted back to Mila. ¡®Patch up those wounds.¡¯ Ashlyn resolved to turn the tide of the battle while the enemy was distracted. She joined The Hoffmeister and Pecs, who now faced off against the goblin unseated from its mount. Her first strike with Greenblade took it down to eight hit points. After a miss, she slid the sword into its guts and it died impaled on her blade. Usa also faced a goblin enemy. He only needed two action points to dispatch it. He wasted no time in coming at the rogue warg from behind. Using the butt of his spear, he knocked its rider from its seat. The goblin archer decided to act. Three of its comrades were dead, and two were sprawled on the ground, in danger. Its warg sprang into action, making up the intervening space with two actions. Its rider helped its fallen cronies onto its mount. Evidently deciding enough was enough, it sped away. Christoph got to his feet. ¡®What now?¡¯ he asked, unsure whether to use his bow. ¡®Hold fire,¡¯ Usa said. ¡®I don¡¯t think we¡¯re in danger any more.¡¯ Femke got to her knees, unpacked her medical kit, and began to attend to Wade. The two wargs who remained standing, were on full hit points, and thirty hit points respectively¡ªcapable of doing serious damage. But they seemed uninterested in attacking the Apples. They padded over to the injured wargs. ¡®Only one is dead, I think,¡¯ Izil said. ¡®Back away from the injured ones, and I think they¡¯ll leave us be.¡¯ They carried their injured squad members to Auntie and Mila. Once Wade and Twerk were patched up, they began work on Jaelin and Fortune. ¡®I¡¯m nearly out of supplies,¡¯ Mila complained, tying up a roll of bandage. Auntie looked up. ¡®Aye. Same. But I think everyone¡¯s going to make it.¡¯ Ashlyn checked on Wilson. She had seen him killed, she was sure. But now he had some colour in his face. ¡®I thought him dead.¡¯ ¡®He was, really,¡¯ Auntie said. ¡®It was only the potion that breathed life into him.¡¯ She looked across at the two wargs, who were still guarding their fallen. ¡®But that¡¯s the last one I had. Next time that happens to someone, we can¡¯t save them.¡¯ Chapter 53 Mission #14 Explore Another Barrow Part Four They were in a quandary now, and they couldn¡¯t agree on the way forward. ¡®We need to return to the hill fort,¡¯ Auntie said flatly. Ashlyn thought it would be a brave soul who argued with her. But there were plenty who lined up to do just that. ¡®We¡¯ve come all this way,¡¯ said Usa. ¡®We¡¯re so close to the barrow. What if this is our one chance of getting inside?¡¯ ¡®What if there¡¯s more warg riders waiting for us?¡¯ Ashlyn demanded. ¡®And a reminder for those who weren¡¯t there at the last barrow we explored: it was full of undead.¡¯ ¡®What if there are no goblins, or undead?¡¯ Pecs countered. ¡®And we didn¡¯t even go look? We¡¯re mercs. Putting our lives on the line comes with the territory.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s right,¡¯ Fortune spluttered. He could barely breathe; hadn¡¯t managed to get to his feet yet; but he was all for going to the barrow, just like his comrades from The Blades. ¡®What about Wade?¡¯ Christoph said. Like Twerk, the thief was sprawled out on the ground, still unconscious. ¡®We¡¯ll leave people behind to guard them,¡¯ Usa said. ¡®No. I mean, he¡¯s a thief. That¡¯s why he¡¯s here. We needed The Baron last time.¡¯ ¡®If we need a thief, so be it. But like Pecs said, we don¡¯t know what we¡¯re facing yet. What if it¡¯s empty, except for a pile of loot just sitting there?¡¯ Auntie gestured at Jaelin. ¡®The Explorer is the only one who knows where the barrow is, and he¡¯s in no state to go.¡¯ Like Fortune, Jaelin had benefited from Femke and Mila¡¯s healing enough to push him up to four hit points. He was conscious. But vulnerable to any attack. And there were no potions left. ¡®I¡¯ll go,¡¯ Jaelin said. ¡®You will not!¡¯ said Auntie. ¡®I¡¯ve not patched you up for you to go and get killed.¡¯ The Explorer gave her a pained look. ¡®I know. I¡¯m sorry. But they¡¯re right. We¡¯re nearly there now. I can¡¯t give up after all this effort.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll go with them,¡¯ Mila said. ¡®In case they need some treatment.¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ Jaelin said firmly. ¡®You need to look after the injured, with Auntie. Anyone who goes to the barrow makes that decision for themselves. We¡¯re not dragging others into danger with us.¡¯ Only Ashlyn noticed the little smile that came to Mila¡¯s face at his words. ¡®We¡¯re going,¡¯ Usa said. Ashlyn sighed. ¡®I¡¯ll stay then. Someone has to.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ll stay?¡¯ Fortune gasped. ¡®With that sword? We might need it! Lend it to me, and I¡¯ll go.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m not lending you my sword.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re not going,¡¯ Auntie told Fortune. ¡®You¡¯re as bad as him,¡¯ she said, gesturing to The Explorer. ¡®But at least he has a reason to go. You offer nothing, you¡¯ll only be a liability.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll stay,¡¯ The Hoffmeister said. ¡®Very well,¡¯ Ashlyn said. ¡®I¡¯ll go. With the sword.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll stay too,¡¯ Bletcher decided. ¡®You¡¯re coming!¡¯ Izil said. ¡®You got an early warning of the danger. You¡¯re needed.¡¯ ¡®The gods have only granted me so much power. I have used what I have.¡¯ ¡®It was that stick that gave you the warning,¡¯ Fortune told him. ¡®Just bring it with you.¡¯ ¡®How dare you insinuate that it was just the staff? What do you know of the spirit world?¡¯ Izil put a hand to the hilt of his sword. ¡®You¡¯re coming.¡¯ ¡®The gods,¡¯ Bletcher declared, ¡®have decided that I will go to the barrow.¡¯ Only six of the starting thirteen mercs continued on the mission. Ashlyn couldn¡¯t help thinking this wasn¡¯t Stiff¡¯s plan. And somehow, she had been talked into heading to the barrow with no thief, and no medics. They walked at Jaelin¡¯s pace, pain visible on his face. But he seemed to have his faculties, in no doubt about the location of the place he had scouted. They walked through the trees, casting nervous glances through the foliage. The Explorer¡¯s decision to arrive with daylight now made total sense. Usa, Izil, and Pecs had spears and shields at the ready. They gave her occasional glances, checking to see if Greenblade was glowing. Then they would stare at Bletcher, who provided no clues about the state of the spirit world. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Jaelin stopped them at a small ring of standing stones. ¡®There are three of these altogether. One of them atop the barrow.¡¯ They all waited for Bletcher to make some pronouncement. It took him an age to even notice all eyes were fixed on him. He pouted, and gave an indifferent shrug. Jaelin sighed. ¡®The entrance is up here.¡¯ The shape of the mound was similar to the first barrow they had explored. It even had trees growing on top. Jaelin stood to one side catching his breath, while Pecs, Usa, and Izil dismantled the bricked up entrance. The whole experience was so similar to the earlier mission, that Ashlyn knew she should be worried. But for some reason, now they had made it to their destination, she was more relaxed than ever. Pecs removed the last of the stones and stood, smiling. ¡®All clear.¡¯ ¡®Let¡¯s go,¡¯ Usa suggested. The two brothers led the way. Pecs and Ashlyn followed them in. The big man had to crouch to get through the entranceway, but it then opened up into a domed central room, just big enough for him to stand upright. In the centre was a stone bench, on top of which was a metal casket. Ashlyn thought it strange that Usa and Izil just relaxed their grip on their spears, letting them fall to the floor. But as she and Pecs followed behind, her opinion changed. She thought nothing of Pecs dropping his pike. She looked at Greenblade. It wasn¡¯t glowing. There was no need to be afraid. She began to unbuckle her belt. ¡®What are you doing?¡¯ Jaelin asked her. ¡®We don¡¯t need weapons here,¡¯ she told him. ¡®Oh. I suppose you¡¯re right,¡¯ he said, laying his knife down. Ashlyn chose a place to sit and rest, leaning against the circular wall of the chamber. She hadn¡¯t felt such peace since she was a child. There was nothing to worry about. She could just sit down and rest for a while. No. I could sit here forever. *** They had done an awful lot of walking to get here, and Bletcher didn¡¯t disagree with the decision to sit down and rest for a while. Didn¡¯t disagree one bit. There was just one, nagging problem. The damned staff Stiff had given him kept warning him of something. There was nothing to worry about, and yet it wouldn¡¯t cease its incessant exhortations. Damned thing is broken. He stood, intending to cast it out of the barrow, and allow him some peace. His eyes caught the metal chest, on the stone plinth, and he recalled that this was the purpose of their mission. Curious as to its contents, he crossed over and lifted the lid. There were all sorts of goodies inside. He particularly liked the things to wear. He popped a copper coloured circlet onto his head, and imagined he must look like a prince. Then his eyes caught something even fancier¡ªa mask. He replaced the circlet with the mask. It covered his face, with holes in just the right places for seeing and breathing. However, it made him feel rather uncomfortable. Nervous. On edge. He nearly took it off. Then he realised what was going on. The mask wasn¡¯t making him feel bad. It was blocking the sense of tranquility that he, and his new companions, had felt since arriving at the barrow. So it falls on me to save the day once more. First, he took the chest and its contents outside the mound, laying them down on the ground. This took several trips, since there were weapons, and armour, plus the items his companions had discarded. Then, he decided he ought to rescue at least some of the others. The scout, of course, he dragged out first. He was the only one who knew their way around this wilderness. The girl next. He had developed a bit of a soft spot for her. She had kept his gift, even if she hadn¡¯t paid him for it. The others, he thought he could leave. They had a habit of putting their hands to their weapons and threatening him. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ the girl murmured, as if waking from a dream. ¡®What are you wearing?¡¯ ¡®A mask.¡¯ ¡®Were we put under a spell?¡¯ the scout asked. ¡®You were. But don¡¯t worry, I rescued you.¡¯ ¡®And you¡¯ll get the others?¡¯ the girl asked. ¡®Others?¡¯ ¡®There are three others in there,¡¯ she said¡ªrather sternly for a damsel who had just been rescued. ¡®You do know I¡¯ve only got one frickin¡¯ arm?¡¯ he grumbled, but stomped back into the barrow once more. At last, all the mercs were rescued. The scout and the girl were on their feet now, sorting through the items. ¡®Look at this!¡¯ the girl exclaimed. Bletcher stared at her, bemused. Of all the items, she seemed most taken by a bag. ¡®It holds all these weapons, and is virtually no weight to lift.¡¯ Bletcher continued to stare blankly at her, but supposed it did sound useful. ¡®Wait a moment,¡¯ she said. ¡®Where is Pecs?¡¯ ¡®He is far too heavy to shift.¡¯ The younger of the two brothers put a hand to the hilt of his sword. Of all the bullies in The Rotten Apples, he was the meanest of the lot. ¡®The gods,¡¯ Bletcher declared, ¡®have decided that Pecs should also be saved.¡¯ MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: The barrow was explored Some of your mercs improved their stats: Greenblade: Agility +1 Hit Points +1 Action Points +1 Skill with spears: competent Usa: Agility +1 Izil: Might +1 Hit Points +1 Action Points +1 Auntie: Skill with staves: competent The Explorer: Agility +1 Hit Points +1 Action Points +1 Bletcher: Intellect +1 Pecs: Skill with spears: proficient Fortune: Agility +1 Some mercs levelled up: Greenblade is now Level 4 The Explorer is now Level 4 Appendix 1: The Stats and Mechanics of Squad Games 1. The Stats 1.1 Core Stats The 4 core stats are important drivers of the game system. They simplify character info into 4 main attributes. Why simplify? With so many characters, it reduces information overload and streamlines things. Might Might covers strength, conditioning, but also combat ability-both offensive and defensive. Along with the element of luck, Might is a key determinant of a character''s chances of hitting an opponent. Grit Mental fortitude-determination, resilience, endurance, and morale. Agility As well as physical agility, this covers speed, dexterity, and initiative. Initiative determines who gets to strike first in a combat, so expect to see the more agile characters get the first strike in, a big advantage in a turn-based game. Intelligence/Intellect Covers aspects like decision making, leadership, and can influence magic users'' power. 1.2 Action Stats A character''s action stats are determined by their core stats. Enemy sheets generally only have the action stats. EXP Level In many RPG systems, characters gain XP (Experience Points), which level them up, and allows them to allocate points to their attributes. In Squad Games, the system works the other way around. Characters'' core stats can increase based on their performance in these areas. If their core stats total (i.e. the sum of all 4 stats) rises high enough, they advance to the next level. Therefore, every time you see a character level up, it''s because their total has hit the next level. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. For example, all Level 1 characters have a core stats total of 1-20. As soon as a character''s total hits 21, they will advance to Level 2. Hit Points The amount of damage a character can take. HP = Might + Grit + Level. Therefore, every time a character advances in Might or Grit, you should see their hit points rise at the same time. Damage taken: When a character or enemy falls to the 1-3 HP range, they are incapacitated or unconscious. They can only be revived by a Medic. Once they fall below zero, they are dead. Only magic can save them in this case. Action Points This is the number of actions a character can take in an action round, such as Move or Fight. AP = HP + EXP / 5. For example, a character with 14 hit points, Level 2, is 14 + 2 / 5 = 3 Action Points. Thus, a drop in HPs can also lead to a drop in APs (in this example, when the character drops to 12 HP). 1.3 Other Stats and Attributes Weapon skill The main benefit of skill with a weapon is the amount of damage caused with a hit. Let''s take the example of common weapons like short spears, short swords, short bows, that deal in D6 damage. Skill Level Damage Novice x 1 1-6 Competent x 2 2-12 Proficient x 3 3-18 Expert x 4 4-24 Master x 5 5-30 Other skills Some other skills have a specific stat benefit. For example, being Ambidextrous means there is no negative penalty when using a second weapon. Hidden Attributes Each character has various personality traits that are "under the hood/invisible" and come out during the story. Some of these may influence stats and levelling up. For example, some characters are fast learners, or have high potential. This could be in general, or in a specific stat . Other characters don''t have high potential (not athletic; not clever; not coordinated enough for some weapons). They just don''t have what it takes to become a legendary, highly skilled merc - maybe they''re actually in the wrong profession? Or maybe, they''re a solid, competent professional, just not outstanding. 2. Levelling Up (or Statting up if that was a word) 2.1 The Process Each merc has a running score which can be thought of as experience points. If they contribute to a mission, at the mission end their points might go up enough to increase a core stat or weapon skill level. What can affect whether this happens? A recent stat gain. A merc who increases a stat sees their running total reset to zero. They may have to wait longer to a) get that stat increased again b) get another stat increased. Mission success. Mission failures are far less likely to see stat increases. Individual character traits. As outlined above. Character Level and Age. As with learning any new skill, it''s possible for an able merc to see fast progress through the lower levels. As the levels increase, mercs may not advance at the same rate. They''ve already learned the basics, and now they''re trying to perfect the advanced skills that make them one of the best. For example, a Level 6 warrior is in a moderately dangerous battle with goblins. They take 3 hits, but nothing that troubles their hit points. They score three kills, but they''ve done that plenty of times before. What has this individual gained from the experience? Not much. In the same fight, a Level 2 warrior takes 3 hits and comes close to death. They score three kills, more than they''ve ever done before. Their stats are likely to increase, because the experience has made them a better fighter than they were before the mission. Younger mercs may be faster learners. Older mercs may even see some stats fall. 2.2 Level Stratification Levels represent the perceived quality of each merc, and determine things such as pay and status. The most common level for a merc is Level 2-about 25% of mercenaries can be found here. They are good enough to be hired, and will likely be competent with at least one weapon, or have another skill to offer. About 2/3 of mercs are in levels 1-4. Level 5 and above (the other 1/3) are much rarer and paid significantly more. In Gal''azu, higher level mercs are even rarer than elsewhere. Q&A Q Yes, but in chapter X such and such happened and character Y didn''t get the same reward as in chapter Z. A These are the game mechanics that underpin the story. Character development and story development will always bend the mechanics to their will. Chapter 54 Leonard Cap Babler
Finances
Income
Mission #14 ¡ê7
Profits from The Rose 3s
Expenses
Wages ¡ê1 9s
The Golden Blades Protection 4s
Profit ¡ê5 10s
Total ¡ê30 12s 9p
The barrow mission seemed like it was a success. Lothar was pleased to see a couple of his mercs levelling up. He was more than a little interested in inspecting the loot when they returned. No doubt he would also hear how well the new recruits had meshed with his existing squad. It was a matter that occupied his mind, since he had a meeting with yet another member of The Blades. Leonard Babler arrived at The Rose promptly. He was average height, muscular, with closely cropped, salt and pepper hair. His skin was bronzed, so much so that Lothar thought it likely he had Alinko blood in his ancestry. There was something familiar about his appearance. He was businesslike, providing Lothar with his stats before he asked for them. Lothar felt like he was looking in the mirror, in some respects at least. Leonard, or Cap as he was known, was a Level 7 Hargon warrior. He did everything well. In other respects, Lothar had to admit, Leonard was superior. He had ten years on him, for a start. He was also a better warrior, with mastery of the spear and shield. Such an impressive resume came with a price: 9 shillings per day, to be precise. ¡®I think you know the obvious question. Why leave The Golden Blades for my outfit?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll be honest,¡¯ Leonard said, his voice deep and reassuring, ¡®I wouldn¡¯t have contemplated it a couple of months ago. I was paid well in The Blades. More than that, I was respected. The Blairs used me as their sergeant¡ªtraining up the disparate mercs they recruited and making a fighting force out of them. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s an exaggeration to say The Blades have a mini-army now, in no small part down to my efforts. I didn¡¯t get big headed about it. Never claimed to be a second in command, even though I carried out a lot of the organisational work behind the scenes. The Blairs have their qualities, but they lack the kind of experience I offer. I was happy enough that they recognised my contribution, and valued me. ¡®But recently, I¡¯ve been taken for granted. So much so, that I see the respect they gave me was a sham, to get what they wanted from me. These days, I get blamed when things go wrong. Spoken to as if I¡¯m nothing. Or past it. Sal thinks he knows it all. ¡®The other day, I looked around for those mercs I liked best. The ones who were keen to learn, and showed a bit of gratitude. I realised they¡¯d gone over to The Apples. That¡¯s when the idea to leave first entered my mind, and it hasn¡¯t shifted since. I wondered, from what I¡¯d heard about you, whether you were the kind of man who might appreciate someone with my skill set.¡¯ ¡®Of course. You¡¯d be the standout merc in the squad. The gods know, I could do with some leadership skills in there as well. Only, that¡¯s a difficult area.¡¯ ¡®How so?¡¯ ¡®No doubt the ex-Blades will welcome you. But the Apples contain¡ªlet¡¯s say, some independent minded characters. Others might say prickly. They didn¡¯t sign up to join an army, or take orders. And for all their rough edges, I need to keep them.¡¯ ¡®I understand. The Rotten Apples are a merc company, like The Blades. But they have different targets, objectives, and personnel. I can adapt.¡¯ ¡®Then great. It¡¯s a pleasure to have you with us. How do you think the Blairs will react to your defection?¡¯ Cap was silent for a while. ¡®How do you think they¡¯ll react?¡¯ ¡®Not well, I presume. But you¡¯re the one who knows them. Hence the question.¡¯ ¡®They were already talking about having to deal with you, Stiff. Not just you. The Council of Avolo, too. Sal thinks he¡¯s let his grip on the city slide since moving to Dorwich. That it was a mistake. Thinks that unless he does something soon, you¡¯ll get strong enough to defend Avolo from The Blades. Better to kill you now, than let you get any stronger.¡¯ ¡®I see.¡¯ ¡®Then there¡¯s the strange disappearance of Bletcher.¡¯ ¡®Ah. I was hoping that might have gone unnoticed.¡¯ ¡®Someone imprisoned for witchcraft getting released isn¡¯t likely to go unnoticed.¡¯ ¡®That was never my intention. But it¡¯s done now.¡¯ Lothar looked at things from Sal¡¯s point of view. ¡®So he wants me dead.¡¯ ¡®He says a lot of things, then talks himself out of them. I don¡¯t think my defection is going to cause Sal to lose any sleep. On the other hand, it won¡¯t make him calmer. And Stiff,¡¯ he said, wafting a hand around the lounge of The Rose. ¡®You¡¯re not any better protected here, with your mercs out west.¡¯ Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡®I knew I¡¯d seen your face before. You came with Sal that time?¡¯ ¡®I was here. And I thought our visit was pretty intimidating. Instead, I find you without a single bodyguard. And with the same ineffectual doormen as before.¡¯ ¡®Yes, well. I did plan to base myself out west after that visit. I drifted back.¡¯ Leonard shrugged. ¡®You do what you think is best, Stiff. But like Sal told you, it¡¯ll be Rylan who comes for you next time.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s really that bad?¡¯ Lothar asked doubtfully. ¡®You really want to find out?¡¯ ¡®So, let me get this right?¡¯ Rosalind said. They were sitting in bed in her house. ¡®You come round here to have your wicked way with me, and only afterwards, tell me you¡¯re leaving the city again?¡¯ ¡®At least I told you this time.¡¯ She gave him a frosty look. ¡®Of course it¡¯s not like that. Out west was always where I had the best chance of making it. Then The Blades¡¯ former sergeant tells me they want me dead.¡¯ ¡®I know, Stiff. I don¡¯t mean it. I don¡¯t want them to kill you. Not while you can still live up to your nickname, at any rate.¡¯ ¡®Thanks. Now, listen. I want you to come with me.¡¯ She raised an eyebrow, but did as he asked. ¡®We make a good team, you and I. You could help me build something. Then, when we¡¯re strong enough, we return to Avolo. Deal with The Blairs once and for all.¡¯ ¡®If we both abandon Avolo, the Blairs really will take over.¡¯ ¡®Now you¡¯ve changed my mind completely. I¡¯m not leaving you here to take them on yourself. I¡¯ll stay.¡¯ She patted his arm. ¡®Very chivalrous of you, Stiff. But I wasn¡¯t suggesting that I would take up arms against them. I¡¯m a more subtle operator than that. My job is to prevent a complete take over of Avolo. I think I can manage that. While the idea of spending more time with you out west has its appeal, it¡¯s not really the best use of my abilities. Building a merc outfit is your job. Maybe this Cap can help you. But be careful. He¡¯s been working with the Blairs until now. Don¡¯t trust him.¡¯ ¡®Very well, Rosalind. And don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t fully trust anyone.¡¯ ¡®Except?¡¯ ¡®Except you, of course.¡¯ The Apples returned to Avolo. Lothar received the loot from the barrow, and heard the account of the mission. He invited Ashlyn up to his room. ¡®Run through the mission for me,¡¯ he asked her. He liked to get a few different perspectives, to find out exactly what happened. He¡¯d found the girl¡¯s reports to be the most accurate. ¡®This shieldwall debacle,¡¯ he said when she was done. ¡®We have a new recruit. Cap. He¡¯s going to do some training with the warriors in the squad. Just¡­give him a chance will you? I think we need to get more organised. We came too close to losing people.¡¯ ¡®Sure. Don¡¯t see how it can hurt. You thought I would kick off about it?¡¯ ¡®No, it¡¯s just that everyone respects you. If you go along with it, they probably will too.¡¯ ¡®They respect me?¡¯ she said, sounding surprised. ¡®Doesn¡¯t feel like it.¡¯ Lothar grinned. ¡®Yep. I know. You¡¯re never going to get any warm words from most of them. But you¡¯ve been the glue holding things together a lot of the time. Just because this Cap comes in sharing his experience, doesn¡¯t mean you have to take a step back. Alright?¡¯ ¡®Sure.¡¯ ¡®So when you all sort of fell asleep inside the barrow. No one saw any signs of other rooms? Openings? Mechanisms?¡¯ ¡®No. You think there was more to explore? I suppose that¡¯s quite likely. Bletcher was the only one free of the spell, and he¡¯s not the sort to notice things like that.¡¯ ¡®Yeah. It¡¯s just that we came up a bit short on what we took from the first barrow. Could really have done with more of those healing potions. Still. It was a decent haul. Talking of which, I¡¯ve got something for you.¡¯ She gave him a look he couldn¡¯t quite place. Nervous, maybe? Of him? ¡®What? You think I¡¯m going to try something?¡¯ ¡®Well. You¡¯re a fifty year old man bringing a younger girl up to his room alone.¡¯ ¡®Oh, for the gods¡¯ sake. Fine, I won¡¯t do it again. But I have a woman, you know. One my own age.¡¯ Ashlyn¡¯s expression became excited. ¡®Really? Who? What¡¯s her name?¡¯ ¡®Like I¡¯m going to tell you. The gossip will be around the whole crew by the end of the day.¡¯ ¡®Tell me and I¡¯ll keep it a secret. Promise.¡¯ Lothar sighed. ¡®Fine. Me and my big mouth. She¡¯s called Rosalind.¡¯ ¡®Rosalind. I bet she¡¯s lovely.¡¯ ¡®Aye. She¡¯s beautiful and classy with it.¡¯ Ashlyn looked at him doubtfully. ¡®What¡¯s she doing with you then?¡¯ ¡®I have my good points.¡¯ The girl¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡®Anyway,¡¯ Lothar said, reaching under the bed and pulling out the suit of armour. He placed it on the bed for her to inspect. ¡®This is for you. A kind of celebration for reaching Level 4. You recognise it?¡¯ ¡®I do. The armour from the first barrow.¡¯ ¡®I figured there was no point in holding onto it. It¡¯s more your size than anyone else¡¯s. It¡¯ll weigh more than you¡¯re used to at first. But you¡¯ll get used to it.¡¯ ¡®Thank you, Stiff. And it¡¯s magic?¡¯ ¡®Aye. Matter of fact, got Rosalind to look at it for me. Armour of Resilience, she called it.¡¯ ¡®What does it do?¡¯ ¡®Makes you harder to hit, of course. Lighter than chain mail, stronger than plate. You¡¯ll need it, if you¡¯re going to stand in the shieldwall.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll do whatever it takes. So we¡¯re heading out west?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s the plan.¡¯ ¡®But we¡¯ll deal with The Golden Blades eventually, won¡¯t we? When we¡¯re strong enough?¡¯ Lothar¡¯s thoughts turned to Rosalind, left behind. ¡®Aye, girl. We¡¯ll deal with ¡¯em. Eventually.¡¯ *** Femke wiped at her eyes. But it was too late. Wade had caught her. ¡®What¡¯s up?¡¯ he asked, concern on his face. He approached, tentatively, wary of intruding on her personal space. But she needed a hug, and clung to him for a few moments, as he patted her head. She pulled away. ¡®I can¡¯t go on like this. You know I nearly lost Christoph.¡¯ ¡®I know.¡¯ ¡®And you.¡¯ He looked pleasantly surprised at this. As if someone caring if he lived or died was a new experience. ¡®You have a son, Trent.¡¯ He looked at his feet. ¡®I know. I¡¯m no warrior. I was out of my depth out there. And you¡¯re putting yourself in too much danger as well. But I need the money. For Eden.¡¯ ¡®We don¡¯t need the money, you and I.¡¯ ¡®How so?¡¯ ¡®My family has a farm. You and Eden can come back with me. It¡¯s a good place for a kid. Safe.¡¯ Wade made a face. ¡®Farming?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s not so hard. I can teach you. Eden can learn it too. You don¡¯t want this life for him, do you?¡¯ ¡®Of course not. What would Stiff say? Feels like he needs us right now.¡¯ ¡®Stiff will always want us a little longer, won¡¯t he? It¡¯ll always be ¡°just one more job, and everything will work out¡±.¡¯ ¡®I suppose.¡¯ ¡®But one day, one of us won¡¯t come back. And Stiff will be all sad, and blame himself. But it won¡¯t stop him sending his team out again the next time.¡¯ Wade nodded. ¡®Alright. So we leave. Soon. What were you crying about?¡¯ ¡®Christoph won¡¯t come. I¡¯ve just spoken with him. He¡¯s fallen for the girl. Ashlyn. I like her, Trent. But she¡¯s not the sort to quit this life. There¡¯s a rod of steel in her, that we don¡¯t have. As long as she stays in The Apples, he won¡¯t consider leaving.¡¯ Wade nodded. He hesitated over his next words. ¡®Christoph is¡ª¡¯ ¡®¡ªa grown man. I know. He can make his own decisions. I said I would stay with him until he got settled. But I feel like the time has come. Stiff is talking about moving his base out west. Goblins, wargs, and who knows what else will become the norm. And there weren¡¯t any healing potions in that barrow, Trent. Next time something like that happens, I won¡¯t be able to save anyone. Just watch them die.¡¯ Wade nodded. He seemed to understand. That in itself made her feel a little better. Chapter 55 The Reckoner ¡®Stiff.¡¯ ¡®Lothar.¡¯ It was Wade and Femke. ¡®We have something to discuss with you.¡¯ ¡®Alright. Actually, I could do with your help. Signatures.¡¯ They looked at him blankly. ¡®It¡¯s a legal thing. For selling The Rose. Don¡¯t ask me to elaborate, because I can¡¯t.¡¯ He led them to his office, where three individuals were waiting for his return. Rosalind stood to one side, as if she were an independent observer, when she had in fact organised the entire thing. One-eyed Boris was pouring himself another glass of Lothar¡¯s most expensive wine. Tielemans, the Reckoner, had spread his papers across Lothar¡¯s desk. ¡®Ah,¡¯ he said. ¡®Here and here,¡¯ he said to Wade and Femke, gesturing to one of the papers. He ran a hand through thinning hair. ¡®The quill and ink are there,¡¯ he said, when they were slow to act. ¡®Now, this is transferring The Rose to a dummy company I have just created.¡¯ Lothar nodded sagely. ¡®Which will in turn sell the business on to Boris¡¯s holding company.¡¯ Boris glugged down his goblet of wine. Take your time and savour it at least, Lothar wanted to say. Having already nodded sagely, he said ¡°of course¡± to acknowledge the next step in the plan. Rosalind smirked at him. ¡®Now. It would be wise for the dummy company to change the name of the premises, to further obscure the transactions.¡¯ Wade and Femke were whispering to one another, then giggling. ¡®Out with it,¡¯ said Tielemans. ¡®Oh,¡¯ said Wade. ¡®I was suggesting The Smashed Marbles. You know. As the new name for the inn.¡¯ ¡®Because?¡¯ Lothar asked him. ¡®It¡¯s a bit of a personal joke,¡¯ Femke explained. ¡®The Cracked Nuts in Dorwich is where we pretended to be husband and wife. That was how we got together.¡¯ ¡®Aw,¡¯ said Rosalind. ¡®How romantic.¡¯ Boris drained the last of his drink. His third, Lothar noted. ¡®I don¡¯t get it,¡¯ said the merchant. ¡®If I¡¯m buying The Smashed Marbles, I ought to get the joke.¡¯ ¡®Well,¡¯ said Wade. ¡®The inn in Dorwich got its name for the method Rylan Blair uses as a punishment. So we always said, if we were to open an inn, we would call it The Smashed Marbles. In honour of¡ª¡¯ ¡®¡ªAs a sort of tribute,¡¯ Boris said. ¡®Alright, I get it. It¡¯s about as lowbrow as you can get, but I suppose I can live with that.¡¯ ¡®Excellent,¡¯ said Tielemans. He dipped the quill in the ink, and scratched the name onto another piece of parchment. He then passed the quill to Boris, and gestured where he should sign. ¡®So, the dummy company sells The Smashed Marbles to Boris. Boris sells it on to Ms De Cheney.¡¯ ¡®For a profit?¡¯ Boris said. ¡®Sorry?¡¯ asked the Reckoner. ¡®Well, I¡¯d only sell it on for a profit, wouldn¡¯t I? Realistically?¡¯ ¡®How much?¡¯ Lothar asked with a defeated voice. ¡®Let¡¯s say six shillings?¡¯ the merchant suggested. Lothar sighed. ¡®Very well.¡¯ ¡®Alright then,¡¯ Tielemans said. ¡®Ms De Cheney ends up with the deeds to the property. It is no longer called The Rose. Salvador Blair can in no way claim any rights over it.¡¯ ¡®You know,¡¯ Lothar said, ¡®the arrangement I had with him wasn¡¯t a legal agreement in the first place. It was more of a ¡°pay me, or I kill you¡± situation.¡¯ ¡®But the mere fact that you paid him, with no other legal documentation, can be used in a court to assert his rights,¡¯ the Reckoner explained. ¡®And my understanding is, you won¡¯t be here to contest his case.¡¯ ¡®True.¡¯ ¡®So,¡¯ Rosalind said, ¡®I will have legal documentation to prove my ownership. If he tries anything, I can tie him up in a court case.¡¯ ¡®And if he decides to resolve the case outside the court system?¡¯ Lothar asked. ¡®Which, let¡¯s be honest, is the more likely route.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m playing for time, Stiff,¡¯ Rosalind explained. ¡®Until you¡¯re ready to return. And do I think Sal will move straight to battering people like me to death? I¡¯m well connected. It could turn the city against him. No, he¡¯ll cajole; form alliances; threaten; blackmail. He¡¯ll only use force when he feels strong enough to do so.¡¯ Lothar sighed. He hated the thought of leaving Rosalind behind to fight a rearguard action against the Blairs. He¡¯d never forgive himself if something happened. But, somehow, she had persuaded him it was the best strategy. ¡®Any more of this wine?¡¯ Boris asked him. ¡®Lothar is only packing the essentials,¡¯ Rosalind said. ¡®I¡¯m sure it would be doing him a favour if you took a couple of bottles off his hands. Right, Stiff?¡¯ Lothar shot her daggers. ¡®I¡¯ll see what I can find.¡¯ Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡®Oh,¡¯ said Tielemans. ¡®I¡¯m not much of a drinker. But if it¡¯s a help, count me in.¡¯ ¡®Of course,¡¯ Lothar said between gritted teeth. He left to go down to the cellar. Wade and Femke followed him out. ¡®I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ he said. ¡®You wanted to talk.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s not easy to say, Lothar,¡¯ Femke said. ¡®But we¡¯re leaving. We wish you luck, but those missions out west just aren¡¯t right for us. I¡¯m taking Wade and Eden back to my farm.¡¯ Lothar couldn¡¯t hide his disappointment. ¡®I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ she added. ¡®Don¡¯t be. I knew I only had you temporarily. And you stayed on to train Mila up. I thank you for that.¡¯ He turned to Wade. ¡®Your departure is more of a surprise.¡¯ ¡®Yes, well.¡¯ The thief looked embarrassed. ¡®Gotta think about my son¡¯s future. He¡¯s been happy here, and thanks for letting us stay. But with everything changing, it feels like the time is right.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s just, with The Baron away, I¡¯d be losing my top thief with no replacement. Could you not wait a little? He¡¯ll be back soon enough.¡¯ ¡®I dunno, Stiff.¡¯ ¡®I could do my best to make it worth your while. How does ninepence a day sound? You¡¯d earn an extra little nest egg to take with you.¡¯ Wade looked at Femke for her reaction. ¡®And you too, Femke,¡¯ Lothar added. ¡®Ninepence a day. It would give Mila a little more time to take over from you. And there¡¯s Christoph, of course. Reckon he¡¯ll be Level 3 soon. That would be a good point to leave him on his own.¡¯ She pursed her lips to think about it. He knew he had her. ¡®Alright, Lothar. When The Baron returns, we¡¯re both leaving.¡¯ ¡®Deal.¡¯ It was a relief. He might depend on the skills of one or both of them in the coming weeks. He just hoped he wouldn¡¯t come to regret persuading them to stay. *** Wilson was fuming. He¡¯d been called for weapons practice for the third day in a row. More torture. Listening to the great fool, who called himself Cap without a hint of irony, lecturing them on fighting. The only thing worse than the lecturing was when he got them all to train together. Why in Gehenna they needed to train, the gnome couldn¡¯t fathom. They''d be doing it for real soon enough. That was what mattered. It was even worse today. Stiff had allocated the items from the barrow. Of course, yet again, Wilson had been overlooked. The weapons were all the wrong size. The dreadful human, Eddie ¡®Fortune¡¯ Rich, had been given Blueblade. He¡¯d done absolutely nothing to deserve it. Worked for the damned Blades, crossed over to The Apples, contributed nothing, got a magic sword. Wilson had lost a lot of respect for Stiff with that decision. The fat bastard sat next to him while Cap put the spear wielders through their paces. Another thing Wilson didn¡¯t get. Why were Ashlyn and Jaelin messing about with spears, when she was a swordswoman, and he was an archer? What, they all had to stand in a long line with a spear now? What a spectacularly dull way to fight. ¡®What do you think its power is?¡¯ Fortune asked him. His breath stank of stale beer. Oh no, not this topic again. ¡®They say Redblade does extra damage to greenskins. And Greenblade does the same to monsters. So Blueblade here might be the same. Its gem is blue, so I think it will light up when it''s close to its target.¡¯ He drew the blade from its scabbard. ¡®Not gnomes then.¡¯ He laughed. The buffoon already made that joke earlier. Fortune side eyed Wilson, as if he¡¯d taken offence at the gnome¡¯s silence. Wilson really didn¡¯t care. ¡®There ain¡¯t no elves, nor dwarves, in Gal¡¯azu. Just a gnome. Why¡¯s that?¡¯ What a surprise. He¡¯s a racist. ¡®Most elves and dwarves are highly skilled and can easily find work. What is there for them here? No honour. The only thing that might persuade a few individuals to come is if they hear about weapons like that.¡¯ ¡®I ain¡¯t giving my sword up to no elf, or dwarf. If their kind are too good for Gal¡¯azu, what are you doing here?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t care much about money, or honour. I¡¯m a warrior. I can follow my calling here, with more freedom than anywhere else.¡¯ ¡®Huh. Not much of a warrior, from what I¡¯ve seen. You got chewed up and spat out by one of those wargs.¡¯ ¡®The exact same thing happened to you!¡¯ ¡®Yeah, well. That was before I got the chance to swing my sword. And now I have Blueblade, that¡¯s doubly true.¡¯ ¡®You two!¡¯ Cap called over. Wilson was quick to his feet. The prospect of weapons practice didn¡¯t seem so bad after that conversation. ¡®Now. You¡¯re our offensive strike team,¡¯ Cap explained to the pair. ¡®The rest of us soak up the enemy attack with shield and spear. Then you are free to unleash with axe and sword, with full action points. But that means keeping you protected in the first moments of battle.¡¯ Protected? Wilson was starting to like the direction Leonard Babler was taking things. ¡®You need to learn our manoeuvres, so that you are in the best position to strike when your turn comes. We want to avoid what happened against those goblin riders. You¡¯re our damage dealers, and key to our success. Does that make sense?¡¯ Make sense? At last, someone appreciated exactly what Wilson had to offer. ¡®Sure does, Cap!¡¯ They left Avolo, and made the journey west to Eisenberg. There was a chill in the air, an early sign that the long Gal¡¯azu summer was coming to an end. Stiff had talked before about moving his base of operations out west. Now he¡¯d sold The Rose, it felt like things really were changing. Sharptooth was able to walk most of the way. Which was just as well. He was too big for the gnome to carry these days. He was growing at a ferocious rate, eating everything Wilson could find for him. ¡®He keeps setting off Greenblade,¡¯ Ashlyn complained, as the sword glowed at her hip. ¡®Well, no harm,¡¯ Wilson said. ¡®I don¡¯t think we¡¯re going to encounter a monster between here and Eisenberg.¡¯ ¡®The little shit keeps biting at my ankles, as well,¡¯ Fortune complained. ¡®If he comes near me once more he¡¯ll feel a bite from Blueblade. That¡¯ll teach him a lesson.¡¯ ¡®Go near Sharptooth with that sword and you¡¯ll feel a bite from my axes.¡¯ ¡®Wilson,¡¯ Stiff said, an impatient tone to his voice. ¡®Either that beast is trained, and can accompany us without biting people, or it''s wild, and needs to be set free.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s trained, Stiff,¡¯ Wilson said, tying a leash to the warg. ¡®Might have known you¡¯d take his side,¡¯ he muttered under his breath. They arrived to find Eisenberg far busier than Wilson had ever seen. Groups of people¡ªmany of them families¡ªstood or sat along the road, their possessions with them. Wilson could see a lost, fearful expression in their eyes. Something bad was happening. They found Steben, outside Henrik¡¯s smithy. Half a dozen sorry looking miners were being outfitted with armour and weapons. The look of relief the mayor gave The Apples as they trundled up towards him was a picture. ¡®Thank the gods,¡¯ Steben said, as he looked over Stiff¡¯s newest recruits. ¡®Indeed,¡¯ Bletcher agreed. ¡®Praise them!¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Stiff asked. ¡®An orc band has come east. Eyewitnesses say they have goblins with them. It looks like the orcs have defeated the goblins, and incorporated them into their host. We¡¯re in trouble. They are already besieging Redblade¡¯s hillfort. All the settlers near the fort have already fled here. If the fort falls, Eisenberg will be their next target.¡¯ Stiff pursed his lips. ¡®Looks like we¡¯ve arrived at just the right time then.¡¯ Wilson had to admire the sense of calm their leader exuded. It spread to his mercs, and to the locals. ¡®What do you think, Cap?¡¯ Stiff asked. ¡®Are we ready?¡¯ ¡®More than ready.¡¯ Chapter 56 Mission #15 Relieve Redblades Hillfort MERCS: Twerk | The Bowman | Greenblade | Usa | Izil | Auntie | Mila | The Explorer | Bletcher | The Hoffmeister | Pecs | Fortune | Cap Character Sheets:
Twerk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname Twerk
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 50
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 7
Grit 5
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axes (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Hand axe (damage 4-24), Hand axe (damage 4-24)
Armour Breastplate, helmet
Other
The Bowman
Name Christoph Gerd
Nickname The Bowman
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 19
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 8
Grit 5
Intellect 5
Skills Bows (competent), Knives (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Short bow (damage 2-12), Dagger (1-4)
Armour Ring Mail
Other Arrows of Conflagration, Bracers of Archery (+2 damage from bows)
Greenblade
Name Ashlyn Sawrey
Nickname Greenblade
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 21
Daily Wage 11 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 10
Grit 9
Intellect 9
Skills Swords (proficient), Shields (proficient), Knives (competent) Spears (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Greenblade, Monsters only To Hit +4 & Damage +8, regular damage 3-24), Knife (damage 2-8), Short spear (damage 1-6), Shield (damage 3-9)
Armour Armour of Resilience (+Shield)
Other
Usa
Name Usain Bizra
Nickname Usa
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 23
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 9
Grit 8
Intellect 5
Skills Spears (proficient) Shields (proficient) Swords (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Spear (short, damage 3-18) Shield (damage 3-9) Sword (short, damage 2-12)
Armour Ring Mail, (+Shield)
Other Sack of Carrying
Izil
Name Izildra Bizra
Nickname Izil
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 19
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 4
Hit Points 18
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 7
Grit 7
Intellect 4
Skills Spear (competent) Shield (competent) Sword (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Spear (short, damage 2-12) Shield (damage 2-6) Sword (short, damage 2-12)
Armour Ring Mail, (+Shield)
Other
Auntie
Name Femke Gerd
Nickname Auntie
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 48
Daily Wage 9 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3 Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 6
Grit 13
Intellect 11
Skills Medic, Staves (competent), Bows (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Cudgel (damage 1-4), short bow (damage 2-12)
Armour Leather
Other Medical kit, Armour of Unyielding Silk
Mila
Name Liudmila Stradenko
Nickname Mila
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 20
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 15
Core Stats
Might 4
Agility 10
Grit 9
Intellect 5
Skills Thievery, Medic, Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour Leather
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Medical kit
The Explorer
Name Jaelin Topolski
Nickname The Explorer
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 26
Daily Wage 10 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 5
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 7
Agility 11
Grit 10
Intellect 9
Skills Scouting, Bows (proficient), Knives (competent) Spears (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Shortbow (damage 3-18), Knife (damage 2-8), Short spear (damage 1-6)
Armour Leather
Other Rod of Light
Bletcher
Name ?
Nickname Bletcher
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 20
Daily Wage 6 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 3
Hit Points 15
Core Stats
Might 4
Agility 5
Grit 8
Intellect 7
Arcane Powers
Sanctity Touched
Erudition Dolt
Skills None
Equipment
Weapons None
Armour Padded
Other Staff of Warning, Mask of Magical Warding
The Hoffmeister
Name Georg Hoffman
Nickname The Hoffmeister
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 22
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 20
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 7
Grit 8
Intellect 6
Skills Spears (proficient), Shields (competent), Hammers (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Short Spear (damage 3-18), Shield (damage 2-6), Hammer (damage 2-12)
Armour Ring Mail (+Shield)
Other
Pecs
Name Victor Balinski
Nickname Pecs
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 24
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 24
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 6
Grit 7
Intellect 4
Skills Spears (proficient), Shields (competent), Polearms (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Pike (damage 2-16), Shield (damage 2-6)
Armour Ring Mail (+Shield)
Other
Fortune
Name Eddie Rich
Nickname Fortune
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 52
Daily Wage 9 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 24
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 4
Grit 12
Intellect 10
Skills Swords (expert), Shields (expert), Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Blueblade, ?, regular damage 4-32), Shield (damage 4-12), Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour Chain Mail (+Shield)
Other
Cap
Name Leonard Babler
Nickname Cap
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 40
Daily Wage 9 shillings
Action Stats
EXP Level 7
Action Points 8
Hit Points 37
Core Stats
Might 15
Agility 13
Grit 15
Intellect 13
Skills Spears (master), Swords (expert), Shields (master), Knives (proficient), Polearms (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Pike (Spear of Riposte, damage 5-60, +4 on interruption), Longsword (4-32), Shield (5-15) Dagger (3-12)
Armour Plate Mail (+Shield)
Other
Femke knew Lothar had listened to her concerns. He hadn¡¯t selected Wade for this purely military mission. Instead, he, Mags, and Murder were helping Sauer set up a new base of operations in Eisenberg. Meanwhile, he had given Femke the set of armour they had found in the latest barrow mission. Called Armour of Unyielding Silk, it was incredibly lightweight¡ªit felt like she wasn¡¯t wearing armour at all. But while she was grateful, she also felt guilty. Someone else, more likely to get involved in combat, could have been wearing it instead. There had been some comments¡ªspoken as if in jest, but that didn¡¯t mean they weren¡¯t meant. ¡®I was the first of The Blades to switch to The Apples,¡¯ Usa said. ¡®And I have been rewarded with a sack.¡¯ To be fair, his laugh sounded genuine. ¡®At least you got something,¡¯ said his brother. They were probably ribbing their friends more than her. Fortune had lived up to his nickname, because he was more than lucky to get Blueblade. But he was the best swordsman, so it made sense in that respect. Cap, too, was best placed to get maximum value from the Spear of Riposte. Freshly equipped, they left for the hillfort. Cap had a natural way of making decisions that didn¡¯t quite feel like he was giving out orders. He encouraged The Explorer to range ahead of the main group to look out for trouble. It was an eminently sensible tactic, but until now no one had thought of doing it. So it was Jaelin who broke the news to the rest of the squad. ¡®Looks like we¡¯re too late. Orcs occupy the fort. There are more orcs and goblins camped down below.¡¯ He grimaced. ¡®Also, a pile of bodies¡ªgreenskins and humans¡ªand a field of scalped heads on stakes. They were adding the last few as I watched. Reckon the fighting has only just finished.¡¯ ¡®Damn,¡¯ said Cap. ¡®Not only have we lost the fort to the orcs, but Redblade and Breaker as well. How many are there, do you reckon?¡¯ ¡®Hard to tell exactly. More than fifty. Maybe as many as a hundred. Some of the goblins have wargs, as well.¡¯ Usa whistled. ¡®That¡¯s some war band. We can¡¯t hold Eisenberg against them, never mind trouble them in the field. What do we do? Turn around and go back?¡¯ Already, eyes naturally turned to Cap for the answer. He took his time to think about it, weighing up the consequences in his head. ¡®We achieve nothing in returning to Eisenberg,¡¯ he said at last. ¡®We keep our lives,¡¯ Fortune argued. ¡®There is that. But the orcs paid a price in lives taking the fort. They¡¯ll want to enjoy the spoils. I think the attack was well planned. They didn¡¯t count on us turning up.¡¯ ¡®We can¡¯t take out a hundred of the bastards,¡¯ Usa warned. ¡®No. But maybe we can talk. Learn something, or come to some arrangement. Hoffmeister, get that flag out of your pack for me, will you?¡¯ Cap had Pecs tie the white cloth to his pike. ¡®Listen, everyone. Against common folklore, orcs don¡¯t fight unless they have to. Unless they¡¯re sure they¡¯re gonna win. We know they hit the goblins, and integrated their warriors. Now they¡¯ve taken the fort, somehow found a way inside. Both were planned attacks, with a clear objective. ¡®Meanwhile, we¡¯re a serious force, and an unknown quantity. The orc leader is more than likely to agree to talks¡ªfind out who we are, rather than do something rash. Then at least we return to Eisenberg with some information. There¡¯s too many of them to defeat in battle. We need to outthink them, and the first step is finding out who we¡¯re dealing with. ¡®That said, if people would rather retreat, I understand.¡¯ No one said anything. Femke wanted to say something. She wanted to say ¡°by Gehenna, let¡¯s get very far from here¡±. But no one said anything, and neither did she. They crossed the ground towards the fort, the aftermath of the siege visible. Femke could see no signs of damage to the buildings on top of the great mound. No trails of smoke, which in her imagination always followed an orc attack. It suggested they intended to hold the fort themselves¡ªand why not? It gave them control over the local territory; and a base from which they could expand. A horn blew; then another. They had been seen. Movement, and a group of orcs gathered, about twenty strong. They marched towards The Apples, the gap between the two forces closing fast. ¡®Err, warning!¡¯ said Bletcher, wafting his staff. Everyone ignored him. Femke didn¡¯t care how battle hardened a merc might be, a band of orcs was intimidating. They were larger than humans. Not taller by much, perhaps. Maybe a foot taller than she was; only half a foot on the men. But they were wider, too¡ªbigger framed, with larger bones and muscles that gave them an easy power. A single orc wouldn¡¯t feel like much of a threat, she thought. But a whole bunch of them were terrifying. Their weapons were brutal, designed to make best use of their strength. Clubs; maces; hammers. Used for close combat, to crush skulls and bones in one or two blows. ¡®Halt!¡¯ Cap thundered. If it was going to be a fight, The Apples had to get into formation quickly, before they were overrun. ¡®Halt!¡¯ came a command from the orcs, immediately after Cap¡¯s. The orcs stopped. Except one of their number, who kept coming. She was unmistakably a female, though she gave little away to the male warriors in size. It looked like she was smiling, but it might have been her protruding lower canines that gave that impression. ¡®I am Queen Brid of the Black Orcs of Darkspike Dungeon,¡¯ she said, her ease with the human tongue surprising Femke. ¡®I am Leonard Babler, second in command to Lothar Sauer, of The Rotten Apples. We are operating out of Eisenberg.¡¯ The Orc Queen studied Cap, then let her gaze drift over the other mercs. It seemed like she was assessing the threat each posed, calculating what her best response should be. Femke hoped her crew looked tough enough. She didn¡¯t feel very tough at that moment¡ªshe felt like a 35 year old girl who wanted her mummy. ¡®This is the army of Eisenberg?¡¯ ¡®Part of it,¡¯ Cap lied. ¡®You have come to avenge your allies?¡¯ ¡®No. But we are unhappy at their fate.¡¯ ¡®Unhappy?¡¯ Brid laughed, and some of her orc warriors laughed along. ¡®Humans use such stupid words. Say you are pissed off, if that is the truth.¡¯ ¡®Alright. We are pissed off.¡¯ Femke wasn¡¯t sure Cap should be saying that. ¡®Better. So, you¡¯re pissed off. What are you going to do about it?¡¯ ¡®A war is an option. I will tell my leader if that is necessary.¡¯ ¡®Necessary? Maybe it is necessary that I come to Eisenberg and burn it to the ground. What are your other options?¡¯ ¡®An accommodation.¡¯ ¡®Accommodation? What is this? Speak clearly, Leonard Babler.¡¯ ¡®A treaty. Promises of peace. Trade. An agreement to live together.¡¯ ¡®Oh. Live together. I see. We live together until more stinking humans arrive in Gal¡¯azu, and force us out of our lands. Force us north and west, until you take all the land for yourselves.¡¯ ¡®That won¡¯t happen. The numbers coming to Gal¡¯azu aren¡¯t the same as they once were. But there are plenty of us. Plenty to recruit into an army if you continue your attacks.¡¯ ¡®Alright. A peace. What can we exchange for this peace?¡¯ ¡®Weapons. The leaders of the hillfort had special weapons, a sword and a polearm. We can exchange weapons of our own for them.¡¯ Brid laughed. ¡®Oh, that is a good one. We give you Redblade, the sword that has slain countless greenskins? You are funny, Leonard Babler.¡¯ ¡®Alright,¡¯ Cap said with reluctance. ¡®People.¡¯ ¡®Yes, people. That is the only way.¡¯ ¡®Do you have any survivors?¡¯ ¡®I have about twenty. Non-combatants.¡¯ She stared at Femke¡¯s crew. ¡®What? You think we ate all the children?¡¯ She laughed at them. ¡®It¡¯s not dinner time yet.¡¯ Her warriors laughed at this. ¡®Alright,¡¯ said Cap. ¡®Take me in exchange for them. My squad will return to Eisenberg and tell our leader that you are willing to talk peace with him.¡¯ Queen Brid stared at him. Assessing. Weighing. There was a fierce intelligence in those black eyes. ¡®No.¡¯ Femke slowly moved a hand towards the bow stave strapped to her back. They were moments from violence now. ¡®You talk a lot, Leonard Babler. But I don¡¯t think anyone would really miss you if I slit your throat. Your women, however. They are beautiful. Surely, they will be missed. And they are interesting. This one,¡¯ she said, pointing at Ashlyn, ¡®stands like a lioness. She could be an orc queen. The other two shrink at the back. But there is more to them than first meets the eye. I will have those three in exchange.¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ said Cap. ¡®I didn¡¯t offer them. You can have me, and two others. Instead.¡¯ Brid barked something at her warriors, and they readied their weapons. ¡®It seems peace talks are breaking down, Leonard Babler. We will slaughter all of you. Then I will make peace with Lothar Sauer. I think, having lost so many warriors to me, he will agree to whatever terms I offer.¡¯ ¡®Alright,¡¯ said a voice. It took Femke a moment to fully realise that it was her own. ¡®We¡¯ll do the swap. It doesn¡¯t matter which three of us it is. Human women are just as tough as the men.¡¯ The Orc Queen studied her. ¡®I don¡¯t doubt it.¡¯ MISSION COMPLETE FAILURE: Redblade¡¯s hillfort was not relieved None of your mercs improved their stats No mercs levelled up Chapter 57 To Darkspike Dungeon
Finances
Income
Mission #15 ¡ê0
Expenses
Wages 16s 2d
Loss 16s 2d
Total ¡ê29 16s 7p
Ashlyn, Femke, and Mila had been taken. Emotions in The Pig and Iron were running high, making it impossible for Lothar to control the conversation. ¡®If we¡¯d just turned around when we saw the fort was taken, this wouldn¡¯t have happened,¡¯ Christoph said accusingly to Cap. ¡®It¡¯s your fault.¡¯ Wade looked from one man to the other, his face white. Like Lothar, he hadn¡¯t gone on the mission, and was relying on snippets of information to piece together what had happened. ¡®Come on,¡¯ Leonard said. ¡®That¡¯s unfair. I didn¡¯t want them taken. I offered myself.¡¯ ¡®Why didn¡¯t you do something to save them?¡¯ Wade demanded of Bletcher. ¡®You think I didn¡¯t? We¡¯d all be dead if the gods hadn¡¯t intervened to influence that orc queen.¡¯ No one seemed to know if that was true or not, and the slight pause allowed Lothar to interject. ¡®I know people are upset. But I need to work out what to do about this. We can negotiate with this Queen Brid, though I''m not sure supplying them with weapons and armour is wise. The alternative is to get our squad members back. Some urgent decisions are needed.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s right,¡¯ Jaelin said. ¡®I¡¯m going back. Chances are the main orc force will return to their dungeon, and leave a garrison at the hillfort. I need to get there before they leave, and follow them. If I don¡¯t, we might never know where Mila and the others have been taken.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m coming with you,¡¯ said Wade. More voices chimed in¡ªChristoph, Wilson, even Cap¡ªdemanding to go with The Explorer. ¡®I need to go alone. If the orcs know they¡¯re being followed, they¡¯ll lose us. I¡¯ll return when I know the location.¡¯ ¡®No way,¡¯ Wade said. ¡®I¡¯m going to get Femke. I can travel without being seen.¡¯ ¡®And I¡¯m going for my aunt. And Ashlyn,¡¯ Christoph said, equally firm. ¡®I can¡¯t risk it,¡¯ said Jaelin. ¡®Take them both,¡¯ Lothar said. ¡®You¡¯ll need them. When you find where they¡¯ve been taken, someone will need to return here for help, and someone will need to keep an eye on the place, in case they are moved on somewhere else.¡¯ Jaelin grimaced, but he couldn¡¯t argue with the logic. ¡®Very well. But I¡¯m leaving now, and I¡¯m travelling fast. I won¡¯t be slowed down.¡¯ The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡®You won¡¯t need to worry about that,¡¯ Wade said. The trio were soon gone, taking some of the heat out of the conversation. ¡®I know we have other things to do, Stiff,¡¯ said Cap. ¡®Some of us will have to patrol the territory around the hillfort to keep an eye on the garrison there. But the orcs also took Redblade and Breaker. I don¡¯t think we can afford to ignore them. We¡¯ll need that sword when the time comes to take Brid on.¡¯ Lothar raised a hand. ¡®Give me a moment. I¡¯ve had no time to think.¡¯ He looked at the mission list, assessing his options. KILL SAL LOCATE BARROW FOUND TOWN PATROL AROUND EISENBERG KILL BRID RESCUE GREENBLADE, AUNTIE & MILA RETRIEVE REDBLADE & BREAKER The first three he immediately discounted as distant objectives. He needed to deal with the threat from the orcs that was close to tearing his squad apart. Jaelin, Christoph, and Wade were focused on the rescue mission. Ruled by their emotions, he had to question their chances of success. If they did manage to find the Black Orcs¡¯ dungeon, what were the chances they would send someone back to Eisenberg for help? They¡¯ll try to do it all themselves, more than likely. And more than likely get themselves killed. He needed a backup plan. ¡®Alright,¡¯ he said, turning to the remaining eight mercs. ¡®Rest up tonight. Tomorrow, you¡¯ll go back to the hillfort. I know they have a distinct height advantage, but I need you to avoid detection. Approach at night if necessary, and find somewhere out of sight where you can observe them. Wait for some of them to descend. They¡¯ll have to come down at some point, for supplies. Don¡¯t be hasty¡ªif you have to wait a few days, then wait.¡¯ ¡®Got it,¡¯ Cap said. ¡®We can do that.¡¯ ¡®Catch one of the bastards. Orc or goblin, I don¡¯t think it matters. Get them to take you to this Darkspike Dungeon. Bletcher, you can help with that?¡¯ ¡®If the gods allow.¡¯ At first, Lothar had got annoyed by the wizard¡¯s equivocal pronouncements. But he had begun to realise that it wasn¡¯t simply Bletcher being difficult. He seemed reliant on the gods acting on his behalf, and therefore unable to offer guarantees. ¡®Then I pray they do. Now, when you get to this dungeon, I know you won¡¯t be able to work miracles. You¡¯ll be heavily outnumbered. Get the weapons if you can. Help any squad members you find, if you can. Don¡¯t get yourselves killed. If you return to Eisenberg having tried and failed, then so be it.¡¯ *** Queen Brid had them tied up and kept together in the same room of one of the wooden houses in the fort. They were left alone, but it was still an uneasy night, each of them drifting in and out of sleep. In the morning, there were lots of sounds of activity¡ªshouting, grunting, and even a fight that had to be broken up. Femke guessed Brid was getting ready to leave. The door of their room was barged open, and an orc entered. He growled a word that could have been ¡°food¡±, since he dropped some rations on the floor next to them, along with three large jugs of water. He then untied each of them, so they could feed themselves. He stood by the door, his huge arms folded, and watched. The food was strips of dried meat. Femke had to tear at it with her teeth, like an animal, before she ripped off a piece she could fit in her mouth. ¡®What is it?¡¯ Ashlyn asked the orc, suspicion on her face. ¡®Meat,¡¯ he said. Femke was only just able to understand his pronunciation. ¡®What kind of meat?¡¯ He laughed at her. ¡®I¡¯m not eating it then.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s not human meat,¡¯ Mila told Ashlyn, tucking into hers with gusto. Ashlyn gave Femke a look, as if to ask how does she know? Femke could only shrug. But she had the feeling they would have a hard walk today, and they would need some food in their bellies, whatever it was. She persevered with her first strip, and Ashlyn reluctantly nibbled at hers. The meat was so tough and dry, Femke could see why they¡¯d been given so much water. She used it to moisten the food, and then to help her swallow it. The orc led them out into the fresh air. They had nothing to do but wait, until it was their turn to climb down the rope ladder, to the bottom of the mound. Here, a large force was ready to leave. Brid was there, with most of her orcs, and all her goblins. But about a score of her orc warriors remained, to keep hold of the fort. It told Femke that the queen had ambitions of expanding farther east. The force set off in a southwest direction. The mounted goblin riders ranged ahead. The rest of their brethren walked at the rear of the walking column. Brid was at the front, while Femke and the two girls were in the middle, surrounded by orc warriors. They were still free of their bonds, but with their weapons taken, there was nothing they could do to escape. Femke could see they were the only prisoners. Brid had at least been honest, in sending all the captured residents of the fort to Eisenberg with The Apples. She¡¯d tried to stop herself thinking about it¡ªbut now she imagined Wade being given the news of her capture. Then came the image of her nephew¡¯s face, as she and Ashlyn were led away. She knew they would attempt a rescue, and that it would almost certainly fail. A tear came, but she wiped it away. She had to be strong, for Ashlyn and Mila. Chapter 58 Mission #16 Rescue Greenblade, Auntie & Mila Part One MERCS: Jaelin ¡®The Explorer¡¯ Topolski | Trent Wade | Christoph ¡®The Bowman¡¯ Gerd They¡¯d spent the night in their blankets, out in the open. Christoph had taken the first shift, gazing through the darkness towards the hillfort, where his aunt, Ashlyn, and Mila, were being held. It was a relief when Wade replaced him¡ªhe¡¯d already come close to dozing off. When Jaelin woke them, it was morning. He gestured to where the greenskin force was gathering. Most of Brid¡¯s army was leaving. They stayed still as the goblin riders set out. The Explorer looked relieved when they had gone, after being worried the beasts would catch their scent. Then the main column left. Christoph peered at the figures who followed the wargs southwest. ¡®In the middle,¡¯ Jaelin said, pointing. Christoph could make out three smaller figures, walking together amongst the much larger orcs. Relief flooded him¡ªhe hadn¡¯t realised just how nervous he¡¯d got. All three were alive. They knew where they were. It could have been so much worse. ¡®We¡¯ll wait here a good while,¡¯ Jaelin said. ¡®Might as well take your breakfast and relax. We¡¯re not setting off until I¡¯m sure we can¡¯t be seen. Or smelt.¡¯ Christoph did as he was bid. He had no doubts The Explorer would be able to pick up the trail of so many crossing the landscape. His faith in The Explorer was justified. The passage of such a large war band was easy for the scout to follow. Christoph picked up some of his methods as they walked. Depressions in the ground and damage to plants were easy to spot. Across rocky terrain it was harder, but Jaelin would follow the most logical route and they would soon pick up the trail again. Orc and goblin faecal matter was pungent. Jaelin also showed him the signs of warg riders coming back to the main column to report, which they did regularly. There was even a discarded physical item every now and again. They noticed white cloth peeking out from under a rock. It was a roll of bandage, from one of the medical packs. His aunt had probably left it there to be found in case someone was following them. The idea of that improved their mood. Wade held onto it as they walked, as if something that had once belonged to Auntie Femke brought him some comfort. It made Christoph realise just how much his aunt meant to the thief, and the misgivings he¡¯d held about the relationship disappeared. For his part, he imagined Ashlyn walking this route, and what her thoughts would be. He knew she was brave¡ªbraver than him. But he desperately wanted to contribute to her escape. He was sick of the role of the useless boy with the bow and arrows. He knew he couldn¡¯t singlehandedly break into an orc dungeon and heroically rescue them, while killing the orc queen. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. But gods, let me do something. They came upon Darkspike Dungeon. It was a mountain. Facing east, about two thirds of the way up, was a small lookout tower, built from the rock. Facing south, at ground level, was a cave entrance. This was where the tracks led. ¡®Now what?¡¯ Christoph asked. Ashlyn was in there somewhere. He was desperate to get her out. Jaelin turned to him. ¡®You¡¯re going to have to be patient. We can¡¯t afford to be seen, or we¡¯ll have wargs after us. We can¡¯t just wander through that entrance; there¡¯ll be an army of orcs waiting for us.¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s the plan then?¡¯ ¡®We go to the other side of the mountain, out of sight. You two sit tight. I explore every inch of the thing. Somewhere, there has to be another way to get inside.¡¯ ¡®We can explore too,¡¯ Wade said. ¡®No, you can¡¯t. Not like me. Look, I agreed to you both coming. But I need to work alone on this. For the sake of those we came here to rescue. I promise, when I find something, I¡¯ll fetch you.¡¯ Christoph thought Wade would argue, but he relented. He looked tired; looked a bit like he¡¯d already lost. Waiting, it turned out, was the most excruciating thing in the world. Christoph would have bet money on it being sowing seeds, or ploughing, or cleaning out the pig sties. But no. He¡¯d have paid good money to clean out a pig sty or two, instead of just sitting there, waiting for day to turn to night, then back to day again. Somewhere up the mountain, The Explorer toiled, looking for a way into the dungeon. At least, Christoph hoped that was the case. He hoped he hadn¡¯t fallen down a ravine and broken a leg. That, he had to accept, would be worse than waiting. ¡®I know you can¡¯t have been happy to hear about me and your auntie,¡¯ Wade said. ¡®Well. It¡¯s her business, not mine.¡¯ ¡®Good of you to say, Christoph. But no. I¡¯m a thief: a good for nothing. With a boy in tow.¡¯ ¡®Eden is a good lad. A hard worker.¡¯ ¡®True. I¡¯m the issue. But I want you to know, Christoph, I only care about Femke; and Eden. I¡¯d do anything to get her out of here. When this is over, we¡¯re going to your family¡¯s farm. Your aunt will be safe. Eden will be safe. Nothing will change my mind this time. Certainly not Stiff.¡¯ Christoph nodded. ¡®Good. I don¡¯t want my auntie doing this any more. I don¡¯t want Ashlyn doing it, but I don¡¯t fancy my chances of persuading her to retire to a farm.¡¯ ¡®Maybe. But you¡¯ll never know unless you ask.¡¯ At last, Jaelin returned. ¡®I¡¯ve found a way in.¡¯ They followed him up a steep slope that never seemed to end. It took them about a third of the way up, where cold winds buffeted them. The slope levelled out, and they kept going, walking around the side of the mountain, where trees and bushes clung. More than once, the rock beneath Christoph¡¯s feet gave way, sending a small slide of rocks tumbling down. Jaelin glared at him. All he could do was apologise, and hope he didn¡¯t get carried down with the rocks next time. They stopped at a crevice. It was pitch black inside. Jaelin gestured at the ledge they had been walking on, and pointed to a slope on the other side of the hole. ¡®The water from this side of the mountain flows here, and then goes underground.¡¯ He pointed into the crevice. ¡®I think if we go down there, we¡¯ll find ourselves inside the orcs¡¯ dungeon system.¡¯ ¡®Why?¡¯ Christoph asked. ¡®Brid probably has hundreds living inside this mountain. For that, they need lots of water. I think it¡¯s likely they can access the water flow down there. An underground stream, or pool.¡¯ ¡®Well, only one way to find out,¡¯ said Wade. He tied his rope to a nearby tree. ¡®Who¡¯s first?¡¯ Chapter 59 Mission #17 Retrieve Redblade & Breaker Part One MERCS: Leonard ¡®Cap¡¯ Babler | Wilson ¡®Twerk¡¯ Turk | Usain ¡®Usa¡¯ Bizra | Izildra ¡®Izil¡¯ Bizra | Bletcher Georg ¡®The Hoffmeister¡¯ Hoffman | Victor ¡®Pecs¡¯ Balinski | Eddie ¡®Fortune¡¯ Rich ¡®Now,¡¯ Cap began, as Twerk and the others lined up before him. ¡®We all know we¡¯re heading into significant danger. But I believe that as a team we¡¯re well equipped to handle it. Even so, I¡¯m throwing in a little sweetener.¡¯ He held the Spear of Riposte in front of them. ¡®One of you lot is going to earn this. At the end of the mission, I¡¯m giving it to the man who is most deserving. If we get our hands on Redblade and Breaker as well, I¡¯d say you have a fifty-fifty chance of walking away with a magic weapon that will transform your career.¡¯ None of the weapons were suitable for Wilson. Still, one had to admire a leader who was willing to give up their own weapon to one of their warriors. They took a circuitous path to the hillfort, approaching it from the north. The orc garrison were unlikely to be paying too much attention to that region. In the dusk, they were able to settle down amongst a stand of trees¡ªclose enough to observe the hill, yet concealed from their enemies. The flicker of flames atop the hill made it easy to keep the orcs in sight, even during the night. Wilson shared a watch with Victor. Wary at first, he found the big warrior easy enough to talk to. ¡®Breaker¡¯s a polearm?¡¯ he asked Wilson. ¡®Aye. A pike.¡¯ ¡®A pike? Hmm.¡¯ ¡®That a problem?¡¯ ¡®Well. I thought I might have a good chance of getting it, being skilled in polearms. But a pike can be used by those skilled in spears, as well as polearms, which negates my advantage. On the other hand, not many can wield a pike one handed like I can. I¡¯ve got that going for me.¡¯ Wilson thought that was it, but then the man kept going. ¡®It¡¯s a shame, really, about Cap giving his spear away. Because that might mean he claims Breaker for himself.¡¯ Wilson really had no interest in who might get what weapon. ¡®Still. Good of Cap to give his weapon away. You¡¯ve found him to be fair?¡¯ ¡®Aye. He knows what he¡¯s doing. Treats you with respect if you¡¯ve earned it. Then again, Stiff was generous with the items from the barrow, wasn¡¯t he? Only kept that little crown for himself. Gave each of us a nice bonus out of the treasure we got. Believe me, we¡¯d have got less if we were in The Blades.¡¯ ¡®Is that so? And what did you make of the Blairs?¡¯ Victor shrugged, suddenly nervous. ¡®They didn¡¯t even let me join,¡¯ Wilson said. ¡®Because I¡¯m a gnome.¡¯ ¡®Yeah, well. I didn¡¯t have much to do with them. Rylan, well. He did some things that were out of order. Wynter is a little crazy. Sal is a hard man. But he got us work. I didn¡¯t have a falling out with them. Just felt like a change.¡¯ ¡®And no regrets?¡¯ This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡®None so far. Getting in a war with a band of orcs¡ªI don¡¯t know if it¡¯s a good idea. But these magic weapons. I wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance of getting anything like that with The Blades. They let you know you¡¯re at the bottom of the barrel. In The Apples, it feels like I¡¯ll have opportunities.¡¯ All these humans, coming late to the party, getting all these opportunities, Wilson complained to himself. He could feel his position in the squad slipping. Not so long ago, he had considered himself second in command. Cap had taken that role. Stiff was giving out rewards to the new recruits; he didn¡¯t seem to give a damn about Wilson any more. ¡®We have targets,¡¯ said Georg. There were only two orcs. They had descended the rope ladder with large wood axes. They strode towards the stand of trees in which the mercs waited. It was almost too good to be true. ¡®Hide,¡¯ Cap told them. ¡®Wait until they start chopping.¡¯ The two orc warriors were impressive physical specimens. But they made no attempt to search the trees before they began swinging their heavy axes, no doubt intent on completing their task as quickly as possible. Before they knew it, they had five spears, a magic sword, and two axes pointed at them. ¡®Drop those axes,¡¯ Cap said. Twerk could sense the nerves in his voice. A noisy killing might catch the attention of the orcs from the fort. ¡®It would be a good idea,¡¯ Bletcher added, as they hesitated. ¡®Better than being killed. We will release you when we¡¯re done.¡¯ ¡®Done with what?¡¯ one of the orcs asked. ¡®The gods want you to take us to Darkspike Dungeon.¡¯ ¡®Gods?¡¯ ¡®Aye. The gods. And it¡¯s never a good idea to deny them. They can be bountiful with their rewards; yet terrible with their punishments.¡¯ When one of the orcs dropped their axe to the ground, his companion followed his lead. Cap insisted they give the hillfort a wide berth, adding considerable time to their journey. Wilson walked with Bletcher. His understanding was that the two orcs were under the wizard¡¯s spell. And yet, the one armed man didn¡¯t seem to be concentrating on maintaining a connection with, or control over them. He produced an odd looking jumble of tat, tied together with straw, from his cloak. ¡®A gift for you, gnome.¡¯ Wilson eyed it. ¡®What in Gehenna would I do with that? Put it away, you fool.¡¯ Whatever Bletcher was or wasn¡¯t contributing, their orc guides remained docile. They pointed out a mountain in the distance. ¡®That is Darkspike Dungeon.¡¯ ¡®The mountain?¡¯ Wilson asked them. ¡®Yes.¡¯ He spoke with Cap out of the greenskins¡¯ earshot. ¡®We might be better off stopping for the night and making a fire. We don¡¯t want to be seen from the dungeon.¡¯ ¡®You think we need a fire?¡¯ ¡®I think we need to keep a good eye on our captives. They act like they¡¯re under Bletcher¡¯s control, but they can be cunning. And they have excellent night vision. Not as good as mine, but I can¡¯t keep my eyes on them all night without getting tired.¡¯ ¡®You make a good point,¡¯ Cap said, hefting the Spear of Riposte he used as his walking stick. He gave Usa a nod. Then, before Wilson had fathomed what was happening, he was striking at the nearest orc. ACTION ROUND
Orc Warriors
Orc Warrior
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 23
Cap didn¡¯t need Usa¡¯s help. He struck the first orc with the Spear of Riposte on his first attempt, killing him instantly. He reached the second orc on his second action point, and killed him on his third. He didn¡¯t miss; he killed them both with one hit. They were dead before most of the team had turned to look. Cap saw Wilson¡¯s open mouthed expression and smiled. ¡®Don¡¯t worry, Twerk.¡¯ He pointed into the distance. ¡®They told us where the dungeon is. We don¡¯t need them any more.¡¯ Chapter 60 Mission #16 Rescue Greenblade, Auntie & Mila Part Two MERCS: Jaelin ¡®The Explorer¡¯ Topolski | Trent Wade | Christoph ¡®The Bowman¡¯ Gerd Christoph descended into a pool of oily blackness. He couldn¡¯t touch the bottom, and he suspected the water¡¯s depth was many times his height. Ice cold on his bare skin, it was hard not to gasp out loud; hard not to panic. In every direction were the rock walls of an underground cavern, and they were barely visible. He didn¡¯t know how to get out. His composure fractured, and he swallowed water. There was a glare of light. Jaelin¡¯s rod. He swam towards it, his sack heavy, threatening to drown him. The Explorer was crouched on a ledge, slightly higher than the lapping water. Jaelin helped him out, by which point Christoph was shivering uncontrollably. The Livanian took Christoph¡¯s bag off his shoulders. ¡®Dry yourself first,¡¯ Jaelin whispered, handing him a cloth already damp from use. The Explorer then opened Christoph¡¯s bag and pulled out his clothes. Miserable, Christoph forced himself to mop the water that clung to him, and rub some warmth into his body. He wanted nothing more than to lie down and close his eyes. Then, with fingers unable to properly grip, he put his clothes on. They weren¡¯t completely dry, but better than if they¡¯d been soaked in the icy water. Finally, Jaelin helped him with his armour, fastening the buckles for him. Wade appeared from the darkness. ¡®This ledge runs the full length of the cavern. There are exits at each end. Looks like a total guess which one to take.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t know,¡¯ Jaelin admitted. Christoph didn¡¯t bother saying anything. They both knew he was clueless. Find his way blindfolded around a farmstead, and he¡¯d be confident of doing alright. But a dungeon full of greenskins? He was clueless. Well, not completely clueless. He drew his dagger. He was pretty confident that was the right move. Wade decided to lead them in the direction of the mountainside. Here, what looked like a natural opening in the cavern led to a corridor that had been carved from the rock. It ran both ways. Christoph wondered what kind of people had laboured on such a feat. These orcs were likely only the latest residents of an underground realm hundreds of years old. He and Jaelin waited as Wade turned right. Above ground, Jaelin was the expert. Underground, they deferred to the thief. He soon tiptoed back. ¡®Orc guard patrolling this way,¡¯ he whispered. ¡®Get back.¡¯ They retired into the cavern, pressing themselves against the damp rock. Before long, Christoph heard the clomp of a single orc marching in their direction. It didn¡¯t stop to investigate the cavern, just kept on going down the corridor. ¡®So,¡¯ Wade said, ¡®the way I went leads to stairs down to the next level. I think we should explore this level first.¡¯ ¡®Agreed,¡¯ Jaelin said. ¡®Alright, I¡¯m going to follow that orc. Be ready.¡¯ The thief disappeared, his footsteps inaudible compared to the thump of the orc guard. Again, they didn¡¯t have a long wait before Wade returned. ¡®Alright. On the left is an occupied guard room. I can¡¯t get any farther because of that damned guard marching back and forth. He¡¯s on his way. I say we take him out.¡¯ ¡®Alright,¡¯ Jaelin and Christoph agreed, willing to let the Durnishman take the lead. As the footsteps of the orc returned, his dagger hand got clammy. At least I¡¯m not cold anymore, he realised. Wade let the orc walk past the cavern entrance before he struck. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ACTION ROUND
Orc Warrior
Orc Warrior
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 23
Taking the hulking figure completely by surprise, Wade sank his blade to satisfying effect, scoring ten points of damage. But he couldn¡¯t rip it free again before the warrior swung around to face him. Jaelin darted in next, landing two stabs in the arm that reduced their opponent to six hit points. Up next, Christoph¡¯s first strike punched through the hide armour into the orc¡¯s gut. When he tried it again, the blade bent. And that was it. It was the orc¡¯s turn. Christoph waited for the roar. He waited for the club to come down on his head. Neither happened. Instead, the orc wobbled on his feet. Realising what was happening, Christoph caught him. Jaelin and Wade helped him lower the orc to the ground without too much noise, though the club clattered to the rock floor. They dragged him, straining with the effort, into the cavern. Christoph went back for the club. When he returned, he found Wade standing over the orc with his retrieved knife. ¡®I don¡¯t think we need to kill him,¡¯ Jaelin said. Wade looked at Christoph. ¡®I agree,¡¯ Christoph said. ¡®He will stay unconscious, won¡¯t he?¡¯ Wade sighed. ¡®Alright.¡¯ He handed the knife to Christoph. ¡®You need a new one.¡¯ ¡®You should have it.¡¯ ¡®I have a spare,¡¯ said the thief, pulling a second blade from his boot. They returned to the cavern entrance with one glance back at the orc. Christoph wondered what some of their fellow mercs would say about leaving an orc alive. But the three of them weren¡¯t killers. Or, at least, not when they didn¡¯t have to be. ¡®Best if you stay here for now,¡¯ the thief said, then disappeared down the corridor once more. When he returned, he had a somewhat bemused expression on his face. ¡®I¡¯ve found Queen Brid. She has a throne room at the end of this corridor. A dozen armed orcs in there with her.¡¯ ¡®No sign of Ashlyn and the others?¡¯ Christoph asked. ¡®No. I suggest we try the other exit from the cavern before we decide on anything.¡¯ Christoph was quick to agree. They¡¯d barely dealt with one orc in a sneak attack. They¡¯d be eviscerated by twelve. They retraced their steps, past the wounded orc, then along the pool until they came to the exit. This one was artificial, and led deeper into the mountain. After Wade crept ahead a short distance, he gestured for them to catch up. The passageway turned to the right, then continued as far as Christoph could see. Which wasn¡¯t very far. But some light did filter in from an opening on the left. Wade investigated the opening and returned. ¡®A dining room and kitchen,¡¯ he whispered. ¡®A few in there, but at the far end. Follow me, and stay quiet.¡¯ They passed the opening, which was illuminated by the flickers of firelight. Wade continued on, then stopped at a door on the right. He stood staring at it for some time, doing nothing. Christoph couldn¡¯t work out why. Meanwhile, those orcs in the kitchen might appear behind them at any moment, and they¡¯d be trapped. Finally, Wade acted. When the door wouldn¡¯t open, he used a skeleton key on the lock. The door swung inwards, and Wade¡¯s face was bathed in a faint red light. He seemed to smile, then waved them on. When Christoph got to the door, Wade had already entered. He was presented with a room so long it looked more like another corridor. But shelves ran along one wall. The nearest to the door contained foodstuffs. But further on, these were replaced with armour items, and weapons. One of these weapons had a glowing red pommel. Redblade. Jaelin closed the door, and he and Christoph joined Wade. The thief passed the sword to Christoph, who held it aloft, thereby shedding a bit more light. ¡®That¡¯s Ashlyn¡¯s sword,¡¯ he said, pointing to a second weapon. Wade took the second sword. ¡®Why isn¡¯t it shining?¡¯ ¡®I presume,¡¯ Jaelin said, ¡®the wargs are too far away. Which in my opinion is a goot thing.¡¯ He moved on, taking a pike, much longer than the other spears in its rack. ¡®And this is Breaker. So, we have the weapons. But we¡¯re no closer to finding what we came for.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯ll be harder to evade this dungeon¡¯s residents if we¡¯re lugging these weapons around,¡¯ Wade warned. ¡®Then what do we do?¡¯ Christoph asked. Neither answered. Because at that moment, the sound of fighting reached them. Chapter 61 Mission #17 Retrieve Redblade & Breaker Part Two MERCS: Leonard ¡®Cap¡¯ Babler | Wilson ¡®Twerk¡¯ Turk | Usain ¡®Usa¡¯ Bizra | Izildra ¡®Izil¡¯ Bizra | Bletcher Georg ¡®The Hoffmeister¡¯ Hoffman | Victor ¡®Pecs¡¯ Balinski | Eddie ¡®Fortune¡¯ Rich They studied Darkspike Dungeon. Given it was a mountain, Wilson wasn¡¯t surprised to find it looked impregnable. ¡®The main entrance is out of the question,¡¯ Cap decided. ¡®There¡¯s just no way the eight of us stand a chance walking in the front door.¡¯ No one was about to argue with that. ¡®Which leaves us with that tower.¡¯ It was a small lookout tower, built into the mountainside. It wasn¡¯t possible to make out any details from this distance. Wilson thought it unlikely there¡¯d be more than a few guards on duty. The trouble was, those guards would see the eight of them approaching in plenty of time, and call for reinforcements. Everyone stood in silence, waiting for Cap to arrive at a solution. It seemed inspiration wouldn¡¯t come. ¡®I¡¯ve got the best chance,¡¯ Wilson said at last. ¡®How¡¯s that?¡¯ Cap asked. ¡®I¡¯m small. My night vision is excellent; better than those orcs, probably. I have the best chance of getting into the tower unseen.¡¯ Cap looked at Wilson, then up at the tower. ¡®Much of a climber?¡¯ ¡®Not especially.¡¯ ¡®Huh.¡¯ More silence. Cap fixed his gaze at their objective. It was possible a thousand stratagems were spinning through his head, as he narrowed in on the one most likely to succeed. It was also possible he¡¯d turned into a statue. ¡®You could help him get inside, Bletcher?¡¯ ¡®The gods might deem him worthy of their aid,¡¯ the wizard said. Wilson didn¡¯t appreciate the doubt in the man¡¯s voice. ¡®Don¡¯t plead with them on my account. I¡¯ve got by this far without their help.¡¯ Cap raised a hand. ¡®Let me think.¡¯ Wilson wasn¡¯t inclined to stop talking on anyone¡¯s say so. On the other hand, the way in which Babler had dispatched the two orc captives was a persuasive counter argument. ¡®Alright,¡¯ Cap said at last. ¡®That¡¯s our best chance. We¡¯ll ascend the north face, keeping out of the tower¡¯s sight lines. We¡¯ll get as close as we can. Then it¡¯ll be up to our gnome friend to get us inside.¡¯ In the darkness, Wilson peered around a rock shelf at the tower, gathering as much information as he could. The more he saw, the more his confidence grew. At closer quarters, the tower was a roughly built piece of architecture, and he wondered whether the orcs had built it themselves. Constructed from giant lumps of rock, there were plenty of climbing routes where one rock sat next to another. Then there were the orc guards. Occasionally, he would see one appear on the battlements, from where they would look out in all directions. But these appearances were irregular. It was clear to Wilson that the orcs had no expectations of an attack; it was probable that the tower had never been attacked in living memory. It was time to go. He turned to his companions. Cap waited with Bletcher and Fortune. He wondered whether the wizard would really provide him with some mystical aid; wondered if he¡¯d even try. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. He took the contraption they had made from Cap. Cap¡¯s spear and Victor¡¯s pike had been lashed together to create a ladder. He held it in the centre and set off. It didn¡¯t enhance his stealth, having to carry something so long. Halfway to the tower, he saw a head appear, followed by a shoulder, as a guard walked the circular steps to the battlements. This was where being so low to the ground was a benefit. He placed the ladder on the ground and lay down next to it. At this distance, with the lack of light, he was pretty sure his tiny prone body would resemble a rock. There was no cry of discovery. He waited for the orc to return down the steps, and resumed his progress. When he reached the base of the tower he looked for the best route to the top. There was an unpleasant, orc-like smell, even this close. The rocks at the base were the largest, and hardest to climb. He jammed the two spear blades into the rocky ground and leaned the improvised ladder against one of the rocks. It reached the top, while still providing him with a reasonable climbing angle. He clambered up, then shifted onto the tower wall. Using a spot where two rocks met to provide him with grips, he began to climb. He had to shuffle along the top of one of the rocks, his hands pressed against flat stone, before he reached the next route up. Two thirds of the way up, he heard several roars of delight and excited chatter from inside the tower, as if the orcs were playing dice or some other game. That was soon followed by the sound of heavy feet slapping on stone. Wilson kept still as the orc appeared on the battlements above. There was a lot of sighing coming from the guard, and then a fountain of water appeared a few feet from his position. He realised the beast was relieving himself over the edge; then realised he had probably stood in the orcs¡¯ toilet down at the bottom. Perhaps Bletcher¡¯s gods worked their magic now. Because if he had bothered to look down, the orc could have seen either Wilson clinging to the wall, or the ladder propped against it. Instead, with more sighing, and a rip of gas that sounded like an explosion, the orc finished his business and returned to his games. The last part of the climb was the easiest, until Wilson reached an overhang to get over the battlements. No doubt someone of human size would have found the manoeuvre straightforward, but he had to hold his full bodyweight with his hands until he could scrabble over. He collapsed, placing a hand over his mouth to quieten his heavy breathing. Once he had recovered, he found the tower had a simple set up. A walkway did a full circuit of the battlements, while stone steps circled down all the way to the base of the tower. Inside, the orcs were engaged in quieter muttering now, engaged with their latest game. Judging by their voices, he reckoned there were half a dozen guards in all. Wilson waved from the northern side of the battlements. He then unfastened his rope, looped it around a merlon, ensuring he tied a strong knot. He picked up movement, as Cap and Fortune began to cross the distance to the tower. All he could do now was wait. It was just as his companions were reaching the base of the tower, that another series of raucous shouts erupted from below. Someone had won, and was celebrating. Then someone else, perhaps the loser, began to make his way up the steps. Oh, shit on it. Wilson pressed himself into the shadows as the orc neared. Somehow, it worked, the orc arriving on the battlements without noticing the gnome. Then, with a confused expression, it stared at the rope tied around the merlon. ACTION ROUND
Orc
Orc Warrior
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 23
Wilson had to act, driving at the warrior from behind. One of his axe strikes hit, tearing into the back of the orc¡¯s leg, and dealing ten points of damage. He struck again. Another successful strike saw the orc collapse to the ground. If it wasn¡¯t dead, it soon would be, its blood pumping onto the walkway. The rope strained, as the first climber pulled on it. Below, shouts rained out. It was only as the battle mist cleared that Wilson realised the rest of the orcs weren¡¯t coming for him. He wished he could understand what they said. The celebratory tone was replaced with a more insistent one. If he had to guess, it would be that they were calling up to their fallen colleague. Wilson readied his axes for more slaughter. Cap appeared, clambering onto the walkway. Wilson gestured down to the orcs and he nodded, quickly taking in the scene. He carefully drew his sword. The blood began to drip down the steps. Then they heard orc footsteps. Chapter 62 Missions #16 & #17: Conclusion They looked from one another, to the straining rope Fortune was climbing, to the orc sprawled on the ground. There was no chance of hiding this time. Cap pointed down. Wilson understood. They couldn¡¯t afford for the orcs to take the initiative. As soon as they were discovered, the orcs would call for reinforcements, and they would have to retreat. Cap had prepared for such an eventuality: the rest of their group were positioned on the mountain to protect an escape. But that would mean leaving without the weapons. He nodded his agreement. Cap wasted no time, leaping onto the steps and rushing down, while Wilson followed. Babler held his sword two-handed, and lunged at the orc on the steps before it knew what was happening. He dropped it to ten hit points, and the strength of his attack forced it down to the bottom of the steps. He killed it with his third action point. With his fourth, he drove at the remaining four orcs. They had been playing with coins at a table, and barely had time to stand from their benches. The first received a heavy swing to the head, which killed it instantly. The next took a blow so hard on the side of its arm, it was almost completely severed. The return swing obliterated it. Cap had smashed a way through their orc enemies. Only two remained, but he only had one action point left. He missed, perhaps finally exhausted from his bloody attack. The orcs grabbed their spiked clubs, propped against the table, and let rip. Five of the ten hits got through Cap¡¯s plate armour. And they were heavy strikes. Anyone else in The Apples would have been dead on the floor. As it was, Cap had seven hit points left. It took Wilson an action point to reach the remaining orcs. Then he let his axes fly. Both axes bit on his first attempt, knocking his victim to the ground. On his third action, one axe strike was enough to lower the last orc standing to seven hit points. On his fourth action, Wilson finished him. It was over. Wilson looked around at the tight space they were in, roughly carved from the rock. There wasn¡¯t room for much beyond the orcs¡¯ table. The room continued on into darkness, beyond the reach of the orcs¡¯ torches. On the opposite wall were a set of steps leading down to the next level of the dungeon. Fortune appeared, stepping over the gory remains they had made. He was still red faced from the climb. ¡®Sorry I missed it. By the gods, Cap,¡¯ he said, looking at the man¡¯s crumpled armour, ¡®are you alright?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll be fine. Wilson here saved my ass. But I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be risking more combat after that. We have to hope we can find those weapons quickly.¡¯ ¡®Here!¡¯ came a voice from the darkness. ¡®Let¡¯s start down there, shall we?¡¯ Fortune suggested, taking a torch from the wall sconce. In his other hand, he held Blueblade. Wilson and Cap followed. The darkness retreated, revealing cells along each wall. They were empty, until they got to the end of the room. Three of them were occupied: by Ashlyn, Femke, and Mila. The captives, crouched in the confined spaces they¡¯d been placed in, blinked at the light. ¡®You¡¯re alright?¡¯ Wilson asked. ¡®Yes,¡¯ Ashlyn said. ¡®Two of the orcs had keys on their belts.¡¯ Wilson rushed back up the room and began searching the orcs. ¡®You know where the weapons are?¡¯ he heard Fortune ask. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡®No.¡¯ Wilson moved from one body to the next. They were heavy, smelly, lumps, and he had difficulty rolling them over to give them a proper search. ¡®Any luck?¡¯ Cap asked him. ¡®Not yet.¡¯ ¡®Might be best to leave them for now. You could nip down and look for the weapons, while I look for the keys.¡¯ Wilson ignored him. He didn¡¯t know why he wasn¡¯t helping to get the damned keys; didn¡¯t know why he was reluctant to release the three captives. But he decided it was better not to voice those questions. ¡®Got it,¡¯ he said, relief flooding him. He marched past Cap and down to the cells, where Fortune remained with the torch. The key worked on each cell and the three women emerged, stretching their legs and rubbing their backs. ¡®Thank you,¡¯ each of them said earnestly, walking from the cells and stopping in front of the massacre. ¡®How did you know we¡¯d be here?¡¯ Ashlyn asked. ¡®Luck,¡¯ Cap answered. ¡®We decided to enter via the tower. I¡¯m so pleased to have found you. Only partly for personal reasons. I took quite a battering.¡¯ ¡®So I see,¡¯ Femke said. ¡®I¡¯ll do my best, but without our kits, it won¡¯t be much.¡¯ ¡®Understood,¡¯ said Cap. ¡®The question now is, do we risk finding those weapons?¡¯ Wilson thought getting their comrades out alive was the priority now, but he didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, he raised one hand and put a finger to his lips. He pointed down the steps. He¡¯d heard footsteps. Everyone froze. They were vulnerable¡ªthe three women unarmed, and Cap badly injured. There was nothing else for it. Wilson gestured to the set of steps leading up the tower, then began to descend towards the level below. Fortune nodded in understanding, and began to usher their comrades up to freedom. Wilson held his axes at the ready, as he circled downwards. It sounded like there was only one person coming up, and their footsteps lacked the heft of an orc. A goblin, perhaps. *** Christoph rushed to the door. ¡®Careful,¡¯ Wade warned him. ¡®I can hear weapons clashing. It must be where Ashlyn and the others are.¡¯ ¡®It may be,¡¯ Wade said. ¡®Even if it is, there¡¯s no point getting yourself killed. Open the door quickly, then let me out first.¡¯ They deposited the weapons they had found on the floor of the storeroom, and grasped their knives instead. When Christoph opened the door, Wade moved quickly, scanning the corridor, then continued towards the source of the noise. It was on the left side of the corridor, further along than they had explored. He beckoned to Christoph and Jaelin, and they joined him at the base of a set of winding stairs. It had gone quiet again. ¡®It came from up there,¡¯ Wade whispered. ¡®The orcs on this level might not have heard it, but that doesn¡¯t mean there won¡¯t be any coming this way. We need lookouts in each direction, while the third takes the stairs.¡¯ ¡®I want to go up,¡¯ Christoph said. Wade looked doubtful. ¡®Let him,¡¯ Jaelin said. ¡®Alright. But go slow, and quiet. Find out what¡¯s going on, and report back to us. No heroics.¡¯ Christoph took the stone steps. He was desperate to find Ashlyn and his aunt, but made himself follow Wade¡¯s advice and take it slowly. His heart was beating so fast in his chest that he heard the sound of footsteps coming down late. The enemy was on him, but it was an unexpected size. ¡®By Gehenna, Christoph,¡¯ Wilson growled at him. ¡®I nearly cut you to bits.¡¯ ¡®Ashlyn?¡¯ ¡®We¡¯ve found them. All three. They¡¯re fine.¡¯ Christoph was hit with a wave of emotion. He found himself forcing back tears. ¡®The weapons?¡¯ the gnome asked. ¡®We found them.¡¯ Wilson raised his eyebrows in surprise. His face went thoughtful. ¡®We have a way out here. I think it¡¯s best if you come with us.¡¯ MISSIONS COMPLETE SUCCESS: Greenblade, Auntie, and Mila were rescued & the weapons were retrieved Some of your mercs improved their stats: The Bowman: Skill with knives: competent Wade: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 The Explorer: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 Twerk: Agility +1 Hit Points +1 Some mercs levelled up: Twerk is now Level 4 Chapter 63 Farewell
Finances
Income
Missions #16 & #17 ¡ê0
Spying mission on Kuthenians 9s 4d
Expenses
Wages ¡ê2 8s 4d
Loss ¡ê1 19s
Total ¡ê27 17s 7p
¡®You spoke to Foberoy?¡¯ Lothar asked The Baron. The thief had arrived in Eisenberg after completing his spying mission on the Kuthenians. He still looked a little bemused by the changes that had taken place in the meantime. ¡®I did. He and the council have a full report.¡¯ ¡®Care to give me the gist?¡¯ ¡®Their port of Fuyang is fully operational. Kuthenian boats full of settlers and goods arrive almost daily. But since those pirates were cleared out, most neutral ships still prefer to use Avolo. ¡®On the other hand, the Kuthenians have a standing army operating in Gal¡¯azu. Its leaders are appointed and dismissed by the emperor back home, with strict orders from him. It has pushed north from the coast, founding settlements and defeating any opposition it finds. In a much shorter space of time, they are not far from reaching the same population size as the rest of Gal¡¯azu.¡¯ ¡®Sounds ominous. What are Foberoy and his friends going to do about it?¡¯ ¡®They intend to promote Gal¡¯azu with the old countries, as a place to forge a new life. Might be you get some new recruits soon.¡¯ ¡®That would be good. Though I fear The Blades will catch them all.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s that bad?¡¯ ¡®It wasn¡¯t. I¡¯ve poached some of their mercs, and we got a good treasure trove from another barrow. But I heard The Blades weren¡¯t too happy with me. So I ran here, only to run into a war with this orc band.¡¯ ¡®And that¡¯s where everyone is?¡¯ ¡®Aye. They should return here any day. I¡¯ll have the crew back together, and all our weapons. But we¡¯re talking about a hundred orcs; probably another hundred goblins; and they have wargs.¡¯ The Baron¡¯s eyes widened. ¡®I see. Maybe I should have transferred my loyalties to those Kuthenians.¡¯ Lothar didn¡¯t think The Baron¡¯s arrival made any difference to Wade and Femke¡¯s decision. They were already determined to leave. This time, he didn¡¯t try to stop them. Ashlyn and Mila organised a little gathering in the garden of The Pig and Iron to say farewell. Those mercs who had known them a while came to see them off. Lothar rustled Eden¡¯s hair. ¡®I¡¯ll miss you, boy.¡¯ He approached his father. ¡®Thanks for your service. Did you know you were the first merc I recruited? Number one on my roster.¡¯ ¡®Number one, eh? I suppose that bloody Baron heads the list now.¡¯ Lothar grinned. ¡®He does, actually. Why, having second thoughts?¡¯ Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡®No way!¡¯ ¡®It was worth a try.¡¯ ¡®Did you know I was one bloody point off levelling up? That¡¯s a matter of some small regret. But then I think of all the injuries, and I realise I was lucky to get this far.¡¯ ¡®Lucky? That¡¯s one way of looking at it.¡¯ Femke joined them. ¡®Look after my nephew, Lothar.¡¯ ¡®I will. Look after yourselves. And thanks for your contribution, Femke. We¡¯d be in an even worse bloody state without you.¡¯ For a moment, she looked almost ashamed to be leaving at this juncture. But she shook that feeling off. ¡®I¡¯ll take that as a compliment.¡¯ ¡®Good. I was wondering¡ª¡¯ ¡®¡ªOh here we go. I might have known we wouldn¡¯t get a simple goodbye.¡¯ ¡®Since I am up against it a little, I was wondering if you could return to the farm via Avolo? I have messages for a couple of individuals in the city, that¡¯s all.¡¯ They shared a look. ¡®Very well, Lothar,¡¯ Femke said. ¡®I suppose, in a strange way, you could say we owe you that much. You know, you could walk away from this fight.¡¯ Lothar produced his letters and handed them over. ¡®Thank you. Unfortunately, I don¡¯t think I can. But it does my heart good to see you two retiring. You deserve your happiness.¡¯ *** Wilson watched the little human family leave. Christoph, the one they left behind, had tears in his eyes. But Ashlyn was comforting him. No one needed a gnome¡¯s interference. He left for the smithy¡¯s yard. This was where the rest of The Apples spent their time. Cap¡¯s crew, he thought of them in his head. Here they trained and socialised together. When he arrived in the yard, he found them all handing over their pennies to Bletcher. They each had one of the wizard¡¯s stupid little gifts held awkwardly in their hands. ¡®I thought,¡¯ Cap said from the side, nearly making the gnome jump, ¡®that it would be a nice touch for the boys to show Bletcher some appreciation for his efforts.¡¯ ¡®Yes. Wonderful idea,¡¯ Wilson lied. ¡®Here¡¯s our hero,¡¯ Cap called out, and his crew quickly dumped their tat and came over to greet Wilson. Even Fortune, who Wilson had decided was an ass, seemed pleased to see him. ¡®Look, Twerk,¡¯ Victor said with a goofy smile, holding the Spear of Riposte. ¡®Cap rewarded me.¡¯ Rewarded you, Wilson wanted to say. For doing what, exactly? Wasn¡¯t I the one who risked my life to get into the tower? But it made sense. Give Victor the spear, and Cap would almost certainly get Breaker from Stiff. He¡¯d lost nothing. ¡®You deserved it, Pecs,¡¯ Cap told him. ¡®Of course, you all deserved it. But stick with me boys, and there¡¯ll be plenty more.¡¯ Wilson visited Eisenberg¡¯s church. Looking over his shoulder first, he pushed open the door. He found Stiff alone. ¡®I find it peaceful here,¡¯ the merc captain explained. ¡®Helps me think.¡¯ ¡®No doubt you¡¯ve a lot on your mind, what with Queen Brid, and orcs and goblins, and all that.¡¯ ¡®Quite.¡¯ ¡®Sorry to lay one more thing on you.¡¯ ¡®Oh yes?¡¯ ¡®Cap.¡¯ Stiff¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡®Go on.¡¯ How much does he know? Wilson wondered. ¡®It¡¯s a lot of small things, really, that together make a big thing. That whole meeting with Queen Brid. I wondered afterwards, was it necessary? And he has quite a hold over the ex-Blades in your squad. They¡¯re all very nice to me, which is suspicious in itself. They¡¯ve just been giving money to Bletcher for his stupid fucking¡ª¡¯ Wilson couldn¡¯t find a word. ¡®Things.¡¯ ¡®Aye. Things. And Cap has just given Pecs the Spear of Riposte. So no doubt you¡¯ll give Cap Breaker. Which in one sense is fine. A man who can fight like that should have the best of weapons. But now, to Pecs and the others¡ª¡¯ ¡®¡ªIt feels like Cap is the one giving out the weapons,¡¯ Stiff finished for him. ¡®Yes.¡¯ Stiff sighed and looked up at the whitewashed ceiling of the church, as if looking for answers from above. ¡®When Cap came to me, I was suspicious at first. Then he warned me about the Blairs. It was all so convincing. But now I think about it, the Blairs want me dead. They also want the weapons we have won. What if they sent Cap to take The Apples from me? They get my mercs; my weapons; Eisenberg; the lot.¡¯ ¡®You mean he¡¯s still working for The Blades?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t know, Wilson. But wouldn¡¯t that make more sense than Sal¡¯s second in command ditching him for me?¡¯ Wilson thought about it. ¡®It certainly would.¡¯ ¡®But I¡¯m stuck with him now. I need him to defeat Brid. I¡¯ve lost Wade and Femke, and gained a bunch of warriors I don¡¯t know, and don¡¯t trust.¡¯ He looked at Wilson. ¡®I appreciate you coming to tell me. When Cap is a better version of me, it takes some loyalty to do that.¡¯ ¡®Cap is a better version than you¡ª¡¯ ¡®Thanks.¡¯ ¡®¡ªin most respects. But not all. You¡¯ve still got a few of us who are loyal to you.¡¯ ¡®I suppose so. Now what do I do with Breaker?¡¯ ¡®Give it to him. Like you said, you need him. None of this matters if the Black Orcs slaughter us all. And if you withhold it, you¡¯ll be giving him a warning. The man is ruthless. I don¡¯t advise letting him even wonder whether you have suspicions.¡¯ Chapter 64 Mission #18 Kill Brid Part One MERCS: Leonard ¡®Cap¡¯ Babler | Wilson ¡®Twerk¡¯ Turk | Usain ¡®Usa¡¯ Bizra | Izildra ¡®Izil¡¯ Bizra | Bletcher Georg ¡®The Hoffmeister¡¯ Hoffman | Victor ¡®Pecs¡¯ Balinski | Eddie ¡®Fortune¡¯ Rich | The Baron Ashlyn ¡®Greenblade¡¯ Sawrey | Liudmila ¡®Mila¡¯ Stradenko | Christoph ¡®The Bowman¡¯ Gerd Jaelin ¡®The Explorer¡¯ Topolski | Murder | Magnus ¡®Mags¡¯ Nold | Jurgen ¡®Stricken¡¯ Stricker There wasn¡¯t much upside to an army of orcs and goblins coming to kill you. But it did concentrate minds. For a start, Lothar decided the battle would happen in Eisenberg. There was a case for taking the hillfort, and holding Brid¡¯s army off there. But taking such a fortification would be time consuming. The queen¡¯s army would likely arrive mid siege, and The Apples, defenceless, would be annihilated. So Eisenberg it was. Mayor Steben worked with him on the evacuation. All non-combatants were sent into the mine, where they¡¯d be relatively safe. Those who remained in the town were told to barricade their houses, and not emerge unless it looked like there was a chance of victory. Most of The Apples were stationed in The Pig and Iron. Cap had command there, and Lothar had to hope that self-preservation would dissuade Babler from trying to get rid of him until after the orc threat was gone. Not that he had any illusions about their chances of defeating Brid. Hence, he¡¯d decided to play his wild cards. Wade and Femke had dropped off his letters on their way through Avolo. Stricken was the first of his two wild cards to arrive in Eisenberg. He came up behind Lothar, a sneer on his face. ¡®Wade told me you¡¯d pay me as soon as I got here.¡¯ ¡®That was the deal,¡¯ Lothar agreed, handing over a shilling. ¡®Wade said two shillings.¡¯ ¡®No he didn¡¯t.¡¯ Stricken grinned. ¡®He will have told you that you get a shilling now, and two shillings for each orc or goblin you kill.¡¯ ¡®Two shillings a kill? You must be desperate.¡¯ ¡®Not really. I have sixteen mercs here. Enough to see off the attack. But this mission is all about killing, and despite your other traits, you¡¯re a natural killer. It¡¯s simple common sense to hire you. Just keep our terms to yourself.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t worry. I have nothing to say to anyone else.¡¯ ¡®Good. Come to the smithy, I can fit you out with pretty much any weapon you choose.¡¯ Stricken took his cleaver in hand. ¡®You don¡¯t have anything better than this.¡¯ ¡®Alright. Armour, then.¡¯ Stricken followed Lothar to the smithy. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up to have the man behind him, and he realised this wild card was a risk probably not worth taking. But Stricken was here now, and he might as well roll the dice. He got the thief into a good fitting suit of leather armour, then took him into Henrik¡¯s forge. Before Stricken knew it, Lothar and Henrik had a hold of him, and metal cuffs were placed around each wrist. ¡®Henrik will release you as soon as the orcs get here,¡¯ Lothar told him. ¡®You bastard! I¡¯ll kill you!¡¯ Stricken shrieked at him. ¡®You¡¯ll have to be quick,¡¯ Lothar said as he left, ¡®to get me before the orcs do.¡¯ *** Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. From his hiding place on the roof of The Pig and Iron, Jaelin watched as the orcs strolled into the village. They think they already own the place, he noted, as he observed their swagger. As well they might, since there were over one hundred, powerfully built warriors. Their armour and weapons were rudimentary, for the most part. But their strength and size negated that shortcoming. Meanwhile, they had the numbers to overwhelm Eisenberg, even without their goblin allies. Those creatures, and their warg mounts, he couldn¡¯t yet see. Given their greater mobility, there was a good chance they would enter Eisenberg from a different direction, trapping its defenders. He put his face to the tiled roof of the inn as they walked past him, from the rear to the front. The first of them reached the street that ran through the centre of the village. They looked about, wondering where the expected opposition was. An arrow, shot from the roof of the church, struck one of the orcs. Jaelin was pleased for The Bowman that his arrow hit home¡ªit was far more satisfying. Naturally, the attention of the orcs was drawn to the church. Next to Christoph, Stiff appeared. Redblade shone in his grip. ¡®Is Queen Brid amongst you?¡¯ The queen stepped forward, but she wasn¡¯t stupid. Shield bearing orcs surrounded her. ¡®You must be Stiff. I¡¯ve heard a little about you. I thought you might have left before I got here, with your tail between your legs. I admire your balls, if not your brains.¡¯ Stiff held the sword aloft. ¡®You¡¯ll soon regret coming here. Redblade will spill your blood before long.¡¯ The orcs growled at this threat. ¡®Ha. If you¡¯re so brave, why don¡¯t you come down here and fight me, instead of hiding up there?¡¯ ¡®Maybe I will. In the meantime, I¡¯ll let my archer thin your ranks a little while you mill about down there like the witless brutes you are.¡¯ Christoph shot again. He targeted Brid, but her guards stopped the arrow with their shields. Still, The Bowman¡¯s attack on her, combined with Stiff¡¯s words, prompted an angry response. The queen yelled in her orcish tongue, and other orcs shouted orders. A great number, about half of them, charged at the church. They crashed into the doors that were barred against them. But the great press of numbers was too much, and the doors buckled inwards. The orcs poured into the building. *** The smith unlocked Stricken¡¯s cuffs, stepped back, then slid his cleaver across the floor to him. Stricken took some pride in the care the big man took over releasing him. He also had four accomplices, armed with clubs, to back him up. His anger had gotten the better of Stricken at first, but that had cooled now. He was here to kill, and make money doing it. The fear Stiff and these peasants had demonstrated in handling him was justified. I¡¯m a killer, after all. He picked up his precious cleaver and left the smithy, without a word or a backwards glance. The main street of the village was swarming with orcs. He moved around the side of the building so he was no longer in the open. Here he waited awhile, attuning himself to his environment. It was a few hours from dusk still, which made hiding and stalking more difficult. But the orcs who had invaded the village were loud, which would cover the sound of his movement. He moved around to the rear of the smithy, then slithered between the houses on this side of the village. Many were boarded up from the inside, suggesting their residents hid there. The urge to break in and murder came upon him. But Stiff would only pay him for orc or goblin kills. A few orcs had been posted at points along the edge of the village. They looked out from Eisenberg, perhaps guarding against a surprise attack. Stricken didn¡¯t really care why they were here. He just cared that they were isolated enough for him to target individuals. He fixed on the orc who stood at the end of this line. Only one other orc was within sight, making him the most vulnerable. He crept up behind him, along the wall of a house. ACTION ROUND
Orc Warrior
Orc Warrior
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 23
Stricken used his stealth to get closer to his victim. He didn¡¯t panic, like some newborn calf. He was patient. In some ways, the stalking was the best bit. Why rush it? Within range, he sliced into the back of his prey¡¯s neck, taking thirteen hit points. His second blow took the orc in the same place, severing its artery. His victim slumped to the ground, the attack too fast for it to cry out. But Stricken would leave the body there, for its brethren to discover. That would lead to panic and confusion. He grinned, putting his fingers to his face, where the blood had spattered him. Panic and confusion were the friends of a killer. Chapter 65 Mission #18 Kill Brid Part Two Half of the orcs had stormed into the church, but that left another forty or so outside it. I know I am not the greatest archer, Christoph conceded. But even I can¡¯t miss all these targets. One orc lay dead on the ground; at least two more were injured. The orcs shouted in their own language; they looked around, as if expecting allies to appear and deal with The Bowman. Goblins, perhaps. But no goblins arrived, and not a single orc had brought a missile weapon. It left Christoph completely free to continue his work. Though not for long, he reminded himself. There is the small matter of the fifty orcs rampaging through the building, coming to kill me. A head poked up through the hole in the roof. ¡®Time to go,¡¯ said The Baron. Christoph knew not to waste time, going straight for the hole. He passed his stave down to the thief, then clambered down into the room below. The Baron had been busy. He no longer looked like Stiff. Instead, he was dressed all in black, though he still had Redblade, strapped to his back. Moreover, Christoph could smell smoke; maybe, above the shouts of the orcs pounding up the steps of the church, he could hear the roar of fire. ¡®Bletcher?¡¯ he asked. The Baron shrugged. ¡®He¡¯s staying. Don¡¯t ask me how or why.¡¯ The Baron led him to the window, out of which a rope dangled. The thief quickly adjusted himself, touching the necklace around his neck¡ªa parting gift from Wade¡ªthen he was out of the window. He hung onto the rope with one hand, then reached out with the other for Christoph¡¯s bow. Christoph fed him the bow stave, then The Baron was away, abseiling down the rear of the wall with remarkable speed, considering the encumbrances he carried. Christoph was altogether slower. He took the rope, then struggled to exit the window, unsure where to put his legs. He was equally slow when descending. It wasn¡¯t that he had a fear of heights. But he did have a fear of losing his grip and hitting the ground. He walked down, his legs pushing against the wall while his arms took his weight. His hands ached, and only fear kept him clutching the rope. ¡®Nearly there,¡¯ The Baron whispered, and Christoph realised he was closer than he thought. The thief grabbed him and Christoph¡¯s feet felt solid ground. He let go of the rope, his fingers bent and his palms burning. Relief flooded him. Inside the church, he heard the shouts of the orcs. They had changed: from anger, to fear. *** Stricken had stirred up a little hornets nest of orcs, running hither and thither, looking for the killer in their midst. A couple of them ran past the back of the inn. That turned out to be a mistake. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. From his hiding place, Stricken saw one of them get struck by an arrow fired from the roof, taking seven points of damage. They ran to the building and began climbing it to get to the archer. He appeared above them. A scrawny thing, with long hair, looking as much woman as man. No doubt one of Stiff¡¯s latest recruits, the type who¡¯d do whatever they''re told. He fired, from point blank range, yet the arrow still didn¡¯t penetrate the hide of the orc¡¯s armour. Stricken nearly laughed. Instead, he crept from his hiding place. He didn¡¯t rush in. He let the three of them struggle¡ªthe orcs trying to pull themselves to the roof before he could shoot again; the archer hurriedly grabbing another arrow from his quiver. Stricken lunged up at the orc still on full health. He managed to land his first cut, despite the awkward angle. Six points of damage was disappointing. His second blow was much more satisfying, sinking into the orc¡¯s kidney. The creature cried out, lost its grip, and fell to the ground. Stricken¡¯s final stab was slow, so he could watch it die. The archer hit his target this time, and the orc fell to the ground beside Stricken, already dying. Stricken cut its throat anyway. ¡®That was my kill,¡¯ he growled up. Blondie looked at him blankly. It occurred to Stricken that this merc had no idea who he was, let alone the agreement he had with Stiff. ¡®Thank you,¡¯ the merc offered, before moving out of sight. Stricken stopped to think, making a calculation in his head. At two shillings per kill, Stiff already owed him a small fortune. Peering around the corner of the inn, he saw a mass of orcs, about forty of them, making ready for an attack. Realisation dawned. Stiff¡¯s mercs didn¡¯t stand a chance. That fool on the roof would die. They¡¯d all die. More to the point, Stricken would die. No wonder that bastard Stiff had offered him so much money. He knew he¡¯d never have to pay it. ¡®Play me for a fool, will you?¡¯ he murmured. ¡®I don¡¯t think so.¡¯ *** Wilson watched from The Pig and Iron as the fire in the church grew. They could see flames inside, while black smoke billowed into the sky. It was out of control, that was for sure. The only saving grace was that it was separated from the nearest village buildings by quite a distance, otherwise it might have already spread. Not a single orc left the building¡ªnot through the main entrance, at any rate. If Wilson had doubts about whether Bletcher had any real power, they were being dispelled now. Cap had done enough watching. ¡®Our time to contribute, gentlemen.¡¯ There was a sombre mood, as warriors hefted spears and fastened shields. Going to battle was always a serious business. But despite the inferno in the church, they would still be massively outnumbered. Cap led them out. Izil and Usa followed. Ashlyn¡¯s position was between Usa and Pecs, with The Hoffmeister holding the near end of the line. Wilson worried for the girl, who didn¡¯t have the spear skill of the others. But they needed six for the shieldwall, and she had offered. It allowed them to hold the space between the inn on one side of the road, and the shop on the other. The orcs outnumbered them, but wouldn¡¯t be able to get around the wall. Behind the line of spears and shields, were Wilson and Fortune. Their role was to inflict maximum damage when they got the chance. Murder joined them. Mags had patiently explained his role to the giant¡ªdrag the injured back into the inn, for Mila to treat. Stiff and Cap had come up with a plan. Wilson was reserving judgement on whether it was any good. The orc warriors who had stayed with Queen Brid turned their attention from their brethren burning in the church, to the line of enemies who had appeared. They shouted their challenge to The Apples, pleased to see people on whom they could wreak their vengeance. Of course, they were confident. But there were only forty-five left. This was The Apples'' best chance to kill Brid before the goblins arrived¡ªwith their bows, and their wargs. Brid gave her orders, and about twenty five orcs left her and marched for the shieldwall, carrying maces, clubs, and hammers. Another five she sent off through the houses on the inn¡¯s side of the village. They¡¯d be able to come around and hit them from behind. Wilson would have to be ready for that. One of the orcs ducked, as Jaelin¡¯s arrow flew over its head. His attack spurred the creatures on, and they ran at The Apples¡¯ shieldwall. Chapter 66 Mission #18 Kill Brid Part Three The Apples conceded initiative and let the orcs come onto them. Only six had the room to get in a strike. If the shieldwall withstood that, they¡¯d have an advantage. Cap had been training them for a confrontation just like this. Wilson hoped they were ready. Each orc in the front rank swung with their bludgeoning weapon, be it mace, hammer, or club. It was bad luck, really, that the two best strikes came against two of the weaker links in the shieldwall. The damage could have been worse: The Hoffmeister lost three hit points, and Izil only one; though that was enough for the Alinko to also lose an action point. But now, The Apples could interrupt with a free spear strike. Cap and The Hoffmeister scored hits. Breaker burst through the orc¡¯s chest and came out the other side. The greenskin slid off the blade onto the ground, bleeding out. The Hoffmeister also struck well, taking off a very useful twelve hit points. Four of the orcs were left with four action points, and Wilson dreaded what came next. Izil was reduced to 12 hit points; Usa to 18. Ashlyn took four strong hits but only went down to 16, a testament to the new armour Stiff had given her. Pecs also came down to 16, while the wounded orc failed to land a blow on The Hoffmeister. Overall, Wilson was happy with the result. The shieldwall had resisted, and now it was The Apples¡¯ turn. Cap, uninjured so far, went first. With a command of ¡®fall back,¡¯ to the injured Izil, he killed the Alinko''s orc opponent with his first action. He had no option now but to advance on the second row of orcs. By the end of his turn, he¡¯d either killed or incapacitated another four. One of The Explorer¡¯s three arrows buried itself in an orc stood amongst the pack awaiting their turn. Ashlyn¡¯s spear strike lodged into her opponent, causing two damage. Either out of necessity or choice, she left it and drew Greenblade. A miss and a hit, and her opponent hit the ground. With her final action she took a swing at Usa¡¯s opponent, but didn¡¯t get close. Usa¡¯s three hits were enough to kill it, however. Wilson used the gap made by Cap¡¯s advance to move past the defensive line and follow him into the orc pack. His first axe strikes were misses, but his next two both hit, scoring him his first kill. By the end of his turn, he was spattered with blood and gore, and he¡¯d taken his kills to three. Izil, whose immediate opponent had been killed by Cap, threw his spear at the nearest orc. It was a fine shot, dealing 11 damage. Following Cap¡¯s order, he fell back next to Murder, drawing his sword as he went. The Hoffmeister caught his wounded opponent on his second action, a strong enough blow to send it to the ground. His final two strikes were enough to fell Pecs¡¯ opponent and score his first kill. With no orcs in range, Pecs had a difficult choice to make. If he left, the four man shieldwall would be broken. He chose to stay, preparing the Spear of Riposte for a counter strike. Fortune followed Wilson¡¯s path and took Blueblade against the orcs. The sword bit at the first time of asking, leaving its victim barely able to stand on four hit points. He caught it again with his last swing, cutting so hard that the orc¡¯s arm landed several feet from the rest of its body. They¡¯d done a fine job. Heroic, some might say. But there were still eleven of the twenty-five orcs left, all but two with full health. That gave them five action points apiece. Wilson knew not all The Apples would withstand what was to come. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. *** Stricken had an idea to return to the smithy and let the smith know exactly what he thought of being chained up. Another option was to climb up to the roof of the inn and let that long haired merc know what he thought of people hiding on roofs, shooting at people. Undecided, he passed between the two buildings, glancing through a window of the inn. And stopped dead. What was her name again? Mila? Yes. The bitch who had led him on, then rejected him. Oh, this would be infinitely more fun than those other ideas. He turned onto Eisenberg¡¯s street. A line of Stiff¡¯s mercs assembled against the two score orcs. He didn¡¯t like their chances. But he was grateful. They were all too busy to notice him walk up behind them and slip past into the inn. It took Mila a while to notice him. He stood leering at her. He enjoyed the look of fear; that turned to defiance. He smiled at the dagger that appeared in her hand. ¡®I¡¯ll kill you,¡¯ she said. A thrill of anticipation coursed through him. He would enjoy taking that defiance from her. He took his first steps towards her. So intent was he on his prey, that he failed to notice the shadow moving before it was too late. *** The heat pouring from the church forced Christoph to move to the far side of the last house in the village. From here, he peered around to get a look at Queen Brid. She still had fifteen warriors defending her¡ªher shield-carrying elite guard. There were too many to get through. He had to do something. From the corner of the house, he aimed at the queen. The arrow whistled past her. He ducked back behind the house. Not quick enough. There was shouting, and then the sound of half a dozen orc warriors heading for his position. He¡¯d been seen. He turned, and ran. *** Earlier Lothar¡¯s second wild card arrived not long after he¡¯d had Stricken chained up. Bringing Rosalind here was a different kind of risk to Stricken. He was scared for an entirely separate set of reasons. He took her to his room in The Pig and Iron, walking through the common room where Cap was giving The Apples his final pep talk. ¡®Thank you for coming.¡¯ ¡®I very nearly didn¡¯t, you know.¡¯ ¡®But you don¡¯t want The Apples to fail.¡¯ She looked at him, his choice of words not lost on her. ¡®I don¡¯t want The Apples to fail, Lothar. And I don¡¯t want you to die, either.¡¯ ¡®Good.¡¯ He retrieved the staff he had taken from Redblade¡¯s chest. ¡®You called this a Staff of Hither-Thither. It can transport people, you told me?¡¯ ¡®Yes. It creates a portal, connecting one location to another.¡¯ ¡®I think you can use this, Rosalind.¡¯ She smiled at him. ¡®You¡¯re a clever man, Lothar Sauer. What gave me away?¡¯ ¡®I didn¡¯t know for sure. A few things made me suspect. I understand why you would want to keep your powers a secret. I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ ¡®Honestly, I feel nothing but relief that you worked it out. I kept it from you, Lothar. But I haven¡¯t been lying about us, if that¡¯s what you thought.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m very pleased to hear that.¡¯ He offered her the staff. ¡®Well?¡¯ She took it from him. ¡®What do you want done?¡¯ ¡®There are about a hundred orcs coming to Eisenberg. With them are another hundred goblins, some of them riding wargs. We can¡¯t defeat all of them.¡¯ Rosalind studied him, her face serious. ¡®You want to detach the goblins.¡¯ ¡®I think it¡¯s our only chance. The two sides fought one another recently. The goblins were forced to submit to Brid. Perhaps they¡¯re not as loyal as she would hope. Send me to them, and I¡¯ll try to sweet talk them. If they try to kill me, I can jump back through the portal.¡¯ ¡®It doesn¡¯t quite work like that, Lothar. I would have to go with you.¡¯ ¡®Alright. Then just send me, and I¡¯ll take my chances.¡¯ ¡®No. If you¡¯re intent on doing this, I¡¯m coming too.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s not why I brought you here, Rosalind. It¡¯s not what I wanted.¡¯ ¡®I know.¡¯ She smiled at him. ¡®But I really don¡¯t want The Apples to fail. So we¡¯ll do it together, and whatever will be, will be.¡¯ Chapter 67 Mission #18 Kill Brid Part Four It was no surprise that a few of the orcs decided to attack Cap. He had torn through their ranks, and if left unharmed, would do so again. Three of them launched themselves at him, raining down blows. His plate mail was less effective against such hard hitting as it might have been against sharp blades. He took seven hits, for eighteen damage. The attack left him on five action points. The damage could have been worse, and Wilson realised their adversaries were less skilled than those guards they had fought in Darkspike Dungeon. Meanwhile, another orc came for him. The three blows landed on his helmet and breastplate, and Wilson knew he was lucky to come away with only five damage. Fortune was targeted next. The lucky bastard only got hit once. But it was a vicious head shot, taking him down to eighteen hit points. The four remaining fully fit orcs ran at the shieldwall. Usa lost five hit points. But he scored an accurate interrupt, taking the orc attacker down to eight hit points. With only one action point left, its hit barely penetrated his ring mail, leaving him on twelve hit points. The orc who attacked Ashlyn got in only one successful strike, leaving her on fourteen hit points. The next orc failed to hit Pecs, who punished it with a powerful interrupt from the Spear of Riposte, the bonus ensuring it was killed in one strike. The Hoffmeister also got in a successful interrupt, taking twelve hit points from his opponent, for the loss of only five himself. The next orc pulled Izil¡¯s spear from its chest and ran at him, a mad desperation in its eyes. It landed one good hit, leaving him vulnerable on seven hit points, and only one action point. The last orc, injured by Jaelin¡¯s arrow, looked up at the roof of The Pig and Iron. Something it saw caused it to turn round and shout in the direction of its queen. Brid responded, leading her ten remaining warriors towards the fight. These orcs carried shields as well as weapons, and looked like a more difficult proposition than those warriors she had thrown in first. Meanwhile, the five orcs she had sent to circle the fight appeared behind them, emerging from between the inn and smithy. They would soon be on Murder and Izil, their most vulnerable fighters. Wilson grimaced. They¡¯d done well to survive another round intact. But they were all weakened now, unable to deal as much damage as they had done previously. *** As Lothar had expected, Brid had planned an attack on two fronts. They located the goblin force to the south of Eisenberg. Most of the hundred or so warriors carried spears, but they had a few archers, and most fearsome of all, warg riders. He and Rosalind approached them with as much confidence as one can summon when you¡¯re moments away from being torn to shreds by giant wolves. Rosalind held the staff high, and it seemed to be enough to spark the goblins¡¯ curiosity¡ªat the very least, they seemed willing to postpone killing them. ¡®I am Lothar ¡®Stiff¡¯ Sauer, Captain of The Order of The Rotten Apples,¡¯ he bellowed, in a voice loud enough to reach most of the goblins. ¡®I am here to talk to your chieftain.¡¯ ¡®Then you are in the wrong place,¡¯ a toothy spearman sneered. ¡®Queen Brid is to the north of your camp. Making ready to take it from you. We will help her to destroy The Apples.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t mean her. I know you were forced to accept her as your leader. But I doubt you intend to bow and scrape to her forever; spill your own blood so the orcs can enrich themselves.¡¯ Lothar could tell the goblins didn¡¯t like his words. Whether they were more angry with him, or their situation, he wasn¡¯t so sure. ¡®Spit out your offer,¡¯ said a second goblin, a short sword at his belt. He was stern faced, but otherwise his thoughts were hidden. Lothar thought this might be the one. It was the way of the world. There would be a goblin already in place, ready to take over should Brid fail. ¡®It¡¯s simple. You help us kill Brid and her orcs. You take over Darkspike Dungeon, and Redblade¡¯s hill fort. You¡¯d be back in charge.¡¯ Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Stern Face relaxed his expression, then laughed. Toothy laughed, along with a few others. Oh. That¡¯s not an encouraging reaction. ¡®You really thought that would happen?¡¯ asked the one Lothar had identified as the leader. ¡®Fight a hundred orcs, or kill a few humans and take a share of their precious weapons?¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t underestimate us. We¡¯re more than a few human warriors.¡¯ He nodded at Rosalind. She moved the staff in circles. After a while, visible lines appeared in the air where she traced her circles. Colours, and light, were added¡ªuntil the circular portal fully materialised. Behind a shifting palette of pink and turquoise, the outskirts of Eisenberg were visible behind the portal. ¡®She is one of two magicians we have, along with a highly trained shieldwall, and a whole bag of tricks. Come with us now, and you can catch Brid by surprise. You¡¯ll have her head on a pike within the hour.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s undeniably impressive,¡¯ said Stern Face, almost marvelling at the magic Rosalind had conjured. ¡®And it has changed my mind. I was set on killing you, and taking your head to Brid when you were done talking.¡¯ ¡®And now?¡¯ Lothar asked. ¡®Now I will give you a chance. If you are as formidable as you claim, you should have no trouble defending against a hundred orcs. We will delay our attack on Eisenberg. If we arrive, and you have killed the orc queen, then there shall be peace between us. If she lives, we will kill and scalp every last one of you.¡¯ It was better than nothing. Lothar offered his hand. ¡®Deal.¡¯ *** The bastard got his first two cuts in before Stricken could move out of his way. He lost eight hit points and an action point, and was bleeding profusely. His cleaver sank deep. The one handed man sagged against him, his life force draining away. Damn. What was his name? Magnus? Mags. ¡®See you in Gehenna, Mags,¡¯ he whispered. But the man was already halfway there. Stricken withdrew his cleaver and punched it in again, sending him all the way. As he let the body fall, he noticed the movement. But again, he¡¯d allowed himself to get distracted. She struck at him twice, but her efforts were laughable. The cleaver entered her with his full force. ¡®No! I didn¡¯t mean to!¡¯ he said out loud. He hadn¡¯t meant to kill her. Not yet. That was his fun ruined. Then he frowned. Only nine hit points taken? It should have been twice that. He withdrew the blade and watched as she staggered away. ¡®You¡¯re wearing something that protects you. Let me see.¡¯ She tried to escape. He backhanded her, sending her to the floor. Another hit point gone. Be careful, now, Stricken, he told himself. She only had five left. He needed her alive, and conscious. He placed his cleaver on the floor, and knelt next to her. He pulled at her clothes, revealing a silk undergarment that had saved her life. ¡®You don¡¯t need this anymore,¡¯ he said, ripping at it. She tried to stop him, but he was far too strong. The damned thing wouldn¡¯t come off. Then he saw there were straps he¡¯d have to untie. He picked at them, frustrated. A small knife appeared in her hand, and he wrenched it from her. ¡®Thanks. That¡¯ll prove very useful.¡¯ He took the knife to the straps. He noticed movement again, and refused to get caught out a third time. That long haired freak from the roof had come down and was running at him with a knife. And the bastard had the initiative. But he wasn¡¯t a knifeman. Not even close. Stricken saw every strike coming. Pathetic, really. His only regret was that he was holding the girl¡¯s knife, and not his trusty cleaver. Three out of three stabs found their target. ¡®That¡¯s how you use a knife, friend,¡¯ he told the merc. ¡®You shoulda stuck to your bow and arrows.¡¯ Unfortunately, he¡¯d only taken a measly nine hit points off him. One of the bastard¡¯s moves got past him this time, taking Stricken down to nine hit points. He laughed, and a clot of blood fell from his mouth. For some reason, that made him laugh all the more. He landed one of his two hits, taking the skinny bastard down to seven. He grinned. ¡®This is gonna be close!¡¯ Pain exploded in his back, and he knew from the feel of it that the bitch had sunk his own cleaver into him. Five hit points left now, and he was feeling less confident. The merc stabbed him in the chest. Stricken sank to his knees. But his strength was gone, and he couldn¡¯t keep his balance. He fell backwards. The girl crouched over him. She was upside down. It was unnerving. Stricken felt cold; like Gehenna was close. She raised the cleaver. My cleaver, he thought with indignation. ¡®I told you I would kill you.¡¯ The blade took him. Chapter 68 Mission #18 Kill Brid Part Five Cap began the next phase. By the end of his turn, the three orcs who had taken him on lay dead at his feet. Wilson had expected Jaelin¡¯s arrows next, but none came. Ashlyn took two hits to kill the orc facing her, then killed Usa¡¯s opponent with her third. Freed, Usa was able to get in a spear strike on his brother¡¯s attacker¡ªnine damage left it close to death. One of Wilson¡¯s first axe strikes bit into his orc¡¯s thigh, reducing it to eight hit points. On his next action, he finished it off. With two actions left, he took on the orc who had attacked Fortune. Two out of four axe swings got through its defences, enough to send it to Gehenna. Izil made his one action count, finishing off the orc his brother had helped him with. The Hoffmeister had to wait until his last action to score a hit, but it was enough to kill his wounded opponent. Fortune rushed at the last orc standing of the twenty five who had attacked them. His first two sword strikes failed, but he caught it with a shield barge, taking it down to eight hit points. His last action saw more failure, leaving the orc still standing. ¡®Mada!¡¯ Murder shouted, as the five orcs who had circled around them neared. He held his stick at the ready, a pathetic attempt to ward them off. Then there was shouting. ¡®Charge!¡¯ a voice bellowed. ¡®For Eisenberg!¡¯ Henrik led ten miners out of his smithy. Armed with pickaxes and clubs, they came on the orcs from behind, laying into them with untrained but brutal, powerful blows. Growling with anger, Queen Brid ordered her guards on. They formed a six man shieldwall of their own, ready to drive into The Apples. The orc engaged with Fortune used its two action points to club him. It caught him with its second blow, knocking three hit points and an action point off. *** Christoph ran from the chasing pack of orcs, weaving between the houses. He went past The Baron¡¯s hiding place. Moments later, he heard the orcs¡¯ shouts of anger and fear. The Baron had managed to hit a passing orc for nine damage. That was less significant than the fact he¡¯d done it with Redblade. The pommel glowed fiercely as the creatures forgot all about Christoph. They were now intent on killing the sword¡¯s wielder. Christoph spun, went down on one knee, and whipped an arrow from his quiver. Five against one just wasn¡¯t going to work, even with Redblade. And The Baron was no swordsman. He put the arrow to his string and released it. Then sighed when it flew wide. ¡®Shit on it.¡¯ *** Walking through the portal messed with Lothar¡¯s mind. He was instantly outside Eisenberg, and yet had only taken a few steps. Moreover, looking back through the circular portal, he could still see the goblin force. ¡®Turn it off, will you?¡¯ Rosalind made the same circular motions with her staff, and the portal faded, its colours dissipating; until it disappeared. Lothar entered the village, knowing his mercs would need all the help they could get. Black smoke plumed into the sky from the church, which he supposed was a sign his plan might be working. He unstrapped the Shield of Resistance his crew had found in the undead barrow. He drew Slayer, the weapon that had belonged to Edmund ¡®Manslayer¡¯ Rigge, from his scabbard. They were the prizes he had decided to keep for himself, and he felt no shame in that. If a mercenary captain was going to put his life on the line¡ªwhich he was about to do¡ªthen he had better look good doing it. He walked between the first houses, most of them empty, though some brave villagers had decided to stay. Rosalind followed behind. She had made it plain that her magic would be of little help in a fight. But even little help was something Lothar was in no position to refuse. He had hoped to persuade the goblins to shake off the orcish yolk, but should have known otherwise. It was The Apples who had made themselves Brid¡¯s enemies; it was The Apples who would have to do the killing. Just as this thought ran through his mind, one of his Apples¡ªThe Bowman, to be precise¡ªran past a gap in the houses ahead. Lothar crept forward, tightening his grip on his shield strap, preparing for contact with the enemy at any moment. No orcs appeared. Instead, an arrow went back the other way. Unable to put together what was going on, Lothar knew he was just going to have to find out. He emerged from the side of a house to find five growling orcs, alarmingly close, but with their backs to him. Beyond them, The Baron held Redblade, in a rather unconvincing stance. Lothar had been in enough scraps not to hesitate in a situation like this. Given he had a distinct advantage, his first strikes were hopeless. He¡¯d have to put that down to rust. On his next action, however, he got a good strike in with Slayer. His thrust into the orc¡¯s back very nearly killed it; and left it paralysed, which was basically the same thing. His next sword stroke did kill his target, and a small smile began to creep across his face. Battle was a terrible business. Was it possible he¡¯d missed it? A shield and sword combination accounted for the third orc. A blank fifth action was followed by another double blow, and there was now only one orc left. His seventh action saw Slayer strike again, but it was a weak blow, dealing only eleven damage. But this orc was already injured, and it tottered on its feet as it bled out. Lothar¡¯s final strike put it out of its misery. He gave a little whoop of joy at his success. Five orcs lay dead or dying. The Baron looked more than a little relieved. Christoph ran over. Lothar grinned, waiting for the congratulations. He kept his sword flourish just the right side of extravagant. ¡®The others are this way, Stiff,¡¯ the boy said earnestly, and headed towards the centre of Eisenberg. *** The five orcs behind them were at least occupied for a few rounds by Henrik¡¯s intervention. But Brid¡¯s shieldwall was closing in. ¡®Form a line!¡¯ Cap bellowed. Wilson was unsure whether he should replace Izil in the six man line. He was prepared to do it, but he didn¡¯t carry a shield. He glanced up at the roof of The Pig and Iron. Still no Jaelin. It wasn¡¯t like him to desert his post. But he had no more time to worry about it. Fortune, perilously close to the advancing orcs, decided to break off from his fight with the wounded orc. His opponent landed another blow on the swordsman, taking him down to only twelve hit points. But Fortune still took Izil¡¯s place in the shieldwall, allowing Wilson to take his place behind it. The gnome wasn¡¯t his greatest fan, but he couldn¡¯t deny the man¡¯s bravery. Cap looked down his line, a pensive expression on his face. No wonder. They had a shieldwall, but everyone in it was close to half their hit points. The six orcs coming at them were fresh, and also carried shields. Behind them was Brid herself, and three more orcs ready to fill any gaps. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡®No spearwall this time,¡¯ Cap shouted. ¡®Strike as soon as they get within range. We need to kill the bastards.¡¯ It was a command that would benefit some of The Apples, and not others. But it was Cap¡¯s call, and there was no opportunity to question it now. Brid urged her shieldwall on, elite orcs with shields and bludgeoning weapons threatening to tear apart The Apples'' defences. Cap was the first to react, years of fighting experience giving him an edge. His first strike with Breaker skewered the advancing orc opposite him, killing it instantly. Wilson felt the morale of The Apples recover, as some belief returned to their ranks. His second strike killed the orc advancing on Fortune. It was eight versus eight now, and the odds had evened. Cap had a choice to make. There were no more orcs in range, but he still had three precious action points remaining. He left the safety of the shieldwall, and used an action to advance on Queen Brid. She had put herself in harm¡¯s way, and this was a golden opportunity to complete the mission.
Queen Brid
Orc Leader
Action Stats
EXP Level 5
Action Points 7
Hit Points 30
The queen was a tougher prospect than a regular warrior. She wore chainmail, and carried a shield. But in the hands of Cap, Breaker was a brutal weapon. You could argue Cap got a little lucky, scoring both of his remaining hits. They were enough to do the job; Brid died when the pike ripped through her armour and buried itself in her midriff. The remaining orcs wavered. But Cap¡¯s turn was done, and revenge was on their minds. Then, from the south of the village, The Baron appeared¡ªrunning into the fray, Redblade glowing in his hands. He reached the line of orcs with only one action point left. He failed to land a blow, otherwise the orcs might have broken and run. The orc shieldwall was too much for Ashlyn to break through on her first action. But she scored a strike with Greenblade on her second. Seven points of damage was a disappointing return. Her next hit was better, leaving the orc barely standing on four hit points. Stiff appeared from the same direction as The Baron. He also chose to attack the line of orcs in the shieldwall, reaching a position opposite Pecs within two action points. Unlike The Baron, he had a substantial number of actions still in hand. Coming at the orcs from behind, he bypassed their shieldwall defences. A sword and shield combination did for the first orc immediately. The same again, and the orc facing The Hoffmeister lay dying on the ground. He blanked on his fifth action point, then with his sixth finished off the orc Ashlyn had wounded. He had to use his seventh to move, taking up position against Usa¡¯s orc, but neither his sword or shield strike got through. It wasn¡¯t the end of the world, since Usa himself attacked next. With only his orc alive in the initial shieldwall, its defence bonuses were gone. Two hits, worth ten and eleven hit points, were enough to put the orc down. Wilson moved through the gap in the shieldwall, knowing he was the last Apple to take a turn before the three remaining orcs. They had watched their queen die, and were likely to exact revenge on Cap before they succumbed to the rest of the crew. He reached the first orc with three action points remaining. Neither of his first strikes got past its shield. He scored one low axe strike on his penultimate turn, taking twelve damage. His final blow killed it outright. That left two orcs with full health¡ªand full action points. The first of them only hit once from its five chances, but it was a skilled hammer blow that dropped Cap to nine hit points. The second orc took eight hit points from Cap on the first swing of its nailed club, sending the merc to the ground, unconscious. It wasted no time in switching to Wilson. Another hit, and Wilson was down to thirteen hit points. Another, and he was down to seven, the force of the blow sending him flying to the ground. Wilson saw the slight hesitation in the orc¡¯s eyes as it looked at Cap and Wilson, both lying on the ground before it. With a bellow of aggression, it chose Cap. The club came down on his head, and Wilson watched as Cap¡¯s skull caved in. With a roar of pleasure, it redirected its final strike to Wilson. Somehow, the gnome managed to roll aside, the weapon thudding into the ground. The Hoffmeister charged forward, thrusting his spear at the orc which had killed Cap. His second and final blow connected, causing twelve damage. Pecs joined him. His first strike was a big enough blow to knock the orc unconscious. His final strike was another success, the Spear of Riposte dropping the last orc standing to six hit points. Fortune was the last to move. He suffered another miss with Blueblade. It was his shield strike that finally ended the battle. The trio of orcs, one with an arrow in its back, who had survived the initial attack from Henrik¡¯s force, decided enough was enough. They ran, and no one had the energy to chase them. Perhaps it was a good thing that they would tell the story of what had happened in Eisenberg. Christoph joined them¡ªthen from somewhere Rosalind De Cheney¡ªthen Henrik and his men. More villagers emerged from their houses¡ªmiraculously, it seemed to Wilson, saved from the orc menace. Everyone stood around the body of Cap, his face unrecognisable. He was dead, and it wasn¡¯t the kind of dead where one took the body to Mila and hoped she could fix it. Maybe if she¡¯d had a potion of healing. Maybe. But probably not. More than one of them shed a tear. Wilson had lost count of the kills Cap had racked up. ¡®We¡¯d have lost without him,¡¯ he murmured. ¡®If only I¡¯d attacked those orcs instead of the others,¡¯ Stiff lamented. ¡®You can¡¯t know,¡¯ Pecs told him. ¡®One of us might have died in his place.¡¯ Stiff nodded. It seemed only Wilson could tell how satisfied their merc captain truly was. Not a scratch on him, he¡¯d got everything he wanted¡ªboth Brid and Cap dead. Wilson couldn¡¯t even decide if it was a good thing, or not. Was Stiff any better as their leader than Cap would have been? He was too tired to think about it. And anyway, it was done now. Somehow, they¡¯d survived, with minimal casualties. They¡¯d have to find out who else lived, and who had died. As that thought crossed his mind, there was a loud crack, and a series of thuds from the burning church. The roof caved in, then a part of the outer wall collapsed. A figure emerged from the fiery remains. It was naked, and blackened, like a piece of barbequed meat. Yet somehow, it walked towards them. When he reached halfway, Bletcher sank to his knees. He raised his one arm into the air. ¡®Truly,¡¯ he hissed, his damaged vocal cords making him sound like a creature of nightmare. ¡®The gods have decided to bless me.¡¯ MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: Brid was killed Some of your mercs improved their stats: Twerk: Might +1 Grit +1 Hit Points +2 Usa: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 Izil: Skill with spears: proficient Agility +1 Bletcher: Sanctity: Touched to Blessed Hit Points +1 Action Points +1 The Hoffmeister: Skill with shields: proficient Grit +1 Hit Points +1 Pecs: Skill with shields: proficient Grit +1 Hit Points +1 Fortune: Might +1 Hit Points +2 Action Points +1 The Baron: Skill with swords: competent Might +1 Intellect +1 Hit Points +2 Action Points +1 Greenblade: Skill with swords: expert Might +1 Hit Points +1 Mila: Might +1 Hit Points +1 The Bowman: Might +1 Agility +1 Hit Points +1 The Explorer: Skill with knives: proficient Might +1 Hit Points +1 Stiff: Agility +1 Some mercs levelled up: Bletcher is now Level 4 Fortune is now Level 4 The Baron is now Level 4 Fallen Apples: Jurgen ¡®Stricken¡¯ Stricker Magnus ¡®Mags¡¯ Nold Leonard ¡®Cap¡¯ Babler Chapter 69 The Rotten and The Rotting ¡®I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ Lothar said. ¡®But why?¡¯ Ashlyn demanded. ¡®Mada?¡¯ said Murder. They stood over Mags¡¯ body. He¡¯d died protecting Mila. The girl sat at a table in the inn, not speaking. She was in shock, and Lothar felt bad about the whole thing. He had plenty of blood on his hands from a career as a mercenary. He¡¯d led men and women into disasters far worse than this. But still, he felt bad. ¡®I was desperate,¡¯ he said. ¡®I sent Wade and Femke to bring Stricken and Rosalind here. I thought one or both might help us. You have to admit, we faced overwhelming odds.¡¯ Jaelin had been patched up, but like Mila, he¡¯d come close to being another of Stricken¡¯s victims. ¡®He did kill a few orcs before he turned on us,¡¯ The Explorer commented. ¡®That¡¯s not the point, Jaelin,¡¯ Ashlyn told him. ¡®I know.¡¯ ¡®Stiff,¡¯ she continued. ¡®You promised me you wouldn¡¯t hire him again. You knew his history. You didn¡¯t even tell us he was here.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sorry. I just thought, if he could have made a difference, and I didn¡¯t do it, I¡¯d regret it.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ve lost our trust,¡¯ she told him. Jaelin and Mila stared at him with pale, drained faces. ¡®Mada,¡¯ said Murder, mournfully. ¡®I don¡¯t think we can work for you anymore.¡¯ ¡®I understand. I wouldn¡¯t blame you.¡¯ Lothar knew better than to argue. Accept their ire, and they might come around eventually. Everyone was tired and emotional. ¡®Stiff!¡¯ It was Christoph. Something sounded urgent. ¡®There are goblins approaching from the south.¡¯ Ashlyn and the others stared at him. ¡®Come with me, Christoph.¡¯ They exited the inn and hurried across the street. ¡®It won¡¯t do any harm to let the goblins see I have at least one merc who isn¡¯t half dead.¡¯ Rosalind waited for them, and wordlessly joined them as they marched to the outskirts of the village. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Half a dozen armed goblins waited on Eisenberg¡¯s boundaries, among them the stern faced one with the sword, whom Lothar had identified as the leader. In the distance, he could see the rest of the force. They waited¡ªat least for now. The goblins looked them over. None of them had as much as a scratch. It maintained the illusion that they were still a force to be reckoned with. ¡®Brid is dead,¡¯ Lothar said casually. ¡®Along with all but three of her warriors.¡¯ The goblin looked impressed, as well he might. ¡®Then, according to our deal, we have peace between us.¡¯ ¡®What is your name?¡¯ ¡®You can call me Steer.¡¯ ¡®Alright. Thing is, Steer, I offered you Darkspike Dungeon and the hillfort if you would join with us. But you didn¡¯t.¡¯ ¡®True,¡¯ said Steer, unperturbed by the comment. ¡®We will retire to our old home of Strong Club. Out to the west. As for the hillfort, it¡¯s far from ideal having to garrison that place. But neither would we want it in human hands. That makes it a threat to us.¡¯ Lothar considered this. It would be easier for him, as well, if the fort remained empty. With nothing to fight over, it might bring some peace to the border. ¡®Very well. I can agree to that.¡¯ Steer offered his hand. ¡®Deal?¡¯ ¡®Deal.¡¯ The families of the miners returned to their homes. Their church was destroyed, but the rest of their village was saved. It was likely that it would be a lot safer from now on. Some of the refugees from the outlying settlements left immediately, keen to return home. Mayor Steben began the clean up operation. This included carting the orc corpses out of Eisenberg to a gorge near the mine. It was agreed that Stricken was undeserving of a place in Eisenberg, and so he was treated as an orc. The bodies of those who had fought for the village were given places of honour in the graveyard. Lothar stood before the graves of Cap and Mags. It was easy to identify the differences between the two in life, but they had both died as Apples, and so why not bury them next to each other? Cap¡¯s death was a short term boost to Lothar¡¯s position. He would never have been able to trust the man, especially after Wilson¡¯s warnings. Killing him would have been difficult, not knowing who would have sided with Lothar over him. Now, at least, his position as leader of The Apples was secure. In the longer term, however, the death presented problems. If Cap had indeed been planted by Sal, the leader of The Golden Blades had intended to wrest The Apples away from Lothar. Now that hadn¡¯t worked, his tactics would probably become more direct. A conflict between the two companies was coming. Lothar knew that. He also knew he wasn¡¯t yet in a position to win. *** The orc bodies had been burned, hacked, skewered, crushed, sliced, and carved. Then, already bloated, they were deposited in the gorge. The rotting, cloying smell attracted carrion birds and other wildlife, presented with enough meat to fill their bellies many times over. It was midnight when a chill descended on the chasm. The birds flew away; the wild cats and dogs ran. Even the beetles scurried away, some tunnelling underground to avoid what came. The figure moved amongst the dead, unaffected by the stench¡ªsearching for something. It pushed aside torsos and limbs, until it found what it wanted. It grasped onto its prize, pulling the body over the other corpses, then along the rocky ground. Stricken¡¯s lifeless form had been claimed. It was removed; the chill departed; and the orc dead were left to putrefy in peace. Part Three: Chapter 70 Mission #19 Found Town Company Accounts: Finances: ¡ê27 9s 11d Mercenaries: 13 Assets: the mine in Eisenberg Available missions: KILL SAL LOCATE BARROW FOUND TOWN It was four weeks since the Battle of Eisenberg. Lothar wasn¡¯t the only one who had felt the itch to leave the place behind. Mags¡¯ grave had become the physical manifestation of an invisible stain on his character¡ªthe latest unnecessary death that he was responsible for. Even when he avoided it, the burned remains of the village church were a constant reminder of the violence and destruction that were an integral part of his life. The idea of founding a new settlement¡ªof creating something¡ªheld an almost spiritual appeal. He was lucky that many others shared the same sentiment, and travelled with him to the mound where his crew had discovered Blueblade. They all felt the power of the place. A feeling of safety and calm enveloped them. Without Rosalind and Bletcher, it would have been a dangerous place to visit¡ªan addictive, unmanning sorcery that might have imprisoned them. But over the days and weeks, they tempered the magic that emanated from the three sets of standing stones. They pulled stones from the ground, breaking each circle. The peace they felt now was a gentler sensation. It was the kind of emotion one feels when you return home after being away, and that made it the perfect place for The Apples¡¯ town. The Blades have Dorwich City; let The Apples have a rival to it, Lothar said to himself. While Sal¡¯s choice of location allowed him to dominate the trade on the River Auster, Lothar¡¯s settlement extended his reach into the wild lands, where the opportunities were as potent as the dangers. ¡®Stiff!¡¯ came the shout, waking him from his reveries. It was Georg Hoffman, known to everyone as The Hoffmeister. ¡®They¡¯ve found something you might want to see.¡¯ They walked through the building site that Lothar hoped would one day become a thriving settlement. There were many skilled and practical minded people in Eisenberg, who had agreed to follow Lothar here for good wages. They had cut back trees, flattened land, established a water supply, built houses. That didn¡¯t mean they were all in step with Lothar¡¯s ambitions. ¡®What will this place do?¡¯ one of the miners from Eisenberg had asked him, his forehead wrinkling in confusion. Lothar had understood where he was coming from. Eisenberg existed because of the mine. There was no such industry here. He had waved a hand at the great expanse of unexplored land to the north, west, and south of their location. ¡®Out there are greenskins, monsters, and beasts who would like nothing more than to tear us to pieces. There are underground dungeons, ancient forests, and formidable mountain ranges. There is also treasure and glory to find. That is what this place will do. That will be our industry.¡¯ The miner looked at Lothar like he was a madman. ¡®I think,¡¯ he decided, ¡®when we¡¯ve finished, I will return to Eisenberg.¡¯ The Hoffmeister led Lothar to the raised mound. Gathered inside the stone circle were those mercs who had followed him here. As far as he could tell, Rosalind and Bletcher were carrying out the exact same work. Yet the man was covered in mud, while the woman was pristine and, in Lothar¡¯s professional opinion, ravishing. ¡®We¡¯ve pulled this one out,¡¯ Wilson informed him, slapping the vertical standing stone that was no longer standing. The gnome had thrown himself into the mission, as committed as anyone to the future of this place. It meant he acted as if he were in charge, which everyone else tolerated. ¡®And there is writing on it, until now buried beneath the earth.¡¯ ¡®Mada,¡¯ added Murder. Lothar crouched down to examine the find. The stone had been wiped clean where they had found the letters: If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. M E R K H A Z E R ¡®What does it mean?¡¯ he asked, turning to Rosalind. She shrugged. ¡®No idea. This stone stood here a long time. It must be in the language of the people who built this place, and left these barrows behind.¡¯ Lothar stood. ¡®This shall be the name of our town. Mer Khazer.¡¯ The Rotten Apples nodded their agreement. Now his new settlement had a name, Lothar found his mind moving on to other issues. Four of his mercenaries had left Eisenberg without saying a word to him: Jaelin, Mila, Christoph, and Ashlyn. They were angry about Stricken, and blamed him for the psychopath¡¯s actions. He hoped their emotions would cool. He hoped they had gone to search for the last of the four barrows, just as Jaelin had found the third. All he could do on that score was hope, and wait. He went in search of The Baron, finding him deep in conversation with Rosalind. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d say it¡¯s these two who are romantically involved, not me and De Cheney. There was certainly a distance between himself and Rosalind now. He traced it to the moment when he¡¯d revealed he knew about her magic powers. Those powers remained mysterious, but he didn¡¯t dare push for answers. ¡®You need to speak with one of us?¡¯ Rosalind asked him. ¡®I came for The Baron. I¡¯ve been asking him to spy on The Apples for me.¡¯ Rosalind raised her eyebrows, looking from one to the other. ¡®With what purpose?¡¯ ¡®He wanted me to find out if any of them are working for Sal Blair. We suspected Cap was a plant, tasked with infiltrating and taking over The Apples.¡¯ ¡®And what have you found?¡¯ she asked him. ¡®Precisely nothing. I think it¡¯s unlikely you still have a plant, Stiff, but it¡¯s always hard to prove a negative. No one is actively trying to undermine you, or talk up The Blades. In fact, you have the opposite situation. The five ex-Blades who joined The Apples all, in their own ways, have stated they are happy to be here.¡¯ ¡®Good,¡¯ said Lothar, pleased. The news freed him for what was to come next. ¡®I know that look, Stiff,¡¯ Rosalind said. ¡®You¡¯re planning something.¡¯ ¡®I think it¡¯s time I return to Avolo. The Blades will be conspiring against me, no doubt. I need to recruit more mercs.¡¯ She nodded. ¡®The Baron and I were just having a similar conversation. More ships are expected. When they step off the boat, new mercs will have a choice between Apples and Blades. You need a representative there, at least. But better if it¡¯s you.¡¯ ¡®Then we are agreed. And you two are coming?¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ they answered. Lothar looked at them. ¡®What exactly is your relationship?¡¯ ¡®We simply want the best for Gal¡¯azu, Lothar,¡¯ Rosalind answered him. ¡®That means seeing The Apples thrive.¡¯ They left for Eisenberg the next day. The three of them brought Murder with them, on the basis that he¡¯d be happier in Avolo. Bletcher would have to stay in Mer Khazer. Rosalind believed the magic there had been tamed, but argued they should err on the side of caution. Lothar left Wilson in charge. Whatever his weaknesses as a leader, and whatever The Baron said about the others¡¯ loyalty, the gnome was the only one Lothar trusted. It was a long journey to Eisenberg. Lothar asked Rosalind why they couldn¡¯t travel by portal. ¡®Using magic costs me, Lothar,¡¯ she said, sounding almost hurt that he¡¯d asked. ¡®I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know.¡¯ She smiled, and took his hand. ¡®I know. I¡¯m sorry for being short with you. Any wizard with sense only uses magic if there is good reason¡ªand skipping a long walk isn¡¯t reason enough.¡¯ So they walked. They arrived at The Pig and Iron ready for a late meal and bed. It turned out there was a delegation of villagers waiting for them. ¡®They¡¯re from Urlay, a small settlement on the Auster,¡¯ Mayor Steben explained. ¡®They¡¯ve been waiting for your return for the best part of a week now. I told ¡®em it wasn¡¯t wise trying to follow you to¡­well¡­wherever it was you went.¡¯ ¡®Mer Khazer it¡¯s called. And our journey here was perfectly safe. No goblins or orcs.¡¯ Steben nodded, but clearly didn¡¯t believe a word. Lothar sighed. ¡®Send them over.¡¯ ¡®Much obliged,¡¯ said the leader of the little party when Lothar offered them seats at his table. She was in her thirties, with a frazzled demeanour. ¡®We¡¯ve come looking for your help, Mr Sauer. We¡¯ve heard about the exploits of The Apples, and we¡¯re desperate. The Blades have refused to help us, and our menfolk said we shouldn¡¯t come here. But something needs to be done.¡¯ ¡®About what, exactly?¡¯ ¡®The wight. It comes from the moors, on certain nights. It¡¯s taken four lives already. Maybe more since we left,¡¯ she added, her voice wavering. ¡®My husband led a party after it a few weeks back. It gave them the slip, on account of the mist that lay on the moors. It entered Urlay when they were out, and killed Kathy, the miller¡¯s wife. Horrible, the way she was left. We¡¯re at a loss about what to do.¡¯ Lothar turned to Rosalind. ¡®A wight? What is it exactly?¡¯ She pursed her lips. ¡®Not sure. Folk tend to use the word ¡°wight¡± for any creature they can¡¯t give a better name to. Is that the case here?¡¯ she asked the woman. ¡®Yes. Only a few people have seen it, and none have got a good look. It¡¯s tall, they say, but otherwise looks like a man from a distance. But what kind of man would wander alone on the moors, killing people?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t know,¡¯ said Lothar. ¡®Look. I¡¯m headed to Avolo. But I¡¯ll write you a letter to give to my second in command in Mer Khazer. Wilson Turk is his name. It¡¯ll be up to him whether he can take a crew all the way to Urlay.¡¯ ¡®Mer Khazer?¡¯ ¡®My new town. Over a day¡¯s walk northwest of here. If you think this creature is worth the journey, then you are free to go and ask Wilson for help. But I¡¯ll warn you, even if he says yes, my mercenaries will need proper payment.¡¯ ¡®Oh, we¡¯ll pay,¡¯ the woman said. ¡®We have no choice. Much more of this, and everyone will leave Urlay. It¡¯ll become a ghost town.¡¯ MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: Mer Khazer was founded None of your mercs improved their stats No mercs levelled up Chapter 71 Mission #20 Locate Barrow Ashlyn ¡®Greenblade¡¯ Sawrey | Christoph ¡®The Bowman¡¯ Gerd | Liudmila ¡®Mila¡¯ Stradenko | Jaelin ¡®The Explorer¡¯ Topolski The Explorer led them across the rugged landscape, from one location to the next. He would mutter to himself sometimes. The scout had very little to go on. The fourth barrow was depicted on the parchments they had found in the other three, the last in a line stretching northwest. The picture showed a golden sword, but barely anything of use in identifying it in the landscape. It was another mound, with a single tree on top. Though, as Jaelin said, it might look very different now. If centuries had passed since the parchment was made, the mound might now be covered in vegetation. Mila was quiet. Ashlyn would catch her looking at Jaelin with adoration. Sometimes, he would give her a little smile back. For all his occasional outward signs of frustration, Ashlyn realised he was enjoying himself. He had a puzzle to solve, and the world they had left behind couldn¡¯t interfere with his task. Ashlyn was also enjoying the freedom. She didn¡¯t even care about finding the barrow. She simply followed where Jaelin led, content to roam with an empty mind. She and Christoph would talk about pointless things, or just walk side by side in companionable silence. In the evening, the four of them would eat by the fire. They took it in turns to keep watch. When Jaelin and Mila were on duty, Ashlyn would snuggle with Christoph. She found a happiness through living in the moment that she hadn¡¯t experienced since childhood. Jaelin woke them from slumber. ¡®Up!¡¯ he hissed. Wordlessly, Ashlyn got to her feet. She picked up Greenblade and tied her sword belt around her waist. ¡®There are some large things moving out there,¡¯ he whispered, peering into the darkness. ¡®Bigger than any nocturnal animal I know of. They¡¯re getting close.¡¯ He shone a beam from the Rod of Light into the undergrowth. A chill ran down Ashlyn¡¯s spine. The thought of creatures out there who might be hunting them was deeply unpleasant, especially at night. She drew her sword and studied it. The green gem at the bottom of the hilt was dull. Jaelin shrugged. ¡®I don¡¯t know. But I think we¡¯re best off leaving.¡¯ No one argued and they allowed The Explorer to lead them away. He kept to open ground, so that they might see any threats coming. But nothing appeared, and after a while he said he could no longer hear anything following them. Ashlyn felt better when morning came. In the daylight, it felt like monsters didn¡¯t exist. Jaelin led them up a steep rise. It was rocky, and treacherous. He caught Mila when she slipped. ¡®I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ he said. ¡®But there doesn¡¯t seem to be an easier way to get up here.¡¯ When they reached the crest, they got their reward. ¡®Look at that,¡¯ said Christoph, pointing down into a valley below them. There was the mound. Atop it was a single tree that looked remarkably like the picture they had. ¡®So, nothing else grows there after all,¡¯ said Jaelin. ¡®That¡¯s not normal,¡¯ Christoph warned. ¡®There is likely magic at work, just like with the other barrows.¡¯ ¡®Well, are we going down to find out?¡¯ Ashlyn asked. Now they had made it to their objective, she felt the return of purpose. She surprised herself a little in welcoming the feeling. ¡®Maybe we shouldn¡¯t,¡¯ Mila said. ¡®Remember what happened at the third barrow? I think we need a wizard with us.¡¯ ¡®Shh,¡¯ said Jaelin, with a frown. He peered down the slope before them. ¡®Something doesn¡¯t feel right.¡¯ He took his shortbow from over his shoulder and strung it. Ashlyn took a look. There was a patch of trees halfway between the rise they stood on and the mound below. But she couldn¡¯t detect movement. She drew Greenblade. Just like earlier, it wasn¡¯t warning her of monsters. ¡®Down there!¡¯ Christoph cried. He was gesturing behind them. Two figures were part way up the slope they had climbed. They had the green skin of orcs or goblins but were much larger than the orcs they had fought against. They were a different shape, too¡ªlong, muscled arms reached to their knees, causing them to drag their massive clubs along the ground. A single blow from one of those weapons, Ashlyn realised, could be deadly. ¡®Trolls,¡¯ said Jaelin. The two trolls looked up at them, but their stony expressions didn¡¯t change. Their faces seemed devoid of emotion: but that didn¡¯t stop them moving towards Ashlyn¡¯s party at a good pace. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡®Down there,¡¯ said Jaelin. Two more trolls had broken from the cover of the patch of trees Ashlyn had noticed. They carried the same massive clubs, and looked up the rise with the same impassive expressions. ¡®This way,¡¯ Jaelin said, leading them along the rise. They had no other option, it seemed. Staying to fight would be suicidal. Christoph and Jaelin might get an arrow strike or two in before they reached them. But once they reached them, the combat would be brutal, and all too brief. They kept to the very top of the rise, where the ground was more solid. Jaelin led them at pace, as the trolls gave chase. Ashlyn risked a look behind. The trolls were walking fast, rather than running. They had a plodding gait, which was deceptive¡ªthey moved fast, and looked like they could keep it going for as long as they needed. She realised that at least one¡ªprobably both pairs of trolls¡ªwere the same ones that had approached their camp last night. None of them called out. There was something terrifying about their silence. The rise dipped down now, towards a thicket of trees ahead of them. Wary of ambush, Jaelin veered off the rise, keeping them in the open. No more trolls appeared. It remained four against four, and Ashlyn knew it was now a test of endurance. *** They¡¯d waited for him in the village. He¡¯d made the mistake of thinking they were only villagers, and it was a mistake that had nearly cost him. So consumed with hunger, he¡¯d only noticed the woman¡¯s axe at the last moment. He ran, as the trap closed on him. He ran, out of the village, and into the moors¡ªstill they chased him. They were fit, well fed, and full of life. He was a bloodless half man who was always hungry and never satisfied. But he couldn¡¯t give up, even if he wanted to. He hid in the heather. It was easier to hide in the moors than in a forest, because in the moors, everywhere looks the same. They tried to find him, but they gave up in the end. He waited, lying amongst the plants, the smell of dirt in his nostrils. It could be another trap, he told himself. It was his hunger that made Stricken move. He stood tall, but the crew who had chased him were long gone. They were gone, but his hunger was worse than ever. He doubled over, clutching at his belly, and screamed. *** Jaelin led them away from the chasing trolls. Little by little, they extended the gap between themselves and the club wielding greenskins. When Ashlyn looked behind, the four trolls all shared the same, stoic expression. The lack of emotion confused her. ¡®Do you think they care that they¡¯re falling behind?¡¯ she wondered out loud. ¡®Maybe they¡¯ll give up when they realise they can¡¯t catch us.¡¯ ¡®Maybe,¡¯ said Jaelin. ¡®Or maybe they¡¯ll just keep coming, in the hopes we tire, or get injured. Best to keep going.¡¯ Ashlyn certainly wasn¡¯t going to argue with that. The trolls fell further back. When they were out of sight, she felt a lot better about things. Jaelin pushed them on. Ashlyn encouraged Mila to keep going. The girl was the one who began to tire first. But she was tough, and didn¡¯t ask for rest. ¡®It¡¯s surprising,¡¯ Mila said, ¡®how far you can push your body when your life''s on the line.¡¯ ¡®True,¡¯ Ashlyn said. ¡®But we can¡¯t go on forever. One of us will break down.¡¯ Jaelin got the hint. As the sun disappeared over the horizon, he led them part way up a hill to a sheltered spot. With a steep rock face at their backs, they were protected from any attempts at another ambush. Jaelin stood on lookout, using the Rod of Light to illuminate the route that any predators would be forced to take to reach them. The others rummaged through their packs and organised a cold meal. ¡®How well can trolls see in the dark?¡¯ Christoph asked. ¡®Very well, I imagine,¡¯ Jaelin said, still staring out from their camp. ¡®But I think they will have turned back a while ago. They tried to catch us, and failed. I don¡¯t see what would motivate them to keep pursuing us. There¡¯s easier huntink for them than four well armed humans.¡¯ The comment made Ashlyn relax a little. ¡®For a while there, I was as carefree as a cloud. I suppose a wake up call such as this is unpleasant but necessary. Time to return my focus to what needs to be done.¡¯ ¡®And what needs to be done?¡¯ The Explorer asked her. ¡®Whatever will make Lothar ¡®Stiff¡¯ Sauer rich?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s not my main concern, no.¡¯ Ashlyn studied each of her three companions. Perhaps it was the exhaustion, but she thought she trusted each of them. ¡®That¡¯s not the reason I came to Gal¡¯azu.¡¯ Christoph stared at her, wide-eyed. ¡®Why, then?¡¯ he asked quietly, as if it was a question he hadn¡¯t dared ask out loud before. ¡®My father taught me the sword. He raised me alone, after my mother died. He took work as a mercenary from time to time, to keep food on the table. Last year, Durnost descended into civil war, one group of noblemen fighting against another. My father¡¯s company came up against the Blairs. He was killed on the battlefield. ¡®The victors of the battle claimed that anyone on the opposing side had committed treason. Their property was forfeit. Sal Blair came to my village and had my home taken from me, and sold off. No one in my county stood up for me. The sheriff bought my father¡¯s house and said I should work for him. When he said I should share his bed, I killed him.¡¯ Ashlyn took a breath, staring at the ground. She didn¡¯t want to see the reaction on the faces of her friends. ¡®I was homeless, destitute, and an outlaw. But I had my sword. So I went south, looking for the Blairs. I burned with vengeance for how they had ruined my life. I didn¡¯t really know where I was going, and had to work for food, but I reached the capital. ¡®Only, when I got there, things had changed. The king had turned against the Blairs. He had taken their company from them, and they were banished from the kingdom. Apparently, they had gone to some land called Gal¡¯azu. What else was there for me? I paid for a place on a ship to Gal¡¯azu, and here I am. For all Stiff¡¯s failings, I will fight for The Apples, so that one day I can get my revenge.¡¯ She looked up, ready to face the response. ¡®I swear. I will help you take your revenge,¡¯ Christoph said. She smiled at him, wondering what she had done to deserve his loyalty. ¡®Me too,¡¯ said Mila. The girl looked over at Jaelin. ¡®Well?¡¯ she demanded. The Explorer frowned. ¡®I don¡¯t like killink. But alright. I will help.¡¯ MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: The fourth barrow was located None of your mercs improved their stats No mercs levelled up Chapter 72 Lothar v Wynter Urkal Foberoy handed Lothar and Rosalind their whiskies. ¡®Yes, we¡¯ve had quite a few ships come in recently. Dropped off more colonists than we¡¯ve seen for a couple of years, I would say. How many of them are the type you¡¯re looking for, I¡¯m not so sure.¡¯ Lothar nodded, and sipped at his drink, letting its flavours dance on his tongue for a while, before swallowing. The warmth spread from his chest to his extremities. For a moment, he wondered what the life of a rich merchant must be like, with so much luxury. Less ageing, surely, than the life of a mercenary. ¡®Well, I¡¯ll put out feelers tomorrow.¡¯ ¡®But Stiff has a problem,¡¯ Rosalind told Foberoy. ¡®He can¡¯t work out of The Rose anymore. He needs a new base, and preferably one with some prestige.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s not a problem. I can set him up in the city hall. You won¡¯t have it all your own way, though, Sauer.¡¯ ¡®How¡¯s that?¡¯ ¡®Wynter Blair is in town. Recruiting out of The Anchor.¡¯ ¡®Oh. That¡¯s not good. She had one of her mercs break my fingers last time I cramped her style¡ªand I haven¡¯t brought any heavies with me.¡¯ Apart from Rosalind, only The Baron and Murder had accompanied him to Avolo. ¡®She doesn¡¯t have a great number with her, either,¡¯ Foberoy reassured him. ¡®But she has brought that debaucher, Raimy ¡®Rake¡¯ Molleker, with her. He¡¯s already sniffing around my daughter again. I told Wynter he needs to keep his pecker in his pants.¡¯ ¡®Not much chance of that,¡¯ Rosalind said. ¡®And telling him he can¡¯t have her is only liable to increase his ardour. But maybe I can tempt him with an alternative. Men like that are usually attracted to the latest beauty.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯d be grateful if you could do that, De Cheney.¡¯ Lothar walked Rosalind from Foberoy¡¯s residence to hers. The councillor¡¯s whisky didn¡¯t keep the night¡¯s chill away, and their breath hung in the cold air. ¡®Thank you again for helping me with Brid, Rosalind.¡¯ ¡®Of course.¡¯ ¡®You know you mentioned attracting this Raimy fellow. You didn¡¯t mean you would do it, did you?¡¯ He was surprised when she laughed at him. ¡®I almost believe you mean it, Lothar. It would take someone far more nubile than I to catch his eye.¡¯ Lothar frowned. ¡®Well, good. And of course I mean it. There¡¯s no one in Gal¡¯azu more beautiful than you. And that¡¯s a fact.¡¯ She kissed him on the cheek. ¡®I appreciate it.¡¯ ¡®You know, since Eisenberg, and the whole ¡®magic¡¯ thing. I¡¯ve been feeling a distance has come between us.¡¯ She sighed. ¡®You need to understand. Having magic is dangerous. It brings hate, distrust, and jealousy. And it¡¯s far worse for women. Male wizards are at least feared and respected. Women are burned, or drowned, as witches. I don¡¯t regret helping you, but I feel vulnerable.¡¯ ¡®But I won¡¯t tell anyone. You know that.¡¯ ¡®Lothar. There was Eisenberg, and then there was Mer Khazer. People know. Word will get out. Maybe only rumours at first. But they will grow. Being unseen is so much easier. I don¡¯t regret what I did¡ªI just have to accept that things are going to get more difficult.¡¯ ¡®And these ¡®things¡¯ are all to make Gal¡¯azu a better place?¡¯ ¡®Yes. Why? You don¡¯t believe in that?¡¯ Lothar sighed. ¡®I don¡¯t know. I suppose I¡¯ve spent so long trying to keep my head above water, I haven¡¯t had time to think about such things.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s fair. It¡¯s a privilege, I suppose.¡¯ They stopped at the entrance to her house. ¡®Well, we¡¯re here.¡¯ ¡®Yes. Good night.¡¯ ¡®I thought you would stay here while you¡¯re in Avolo. Where else do you have to go?¡¯ ¡®Nowhere in particular, but I can get a room.¡¯ ¡®No.¡¯ She took his hand. ¡®Stay with me.¡¯ Lothar was chasing shadows. He had to sift through the dross of potential new recruits, discarding the vast majority who had nothing to offer him. Meanwhile, Wynter Blair had got to all the good ones first. He had to play catchup, offering them something different when they¡¯d already half decided to join The Blades. The pick of the bunch was one Alfie Goodfellow, a Durnishman who went by the nickname The Guvnah. Hope soared in Lothar¡¯s breast when Goodfellow returned to the little stall Foberoy had set up for him in the city hall. The Guvnah had it all¡ªLevel 7, the same as Cap had been. At 29, he was eleven years Cap¡¯s junior, which made him one of the most impressive soldiers Lothar had ever met. ¡®I thought it only right to come and tell you in person, mate,¡¯ The Guvnah began, and Lothar¡¯s hopes fell like a stone. ¡®I decided to go with The Blades. They just have a higher level of operators, and in my experience, that¡¯s more important than anything.¡¯ Lothar nodded. ¡®I understand. No doubt I¡¯d have done the same in your position. I appreciate you coming to tell me.¡¯ The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He offered his hand, and The Guvnah took it. ¡®I wish you and The Apples all the luck, mate,¡¯ Goodfellow said. And then he disappeared from Lothar¡¯s life. Already feeling morose, things only got worse that evening. Just as he was getting ready to leave, Wynter Blair and three of her mercs arrived. ¡®Come to gloat?¡¯ he asked. A twinge in his fingers made him study one of her mercs more closely. ¡®Or break something else?¡¯ The man¡¯s eyes lightened and a smile came to his lips. ¡®Oh, that¡¯s right, I remember now. At The Anchor. Hope those fingers healed up alright?¡¯ ¡®Not too bad, thanks. They only ache when it¡¯s cold. Or warm.¡¯ The merc laughed, and even Wynter grinned. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant sight. Her skin seemed to stretch too tight across her face, and she was one of those people whose smile made them look manic. ¡®This is Shade,¡¯ Wynter told him. ¡®Don¡¯t think we did the proper introductions last time. He¡¯s not all that bad really. This beautiful lady is Vixen.¡¯ ¡®Hello, Vixen.¡¯ The woman was a striking looking Alinko warrior, with a slim build and braided black hair. ¡®And this,¡¯ Lothar continued, ¡®must be Raimy ¡®Rake¡¯ Molleker. Your reputation precedes you.¡¯ The others smirked at this, while Raimy himself refused to meet Lothar¡¯s eyes. His facial features were so perfect, it made you want to punch him there just to add a defect. Except it would probably only make him look more rugged. His jawline and nose were manly, while his dark eyes somehow glittered. His body was naturally athletic, and Lothar assumed he didn¡¯t have to make any effort to maintain it. ¡®You know, Lothar Sauer,¡¯ Wynter said. ¡®I¡¯ve come to the conclusion you¡¯re alright. The Guvnah said you took it well when he told you his decision. And what you¡¯ve achieved out west, with what you¡¯ve got¡ªwell, you¡¯ve demonstrated your qualities.¡¯ Lothar was taken aback with the compliment. ¡®Thank you. I¡¯m a little surprised to hear you say it.¡¯ ¡®Well, we may be rivals and all. But I like to think I¡¯m fair. And in this game, you need to appreciate talent. It¡¯s just a shame about Cap.¡¯ ¡®Yes, he was a big loss, I¡¯ll admit.¡¯ Lothar studied her reaction. ¡®Oh. You didn¡¯t mean that.¡¯ ¡®He was certainly a loss. But no, that¡¯s not what I meant. You see, I think you realised he was a plant, and somehow contrived to get rid of him. But killing him¡ª¡¯ ¡®¡ªI didn¡¯t kill him.¡¯ ¡®Oh. Well, bad luck for you then.¡¯ ¡®Because now your brothers want me dead?¡¯ ¡®With Cap dead, Sal has no other choice but to kill you and destroy your order. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here, to make sure you can¡¯t strengthen your squad.¡¯ Lothar¡¯s eyes flicked to the belts of his visitors. They all carried knives. ¡®That¡¯s all you¡¯re here for?¡¯ ¡®Aye. Sal never told me to kill you. So I won¡¯t.¡¯ ¡®I appreciate that.¡¯ ¡®But when that order does go out,¡¯ she said, ¡®we¡¯ll follow it. And we won¡¯t hesitate.¡¯ Lothar didn¡¯t doubt it. If he¡¯d ever seen a bunch of cold blooded killers, it was these four. ¡®Then I thank you for your honesty. And if the tables are turned, I¡¯ll try to afford you the same courtesy.¡¯ Wynter¡¯s eyes rose in surprise, then she smiled. ¡®I like you, Lothar, known as Stiff to his friends.¡¯ Her smile disappeared. ¡®What a shame.¡¯ In the cold and the dark, Lothar made his way from city hall to Rosalind¡¯s place. At least I have De Cheney waiting for me, he told himself. My only immediate problem is whoever has decided to follow me. He stopped and waited, not wishing to lead his stalker to Rosalind¡¯s house. The man who appeared, looking a little sheepish, was one of the mercs Lothar had interviewed. He racked his brain for a name, having learned so many in the last few days. It was the mace at the man¡¯s belt that reminded him. ¡®Ah. Larik the Bludgeoner.¡¯ ¡®Yes. I hope I didn¡¯t scare you. I came to find you earlier. You were talkink with the Blades, and I listened in. The conversation only encouraged me to sign with The Apples all the more. I decided to follow you, just in case one of them decided to make a move against you.¡¯ ¡®I see.¡¯ Larik wasn¡¯t a tall man, but he was muscular. His neck and shoulders were huge, and he had the perfect frame for wielding a weapon like a mace. He was still only Level 2, but Lothar considered him an excellent prospect. ¡®Yes. I¡¯ve come to Gal¡¯azu for adventure, you see. And I think I will find that with you, and not those fancy Blades.¡¯ Lothar patted him on his bulging upper arm. ¡®Larik, you¡¯ve cheered me up no end. Welcome to the squad. Had dinner yet?¡¯ ¡®Nope.¡¯ ¡®Then escort me to my friend¡¯s house safely, and I am sure she will reward us both with a fine meal.¡¯ *** Salvador Blair waited alone in the hall of his palace. He poked at the fire in the grate. Its light fought off night¡¯s dark embrace. It flickered when the door opened. Sal turned, not bothering to hide his anxiety. Relief flooded him at the arrival of Clamor. He¡¯d lost his second and third best scouts in the last few days. Felix ¡®Clamor¡¯ Rittel had been recalled from his previous assignment to deal with the current threat. The scout padded across to the fire, then held his hands out to the warmth. Some wit had given the man the nickname Clamor years ago; he moved like a ghost, and only spoke when he had to. Sal hated the name. But once one was given, it was near impossible to swap it for another. ¡®Well?¡¯ Sal demanded. ¡®It¡¯s a lot worse than you thought,¡¯ Clamor told him in his quiet rasp. ¡®There are about five thousand of them in all. It¡¯s a migration, with all ages in the horde. But I reckon four thousand can fight, and two thousand are warriors.¡¯ ¡®Thousands?¡¯ Sal repeated, his mind racing at the implications. ¡®How did the others not see them coming? It¡¯s not like goblins have the best scouts.¡¯ ¡®No, not scouts. Worse than that. They have a mage amongst their number. A good one. I only noticed his sorcery at the last moment, or I too would have become his victim.¡¯ ¡®He sensed you?¡¯ ¡®Maybe. I got out of there as fast as I could.¡¯ ¡®Of course.¡¯ Clamor¡¯s news embedded itself in his brain, his mind¡¯s attempts at denying the truth battered aside. Thousands. And a mage. ¡®We can¡¯t beat them,¡¯ he admitted out loud. ¡®No,¡¯ Clamor agreed. ¡®What do you think we should do?¡¯ Sal¡¯s mind provided him with the answers, even though he didn¡¯t want them. ¡®This is a threat to all the settlers in Gal¡¯azu. We will have to unite against it. Even then¡­¡¯ He almost gagged on his next statement. ¡®We¡¯ll have to work with The Apples.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s not going to be easy.¡¯ ¡®You don¡¯t know the half of it. I sent Wynter and Rylan out to disrupt them.¡¯ ¡®Rylan?¡¯ Clamor repeated, his voice coming as close to alarmed as it ever did. ¡®I know. But the bastards killed Cap, didn¡¯t they? What else was I supposed to do?¡¯ Clamor returned to silence, and Sal was left to curse his luck. Chapter 73 Mission #21 Rid Urlay of the Wight Part One Wilson ¡®Twerk¡¯ Turk | Usain ¡®Usa¡¯ Bizra | Izildra ¡®Izil¡¯ Bizra | Georg ¡®The Hoffmeister¡¯ Hoffman | Victor ¡®Pecs¡¯ Balinski | Eddie ¡®Fortune¡¯ Rich The women of Urlay led Wilson¡¯s party northeast to their village. His companions were far from keen on all aspects of the mission. The villagers¡¯ talk of a supernatural enemy unsettled some of them, especially since Stiff¡¯s instructions were that Bletcher should stay in Mer Khazer. But Stiff had given the decision to Wilson, and he wanted to take the challenge on. When he reminded the Apples that they would get paid to see off what might be nothing more than a single madman, they came around to the idea. They made camp in a small vale about half way to their destination. It was a perfect place for a little village¡ªprotected by the hills around it, with a stream running through. The emptiness of this region reminded Wilson just how lightly settled Gal¡¯azu still was. Eisenberg remained the most westerly settlement of any note; while Urlay, according to his employers, was the farthest settlement yet established along the Auster. The source of the great river was somewhere in the rugged lands to the north, as yet totally unexplored. The Hoffmeister started the fire and prepared their meal, going about the camp chores with his usual brand of efficiency. He was calm and unflustered in everything he did. Quite my opposite, the gnome acknowledged. The Hargon served up the food¡ªsauerkraut and sausages. ¡®Ha!¡¯ Fortune said, pointing. ¡®Compare Twerk¡¯s portion size with Pecs¡¯!¡¯ The Hoffmeister looked a little nonplussed. ¡®That is how you like it guys, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s perfect,¡¯ Wilson said. ¡®Just ignore him.¡¯ He sat next to Pecs with a sigh. ¡®Something the matter?¡¯ the big man asked, giving the gnome a full view of what was in his mouth. ¡®Oh, just the damned nickname Ashlyn gave me. It irritates me.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t like mine, either.¡¯ ¡®What? Pecs? Surely it¡¯s a compliment?¡¯ ¡®Not really. Not to me. It¡¯s just about a part of my body, not about me as a person. It makes me feel self conscious, and¡­I don¡¯t know the word.¡¯ ¡®Objectified?¡¯ ¡®Yeah. That.¡¯ ¡®I understand. I suppose mine¡¯s not so bad. It doesn¡¯t really mean anything¡ªjust a silly rhyme with my surname.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re allowed to not like it.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re right. I still fucking hate it.¡¯ ¡®These sausages are good,¡¯ Fortune complimented The Hoffmeister. ¡®Got a bit of a kick to them.¡¯ ¡®I am pleased to hear it.¡¯ Fortune caught the Bizra brothers grinning at one another. ¡®And what¡¯s so damned funny to you?¡¯ Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡®Nothing,¡¯ said Usa. ¡®It¡¯s just, in Alinko, we have food that is actually spicy. These sausages are tasty, but a kick? No, my friend.¡¯ ¡®But the cabbage is spicy, no?¡¯ The Hoffmeister said. Usa and Izil¡¯s grins turned to wide-eyed stares. Their expressions were identical¡ªa trace of anguish at the suggestion. ¡®Sauerkraut is not spicy, Georg,¡¯ Usa told him. ¡®It¡¯s sour. Next time we are in Avolo, I will buy some chillies from the marketplace. I don¡¯t care how much they cost. Idris and I will make you all a meal that will blow your minds.¡¯ ¡®Yeah, and probably cause an explosion down below as well,¡¯ Fortune said. They all laughed at that. Toilet humour is universal amongst mercs, even gnomekind. The light was fading when they reached Urlay. It was small, without the extensive fields of the agricultural settlements Wilson had visited in Gal¡¯azu; or the industry of places like Eisenberg. Its significance lay in the wooden bridge over the Auster that they crossed to enter the village. Wilson couldn¡¯t see an inn, or a building of similar size. Eyeing the wooden houses, built close to the river, he supposed they¡¯d be staying in someone¡¯s home tonight. The ambush caught him completely by surprise. Fortune took an arrow in the thigh, the archer firing from the roof of a house ahead of them. The next struck him with force in the shoulder. He fell to the ground, having lost 20 hit points. The third and final arrow hit Pecs, costing him 11 hit points. Wilson didn¡¯t even see his attacker. The knife stab avoided his breastplate and sank into his arm, dealing nine damage. The second struck home in the same place, taking another eleven hit points. His arm went numb, from fingertips to shoulder. ¡®That¡¯ll do,¡¯ came a voice. Sauntering around the corner of a house, came a young man with a drawn longsword. He stopped in front of the downed Fortune, and let out a whoop. ¡®Damn, Tree!¡¯ he shouted. ¡®That is the best shooting I¡¯ve ever seen you do. Three for three, and all of them were punishing hits as well.¡¯ ¡®Rylan,¡¯ Usa said. Wilson knew that name, and tendrils of fear grabbed at him. In the dim light he could see the twisted scars of burned flesh on one side of the man¡¯s face. ¡®Apologies, Fortune,¡¯ Rylan continued, ignoring Usa. ¡®But I told Tree to target you first. Take it as a compliment on your sword work. Talking of which, I see you have a new blade. Boy. This Stiff fella really is handing out magic weapons like sweetmeats, isn¡¯t he? What does it do?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t know yet.¡¯ ¡®Really?¡¯ ¡®Yes. Really.¡¯ ¡®We¡¯ll see. And Pecs, you¡¯re a big unit. Had to knock you down to size. Then,¡¯ he continued, turning to Wilson, ¡®there¡¯s the little man. I¡¯ve heard stories about you. Thought Smoke here needed to persuade you not to do something foolish and take us on.¡¯ Wilson turned. ¡®Careful,¡¯ came a voice. It belonged to the knife wielder who had nearly severed the gnome¡¯s arm. Wilson moved slowly. The Alinko held his knife as a warning, but his smile was friendly. ¡®No hard feelings, I hope. It wasn¡¯t cool of me to sneak up on you. But better than getting into a real fight, where someone gets killed.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s fine,¡¯ Wilson said. ¡®My fault for letting you.¡¯ ¡®Hey chommie, don¡¯t beat yourself up about it. This ain¡¯t my first show.¡¯ ¡®Why are you here, Rylan?¡¯ Usa asked. ¡®We came on a mission about some wight.¡¯ He gestured over at the women from the village who had led them here. ¡®They¡¯ll tell you.¡¯ Wilson recognised the annoyed look that passed across Rylan¡¯s face. I make that same expression myself from time to time, Wilson thought. But there was something about the man¡¯s eyes he didn¡¯t like. A madness, maybe. Or a lack of something. He knew they were in trouble, and that there was no one else coming who might save them. ¡®I know why you came here, Bizra. But we¡¯ve got some talking to do. Now, put your weapons on the ground. All of them.¡¯ They had their hands tied behind their backs, then they sat on the ground in a circle. Rylan clearly intended to carry out his interrogation outdoors. He had three of his mercs build a fire. Beyond its light, Wilson could just make out some of the villagers, watching the event unfurl. Had they been in on Rylan¡¯s plan? Did the wight that haunted the moors even exist? He didn¡¯t know; but he knew he wasn¡¯t the one who would be asking the questions tonight. Chapter 74 Mission #21 Rid Urlay of the Wight Part Two Rylan Blair had six mercs with him. Three of them tended the fire. Smoke was the one who had stabbed Wilson; and was now the one who tied their hands with rope. Tree was the archer. Turned out he was also a medic¡ªwhich was just as well, since Wilson hadn¡¯t brought one. A sinking feeling in his chest reminded him that this mission had been his call¡ªand whatever was about to happen was therefore his fault. Tree was tall, with a Hargon accent like Stiff¡¯s, and had spiky brown hair. He cut out the arrows he had fired into Fortune and Pecs, then patched them up. Afterwards, he treated Wilson¡¯s arm. ¡®You have lost quite a lot of blood,¡¯ the merc informed him. ¡®I will sew up the wound, then bandage it.¡¯ With his hands behind his back, and still no feeling in the arm, Wilson just let the man get on with it. The last merc was a wild haired, middle aged woman. She was the one who arranged them into a circle, preparing them for whatever Rylan had in mind. She wore a chain mail vest, and leather gloves, giving the impression she was a warrior. She must be a good one, to run with The Blades. ¡®There is no need to kick me, Mental,¡¯ The Hoffmeister said to her, when she got him to shuffle over to the left. Oh, great, Wilson thought. As if Rylan isn¡¯t bad enough, his friend is called Mental. Her boot landed in The Hoffmeister¡¯s midriff, and he sagged over in pain, losing a hit point. ¡®There was no need for that either, was there?¡¯ She screeched at him. ¡®You traitorous scum.¡¯ ¡®Georg is not a traitor,¡¯ Usa told her. ¡®We¡¯re mercs, free to sign up with whatever company we choose.¡¯ ¡®Enough of this,¡¯ Rylan declared. His mercs finished off their tasks and left him the stage. The mercenary captain wielded Fortune¡¯s sword, Blueblade, the naked steel ominous looking in the firelight. ¡®Most of you know my father was a mercenary captain¡ªthe most famous in Durnost. Cole the Maimer, he was called.¡¯ Rylan put a hand to his puckered cheek. ¡®Oh, I know all about maiming people. My father passed his skills on. Made sure that his three children were the toughest little bastards on the gods¡¯ earth. We learned his lessons.¡¯ A thoughtful look came to his face. ¡®I always wondered why people were surprised when we killed him. Sal didn¡¯t wonder. He understands people better than me. He says most people have no imagination.¡¯ He shrugged, as if giving up on that line of thought. ¡®Anyway, I¡¯ve got me some questions. And I think you all know that I¡¯ll get the answers I want, one way or another.¡¯ He approached Fortune, kneeling down next to him. ¡®Like, for instance, what does this sword do?¡¯ He inserted his finger into the arrow wound in Eddie¡¯s shoulder, and he screamed in agony until Rylan withdrew it. Rylan stood, waiting patiently for Fortune to recover. ¡®There are two others, just like it,¡¯ Fortune gasped. ¡®The red one gives bonuses against greenskins. The green one, against monsters. We only recently found the blue one. I don¡¯t know what it does yet. I swear.¡¯ ¡®He speaks the truth,¡¯ Usa said. That annoyed look crossed Rylan¡¯s face again. ¡®I didn¡¯t ask you to speak, Bizra. But since you¡¯re so keen.¡¯ He nodded over to Mental, who appeared to be waiting for instruction. She used her fists instead of her boot this time, pummeling Usa in his torso and face until she was content with her work. ¡®Tell me where in Gehenna the Apples are getting all these magic weapons.¡¯ Usa sighed. ¡®There¡¯s no point,¡¯ he said through swollen lips. ¡®Stiff has got the game covered. You¡¯re too late.¡¯ ¡®No point? Sorry, Bizra, but I decide whether there¡¯s a point.¡¯ Rylan moved quickly, and stabbed Blueblade into Izil¡¯s outstretched leg. The Alinko tried to hold back his cry of pain. It was a precision strike, causing only four damage. But a slight mistake and the younger brother might be dead from such a weapon. ¡®Alright!¡¯ Usa bellowed. ¡®There are barrows that have remained hidden until now. That¡¯s where the hauls are coming from.¡¯ ¡®Barrows? You¡¯re digging up burial grounds? What are they like, these barrows?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t know. Listen,¡¯ Usa said quickly, as Rylan raised Blueblade again. ¡®The first two were explored before I joined. The third I travelled to, but I never got inside. I don¡¯t think any two are quite the same.¡¯ ¡®How many more?¡¯ ¡®One. I think.¡¯ ¡®Good.¡¯ Rylan turned to Wilson. ¡®You must know more, gnome.¡¯ ¡®Aye. I was there when we found the first one.¡¯ ¡®How are you finding them?¡¯ ¡®By accident. I was running away from a warg at the time.¡¯ Rylan laughed. ¡®Running away from a warg? Oh, this is more like The Rotten Apples I have heard about. So, you got lucky. Then the second? I can¡¯t believe you got lucky twice.¡¯ ¡®The second was the hillfort. Redblade had already searched it. But when Stiff killed him, he took his treasures.¡¯ Rylan shook his head. ¡®This Stiff doesn¡¯t mess around, does he? The third?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t know. Only Stiff knows.¡¯ ¡®Tsk tsk,¡¯ Rylan said, nodding at Mental. With some enthusiasm, she reached Wilson in moments. A fist to the face, and he felt his nose crack. His vision blurred, and he felt himself drift in and out of consciousness. It occurred to him, in the slightly more lucid moments, that it might be no bad thing to pass out. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡®You with us, gnome?¡¯ Mental asked, patting him on the cheek. His throat was thick with blood and he spat it out. He had three hit points left. Another punch like that and he really would lose his senses. The worry was, he¡¯d never wake again. ¡®There was a map in the first barrow. It doesn¡¯t give precise locations. But we managed to find the third barrow. There¡¯s one more left, somewhere out to the northwest.¡¯ Rylan nodded at this. ¡®You know, things would have gone so much smoother if you¡¯d let Cap take over the Apples, instead of killing him. This unpleasantness would never have happened. All because you weren¡¯t willing to share these precious weapons.¡¯ Confused faces met this statement. ¡®What?¡¯ Rylan demanded. He approached Pecs. ¡®Come now, Victor. You¡¯re an honest man. My brother sent Cap to snatch control of the Apples from the inside. One of his better ideas. You¡¯re telling me you know nothing about this?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t. He never confided in me. He took a leadership role in the order, true enough. Gave me¡ª¡¯ ¡®What? Gave you what?¡¯ ¡®Gave me his spear.¡¯ ¡®A magic one?¡¯ ¡®Aye.¡¯ ¡®Come on! A man gives you his magic weapon, and you think he wants nothing in return?¡¯ ¡®He never asked for anything.¡¯ Rylan went silent, thinking about it. ¡®So he was preparing the ground for a takeover. Then he gets iced. Who killed him?¡¯ ¡®An orc.¡¯ ¡®An orc? No. Leonard Babler doesn¡¯t fall to a random orc.¡¯ ¡®We all saw it,¡¯ Pecs said, looking around for support. ¡®It¡¯s true,¡¯ said Usa. ¡®He fell in battle. In Eisenberg. We were fighting¡ª¡¯ Rylan held up a hand for Usa to be quiet. Wilson really thought the Alinko should stop interrupting. ¡®Pretty fucking convenient, isn¡¯t it? And pretty fucking unlikely. Leonard ¡®Cap¡¯ Babler, one of the best the Blades have ever seen, is killed in this battle? While every single one of you grunts makes it out alive? You expect me to buy that?¡¯ Rylan moved on to The Hoffmeister. ¡®Georg. If you¡¯re good for one thing, it¡¯s speaking plainly. What happened?¡¯ ¡®My memory is this. Cap broke from the shieldwall to kill the orc queen. In this, he succeeded. Stiff arrived, clearing the orcs that opposed us. But he couldn¡¯t reach Cap in time. There were only a couple left, but he was already injured. And those orcs¡ªwhen they hit you, it¡¯s more than a trifle.¡¯ Rylan sneered. ¡®You fools. Stiff knew. Probably engineered the whole thing. A convenient way to rid himself of Cap before he lost his crew. How about that, Georg?¡¯ The Hoffmeister frowned. ¡®I suppose it¡¯s possible. On the other hand, that battle was real. It could as easily have been one of us who fell. Or more than one. At least, that¡¯s how it felt.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s right, Rylan,¡¯ Usa said. ¡®If you say Cap was there to take over the Apples, then so be it. If he¡¯d asked us, maybe we¡¯d have switched over. But he didn¡¯t.¡¯ Rylan gestured at Mental. She used her boot this time. ¡®Shut the fuck up, Usain,¡¯ she told him. ¡®You think you¡¯re smarter than me, Alinko?¡¯ Rylan asked him when she was done, his voice quiet. ¡®No. Like you say, I¡¯m just a grunt. I¡¯ll probably never amount to much. But I have the right to take my skills to whoever is willing to pay my wages. You have no right to hold us against our will. Beat us. We¡¯ve told you what you want. Just let us go.¡¯ ¡®I.¡¯ Rylan began. ¡®Am.¡¯ He strode over to Usa. ¡®So.¡¯ The tip of Blueblade went to the merc¡¯s chest. ¡®No, Rylan,¡¯ Tree said. ¡®Rylan. Stop,¡¯ Smoke added. ¡®Sick.¡¯ He plunged it in. Everyone was shouting now. Rylan¡¯s mercs were rushing him. ¡®Of.¡¯ With one hand flat on the pommel, he forced it further. ¡®Your.¡¯ Usa coughed, then went limp. Mental reached Rylan first, shoving him away. ¡®Voice,¡¯ the captain shouted, as his mercs grappled with him. Izil screamed. A terrible, heart-wrenching noise. Murderous curses flew from his mouth. These were interspersed with more meaningless screams. It was pandemonium, as Rylan shouted at his mercs, they refused to listen, and the Apples fought to free themselves from their bonds. Izil was restrained and held down by a couple of mercs. Come on, Wilson told himself. Pass out. He didn¡¯t want to be here. Didn¡¯t want to see any more. But despite his efforts, he couldn¡¯t escape. Rylan had been dragged off. Later, Tree and Smoke had returned for Usa¡¯s body, carrying it away. Izil had screamed more curses at them, but they ignored him. Exhausted, Wilson drifted in and out of sleep. Each time he woke, it was still night time, and he and his companions were still captives. Izil muttered incoherently to himself, too grief stricken to give in to sleep. There were always two mercs guarding them, and no chance of escape. Wilson¡¯s eyelids opened once more to see Tree crouching over Izil. He placed a cloth over his mouth and nose and held it there, until Izil lost consciousness. ¡®What are you doing?¡¯ Wilson hissed over. ¡®We¡¯re getting you out of here,¡¯ came a whisper behind him. Smoke pulled Wilson to his feet. The gnome staggered, barely able to stand up. ¡®Izil wouldn¡¯t have let us take him away with Rylan still alive.¡¯ Tree lifted Izil over his shoulder, while Fortune, Pecs, and The Hoffmeister quietly got to their feet. ¡®Then why don¡¯t we all kill him?¡¯ Wilson demanded. ¡®Even if we got lucky, and killed Rylan without losing our own lives, Sal would make sure we were hunted down. Now, chommie. I''m gonna have to carry you. We need to move fast.¡¯ Wilson was too tired to argue, and suffered the indignity of being held over the man¡¯s shoulder in silence. ¡®What about Blueblade?¡¯ Fortune whispered. ¡®There¡¯s no way you¡¯re getting that sword back,¡¯ Tree told him. Fortune hesitated. The last thing he wanted was to give the weapon up. But he was in no fit state to challenge Rylan for it. He gave it up. Tree and Smoke led their party past Urlay¡¯s houses towards the bridge. From his unusual angle, Wilson caught sight of booted feet and leather gloves coming up behind them. Mental. She had a battle axe strapped to her back. She drew a knife, and Wilson got ready to call out a warning. But Smoke and Tree stopped for her, and she used her knife to cut the bonds of the Apples. She came to Wilson last and caught his look. ¡®I was keeping Rylan busy while these two set off with you,¡¯ she explained as she sliced at the rope around his wrists. ¡®It¡¯s not that,¡¯ Wilson explained. ¡®You were the last one I expected to betray him.¡¯ ¡®What he did was way out of order. He left me with no choice.¡¯ ¡®You appeared to be enjoying yourself up to then.¡¯ Mental grimaced. ¡®You don¡¯t know Rylan. He didn¡¯t have that fire built just to shed light on things. He wanted to use it on you. I told him I¡¯d work you over instead. Yes, I handed out some punches and kicks. But nothing you won¡¯t recover from in a few days.¡¯ ¡®I misjudged you then.¡¯ The woman looked at him, as if surprised he would admit such a thing. ¡®Misjudged is all I ever get, gnome. But I appreciate the words.¡¯ ¡®Come on,¡¯ Tree said. ¡®We need to go.¡¯ Smoke carried Wilson across the bridge, and they left Urlay behind as fast as they could. MISSION COMPLETE FAILURE: The wight of Urlay remains None of your mercs improved their stats No mercs levelled up Fallen Apples: Usain ¡®Usa¡¯ Bizra Chapter 75 Fidelity
Finances
Income
Missions #19, #20 & #21 ¡ê0
Revenue from Eisenberg mine 9s
Expenses
Wages ¡ê1 6s
Loss 17s
Total ¡ê26 12s 11p
The emergency meeting of The Rotten Apples, in The Pig and Iron in Eisenberg, was not going well. Lothar was losing control of his mercs. It felt like a nightmarish repeat of the previous times when his crews had collapsed. Come on, Stiff, he cajoled himself. The one advantage of failing so many times is the experience you have to draw on. Twerk¡¯s expedition to Urlay had been a horrific failure, ending with Rylan Blair¡¯s murder of Usa. They wanted revenge. Meanwhile, The Explorer¡¯s crew had returned from their mission to find the fourth barrow. For some reason, they were equally determined that the Blairs should pay the ultimate price. ¡®Listen,¡¯ he shouted above the back and forth. ¡®Do you really think it wouldn¡¯t suit me to have those damned Blairs out of the way? The Apples would be the only company in Gal¡¯azu.¡¯ ¡®Then what¡¯s stopping you?¡¯ Ashlyn demanded. ¡®We¡¯re all united on it. Have some courage!¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s not a matter of courage, Ashlyn,¡¯ he tried to explain. He was desperate to get his views across without leaving her and the others feeling insulted, or ignored. ¡®I could send you all to Dorwich to go take on the Blades. And I¡¯d lose you all. They have more mercs than me, and at higher levels. Only last week, Wynter picked up a Level 7 warrior.¡¯ ¡®Then let¡¯s find and kill her,¡¯ Twerk suggested. ¡®She¡¯s long gone. Look, I understand how much you all want this. I have no doubt you¡¯d shed some blood. But not that of the Blairs. No. They¡¯d come out of it very much alive. Do you want them to win?¡¯ ¡®If everyone had that attitude, no one would do anything,¡¯ Wilson complained. ¡®And what about Izil? He has a right to get vengeance. And we have a duty to go with him.¡¯ The gnome pointed a finger at Lothar. ¡®You weren¡¯t there, Stiff.¡¯ ¡®I know, Wilson. But think back to when we first started. The idea of us going to take on the Blades in battle would have been laughable. Now look at where we are. The Apples are catching up¡ªhave been for some time. We¡¯re not there yet. But soon, we will be. That will be the time to act. When we can win.¡¯ ¡®So what would you have us do?¡¯ Ashlyn asked him. Does she sound a little mollified? Is she listening? Lothar dared to hope. ¡®The barrow you found. Each time we¡¯ve cleared one out, we¡¯ve grown. In money, mercs, and weapons. This last one could tip the scales.¡¯ ¡®Or it could be our undoing,¡¯ Jaelin warned. ¡®We told you about the trolls, remember?¡¯ ¡®I do,¡¯ Lothar conceded. ¡®But we have strengthened our team,¡¯ he said, gesturing at his latest recruits. Larik the Bludgeoner was a decent addition. But the three ex-Blades from Urlay were something else. Two 5s, and a 6. The truth was, Rylan¡¯s actions had weakened his own company, and strengthened Lothar¡¯s. If he could just get them to stay in line and do what he wanted. ¡®What about Izil?¡¯ Ashlyn asked. ¡®He can¡¯t be expected to traipse all that way with us.¡¯ ¡®No, of course not. I will look after him here. Make sure he doesn¡¯t go off on some suicide mission.¡¯ ¡®How will you do that?¡¯ Greenblade demanded. Doubt, and lack of faith, were plain in her words and her expression. Lothar pushed down his hurt, and anger. ¡®Rosalind and I will look after him. He will get his vengeance, when we are ready to deliver it.¡¯ It was probably his mention of Rosalind that persuaded her. Ashlyn shared a look with the others. The ex-Blades looked lost, somehow stuck between their former employers and their current ones. She got nods from The Explorer and The Bowman. Then from Wilson. What a rebellious little group that was. He felt proud of them, in a way. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡®Alright,¡¯ Ashlyn said, taking the role of spokesperson. ¡®We¡¯ll do the barrow mission. But you can¡¯t put the reckoning off after that.¡¯ Relieved, Lothar agreed. *** Sal waited for his brother and sister, in his office in the building they liked to call their palace. Are the gods punishing us for our hubris? He wondered. In hindsight, establishing Dorwich and basing their operations here felt like a mistake. But hindsight was all too easy. He fidgeted with the parchments on his desk, detailing his finances and his roster of mercs. Some of the pages had gone missing a few weeks back. That was when the rot set in, he reflected. Did that bastard Stiff send his thieves here? Just to steal some papers? His thoughts were interrupted. Rylan and Wynter entered together, sinking into the chairs on the other side of the desk. He turned his gaze on them. At least his brother had the instinct to look a little guilty. ¡®What in Gehenna were you thinking?¡¯ ¡®I didn¡¯t mean to do it,¡¯ Rylan whined. ¡®That cocksucker Usain Bizra kept winding me up. Pronouncing on the rules of the merc business. To me! Interrupting. I lost it,¡¯ he admitted. ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ ¡®And in doing so lost us three loyal and able employees. Didn¡¯t just lose them, handed them over to our rival.¡¯ ¡®A bloody overreaction on their part.¡¯ ¡®Just when we needed them.¡¯ ¡®Why? What¡¯s up?¡¯ Sal sighed. ¡®Five thousand goblins heading right here. Led by a warlord and a goblin mage. They¡¯re bringing their whole clan. They¡¯re coming to stay.¡¯ His siblings made the same, confused face. ¡®What can we do?¡¯ Wynter asked. ¡®I¡¯m going to Avolo, to talk with the council. We¡¯ll all need to unite against the threat. The Rotten Apples as well. Though I honestly don¡¯t know if that can happen now,¡¯ he said, unable to resist another glare at his brother. ¡®Wynter, tell me things went well in Avolo. Please.¡¯ ¡®There was a lot of riffraff to sort through. And Stiff arrived to challenge me. But I recruited six decent ones.¡¯ She smiled. ¡®One of them is more than decent¡ªa warrior. The Guvnah, he calls himself. Level 7.¡¯ Sal let out a pent up breath of relief. They needed that, after the loss of Tree and the others. He only had one scout and two medics left now. ¡®Well done, Wynter.¡¯ She grinned. ¡®Good job one of us has a brain.¡¯ With a cry of anger, Rylan grabbed her hair. ¡®Don¡¯t you dare give me cheek,¡¯ he yelled, pulling her one way then the next. Sal stood, his chair tipping backwards. He gave in to his anger, launching himself over the desk and landing a fist on his brother, knocking him and his chair onto the floor. He didn¡¯t stop, leaning down to deliver another blow. ¡®No wonder father felt the need for the beatings,¡¯ he snarled, spittle flying. ¡®It¡¯s the only damned thing you ever pay attention to.¡¯ *** Stricken walked into the inky black cavern. It was a large space, and the farther he walked, the darker it got. He had to be careful. There was a sheer drop down to the Hollow. When he found it, he began the tortuous climb down. His wasted body struggled with it. He feared letting go and falling to the rocks below. What scared him the most was the prospect that such a fall wouldn¡¯t kill him; that he¡¯d be able to get to his feet and carry on. It was a terrifying thought. After the climb down, he walked through a vast underground chamber. The ground was covered in guano, from the bats who made their home far above where Stricken trod. He entered a tunnel. At last, a faint light helped him navigate to his destination. The light framed a doorway. He opened the wooden door and entered. The light came from a fire that burned in the centre of the room. Two score humans sat or stood around it, many staring into the flickering flames. Only a few turned their heads to give Stricken brief, uninterested looks. He walked through the room into a courtyard. Around it were more rooms, more fires, and more humans. In the centre, stood a solitary figure. Stricken approached. ¡®Master Amotken,¡¯ he said, with a bow. Amotken turned to him. ¡®Stricken. Thou hast served me well so far.¡¯ He spoke softly; almost kindly. ¡®Thank you, lord,¡¯ Stricken said. He avoided his master¡¯s eyes, focusing instead on a point on the man¡¯s chest. His doublet had an intricate, stitched design. His fur-lined cloak looked like it would keep him warm in this underground lair. Amotken wore the richest fabrics. But they had an aged, faded quality. ¡®I have a new task for thee. A most precious one. It is time to awaken those who hath been sleeping. There is one whose rest has already been disturbed.¡¯ A series of images intruded into Stricken¡¯s thoughts. An underground barrow. Figures he knew entered¡ªit was Stiff¡¯s crew, exploring the tomb. On a stone plinth lay a skeletal figure, encased in metal armour. It is time Eyota is returned to us, Amotken¡¯s voice spoke into Stricken¡¯s mind. Stricken understood what Amotken wanted of him. He had no understanding of his master¡¯s reasons. He knew he had been protecting this place from discovery. Few dared enter the moors since his reign of terror had begun. But he didn¡¯t know what the point of it all was. He resolved to ask his master about these people he kept here. They were strange¡ªalways just waiting by the fires. They didn¡¯t speak, or carry out chores, or do any of the things humans normally did. Except, when he spoke, other words bubbled up, pushing the question aside. ¡®I am so hungry, master!¡¯ Amotken growled with displeasure. ¡®Dost thou not think I am hungry, Stricken!¡¯ Stricken couldn¡¯t stop his head from turning, or his eyes from gazing into Amotken¡¯s. From a sunken, bony face, his blue irises, and the whites of his eyes, had been stained yellow. They emanated madness, pain, and grief. ¡®Hundreds of years have I been assailed by the hunger you now wrestle with. Alone, I have waited in the shadows, praying for a chance to right the wrongs done to my people. The hour of rebirth is at hand. Thou darest speak to me of thine own petty suffering?¡¯ ¡®I am sorry, master,¡¯ Stricken conceded. Emotions fought within him. He wanted to be loyal. He wanted to please. ¡®Why did you choose me?¡¯ ¡®Stricken,¡¯ Amotken said, a kindly tone returning. ¡®Even when thou livest, ye were already half dead. Thou thought only of killing, and the basest of instincts. Thou were already a thing¡ªa wight. Thou art the most suited of all thy kind for the role I have given thee.¡¯ Stricken understood. It was true. He was different from the people Amotken kept in this dungeon. He had a special role to play. ¡®Now get thee gone,¡¯ Amotken told him. ¡®Bring her back to me.¡¯ Chapter 76 Mission #22 Explore The Last Barrow Part One Twerk | The Bowman | Greenblade | Mila | The Explorer | Bletcher | The Hoffmeister | Pecs | Fortune | The Bludgeoner | Smoke | Mental | Tree Character Sheets:
Twerk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname Twerk
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 50
Daily Wage 11 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 5
Hit Points 25
Core Stats
Might 15
Agility 8
Grit 6
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axes (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Hand axe (damage 4-24), Hand axe (damage 4-24)
Armour Breastplate, helmet
Other
The Bowman
Name Christoph Gerd
Nickname The Bowman
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 19
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 17
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 9
Grit 5
Intellect 5
Skills Bows (competent), Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Short bow (damage 2-12), Dagger (2-8)
Armour Ring Mail
Other Arrows of Conflagration, Bracers of Archery (+2 damage from bows)
Greenblade
Name Ashlyn Sawrey
Nickname Greenblade
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 21
Daily Wage 1 shilling
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 5
Hit Points 23
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 10
Grit 9
Intellect 9
Skills Swords (expert), Shields (proficient), Knives (competent) Spears (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Greenblade, Monsters only To Hit +4 & Damage +8, regular damage 4-32), Knife (damage 2-8), Short spear (damage 2-12), Shield (damage 3-9)
Armour Armour of Resilience (+Shield)
Other
Mila
Name Liudmila Stradenko
Nickname Mila
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 20
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 10
Grit 9
Intellect 5
Skills Thievery, Medic, Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour Armour of Unyielding Silk
Other Medical kit
The Explorer
Name Jaelin Topolski
Nickname The Explorer
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 26
Daily Wage 11 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 5
Hit Points 23
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 11
Grit 11
Intellect 9
Skills Scouting, Bows (proficient), Knives (proficient) Spears (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Shortbow (damage 3-18), Knife (damage 3-12), Short spear (damage 1-6)
Armour Leather
Other Rod of Light
Bletcher
Name ?
Nickname Bletcher
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 20
Daily Wage 10 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 4
Hit Points 16
Core Stats This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Might 4
Agility 5
Grit 8
Intellect 7
Arcane Powers
Sanctity Blessed
Erudition Dolt
Skills None
Equipment
Weapons None
Armour Padded
Other Staff of Warning, Mask of Magical Warding
The Hoffmeister
Name Georg Hoffman
Nickname The Hoffmeister
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 22
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 21
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 7
Grit 9
Intellect 6
Skills Spears (proficient), Shields (proficient), Hammers (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Pike (Spear of Riposte, damage 3-36, +4 on interruption), Shield (damage 3-9), Hammer (damage 2-12)
Armour Ring Mail (+Shield)
Other
Pecs
Name Victor Balinski
Nickname Pecs
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 24
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 25
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 6
Grit 8
Intellect 4
Skills Spears (proficient), Shields (proficient), Polearms (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Pike (Breaker, To Hit +2, Damage +2, damage 5-32), Shield (damage 3-9)
Armour Chain Mail (+Shield)
Other
Fortune
Name Eddie Rich
Nickname Fortune
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 52
Daily Wage 1 shilling
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 6
Hit Points 26
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 5
Grit 12
Intellect 10
Skills Swords (expert), Shields (expert), Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Redblade, Greenskins only To Hit +4 & Damage +8, regular damage 4-32), Shield (damage 4-12), Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour Chain Mail (+Shield)
Other
The Bludgeoner
Name Larik Hunder
Nickname The Bludgeoner
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 21
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 17
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 6
Grit 6
Intellect 6
Skills Maces (proficient), Shields (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Mace (damage 3-18), Shield (damage 2-6)
Armour Ring Mail (+Shield)
Other
Smoke
Name Odafe Negedu
Nickname Smoke
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 27
Daily Wage 2 shillings
Action Stats
EXP Level 5
Action Points 6
Hit Points 29
Core Stats
Might 13
Agility 14
Grit 11
Intellect 9
Skills Thievery, Knives (expert), Shields (competent), Spears (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Spear (short, damage 3-18), Knives (damage 4-16), Shield (damage 2-6)
Armour Leather (+Shield)
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
Mental
Name Mary Jenkins
Nickname Mental
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 42
Daily Wage 1 shilling, 6 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 5
Action Points 7
Hit Points 31
Core Stats
Might 12
Agility 11
Grit 14
Intellect 7
Skills Axes (expert), Knives (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Battleaxe (damage 4-40), Dagger (4-16)
Armour Chain Mail
Other
Tree
Name Henning Teller
Nickname Tree
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 33
Daily Wage 4 shillings
Action Stats
EXP Level 6
Action Points 6
Hit Points 28
Core Stats
Might 11
Agility 16
Grit 11
Intellect 11
Skills Medic, Scouting, Spears (proficient), Bows (proficient), Shields (proficient), Axes (proficient), Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Short bow (damage 3-18), Spear (short, damage 3-18), Hand axe (damage 3-18), Knife (damage 3-12) Shield (damage 3-9)
Armour Scale Mail (+Shield)
Other Medical kit
Jaelin led the thirteen strong squad out of Eisenberg. Usa¡¯s murder was a black cloud over them, the frenetic conversation back in The Pig and Iron giving way to a glum silence. Through a twisted chain of events, it had provided The Rotten Apples with the manpower they needed to take on this mission. Because despite losing Usa and Izil, they had been replaced with Smoke, Mental, and Tree¡ªthree formidable operators. Once one added the other newcomer, The Bludgeoner, to the mix, Jaelin was hopeful that made them strong enough to take on the trolls they had encountered near the barrow. Tree was also a scout, but he seemed to be offering Jaelin a professional courtesy. He stayed at the back of the group, allowing Jaelin to pick their route. Instead, Mila walked beside him. Like everyone else, they spoke little. But he liked having her there. Used to his own company, Jaelin had always felt most at peace alone. That seemed to be changing. Because now, on those occasions when Mila wasn¡¯t by his side, he felt like something was missing. Such feelings were new, and at times alarming. Does it make me weaker? And what if I lost her for good? And yet, not for one moment did he want them to go away. They spent the night at Stiff¡¯s new settlement of Mer Khazer. That sense of peace he had first felt upon discovering the place¡ªthat had threatened to keep him a prisoner here¡ªhad been diluted. But not completely dispelled. It cheered their spirits a little, their talk around the evening¡¯s fire turning to lighter matters. ¡®I suppose,¡¯ young Larik said, as the warriors in the party passed his mace around for inspection, ¡®it was decided I wasn¡¯t much good with sword and spear. So I was encouraged to specialise with it.¡¯ ¡®Nothing wrong with that,¡¯ Pecs said, returning his weapon to him. ¡®In a company such as this, it¡¯s good to have a range of skills.¡¯ ¡®Indeed,¡¯ said The Hoffmeister. ¡®I myself trained with the hammer, so that I could offer a second option to the spear.¡¯ ¡®Oh, aren¡¯t you a tiresome fountain of common sense?¡¯ Fortune sniped. ¡®Wielding a sword is more than just adding another skill to your set to impress a potential employer. It is an art form. It¡¯s a way of life.¡¯ ¡®Perhaps so,¡¯ said Larik. ¡®But some of us are not artists. We are simple reapers.¡¯ ¡®What say you, Tree?¡¯ Smoke asked, leaning on his backpack as he sipped something strong. ¡®One could argue that you have collected more skills than are strictly necessary.¡¯ As well as having the Scouting and Medic skills, the Hargon was proficient with five different weapons. It was, Jaelin thought, highly impressive. And arguably, made his own role in the company completely redundant. ¡®I can¡¯t help being good at things, now, can I?¡¯ Tree answered. ¡®What¡¯s the frickin¡¯ point?¡¯ Fortune demanded. ¡®How many weapons can you use at once?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s what I tell him,¡¯ said Mental. She scraped a whetstone along the sharp curve of her battleaxe. ¡®Get good with one weapon. That¡¯s the way to do it.¡¯ ¡®Well, there¡¯s more than one way to skin a wildcat,¡¯ Tree said, unaffected by his comrades¡¯ digs. ¡®Let¡¯s take these trolls, for instance.¡¯ ¡®Good,¡¯ said Twerk. ¡®I was wondering when the conversation was going to get to something useful.¡¯ Jaelin had to admire Wilson. He truly didn¡¯t mind being rude. ¡®Only,¡¯ the gnome continued, ¡®Cap taught us how to fight with a shieldwall. Which was effective. But with him, Usa, and Izil gone, the heart of it has been ripped out.¡¯ ¡®Now, this makes my point,¡¯ Tree said. ¡®Fighting with spear and shield is all very well against orcs and goblins. But a terrible mistake when it comes to trolls.¡¯ ¡®Why¡¯s that?¡¯ Ashlyn asked. ¡®And if so, what should we be doing? We¡¯re liable to face them tomorrow.¡¯ ¡®The reason is their power. One hit from a troll club could be all it takes to kill you¡ªwhatever armour you¡¯re in. Soaking up a troll attack, therefore, is not possible. Much better to be mobile, and avoid getting hit. Use any archers we have to soften them up. Outmanoeuvre them. Surround them. Trolls, unlike hordes of goblins or orcs, can usually be outnumbered.¡¯ ¡®Not a bad plan, I suppose,¡¯ Smoke said, knocking back more drink. Mental reached out a hand, and he passed it over. ¡®A nice ambush would be good. But I suppose that¡¯s not possible out in the wilds. Can¡¯t help wishing we were fighting in this town, not out there in the emptiness.¡¯ ¡®An ambush in the wild is not impossible,¡¯ Tree told him. ¡®But certainly tricky. Despite their appearance, trolls are not stupid creatures.¡¯ ¡®Well, listen to you, making all the decisions,¡¯ Mental said, wiping her mouth. ¡®I guess you think you¡¯ve proved us wrong about all your stupid skills.¡¯ ¡®Perhaps I¡¯ve proved that hard work and discipline is better than getting wasted every night.¡¯ As the conversation returned to bickering, Jaelin got up and walked away. Footsteps made him turn to see Mila was following. He waited for her. ¡®Sorry. I just find the ribbing tiresome after a while. I need some alone time when there are this many people.¡¯ ¡®Oh,¡¯ she said, looking crestfallen. ¡®I¡¯ll give you some peace.¡¯ He grabbed her hand. ¡®Not you, Mila. Never you, do you understand? I want you by my side all the time.¡¯ She dazzled him with a smile. The way she looked at him set his heart racing. It made him wonder if he deserved that amount of adoration. It was a precious thing she offered him. ¡®That¡¯s the only place I want to be,¡¯ she told him. ¡®I¡ªI¡¯m just not sure why. Why me, I mean.¡¯ She frowned. ¡®Because you¡¯re who I want. It¡¯s not for you to worry about why. It¡¯s my decision, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ ¡®Yes. You¡¯re right.¡¯ He took her in his arms. ¡®From now on, I shall just be happy that you chose me.¡¯ Jaelin had no understanding of magic. Apparently, Bletcher had been told to stay in Mer Khazer to ensure the new town¡¯s stability after the changes that had been made to the barrow. Many of the standing stones had been pulled from the ground, and the rumours were that this process had weakened the magic of the site, making it less dangerous. Now, Stiff¡¯s orders were that Bletcher should accompany them to the fourth barrow. No one seemed to know exactly what had prompted the change. ¡®It will be Rosalind¡¯s decision,¡¯ Wilson told him when they were alone. ¡®Rosalind?¡¯ Jaelin knew little about the woman, except that she seemed to be Stiff¡¯s partner, in more ways than one. The gnome looked left then right, as if about to impart some great secret. ¡®She came to Mer Khazer, and organised all the changes. She¡¯s a witch.¡¯ ¡®Oh,¡¯ Jaelin said. That was indeed a significant piece of information. ¡®Keep it hush hush. She and Stiff aren¡¯t keen on word getting out.¡¯ ¡®I didn¡¯t see Stiff as the type to work with wizards and the like,¡¯ Jaelin admitted. ¡®Always saw him as more old school.¡¯ ¡®He is. Or at least, was. Question is, is she working for him, or he for her?¡¯ ¡®I see. It¡¯s all a bit complicated for me. I prefer the simple life.¡¯ ¡®Oh, me too. But things are getting rather complicated in Gal¡¯azu,¡¯ the gnome warned him. ¡®Whether we like it or not.¡¯ They left Stiff¡¯s fledgling town. Jaelin guided the squad northwest, towards the barrow he and his friends had discovered. The terrain became more difficult the farther they walked. Tree accompanied Jaelin as they neared their destination. ¡®How many trolls do you think we¡¯re dealing with?¡¯ Henning asked him. ¡®There were four that came for us out in the open. But I got the feeling there might be more.¡¯ ¡®I would trust those instincts. It may be that the size of our troop provokes a greater response. The question is, when will the encounter come?¡¯ Jaelin thought back to his previous expedition. ¡®They came for us while we were at camp last time. In the darkness. I heard something, probably just in time.¡¯ Tree thought about this. ¡®If they used that tactic last time, we should expect them to do so again. A bunch of trolls blundering into a thirteen man camp could create real confusion. We need to be ready.¡¯ ¡®That should be less of a concern this time.¡¯ ¡®How so?¡¯ ¡®Bletcher has a Staff of Warning, and Fortune has Redblade. We really shouldn¡¯t get caught off guard.¡¯ Tree¡¯s eyes widened. ¡®I¡¯m beginning to see the advantages of having magic on our side.¡¯ When they stopped for the night, Jaelin and Henning made sure to explain to everyone that they needed to be ready. No merc worth their wage slept without a weapon by their side. But if the trolls did come, they represented a very different kind of threat to the norm. Jaelin decided he should talk the plan over with Bletcher again. He was of the opinion that it was safer to explain things a second time. ¡®So, you mustn''t go to sleep. As soon as the staff gives you the warning, let us know.¡¯ ¡®The gods rarely let me sleep, Explorer. Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll get your warning. But thanks for checking on me. Here. A present for you.¡¯ He reached into his cloak and revealed an object he had clearly crafted himself. It was constructed from odds and ends, like something a child would make. ¡®Thank you,¡¯ Jaelin said, taking it. Bletcher held out his hand. ¡®Tuppence.¡¯ Jaelin reached into his own cloak. ¡®Here. Something even better. A toy I owned as a child.¡¯ He gave the wooden bird to the sorcerer. ¡®I used to play with him all the time. Imagining we were flying through the skies together.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re sure you want to give this to me, Explorer? It must mean a lot to you.¡¯ ¡®It does. But it¡¯s time for me to give it up now. I want you to have it.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s beautiful. I must be blessed for such a fine thing to come into my possession.¡¯ He held the worn thing in the air, studying it from different angles. ¡®Truly, the gods are good.¡¯ They are also cruel, Jaelin thought to himself. Chapter 77 Mission #22 Explore The Last Barrow Part Two ¡®Warning!¡¯ Bletcher muttered sleepily. ¡®Evil approaches.¡¯ Well drilled, everyone moved into position. Mila took Bletcher by the elbow and guided him away to the far edge of the camp. Pecs and The Hoffmeister went with them, ready to defend them if the plan went wrong. Jaelin and Twerk headed in the opposite direction, until they reached a tree that provided some cover. In pairs, the rest of the mercs did the same¡ªretreating to hiding places, so that the centre of their camp was emptied, and surrounded. Their fire still smouldered, shedding enough light to help with visibility, and attract the trolls. Jaelin readied his bow and arrows, while next to him Twerk had both axes in hand. They listened. He thought he heard a crunch to the south of their camp. But the trolls could conceivably arrive from any direction, which made the waiting terrifying. Jaelin saw a faint glow of colour to his left. Redblade was warning its wielder, Fortune, of the approach of greenskins. Only moments later, the trolls burst into the clearing. Their tactics were sound enough. They attacked in the darkness, moving at speed, heading for the centre of the camp where two figures stood on duty by the fire. But Jaelin, Tree, and the rest of The Apples had been expecting the attack. The first troll swung with its mighty club, clattering the first figure to the ground. Only now did the attackers realise that they had targeted two suits of armour, hung up on spears driven into the ground. ACTION ROUND
Trolls
Troll Warrior
Action Stats
EXP Level 5
Action Points 7
Hit Points 39
Seven powerfully built trolls had stormed into the camp. Enough, if their plan had worked, to take The Apples by surprise and pulverise them. Instead, it was Stiff¡¯s crew who were able to attack with initiative. Tree went first. Proficiency with the bow, plus 6 Action Points, meant he could get six shots away. But now the full nature of their enemy was revealed. Five of his six shots hit their target. But only three scored damage. The tough hide, and powerful musculature of the trolls, meant it was the equivalent of trying to pierce armour. The first troll was reduced to 10 hit points. From high in a tree behind the trolls, Smoke threw his knives. The creatures had run past his position, not realising he was there. Two sunk into the nearest troll¡¯s back, bringing it down to 18 hit points. It was Mental next, and Jaelin was grateful for the plan they had made. Her role was to stand beside Tree and protect him, rather than heading for the melee. If she had gone to take the trolls on, he felt sure she would have been struck down. That meant it was Jaelin¡¯s turn. He did well, matching Tree¡¯s three hits from five shots. A third troll was badly injured, taken down to 9 hit points. Those with melee weapons waited, which meant there was only The Bowman left who could shoot. One of his two shots scored damage, reducing a fourth troll to 31 hit points. Jaelin was expecting the trolls to charge the positions of the three archers. But, perhaps revealing their intelligence, they turned and fled the way they had come. There was no conversation, or even a shout of alarm. They just lumbered away. The ambush had been so successful, their odds of winning the engagement had clearly fallen too low to persevere with it. Smoke threw another knife, which sank into the shoulder muscle of the troll Tree had injured. But it failed to take even a single hit point. Jaelin put an arrow to his bow, but the trolls had run past a tree on the edge of the clearing, and he had no angle to target any of them. The Bowman was better positioned. His second arrow struck the same troll in the back, dropping its hit points to 5. Yet it still had the strength to keep running, and the trolls departed the action zone. Fortune strode into the clearing, holding Redblade high. Everyone watched, as the red glow faded to pink, and then dulled away completely. They waited a while longer, until they were sure the trolls weren¡¯t going to make a return. Then they met by the fire. There was lots of excited talk about their success. It was plain that the battle fever pounding through their bodies meant no one was getting any more sleep for the rest of the night. When daylight came, Jaelin led them across the open countryside towards the barrow. They came upon the rocky slope they had climbed last time they were here. On the other side of it was their destination. Redblade glowed once more. They had also come across the seven trolls again. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. They stood on the crest of the slope, looking down impassively as The Rotten Apples approached. ¡®We¡¯ve got company,¡¯ Jaelin said. ¡®A new tactic, it seems,¡¯ said Tree. ¡®What do you make of it?¡¯ ¡®I get the impression they don¡¯t want us to reach the barrow. I wonder if it¡¯s their home.¡¯ They stopped, and studied their opponents. ¡®I suppose we¡¯ll never know,¡¯ said Tree. ¡®It¡¯s not like they¡¯re very communicative. But I¡¯ve always heard that trolls are practical creatures. It would be sensible for them to leave it to us.¡¯ ¡®At least two of the other barrows had spells on them. It could be that, somehow, they¡¯ve been tied to the place.¡¯ Jaelin turned behind. ¡®What do you think, Bletcher?¡¯ ¡®Bletcher knows nothing of spells.¡¯ Jaelin sighed. As answers went, it was pretty unsatisfactory. ¡®Are my eyes deceiving me,¡¯ said Tree, ¡®or do those trolls have more hit points than they should?¡¯ Jaelin looked. He was right. One of them had been taken down to 5 hit points last night. The lowest count was now 18. ¡®No. You¡¯re quite right. How could trolls get healed? Unless there is magic at the barrow? That could be why they value it.¡¯ ¡®I have heard stories,¡¯ said Twerk, ¡®that trolls can regenerate after suffering injuries. But that rate of healing is pretty impressive.¡¯ ¡®Whatever the reason,¡¯ said Mental, hefting her axe, ¡®looks like the bastards aren¡¯t moving.¡¯ ¡®Then we bring them onto us,¡¯ said Tree. ¡®The archers will attack first. It¡¯ll likely draw them down off their perch. But just like last night, we don¡¯t get involved in a melee. Retreat when they get close. Use the space we have. Each archer needs at least one guardian.¡¯ ¡®This is bullshit,¡¯ declared Smoke. ¡®We fought the same boys last night. Now I¡¯m four knives down with nothing to show for it.¡¯ ¡®And your point is?¡¯ Ashlyn asked him. ¡®Just that it¡¯s bullshit.¡¯ Tree gave his colleague a tired look. ¡®Then let the archers make the first move. Target the three with full health,¡¯ he advised Jaelin and Christoph. ¡®We want to knock their action points down.¡¯ He placed his arrows head first into the ground before him, to make them easy to collect and shoot. Jaelin was so impressed with the idea that he did the same. ACTION ROUND Tree fired his arrows with similar results to last night. Five of six struck, but only two pierced their target¡¯s hide. However, those two hits were punishing ones, taking a healthy troll down to 11 hit points. Jaelin aimed his bow, realising the difficulty they had. Although the daylight gave him a clear view, shooting uphill was tough. Despite the technical difficulty, all five arrows struck home, three of which did damage. Another healthy troll was brought low, reduced to 8 hit points. Unfortunately, neither of The Bowman¡¯s shots caused damage. That left one troll on the full 39 hit points, and his six companions ranging from 34 to 8. The rest of The Apples stood at the bottom of the slope, waiting. It must have been clear to the creatures that standing in the open was not going to work out. With their expressionless faces, they lumbered down, ready to turn the fight into a brutal slugfest. But they were undermined by their uneven action points. Only four of them reached the line of armed mercs who defended Jaelin and the other two archers. The first had a full four action points left. It attacked Mental, who had positioned herself in front of Tree. It landed a glancing blow on its first attempt, only causing four damage. Its second hit was more substantial, knocking Mental down to 19 hit points. It seemed to Jaelin that with such power and such a large, simple weapon, it was hard for the troll to miss its target. But Mental was then able to sidestep its final two strikes. The next troll went straight for Fortune, perhaps drawn by the glowing Redblade. Damage of 7 & 6 with its first two strikes halved his hit points to 13. The troll also caught him with its third and final action. Another 8 damage left him with only 5 hit points. Fortune had been lucky that the damage inflicted wasn¡¯t higher. The last two trolls only had one action left each. Twerk, defending Jaelin, took the first strike. The troll club shook his tiny frame, stealing ten damage. Greenblade protected The Bowman. The troll¡¯s club thudded into her. Despite her armour, she took a huge 15 points of damage, leaving her on a mere 8 hit points. Again, Jaelin considered how lucky Fortune and Mental had been. But the trolls had done their worst. It was the Apples¡¯ turn again, and despite the damage they had taken, The Explorer was confident they had enough in reserve to complete the job. Ignoring the trolls who had reached their line of defence, Tree targeted those who had fallen behind. His first arrow dealt 10 damage and downed the troll he had targeted last round. 7 damage was enough to do the same to the one Jaelin had hit. Nine damage halved the hit points of the troll with 18 hit points. Another 7, and it too collapsed to the ground. No more of Tree¡¯s arrows hit, but he had neutralised three of the seven trolls in one turn. Smoke took an action to reach the uninjured troll who had hit Mental twice. He struck with his knife, aiming for the vulnerable parts of its body. Three accurate hits to its hamstring left the giant creature on its knees, with only 6 hit points left. A horrendous, animal scream pierced the scene. Mental swung her axe, two-handed, with abandon. It was the complete opposite approach to Smoke, and although she somehow got two strikes in during one action point, neither were accurate enough to pierce troll hide. Her next strike was another failure, but the fourth caved in the troll¡¯s skull¡ªremarkably, the first kill of the encounter. Mental didn¡¯t stop, rushing across to the troll who had come so close to killing Fortune, still screeching. Whatever madness was upon her allowed her to get in another two strikes. One of them cut right through its arm above the elbow, exacting a mighty 22 points of damage. Twerk¡¯s height allowed Jaelin to shoot over his head, without worrying about hitting the gnome. Two successful strikes left his target on three hit points, and the troll could barely stay on its feet. Greenblade struck twice with her sword, but neither blow was good enough to harm her mighty opponent. The Bowman, too, ended his turn in failure. Twerk made short work of finishing off the troll Jaelin had just shot. That made it two trolls dead, three down, and only two still standing. The Hoffmeister moved against the troll that was causing Greenblade and The Bowman trouble. Using his hammer, he managed to strike it on its bony hand with his final action. 6 damage took it down to 20. The Bludgeoner followed Georg¡¯s lead. With similar results, he left it on 10. Pecs joined them, wielding Breaker. He buried the pike deep into the troll¡¯s chest, and at last they had another kill. Redblade burned like fire as Fortune delivered on his one chance for a strike. A mighty 24 damage was twice the amount he needed, and a fourth troll was dead. Ignoring his injuries, the warrior whooped with delight. Jaelin wondered what he would have been like if they¡¯d finished the trolls before he got his chance. Still screaming like a crazed woman¡ªwhich, Jaelin realised, she was¡ªMental moved on to one of the downed trolls and proceeded to hack at it with her battle-axe. ¡®It¡¯s defeated,¡¯ Jaelin said, upset at the sight. ¡®It can¡¯t hurt us.¡¯ But Smoke raised a hand of warning. ¡®Don¡¯t talk to her when she¡¯s like this. She can¡¯t be reasoned with. All you¡¯ll do is turn her against you.¡¯ The merc spoke as if it was all perfectly reasonable. But those like Jaelin who were witnessing it for the first time stared at Mary Jenkins in wide-eyed horror, as she continued to run amok. Chapter 78 Mission #22 Explore The Last Barrow Part Three Once Mental had calmed down, The Rotten Apples left the trolls where they lay, and walked up the rocky slope. Jaelin cast furtive glances at her. She looked tired now, her eyes dull and unfocused. Greenblade and Fortune both managed the climb to the top, despite the tendency of the rocks underfoot to move. Mila and Tree had treated their wounds. But they were badly injured, and needed protection. ¡®There it is,¡¯ he said, pointing down the valley to the mound, topped with its single tree. ¡®And those, perhaps, are its residents,¡¯ Tree said. Standing to one side of the mound was a group of ten trolls. Jaelin studied them as he descended into the valley. Some looked older, and some were perhaps children, despite being the size of regular humans. It added to the idea that the mound had been a home to them. They looked at Jaelin¡¯s group with impassive expressions. ¡®They must know that we just killed their warriors,¡¯ Jaelin muttered. ¡®They must,¡¯ Tree agreed. Jaelin shook his head. Of all the creatures he had encountered, trolls seemed the most alien; the hardest to understand. The entrance to the mound was large, plenty big enough for a troll to use. ¡®Redblade is glowing,¡¯ Bletcher warned. ¡®Of course it¡¯s glowing, you fool,¡¯ Fortune bit out, gesturing with the blade at the group of trolls who stood, silently observing. ¡®Yes,¡¯ the sorcerer admitted. Jaelin caught a confused look on his face. ¡®Could we be in danger?¡¯ he asked Bletcher. ¡®We could be.¡¯ ¡®Well, is the staff warning you, or not?¡¯ Fortune demanded. ¡®Listening to the gods is not so straightforward,¡¯ Bletcher responded, rubbing his forehead. Jaelin eyed the dark tunnel of the mound. ¡®I think we need to be very careful about entering,¡¯ he suggested. ¡®Be ready.¡¯ He took the Rod of Light in hand, and directed it inside. Much of the tunnel was revealed. It stretched ahead in a straight line, before turning left. Much closer to the entrance, two little nooks had been dug out, facing each other on either side of the main tunnel. Jaelin angled the Rod into one of these, trying to work out what it was. There was a strange shadow. He caught something on the floor against the nearest wall, only just visible, and directed the light at it. It was green. It was a foot. It was¡ª The troll moved quickly, launching itself from its hiding space. The second troll emerged from the nook opposite. Jaelin was ready, half expecting them. It also helped that the two trolls emerged into the tunnel at the same time, hampering each other¡¯s movement. He turned, and ran past his companions. When the two trolls reached The Apples, their attempt at surprise was over. Tree attacked first. Two of his five strikes with his hand axe penetrated the troll hide, reducing his target to 18 points. Smoke took on the second troll. It seemed strange that such a small knife could be used with such deadly effect. By the end of his fifth action, the creature was dead. The Hoffmeister saw success, two blows from his hammer taking the first troll down to 3 points. The Bludgeoner finished the brief battle with a crack from his mace. Jaelin looked across at the ten trolls who had gathered nearby. Not one had moved to aid their warriors. Perhaps they had a mournful look now those warriors lay dead. Or perhaps I am seeing something that simply isn¡¯t there. With a glance at Bletcher, he returned to the tunnel that led under the mound. Using the Rod of Light, he stepped inside. Behind him came Tree and Smoke, their presence boosting his resolve. He reached the two nooks where the trolls had hidden. There was nothing else there, and they continued. The tunnel made a sharp turn to the left. Here, one ahead¡ªthe other to the right¡ªwere two individual tombs, carved into the underground rock. The remains lay on stone slabs, along with items they had been buried with. If the trolls had indeed lived here, they had not disturbed the burial. Jaelin illuminated one then the other. ¡®Children?¡¯ Smoke asked. ¡®I think not,¡¯ said Tree. ¡®It would be highly unusual for children of this size to be buried with weapons. This one has a sling that has survived the intervening years fully intact.¡¯ Jaelin called Twerk over to investigate. ¡®Has to be a halfling,¡¯ Twerk said, examining the figure and its weapon. ¡®Now, this one,¡¯ he said, turning to the tomb that lay ahead of them, ¡®is significantly taller. Buried with a sword and armour.¡¯ He turned to Jaelin with bright eyes. ¡®A gnomish warrior! It must be!¡¯ Jaelin understood why the discovery was important to Wilson. He had spoken about being an outsider for his choice of career. Here was a pioneer in Gal¡¯azu who had followed the same path long before him. ¡®That¡¯s incredible,¡¯ Jaelin said. ¡®And it¡¯s surely possible, given the previous barrows, that they owned a magical weapon you could use.¡¯ ¡®I suppose so.¡¯ Twerk looked unhappy at the idea. ¡®I wouldn¡¯t want to take it from him.¡¯ ¡®I am sure they would want you to have it.¡¯ ¡®Maybe.¡¯ Returning to his task, Jaelin shone the Rod of Light along the next section of tunnel. They followed it into a large underground chamber. There were signs of troll activity here¡ªhuge footprints in the dusty floor; soot, and scorch marks from fires; a rancid odour hung in the still space. But it wasn¡¯t clear whether the creatures had actually been living here. In the centre of the chamber, sitting on four stone columns, was another tomb. Jaelin examined the size of the skeleton, encased in armour. Larger than the gnome figure, but smaller than any other they had come across before. ¡®A dwarven warrior,¡¯ he commented. ¡®It¡¯s surprising to find them here in Gal¡¯azu, when their kind haven¡¯t visited these shores in centuries.¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s certainly a story here,¡¯ Tree agreed. He and Smoke lifted a great chest that had sat at the feet of the dwarf, and placed it onto the stone floor of the chamber. The rest of the squad filed into the chamber to observe the opening. When Tree lifted the lid, Jaelin shone his Rod in to reveal its contents. There was treasure¡ªgold, and jewels, just like they had found in their previous explorations. Drawing attention even more than that was a sword. The stone at the bottom of the hilt glowed with a golden light. When Jaelin shone the Rod onto it, it bathed them all in its glorious colour. ¡®It¡¯s already glowing,¡¯ Christoph said. ¡®Whatever type of creature it detects is already here.¡¯ Jaelin looked around the room, but there seemed to be nothing else sharing the space with them. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡®Look what else,¡¯ said Twerk. ¡®A dwarven battle-axe.¡¯ He picked up a smooth, grey stone that had been worked onto a metal chain. ¡®Probably dwarven as well.¡¯ He cackled. ¡®All of you come here to claim a weapon, and they¡¯re all too small for you! The tables have turned at last. Welcome to my world!¡¯ It was a mean thing to say, but none of the Apples retorted and started a fight. ¡®Goldblade isn¡¯t dwarven,¡¯ Fortune pointed out. ¡®Another sword. Shame we don¡¯t have anyone else with the talent to wield it.¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s that on the underside of the lid?¡¯ Smoke asked. ¡®It looks like one of the maps,¡¯ Greenblade said. ¡®We found the same in each of the other barrows. They all show the locations of the four barrows.¡¯ ¡®Oh.¡¯ Smoke sounded disappointed with the answer, and wandered away. Mental picked up the axe to examine it. ¡®Looks like a fine piece. There are runes on the blade here. Shine your light, Explorer.¡¯ The Rod highlighted the lettering. ¡®Can¡¯t read it,¡¯ Mental complained. ¡®Splitter,¡¯ said Twerk. He shrugged. ¡®Gnomes can understand dwarven runes. A good name for an axe, I suppose.¡¯ He sighed. ¡®But it¡¯s a two-hander. I wouldn¡¯t be able to use two weapons.¡¯ Mental returned it to the chest. ¡®Never mind, gnome. Anyway, only a dwarf should wield such a weapon.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re right,¡¯ Wilson said, slightly surprising Jaelin with his agreeability. ¡®Over here, Explorer,¡¯ said Smoke from the other side of the chamber. ¡®Bring your light.¡¯ When Jaelin illuminated the section of wall Smoke was interested in, they saw that it had a slightly darker colour than the rest of the wall. How he¡¯d noticed it in the first place, Jaelin couldn¡¯t say. Smoke traced a finger where the two sections met, revealing a thin line that separated them. Eager to get it open, various mercs began pushing against one or other section of wall. But the stone stood defiant. Smoke got Jaelin to focus the Rod on different sections of wall, while he wiped away the accumulated dust of centuries. But there were no patterns, runes, or anything of such nature carved into the wall. ¡®Search the floor, and the other walls of the chamber,¡¯ he said. ¡®Search the three tombs. There may be a hidden mechanism somewhere.¡¯ Everyone obliged, scouring the barrow for some way to get the wall to open. No one was able to find anything. Jaelin approached Bletcher. The wizard had taken a seat in the corner of the chamber, as if overwhelmed by the squad¡¯s search. ¡®What if it¡¯s magic?¡¯ Jaelin asked him. ¡®Could there be a spell on the opening?¡¯ ¡®There could be,¡¯ Bletcher said. He looked at Jaelin with a sort of mute appeal. ¡®I don¡¯t know much about spells and the like.¡¯ Jaelin nodded. He thought he understood, a little. Whether it was true or not, Bletcher believed his magic came directly from the gods. He therefore had no internal knowledge of magic. ¡®Is there some way to know whether it¡¯s magic or not?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Only, we could be completely wasting our time.¡¯ His words sparked something in Bletcher. ¡®My mask!¡¯ He rummaged in his cloak, withdrew the Mask of Magical Warding, and placed it on his face. Jaelin pulled him to his feet, and Bletcher went over to investigate the patch of wall Smoke had discovered. ¡®Has anyone tried the handle?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Handle?¡¯ Jaelin repeated. With anyone else, he would have suspected he was being mocked. But that didn¡¯t seem to be Bletcher¡¯s style. ¡®We couldn¡¯t see a handle. Has the mask revealed one?¡¯ He watched as Bletcher placed his hand on thin air before the wall, and mimicked turning a handle. Alright, he actually is taking the piss, Jaelin decided. Only, when Bletcher pulled down on his imaginary handle, Jaelin could hear a grinding noise coming from the wall. He rushed over, putting his weight against it. As it began to move, more of the crew rushed over to help. The wall became a door, revealing a set of stone steps that descended into an adjoining chamber. The excitement among the crew was palpable. They descended the dozen steps in a hurry, entering the musty smelling chamber. It looked like it had been left untouched ever since the secret door had been sealed. At the far end was a tomb on four columns, built to the same design as the one in the main chamber. As Larik rushed over to investigate, a metal bolt was released from the wall to his right. It slammed into his leg just above his knee, causing him four points of damage. It then retracted back into the wall. ¡®Move!¡¯ The Bowman advised. Larik hobbled backwards, only just avoiding a second impaling from the same bolt. ¡®We encountered these things in the first barrow,¡¯ Christoph explained. He proceeded to outline the story. It was one Jaelin knew well, even though he had been unconscious and on death¡¯s door when it had happened. Without The Bowman¡¯s bravery and tenacity, he¡¯d have died in that barrow. ¡®So, it¡¯s likely to be magic?¡¯ Fortune summarised when Christoph was done. He gestured at Bletcher. ¡®You¡¯ll need to disable it.¡¯ Bletcher was still wearing his mask, but it didn¡¯t hide his blank look. ¡®Disable it? Hmm.¡¯ He wafted his hand in the direction of the hole in the wall, where the bolt seemed to wait for its next victim. ¡®No. Can¡¯t do that.¡¯ ¡®Well then what bloody use¡ª¡¯ Fortune began. But he was interrupted by The Bowman. ¡®That time I got to the chest by wearing armour and shields. I didn¡¯t quite make it back by myself, but I think we have enough equipment to do it, depending on how many bolts there are in the room.¡¯ Pec and The Hoffmeister were the two willing volunteers. Neither had taken an injury in the fighting, and their hit points total was reasonably high. One group began to organise making them as well protected as possible. Meanwhile, Jaelin shone the Rod of Light around the room, and The Bowman and Tree identified the holes where more bolts were loaded and waiting. Mila undressed so that Georg could wear her Armour of Unyielding Silk beneath his ring mail. ¡®Like what you see, do you?¡¯ she challenged Smoke, who was staring appreciatively. ¡®I cannot lie, girl. I really do.¡¯ ¡®Quit it,¡¯ Jaelin told him. Mila could handle herself, but he felt protective nonetheless. Mental gave Smoke a rough shove, and he reluctantly turned around. ¡®You¡¯re ready?¡¯ Tree asked the two mercenaries. ¡®Ready for action,¡¯ said The Hoffmeister. ¡®I guess so,¡¯ Pecs said, sounding the more nervous of the two. ¡®Keep those shields in front of your faces at all times,¡¯ Tree advised them. ¡®The faster you move, the less times you¡¯ll get hit. Grab a handle of the chest each, then back away. Do not drop your shield arm.¡¯ ¡®Orders confirmed,¡¯ said The Hoffmeister. They went for it. The same bolt that hit Larik caught The Hoffmeister. Then Pecs was struck in the midriff. When they reached the tomb, both shields took a bolt from the opposite wall. They grabbed the chest with no difficulty, carrying it between them. The bolts kept coming, from ahead and to the side. Sometimes, their armour protected them. The other times they got a blow that caused a few points of damage, but nothing serious. They both got back in one piece: The Hoffmeister had suffered 7 damage; Pecs had taken 11. With 14 hit points remaining each, it could have been far worse. ¡®Did you catch sight of who was in the tomb?¡¯ Twerk asked, as they dumped the chest on the floor. ¡®No,¡¯ said Pecs. ¡®Two figures,¡¯ said The Hoffmeister. ¡®Size?¡¯ asked the gnome. The Hargon shrugged. ¡®Maybe human size.¡¯ Larik opened the chest and everyone peered inside. There was a bow¡ªmuch longer than the kind Jaelin used. It had inscriptions and images down its length, identifying it as magic infused. A folded piece of clothing was revealed to be a cloak. ¡®Potions of healing!¡¯ Tree exclaimed, pointing at three dusty glass bottles with a dark liquid inside them. ¡®And a stick?¡¯ Larik asked, holding up a piece of wood only a foot long. His disappointment at the haul was evident in his expression and the tone of his voice. Twerk chuckled as he held up the cloak. ¡®What you have there, Bludgeoner, is a magic wand. This is an elven cloak. Too big for me, too small for you. This is a tomb for a pair of elves, I am sure of it. One was an archer; the other a sorcerer.¡¯ He chuckled again. ¡®Nothing for you poor humans to claim, for a change.¡¯ Victor and Georg, who had risked themselves to claim the chest, looked crestfallen. ¡®You know,¡¯ Larik said to Wilson, ¡®I really don¡¯t appreciate your sense of humour.¡¯ MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: The barrow was fully explored Some of your mercs improved their stats: The Bowman: Skill with bows: proficient Intellect +1 Hit Points +1 Action Points +1 The Explorer: Intellect +1 The Hoffmeister: Might +1 Hit Points +1 Action Points +1 Pecs: Agility +1 Tree: Intellect + 1 Some mercs levelled up: The Bowman is now Level 3 Chapter 79 The Council of Avolo
Finances
Income
Mission #22 ¡ê7
Expenses
Wages ¡ê2 3s 3p
Profit ¡ê4 16s 9p
Total ¡ê31 9s 8p
Before the meeting began, the great and the good of Avolo mingled in the forum of their city hall. There were drinks and nibbles. Lothar barely knew anyone there. When he spotted a tall man with a shock of white hair and an eye patch, he was relieved to see a familiar face. ¡®You going up in the world, Boris?¡¯ he asked the merchant. ¡®Ah, Stiff. Here,¡¯ he said, grabbing a cup of wine from a table and passing it to Lothar. ¡®This is the best stuff. Better have it now before it¡¯s gone.¡¯ ¡®Thanks,¡¯ Lothar said. For a moment, he allowed himself a sentimental moment, nostalgic for The Rose that he¡¯d been forced to sell. There had been something immensely satisfying about having a drink in your own establishment. He tasted the wine. ¡®Nice. So?¡¯ ¡®Oh. Yes. I¡¯m on the council now. Business is going well, and Rosalind helped me to get elected.¡¯ ¡®Good for you. Don¡¯t suppose she¡¯s told you what this is all about? She wouldn¡¯t reveal much to me.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m the new boy, Stiff. I keep my mouth shut and get told how to vote. But free drinks ain¡¯t bad.¡¯ ¡®I suppose so,¡¯ Lothar said, disappointed. He didn¡¯t like being kept in the dark, worrying that he was about to be ambushed in some way. He nodded across the room to The Baron. At least he had one supporter here. But was The Baron his ally, or Rosalind¡¯s? They were called into the council chamber, and shown to specific seats at a round table. The Baron sat next to him, and it was good to have some moral support. Urkal Foberoy was deep in conversation with a couple of his colleagues on the council. One of them, a large man with a bald pate, had a gold chain of office around his neck, which identified him as the mayor of the city. Otherwise, Lothar didn¡¯t recognise anyone else. Until Rosalind entered from another door. With her was Sal Blair. Lothar¡¯s hand went into a fist, and his knuckles turned white. So. It is an ambush. She directed Sal to a chair and the two of them sat together. The chatter around the table died down. ¡®Let¡¯s bring the meeting to order,¡¯ said the mayor who had been talking with Foberoy. ¡®Some may have heard rumours; most not. Either way, I thought it best to postpone discussion until Mr Blair could come and give us an accurate update on the situation to the north, rather than relying on speculation.¡¯ He nodded over to Sal. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡®Thank you, Mayor Chorley. The Golden Blades have been tracking a goblin warband heading in our direction from the east. They have been dislodged by the Kuthenian advances. Defeated by the Kuthenian army, their lands seized, it would seem they intend to take ours instead.¡¯ ¡®Bloody Kuthenians,¡¯ said Foberoy. ¡®How many?¡¯ ¡®Five thousand.¡¯ Everyone¡¯s eyes lifted to the mercenary captain¡¯s, as a collective sense of disbelief settled on the council. ¡®Did you say five thousand?¡¯ Foberoy asked. ¡®Five thousand. My chief scout estimates two thousand are trained warriors. Another two thousand on top of that can and will fight if needed. Clearly, their numbers represent an apocalyptic threat to the civilization we have built in Gal¡¯azu. We can expect little from them except death and slavery. I suggest the council begins preparing for all eventualities, including evacuation by sea.¡¯ A dozen voices began talking all at once, until the mayor banged on the table hard enough and long enough for everyone to quieten. ¡®We have made our lives here,¡¯ Chorley said. ¡®Of course, evacuation is the last resort. We will stay and fight if we can.¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s more,¡¯ said Sal. ¡®Two of my best scouts who tracked the warband were lost. My chief scout reported the reason. The goblins also have a mage amongst their number. It elevates the threat they pose to another level. The horde is heading for Dorwich City, and is only about four days out. My merc numbers have fallen recently, to forty in total. We do have about the same number of guards in our employ.¡¯ He looked across the table at Lothar. ¡®Clearly, though, I don¡¯t have the resources to stop them. Some arrangement needs to be made with Mr Sauer¡¯s Rotten Apples, urgently, if we are to make any impact.¡¯ All eyes turned to Lothar. ¡®Mr Sauer?¡¯ asked the mayor. ¡®I only have sixteen on my books. Not all of those are warriors, either. The Apples can¡¯t make any difference.¡¯ ¡®Mr Sauer. After The Golden Blades, your company is the best we have. It¡¯s all we have. We need your help. Now, of course, this threat needs a full response from all the settlers in Gal¡¯azu. Everyone must be mobilised and do their part if we are to survive this. But conscripting an army capable of fighting; building defences; gathering resources; all the many tasks ahead of us¡ªit takes time. We are reliant on you to help Mr Blair and his company hold off the goblins, for as long as possible.¡¯ ¡®Maybe it could have worked,¡¯ Lothar said. ¡®But my squad will never agree to it.¡¯ He pointed a finger across the table. ¡®Just a week ago, Mr Blair¡¯s brother murdered one of my mercs in cold blood. There¡¯s no way we can work together after that.¡¯ Desperate glances were thrown around the table. Lothar sat resolute, while Sal refused to react to the accusation. More than one pleading look was directed at Rosalind. ¡®I understand what you say, Mr Sauer,¡¯ she said at last. ¡®But we must find a way for you to work together. Our very existence is at stake. Feuds must now be put aside, or we all lose.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve said my piece.¡¯ Lothar got to his feet, his chair scraping along the floor. ¡®There will be no accord between The Rotten Apples and The Golden Blades. If we have to, we will take our chances out west. Sorry to disappoint the council. Good evening.¡¯ Lothar left. Maybe it was childish, but he enjoyed the sight of Sal¡¯s and Rosalind¡¯s disbelieving faces as he left the good people of Avolo to their imminent demise. ¡®What was that?¡¯ Rosalind demanded, back at her house. ¡®I¡¯d ask you the same question. For my part, it was an honest answer to the question posed.¡¯ ¡®You would ask me? Alright, what¡¯s your problem, Stiff? Out with it.¡¯ ¡®I thought we were a team. Yet you don¡¯t discuss the meeting with me beforehand and spring Sal¡¯s appearance as a surprise.¡¯ ¡®That was the agreement between the mayor and Sal. Blair wanted his news delivered himself, not leaked to people before the meeting. I didn¡¯t know what he had to say. And by the way, how could you accuse me of not being a team player, after the help I provided in Eisenberg?¡¯ ¡®If we¡¯re a team, we share information. You don¡¯t hide things, and then ambush me in a council meeting.¡¯ ¡®I ambushed you? Nonsense. Being a team means we should be equals, Stiff. It doesn¡¯t mean I have to check with you first. It doesn¡¯t mean I have to do everything the way you want it done, and get accusations thrown at me when I don¡¯t.¡¯ ¡®You use words like weapons. I know what happened. It¡¯s time I stopped taking advantage of your hospitality. I want to buy The Rose back. At least now Sal¡¯s no longer in a position to extort money from me.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s called The Smashed Marbles now.¡¯ ¡®Whatever it¡¯s damn well called.¡¯ ¡®Fine. I¡¯ll have The Reckoner draw up the paperwork.¡¯ ¡®Fine. Thank you.¡¯ Lothar left Rosalind¡¯s house. He stormed off into the streets of Avolo. He was full of anger, and he didn¡¯t even know if he had won their argument. Didn¡¯t know if he was being a jackass, or not. But he did know one thing. The Golden Blades were in trouble. Avolo, and the whole of Gal¡¯azu, was in trouble. This was his chance to take his company to the next level. Even if it meant falling out with Rosalind, he couldn¡¯t afford to blow it. Chapter 80 The Smashed Marbles Christoph and his crew made the long journey south-east from the barrow. The first stop was Mer Khazer, Stiff¡¯s ghost town. They had their choice of buildings to sleep in. A few families had moved here, attracted by the free housing. They had begun to turn the surrounding area over to agriculture. But Stiff himself had done nothing yet, seemingly abandoning the town as soon as it was built. ¡®What is the point of it?¡¯ Larik asked him, bemused. ¡®I think Stiff intended for it to be a base for exploration.¡¯ ¡®It could be a base for exploring the dungeons hereabouts,¡¯ suggested The Bludgeoner. ¡®It could. But at the moment, events seem to be taking him east. And with Usa¡¯s murder¡­¡¯ Larik nodded. ¡®There will be repercussions, I am sure.¡¯ The next part of the journey took them from Mer Khazer to Eisenberg. It was all in his own head, probably. But Christoph felt like he was accorded a bit more respect in the group now he had gained Level 3. Perhaps because he had started out as a Level 1 novice, it had taken a while for people to notice the improvements he had made. He certainly felt more confident. As he walked with Ashlyn, he was reminded of a brief conversation with Manslayer. ¡®Edmund once told me I should master the bow before I moved on to the sword.¡¯ ¡®Is that right? And now you feel ready?¡¯ ¡®Well. I suppose so.¡¯ ¡®Then I shall teach you.¡¯ That evening, Ashlyn began to tutor him in sword strikes. He had to learn both attack and defence. He had to be able to strike along many different angles. Fortune joined them for a spar. ¡®Let me see what you''ve got, boy. How do you find the blade?¡¯ He tested Christoph out, clearly so much more skilled with the weapon that it made Christoph feel clumsy and slow. ¡®It¡¯s a lot more technical and, well¡ªless fun, than I thought it would be.¡¯ ¡®And yet you seem to have learned the basics pretty well,¡¯ Fortune commented. That made Christoph feel better about it. Eddie Rich wasn¡¯t the kind of man who gave out free complements. ¡®He¡¯s a quick learner,¡¯ Ashlyn said. ¡®Aye. To master the sword, you must learn to love it,¡¯ Fortune said. ¡®But if not, you certainly have the skill to reach competence. And you need to learn a proper melee weapon. Bows and knives have their place. But a time will come when you will need to deal with an opponent who is determined to kill you. And a good sword is your best option there. Trust someone who has survived in this business, against the odds.¡¯ The final leg of the journey was Eisenberg to Avolo. They had carried their haul of treasure a long way, and some of the squad seemed anxious to spend it. ¡®What does Stiff do with the coins and such?¡¯ Smoke asked. ¡®Last time,¡¯ said Pecs, ¡®he was exceedingly generous.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s exactly what I wanted to hear, chommie.¡¯ The word in the city was that Stiff was back at The Rose¡ªexcept now it was called The Smashed Marbles. The name had been a suggestion of Auntie Femke¡¯s, and it made him wonder how she, Wade, and Eden were getting on back at the farm. A surprisingly strong sense of homesickness came over him at the thought. When they arrived at the inn, Stiff took a look at them all and said they should all get cleaned up before he spoke with them. By the time they all returned to the lounge, they were a tired looking group. Perhaps that is all part of Stiff¡¯s plan, Christoph considered. Last time they met, the collective blood was up and all anyone could talk about was vengeance for Usa. Now Christoph felt like all he wanted was bed. ¡®Suzie,¡¯ Stiff said. ¡®Get Murder to fetch Izil, will you?¡¯ When Murder returned, Izil was in chains. ¡®What¡¯s this, Stiff?¡¯ Smoke demanded, his eyes dangerous. ¡®What does it look like?¡¯ Izil asked. ¡®I¡¯ve been imprisoned ever since my brother¡¯s death.¡¯ Stiff raised his palms. ¡®For his own protection. He¡¯d have run off on a quest for vengeance and be dead by now.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s his choice to make,¡¯ said Ashlyn. ¡®Just listen will you? All of you. You too, Izil. There are things you all need to know before you send all your righteous anger my way.¡¯ Stiff recounted a meeting in which Sal Blair had talked of a goblin army heading for Dorwich. A goblin army large enough to obliterate the entire colony in Gal¡¯azu. ¡®What if the bastard is lying?¡¯ Twerk asked. ¡®It¡¯s possible,¡¯ Stiff conceded. ¡®But it doesn¡¯t seem like it.¡¯ ¡®So what?¡¯ said Izil. ¡®You just agreed to work for Sal and Rylan Blair because he came to the council and asked nicely?¡¯ ¡®No. I said there was no way The Apples and The Blades could work together. And I walked out.¡¯ That changed the atmosphere in the room. Stiff had won over some sullen respect. ¡®The Blairs, The Blades, and Dorwich City can all go to the twenty-three circles of fiery Gehenna for all I care,¡¯ Stiff declared. ¡®The thing is, once this goblin king, and his mage, and his thousands of warriors, destroy The Blades, everyone else will be next. And I¡¯m not sure what we should do about that.¡¯ This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it *** Lothar met Urkal Foberoy in the councillor¡¯s house. It was just the two of them, and two generous helpings of whisky. ¡®You got what you wanted,¡¯ Foberoy said. ¡®Mayor Chorley has delegated me to speak for him and the council. Anything we agree on here, they will ratify.¡¯ ¡®Good. Because I have my demands.¡¯ ¡®You may think you have us over a barrel, Sauer. But I won¡¯t agree to just anything. If you want to destroy the province of Gal¡¯azu, so be it. I can sail away and set up my business somewhere else, if I have to.¡¯ ¡®I didn¡¯t say my demands were unreasonable. For one, you merchants need to be making the most of your international contacts. A number of interesting items just came into my possession. Such as an elven bow named Dragon Spine; and a dwarven axe named Splitter. I think it would be most useful to spread such news among any contacts the council has in the elven and dwarven realms.¡¯ ¡®We can do that. Sounds eminently sensible. What else?¡¯ ¡®Then there is the question of payment.¡¯ ¡®Which must be tied to a commitment from you on what The Rotten Apples will do to protect Gal¡¯azu. A refusal to work with The Golden Blades makes it nigh impossible for those with the money to agree to part with it.¡¯ ¡®On that, I cannot budge.¡¯ The two men talked for a while longer, but there seemed no way around the impasse. Meanwhile, the goblin horde was getting closer. Rosalind came to The Smashed Marbles. ¡®We need to sort this out, Stiff.¡¯ ¡®Sort what out?¡¯ She looked at him as if he were mad. ¡®We are facing a terrifying war of survival, Lothar.¡¯ ¡®Oh. That. I thought¡­maybe you meant us.¡¯ ¡®Well, I guess I appreciate that you value ¡°us¡± so highly that our relationship is what¡¯s on your mind right now.¡¯ ¡®Of course it is. I¡¯ve seen my share of terrifying wars. This one hasn¡¯t got me worried yet.¡¯ ¡®Fine. Then for my sake, listen. You need to talk with Sal Blair.¡¯ Lothar anxiously looked behind him, in case any of his mercs were listening. ¡®You¡¯ve got to be joking.¡¯ ¡®How else can we sort this out? Come to my house with me.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s at your house?¡¯ She sighed, frustrated. ¡®Please tell me this isn¡¯t jealousy. You think, amidst all this, I¡¯ve decided to betray you with the man you hate the most?¡¯ ¡®No, it¡¯s just¡ª¡¯ Lothar sighed. ¡®Alright. I suppose it¡¯s time to get this done.¡¯ It was strange, seeing Sal Blair at Rosalind¡¯s kitchen table. He looked so ordinary¡ªperfectly at home. But he didn¡¯t belong there. He was an enemy. KILL SAL BLAIR. That¡¯s what Lothar¡¯s mission board said. Not SHARE A DRINK AND GET TO KNOW HIM. Rosalind started¡ªshe knew there would just be awkward silence if they were left alone. ¡®The Auster is our defence at the moment. The goblins will have to cross it somewhere. In theory, they could do so at Avolo, but the river is at its widest here, and they are a long way from the city. For now at least. Dorwich is the obvious target for them. Anywhere else?¡¯ ¡®Linby,¡¯ Sal said. ¡®It was the main crossing point of the river before we built Dorwich. It still has its bridge.¡¯ ¡®Urlay also has a bridge, so I¡¯m told,¡¯ Lothar said. He couldn¡¯t help mentioning the location of Rylan¡¯s crime. ¡®They¡¯re not going to march all the way to Urlay to cross the Auster over a tiny little bridge,¡¯ said Sal. They stared at one another. ¡®Look, Stiff, you want an apology for Usa? I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s not what I wanted. I lost three good mercs over it, which you¡¯ve benefited from. My brother is a fucking liability. I didn¡¯t tell him to do it, if that¡¯s what you think. But we need to move past this. I have to return to Dorwich tomorrow, whatever gets decided here. I could use some help. I could use some hope, if I¡¯m being honest.¡¯ Stiff shook his head. ¡®If we¡¯re being honest, I don¡¯t know how things work in the Blades. But the Rotten Apples don¡¯t do what I tell them half the time as it is. After Usa, there¡¯s no way they¡¯re going to fight side by side with your lot. Even if I can see the logic in it. The only chance is if you hand Rylan over.¡¯ Sal¡¯s eyebrows raised at that. ¡®Did you know we¡¯re out of Durnost?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯d heard.¡¯ ¡®The three of us grew up in the merc trade. Cole the Maimer was our father. Ran the toughest, most fearsome squad in the kingdom. Taught us many a lesson, he did. Vicious bastard. ¡®You don¡¯t want me to tell you what he did to my sister. We turned on him, when we were strong enough. Killed him. That day looms large in the memory, I can tell you. We were ready to become his heirs. Only, his crew refused to follow us. They were quite willing to carry out all kinds of crimes. But for some reason, they drew the line at patricide. Suddenly developed a weird moral compass. ¡®We were left with few choices. The best option was to come out here to Gal¡¯azu. Use the skills we¡¯d learned. And we were doing pretty well, until recently. The reason why I¡¯m sharing is this¡ªme and my siblings all suffered under my father. I¡¯m the one who got off lightly. My brother¡¯s not quite right in the head. But it¡¯s not his fault. The three of us are in this together. I¡¯ll never betray them.¡¯ ¡®Wow,¡¯ Lothar said. ¡®Never realised before now what a nice guy you are.¡¯ Sal shook his head. ¡®You know, we could have killed you as soon as you set foot on Gal¡¯azu. What great crimes did we commit? Broke a couple of fingers. Asked for a measly payment of shillings, which you only coughed up a couple of times.¡¯ ¡®There was no point in killing me, when you could use Cap to take my crew from me.¡¯ ¡®So you did kill him?¡¯ ¡®No. The orcs did that for me.¡¯ ¡®I wonder what you would have done, had the shoe been on the other foot? Welcomed the three young Blairs to Gal¡¯azu? Laughed, like a jovial uncle, as they began to steal your mercs from under your nose?¡¯ Lothar puffed out his cheeks. ¡®At last, maybe you have a point.¡¯ ¡®Dorwich and Linby,¡¯ Rosalind said, seizing on a moment of understanding. ¡®They both need defending. What if you take a town each? Hold off the goblin advance for a few precious days, while the council organises the defence of Avolo. Your mercs don¡¯t need to cooperate. You,¡¯ she said, pointing at Sal, ¡®can ensure your brother stays far away from the Apples.¡¯ ¡®A fifty fifty division of responsibility?¡¯ Lothar said. ¡®You heard him at the council meeting. He has forty mercs, including the very best in Gal¡¯azu. Plus forty guards. I have ten true warriors, at most.¡¯ ¡®You have Bletcher,¡¯ Sal retorted. ¡®Who you stole from me, by the way. With a goblin mage coming for us, he¡¯s the most valuable asset there is.¡¯ ¡®If we¡¯re to be equal partners, then there¡¯s no more protection money. And any merc is free to work for whichever order they want.¡¯ ¡®Fine,¡¯ Sal conceded. Lothar pursed his lips. ¡®The council?¡¯ he asked Rosalind. ¡®If I present this deal to them, you¡¯ll both receive a hefty sum of money, covering all your expenses many times over.¡¯ ¡®Expenses?¡¯ Sal said. ¡®We¡¯re both leading our squads to almost certain death. What use are expenses to us then?¡¯ Blair gave Lothar a look. Lothar nodded in vigorous agreement. Suddenly, on this issue at least, they were allies. ¡®I¡¯ll ask the council for more,¡¯ Rosalind said. ¡®More?¡¯ Lothar asked her. ¡®More than they were willing to pay. More than they can afford, what with everything else that needs doing. Many times more than either of your services are worth.¡¯ ¡®Such a sum,¡¯ Lothar said, ¡®would be acceptable.¡¯ Chapter 81 Mission #23 Defend Linby MERCS: Wilson ¡®Twerk¡¯ Turk | Izildra ¡®Izil¡¯ Bizra | Bletcher | Georg ¡®The Hoffmeister¡¯ Hoffman | Victor ¡®Pecs¡¯ Balinski | Eddie ¡®Fortune¡¯ Rich | The Baron | Ashlyn ¡®Greenblade¡¯ Sawrey | Liudmila ¡®Mila¡¯ Stradenko | Christoph ¡®The Bowman¡¯ Gerd | Jaelin ¡®The Explorer¡¯ Topolski | Larik ¡®The Bludgeoner¡¯ Hunder | Lothar ¡®Stiff¡¯ Sauer | Odafe ¡®Smoke¡¯ Negedu | Mary ¡®Mental¡¯ Jenkins | Henning ¡®Tree¡¯ Teller ¡®You¡¯ll look after Sharptooth for me, won¡¯t you?¡¯ Wilson asked Suzie. ¡®If you need any more money for food, just say.¡¯ ¡®Murder will look after him,¡¯ she said. ¡®He bites me whenever I go near him.¡¯ ¡®Oh. Sorry. I wonder why he bites you and not Murder?¡¯ ¡®He bites Murder ¡¯n all. It¡¯s just Murder don¡¯t seem to mind.¡¯ ¡®Ah. Actually, he bites me, too. When I get back from Linby, I¡¯ll give some time to train him properly.¡¯ ¡®Right,¡¯ Suzie said doubtfully. If I get back, the gnome acknowledged to himself. The odds didn¡¯t seem favourable. They had two river barges waiting to take them to the town of Linby. Stiff was there, organising the loading of supplies. He¡¯d be coming with them, putting himself in the same danger as his crew. That decision had probably been key in keeping the squad together. Because there were a lot of sick looking faces waiting at the dockside. It seemed that almost certain death didn¡¯t agree with Wilson¡¯s crewmates. But he didn¡¯t mind it too much. He¡¯d long dreamed of living the life of a warrior. He wasn¡¯t about to complain when things got difficult. ¡®Time to get on board,¡¯ Stiff shouted. He ushered his crew onto the barges¡ªtaking care, perhaps, lest any of them snuck away. The bargemen pushed away from the dock with their long poles, then pushed and paddled the boat upriver. The journey was nothing but enjoyable. Wilson had done a lot of traipsing back and forth across Gal¡¯azu in the last few months¡ªdoing his best to keep up with the lanky humans. Instead, he was able to sit and rest, watching the world go by. The territory on the west bank of the Auster was the most heavily settled in Gal¡¯azu. Some enterprising souls had established settlements east of the river. Most of them were deserted now. Word had quickly spread about the imminent arrival of the goblin horde. Nothing east of the river was defensible. The truth was, every farm, village, and town in the entire region was in peril. When they docked and unloaded at Linby, the bargemen didn¡¯t hang around. There were no offers of help. They paddled back to the safety of Avolo. The docks were on the east side of the river. Nearby, the bridge across the Auster was a solid, stone construction. It was the most used crossing point of the river, and Linby had grown up around it. Wilson and most of the other mercs followed Stiff around, as he shook his head in wonder at the predicament they were in. ¡®Fetch the town leaders,¡¯ he growled, and a few of the team ran off to find someone. ¡®Most of the town is on the east side of the river,¡¯ the merc captain uttered in disbelief. A dozen of the townsfolk gathered at the dock to meet their protectors. ¡®You¡¯re Mr Sauer?¡¯ one of them asked. ¡®Avolo sent messages ahead. Can I say we are most grateful¡ª¡¯ ¡®¡ªWhy are people still living on the east side of the river?¡¯ Stiff interrupted. ¡®There are thousands of goblins about to arrive. What are you thinking?¡¯ ¡®We¡¯ve evacuated some people,¡¯ the burgher replied defensively. ¡®Then strengthened our walls on the east side.¡¯ ¡®Strengthened the walls?¡¯ Stiff repeated. ¡®No. We can¡¯t hold these walls against a few hundred, never mind a thousand. Get everyone across the river first. Then pull down the walls and buildings. Prioritise the buildings closest to the river. We don¡¯t want to leave hiding places for the enemy. Also, those homes can be rebuilt on the other side. Transport as much material as you can across to the west bank. We defend the bridge, not the walls.¡¯ He turned from the townsfolk, nothing more to say to them. ¡®That goes for you lot as well,¡¯ he ordered the Apples. ¡®You¡¯re getting paid well enough. Time for some hard labour. We need to get this place turned around fast.¡¯ The willingness of each member of The Rotten Apples to shift chunks of stone across a river varied. Pecs was in his element, demonstrating his raw strength. The women of Linby brought refreshments, many of them gathering around the Livanian to offer him a cup of their special brew. Izil scowled. Fortune grew hot, sweaty, and foul mouthed. The Hoffmeister worked tirelessly. The Bowman overdid it. Smoke shirked. Bletcher was useless. Wilson knew he wasn¡¯t much better, not able to lift the heavier things. Stiff led by example, an implacable look on his face which served to remind everyone exactly why all the effort was necessary. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. When the light began to fade, Stiff told his mercs they were done. ¡®Rest up. We¡¯ve plenty of supplies, so make sure you take in enough food and water. I¡¯ll need you again for the night shift. Last thing we need is those goblins creeping up on us.¡¯ He retired to the bridge with a small group of townsfolk, talking intently about some issue he had. Wilson helped make a fire, while Tree and Mila began turning the supplies they had carried from Avolo into something tasty. That night, he was given a watch with Mental and Smoke. The pair of them shared a bottle of something strong, which was hardly the most professional way to keep a lookout for an enemy army. Wilson used The Explorer¡¯s Rod of Light to scan the opposite bank. There were no signs of goblins, and after a day of hard labour and a big meal, it was an effort to stay awake. Stiff joined them. ¡®Anything?¡¯ ¡®Nothing,¡¯ Wilson told him. Stiff took a swig from the drink Mental offered him. ¡®I heard about your episode with the trolls. Nothing on your character sheet says you¡¯re a berserker.¡¯ ¡®Oh? Musta missed that off.¡¯ Mental pursed her lips at Stiff¡¯s frown. ¡®Don¡¯t tend to go over too well when I mention it.¡¯ ¡®Think of it as an enhancement,¡¯ Smoke said, coming to his friend¡¯s defence. ¡®I don¡¯t mind it,¡¯ said Stiff. ¡®But I like to know what I¡¯m dealing with.¡¯ ¡®Yeah, fair enough,¡¯ said Jenkins. ¡®I shoulda been straight with you.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ll need to control it when it comes to these goblins. Running headlong at an army doesn¡¯t usually end too well.¡¯ Mental gave him a bitter smile. The lines on her face seemed to stand out all the more. ¡®I can¡¯t control it. When the threat reaches a certain level of intensity, it just happens. And it doesn¡¯t stop for some time afterwards.¡¯ ¡®Then I¡¯m astounded you¡¯ve lived this long,¡¯ Stiff said. ¡®I¡¯m pleasantly surprised about that myself.¡¯ The goblin scouts arrived the next morning. ¡®Defend this side of the bridge,¡¯ Stiff ordered. The Apples put up a five man shieldwall. Wilson stood with Fortune. Redblade glowed at his belt. Some of the goblins shot arrows across the river. The Bowman, The Explorer, and Tree returned fire. The goblins retreated, but it was a minor victory. More goblins arrived, scores of them marching into what was left of Linby east of the river. Soon, they numbered in the hundreds¡ªand more kept arriving. Half of the town fled, most of them taking the road south to Avolo. They had been told the goblins were coming. But seeing is believing, Wilson said to himself. Sal Blair had said their army numbered around five thousand. If he was right, it looked like half of it had come to cross the river at Linby. It wasn¡¯t possible to say for sure where the other half was. But it was likely they had gone to Dorwich, to secure the other major river crossing. Wilson stared into the blue water of the Auster. It was wide here, and still fast flowing. A death trap if the goblins tried to swim it. But cross the lightly defended bridge ahead of them, and they would have access to anywhere in Gal¡¯azu. The water seemed to call to him, like a parent to its child. He took one involuntary step towards it. He imagined the water welcoming him in its embrace¡ªwashing away all his pain and sorrow. ¡®No!¡¯ Bletcher¡¯s voice. He wore the Mask of Magical Warding, and carried the Staff of Warning. ¡®The gods do not ask for a sacrifice in the water today,¡¯ he cried, ¡®unless it be goblins.¡¯ The pull of the water evaporated. So. Somewhere in amongst all those goblins was their mage. It was just as well Bletcher was here. Still. I wouldn¡¯t have actually walked into the water. Would I? Half a dozen townsfolk stood in a group a few feet behind the Apples. They were only lightly armed, carrying long handled hammers. Stiff gestured for them to come over. Wilson wondered what his captain¡¯s plan was. ¡®Are you not ordering an evacuation, Stiff? We can hold the bridge for a while. But there are too many to keep out forever.¡¯ Stiff looked at the gnome like he had gone mad. ¡®Hold it? I¡¯m dismantling it. Apples!¡¯ He bellowed. ¡®Protect the bridge breakers!¡¯ Shields went up around the six breakers, who began swinging the hammers at the stone abutment on their side of the bridge. ¡®How long is that going to take?¡¯ demanded Fortune. ¡®We prepared it last night,¡¯ Stiff told him. ¡®Hopefully not long.¡¯ The sound of mortar cracking and stone coming loose was promising. But on the opposite bank, the goblins realised what was happening. Their warriors were sent towards the bridge, in an attempt to cross it before it was collapsed. The first of them reached the bank and ran onto the bridge. One of Tree¡¯s arrows claimed the first fatality of the encounter. More replaced it. More fell, as Jaelin and Christoph joined Henning in claiming goblin lives. But if the goblins had one thing, it was numbers. They climbed over their dead comrades, sprinting along the bridge. The Hoffmeister advanced towards them. ¡®No!¡¯ Greenblade cried, grabbing his arm. ¡®It¡¯ll collapse with you on it!¡¯ ¡®Here!¡¯ Pecs thundered, leaving the shieldwall and joining the townsfolk. ¡®Give me a go.¡¯ He grabbed a hammer and cracked it against the abutment. Again, and again, as the goblins poured towards them. The bridge shifted, and the goblins at the front stopped, alarmed. Those behind kept coming, crowding on and adding more weight. Another swing from Pecs, another shift, and the goblins at the front began pushing and grappling to go back the way they had come, desperate for the safety of the opposite bank. Too late. The bridge disintegrated and fell into the water, all the way to the midpoint of the bridge. Chunks of stone and goblins fell into the Auster. Most sank to the bottom. A few goblins were carried away downriver. ¡®There,¡¯ Stiff said, satisfied. ¡®We¡¯ve defended Linby, and not even taken an injury.¡¯ ¡®Is that what those councillors in Avolo were expecting from us?¡¯ Wilson asked him dubiously. ¡®No. Probably not.¡¯ Sauer grinned. ¡®But they¡¯ve already paid us. Let Sal Blair and The Golden Blades deal with the consequences.¡¯ MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: Linby was defended None of your mercs improved their stats No mercs levelled up Chapter 82 Flesh and Bone ¡®Tell me, Alfie,¡¯ Sal said. They looked out from the walls of Dorwich City, as the column of goblin warriors approached. ¡®What do you make of your first assignment with The Golden Blades?¡¯ ¡®Not gonna lie, mate,¡¯ said The Guvnah. ¡®It¡¯s a little more intense than I was expecting.¡¯ The answer tickled Sal, and he laughed out loud. He rarely laughed. It was probably the beginnings of hysteria. The goblins lined up opposite the city walls, waiting for their comrades to bolster their numbers. It looked like only half the goblin army was here¡ªmaking it likely the other half had gone to Linby. Still. A thousand warriors was more than enough. The walls of Dorwich were nothing like those of Avolo. The city hadn¡¯t been built to keep an army out. Dorwich had been intended as a stepping stone to further expansion. A statement of intent for The Golden Blades, to match Sal''s ambitions. Those ambitions were now moments away from crumbling to dust. ¡®What do you think?¡¯ Sal asked Clamor. The merc pursed his lips. ¡®I can¡¯t sense the mage,¡¯ Clamor croaked. ¡®Doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s not here.¡¯ ¡®Let¡¯s assume he¡¯s at Linby,¡¯ Sal decided. ¡®Get into position.¡¯ Clamor left, leaving just the two of them. Sal would keep The Guvnah and Clamor by his side today. They were the only two mercs he trusted with his life. ¡®I am Salvador Blair, captain of The Golden Blades. I would speak with your king,¡¯ he shouted. He didn¡¯t use the king¡¯s name. It was long and unpronounceable. More goblins arrived. Sal studied them. They looked travel weary. They had walked a long way. They had no wargs, like the goblins the Apples had tangled with out west. They were a defeated army, so he¡¯d heard: forced from their homeland by the expanding Kuthenian empire. But they were more than a match for his force, or any other in Gal¡¯azu. A thousand armed warriors. Another fifteen hundred had travelled with them, many of whom could be called upon to fight if needed. It took a while, but there was movement at last. A goblin, in chain mail, with a sword at his belt, approached with a dozen bodyguards. Are you the king? Sal wondered, aware that a ruse wouldn¡¯t be hard to implement. ¡®You¡¯ve come to take Dorwich?¡¯ he shouted. ¡®We have come to take all the lands here,¡¯ the figure shouted up. ¡®There will be a great goblin kingdom, and the humans shall be our slaves.¡¯ The goblins roared their approval at these words. Damned Kuthenians, Sal thought. They¡¯ve turned them into our enemies. ¡®Dorwich is mine,¡¯ Sal shouted back. ¡®I built it. I won¡¯t be handing it over to anyone, you hear me? Maybe you can take it from me. But I¡¯ll make you pay such a price in blood that your ambitions will be ruined. The best of your warriors will be dead. Your army will be fatally weakened, and the rest of Gal¡¯azu will finish you off. There will be nowhere for you to run to then. Take my advice. Leave Dorwich. Take this force to Linby. Cross the river there. Your path to Avolo will be clear.¡¯ ¡®The Golden Blades are mercenaries, are you not?¡¯ ¡®Aye.¡¯ ¡®Then switch your allegiance to the new ruler of Gal¡¯azu. Show me fealty, and you can keep your company. Let us pass through this city, and we will leave it unharmed. That is the path open to you and your warriors.¡¯ Maybe, Sal thought. Maybe, when I was younger, I would have fallen for that. ¡®I lost a company once, to a king. That won¡¯t be happening again. The Blades are mine. Dorwich is mine. You will be making a grave mistake in trying to take them from me.¡¯ ¡®We will take Dorwich. At this very moment, I have a force taking Linby. We will take both bridges. We will take your farms, and enslave your people. Then we will all march on Avolo, and take your capital. You cannot stop us.¡¯ ¡®Now!¡¯ Sal shouted. Clamor¡¯s arrow flew from the city wall, arcing over the heads of the goblins, and striking the king in the neck. He fell, dead. The goblins screamed their rage and defiance. But there were no wails of grief. ¡®That wasn¡¯t their king,¡¯ Sal said. ¡®Probably not,¡¯ The Guvnah agreed. A drumming began. Deep sounds that echoed in the air and travelled along the ground, reaching the pit of Sal¡¯s stomach. The goblins ran at the walls. ¡®Come,¡¯ Sal said, backing away. ¡®I have a palace to defend.¡¯ This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. *** Stricken dragged his sack into the Hollow, struggling with the encumbrance. When he reached the courtyard, he was done. He had taken it such a long way, and his energy was all gone. His body cried out for the sustenance that would replenish it. Amotken opened the sack. ¡®A mere bag of bones!¡¯ Anger radiated from him. Stricken avoided his yellow flecked eyes. ¡®It was the only way to bring it here, master. The mercenaries stole the sword and armour.¡¯ ¡®It is not thy fault, Stricken,¡¯ the sorcerer said, using his kind voice. ¡®Thou have done well, proving the faith I have in thee. But thou must do me one more service. The ritual cannot take place down here, in this hole. We must take her to the Crimson Palace. It is the only suitable location. Come. We must leave now.¡¯ Amotken pulled his cloak around his shoulders and strode away. Stricken lifted the sack and followed him. He would have to work harder, and not complain. Somehow, he had to ignore the hunger that threatened to consume him. They travelled east, across land that had not yet been claimed by settlers. Stricken wondered where the humans Amotken had placed in the Hollow had come from. He was certain they were not from Gal¡¯azu: they were not Hargon; or Livanian, Durnish, or Alinko. He had many questions about the people his master kept there, but he refrained from asking them. On the second day, Stricken realised they were walking along an old road. It was mostly overgrown¡ªnature concealing it. But occasionally it would reveal itself. They would walk along a section of weathered, paved slabs. How long the road had been here, and who had constructed it, Stricken didn¡¯t know. But he realised there had to be a connection to Amotken, and the bag of bones he toiled with. Night had fallen by the time he first caught sight of the Crimson Palace. High walls and towers loomed in the darkness. The moon was clear in the sky, and he could see the stone building had a blood red tinge to it. They entered through a gap in the outer wall that looked like it had been torn with great violence. Rubble lay where it had fallen. A set of crimson stone steps took them up. They rose into the sky, the steps seemingly endless. They took them through a second wall. Various paths were now available, leading to the towers and spires of the palace, all built from the same crimson coloured stone. Amotken led Stricken to an alcove, the stone ceiling reaching twenty feet high. At the end of it was a heavy, reinforced door. It scraped along the floor when Amotken pushed on it. They entered the palace, a stone flagged corridor offering three directions. When Amotken shoved the door shut, everything was left in darkness. Stricken was only just able to follow his master, who appeared to know exactly where he was going. They passed through an opening into a great chamber. High windows on one side of the chamber revealed a scene of ancient devastation. Human skeletons, and those of other creatures¡ªstill in the tattered remnants of their clothes¡ªlay where they had fallen. It was obvious that a great battle had taken place here. A long time ago. The bodies, the broken furniture, and the weapons, were covered in a layer of dust. ¡®This is where Eyota fell,¡¯ Amotken told Stricken, as if he was supposed to know who she was and what had happened here. Stricken put his burden on the floor. Amotken knelt by it and busied himself with his task. He pulled the bones from the sack and began to rebuild Eyota¡¯s skeleton. It was painstaking work. Stricken sat and waited. The atmosphere in the palace was subdued. It was silent and still, save for Amotken¡¯s work. If he had been alive, Stricken might have described it as restful. Now, though, he never seemed to truly rest. Certainly, he never slept. Time seemed to flow around him. He found he was increasingly losing connection to days, weeks, and the other measurements of time he had once relied on. Amotken stood. He fetched a cloak, shaking it free of dust, before placing it on top of the reassembled princess. ¡®There,¡¯ he said, sounding satisfied. ¡®Did she rule here?¡¯ Stricken asked. Amotken turned sharply, as if he had forgotten Stricken was even there. ¡®Her father did.¡¯ He returned his gaze to the long dead woman. Time passed. After a while, Stricken noticed the sorcerer¡¯s lips were moving. Later, he heard a sibilant muttering, only just loud enough to hear. It was a sound that set him on edge. Perhaps, he realised, because it sounded like several voices were muttering, while only Amotken¡¯s lips were moving. Next, a faint glow could be seen around the skeleton. It raised in intensity, until all Stricken could see was the white light. It became too much, and he was forced to look away. He saw Amotken¡¯s body pinned in mid-air, held by some supernatural force that stopped him from falling. Amotken screamed in agony, a noise that tore at Stricken¡¯s soul. Amotken was dropped. His body crumpled to the floor. There was a desperate gasp of air. Stricken turned to see the white glow had gone. Princess Eyota was whole. Her eyes flicked open. She looked around, her blue eyes full of alarm, as her hand appeared to reach out for a weapon that wasn¡¯t there. Her body reacted quickly, moving as her eyes took in the slumped form of Amotken, and then Stricken. She was quick to her feet. The cloak slipped to the floor, revealing a nubile, muscled, dark skinned woman. Her skin was crossed with scars. Stricken knew his living body would have been filled with desire, even though that part of him had not been revived by his master. ¡®Who are you?¡¯ Eyota demanded. ¡®Stricken. I serve Amotken,¡¯ he said, gesturing over. ¡®Amotken?¡¯ she repeated, a mix of emotions in her voice he couldn¡¯t interpret. She looked around the room, confused¡ªangry. The sorcerer raised his head. ¡®Princess Eyota. Let me explain. Thou died here.¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ she said, frowning. ¡®The palace is overrun. Our last stand. Where is everyone?¡¯ ¡®Thou died here,¡¯ Amotken repeated. ¡®I have protected thy body ever since, waiting for this moment. Thou are now reborn.¡¯ She shook her head, as if unable to digest his words. ¡®Where is my guard? My soldiers?¡¯ ¡®Most who fought here fell with thee. Thou died here. Three hundred and sixty years ago.¡¯ Her eyes bore into his. ¡®Thou hast woken me from death?¡¯ ¡®I have waited all this time, Highness. The empire fell all those years ago. But now there is a chance to restore it. Thou can lead us again.¡¯ Eyota was breathing heavily, as if her body had gone into shock. ¡®On whose orders? My father¡¯s? Where is he? Is he alive?¡¯ ¡®Your father lives. He sleeps. There is a chance for Sargassia now. I have waited all this time to seize an opportunity like this.¡¯ His voice broke. ¡®I have waited so long.¡¯ She prowled towards him, seizing his cloak with both hands. ¡®Take me to my father.¡¯ Chapter 83 Dead The goblins had paid the price of assaulting Sal¡¯s palace. They¡¯d been forced to give lives to get inside; then give more to advance their way up each floor. Sal had led the defence. His guards had done their duty. But, in the end, they had fallen to the onslaught. The goblins still had warriors to spare. A dozen of them had entered his mercs¡¯ weapon store. Sal followed them in, attacking from the rear. Two had already fallen into his pit trap in the middle of the floor. Three more fell to his sword. The Guvnah followed him in, adding another four lives to his growing tally. The three that remained countered. They had no choice. He and The Guvnah took another hit each, before they rallied and finished them off. Sal looked at the bare walls of the room. He¡¯d stripped it of weapons before the attack, determined not to let the goblins profit from their assault. It was a sad sight. ¡®More.¡¯ Clamor¡¯s voice from the corridor. He covered their exit, keeping the next group of goblins at a distance with his bow. For the moment. Sal led Alfie farther up the corridor, then into his office. ¡®Help me with this.¡¯ They manoeuvred his desk over to the door. ¡®Come on, Clamor!¡¯ he shouted. The scout was quick into the room, then they put the desk against the door. It wouldn¡¯t hold for long. Sal began collecting up the papers from the desk. ¡®What are you doing?¡¯ The Guvnah asked, bemused. Sal laughed, dropping his files. ¡®I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t know why they¡¯re still so important to me.¡¯ ¡®Ready,¡¯ came Clamor¡¯s dry voice. He had a rope in hand. It dangled out of the fourth floor window down to the ground below. ¡®The yard is empty. It won¡¯t be forever.¡¯ He didn¡¯t wait for a response, agilely stepping out of the window and beginning his descent. Sal sheathed his sword and headed over. He gave The Guvnah a wry smile. They¡¯d each taken four or five hits so far. Neither could afford fall damage. ¡®See you down there.¡¯ As he clambered out the window, his desk scraped along the floor of his study. The Guvnah stopped it with one foot, keeping his balance and his sword in hand. Sal got going, his legs twined around the rope while he slithered down with his hands. There was no time to think about it. ¡®Keep going,¡¯ Clamor encouraged from below. The Guvnah reached the window and hurled his sword out, before getting onto the rope himself. His descent was rapid, and only just in time. The goblins appeared at the window, just too late to reach Goodfellow. But not too late to hack at the rope. Sal felt arms around him, and Clamor carried him off the rope, hurling him to the side. He looked up to see the goblins cutting through the rope. Somehow, Clamor got under The Guvnah to break his fall. The scout took four hit points of damage. Sal pulled them to their feet as the goblins above began hurling things down at them. ¡®Come on,¡¯ he said, leading the pair away. There was no time for a backward glance at his palace. Sal left the grounds of the palace in the company of The Guvnah and Clamor, heading for the bridge. It was the goblins¡¯ target, but also his means of escape from his city. From the right, Sal saw a single figure heading in the same direction. His brother hobbled, moving so slow the goblins would soon catch up with him. He diverted over to Rylan, putting a steadying arm around him. The four of them resumed their retreat from Dorwich. ¡®You need that leg dealing with,¡¯ Sal told him. ¡®Difa is dead,¡¯ Rylan said. Sal¡¯s heart sank. His last medic. ¡®They¡¯re all dead,¡¯ Rylan added. ¡®The whole west side of the city is overrun. I was a couple of hits from joining them.¡¯ ¡®All of them? Even The Harvester?¡¯ ¡®The Harvester I don¡¯t know about. He¡¯s out there doing his own thing. The rest fought with me, and fell. What about the palace?¡¯ ¡®We¡¯re all that¡¯s left.¡¯ ¡®By the gods, this is some apocalyptic shit going down.¡¯ Ahead of them was the bridge, and the guard Sal had posted to defend the crossing. What was left of it. They reached a trail of dead goblins, which led all the way to the river. Here, only three defenders were left standing. He was relieved to see his sister was one of them. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Wynter was only a little better off than Rylan. Her companions, too, were badly injured. Vixen had clearly taken the goblins at long range first, judging by the trail of them. But now she held a bloody shortsword. Rake also held a shortsword in one hand, and a dagger in another. Sal looked for the merc¡¯s longsword and saw it on the ground, broken in two pieces¡ªpresumably on the skull of the goblin who lay with it. ¡®That pissed me off,¡¯ Rake said. ¡®Sal.¡¯ Wynter had urgency in her voice. ¡®Shade is dying.¡¯ She pointed to her friend, who lay unconscious at her feet. His wounds were too severe to cure, except by a specialist. ¡®Difa is dead,¡¯ Rylan said bluntly. Wynter looked at Sal with mute appeal. But he had no hope to offer her. ¡®I¡¯m sorry. We won¡¯t leave him here for the goblins. I¡¯ll end it.¡¯ No,¡¯ Wynter said. ¡®I¡¯ll do it.¡¯ She stabbed Shade with her sword. When she was a little girl, Wynter always used to cry. But she hadn¡¯t shed a tear in years, and she presented a hard face to the world even now. ¡®That leaves seven of us,¡¯ Rylan noted. ¡®What now?¡¯ ¡®We make our way to Avolo,¡¯ Sal said. ¡®It¡¯s the only secure place left. Maybe we can hold them off there.¡¯ No one looked like they believed that. ¡®Or get a ship out of here. My only consolation is that if half the goblin army did this to us, The Rotten Apples will have been wiped out.¡¯ ***
Finances
Income
Mission #23 ¡ê25
Expenses
Wages ¡ê2 8s 6p
Profit ¡ê22 11s 6p
Total ¡ê54 1s 2p
An uneasy truce lingered at Linby. A few hundred goblins remained on the opposite bank, and Lothar had to ensure his mercs were vigilant night and day, in case they attempted a crossing. The rest of the goblin army had left, and they¡¯d done a good job of hiding their withdrawal. Realistically, Dorwich or Avolo were the only options for them. It left the Apples at an impasse for a few days, until they received more information. He¡¯d sent Tree and The Explorer north, with the task of discovering the fate of Dorwich City. Meanwhile, The Bowman came to see him. ¡®I¡¯m worried about my family.¡¯ ¡®Eh? What do you mean?¡¯ ¡®The farm. It¡¯s in the goblins¡¯ path. And I know my family. They won¡¯t leave. They¡¯ll try to defend it. I need to go help.¡¯ ¡®Permission denied, Christoph. I can¡¯t afford to lose you. You¡¯re the only archer I have with the scouts gone.¡¯ Lothar thought about his answer. He really didn¡¯t want The Bowman to disobey him and run off. ¡®Let me think about it when they return. Is that alright?¡¯ ¡®I suppose that¡¯s fair.¡¯ ¡®What about Ashlyn?¡¯ Lothar asked, suddenly suspicious. ¡®She doesn¡¯t want to go with you, does she? Because I really can¡¯t afford to lose the pair of you.¡¯ ¡®She would, ordinarily. But¡ª¡¯ ¡®But what?¡¯ Christoph looked shifty. ¡®Out with it, boy.¡¯ ¡®She wants the Blairs dead.¡¯ ¡®Huh. Don¡¯t we all.¡¯ Lothar nearly left it there, but something wasn¡¯t right. ¡®You mean, she especially wants them dead?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t think I should be saying anything else, Stiff.¡¯ Lothar racked his brains, trying to read between the lines The Bowman had given him. Then he had it. The girl was from Durnost. ¡®Her father.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t a question. He knew. ¡®They were involved in his death.¡¯ Christoph nodded. ¡®I¡¯m worried she¡¯ll do something stupid. And I won¡¯t be there to protect her.¡¯ Lothar sighed. ¡®Leave it with me. I made a promise I¡¯d look after her.¡¯ ¡®Alright, Stiff.¡¯ ¡®You did the right thing telling me.¡¯ The boy walked off, less burdened than before. Meanwhile, my list of shite grows ever longer. His scouts finally returned with the news he sought. ¡®The goblins breached the Auster at Dorwich,¡¯ Tree told him. ¡®What of the Blades?¡¯ ¡®Hard to tell for sure. No sign of them. Most of the goblins are south of the river, raiding the local settlements for food. We couldn¡¯t get close to the city. It looked intact. But I think the Blairs will have defended it.¡¯ ¡®If the goblins are staying in the vicinity of Dorwich,¡¯ Lothar said, thinking aloud, ¡®seems like they¡¯re waiting for news from Linby. Either that, or they know what happened here and they¡¯re waiting for reinforcements.¡¯ ¡®What if the Blades retreated and are out here somewhere?¡¯ Jaelin asked. ¡®They might target us.¡¯ Lothar scratched at his chin. ¡®If the Blades gave their city up and retreated with their full force, you¡¯d have spotted them, or heard of their passing. If they stayed to fight and then withdrew, they¡¯ll have injured mercs to worry about. In that case, they¡¯ll be keeping quiet and making their way south. I¡¯m not too worried about them. It¡¯s the goblins that concern me. They¡¯ll drive south soon.¡¯ Lothar had a decision to make. He checked his mission board. KILL SAL KILL RYLAN KILL THE GOBLIN KING DEFEND LINBY DEFEND AVOLO DEFEND GERD FARM RETAKE DORWICH I can only be in one place at a time, and dividing my force seems like madness. The goblins are the greater threat right now. But this could be my chance to deal with Sal and his siblings. The tall Hargon scout cleared his throat. ¡®What are we gonna do, Stiff?¡¯ Chapter 84 Mission #24 Defend Gerd Farm Part One MERCS: Christoph ¡®The Bowman¡¯ Gerd
The Bowman
Name Christoph Gerd
Nickname The Bowman
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 19
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 4
Hit Points 18
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 9
Grit 5
Intellect 6
Skills Bows (proficient), Knives (competent), Swords (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Short bow (damage 2-12), Dagger (2-8), Shortsword (1-6)
Armour Ring Mail
Other Arrows of Conflagration, Bracers of Archery (+2 damage to bows)
¡®I¡¯ll go with you,¡¯ Ashlyn said, changing her mind at the last moment. ¡®I don¡¯t want you to,¡¯ Christoph told her. ¡®It¡¯s my decision to go back to the farm. It¡¯s probably not a very good one. I¡¯m not dragging anyone else into it.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m not letting you go alone. It¡¯s just¡ª¡¯ He put a hand to her face, and looked into her brown eyes, flecked with green. He still found it amazing that she had chosen to be with him. ¡®You have something you need to do. I have something I need to do. In an ideal world, we¡¯d do it together. But this world isn¡¯t like that.¡¯ She nodded. ¡®Alright. I¡¯ll see you soon.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m counting on it.¡¯ Christoph left her. He didn¡¯t think he¡¯d have found the strength to do it before. But Stiff had promised to look after her, and he had faith in his captain. Christoph made the short journey southwest. Not only was his family home close to Linby, but it was close to the land route from Dorwich to Avolo. Its location had been a great asset to his parents¡¯ farm¡ªdemand for their produce had always been high, allowing them to expand. Now, however, that location had become a danger. He knew they¡¯d be unwilling to desert what they had built. But it was unfeasible that the rampaging goblin warriors, desperate to keep their people fed, would not come upon such a resource. And take whatever they want. As soon as he arrived, Christoph was treated like a returning hero. His mother grabbed him, and he wondered whether she would ever let go. His little sisters looked shyly at him, as if he was now a stranger. His father had an unending set of questions about his experiences with Stiff¡¯s company. He told a few stories, but he felt uncomfortable about boasting too much; or of worrying his family. He missed out incidents such as shooting Ashlyn; and decided against mentioning skeletons. While his family prepared a celebratory meal, he was relieved to escape with Wade for a walk. They conducted a circuit of the property, trying to work out how to defend the place. ¡®It hasn¡¯t changed at all,¡¯ Christoph commented. Wade puffed out a breath. ¡®Don¡¯t tell your aunt that. She¡¯s had me fixing this and that ever since we got here.¡¯ ¡®And how does the farming life suit you?¡¯ ¡®Not at all. I am ill suited to the work. But I get to spend my days with Femke, who is very suited to it. Eden is safe here. So overall, no regrets.¡¯ ¡®But Eden is safe no longer,¡¯ Christoph told him. ¡®You really think the goblins will come here? It¡¯s hard to imagine. It¡¯s like this place exists apart from the rest of the world.¡¯ ¡®I know. I grew up here, remember? But they¡¯ll come, and I need you to convince my parents that we need to be ready.¡¯ ¡®Of course. And your auntie is a sensible woman. It¡¯s her they¡¯ll listen to.¡¯ You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. They discussed the issue over dinner, once Christoph¡¯s sisters and Eden had been excused from the table. It made Christoph feel like an adult. Of course you¡¯re an adult, he reprimanded himself. ¡®I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll find us,¡¯ his mother said, clearly in denial. ¡®We are hidden by the woodland. They¡¯ll walk straight past on their way south, without realising we¡¯re here.¡¯ Femke frowned at her sister-in-law, but stopped short of arguing. ¡®We need to prepare,¡¯ Christoph¡¯s father admitted. ¡®But we¡¯re not leaving the farm to become refugees and die in the gutter in Avolo. If we¡¯re going to die, it¡¯ll be here.¡¯ The Bowman knew this would be his father¡¯s take. He also knew he wouldn¡¯t be dissuaded. ¡®Then we need a place to hide people.¡¯ ¡®Already got one,¡¯ said Wade. ¡®Trapdoor in the cowshed. Right, Femke?¡¯ ¡®Yes, that¡¯s the best place. The barns are susceptible to fire.¡¯ ¡®What?¡¯ asked his mother. ¡®The goblins will burn down our buildings?¡¯ ¡®I hope not,¡¯ Femke said. ¡®But we must be prepared for anything.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t easy to plan a defence of the farm. The goblins might attack from any direction. If they came from Dorwich, it would be through the trees that fringed the north and west of the property. From Linby, it would be through the muddy fields on the east side, where they grew crops and usually kept their herds. What they did have some control over, was where the fighting would take place. When Femke, on lookout duty, caught sight of the goblin band¡¯s approach, she whistled a warning. Everyone knew where to take position. Christoph¡¯s father took the non-combatants to the cowshed. The farmhouse was left empty. With any luck, it would remain unharmed. Christoph made his way to the cow field. The cattle lowed at his passing, probably asking for their evening feed. But they soon accepted his presence and didn¡¯t fuss. He readied his bow and arrows, then watched. He saw the goblins approaching from the south, short spears gripped in both hands. His aunt backtracked ahead of them, picking her way towards one of the barns that clustered on the south side of the estate. The goblins had clearly seen her and picked up their pace. Christoph¡¯s heart sank as he took in their numbers. There were a score of them¡ªit was on the high side of their estimates for a raiding party. Their number, and the direction they had come from, indicated that they hadn¡¯t stumbled on the farm by chance. It was possible it had been scouted by a sharp sighted goblin scout last night, evading detection from whoever had been on watch. ACTION ROUND
Goblin Warriors
Goblin Warrior
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 17
Auntie entered one of the barns, closing the door behind her. Christoph could have fired at the goblins as they approached. But it wasn¡¯t part of the plan, and the angle and distance weren¡¯t in his favour. Instead, he waited. A scream tore the night. Christoph grinned. A goblin had fallen into one of the pit traps they had dug around the barns¡ªthat Femke had been careful to avoid. The loss of 5 hit points and 1 action point wasn¡¯t much in the big scheme of things. But it was a start. The only thing more satisfying than a trap working was an arrow hitting its target. He hoped to experience that feeling before long. The goblins went careful now, quick to learn. Half of them piled into the barn after Auntie, the rest waiting outside. They were more cautious in their approach than Christoph had given them credit for, and tendrils of doubt materialised. He caught a glimpse of movement on the roof of the barn. That was his cue. He selected an arrow of conflagration and put it to his bow string. Christoph admired Wade¡¯s guts. Fighting in a battle was one thing. Sneaking around unarmed¡ªputting your life on the line with only your skills of evasion to protect you¡ªwas something he couldn¡¯t do. Wade retreated, a dark blur that leapt from the roof of the barn to its neighbour. Christoph aimed and released. His arrow lodged into the roof of the barn. Not long after, flickers of flame sparked into life. Christoph had to hope nothing had gone wrong with their plan. He prayed that Wade hadn¡¯t acted before Auntie Femke had escaped from the barn. Had to hope that Wade had managed to attach his jammer bar to the barn door. The fire was taking¡ªspreading fast on the dried thatch of the barn roof. Smoke billowed into the sky. There were cries of alarm from the goblins outside. Damn, didn¡¯t take them long to spot it. One of them rushed to the door and yanked on it, but Wade¡¯s jammer held firm. He heard shouts and banging coming from the interior of the barn, as the trapped goblins sought a way out. Now was the time for Christoph to shoot. He targeted the nearest goblin, and was elated when the arrow hit on the first time of asking. He was flabbergasted when the goblin hit the ground from just one strike. His proficiency with bows, enhanced by his Bracers of Archery, had taken 15 points of damage. It wasn¡¯t quite enough to kill the goblin outright, but taking it out of the fight was all he needed. The other goblins reacted instantly, dropping to the ground or heading for cover. Not only that, the distance The Bowman was firing required careful aim. It meant, despite his new proficiency, he needed an action to target the next goblin before he could fire. He would only get off one more shot this turn. The pressure probably got to him, because the arrow didn¡¯t get enough flight and failed to reach his second target. While Wade and Auntie kept a low profile, the goblins moved next. Christoph could hear the roar from the barn as the wooden walls caught fire. There was a crashing sound, and a plank came free. The trapped goblins were breaking out, before the fire and smoke could do their damage. Meanwhile, the nine remaining goblins outside the barn agreed on attacking Christoph. It was what he had expected. They made for the field, keen to get to him quickly before he could fire many more arrows. One of them moved with too much haste, stepping on one of the spikes he had planted along their likely route. It was only two damage. But the creature¡¯s cry of pain had the effect of slowing the pace of his comrades. The Bowman knew this was probably the best chance he would get. Nine goblins, all of them within range of his weapon. Since levelling up after the recent barrow raid, he had four action points. That gave him four shots, making him a much more dangerous proposition than he had been in previous combats. It was a bitter disappointment, therefore, when only one of his four arrows was a hit. 12 damage was decent, but it meant the goblin he¡¯d wounded was still on its feet. More crashing from the barn. The roof collapsed, spilling its burning embers onto those trapped inside. All of them took at least 1 point of damage. But it didn¡¯t distract them from their task. They smashed a full sized hole in the wall, and the first of them squeezed their way out. Meanwhile, their comrades kept coming for Christoph. All nine of them reached the edge of the cow field. Seven of them had enough actions to climb the fence, and progress into the field towards him. Perhaps if he¡¯d done better last turn, Christoph would have considered retreating. But it had been so bad, he refused to give up without another try. Two hits, he supposed, was better than one. His first strike was a perfect shot, striking the goblin in the face and killing it outright. The second struck the upper chest, dealing only seven damage. That should have been it. Five of the goblins could reach him on their next turn. Once he was caught in a melee, it was over. The cows saved him. Spooked by the appearance of the goblins, half a dozen rushed at them, perhaps worried for the calves in the field. One unfortunate goblin was knocked to the ground in the confusion. The others had to lash out, and change direction to get to Christoph. The upshot was that four goblins reached Christoph¡¯s position without the points to attack him. Three more were stuck where the six cows milled about. The most injured had only just managed to clamber over the fence. Still. The goblins were in good shape, since ten more now emerged from the remains of the burning barn. With no other targets, they made for the cow field, reaching the perimeter. If nothing else, I have at least drawn them onto me, Christoph told himself. Knowing he could afford no more foolhardy decisions, he restricted himself to two shots. The first was smothered by the goblin¡¯s hide armour. The second took it in the throat, killing it. The Bowman then turned and ran, reaching the far end of the field by the end of his last action. Wade shouted a challenge at the goblins from atop the second barn, but they were intent on Christoph now. The closest three followed him to the end of the field. Each had one action left with which to strike. Two of them avoided his ring mail, taking him down from 18 to 13 hit points, and costing him an action point as well. A fourth joined them, reducing his chances of escape. Two more had negotiated their way through the cows, while the last had just reached the bovine barrier. Five of the goblins who had escaped the barn ignored Wade¡¯s distraction. They climbed the fence and ran towards Christoph, bypassing the cows who had slowed the other group. The other five turned to see the thief capering on the barn¡¯s roof, and decided to go and kill him. At the end of their turn they had reached the barn, and Wade was in trouble. Auntie Femke appeared, her bow drawn. Her downward angled shot hit the turf next to one of the goblins. She had time to get off a second shot. This one got through her target¡¯s hide armour, dropping it from 16 to 13 hit points. Christoph knew he didn¡¯t stand a chance against so many goblins. But breaking from combat against four of them might be too much to get away with. It¡¯s my only chance, he decided. He dropped his bow, grabbed at the wooden fence, and climbed. Four goblin spears came for him. Two punctured his back, and his hit points dropped to 7. He clambered over the fence. With only one action left, he staggered away, knowing he wasn¡¯t going to get far. Two figures appeared in his peripheral vision, closing on his position. Shit on it. Chapter 85 Mission #24 Defend Gerd Farm Part Two With five goblins surrounding the barn on which he stood, Wade had a go at throwing his knife. His target avoided the hurled weapon. Cursing loudly, the thief took a replacement from his boot, resolving not to bother trying that again. He pulled Auntie away from the edge. The four goblins followed Christoph over the fence. Turning, he decided he¡¯d die facing his enemies rather than running from them. His ragged mind failed to piece together what happened next. The two figures who had been closing on him put themselves between him and the goblins, locking their shields together. With roars of aggression, the goblins fell on Greenblade and Izil. Greenblade took one hit, suffering 3 damage. Izil took two, dropping to 11 hit points. Behind them, seven more goblins climbed out of the cow field, ready to join the fight if needed. The five goblins at the barn wasted no time in climbing to the roof, then advancing on the two defenders. Recognising how badly outnumbered they were, Wade pulled Auntie away. They ran to the far end of the roof, and jumped. Auntie managed to land well, but Wade¡¯s right knee buckled with the impact, and he lost 2 hit points, which in turn reduced his actions to 4. Ashlyn, knocked down to four action points, struck out with sword and shield. She killed a goblin with the very first strike of Greenblade. In total, she scored three hits with each weapon. When she was done, only one of the four goblins was left standing, on a measly 4 hit points. Christoph, left with only a dagger for a weapon, lunged forward and managed to kill it with his second strike. Izil, faced with a gap to the next wave of incoming goblins, used his spear as a throwing weapon. He targeted the strongest of them, barely injured from falling roof embers. It was a good decision and a good throw¡ª11 points of damage dropped it to 5 hit points and only one action point. The Alinko warrior drew his sword, and kept his position next to Ashlyn. They¡¯d done as well as could be expected. But they still faced seven mostly healthy goblins. The goblins charged their position, each taking one action point to reach melee range. Four still had two actions left for spear strikes, while another two¡ªhurt by a pit trap and one of The Bowman¡¯s arrows respectively¡ªhad only one. Greenblade, the biggest threat, was attacked by three of them. But her armour was the best. Even so, they landed two hits for 7 damage. The two injured goblins attacked Izil. Only the first of them hit, reducing the Alinko to 7 hit points. The last goblin took an extra action to get round the shields and come at Christoph. The spear sank into his side and a woozy feeling threatened to overtake him. With Wade sprawled on the ground, the five goblins on the barn roof realised they could take their time. It took them two action points to descend and reach Wade and Auntie. But as they readied their spears, they were interrupted by a surprise attack, as two figures darted out from behind the barn. Eden Wade¡¯s thrown knife struck the goblin already injured by Auntie¡¯s arrow. It was only 2 damage, but enough to reduce its action points to 2, ending its contribution to the round. Auntie¡¯s brother thrust out a pitchfork at the nearest goblin. The prongs slammed into its back, causing a devastating 6 points of damage. Unfortunately, he failed to pull the weapon free with his final action. The three goblins with remaining actions turned on Christoph¡¯s father. With his weapon stuck, and no armour, he was a sitting duck. All three landed their spear blows. With only 2 hit points left, he sank to the ground, unconscious and bleeding out. Desperate, Femke took aim for her next shot. Not only did her arrow hit one of her brother¡¯s attackers, it pierced its ribs, lodging deep, and took 10 hit points. She rushed her follow up shot, a poor nock causing the arrow to die on the string. Wade got to his feet and stabbed his dagger at the strongest looking goblin. Only one of his strikes got through its hide armour, taking it down to 7 hit points. At the other end of the farm, Ashlyn had 3 actions to fight off her three goblin attackers. Her first strike with Greenblade was true, killing it with one blow. Two shield slams missed, but they brought the second goblin onto her sword again¡ª16 points of damage enough for another kill. Both shield and sword combined to kill the third goblin with her final action. Christoph managed to strike the goblin who had him speared, but he didn¡¯t have the strength to cause any damage. Izil also had only one action point. A shield blow dropped one of his adversaries to 6 hit points, but his sword thrust was evaded. An awful, high pitched screaming invaded the battle. Among them, Christoph could make out the voices of his mother and sisters. They should have been hiding in the cowshed. For a moment, he feared the worst. Then he realised it was getting louder, and that¡ªfor some insane reason¡ªthey were rushing the goblins. He saw his adversary¡¯s eyes widen in alarm. Yes, it had the better of Christoph. But it was the only goblin left on 3 action points. Ashlyn had created a pile of bodies around her. Self preservation kicked in, and it shouted out what must have been an order to retreat. It looked at Christoph, and a vicious sneer appeared on its face. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Of course. It¡¯ll finish me off first, he realised. The goblin thrust the spear farther in, before withdrawing it. The world disappeared. *** ¡®No!¡¯ Ashlyn shouted, as Christoph collapsed. Thankfully, only unconscious. Behind her, his mother and sisters screamed in fear. The goblin ran for the eastern side of the farm, using two action points to get clear of the battle. Its fellows followed its lead. One had the legs to join it. The one with Izil¡¯s spear lodged in it could only move half the distance. The fourth turned to extract itself from the combat, opening it to a free strike from Izil. He didn¡¯t waste the opportunity, his sword swing taking 6 hit points, the exact number required for a kill. Finally, Ashlyn caught sight of a badly wounded goblin in the cow field. It had only just reached the fence, but seeing the others flee, it too turned and ran east. Meanwhile, it was also the turn of the goblins at the barn. First, Wade had to face a strike from his opponent. He nearly avoided the spear thrust, the blade cutting his arm for 1 point of damage. The goblin Auntie had shot, lunged forward, getting its revenge by delivering three points of spear damage. The goblin who had been struck by Eden Wade¡¯s thrown knife also looked for revenge. It took an action to reach the boy, then struck with its spear. It was another successful hit, the blade puncturing the small boy¡¯s frame. 5 points of damage was enough to knock him senseless. Wade shouted in fury, but two goblins were still to have their turn. One of them, still with three action points, decided to deal with Wade. It could have done better, getting one hit in, for 3 damage. The last goblin, free of enemies, decided to finish Christoph¡¯s father. Considering how easy its task was, its strike was pathetic. But 2 damage was enough to kill the farmer. Now in close combat, Auntie was forced to use her bow stave as a fighting staff. Her brother was dead, and it looked like Eden would be next. Fury filled her. She brought the stave down on the goblin''s head, cracking her weapon in the process. But she was relieved to see the creature finally collapse to the ground. Using her next action, she ran at the goblin who now stood over Wade¡¯s son. She had no weapon left. She managed to take the creature by surprise, grabbing its spear shaft and yanking it from its hands. With her final action she jammed the spear shaft into its neck, dropping its hit points to 4. Wade had no choice but to try to land a blow on the two goblins he fought. He was fighting for his son now. He targeted the tougher of the two, but it seemed to anticipate his move, sidestepping the dagger¡¯s arc. When he quickly reversed it, he caught his opponent out. The blade tore through the goblin¡¯s jugular. A fountain of blood spurted out. The goblin somehow kept its feet, but Wade knew it would soon bleed out. His next strike wasn¡¯t nearly as good, but it was enough to take 5 hit points from the other goblin, felling it. He sent his final dagger strike at the goblin that had killed Femke¡¯s brother. The creature blocked it with ease. ¡®After them!¡¯ Ashlyn shouted. ¡®We can¡¯t let them escape!¡¯ If a single goblin got back to their army, reinforcements would soon arrive. ¡®Izil, take the one in the field,¡¯ she instructed. She then ran after the two goblins who were getting away, ignoring the slower third one for now. She caught up to them, but only with a single action point left. Things were desperate. Naturally, she targeted the goblin who had speared Christoph. Relief flooded her as her crude sword lunge pierced its organs through its back, sending it to the ground. Not only that, her shield slammed into the back of the other goblin¡¯s head, leaving it teetering on a mere 3 hit points. Izil did as he was told, hobbling towards the eastern side of the cow field, as the wounded goblin inside began to climb the fence. The goblin who Ashlyn had battered with her shield somehow speared her foot, knocking her hit points down to 11. Not quite enough, thankfully, to drop another action point. The slower goblin she had passed caught up with them, but had no points left for an attack. The goblin who had killed Christoph¡¯s father now retaliated against Wade. Unprepared, the thief caught two powerful strikes. 11 damage knocked him down to a mere 6 hit points. Fortunately, the goblin whose jugular he had opened finally collapsed from blood loss. That left the goblin who had floored Eden, and managed to lose its spear to Femke. It tried to grab its weapon back while lashing out with a clawed hand, but Auntie was too savvy to let it back into the fight. She raked the spear blade across its neck, doing enough damage to take it out of the fight. She then used an action to return to the main fight, where only one goblin remained standing. Her first spear strike was good, sinking into the goblin¡¯s back for four damage. The goblin cried out and managed to leap out of the way of her final attempt. But it only got as far as Wade¡¯s dagger, which he buried into its gut. The last of the five goblins had fallen, but there was nothing to celebrate. Wade rushed over to his son, while Auntie knelt by her brother. Greenblade put a sword through the goblin who had speared her foot. A shield barge was enough to finish the second goblin. The final goblin successfully negotiated the fence around the cow field, only to find Izil waiting for it. The Alinko ran it through with his sword, and the last of the goblins was finally dealt with. Ashlyn ran over to Christoph. ¡®I think he¡¯ll be alright,¡¯ The Bowman¡¯s mother said. ¡®So long as Femke gets a look at him.¡¯ ¡®Femke!¡¯ Ashlyn said, realising that Auntie and Wade had drawn a handful of goblins their way. ¡®Over there,¡¯ said Izil, pointing towards the two figures who headed their way. Wade carried his son. ¡®Is Eden alright?¡¯ Christoph¡¯s mother asked with concern. ¡®He¡¯ll be fine,¡¯ Femke answered. ¡®But I have dreadful news.¡¯ MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: The Gerd farm was defended Some of your mercs improved their stats: The Bowman: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 Greenblade: Might +1 Hit Points +1 Izil: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 Some of your ex-mercs improved their stats: Auntie: Might +1 Hit Points +1 Action Points +1 Wade: Skill with knives: expert Agility +1 Hit Points +1 Some of your ex-mercs levelled up: Wade is now Level 4 Chapter 86 Silence and Darkness and Half Dead Things Stricken left the Crimson Palace in the company of Amotken, the sorcerer who had given him life after death; and Eyota, who he had learned was a princess from a long forgotten realm called the Sargassian Empire. He supposed that being a princess entitled her to some deference from the likes of him. But they were both dead, and in his mind that evened things up a little. She stared in apparent disbelief at the ground on which they walked. Signs of the old road which took them west were still visible if one looked for them. No doubt in her day it was all very different. But he did wonder when she was going to get over it. Otherwise, the three of them walked in silence. It suited Stricken fine. Prattle was one of the many things that set him on edge. They arrived at the Moors of Misery. Instead of returning to the hollow where Amotken had his silent army, they crossed the moors to the River Auster. They came upon a row of stones that had been placed across the river to make a crossing point. Neither of his companions commented as they walked to the opposite bank, making Stricken suspect it was another, almost invisible remnant of the Sargassian Empire. They walked into a dense forest. It felt old¡ªlike the trees had long ago blocked access to the sun, creating a dark and eerie environment for those who had to walk along the ground. The birds, meanwhile, high up in the branches, seemed to proclaim this wood was theirs. They came upon a building very different in construction to the palace, yet equally grand in its own way. The walls and peaked roof were constructed from cream coloured marble. Steps led to an archway, either side of which stood two hooded figures, carved from marble. Their hands were on the hilt of their swords, both blades pointing to the ground. The marble showed signs of wear from the elements, while the forest plants had dared to invade the structure. No one, it seemed, had tried to defend it. Amotken held a hand out, palm turned up, and a pale light appeared. He led them through the archway into the darkness of the building. They made a right turn, walking along a perfectly constructed corridor, the walls and ceiling made from cut marble. The sorcerer¡¯s light revealed dark stains on the cream marble above finely worked sconces where torches had once burned. Now webs hung heavy from them. Shows no one has discovered this place, Stricken noted with a thief¡¯s eye. Otherwise, those sconces would have been lifted years ago. They took steps that spiralled down to an underground level that had been divided into rooms and connecting corridors, with enough space to accommodate a substantial population. Grey stone replaced the marble here, but it had been cut with the same skill as the upper level. Amotken led them to a central square. The entire place was deserted. Stricken was never one to get the jitters¡ªand that went double now he was dead. But this was the sort of place that would do it to you. ¡®Thy father is down here,¡¯ the sorcerer told Eyota, his voice sounding out of place amongst the stillness. They descended stone steps into a deeper darkness. Some of Stricken¡¯s senses were reduced in death, but he could make out an earthy smell and a dampness that chilled the bones. Much of the space was given over to small storage rooms, but the room they entered was long and wide. Ten stone sarcophagi were aligned in two rows. Eight had their lids intact, while two were open and empty. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡®When thou were killed, and the Crimson Palace was taken, we realised the empire had fallen. Our elven and dwarven allies gave up on us and sailed away. Emperor Sahale took his family, followers, and most important treasures here. Thy father didn¡¯t abandon you either, princess. Thy body was carried here, along with a small number of the champions who fought by thy side. ¡®The emperor placed a heavy duty on my shoulders¡ªto find a way to preserve the empire. I worked on a solution day and night. In the end, I arrived at my plan. Thy father and his family I placed in a great slumber, in this very place. I would wake them when the time was right¡ªwhen there was an opportunity to restore Sargassia to its glory.¡¯ Amotken¡¯s eyes wandered to the two empty caskets. ¡®Alas, I was learning as I went, and my efforts were imperfect. I lost two of my charges. But I have kept thy father alive all these years.¡¯ ¡®And what of me and the other fallen?¡¯ Eyota asked him. ¡®I had neither the knowledge nor the power to restore thee. Instead, I made four barrows, in which I placed the dead, along with the most precious treasures of the empire.¡¯ ¡®Why four?¡¯ ¡®I was spreading the risk. At that time, the future was hard to see. I protected the barrows with certain spells, powerful enough to keep them safe from the greenskin horde that plagued the land. They also served as an alarm. Should the barrows be breached, it would be a signal that creatures more intelligent than our foes had returned to Gal¡¯azu. ¡®No such alarm came. For years, I struggled alone, perfecting the secrets of prolonging life¡ªfor if I was to die, my plan would die with me. Then, also, I learned how to bring the dead back to life. I undertook thousands of failed experiments over the years. Eventually, small successes came. I was able to restore an increasingly greater part of individuals, until I produced creatures as advanced as Stricken here.¡¯ He gestured to Stricken, who wasn¡¯t sure whether he had been complimented or insulted. ¡®But I couldn¡¯t stop there. I had to be able to restore thee completely, Eyota, however much it cost me. ¡®I perfected my art in between long sleeps. Then I was woken. The first barrow was breached. Something had changed in Gal¡¯azu. When I investigated, I found humans had returned. They had pushed back the feeble descendants of our great enemy, claiming much of the land for themselves. Ignorant, of course, that their success would only make the greenskins stronger, and more determined to crush them.¡¯ ¡®Their ignorance is immaterial,¡¯ Princess Eyota said. ¡®My father will lead them. But what of our treasures? Where is my sword, and armour?¡¯ ¡®They have been claimed by these human explorers.¡¯ ¡®What? What foolishness hast thou committed, Amotken?¡¯ ¡®None. Because the humans will find us. Then I will bind them to our service¡ªjust like Stricken here. They will become our army¡ªgreater than it ever was, because our soldiers will be immortal. Thy sword and armour will be returned to thee, and thou will lead them against our foes.¡¯ Eyota approached Amotken and placed a hand on his shoulder. ¡®Thou have done well, sorcerer.¡¯ Her words had a strange effect on Stricken¡¯s master. His face crumpled, and tears streamed down his cheeks. Stricken realised Amotken had been waiting for centuries to hear the princess speak such words to him. ¡®Come,¡¯ she said. ¡®It is past time to wake my father. Get thy creature to help me.¡¯ Amotken nodded at Stricken, and he dutifully approached the sarcophagus. It was more elaborately decorated than the others, with coloured images and inscriptions. They shifted the stone lid across, before lifting it and placing it on the ground. Inside was no skeleton; a living man slept there. Stricken felt a pang of jealousy that a man born so long ago was still breathing, while he had become a lumbering corpse at the age of twenty-seven. Amotken¡¯s magic was similar to that displayed in the Crimson Palace, except the effort required was nothing like that needed to give life to Eyota. There was a muttering, as if several beings were speaking in the deep blackness. White light enveloped the emperor. From the corner of his eye, Stricken caught sight of something black scuttling from the room. Then Emperor Sahale sat up. Chapter 87 The Defence of Avolo Lothar retreated The Rotten Apples before the advancing goblins. They followed the Auster south, stopping for only a four hour sleep, with hourly watches. He had cause to curse when they set off, still in darkness. Ashlyn and Izil had slipped off in the night. He¡¯d given Christoph permission to leave for his family farm, but not those two. Izil was a liability, intent on getting revenge at any cost. He was tired, too, of Ashlyn¡¯s disobedience, and how it made him look. He understood that she was motivated by her father¡¯s death. She was young. But she could have spoken to him; and he had a war to fight. Such feelings were conflicted by his promises to The Bowman and Manslayer that he¡¯d look after the girl. He was growing tired of feeling responsible for everyone. I¡¯m done with mercs who can¡¯t be professional. They passed through farmland increasingly empty, and stripped of anything that could give the goblins sustenance. When they arrived at Avolo, Lothar found a city transformed. A militia had been established. It manned the gates, the walls, and the streets. He reckoned the population of Avolo had doubled. It had attracted many refugees, since it was the only settlement in Gal¡¯azu with solid defences. The only other option for worried settlers was to head west, where with any luck they might avoid the war. Lothar wondered how Eisenberg fared; he wondered about his project of Mer Khazer, which he hadn¡¯t been able to spend time on since its founding. But he had to focus on the here and now. He got his squad settled at The Smashed Marbles, before readying himself to leave. ¡®Henning,¡¯ he called, adding a jerk of the head for good measure. The tall scout wandered over. Lothar was finding he increasingly relied on the man to manage things for him. He just had to hope it wasn¡¯t another Cap situation all over again. ¡®Stiff,¡¯ said Tree. ¡®I need to find out the lay of the land. Treat this place like a fortress while I¡¯m gone. And if I don¡¯t come back, do your best for them.¡¯ ¡®You think you might not come back?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t know. Would you put it past the Blairs to try to do me in?¡¯ Tree shook his head. ¡®Anything¡¯s possible, I suppose. You¡¯re going alone?¡¯ Lothar thought about it. ¡®Probably isn¡¯t wise. Baron!¡¯ He called out. They walked through the early morning streets. ¡®I guess I¡¯m being paranoid about the Blairs,¡¯ Lothar said, as much to himself as to his companion. ¡®I doubt they know we¡¯re here.¡¯ ¡®I would venture that as much as they might want you dead, they realise we all have bigger fish to fry. Killing you would only add to the feud¡ªyour mercs would try to avenge you.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s reassuring to hear. Though I have my doubts about whether the Apples are as devoted as you imply.¡¯ He eyed the thief. ¡®That wasn¡¯t a subtle piece of advice, was it? You know I didn¡¯t agree to Greenblade and Izil leaving. I¡¯m the one who stopped them going after Rylan Blair.¡¯ The Baron shrugged. ¡®I just think you need to find some common cause with the Blades. Gal¡¯azu is kind of depending on it.¡¯ Gal¡¯azu, Lothar thought. And the little project you share with Rosalind. Foberoy¡¯s house was guarded by well armed sentries. Lothar wondered how well they could use the weapons they¡¯d been given. They were admitted inside, and shown to the merchant¡¯s study, where they waited. The door barged open and his daughter, Clara, entered. ¡®What news from out there?¡¯ she demanded, red-faced. Lothar and The Baron stood. ¡®The goblin army is out there, Miss Foberoy,¡¯ Lothar told her. ¡®But not close to the city.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t worry,¡¯ The Baron added. ¡®You are perfectly safe in Avolo.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t cosset me,¡¯ she shrieked at him. ¡®I¡¯ve heard what happened to Dorwich. We¡¯re next. And the council has banned any ships from leaving. We¡¯re stuck here!¡¯ It looked like she might say more; or start to cry. Instead, she stormed back out of her father¡¯s office. Lothar heard Urkal¡¯s voice murmur something to his daughter as they passed, then he entered the room she had exited. ¡®Apologies. Emotions are high in the city. There¡¯s a lot of doom mongering.¡¯ ¡®No need to apologise,¡¯ Lothar said, retaking his seat as the merchant slumped into his. ¡®I need your report, first,¡¯ Urkal said. Lothar forgave him for his abruptness. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked worn down. No doubt there had been a lot to organise. He didn¡¯t exaggerate his Order¡¯s efforts too much¡ªimplying they had done more fighting than they actually had. He admitted his destruction of Linby¡¯s bridge. ¡®Sounds like you¡¯ve had it easier than the Golden Blades.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve lost three mercs!¡¯ Lothar said, glancing across at The Baron to see if the thief would contradict him. Not that he should have. It wasn¡¯t a lie. Exactly. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Urkal stared at him. ¡®So you haven¡¯t heard?¡¯ ¡®Heard what?¡¯ ¡®The Golden Blades were virtually annihilated at Dorwich. The Blairs made it back here with only four mercs for company. So far no other survivors have shown up.¡¯ Lothar¡¯s mind spun at the news. The Blades had seven. The Apples had thirteen. Allowing for quality, it meant they were probably even. It was a remarkable swing in fortunes. He was reminded of his very first days in Gal¡¯azu. Disembarking in Avolo, and running into Wynter and her cronies at The Anchor. The man sitting next to him had been his second recruit, after Trent Wade. With those two notable exceptions, there had been slim pickings at first. Sal Blair had commanded the best warriors and specialists in the land. How did I manage such a turnaround? Then his mind turned from the pros to the rather large con. ¡®Then the goblins? Avolo?¡¯ ¡®We think we can hold the city. We have enough manpower for the walls. Mayor Chorley is currently in Fuyang, putting the finishing touches to a treaty with the Kuthenians. They¡¯ll help supply us by sea. If this goblin king tries a siege, we¡¯ll outlast him.¡¯ ¡®Huh. Chorley has disappeared to Fuyang? We won¡¯t see him again.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s unfair, Sauer.¡¯ Lothar waved a hand. ¡®Maybe.¡¯ He didn¡¯t know the man. ¡®What¡¯s next?¡¯ ¡®Not sure. We¡¯ve done our best to save Avolo. The next question is, can the Apples and Blades do any more? I suggest a meeting. The three of us. And I think De Cheney should be there. Any objections?¡¯ Lothar found all he wanted to do was see Rosalind again. The rest of it somehow faded into insignificance beside her. ¡®No.¡¯ Six of them gathered that night at Foberoy¡¯s. Lothar took The Baron again, while Sal Blair was accompanied by a taciturn scout who went by the nickname Clamor. Lothar thought it was quite amusing. Urkal went up in his estimation by serving the last batch of his best whisky. ¡®Don¡¯t know when this will get imported again,¡¯ he said morosely. But it served its purpose in loosening a few tongues. ¡®I hear you lost only three mercs at Linby,¡¯ Sal began. Lothar could sense the simmering anger in the man. One such as Sal Blair, who had lost nearly everything, could be dangerous. ¡®Aye,¡¯ he said guardedly. ¡®Who?¡¯ Lothar nearly offered up the name of Izildra Bizra. But if Izil made a reappearance later, it would reveal him to be a liar. ¡®No one you know.¡¯ ¡®No one I know?¡¯ Sal replied with incredulity. ¡®The list of Blades killed in Dorwich is near endless, yet you lost no one I know? Because I can list quite a few Apples, seeing as many of ¡¯em were my mercs once. Let¡¯s see. Tree, Mental, and Smoke. Fortune, Pecs, The Hoffmeister, Izil. Then there¡¯s Bletcher. I¡¯ve heard you have a gnome in your squad. Any of them among your three?¡¯ ¡®Nope.¡¯ ¡®Many a merc killed in Dorwich was greater than Georg Hoffman. I reckon we took out five hundred goblins, all told. How many did you kill in Linby?¡¯ ¡®Not as many as that. But then we had a goblin mage to deal with.¡¯ Blair gritted his teeth, and looked about the table. ¡®The point is, The Blades have bled for Gal¡¯azu. Why should we be asked to do more, when his crew have sacrificed nothing?¡¯ No one at the table had a ready answer to that. ¡®I appreciate the sacrifice you made in Dorwich,¡¯ Lothar conceded. ¡®But what do you want from me? To get more of my crew killed, just to make it even with your losses?¡¯ ¡®Yes. Why not? I can¡¯t ask anyone to risk more when no one else in this godsforsaken city has put their life on the line.¡¯ ¡®Understandable,¡¯ Rosalind murmured. She flashed a look at Lothar, perhaps daring him to accuse her of taking the other man¡¯s side. ¡®But maybe we can discuss what needs to be done, and then work on sharing the responsibility.¡¯ Sal sighed. ¡®First off, we need people out in the field who can track the goblin army, report on its whereabouts, and not get killed in the process. Clamor here is the only one I¡¯ve got, but he can¡¯t do it all.¡¯ ¡®Fair enough,¡¯ Lothar said. ¡®I have two scouts. One of them¡ªTree¡ªyou both know. The three of them could share that responsibility.¡¯ He turned to Clamor. ¡®If you can promise me you¡¯ll work with them.¡¯ Clamor gave him a dull eyed stare, which made Lothar a little nervous. ¡®If you mean,¡¯ he rasped, ¡®will I betray the people I work with¡­never.¡¯ ¡®Fine,¡¯ said Lothar. ¡®Good. It¡¯s a start. I will make my mercs available for guard duty. Myself included. Clearly, we all need to pitch in to get through this. If there¡¯s anything else, you know where I am.¡¯ Tree, The Explorer, and Clamor left Avolo to track the approach of the goblin horde. Tree returned on the third day. He gave his report to Lothar and Sal Blair. ¡®The two parts of the army have rejoined. They¡¯re coming this way, but slowly. They¡¯re sending lots of raiding parties out into the countryside. Looks like they¡¯re struggling for food.¡¯ ¡®Good.¡¯ Lothar said. The council had imposed rationing on the citizens of Avolo, but at least they could keep everyone fed for a while. ¡®Anything else?¡¯ The scout gave a wry-mouthed expression. ¡®Just that mage. He knows we¡¯re out there, and is playing his little tricks on us.¡¯ ¡®What tricks?¡¯ Sal demanded. ¡®An idea comes unbidden into your head. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a good idea to go attack that raiding party of goblins.¡± Or walk off a cliff, or into a river. The other night I thought Clamor needed killing.¡¯ He shook his head. ¡®It¡¯s a good job there¡¯s the three of us, to stop each other from doing something stupid. Talking of which, I should get back, if there¡¯s nothing more.¡¯ They let him go. There was little else to do but wait. Rosalind, Urkal, and the council tinkered with their policies, but at this stage they had done most of the work. They had the walls, the supplies, and the manpower. What remained to be seen was whether the settlers of Gal¡¯azu had the courage and unity to see off the goblin threat. Each day, when Lothar took his turn to man Avolo¡¯s defences, he expected to see an army arriving on the horizon. But it never did, and the wait continued. Then the three scouts returned. Again, Lothar met with them along with Sal Blair, so that neither got to hear the news before the other. ¡®They¡¯ve turned west,¡¯ Clamor said in his gruff voice. ¡®Whether they ever intended to take Avolo or not, I don¡¯t know. But if so, their plans have changed.¡¯ ¡®The whole of Gal¡¯azu is open to them¡ªundefended,¡¯ The Explorer warned. ¡®They could soon take it all, and we¡¯ll be left with this tiny rump of land, and nothing else.¡¯ Lothar understood. He¡¯d envisaged a decisive siege here at Avolo¡ªone he¡¯d thought they had a reasonable chance of getting through. But ignoring Avolo seemed to play into the goblins¡¯ hands. It was the land they wanted; and putting all their efforts and resources into defending the city had given it to them. He was angry he hadn¡¯t seen the strategy coming, and ever more impressed with the goblin king who opposed them. Sal Blair sneered at him, a mocking pleasure in his face. ¡®Now it¡¯s your turn to watch everything you¡¯ve toiled for taken from you.¡¯ Chapter 88 Mission #25 Kill Rylan Blair Part One
Greenblade
Name Ashlyn Sawrey
Nickname Greenblade
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 21
Daily Wage 1 shilling
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 5
Hit Points 24
Core Stats
Might 11
Agility 10
Grit 9
Intellect 9
Skills Swords (expert), Shields (proficient), Knives (competent) Spears (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Greenblade, Monsters only To Hit +4 & Damage +8, regular damage 4-32), Knife (damage 2-8)
Armour Armour of Resilience
Other
Izil
Name Izildra Bizra
Nickname Izil
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 19
Daily Wage 5 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 4
Hit Points 19
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 8
Grit 8
Intellect If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. 4
Skills Spears (proficient) Shields (competent) Swords (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Sword (short, damage 2-12) Shield (damage 2-6)
Armour Ring Mail
Other
Femke led the funeral for her brother. The family interred him in a round barrow, in a spot not far from the place he died. They were devastated, but proud of his achievements, and that he had died defending his family, and farm. It was only afterwards that Ashlyn was able to get some time alone with Christoph. ¡®I¡¯m so sorry.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t be. If you hadn¡¯t arrived, we¡¯d likely all be dead.¡¯ He gave her a puzzled look. ¡®I thought we agreed you weren¡¯t coming with me?¡¯ She smiled. ¡®You didn¡¯t really expect me to let you do it alone, did you?¡¯ Her smile faltered when she saw his expression. Christoph stared at the ground, as if it was too painful to look at her any longer. ¡®You¡¯re staying here,¡¯ she said. ¡®I understand.¡¯ She¡¯d seen his mother and sisters clinging to him in the last couple of days. ¡®Your family needs you.¡¯ They¡¯re lucky to have you. He forced himself to raise his eyes. There were tears in them. ¡®You could stay here with me, you know.¡¯ Except, she could tell from his voice, he knew she couldn¡¯t. ¡®I have to do this, Christoph. I couldn¡¯t be happy here. It¡¯s hard to explain¡ª¡¯ ¡®You think I don¡¯t understand? Especially now?¡¯ ¡®I know you understand,¡¯ Ashlyn said. She leant into him, and he held her. She couldn¡¯t stop a sob from escaping, her body shaking with it. ¡®Please don¡¯t get yourself killed, Greenblade,¡¯ he whispered. Ashlyn and Izil left as the light faded. It was easy to spot the goblin camp south of the farm. The creatures obviously had nothing and no one to fear, since a hundred fires announced their presence to the rest of Gal¡¯azu. ¡®We could detour further around them if we head to the river,¡¯ the Alinko warrior suggested. Ashlyn shrugged, then tapped the hilt of her sword. ¡®If we run into any, we can deal with them.¡¯ ¡®Hmm. Not a whole army of them. But I respect your confidence.¡¯ He watched as she strode through a muddy patch of ground when she could have walked across the rocks on either side. Realisation dawned on his face. ¡®You¡¯re making a trail for them to follow.¡¯ ¡®If they start wondering what happened to their missing raiding party, I¡¯d rather they followed us than head to the farm. Got a problem with that?¡¯ ¡®No. I have no problem with dying. I just need Rylan Blair to die first.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s the plan.¡¯ Security was tight in and out of Avolo, but when Ashlyn and Izil explained they were members of The Rotten Apples, they were allowed entry. They decided to head straight for The Smashed Marbles. ¡®Where are Stiff and the others, Murder?¡¯ Ashlyn asked the big man. ¡®Mada.¡¯ ¡®I had a feeling you were going to say that.¡¯ Suzie bustled over. ¡®You¡¯ve just missed them. Stiff has taken the squad out west, following the goblin army.¡¯ That was a relief. If the goblins had decamped and marched west, it was less likely they would have sent a second force to the Gerd farm. ¡®You can probably catch them up,¡¯ the girl added. ¡®I think they¡¯re going to need all the help they can get.¡¯ ¡®No doubt. A dozen mercs marching after an army doesn¡¯t make a whole lot of sense. But we¡¯ve got something to do in Avolo first. Where are the Golden Blades likely to be hanging out?¡¯ ¡®Darned if I know. Been busy cooking all night and day for the last week. Bought food for fifteen mercs, and then they all cleared off with no warning.¡¯ ¡®Chances are they¡¯re in The Anchor,¡¯ Izil said. ¡®That¡¯s where we used to gather.¡¯ ¡®Then rest up here, enjoy Suzie¡¯s cooking, and I¡¯ll go investigate The Anchor.¡¯ Izil was quick to anger. ¡®Not without me you won¡¯t!¡¯ Ashlyn gave him a look. ¡®The Blairs see you coming, they¡¯ll know what¡¯s up in an instant. They don¡¯t know me.¡¯ For a brief moment, he looked a little sheepish. ¡®Of course. I forgot you weren¡¯t in Urlay with us. When it happened. Fine. But as soon as you find them, come straight back for me. No going it alone.¡¯ Ashlyn was a bag of nerves when she entered The Anchor. She wasn¡¯t an expert on subterfuge like The Baron. And while all she was doing was going to an inn and ordering a drink¡ªnot the most taxing of assignments¡ªshe was acutely self conscious. Young women entering such establishments alone did not go unnoticed, which was exactly what she would have wanted. She stayed at the bar, eyes fixed on her drink, as if that was the only thing in the world of interest to her. Only after a while, once any interest in her was long gone, did she risk looking about the place. She¡¯d never set eyes on the Blairs, always somewhere else when the confrontations between Blades and Apples had occurred. But she was sure she¡¯d know them when she saw them. The place was busy. Avolo had doubled in size recently, while the threat to Gal¡¯azu seemed to have intensified the hedonistic temperament of its citizens. There were many groups the size of the one she was looking for. A lot of them carried weapons. All talked loudly. ¡®Hello there,¡¯ came a smooth Hargon accent next to her. She looked up to see a striking face, framed by wavy dark hair. The man¡¯s glittering eyes caught hers. He allowed her a few moments to take in all the glorious details, before nodding at her drink. ¡®A sweet girl like you drinking ale?¡¯ Ashlyn felt the stirring of some memory, as if she should know who this was. Someone had told her about him. No one this handsome went through life without comment. But the details wouldn¡¯t come. She played for time. ¡®I was brought up on the stuff. Back home.¡¯ ¡®Ah. A Durnost girl. From somewhere up north, by your accent.¡¯ ¡®Very good.¡¯ ¡®Rake!¡¯ came a voice. The man¡¯s face dropped, like a cat watching its bowl of cream getting taken away. With reluctance, he turned from Ashlyn to a second man approaching them. This one was more ordinary looking in every way. Yet he carried an air of authority about him. ¡®Follow him, will you?¡¯ He gestured towards a third figure, rolling towards the exit. ¡®It¡¯s not safe for him to go alone, and I¡¯ve things to do.¡¯ His eyes darted to Ashlyn, giving her only the briefest examination. ¡®You can work on your next conquest afterwards.¡¯ Ashlyn went cold. She knew this arrogant bastard was Salvador Blair. The man leaving The Anchor was Rylan. And the handsome one? It clicked into place. Rake. Femke and Mila had told her about their mission to Dorwich. They¡¯d rescued a rich girl who¡¯d fallen for one of the Blades¡¯ mercs. Her hand went to the hilt of Greenblade. She forced herself to stop. Draw on them here and now, and she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. She could tell Rake was displeased with his orders. But he followed them, heading for the exit. He refused to even look at Ashlyn, as if he felt humiliated by the encounter. Sal Blair gave Ashlyn a last, disinterested glare, before retreating into the throng of drinkers. Ashlyn watched Rake leave The Anchor as her mind whirled, trying to catch up with the speed of events. You can¡¯t just stand here, she berated herself. She made her decision, heading towards the exit. Rake was moving fast to catch up to Rylan Blair, who was toddling down a side street. Ashlyn followed at the same pace. Not long after the two mercs joined up, they came to a stop outside an unremarkable looking house. She managed to overhear the tail end of a conversation. ¡®¡ªif I was as pretty as you, Raimy, I wouldn¡¯t have the need to pay for it.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ve more than enough coin to share about.¡¯ ¡®True.¡¯ Rylan patted Molleker on the cheek. ¡®Thanks for being my chaperone. I¡¯ll warn you now, you¡¯ll have a long wait out here.¡¯ ¡®Not what I¡¯ve heard.¡¯ Blair laughed as he pushed open the door and disappeared inside. Rake stared back up the street with a sour expression. It changed when he spotted Ashlyn. Shit. He¡¯s seen me. ¡®Girl from Durnost!¡¯ he called out. Shit on it. Ashlyn walked towards him, unable to think of any other response. ¡®I must have made some impression on you to follow me here. Shame I¡¯m on duty, but such is the life of a Golden Blade.¡¯ This last part was said with the expectation that it would impress her. ¡®Tell me your name, sweetheart.¡¯ Ashlyn considered drawing Greenblade on him. A surprise attack might work. More likely, he¡¯d cut her down. Either way, the Blairs would escape justice. She racked her brain for a false name. Suddenly, coming up with one single female first name was beyond her. ¡®Rake!¡¯ came a scream from the top of the street. ¡®Clara?¡¯ said the merc. Yes, Clara, Ashlyn thought. That would have done fine. She turned to see the girl striding towards them, her blonde hair elegantly pinned up. ¡®I had to see you!¡¯ the girl said. She shot Ashlyn daggers as she passed her, then wrapped her arms around Molleker. Ashlyn got a whiff of heady perfume that almost made her wish Clara was clinging to her. ¡®I¡¯ve been kept busy,¡¯ Rake said apologetically. Ashlyn silently thanked Clara for rescuing her. She backed away a few steps before turning for the exit to the street. Well, Ashlyn, she told herself. We¡¯ve learned a few things. One of them being that you¡¯re not cut out for cloak and dagger missions. Nevertheless, a plan was starting to form. Chapter 89 Mission #26 Kill the Goblin King Part One [Bonus Chapter - 14 Reviews!] MERCS: Wilson ¡®Twerk¡¯ Turk | Bletcher | Georg ¡®The Hoffmeister¡¯ Hoffman | Victor ¡®Pecs¡¯ Balinski | Eddie ¡®Fortune¡¯ Rich | The Baron | Liudmila ¡®Mila¡¯ Stradenko | Jaelin ¡®The Explorer¡¯ Topolski | Larik ¡®The Bludgeoner¡¯ Hunder | Lothar ¡®Stiff¡¯ Sauer | Odafe ¡®Smoke¡¯ Negedu | Mary ¡®Mental¡¯ Jenkins | Henning ¡®Tree¡¯ Teller Character Sheets:
Twerk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname Twerk
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 50
Daily Wage 11 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 5
Hit Points 25
Core Stats
Might 15
Agility 8
Grit 6
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axes (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Hand axe (damage 4-24), Hand axe (damage 4-24)
Armour Breastplate, Helm of Fortitude (+2 Grit)
Other
The Baron
Name Unknown
Nickname The Baron
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 31
Daily Wage 11 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 4
Hit Points 17
Core Stats
Might 7
Agility 12
Grit 6
Intellect 13
Skills Thievery, Disguise, Knives (proficient), Swords (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Short sword (damage 2-12), Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour Leather
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Coin of Deception, Amulet of Disguise, Necklace of Agility (+2 to Agility)
Mila
Name Liudmila Stradenko
Nickname Mila
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 20
Daily Wage 5 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 10
Grit 9
Intellect 5
Skills Thievery, Medic, Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour Armour of Unyielding Silk
Other Medical kit, Potions of Healing x2
The Explorer
Name Jaelin Topolski
Nickname The Explorer
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 26
Daily Wage 11 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 5
Hit Points 23
Core Stats
Might 8 This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.
Agility 11
Grit 11
Intellect 10
Skills Scouting, Bows (proficient), Knives (proficient), Spears (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Shortbow (damage 3-18), Knife (damage 3-12), Short spear (damage 1-6)
Armour Leather
Other Rod of Light
Bletcher
Name ?
Nickname Bletcher
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 20
Daily Wage 10 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 4
Hit Points 16
Core Stats
Might 4
Agility 5
Grit 8
Intellect 7
Arcane Powers
Sanctity Blessed
Erudition Dolt
Skills None
Equipment
Weapons None
Armour Padded
Other Staff of Warning, Mask of Magical Warding
The Hoffmeister
Name Georg Hoffman
Nickname The Hoffmeister
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 22
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 7
Grit 9
Intellect 6
Skills Spears (proficient), Shields (proficient), Hammers (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Pike (Spear of Riposte, damage 3-36, +4 on interruption), Shield (damage 3-9), Hammer (damage 2-12)
Armour Ring Mail (+Shield)
Other
Pecs
Name Victor Balinski
Nickname Pecs
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 24
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 25
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 7
Grit 8
Intellect 4
Skills Spears (proficient), Shields (proficient), Polearms (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Pike (Breaker, To Hit +2, Damage +2, damage 5-32), Shield (damage 3-9)
Armour Chain Mail (+Shield)
Other
Fortune
Name Eddie Rich
Nickname Fortune
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 52
Daily Wage 1 shilling
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 6
Hit Points 26
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 5
Grit 12
Intellect 10
Skills Swords (expert), Shields (expert), Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Redblade, Greenskins only To Hit +4 & Damage +8, regular damage 4-32), Shield (damage 4-12), Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour Chain Mail (+Shield)
Other
The Bludgeoner
Name Larik Hunder
Nickname The Bludgeoner
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 21
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 17
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 6
Grit 6
Intellect 6
Skills Maces (proficient), Shields (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Mace (damage 3-18), Shield (damage 2-6)
Armour Ring Mail (+Shield)
Other
Smoke
Name Odafe Negedu
Nickname Smoke
Race/Nationality Human/Alinko
Age 27
Daily Wage 2 shillings
Action Stats
EXP Level 5
Action Points 6
Hit Points 29
Core Stats
Might 13
Agility 14
Grit 11
Intellect 9
Skills Thievery, Knives (expert), Shields (competent), Spears (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Knives (damage 4-16), Shield (damage 2-6)
Armour Leather (+Shield)
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
Mental
Name Mary Jenkins
Nickname Mental
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 42
Daily Wage 1 shilling, 6 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 5
Action Points 7
Hit Points 31
Core Stats
Might 12
Agility 11
Grit 14
Intellect 7
Skills Berserker, Axes (expert), Knives (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Battleaxe (two hander) (damage 4-40), Dagger (4-16)
Armour Chain Mail
Other
Tree
Name Henning Teller
Nickname Tree
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 33
Daily Wage 4 shillings
Action Stats
EXP Level 6
Action Points 6
Hit Points 28
Core Stats
Might 11
Agility 16
Grit 11
Intellect 12
Skills Medic, Scouting, Spears (proficient), Bows (proficient), Shields (proficient), Axes (proficient), Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Short bow (damage 3-18), Spear (short, damage 3-18), Hand axe (damage 3-18), Knife (damage 3-12) Shield (damage 3-9)
Armour Scale Mail (+Shield)
Other Medical kit, Potion of Healing
Stiff
Name Lothar Sauer
Nickname Stiff
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 50
Action Stats
EXP Level 7
Action Points 8
Hit Points 36
Core Stats
Might 13
Agility 10
Grit 16
Intellect 15
Skills Swords (expert), Shields (expert), Spears (proficient),
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Slayer, To Hit +2, Damage +1, damage 5-33), Shield of Resistance (4-12)
Armour Chain mail (+Shield)
Other
Lothar left Avolo with The Rotten Apples. The goblin king¡¯s advance west had forced his hand. Somehow, he had to find a way to stop an army. And let¡¯s be honest, he told himself. The only thing I¡¯m any good at is killing. The odds were certainly not in his favour. He had received a major boost, however. Sal Blair¡¯s merc, Clamor, was accompanying them. Lothar walked at the front with the three scouts, keen to pick their brains for any information that might help. ¡®I appreciate the help,¡¯ he told his fellow Hargon. The scout gave him an odd look, as if he was not used to people speaking to him. ¡®I¡¯ve been tracking the goblins with Tree and The Explorer. I¡¯m not going to leave them in the lurch now. Besides, the goblins are a threat to all of us. They killed my friends.¡¯ ¡®Of course,¡¯ Lothar said amiably. ¡®I wonder, might I have a look at your stat sheet? To best learn how to deploy you?¡¯ ¡®Let¡¯s get one thing straight,¡¯ the scout said in a gravelly voice. ¡®I¡¯m not an Apple; I¡¯m still a Blade. I don¡¯t answer to you. I¡¯m an ally¡ªfor this mission, and this mission only.¡¯ ¡®Got it,¡¯ Lothar said. I get the feeling he doesn¡¯t like me very much. Tree and Jaelin couldn¡¯t help smirking at the exchange. ¡®I¡¯m keen to learn about the enemy,¡¯ Lothar persevered. ¡®Any units we should be wary of. Does the king have a bodyguard? That kind of thing.¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ Clamor told him. ¡®The only difference is that some of the goblins are trained and equipped as warriors, while the rest are just ordinary goblins. The warriors fight with spears; a few have bows.¡¯ ¡®And definitely no wargs?¡¯ ¡®None. From what I¡¯ve been able to tell, the goblins were forced off their lands east of the Auster by the Kuthenians. It is flat territory, and I imagine they do not have access to wargs.¡¯ ¡®Unlike those out west,¡¯ Lothar mused, ¡®like the goblins of Strong Club. We don¡¯t want the two groups to meet and unite, that¡¯s for sure.¡¯ ¡®That would not be good,¡¯ Tree agreed. ¡®There is a problem if your plan is to target the king,¡¯ he said, with a look at Clamor. His fellow Hargon scout sighed, as if he had already done enough talking. ¡®We tried that at Dorwich. I killed a goblin who spoke as if he was the king. He wasn¡¯t. The king takes steps to hide his identity, at least when faced with an enemy.¡¯ ¡®Oh,¡¯ Lothar said, disappointed. ¡®I thought there might be a special bodyguard that would tell us where the king was.¡¯ ¡®No such luck,¡¯ said Tree. ¡®And what about this mage? He¡¯s trying to get into your heads?¡¯ ¡®He still tries it from time to time, when we get close,¡¯ Tree confirmed. ¡®He must be able to sense our approach.¡¯ Lothar let out a long breath. ¡®That¡¯s a lot to deal with when we only have Bletcher to counter him. So, we have a mage who can sense us coming; a king who refuses to reveal himself; and thousands of armed goblins.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s the size of it,¡¯ Tree agreed. Lothar was silent while he mulled over his options. Whatever he decided, it had to be done quickly. The goblins would reach Eisenberg soon¡ªthere would be nothing left of the town when they were done. ¡®This mage senses your approach,¡¯ he said at last. ¡®He knows you¡¯ve been tracking the army, and he¡¯d be surprised if you gave up now?¡¯ ¡®I suppose so,¡¯ Tree said. ¡®Why? For some reason, I don¡¯t like where you¡¯re going with this.¡¯ ¡®I think, if we¡¯re to stand a chance, we need to put this goblin mage at ease. That means taking you three out of the equation. It would be preferable if you could lead some of the goblin warriors away while you¡¯re at it.¡¯ ¡®I think I see what you¡¯re getting at,¡¯ Clamor said, a measure of respect returning to his demeanour. ¡®But I don¡¯t know where we can lead hundreds of goblins and not get killed in the process.¡¯ ¡®The Swamp,¡¯ The Explorer spoke up. The other two gave him dubious looks. ¡®I¡¯ve been in and out a few times,¡¯ Jaelin insisted. ¡®It¡¯s hard going when you don¡¯t know the terrain. Easy to get lost. We could lead them a merry dance there. I¡¯m sure of it.¡¯ ¡®How far?¡¯ Clamor asked. ¡®We¡¯d be going at full pace,¡¯ The Explorer said. ¡®From here, we could do it in a day.¡¯ ¡®An entire day running from hundreds of goblins?¡¯ Clamor asked him. ¡®It only takes one mistake, or one injury, for us to get caught. They can afford to take endless risks¡ªthey only need a few to take us out.¡¯ ¡®I understand that. I¡¯m not guaranteeing we¡¯ll make it. But if it¡¯s what needs doing, that¡¯s our best option. I¡¯ve travelled the terrain in between, while they¡¯ll be in unknown territory. It gives us a chance.¡¯ Clamor and Tree nodded their reluctant consent. ¡®Good,¡¯ Lothar said. ¡®Before all that, I need one more thing from you.¡¯ His scouts returned with their spoils¡ªthe clothes and weapons of a goblin warrior. Tree passed them over to The Baron. ¡®The vest has got blood on it,¡¯ the thief said with distaste. ¡®Funnily enough,¡¯ the Hargon replied, ¡®the little green bastard wouldn¡¯t part with them when we asked nicely.¡¯ The Durnishman wandered off with his fresh disguise. Lothar interrogated his scouts on the disposition of the goblin army. It moved slowly, the goblins searching the farms in their path for sustenance. But they could reach Eisenberg in a day. He knew the Apples had to act now. ¡®Look what I caught watching us,¡¯ boomed a voice. Pecs appeared¡ªin his clutches was a goblin, who he dragged over. Lothar cursed, grabbed the hilt of Slayer, and drew his sword. Pecs laughed, while the goblin removed an amulet from around its neck, and turned back into The Baron. The thief had a rather smug expression, while Pecs continued to guffaw¡ªin Lothar¡¯s opinion, long after any humour in the situation remained. ¡®I suppose I should be pleased to see it works,¡¯ Lothar admitted. ¡®Alright then. We¡¯re ready. If any of you are the praying type, now¡¯s the time.¡¯ Chapter 90 Mission #25 Kill Rylan Blair Part Two A knock at the door. ¡®Enter,¡¯ Ashlyn called. She looked out the window, keeping her back to the door. It swung open. She listened for footsteps, before turning around. ¡®Wait,¡¯ said Rylan. ¡®You¡¯re not Maeve.¡¯ He looked her up and down. ¡®But I¡¯m sure we could have some fun.¡¯ Izil loomed behind the door, sword already drawn. The Alinko was no good with knives, so it was swords that would do for Rylan Blair. Ashlyn gave Blair a smile, and he took another step towards her. ACTION ROUND
Tormenter
Name Rylan Blair
Nickname Tormenter
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 22
Daily Wage N/A
Action Stats
EXP Level 6
Action Points 7
Hit Points 33
Core Stats
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Might 15
Agility 11
Grit 12
Intellect 12
Skills Swords (expert), Knives (expert), Spears (proficient), Shields (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Sword (Blueblade, ?, regular damage 4-32), Dagger (damage 4-16)
Armour Chain Mail
Other
Izil got the drop on Rylan they needed. But as Ashlyn watched his strikes fail, an empty feeling grew in the pit of her stomach. Blair wore chainmail beneath his cloak. Had he known they¡¯d be here? How? With relief, she saw Izil¡¯s final sword strike land with crunching force on Rylan¡¯s arm. The blow dealt 9 points of damage, and took away an action point. Ashlyn reached for Greenblade that she¡¯d placed ready under a blanket on the bed. But Rylan was a fraction quicker. He was forced to use an action to draw Blueblade and make space, then he launched a flurry of blows on Izil. The very first got past Izil¡¯s defences, taking 15 hit points. Izil managed to avoid the second, but not the third. A brutal sword strike to the midriff left him dead. Rylan spun around. He saw Greenblade in Ashlyn¡¯s hand and grinned. He made up the space between them frighteningly fast, then swung a low blow. Ashlyn reacted on instinct, parrying. Sparks flew as the blades met. But she wasn¡¯t quick enough to react to his next move, as he moved wide and slashed at chest height. It was a hit powerful enough to have killed with one strike. Yet it didn¡¯t take a single hit point, her Armour of Resilience saving her. Rylan¡¯s expression turned to concern. Ashlyn had all 5 actions left. She tried to back up to give herself room for her first strike, but she came up against the bed and it was a weak blow that failed to do any damage. She made to repeat it, but squatted down at the last moment, rewarded with a terrible strike across his knees that floored her opponent, leaving him on a mere 5 points. Somehow, Rylan rolled away from her third blow. But he couldn¡¯t escape the next, Greenblade lodging in his back. He spasmed, in a brief moment of pain, then he was dead. Rylan was dead. Izil was dead. And I didn¡¯t even take a scratch. She knelt beside Izil, searching for a pulse. There was none. Stupid, she berated herself. Now her trews were soaked in blood. Something made her check on Rylan as well, even though she knew she¡¯d killed him. She went to the window, worrying that someone had accompanied Rylan here, like Rake had done the other night. There was no one there. I need to get out of here, she told herself. She turned on Rylan¡¯s corpse, angry. ¡®Why did you wear chain mail to visit with a whore?¡¯ she demanded of him. The idiocy of her behaviour dawned on her. ¡®You¡¯re in shock,¡¯ she muttered to herself, and the realisation helped her snap out of it. Izil had been prepared to die. They both had. She shouldn¡¯t be surprised about the outcome. She wasn¡¯t a child. With shaking hands, she undid Rylan¡¯s belt and took the scabbard. She organised herself until she had both magic swords at her belt, one on each hip. She couldn¡¯t help giving Izil¡¯s body a last look. He¡¯d told her, if it came to it, to leave his body. He wanted everyone to know he¡¯d avenged his brother. She wondered if he¡¯d known this would be the outcome. She exited the house, into the street¡ªhalf expecting to find someone waiting in the shadows for her. But she was free. She¡¯d got away with murder. She walked the streets of Avolo in a daze, finding herself inside The Smashed Marbles before she knew it. She sank into a chair, her legs shaking. ¡®Drink!¡¯ She called out. ¡®Something strong.¡¯ ¡®Mada.¡¯ Murder arrived with a cup and bottle. She took both, pouring herself a drink, necking it, and then pouring a second. She placed them onto the table, unable to hold them without shaking. Suzie approached. ¡®Izil?¡¯ ¡®Didn¡¯t make it.¡¯ ¡®You?¡¯ ¡®Not a scratch. Hardly fair, is it?¡¯ She took another swig. ¡®I¡¯ve been imagining this moment,¡¯ she told them, ¡®for a long time. In all my fantasies, I never felt this shit afterwards.¡¯ ¡®Mada,¡¯ Murder said mournfully. ¡®It was murder,¡¯ Ashlyn agreed. She downed her drink. ¡®Christoph is better off without a murderer by his side. Even though no one can say Rylan didn¡¯t have it coming. Thing is, I feel just as empty as the day I was told my father was dead.¡¯ She caught Suzie¡¯s frown. ¡®What? I said the wrong thing?¡¯ ¡®Murder isn¡¯t actually saying ¡°murder¡±, you know. He¡¯s saying ¡°mother¡±.¡¯ It was the saddest thing Ashlyn had ever heard. Her defences broke. She sobbed, and tears rolled down her cheeks. MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: Rylan Blair was killed Some of your mercs improved their stats: Greenblade: Grit +1 Hit Points +1 No mercs levelled up Fallen Apples: Izildra ¡®Izil¡¯ Bizra Chapter 91 Mission #26 Kill the Goblin King Part Two In the half light, Jaelin walked between Clamor and Tree, their path fringed by woodland on either side. ¡®I see them,¡¯ Clamor warned. It was confirmation of what they already knew¡ªthey were walking into a trap. The goblin mage had suggested they come this way. It was a subtle steer, that Jaelin only perceived because he was getting used to the mage¡¯s attempts to lure them into danger. ¡®This side, too,¡¯ said Tree. Goblins hid among the trees. If they went much farther, the ambush would be triggered. There was something uniquely unsettling about deliberately walking into a trap a wizard had set for them. Jaelin was certain he wouldn¡¯t have gone through with it without the two experienced scouts for company. Even with them, he could barely resist the impulse to flee. Ahead of them, a thick patch of undergrowth came into view. He couldn¡¯t see any waiting goblins¡ªyet he was certain they¡¯d be there. ¡®Stop here,¡¯ Clamor said in his dry voice. ¡®I think we¡¯ve gone far enough.¡¯ They stood still. The other two had their bows at the ready. Jaelin¡¯s stave was secured across his back. His role was to lead them away. Whether it was under instruction from the mage, or their own decision, the goblins decided now was the time to act. They poured from the woodland on either side, and Jaelin saw the patch of undergrowth ahead explode with movement. Clamor got off five shots; Tree two. When they were done, four goblins lay dead, and a fifth was incapacitated. Not that it made much difference. There were hundreds waiting for them¡ªin a strange way, it felt like a compliment to the three of them. Most goblins ran at them at full pelt, spears held in both hands. Others had bows of their own. It was time to go. Jaelin turned and ran. Clamor and Tree followed him. The goblins let out whoops of excitement, and bloodthirsty roars. They had their prey in their sights, and they were not about to let them escape. *** Not far away, Lothar heard the noise from the chasing goblins, and knew it was time for his squad to do their part. They were gathered beside a large, smooth, grey rock that loomed alone among the flat terrain that lay between Avolo and Eisenberg. It was a spot to retreat to¡ªfor there was no doubt, they would have to retreat. Whatever they were able to achieve tonight, it wouldn¡¯t be the defeat of the goblin army. He took Mila and Mental aside. ¡®You two are staying here. Wait for our return. Chances are, we¡¯ll need you.¡¯ Jenkins looked unhappy. ¡®I get why we need to keep her alive,¡¯ she said, with a nod to Mila. ¡®But I¡¯m just as capable of dropping goblins as the rest of you.¡¯ ¡®I have no doubt about that,¡¯ Lothar told her. ¡®But our mission is to drop goblins and then get the hell out of there. If you can¡¯t extricate yourself when needed to, then you become a liability.¡¯ Mental nodded¡ªdisappointed, but accepting. ¡®If we make it out, I¡¯ll be very surprised if there isn¡¯t still fighting to do, if that¡¯s any consolation.¡¯ ¡®A little.¡¯ ¡®Right,¡¯ he said, turning to the rest. Himself included, there were eight of them about to attack a goblin army camp. ¡®You¡¯re going to witness what a small number of people with a clear objective and decisive action can do. The goblin army is spread over a large area, into groups each gathered around a fire. From the sounds of it, they¡¯re at least a couple of hundred warriors light, courtesy of our scouts. What¡¯s more, their mage is not expecting us. He¡¯s used some of his magic, and as far as he¡¯s concerned, it worked. The meddlesome scouts will soon be brought before him, probably dead. He¡¯s relaxed. ¡®This is where Bletcher comes in.¡¯ He gestured to the wizard, who was already wearing his Mask of Magical Warding, and gripped the Staff of Warning. ¡®He will use the staff to guide us to the mage, and the mask to suppress the goblin¡¯s sorcery. We take the mage out before the goblins know what¡¯s hit them, and then we get the frig out of there.¡¯ This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Lothar approached Larik the Bludgeoner, and handed him Jaelin¡¯s Rod Of Light. ¡®You¡¯re Bletcher¡¯s guide. You help him get where he needs to be. You protect him. You communicate with the rest of us, clear and calm. And you shine that light, nice and bright, on our target.¡¯ Larik looked less than thrilled with the assignment. ¡®I¡¯m not much use at anything that doesn¡¯t involve hitting things,¡¯ he said. ¡®You¡¯ll do fine,¡¯ Lothar assured him. He hoped he wouldn¡¯t have to spell out that 17 hit points left the Bludgeoner vulnerable to the goblin threat. The bastards might not get you with the first strike, but there were just so many of them. Fortunately, Larik accepted his orders. ¡®Questions?¡¯ ¡®How are we lining up?¡¯ Twerk asked. ¡®Bletcher and Bludgeoner at the back. I¡¯m the tip of the spear on this one. Keep up with me. Pecs and the Hoffmeister on my shoulder. Twerk, Fortune, and Smoke, be ready to remove any barriers. Remember, this is not standing in a shieldwall. This is fast¡ªin and out. If we stop, for any reason, we¡¯ve had it.¡¯ Lothar struck just as the goblins were settling down for the night. He broke through a barely existent defensive cordon by going straight for a single goblin, despatching it on his first swing of Slayer. He moved on before the corpse hit the ground, Pecs and The Hoffmeister following on either side. Their next obstacle was a dozen goblins, caught in the middle of preparing their evening fire. ACTION ROUND
Goblin Warriors
Goblin Warrior
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 17
Goblin Regulars
Goblin Regular
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 14
As Lothar advanced on the nearest, Smoke¡¯s thrown dagger spun past him, lodging in the chest of a goblin, and bringing it down to 6 hit points. Lothar attacked. Slayer and the Shield of Resistance accounted for six of the goblins, plus finished the one Smoke had injured. The Hoffmeister and Pecs used the Spear of Riposte and Breaker to equally ruthless effect. Along with a couple of well placed shield strikes, the pair accounted for the remaining five goblins. The only mopping up required of their back up crew was to finish two goblins Lothar hadn¡¯t quite killed. But the mercenary captain took no time to relish success. This was what they needed to do. As soon as their momentum was halted, they would be in trouble¡ªtheir goblin enemies allowed to respond, and surround them. He plowed further into the goblin camp. ¡®Turn left now,¡¯ The Bludgeoner called out, ¡®towards that fire.¡¯ He was clear, and loud¡ªexactly what they needed. Lothar didn¡¯t know what cryptic pronouncements Bletcher was mumbling, and didn¡¯t have the time to worry. He led his crew towards a fire that was already alight. There were slightly more goblins gathered here, perhaps a score in all. ¡®That¡¯s him!¡¯ The Bludgeoner declared, blasting the Rod of Light at a bulky figure wrapped in furs. A horned helmet covered the goblin¡¯s face. Somehow, Bletcher had located their target, whilst also suppressing the mage¡¯s magic. ACTION ROUND
Goblin Mage
Goblin Wizard
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 4
Hit Points 19
Before Lothar could react, a figure ran past him. ¡®He¡¯s mine,¡¯ Smoke declared. It only took the agile thief a single action to reach their target. The first two stabs from his assassin¡¯s knife plunged into unprotected spots, and were enough to snuff out the life of their antagonist. He then wasted no time in extricating himself, taking a blow from a goblin spear as he did, for 3 points of damage. He proceeded to run back the way they had come. Chapter 92 Mission #26 Kill the Goblin King Part Three ¡®Larik, follow him!¡¯ Lothar shouted, keen for the young warrior to get Bletcher to safety. Lothar advanced on the nearest goblins, giving himself seven actions worth of fighting. Maybe it was the warning they had been given; maybe he was facing a better class of opponent than before; but only two of his sword strokes found their target. His shield work made up for it a little, but five kills still left fourteen goblins ready to get their revenge. It was more than fortunate that Twerk managed to get in his attack before the greenskins. After spending one action point to reach a crowd of goblins, his twin axes were whirling. His attack put Lothar to shame, connecting with seven axe strikes. The gnome matched Lothar¡¯s results, taking another five out of the equation. But nine goblins now went on the attack. They weren¡¯t the most fearsome of opponents, but they were cunning. Three each took on Lothar and Twerk, allowing them to unload all their actions into attacks. The remainder each spent an action point to reach The Hoffmeister, Pecs, and Fortune, dragging them into the combat. The Shield of Resistance helped Lothar see off all but two of the goblin spear strikes. The two that got past his defences knocked him down to 29 hit points, and 7 action points. The actions were as much of a concern as the hit points. Fall too low, and they¡¯d be unable to outpace the goblins, who would now be making their way towards the sound of battle. Twerk came off slightly worse, dropping to 16 hit points and 4 action points. The Hoffmeister failed to fend off his opponent¡¯s attacks, dropping to 17 hit points and 4 actions. Pecs lost only a single hit point, his ability to soak up attacks proving most useful. Fortune fell to 22 hit points and 5 actions. The Hoffmeister redeemed himself with some excellent work with the Spear of Riposte, killing both his own opponent, and Pecs¡¯. Freed, Pecs attacked the three goblins who had piled on Twerk. Lothar would have preferred the pair to have turned and run, but he admired their loyalty to their crew. The big Livanian took out all three goblins, and Lothar had to admit they had been more than efficient. Fortune had covered the red gem of his sword with a piece of cloth so as not to betray their approach, but Redblade worked just the same. His second slash connected, and killed his opponent outright. He used his remaining three actions to flee, and Lothar thought no less of him for that. Finally, Larik did as Lothar had ordered him, and dragged Bletcher back the way they had come, towards the edge of the camp. The next round began. Smoke led the retreat, but after running for four actions was waylaid by a group of five goblins who had probably been chasing them since their incursion into the goblin camp. He had no choice but to fight his way through. Deadly as ever, he killed one with two stabs of his knife. Lothar swung Slayer in devastating arcs. It took him five actions to finish his three assailants. He could hear goblin voices in every direction, but couldn¡¯t afford to waste time assessing just how bad their situation was. He used his remaining two actions to chase after Smoke, not getting close to the thief by turn end. Twerk ran after Lothar, then past him, getting as far as Fortune, The Bludgeoner, and Bletcher. It was the goblins next. Smoke was in trouble, facing four of them alone. The start couldn¡¯t have been much worse, the first goblin getting in two strikes that took 11 points of damage. It was a similar story with the second goblin, only at least it was only 7 damage this time. The thief was left vulnerable, on only 8 hit points. The third goblin only hit once, for only 2 more hit points. Smoke evaded the fourth goblin completely, evening the results¡ªbut leaving him on a meagre 6 hit points and 2 action points. Meanwhile, goblins arrived on the scene from every direction. The closest got within one action point¡¯s range of Pecs, who was at the rear of the spread out Apples. They had to get past the four goblins who blocked their path quickly, or the rest of the greenskins would catch the slowest of Lothar¡¯s crew. And no one could stop to help their comrades now¡ªthat would be suicide. It had become every man for himself. The Hoffmeister used all 4 action points to run towards Smoke¡¯s position, but he came up short. In a strange way, the thief¡¯s speed had worked against him. He¡¯d run into trouble so far ahead of everyone else that he lacked the support needed in combat. Pecs¡¯ 5 action points saw him draw level with The Hoffmeister, putting a bit of distance between himself and the chasing goblins. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. It took The Bludgeoner 2 actions to reach the line of four goblins. It meant the Level 2 warrior only had one chance to make an impression on them. He fumbled it, his mace swing too slow and obvious to catch his agile goblin opponent. Bletcher, too, ran into the line of goblins. Lothar experienced a sinking feeling. With all due respect to his other mercs, each was replaceable. Bletcher wasn¡¯t, and while he had been more than useful in tracking down the mage, he had nothing to offer in a fight like this. His two strikes with the Staff of Warning were game, one of them even striking a goblin, but its basic hide armour was enough to protect it. Fortune reached the line of goblins after one action. His first strike with Redblade was true, its +8 damage bonus to greenskins turning a wound into a kill. His second sword strike was a repeat of the first. There were only two goblins left now, and the squad¡¯s chances of survival were growing. Eddie¡¯s third strike was his best yet, not even requiring his sword¡¯s bonus to get another kill. His final slash completed a clean sweep of hits, reducing the goblin to 3 hit points. His attempt to finish the creature off with his shield failed, leaving it annoyingly able to impede the group¡¯s progress. Smoke decided to risk an action to finish off the last goblin, which he accomplished. It allowed him to move a bit closer to safety with his second action. Lothar had 7 actions with which to make his escape. They took him past the line of dead goblins, past Smoke even, right to the edge of the goblin camp. Ahead, he could see the looming grey rock where Mental and Mila waited. Twerk was right behind him, giving the gnome a good chance of reaching safety. The goblin throng poured after them. But the only Apple slow enough to catch was Smoke, and he had a good head start on the pack. The Hoffmeister drew level with Lothar, and Pecs made it even farther. The Bludgeoner and Bletcher reached Pecs¡¯ position, then Fortune got as far as the giant rock. Mental appeared from the shadows, axe in hand. ¡®Keep going,¡¯ she shouted, fresh for the fight. But Lothar didn¡¯t think they¡¯d need her help to extricate themselves. He reached the rock himself. ¡®Mila,¡¯ he called. ¡®See to Smoke.¡¯ The Livanian rushed out and met the thief, and started to patch up the worst of his wounds. Her two potions of healing could be saved for another day; another mission. The goblins chased, but were yet to reach the line of their fallen brethren. It might have been a different story without Fortune¡¯s speedy dismantling of the enemy. Those goblin archers close enough, released their first volley of arrows. Only Pecs was struck, for a single point of damage. There weren¡¯t enough of them to worry the Apples. Yet. The rest of the squad joined them at the rock. Lothar looked across to Mila and Smoke. The medic¡¯s ministrations had added 4 hit points to the Alinko¡¯s total, enough to regain an action point. That was all they needed. Beyond the rock, a faint pink line appeared. ¡®That¡¯ll do,¡¯ Lothar said. ¡®Let¡¯s get out of here.¡¯ *** King Vralriaklug of the Never Defeated Goblins strode through the chaos of his camp. It had been going so well: the rich lands of the humans opening up to his army. They had been close to settling¡ªtaking control of more than enough land to replace the home which had been stolen from them. He had envisaged himself becoming the predominant power in the region. Now, hundreds of his warriors had gone running off south, another group was heading east, and no one could give him a satisfactory explanation as to why. Worst of all, his mage, Gokul, lay dead. Their alliance had held the tribe together, and got them this far. The king knew he was vulnerable without the magic Gokul provided. He was just another warlord, in a land of warlords, with an army badly decimated by recent fighting. He grabbed at the goblins milling about, trying to impose some order. ¡®Go south,¡¯ he instructed them, ¡®and tell those vermin to return here immediately! There¡¯ll be no mercy for anyone who disobeys me.¡¯ He set off for the eastern edge of his camp, intent on enforcing his authority over his foolish people. The palm of his hand itched for the hilt of his sword. It¡¯ll be a surprise to me if I don¡¯t kill someone soon. Goblins ran in every direction as he continued to issue his commands, no one willing to test his patience. He felt a presence behind him and stopped to find one of his goblins following him. He didn¡¯t recognise him¡ªtall, and with an idiot¡¯s face, perhaps he was a son of Ekrivalgrian. ¡®Do something useful and find me a horn,¡¯ he instructed. ¡®Damned goblins only listen when there¡¯s a horn telling them what to do.¡¯ The idiot bobbed his head in acknowledgement, yet his feet seemed stuck to the ground. ¡®Now!¡¯ the king boomed, and the lanky fool finally got the message. The king came upon more dead goblins¡ªfive of them had been cut down here. It looked like they had tried to waylay Gokul¡¯s assassins. Tried, and failed. Footsteps behind him. He turned. Well, by Gehenna, if it wasn¡¯t that lanky idiot again. ¡®Well? Have you found one?¡¯ The clod looked around in all directions, as if oblivious his king was talking to him. When Vralriaklug registered the pain, it was already too late. He hadn''t noticed the thin-bladed knife. The goblin stabbed him for a third time, and his vision went blurry. He could have sworn his killer¡¯s face changed in those last moments, replaced by a human visage. The king collapsed to the ground. The Baron had all the time in the world to deliver the death blow, before running off into the night. MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: The Goblin King was killed Some of your mercs improved their stats: Twerk: Agility +1 The Baron: Agility + 1 Bletcher: Agility + 1 The Bludgeoner: Agility + 1 The Hoffmeister: Agility + 1 Pecs: Skill with polearms: proficient Might + 1 Hit Points + 1 Fortune: Skill with swords: Master Might + 1 Hit Points + 1 Smoke: Grit + 1 Hit Points + 1 Action Points + 1 Stiff: Might + 1 Hit Points + 1 No mercs levelled up Chapter 93 Amotken鈥檚 Army [Bonus Chapter - 400 followers!] All eight members of the royal family were raised from their sleep. Three were women, a few years younger than their king. There was a young man and woman about the same age as Eyota; a boy not yet fully grown, and an even younger girl. All had the same dark skin and blue eyes of Eyota and Amotken. Emperor Sahale had his daughter¡¯s muscular frame and firm jawline. A salt and pepper beard, grown scraggly from his years of sleep, sat beneath full lips. There was a lot of talk in that underground lair, as the story Amotken had told was repeated from one to the other, rehashing the same facts. Stricken learned nothing new. He was ignored, an almost invisible servant of the sorcerer. He sidled towards an exit to the room. The scuttling creature ran, but too late. Stricken grabbed it, sinking his teeth into its soft underbelly as it still fought him. The taste was rancid, and he struggled to swallow the raw flesh. But I am so hungry. They left the forest, retracing their steps to the Moors of Misery. Here, at least, there was the beginnings of an army with which the Sargassians might rebuild. Stricken thought he might be sent back to the moors, to scare the humans from Amotken¡¯s dungeon. But he received no orders, instead tagging along with the group, like a dog. They made the difficult descent into the cavern. Some of the women looked about with consternation. This was not the Crimson Palace¡ªnot the life they once had. But Eyota and her father both had expressions set with grim determination, and no one dared to make a comment. They arrived in Amotken¡¯s lair. They were surrounded by rooms full of humans, about two score in each. They huddled around their fires, barely moving, as if collectively mesmerised by something in the flames. ¡®Where are they from?¡¯ Eyota asked. ¡®They are mostly our people,¡¯ Amotken told her. ¡®I collected them over the years and brought them here. Waiting for this very moment. A few are newcomers, who arrived in our old lands to the east. Kuthenians, they call themselves. They are numerous. It would not be difficult to take more.¡¯ ¡®Where are the rest of our people?¡¯ asked Sahale. ¡®Most fled east, where it is safer. But they are not our people any longer. They live in small tribes, with no towns or cities. The Sargassian Empire has become a legend, if they have even heard of it.¡¯ ¡®It is time for that to end,¡¯ said Eyota. She turned to her father. ¡®Give me this army Amotken has built, and let me remind Gal¡¯azu of what Sargassians can do.¡¯ A few cast doubtful looks, but none dared share their opinion. Instead, all eyes turned to their king. ¡®Very well, daughter. Thou will take a force out from here. Thou will see what has become of mine empire, and thou will report back to me.¡¯ He turned to Amotken. ¡®The rest will return to the Deepwood and restore my residence there. Thou hast done well all these years, Amotken. But I cannot stay in this hole a moment longer. I am the Emperor of Sargassia. And I have returned.¡¯ ¡®There are quicker ways to cross the river,¡¯ Stricken told Eyota. She looked annoyed. ¡®That is why thou are here, wight,¡¯ she told him. ¡®To tell me what has changed since I died.¡¯ ¡®Oh.¡¯ Amotken hadn¡¯t told him that. ¡®Well? What are mine options?¡¯ ¡®The nearest crossing is Urlay, a fishing village. It has a small wooden bridge. Dorwich is a bit farther, with a proper stone bridge. But it is a city.¡¯ ¡®Then lead us to Urlay,¡¯ the princess said impatiently. ¡®We are not about to besiege a city.¡¯ Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Stricken led the way, Eyota only a few paces behind. She was clad in the same basic armour as Amotken¡¯s silent soldiers. There were over half a thousand of them, following behind. Stricken didn¡¯t fully understand their objective. If it was to scout out enemy territory, the size of their force was too large. If it was to conquer, too small. But it seemed that the advice he was supposed to offer was limited to the geographical. ¡®Why is it that you lead this army, and not the king, or another man?¡¯ he dared to ask. ¡®I am the best. Tyee would like to lead, but I am better than him.¡¯ ¡®Tyee is your brother?¡¯ ¡®Half-brother. My father has two wives. Tyee¡¯s mother is a bitch.¡¯ They came upon Urlay at midday. Stricken had thought they were there simply to use the bridge, but Eyota¡¯s plans were more ambitious. She separated the silent warriors into two divisions, and had them attack the village from opposite ends. Warning shouts of ¡®the wight!¡¯ came when the first villagers they came across saw Stricken. But he was the least of their worries. The Sargassians were not shy of killing anyone who offered resistance. For Stricken¡¯s part, he showed willing, stabbing out with the short sword his master had given him. But it wasn¡¯t the same as wielding a cleaver. Once they had captured the village and searched all the properties, they had two groups¡ªone living, the other dead. ¡®What are we doing with them all?¡¯ Stricken asked. ¡®They will all go to Amotken. I don¡¯t think it matters whether they are alive or dead. He will add them to our army.¡¯ ¡®My master can transform all of these?¡¯ Stricken asked, gesturing at the corpses her soldiers had made. Eyota¡¯s impatient tone returned. ¡®I don¡¯t know what Amotken can or cannot do. It is for him to decide.¡¯ Her eyes narrowed. ¡®Thou may not eat any of them. Increasing our army is more important than satiating your base needs.¡¯ ¡®Do you feel the same hunger as I do?¡¯ Stricken asked her. But the princess ignored him. A hundred soldiers departed north from Urlay with the prisoners and the bodies. Eyota pressed the rest of her force further south, clearly not yet satisfied with their expedition. They arrived on the north side of a vale. Below, where one might have expected to see a settlement and agriculture, it was empty. ¡®Why have the settlers not taken this place?¡¯ demanded Eyota. Stricken shrugged. ¡®Most have not travelled this far. They live within a day¡¯s walk of Avolo, or along the river.¡¯ Suddenly, the princess hissed, and dragged Stricken to the ground. She pointed across to the opposite side of the vale. ¡®Greenskins!¡¯ Stricken peered over. Goblins, small and thin, had arrived on the south side of the vale. More of them appeared, talking and gesturing down at the valley floor, and across to where he and Eyota studied them. They waited. The goblins began to descend into the vale. More appeared: hundreds of figures swarming down. ¡®What are they doing here?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t know,¡¯ Stricken admitted. ¡®There are orcs and goblins out west. Maybe they have attacked the humans.¡¯ Eyota cursed. ¡®Why are they coming this way then?¡¯ ¡®I have no idea.¡¯ She seemed to think a while longer. The line of goblins didn¡¯t end, well over a thousand now making their way into the vale. ¡®We will attack them,¡¯ Eyota decided. ¡®Are you sure?¡¯ Stricken asked. They were only goblins, but still. They were goblins who outnumbered them. ¡®What dost thou or I care?¡¯ Eyota asked him. ¡®We are dead.¡¯ ¡®I suppose you¡¯re right.¡¯ The Silent Warriors poured into the vale. Stricken was no soldier, but there seemed little finesse to Eyota¡¯s tactics. On the other hand, the goblins, strung out in a long line as they descended into the vale, were in a very vulnerable position themselves. Some of the goblins fired arrows. But most of their archers were too far away to be a threat. With a war cry, Eyota swung her sword at the lead goblins. They held out their spears to block her, but invariably her blows landed, and often she killed with one strike, even with the plain sword Amotken had given her. Stricken joined her. He scored hits with two of his four actions, and they left his target only moderately injured, on 10 hit points. He was no Eyota; and without a cleaver, he wasn¡¯t even a Stricken. The goblins retaliated, spear blades jabbing into his chest and limbs¡ªcrunching, bruising blows that he felt in his bones¡ªsome punching through armour and cutting into muscle. Eyota took at least as many. They turned to one another and shared the same grin. Because neither was hurt. Seeing this, the goblins¡¯ morale sank. The same panicked faces stared out from the horde. For some reason, and despite their numbers, it seemed the enemy already lacked spirit. When the Silent Warriors joined the fight, the greenskins broke. They fled in all directions, desperate to make their escape. Not a single one seemed to rally the others. It made Stricken wonder where their leader was¡ªfor every army has a leader, or so he thought. He went to chase them, but Eyota put the flat of her sword to his chest. ¡®Don¡¯t get thy body any more beaten up than it needs to be,¡¯ she told him. Her warriors lost all cohesion, chasing individual goblins as they scrambled up the slopes of the vale. Green bodies soon littered the place. ¡®More soldiers for the army?¡¯ Stricken asked her. She stared at him, disgusted by the idea. ¡®There will never be greenskins in the Sargassian army! They must be destroyed. Every last one.¡¯ She tilted her head, eyes flicking from Stricken to her dead enemies. ¡®You may feed, Stricken.¡¯ Stricken didn¡¯t waste time, or words. He dropped his sword, and scrambled towards the nearest corpse. Chapter 94 Apples vs Blades ¡®We need to hurry,¡¯ Mila said, chewing at her lip. She wished Jaelin was here, but the scouts were yet to return from the mission to kill the goblin king. Not knowing how he fared put her on edge, on top of everything else. ¡®What? You don¡¯t think I¡¯m hurrying?¡¯ Wilson demanded. Mila hadn¡¯t realised he was, but she had learned to navigate the gnome¡¯s ego over recent months. ¡®Of course. I¡¯m just saying.¡¯ She cast nervous glances about them, peering down side streets, and up to rooftops. The Golden Blades were still in Avolo. The squad had soon learned of Rylan¡¯s killing when they returned to the city. It seemed inevitable that his brother would try to get his revenge on the Rotten Apples. The Apples were on full alert, Stiff warning them not to go out unless they were in a large group. Twerk had offered to accompany her through the city, and she was grateful. But she didn¡¯t think she and the gnome amounted to the large group their boss had in mind. Izil was dead, and Ashlyn was missing. But piecing together what Suzie had told her, Mila had a hunch where her friend might be. They reached the docks. Mila scanned the scene. It wasn¡¯t as busy as it got in the summer months. Fewer ship captains opted to make the crossing this time of year. Her years of thieving had given her good eyes for finding a target. She caught sight of half a dozen labourers carrying barrels to the wharf. Most were older men, stooping under the weight they carried, and the years of wear and tear on their bodies. One of them was a straight-backed woman. She had her hair tucked into a cap, and her plain trousers and tunic did something to hide her shape. But Ashlyn still stuck out like a sore thumb. ¡®There she is,¡¯ Mila said, and Wilson followed her over. Ashlyn¡¯s eyes widened when she saw them approach. She put down her load and walked over. ¡®You¡¯re back. You made it?¡¯ ¡®Goblin king and mage both dead,¡¯ Twerk boasted. ¡®Good.¡¯ She looked from one to the other. ¡®Any losses?¡¯ ¡®Hopefully not,¡¯ Mila told her. ¡®Jaelin¡¯s still out there with Tree and Clamor.¡¯ ¡®Then he¡¯s in good company,¡¯ Ashlyn reassured her. ¡®I suppose you heard about Izil?¡¯ ¡®The news is all over the city,¡¯ Mila said. ¡®Yeah. By the time it was done, it was too late for me to catch up to the squad. I don¡¯t know whether Sal Blair knows it was me.¡¯ She glanced at the wharf, where a deep hulled ship waited at anchor. ¡®I just thought it best if I leave.¡¯ ¡®Why?¡¯ Mila asked. ¡®You have friends here. What have you got back in Durnost?¡¯ Ashlyn said nothing, but Mila saw tears coming to the tough girl¡¯s eyes. ¡®Where¡¯s Christoph?¡¯ ¡®Back at his farm. He was right. The goblins did attack. We managed to deal with it, but his father was killed. He¡¯s needed there now.¡¯ Ashlyn took in a short breath. ¡®Besides, I¡¯ve been a selfish bitch. Thinking of myself the whole time. I got Izil killed, and most likely someone else, if Sal Blair gets his way. It¡¯s for the best if I just leave Gal¡¯azu.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s not how people see it,¡¯ Wilson told her. ¡®Those of us at Urlay were desperate to see Rylan get justice. We were desperate for Izil to get his revenge. You did all that. No one thinks less of you for it. On the contrary, many a drink was sunk to your name at The Rose. Or Smashed Marbles, I suppose I must call the place.¡¯ If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡®Well, that¡¯s something,¡¯ said Ashlyn. ¡®But I don¡¯t feel any better after what I did. All the hatred inside me, and the killing. I didn¡¯t feel any release after I killed him. I felt worse.¡¯ ¡®But that¡¯s why we look up to you,¡¯ Wilson told her. ¡®We¡¯re in an unpleasant business. I don¡¯t want a crewmate who doesn¡¯t care about killing people, like Cap. Or someone who enjoys it, like that bastard Stricken. So, you¡¯ve got a conscience. You feel something. Well good. I¡¯m glad.¡¯ Ashlyn hung her head, silent. ¡®You¡¯ll come back with us?¡¯ Mila asked her. Greenblade looked back at the wharf, and the ship. ¡®Alright. I guess I was running away from my troubles. Time to face them. Thanks for caring enough to come and get me.¡¯ They made their way back through the city. Sudden screams ahead made them look at one another. ¡®Come on,¡¯ said Wilson, and they ran towards the sound. A crowd had formed. When they pushed through, they found two bodies lying on the street. It was Fortune and The Hoffmeister. Mila knelt by them. The Hoffmeister stirred, turning awkwardly to look at Fortune. ¡®He¡¯s dead, isn¡¯t he?¡¯ Fortune was indeed dead, on -3 hit points. The Hoffmeister was on 2, in need of aid. ¡®I can save him,¡¯ Mila said. ¡®Here, hold this.¡¯ She handed Ashlyn a potion of healing. ¡®Put his head in your lap and get ready to give it to him.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re not going to waste one on him, are you?¡¯ Twerk complained. Mila glared at him. ¡®Help me get his armour off, will you?¡¯ The gnome grumbled, but complied. ¡®It was Sal Blair?¡¯ he asked The Hoffmeister. ¡®Yes. He was quick, on to Fortune before we knew what was happening. Pecs caught him on his sword hand,¡¯ he said, proud of his friend, and gesturing to an armoured glove that lay on the ground. ¡®Pecs and The Bludgeoner gave chase. But I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll catch him. If only those scouts were here. They¡¯d be able to track him down.¡¯ ¡®Hmm,¡¯ said the gnome. He picked the item up. ¡®I might have a solution to that.¡¯ In the meantime, Mila used her kit to sew up the worst of the wounds. Femke had taught her that it was better to close the holes before administering the magic draught. ¡®Alright. On my say so,¡¯ she told Ashlyn. ¡®Don¡¯t use the whole thing if you don¡¯t need to,¡¯ Wilson advised. ¡®Get him back to life, by all means. But he doesn¡¯t need all his hit points restored.¡¯ Mila threw him a disbelieving look. ¡®She¡¯ll use exactly the amount I tell her to. Now close your hole and let us get on with it.¡¯ *** ¡®It was weird,¡¯ Tree told Lothar, The Explorer nodding in vigorous agreement. ¡®The main part of the goblin army was travelling north. They were attacked when crossing a vale south of Urlay. Hundreds lie dead. I think it¡¯s fair to say it was the last straw. They scattered in all directions. I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll be a threat to Gal¡¯azu again.¡¯ ¡®Good. Because there is always plenty on my plate to deal with,¡¯ Lothar said, allowing himself some more than justified grumpiness. ¡®One other thing you might want to know. Looks like The Harvester survived the attack on Dorwich.¡¯ ¡®The who? Am I supposed to recognise that name?¡¯ ¡®Only the most dangerous killer in The Blades.¡¯ ¡®Really? Better than Clamor, or The Guvnah?¡¯ ¡®Not better, necessarily. Anyway, thought you ought to know. I spotted his tracks close to the vale. Looks like he was following the goblin army, and taking a few lives when he got the chance. Revenge for Dorwich, maybe. Don¡¯t know why he didn¡¯t come to Avolo.¡¯ ¡®Alright. If he¡¯s as good as you say, then that¡¯s useful information. It¡¯s just that right now¡ª¡¯ ¡®¡ªThere¡¯s more,¡¯ said Jaelin. ¡®We carried on to Urlay. It¡¯s deserted. There were signs of fighting. But it wasn¡¯t goblins. Whoever attacked the goblin army, also attacked Urlay. Seems like we have a new threat on our doorstep.¡¯ ¡®Great. No doubt it¡¯s The Apples who will have to deal with it. But for now, I¡¯m just pleased those goblins are gone. What?¡¯ he demanded when the two scouts shared a look. ¡®You¡¯re not the least bit curious?¡¯ Jaelin asked him. Lothar sighed. ¡®Sal attacked some of the squad before you returned. Eddie is only alive because Mila stumbled on his dead body shortly after the attack. I need to deal with Blair once and for all. Then I can worry about the goblin killers.¡¯ The Explorer shrugged. ¡®Fair enough. You need help finding him?¡¯ ¡®Well, funny thing. Because you weren¡¯t here, Wilson took Sharptooth out. Reckons the warg caught Sal¡¯s scent, heading north. Makes some kind of sense, if Blair is returning to Dorwich. Last question, and related to both topics. Clamor?¡¯ ¡®Came back to Avolo with us,¡¯ said Tree. He¡¯d caught Lothar¡¯s meaning, and paused to think. ¡®He¡¯s loyal to Sal. But he¡¯ll only just be finding out about what happened here, same as us. I don¡¯t think you need to worry about him.¡¯ ¡®But he may go looking to rejoin Sal once he knows his whereabouts?¡¯ ¡®I guess. He might, yeah.¡¯ Chapter 95 Mission #27 Kill Sal Blair
Stiff
Name Lothar Sauer
Nickname Stiff
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 50
Action Stats
EXP Level 7
Action Points 8
Hit Points 37
Core Stats
Might 14
Agility 10
Grit 16
Intellect 15
Skills Swords (expert), Shields (expert), Spears (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Slayer, To Hit +2, Damage +1, damage 5-33), Shield of Resistance (4-12), Dagger (1-4)
Armour Chain mail (+Shield)
Other Necklace of Agility (+2 to Agility)
Rosalind opened her door and gave him a smile. ¡®The hero returns. Saviour of Gal¡¯azu.¡¯ ¡®Hardly,¡¯ Lothar muttered. He did quite like the sound of it though. ¡®That¡¯s what they¡¯re saying in the taverns of Avolo. Urkal Foberoy has proposed to the city council that they hold a celebration in your honour. I suggested it to him, but still.¡¯ Her smile disappeared. ¡®What? Something¡¯s up?¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t get me wrong. I like the fact my squad is riding high, rather than the laughing stock it once was. It¡¯s all I wanted. But the job ain¡¯t finished yet. Sal Blair attacked my mercs in the street yesterday. Our feud won¡¯t end until one of us is gone. That¡¯s the reality of it.¡¯ He was relieved when she nodded. He¡¯d thought she might disagree, and they¡¯d have another argument. ¡®Seems like he¡¯s headed for Dorwich. I want to avoid more bloodshed between the two crews. If I can get to Dorwich quickly, I can face him alone. End it, once and for all. That would require your help. You know, with the Hither-Thither thing. Do you think you could beam me over there?¡¯ ¡®Makes sense to do it like that. I¡¯ve told you before though, Stiff. It doesn¡¯t work like that. I¡¯ll have to go with you.¡¯ ¡®Alright. But I don¡¯t want you getting involved. Just him against me.¡¯ ¡®Fine,¡¯ she said, raising her hands. ¡®I won¡¯t intervene.¡¯ ¡®Good. Thanks.¡¯ ¡®Unless I have to.¡¯ She traced circles with the Staff of Hither-Thither. Lights, then colour, appeared in thin air. The portal materialised, and Dorwich was visible on the other side of it. Lothar stepped through, and Rosalind followed him. They came to the bridge the goblins had used to cross the Auster. Crows, and larger carrion birds, squawked and flapped their wings, complaining at the approach of the humans as they rose into the sky. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. On first impressions, much of the city remained intact, despite the fighting that had raged here. Of that, there was plenty of evidence. Bodies lay where they had fallen, all picked at by the animal scavengers drawn to such a bloody feast. Most were goblins, but Lothar spotted humans among them too. One, he even recognised¡ªShade, the chap who had welcomed him to Gal¡¯azu with a couple of broken fingers. ¡®Couldn¡¯t have happened to a nicer fellow,¡¯ he muttered. He turned to Rosalind. ¡®Wait here for me.¡¯ ¡®What, here?¡¯ she asked, gesturing at the pile of corpses by the bridge. ¡®Alright, not this exact spot. You know what I mean.¡¯ ¡®Good luck, Stiff,¡¯ she said, and gave him a peck on the cheek. Lothar continued alone. He checked Slayer in his scabbard, making sure it was loose enough. Those nerves one gets before a battle¡ªunpleasant, but vital¡ªwere already on him. He¡¯d never been to Dorwich before, but had received reports on it. He decided to head towards the building known as the Blairs¡¯ palace, though as he approached, he saw it resembled a country mansion more than a palace. Was this kind of exaggeration a key plank of their success? The power of The Golden Blades had, it seemed, not been as great as their myth. As he reached the walled outskirts of the residence, a figure slunk out from the shadows. Slayer was immediately in Lothar¡¯s hand. Alfie ¡®The Guvnah¡¯ Goodfellow kept his sword in his belt. ¡®Looks like I picked the wrong team when I had the choice,¡¯ he admitted. ¡®You weren¡¯t to know,¡¯ Lothar said. He looked around, wondering if this was a trap. ¡®No hard feelings.¡¯ ¡®Very good of you mate. Sal is at the far end of town, on the walls.¡¯ ¡®And you¡¯re going to let me go and kill him?¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s got to be a resolution, don¡¯t there?¡¯ said the Durnishman. ¡®Feels like Gal¡¯azu ain¡¯t big enough for the both of you. At least this way, no one else gets hurt.¡¯ ¡®That was my thinking as well. And if Sal kills me?¡¯ ¡®Then hopefully he¡¯ll forgive me. People tend to. It¡¯s easier than getting rid of me.¡¯ ¡®Sure. Then you have my thanks. I suppose.¡¯ The Guvnah nodded his appreciation, and Lothar carried on walking. When he came upon the walls, he drew Slayer a second time. Sal Blair was there. Alone. He was looking out at the landscape to the north of Dorwich, but turned at Lothar¡¯s approach. With a wry grin, he drew his own blade. ¡®You got past The Guvnah without injury then?¡¯ ¡®I had some help,¡¯ Lothar lied. ¡®I spoke with the goblins from this spot,¡¯ Sal told him. ¡®Told them that taking Dorwich from me would exact a price that would ruin them. I was right in the end.¡¯ ¡®You and your squad did Gal¡¯azu a great service.¡¯ ¡®You don¡¯t know the half of it. They offered me an alliance. I could have facilitated the goblin takeover and bolstered my position.¡¯ Lothar shrugged. ¡®Who knows how that would have turned out.¡¯ ¡®True. Pretty sure you¡¯d be dead by now though. I look back over recent months, and I only have one answer for how you were able to best me. Sheer dumb luck. I can analyse my own decisions, and pick faults. But I can¡¯t think of a single thing you¡¯ve done to deserve it.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve always been lucky.¡¯ ¡®Even luck runs out eventually.¡¯ Blair swished his sword. ¡®Let¡¯s put luck on the line once more and see what happens.¡¯ ACTION ROUND
Sal
Name Salvador Blair
Nickname Sal
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 26
Action Stats
EXP Level 8
Action Points 9
Hit Points 39
Core Stats
Might 16
Agility 12
Grit 15
Intellect 17
Skills Swords (expert), Knives (competent), Spears (proficient), Shields (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (damage 4-32), Shield (4-12), Dagger (2-8)
Armour Chain mail (+Shield), Helmet
Other Sack of carrying
Lothar was dealing with an opponent much younger than himself. Sal was quicker¡ªhis movement and use of his sword was direct and aggressive. It was just as well that Lothar wore The Baron¡¯s Necklace of Agility. It enhanced his movement enough to match Blair¡¯s. They struck simultaneously, looking for a gap in each other¡¯s defence. Both men used their shields to block the other¡¯s blade, knowing that the first to score a direct hit would get a huge advantage. Neither of them connected on their first action. Lothar realised he was up against a better swordsman. Sal¡¯s slight advantage in action and hit points also meant the odds were in the Durnishman¡¯s favour. But the Shield of Resistance evened the contest, providing him with the defence he needed to resist his opponent¡¯s potent attacks. Sal took a risk, sliding in and knocking Lothar¡¯s shield to the side. He then pulled back, as his longsword came down on a wide-arced, downward angle. The contact wasn¡¯t perfect, but his blade hammered into Lothar¡¯s hip, causing 14 points of damage. It gave Lothar an opening. He thrust Slayer forward, but Sal¡¯s backward movement was good enough. Lothar¡¯s sword strike was accurate, but without the power to get through Sal¡¯s chain mail. What Blair hadn¡¯t anticipated was Lothar managing to spin his body into the space between them. The Shield of Resistance smashed into the side of his head, knocking 12 hit points from his total. Sal kept moving, and they separated. Lothar knew he¡¯d been lucky. There was a 4 hit point difference between the pair now, 27 to 23. But the gap in action points remained the same, 7 to 6. Their breath was heavy, concentration intense, as they closed on one another. They executed identical attacks. Both used their shields as decoys, knowing that a clean hit from their swords could end the combat. Both got what they wanted. In a mirror image, the blades flicked towards the face of their opponent, disengaged, and went for the hand. Sal succeeded in catching Lothar¡¯s gauntleted hand; Lothar caught Sal on the wrist. The result was the same. Both men dropped their blades, their right hands made useless. The sight of white bone protruding through Sal¡¯s mail gave Lothar hope, even if he knew he was hurting just as bad. His hit had done more damage¡ªthey were on 7 points each now. Both had daggers at their belts, but not the ability to draw them. They charged one another, shields braced for impact. It was a brutal way to end a fight, like stags rutting for dominance. They clashed, the impact funnelling down Lothar¡¯s left arm into his shoulder and neck. They withdrew, then hit one another again, failing to cause the damage each needed. On the third clash, Sal tried something different, going low with his shield. But the gap was too great. Lothar, relentless, barged forward, clipping his opponent with the bottom edge. It was enough to end the fight. Sal sprawled onto his back. With 2 hit points left, he was barely conscious. Lothar loomed over him, hardly enough energy to stay on his feet. Sal looked him in the eye. ¡®You only beat me because you had those weapons.¡¯ ¡®True.¡¯ The rim of Lothar¡¯s shield came down on Salvador Blair¡¯s head, and it was done. Rosalind was quickly over to him. His blood still singing with a warrior¡¯s fury, he took a strange pride in the fact he hadn¡¯t needed her help. He held up his mangled hand. ¡®Anything you can do with this?¡¯ ¡®No. Except get you to Mila or Tree as soon as possible.¡¯ ¡®Alright. First, check his sack, will you?¡¯ With a raised eyebrow, Rosalind fetched the sack of carrying that Lothar had noticed leaning against the wall. She brought it over and opened it for him. She gasped. Inside was the accumulated treasure and weaponry of The Golden Blades. ¡®To the victor, the spoils.¡¯ ¡®I suppose so. Can¡¯t help feeling a little bad about it. I have been lucky; and I did come to this fight with certain advantages. Not least the knowledge you would have helped me had I needed it.¡¯ ¡®I would not!¡¯ Rosalind insisted, and Lothar wasn¡¯t sure what to believe. ¡®But anyway, Blair was wrong. It hasn¡¯t been luck. He was the one with all the advantages. His mercs abandoned him. Your crew followed you. You did right by people¡ªthat¡¯s why you won.¡¯ ¡®Huh. Maybe.¡¯ The Guvnah joined them, glancing at his old boss. ¡®Well. Congratulations, Stiff. Cleaner this way.¡¯ ¡®Yeah. I guess so. Maybe you¡¯ll consider joining The Rotten Apples after all?¡¯ Alfie Goodfellow chuckled. ¡®Reminds me when I go to the bar in every spit and sawdust tavern, and the barkeep asks ¡°what¡¯ll it be?¡±, when they only have one damned beer on tap. And it tastes awful. O¡¯ course I¡¯ll join. You¡¯re the only game in town now.¡¯ ¡®Well thanks for the ringing endorsement. Now prop me up, will you? I¡¯m about to keel over.¡¯ Rosalind picked up the sack of carrying in one hand. In her other, she traced circles in the air with her staff. MISSION COMPLETE SUCCESS: Sal Blair was killed None of your mercs improved their stats No mercs levelled up Chapter 96 Last Chance Saloon [End of Book One]
Finances
Income
Missions #24-27 ¡ê61 4s 4p
Expenses
Wages ¡ê2 2s
Profit ¡ê59 2s 4p
Total ¡ê113 3s 6p
The Rotten Apples drank to the demise of The Golden Blades. Lothar had lost track of who was the legal owner of The Smashed Marbles, but he paid for it all out of the loot contained in the sack of carrying, and was glad to do so. His finances were set. He owned the only mercenary company in Gal¡¯azu. Celebrate while you can, he told himself. He took a seat next to Ashlyn. ¡®I forgive you,¡¯ he said magnanimously. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have run off like that,¡¯ the girl said. ¡®But it turned out the Gerds needed us. Twenty goblins.¡¯ Lothar raised an eyebrow. ¡®Twenty? Then I¡¯m glad you did. There are people I like who live on that farm. Thank you for saving them. And how does it feel to have got your revenge on one of the Blairs?¡¯ Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡®Terrible. I¡¯m glad you dealt with Sal. That part of my life is over. What happened to my father happened. The man I blamed is dead. I¡¯m moving on now.¡¯ Except Lothar couldn¡¯t detect much enthusiasm in her voice for the next chapter of her life. ¡®Good. Because whatever you turn to, you¡¯ll be great at it. Who knows? I¡¯ve not got many years left at this game. Someone will need to take over the Apples one day.¡¯ She gave him a doubtful look. ¡®What? Lothar ¡®Stiff¡¯ Sauer is going to retire to a farm as well?¡¯ ¡®Hmm. Maybe not.¡¯ He nodded at the table. ¡®Not drinking?¡¯ ¡®No. I¡¯m done with that, too. Doesn¡¯t make me feel better in the long run.¡¯ ¡®Then you¡¯re free for a final bit of business?¡¯ ¡®Suppose so.¡¯ Lothar stood, and Ashlyn got to her feet. ¡®By business, you mean¡ª¡¯ ¡®¡ªYep. Best to bring Greenblade with us. Mental?¡¯ he shouted. ¡®Time to go.¡¯ The Anchor was busy, but Lothar soon spotted the table he was after. Wynter Blair looked up at him with a resigned expression, as if he was the grim reaper come to fetch her soul. ¡®Don¡¯t do that,¡¯ Lothar said, as her two friends reached for their weapons. Wynter shook her head at Rake and Vixen, and they did as they were told. Raimy Molleker looked at Ashlyn with a confused expression. ¡®Don¡¯t I know you?¡¯ ¡®Sal is dead,¡¯ Lothar told Wynter. ¡®I see. And I¡¯m to be next?¡¯ ¡®Not necessarily. You showed leniency to me once. I¡¯m prepared to do the same to you. But I¡¯m done with competition. If you¡¯re prepared to forget about The Golden Blades, I¡¯d have you in my squad. A Rotten Apple. We forget the past and start anew. Do you think you could do that?¡¯ ¡®Aye. A life and a career instead of death? I can take that offer. But there must be a catch.¡¯ ¡®Oh, there is.¡¯ ¡®Chinara and Raimy?¡¯ ¡®Are both welcome too.¡¯ ¡®Alright. So, the catch?¡¯ ¡®Mental?¡¯ Mental held Wynter¡¯s hand to the table. Wynter smiled¡ªskin taught, and staring eyes¡ªit wasn¡¯t a pleasant sight. Then she winced when Jenkins snapped two of her fingers. Her eyes filled with tears, but she didn¡¯t cry out. She was tough as nails, for sure. Just what Lothar¡¯s crew needed. ¡®We¡¯re even now,¡¯ Lothar told her. ¡®I¡¯ll see the three of you tomorrow. Sort out all the paperwork and get you settled.¡¯ Lothar¡¯s three latest recruits nodded, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, and he left the inn. ¡®I¡¯ll see you back at The Marbles,¡¯ he told Mary and Ashlyn, and took himself to Avolo¡¯s docks. He looked past the still water of the harbour, to where the waves surged back and forth. A fresh start, he¡¯d told himself. A last chance, when he was being brutally honest. Somehow, he¡¯d changed his life¡¯s course. A series of grand failures; snatching defeat from the jaws of victory every time it looked like he might just make it. In Gal¡¯azu, he¡¯d proven himself. He¡¯d made the right decisions; trusted the right people; repaid their faith in him with something that felt remarkably like success. He¡¯d stared down bad odds, and he¡¯d fought, and he¡¯d found a way. Gal¡¯azu, he was sure, would have more to throw at him. ¡®But I¡¯m ready,¡¯ he murmured. ¡®What¡¯s more,¡¯ he said, turning around to face the city, and the lands that stretched out beyond it, ¡®it feels like I¡¯ve finally found home.¡¯ Lothar ¡®Stiff¡¯ Sauer and The Rotten Apples will return in book two... Book 2 Chapter One The Consequences of Success

PART FOUR

Company Accounts: Finances: ¡ê111 3s 6p Mercenaries: 22 Assets: the mine in Eisenberg, The Smashed Marbles in Avolo, the mansion in Dorwich, the town of Mer Khazer Current missions: ERADICATE BLOOD FIENDS RAID DARKSPIKE DUNGEON Lothar lifted the lid of his chest. It wasn¡¯t unusual for the mercenary captain to check its contents. He kept his most precious items there. Along with the Sack of Carrying, which contained the treasure of the defeated Golden Blades, he possessed a small fortune in coins, precious gems and metals, and weapons. So much, in fact, he admitted to himself, that it could make someone rather nervous. Keeping it in my bedroom probably isn¡¯t the best idea. I need to find somewhere safer. On this occasion, Lothar was doing more than simply looking. He retrieved three items, placing them on his bed. They had been looted from the final barrow his squad had explored. It left only half a dozen items in the chest. Such is life, Lothar mused philosophically. Magic weapons and the like attracted the best mercs. Those mercs had to be deployed to gain more treasure, as a merc captain¡¯s power and fame snowballed. Until it all comes crashing down on said merc captain¡¯s head, he considered, with the realism common to his Hargon race. A realism others mistook for pessimism. If I were a pessimist, I would have given up long before I achieved any success. His eyes caught the pile of parchment lying at the bottom of the chest. On a whim, he reached for them, sifting through. Three were the identical maps, each taken from one of the four barrows The Rotten Apples had discovered. They showed the locations of the barrows, spread out at equal intervals, along a line. The fourth was a legal document in which Rosalind De Cheney signed over the ownership of The Smashed Marbles to him. He shuddered as memories of The Reckoner explaining each step of the convoluted process returned. ¡°Which begs the question,¡± he murmured, ¡°what have I done with the fourth map?¡± A rummage revealed that it was inside the folded elven cloak. He added it to his pile of parchments. Which was when they started to glow. Not the deeds to his inn, but the maps. He anxiously grabbed the last map and stuffed it back inside the cloak. Fortunately, the golden glow faded as soon as he did so. Glowing items¡ªindeed, magic of any kind¡ªmade Lothar ¡®Stiff¡¯ Sauer distinctly nervous. He returned the parchments to his chest, and closed the lid. That¡¯s something to get Rosalind to look at, he told himself. I¡¯ll stick to the real world. He grabbed the three items, left his room, and headed downstairs to the lounge of The Smashed Marbles. His three newest recruits waited at a table. Each, in their different ways, gave him an excited look as he approached. ¡°Here, take this," he said, handing the weighty battle-axe over to Randall the Heavy-Handed. The dwarf drank in the weapon. ¡°The finest workmanship,¡± Heavy-Hands said, admiringly. ¡°You won¡¯t regret this, Stiff. I will strive to live up to the privilege of wielding Splitter.¡± ¡°Well. Glad to hear it.¡± Last year, Lothar had asked the Council of Avolo to send word to the nonhuman races of the world that he had come into possession of magic weapons belonging to their kind. At the time, a goblin army had been rampaging through Gal¡¯azu, and they were desperate for aid. That army had long since been dispersed, while the trio who had answered his call only arrived in the country a few days ago. But they had answered his call nonetheless, and Lothar didn¡¯t see the point in hanging on to the items any longer. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Then there is the stone,¡± Lothar said, holding out a linked metal chain on which hung a worn, grey stone. ¡°Lurin,¡± Randall said, nudging his cousin. Lurin turned from admiring Splitter and proceeded to gape at the offered item. The dwarf took the chain in both hands, and as if hardly believing it was true, placed it over his head. Once settled around his neck, he took the stone between thumb and forefinger, and gazed at it. Lothar didn¡¯t share the dwarf¡¯s wonder at the piece of rock, but was pleased it had made such an impression. ¡°And finally, young Rilie,¡± he said, turning to the halfling. She clapped her hands together a few times in anticipation. ¡°A Sling of Accuracy.¡± Rilie Rumblewind cried out with childish glee at her gift. She proceeded to inspect it, one eye scrunched shut. Unable to remain seated, she scraped the chair back from the table and got to her feet. ¡°Plus 4 to hit,¡± she said breathlessly. ¡°I need to try it out.¡± She reached for the stone around Lurin¡¯s neck, who slapped her hand away. She then whirled the sling around, building speed, the two braided cords of twine making a whirring noise. ¡°I need to try it out,¡± she said, frantically looking around for a missile to use. ¡°Not in here, you don¡¯t,¡± Lothar told her. ¡°Sit yourself down.¡± With what looked like a great effort of willpower, Rumblewind returned to her chair. ¡°Now then,¡± Lothar said. Lurin received another nudge from Randall and turned to look at Lothar. ¡°You three are perfect for a dungeon mission. We¡¯ve been waiting for a few more recruits. You will leave Avolo and travel out west, to the town of Mer Khazer. It¡¯s a four day journey. You¡¯ll find some of The Rotten Apples there. In particular, report to Larik the Bludgeoner. He¡¯ll fill you in on the details. Is that understood?¡± With the gift giving done, and his instructions delivered, Lothar moved on to his next task. Not for a moment will I ever complain about the consequences of success, he told himself. But the reality was, he was always busy now, with multiple demands on his time. He¡¯d sent one group of mercs out to Mer Khazer, and another to Dorwich. Now, he had a meeting about yet another mission. He made his way to the small street in Avolo where the wealthiest citizens had their homes. Servants welcomed him to the house of Urkal Foberoy, the new mayor of Avolo. The richest merchants of the city took turns holding the office, while maintaining the pretence that its holder was elected. Lothar wondered whether anyone was fooled. ¡°Ah, Miss Foberoy,¡± he said, greeting Urkal¡¯s daughter as they passed along a corridor. ¡°Please, Mr Sauer. Call me Clara.¡± ¡°Of course. Clara. And how are things with Raimy?¡± ¡°Things are fine, except for the fact that you have sent him away to Dorwich,¡± she pouted. ¡°A necessary task, but I am sure he will soon return. I know he misses you terribly.¡± The girl beamed at that. ¡°He does write to me all the time.¡± So he should, since I pay him extra to do just that. Lothar excused himself, and made his way to her father¡¯s study. Urkal, Rosalind, and The Baron were waiting for him. ¡°Clara seems happy,¡± Lothar noted, nodding a greeting to everyone. Urkal scowled at him. ¡°Take a seat, Sauer. I didn¡¯t ask you here to discuss my daughter.¡± He poured Lothar a whisky and passed it over. ¡°There are important matters to attend to.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°The Kuthenians remain the most dangerous long-term threat to our position in Gal¡¯azu. Since The Baron¡¯s mission last year, I have been in contact with Fei, one of their leading generals. He has requested our aid. Establishing a deeper relationship with him would be a very substantial step towards improving our security.¡± ¡°Our aid in what, exactly?¡± Lothar asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know the precise details. But he needs operatives with the skills and the calibre of The Baron, here; and those of your mercs who dealt with my personal business in Dorwich. Efficient, and discreet.¡± ¡°So you mean he wants thieves?¡± Urkal sighed. ¡°Fei is risking much by even communicating with us. He¡¯s not about to reveal his plans until the team gets to Kuthenia. Can you do it, or not?¡± ¡°Baron?¡± Lothar asked. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s been there. You¡¯d be heading up a team. What do you say?¡± ¡°I can do it.¡± ¡°Then you have your answer, Mayor Foberoy.¡± ¡°Excellent. I appreciate it. If there¡¯s ever anything I can do in return¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªThere is. Money.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be paid, of course. Otherwise, you¡¯ve taken rather a lot of money from the Council recently.¡± ¡°Not that. I need to know what to do with mine. How to store it.¡± Foberoy leaned back and gave him a contemplative look. Lothar didn¡¯t like it. It was as if, suddenly, the merchant had the upper hand. ¡°Stiff, you must do more with your money than just store it somewhere. There are many businesses in Gal¡¯azu in which you can invest.¡± ¡°Oh no. No thank you. I¡¯m not handing it over to the likes of you. No offence. I¡¯ll never see it again.¡± ¡°Nonsense. You can lend money to a variety of enterprises. It doesn¡¯t have to be to a trader such as myself. There are all sorts of small businesses in Gal¡¯azu¡ªfarmers, and craft workers¡ªwho need access to capital. Especially after the damage dealt by the goblins last year. You would be helping the ordinary people. And after all, you and your mercs live in Gal¡¯azu. You make your living here. It¡¯s in your interest for the region to prosper. That¡¯s the way, in the end, that we¡¯ll retain our independence.¡± Rosalind and The Baron nodded in silent agreement. Lothar narrowed his eyes. He couldn¡¯t spot the trick in Foberoy¡¯s words. That didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Huh. I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ¡°Excellent. Now, will the three of you be staying for dinner?¡± Lothar looked at Rosalind, who gave him a small smile. He could tell she wanted to stay. He had intended to ask her about those maps. That can wait. Why not stay, and enjoy our success? This life of dinners in the homes of the rich and powerful is one I could get used to. Why else did I struggle, for so many years, if not to enjoy the life I have left? Chapter Two Mission #28 Eradicate Blood Fiends Part One
Greenblade
Name Ashlyn Sawrey
Nickname Greenblade
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 22
Daily Wage 1 shilling
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 5
Hit Points 25
Core Stats
Might 11
Agility 10
Grit 10
Intellect 9
Skills Swords (expert), Shields (proficient), Knives (competent) Spears (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Greenblade, Monsters only To Hit +4 & Damage +8, regular damage 4-32), Knife (damage 2-8), Shield (damage 3-9), Spear (damage 2-12)
Armour Armour of Resilience (+Shield)
Other
Twerk
Name Wilson Turk
Nickname Twerk
Race/Nationality Gnome
Age 51
Daily Wage 11 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 5
Hit Points 25
Core Stats
Might 15
Agility 9
Grit 6
Intellect 10
Skills Ambidextrous, axes (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Hand axe (damage 4-24), Hand axe (damage 4-24)
Armour Breastplate, Helm of Fortitude (+2 Grit)
Other
Sharptooth
Name Sharptooth
Nickname None
Race/Nationality Warg
Age 1
Daily Wage N/A
Action Stats
EXP Level 1
Action Points 3
Hit Points 18
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 10 Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
Grit 7
Intellect 1
The Hoffmeister
Name Georg Hoffman
Nickname The Hoffmeister
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 23
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 10
Agility 8
Grit 9
Intellect 6
Skills Spears (proficient), Shields (proficient), Hammers (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Pike (Spear of Riposte, damage 3-36, +4 on interruption), Shield (damage 3-9), Hammer (damage 2-12)
Armour Chain Mail (+Shield)
Other
Pecs
Name Victor Balinski
Nickname Pecs
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 25
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 26
Core Stats
Might 15
Agility 7
Grit 8
Intellect 4
Skills Spears (proficient), Shields (proficient), Polearms (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Pike (Breaker, To Hit +2, Damage +2, damage 5-32), Shield (damage 3-9)
Armour Chain Mail (+Shield)
Other
Fortune
Name Eddie Rich
Nickname Fortune
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 53
Daily Wage 1 shilling
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 6
Hit Points 27
Core Stats
Might 11
Agility 5
Grit 12
Intellect 10
Skills Swords (master), Shields (expert), Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Longsword (Blueblade, ?, regular damage 5-40), Shield (damage 4-12), Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour Chain Mail (+Shield)
Other
Mental
Name Mary Jenkins
Nickname Mental
Race/Nationality Human/Durnish
Age 43
Daily Wage 1 shilling, 6 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 5
Action Points 7
Hit Points 31
Core Stats
Might 12
Agility 11
Grit 14
Intellect 7
Skills Berserker, Axes (expert), Knives (expert)
Equipment
Weapons Battleaxe (two hander) (damage 4-40), Dagger (4-16)
Armour Chain Mail
Other
Tree
Name Henning Teller
Nickname Tree
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon
Age 34
Daily Wage 4 shillings
Action Stats
EXP Level 6
Action Points 6
Hit Points 28
Core Stats
Might 11
Agility 16
Grit 11
Intellect 12
Skills Medic, Scouting, Spears (proficient), Bows (proficient), Shields (proficient), Axes (proficient), Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Short bow (damage 3-18), Spear (short, damage 3-18), Hand axe (damage 3-18), Knife (damage 3-12) Shield (damage 3-9)
Armour Scale Mail (+Shield)
Other Medical kit, Potion of Healing
Ashlyn had heard stories about Blood Fiends. She hadn¡¯t thought they were real; or at least, had assumed they existed in some long ago time that rendered them unreal. Then Blood Fiends had attacked Mer Khazer, and she had to adjust to their existence. It was Sharptooth who led the chase. His tail twitched, and his snout was pressed against the ground as he prowled back and forth, following the scent of the monsters. The warg had grown at an alarming rate, and was now almost the same size as the terrifying beasts they had fought last year. ¡°Keep going, boy,¡± Twerk encouraged. The disparity in size between warg and gnome had become laughable, and yet the creature always did as it was told. Now he picked up speed, and Ashlyn and the others had to jog to keep up with him. Fortune, Pecs, and The Hoffmeister ran with them. Somewhere out in the wilds were Tree and Mental. The Hargon scout had proposed it was most likely the Fiends had come from the Deepwood¡ªa forest he and The Explorer had briefly scouted, that lay to the northeast¡ªand would consequently return there. He had decided to anticipate the Fiends¡¯ route, with the hopes of catching the dangerous monsters in an ambush. Ashlyn sincerely hoped his plan would work, since Tree and Mental were their toughest fighters. She glanced at the pommel of Greenblade. The green gem glowed as it always did when Sharptooth was around, not distinguishing the fact that the warg was now an official Rotten Apple. It meant her weapon wouldn¡¯t warn them when the Blood Fiends were near, which added to her anxiety. ¡°You set too fast a pace,¡± Fortune complained to the gnome, puffing and panting at the rear of the group. ¡°I¡¯ll have no energy left when we catch up to them at this rate.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll deal with the Fiends without you,¡± claimed Pecs boldly. ¡°I¡¯d like to see that,¡± Fortune snapped back. ¡°Besides,¡± he added, drawing his own weapon, Blueblade. ¡°I need to see what this weapon does. That was the whole point in bringing it.¡± ¡°Did you ever stop to consider that it doesn¡¯t work?¡± the big Livanian asked him. ¡°What if it¡¯s broken? We¡¯ll all take the Fiends on with our magic weapons, and you¡¯ll have nothing but a dim sword. You shoulda brought Redblade.¡± ¡°I already know what Redblade does, and it don¡¯t work on Fiends. So why would I bring it, you great lummox?¡± ¡°At least it ain¡¯t broken.¡± ¡°This one isn¡¯t broken,¡± Fortune bit back. ¡°Finding out what it does is likely to be of vital importance.¡± Sharptooth growled a warning, and they all stopped. All eyes were on the densely packed stand of trees and bushes ahead. Sharptooth barked at the location. Ashlyn drew her sword, then wiped suddenly clammy hands on her leather trousers. The Blood Fiends abandoned their attempt at an ambush. Six of them emerged, evidently ready to deal with their chasers. ACTION ROUND
Blood Fiends
Fiend Blood Fiend
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 24
The Blood Fiends were fearsome. As tall as Pecs, they had a purple-black, scaly hide; a lupine muzzle with protruding fangs; and red eyes. Worst of all was their four clawed hands, their arms splitting in two at the elbow joint. It was probably the fear they engendered that prevented Ashlyn from shouting out instructions for a shieldwall. It was only once the six creatures were nearly onto them that she pulled herself together. Knowing she couldn¡¯t afford to let them all get their strikes in first, she moved and attacked. Greenblade killed with her first hit, its damage bonus proving deadly. Her next two actions were all misses, neither sword or shield striking their target. The Fiends presented a confusion of sharp claws, making it hard to find a vulnerable spot to hit. Thankfully, she struck with Greenblade on her final action, with the same result. Two dead Fiends evened the contest, but now the creatures were free to attack. The first, inevitably, went for Ashlyn. Each slashing attack with an arm led to two attacks from each clawed hand. Her Armour of Resilience helped, but couldn¡¯t withstand a direct hit with the combination of ferocious power and piercing claws. She lost 4 hit points on its first action; then 7, taking her down to 14. The creature struck with both hands on its third action, and Ashlyn was suddenly down to 9 hit points. Desperate, she swerved to avoid its final strike, leaving her standing, but with only two actions to use Greenblade next turn. Twerk manoeuvred himself in front of Sharptooth to take the next Fiend¡¯s attacks. Its claws came down on his head, but failed to penetrate the Helm of Fortitude. Its second action was a repeat, the huge creature seemingly confused about how to crack such a small opponent. It solved the problem with its third action, both hands slicing up from the ground, getting under his breastplate. It repeated the successful tactic on its final action. 11 points of damage left him on 14. Pecs was the next warrior with the task of withstanding a Blood Fiend¡¯s claws. The big man had no magic armour like Ashlyn or Wilson, but his giant frame encased in chain mail made him a tough target to hurt. It landed its first hit with its second action: but it sliced deep, taking 8 hit points. One more hit left Pecs on 13 hit points. The Hoffmeister was the last Fiend¡¯s victim. It struck with its first attack, dropping him to 17. He blocked the second with the Spear of Riposte. Damage of 5 then 8 left him wavering on 4 hit points. Twerk was ready for revenge. With only 3 action points, he had to make his chance count. He got a hit with his first attempt. A crushing 18 points of damage left the Fiend on only 6 points. Two follow up strikes were more than enough to finish it. Sharptooth seemed to sense that The Hoffmeister was the most in need. With its final attempt, the warg clawed through the tough hide of the Fiend. 2 points of damage wasn¡¯t much, but it was the young warg¡¯s first ever hit. The Hoffmeister, with his one chance, managed an accurate strike, a huge blow that killed the Fiend outright. Pecs now had his chance. A strike nearly as big as his friend¡¯s dropped the Fiend to 5 hit points. He missed his next one, but struck home with his third, Breaker completely severing one of its two-handed limbs. Fortune took the final turn of the round. Despite Blueblade obstinately refusing to glow, blows of 17 & 12 were enough to dispatch the Fiend facing Ashlyn. With no Tree available, they did their best to staunch The Hoffmeister¡¯s bleeding until the medic could take a proper look. ¡°Six,¡± Fortune commented. ¡°Only half of those who raided Mer Khazer.¡± ¡°Means we were kind of fortunate not to face them all at once,¡± Ashlyn suggested. Fortune nodded, glaring at his sword, as if it had somehow betrayed him. They were ready to set off after the remaining Fiends when Sharptooth growled. The trees ahead rustled, then Henning and Mary arrived on the scene. They glanced at the dead Fiends, neither showing much emotion, though Tree wore a disgruntled look. ¡°Something up?¡± Ashlyn asked him. ¡°I was wrong. There aren¡¯t any Fiend tracks coming from the Deepwood. Looks like they are escaping to the northwest instead.¡± ¡°Should we keep going?¡± Ashlyn asked doubtfully. Four of them were injured, and The Hoffmeister badly. ¡°Of course we keep going,¡± Mental snapped. ¡°All I¡¯ve done so far is chase after this lanky fopdoodle!¡± Chapter Three Mission #28 Eradicate Blood Fiends Part Two Between Tree and Sharptooth, they were soon following the trail left by the remaining six Blood Fiends. It wasn¡¯t clear to Ashlyn why half of the creatures had intercepted them, and the other half continued. Nor did she have a clue where the Fiends were heading to. The wounds she had received in the battle pained her, and she grew tired. It was enough of an effort to keep to the pace the scout set, never mind thinking about such things. She was relieved when Tree called a halt for the night. It was not yet dark, but there were several jobs that needed doing. Wilson dealt with Sharptooth, while Tree gave out camp tasks. ¡°You two,¡± he said, indicating Ashlyn and Georg, ¡°must get your rest now. We¡¯ll set up camp and sort out the night watches. You need to heal if you¡¯re going to be of any use on the rest of the mission.¡± Neither of them argued. Ashlyn shoved some rations down her throat then lay down under a tree next to the Hargon warrior. She pulled her cloak tight: the nights were still cold this time of year. Utter exhaustion helped her to drift off. She woke early to find she had healed 2 hit points, putting her on 11. She¡¯d also regained an action point. But it wasn¡¯t enough to put her in the front rank when it came to a fight. She felt a strange mix of disappointment and relief at that. She joined the other early risers by the fire. Tree was in the middle of his stretches and exercises, a routine she¡¯d noticed he stuck to wherever he was. ¡°You reckon we¡¯ll catch them today?¡± she asked him. ¡°We¡¯ll have to be quick. It may be that Sharptooth and I will need to go ahead of the rest of you.¡± ¡°Why did The Explorer not come with us?¡± Fortune demanded. ¡°He would have been more than a small help.¡± His morning routine was quite different. He broke his fast and drank from a flask¡ªsomething alcoholic, Ashlyn was sure. ¡°He doesn¡¯t like killink, remember,¡± Ashlyn said, doing a serviceable impression of her friend. It brought a few smiles to her companions. ¡°I¡¯ve heard him say so, more than once,¡± Fortune admitted. ¡°Has anyone ever suggested he may be in the wrong line of work?¡± ¡°Yes. But it¡¯s not just that. Mila is staying in Mer Khazer.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Fortune acknowledged. ¡°If she were my girl, I wouldn¡¯t be letting her out of my sight, either.¡± He frowned over at Tree. ¡°Now what are you doing, man? You¡¯re giving me a headache.¡± Tree was standing on one leg. His other leg was bent, the foot pressing against the inner thigh of his standing leg. His hands were pressed together, as if in prayer. ¡°This position is how I got my nickname,¡± the Hargon scout answered. ¡°It¡¯s called the Tree pose.¡± ¡°Here I was thinking it was because you¡¯re a lanky bastard,¡± said Wilson, joining them at the fire. Sharptooth followed him, and slumped so close to the flames that Ashlyn feared his dark fur would catch alight. Henning smiled. ¡°A mixture of the two, I grant you.¡± His foot came down, and he stretched out his shoulders with a satisfied sigh. ¡°Right. Time we were off. Whose turn is it to wake Mary?¡± Everyone stared at the ground. Tree and Sharptooth did indeed scout ahead of the main party. The rest simply followed behind, doing their best to limit the noise they made. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re heading for that barrow,¡± Fortune commented. ¡°The one with the trolls.¡± Ashlyn knew it to be true. She¡¯d been to the fourth barrow twice before, and was somewhat familiar with the route; and there was no other landmark of note in the empty landscape. What she didn¡¯t know was why the Blood Fiends would retreat this way. The steep slope one had to climb to reach the barrow came into view. At its beginning, Tree stood waiting for them. He rested a hand on Sharptooth¡¯s back, as if to dissuade the young warg from doing something foolish. They stopped before him, most of them breathing hard from their exertions. Walking such a distance in armour, carrying weapons and shields, was hardly a pleasure. ¡°Did you want the good news or the bad news?¡± the scout asked. ¡°Just spit it out,¡± Twerk demanded, glaring at Tree¡¯s hand. ¡°They¡¯re the other side of this rise¡ªgathered outside the barrow. There¡¯s the six we¡¯re chasing, and another four.¡± ¡°Ten,¡± Twerk said, as if for everyone¡¯s benefit. ¡°Yeah. Ten Blood Fiends. And four Roc birds.¡± The others gasped. ¡°What?¡± Ashlyn asked. ¡°What are Roc birds?¡± Tree smirked. ¡°Come and see for yourself.¡± They clambered up the slope. The tension in the group told Ashlyn she should expect to see something worse than trolls. When she reached the rise, she struggled to process what her eyes were trying to tell her. The four birds were massive¡ªlarger than she could have imagined. She had heard tales of dragons, and she supposed that the creatures she could see were not much larger than the stories said dragons were. But birds didn¡¯t grow this big. Birds built nests in trees, or amongst the gorse; they caught fish from rivers. These things couldn¡¯t be birds. Except, apart from their size, they looked just like raptors. Their feathers were white and tawny, their wingspan massive. The Blood Fiends had fixed seats to the Rocs¡¯ mantles, tied with heavy looking rope. The seats were just behind the birds¡¯ heads, where a ferocious looking beak could easily rip apart a Fiend in seconds. The Fiends must have domesticated these creatures, Ashlyn supposed. Which made them far more sophisticated than she had assumed until now. ¡°Well?¡± Mental hissed. ¡°We either give up or attack. What¡¯s it to be?¡± Pecs rolled his neck. ¡°I¡¯m not ready to take a failure on this mission.¡± ¡°Fancy trying your pike out on one of those birds, do ya?¡± Mental asked him. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The big man grinned. ¡°I suppose so. There are worse ways to go down.¡± ¡°Remember your injuries, my friend,¡± The Hoffmeister suggested. Pecs was on 14 hit points, only just above half his natural total. ¡°True. I¡¯ll be careful.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Tree said. ¡°Let me take advantage of our position here and fire some arrows. Before you all go charging down there to your probable doom.¡± No one argued, and the scout readied his bow and arrows. Ashlyn considered it a shame that they only had the one archer. Missiles, it seemed, was their one advantage. She imagined Christoph here, readying his arrows with a serious expression. She forced the image aside. He¡¯s gone, you fool, she told herself. ACTION ROUND
Blood Fiends
Monster Blood Fiend
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 24
Rocs
Bird Roc
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 8
Hit Points 70
Tree targeted the nearest Blood Fiend. After a few sighters, he hit his target on his fourth action, inflicting a modest 6 points of damage. His next shot was better, taking it down to 7. Then he missed, in what felt like an underwhelming opening to the fight. The giant birds screeched in response, turning their heads to the ridge. Their eyes were huge and their gaze pitiless. She and Mental stayed on the ridge, figuring it was a secure place to fight from. That gave the initiative to the Fiends, who did something unexpected. All of them clambered onto the back of a Roc, clawed hands gripping ropes. All but the Fiend Tree had shot, got into position. The birds then beat their long wings, running on their spindly legs, as they built the power needed to lift themselves and their riders into the sky. By turn end, three of the four Rocs were airborne. Tree adjusted his target to one of the Rocs. Although it was moving in the air, the Roc presented a huge target for the scout. Its huge hit point total made it hard to kill; but its lack of protection, a necessity for a light frame, made it vulnerable. The scout¡¯s three successful shots dropped it to 39 hit points. Mental had clearly had enough of standing and observing. She ran down the bank towards the still grounded Roc. She reached the injured Blood Fiend after four actions, finishing it with the first blow from her battle-axe. She charged the Roc, screaming in frustration when the bird danced away from her lengthy axe swing. With only three action points to use per turn, Ashlyn didn¡¯t see the point in chasing after Mary. Nor did any of the others. Except Fortune, who was probably hoping to see Blueblade light up. He reached the Roc fast enough to launch one sword swing. The pommel remained dull, and his slash narrowly missed. Now the wounded Fiend was dead, the grounded Roc only had one passenger. It lifted itself into the air, away from the reach of axe or sword. The Roc wounded by Tree¡¯s arrows, banked, then flew away to the north. The other two, with no such concerns, went on the attack. The first rose higher, then suddenly dropped. Its weight meant it came down for those on the ridge at a shocking speed. Ashlyn had no time to think, throwing herself down the slope to avoid being shredded by beak or talon. As it closed on them it fixed on Sharptooth, aiming to grab the warg in its iron claws. The warg was agile enough to skip aside at the last moment, those talons inches away from ripping his side open. The second Roc went for Mental and Fortune. It dove with the same speed, slashing reaction times. Mental stood her ground, blocking its beak with the haft of her axe. Its talons scraped across her leg, drawing blood and taking 2 hit points. Then the Roc was past them, working hard to rise again, the Blood Fiends on its back mere passengers. It took Tree an action to recover from the Roc attack. He scored with three of his shots, dealing 27 damage to the giant bird that had attacked them. All the rest of the squad could do was set and wait for another attack, hoping they could land a blow as one of the birds came for them. Just like the first, the wounded Roc¡ªor its riders, Ashlyn couldn¡¯t tell¡ªchanged course for the north, not risking greater injury. That left two of them still engaged in the battle. The first swooped down, locked on Tree¡ªunderstandable, since he was the only real threat to them. Ashlyn swung Greenblade and missed. Twerk was too far away. Sharptooth wisely restricted himself to a bark. The Hoffmeister thrust out with the Spear of Riposte, the blade carving a bloody gouge into the great bird¡¯s chest for 22 damage. Pecs tried the same, but got his timing wrong. Meanwhile, the Roc caught the scout with its serrated beak, dealing an instant 3 points of damage. But worse than that, it rose back into the sky, Henning still trapped. It crunched bone with its beak, and tore with its talons, cutting him down to 16 hit points. He yanked himself free, the serrated beak ripping flesh, then fell to the ground, contracting a further 5 damage. His bow landed close by, snapped in two. The other Roc went for Mental. She roared in defiance as her berserker nature took over, refusing to give ground. Somehow, she got in two strikes of her axe as it closed on her, the second catching it full on and causing a massive 33 points of damage. As Fortune swung and missed, the Roc slashed Mental with beak and talons, inflicting 3 damage. The last two Rocs, both badly injured by The Hoffmeister and Mental respectively, followed the other two in retreat. Their giant forms shrank in the sky as they made their escape. Ashlyn helped Tree to his feet. ¡°Nothing broken?¡± ¡°Just my arm.¡± ¡°Oh. You gonna use that potion?¡± ¡°Not likely. That¡¯s for when someone¡¯s on death¡¯s door. I¡¯ll recover. But I¡¯ll take some help setting it, if you¡¯re up to that?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The group on the ridge made their way down, where Fortune waited for them. Mental paced around, muttering darkly, still in the grip of her battle rage. Twerk, Fortune, and Pecs, entered the barrow while Ashlyn and the others waited outside. Their inspection was brief. ¡°Just bones,¡± the gnome declared. ¡°Some of them troll bones, I reckon.¡± ¡°So, they flew here on their giant birds, took the barrow, then attacked Mer Khazer,¡± Ashlyn said. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Could be nothing more than a raid, for flesh and whatever else Blood Fiends are after,¡± Tree suggested. ¡°Testing the region out. I reckon they found our defences too tough, hence the decision to fly away. Those Rocs give them a massive radius in which to operate. But it looks like they¡¯re heading due north. Very mountainous there. The kind of territory you might expect to find a Roc nest.¡± ¡°So, we failed?¡± The Hoffmeister asked. ¡°We killed a few,¡± said the scout. ¡°But we didn¡¯t eradicate them. So yeah. Mission failure, I¡¯m afraid.¡± ¡°Unless we go after them?¡± Pecs suggested. Tree puffed out his cheeks. ¡°Slim chance of finding them. I can¡¯t track them. I¡¯ve lost my bow. Probably not the sensible choice.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still up for it,¡± Ashlyn said. The Blood Fiends, and surely the Rocs as well, were monsters. It was the kind of enemy Greenblade was made for. ¡°Aye,¡± Fortune agreed. ¡°Could be we find something in those mountains that¡¯s scared of Blueblade.¡± Ashlyn thought Eddie was developing an obsession. But he agreed with her, so she let it go. ¡°Sharptooth could do with the extra training,¡± said Wilson. ¡°And the exercise is good for him.¡± Tree looked around, surprised at the response of his squad mates. ¡°Very well. We can give it a try. It¡¯ll certainly be a nice little test for me. So long as you all understand my chances of finding them again are slim.¡± Pecs slapped him on the back. ¡°We have faith. Someone¡¯s got to explore those northern parts eventually. Why not us?¡± Chapter Four Good for the Soul Christoph led his team of oxen along the field. Auntie Femke had marked out this damper land for oats this year, and the soil needed to be refreshed before seeding. The heavy iron plowshare tore through the soil, creating ridges and furrows as it went. For now, the beasts did the backbreaking work. But Christoph would soon get his turn. His days would be filled with harrowing, sowing, and weeding. It was enough to make a man fondly recall his days in The Rotten Apples. That said, Gerd farm was a different operation these days. It had grown. Many locals had seen their own farms destroyed by the rampaging goblin army. Those unwilling or unable to start again had found a home here. There was plenty of land to cultivate in every direction, even if that involved chopping trees, or draining. And there were more bodies to carry out that work. More bodies, surely, Christoph hoped, to harrow, sow, and weed. Maybe I can take on a supervisory role of some kind? ¡°Christoph!¡± came a call. It was Maia, a girl who had joined the farm with her family a few months ago. She was a year younger than he was. He knew she liked him, in an infatuation sort of way. She wasn¡¯t anything like Ashlyn. But she was the kind of girl who might make a good wife one day. And Ashlyn¡­well. She was gone. He had done a lot of hurting over that. Now his time in the Apples seemed like a lifetime ago, and his memories of his time with Greenblade had faded, to a place where he could look back with fondness, instead of pain. ¡°Something up?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve visitors at the farm.¡± ¡°What kind of visitors?¡± ¡°From Avolo. Folks who know you and Femke and Wade.¡± The look she gave him wasn¡¯t far off awe. If only you knew what a green young fool I was most of the time, he thought. ¡°Well, we best be going over to greet them, I guess.¡± ¡°You best. Not me. Femke says I¡¯m to take over the oxen from you. Time is the one thing you can never replace. So she told me.¡± ¡°Ah. Right. Maybe that¡¯s best then, if Auntie Femke says so.¡± The arrivals at the farm weren¡¯t quite who Christoph had been hoping to see. The Baron had brought Murder and Smoke, one of the ex-Golden Blades, whom Christoph hadn¡¯t got to know very well before he left the company. Along with his aunt and Wade, Christoph sat down with them in the farmhouse kitchen, sharing food and reminiscing a little about old times. ¡°And I imagine the farming life is suiting you very well,¡± The Baron asked Wade. ¡°Then you must have a vivid imagination,¡± Wade shot back. ¡°It¡¯s exhausting for a man of my delicate physique.¡± ¡°Oh yes. Physically, no doubt. But surely, good for the soul.¡± ¡°Good for the soul? It ain¡¯t perfect, but better than listening to the pompous nonsense you come out with. Now how about spitting out how you''re here? I¡¯m damned sure it isn¡¯t a social call.¡± ¡°You¡¯re damned right,¡± said The Baron, immune to the insults flung his way. ¡°It¡¯s a thievery quest, out in Kuthenia. Smoke and Murder are currently my only companions.¡± ¡°Mada.¡± ¡°I need someone with the skills of our trade, and naturally I thought of you.¡± The Baron looked at Christoph and Femke. ¡°And any other ex-colleagues, of course.¡± ¡°Do you know how busy we are on the farm this time of year?¡± Femke asked him. ¡°I can¡¯t spare anyone. Not even Trent.¡± ¡°I did think of that,¡± said The Baron. ¡°I would offer Murder here as a temporary replacement, until Wade returns. He¡¯s content to work all day, with none of the whinging.¡± Femke eyed Murder, clearly considering it. ¡°Mada,¡± suggested Murder. Wade looked between the three of them. ¡°I¡¯m sat right here, do you ken?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not tempted to return to your old life?¡± Smoke asked him, sounding genuinely interested. ¡°Not intrigued at all by a new mission?¡± Wade rubbed at his chin. ¡°There is one thing that stays with me. When those goblins came here, I finally levelled up. All my efforts, and I boosted after I¡¯d retired. It would be nice to get those extra wages, if only once.¡± ¡°Of course, I would loan you back the Necklace of Agility, for the length of the mission,¡± The Baron added. Wade looked across to Femke, clearly tempted. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°I understand if you have itchy feet,¡± she said. ¡°Murder here would be a fair replacement for the farm. We could always do with the money. So it¡¯s your choice, Trent. I¡¯ll not stand in your way. But we can¡¯t afford to lose anyone else.¡± She looked pointedly at Christoph, who got the message loud and clear. Next morning, Christoph was up bright and early, with a long list of tasks ahead of him. Wade had left with The Rotten Apples. The Baron had called it a thievery mission, and made no mention of needing an archer. Still, Christoph felt a little miffed that there had been so little effort to recruit him. I got to Level 3, after all, he considered. Before I turned twenty, as well. ¡°Christoph!¡± It was Auntie Femke. She rushed over with a worried expression. ¡°It¡¯s Eden. He¡¯s missing, and I¡¯ve a terrible feeling he¡¯s gone after his father. But he could just be hiding somewhere to avoid work. He has a habit of doing that.¡± ¡°Oh dear.¡± That wasn¡¯t good news. The Gerd farm was perfectly safe. But once someone crossed the Auster, they entered a no-man¡¯s land, where no one held authority. Remnants of the goblin army had retreated there, finding safety in the borderlands, where they could prey on the weak and na?ve. ¡°I¡¯m checking all the buildings,¡± Femke said. ¡°Can you look in the fields, and woods?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± She rushed off, intent on looking in the various outbuildings that were scattered around the farmstead. Christoph set out for the fields, then stopped. The thought had occurred, what would Jaelin the Explorer do? And the answer that came to him was that he¡¯d check to the east of the farm for signs of Eden¡¯s passing. East of the farm was a muddy wasteland. The old forest had been chopped away, and water now drained here, only drying out in the summer months. The nature of the land meant tracking someone was as easy as it got. He began to search the ground. The first footprints he found had been left by Wade, Smoke, and The Baron. That was no surprise¡ªthree men passing through left more signs than a child. But it gave him a starting point. If Eden had followed them, he should find the youngster¡¯s footprints nearby. He scoured the area, trying to work out, as Jaelin would have done, the likely route Eden would have taken. Then he found his first footprint¡ªa single shoe mark, where Eden had hopped off a rock and landed in the ground with force. He backtracked, working out where Eden would have come from. Not long after, he found a second, confirmatory print. He stopped, temporarily frozen with indecision. Should he follow the boy immediately, in the hopes he could quickly catch him? Or return to the farm? What good is The Bowman without his bow? Christoph asked. He ran back to the farm. *** De Cheney looked around his room with pursed lips. ¡°You know, it¡¯s about time you moved out of this place. It¡¯s not like you can¡¯t afford something else. Living here harms your reputation.¡± ¡°It¡¯s convenient,¡± Lothar argued. ¡°Look at the Blairs. They had that mansion, and called it a palace. It made them look wealthy, and powerful.¡± ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true. I¡¯ll think about it.¡± He was tired of being offered advice. ¡°Can I show you these maps now?¡± ¡°Go on then.¡± As before, when Lothar placed the fourth map with the other three, they began to glow. He looked nervously at Rosalind, whose calm demeanour reassured him that he wasn¡¯t about to be turned into a toad. She opened the maps, each identical to the other¡ªbut nothing had changed there. It was only when she turned the first over that she found what was happening. It was the reverse side that was glowing. A new map was being drawn before their eyes. ¡°Clear a space on your desk, Lothar,¡± she told him. Rosalind placed the four maps, upside down, onto the desk. She then began to arrange them, until the new maps fitted together, like a child¡¯s puzzle. What was revealed was a larger map, displaying the same locations of the four barrows. Except now a fifth location was revealed. ¡°It¡¯s in the Deepwood,¡± Lothar said. To the north of Mer Khazer was a thick, ancient forest. It wasn¡¯t the kind of place anyone, even Jaelin The Explorer, would voluntarily spend time in. Rosalind was pensive. ¡°So someone has left these maps in each barrow, and now leads their owner into the forest?¡± ¡°I know. Imagine what treasures are in this fifth location, after what we found in the barrows.¡± Lothar was excited. Maybe magic wasn''t so bad after all. ¡°Easy, Stiff. It¡¯s possible we¡¯re being led into a trap here. Most of those barrows had dangers as well as prizes. Even if there is more treasure here, there could be a greater threat that goes with it.¡± Lothar thought about it. ¡°Almost certainly. I agree, we need to be careful. But we can¡¯t just ignore this,¡± he said, gesturing at the revealed location. ¡°If we don¡¯t go there someone else will find it eventually.¡± ¡°I agree. But I think this needs someone with magic to go. And I don¡¯t mean Bletcher.¡± ¡°You mean you!¡± Lothar realised, beaming. ¡°You¡¯re going to join The Rotten Apples?¡± She frowned at him. ¡°Now I didn¡¯t say that, did I? But yes, I think I need to be there. There is magic involved here, and more than that. There is planning.¡± She grimaced, as if trying to find the right words. ¡°A powerful mind.¡± Lothar thought about it. ¡°I can¡¯t go. Not yet. There are more ships coming, and I need to be here to recruit.¡± ¡°If not you, then who? I¡¯m not going alone, that¡¯s for sure.¡± ¡°It has to be the team in Dorwich. They¡¯re the best we have. I¡¯ll write a letter for them. Go to Dorwich, explain as much as you want about the mission. I¡¯ll put you in charge.¡± Rosalind made a face. ¡°Bad plan. They don¡¯t know me. Probably don¡¯t trust me.¡± ¡°Alright. Wynter is in charge. But be careful, Rosalind. Find out what you can. If you need to pull out and report back to me, or get more of the squad together, do it. I want you back safe. And the others, if at all possible.¡± ¡°Aw, Stiff. It¡¯s almost as if you care.¡± ¡°Of course I care. I need you to help me find a new home, don¡¯t I?¡± He knelt by his chest, lifted the lid, and produced the Circlet of Wisdom. ¡°Here. If you¡¯re going to join the squad, you should have this. I think it suits you the most.¡± ¡°Why, thank you, Stiff,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± She looked touched, then side eyed him. ¡°But who said anything about joining the squad?¡± ¡°Come on, Rosalind. You can¡¯t go on a mission without joining the squad. That¡¯s how it works. It won¡¯t change our relationship.¡± ¡°Why is this so important to you, exactly?¡± ¡°I get to see your stats, of course.¡± ¡°Lothar Sauer. I would like to think I¡¯ve revealed more interesting things to you than my stats sheet.¡± ¡°Of course. But I¡¯m a merc captain. It¡¯s a professional interest of mine.¡± She sighed. ¡°Alright. But don¡¯t go thinking this puts you in charge of me.¡± ¡°The thought hadn¡¯t crossed my mind.¡± Chapter Five Dead Men Cant Drown Stricken had been chased before. Each time, he¡¯d retreated into the Moors of Misery, where the monotone landscape hid him. All he¡¯d needed was patience, outlasting those who sought him. But this was the first time he¡¯d felt hunted. His pursuer didn¡¯t let him rest, somehow knowing exactly where he hid, or finding his location with an unnerving skill that bordered on the sorcerous. But Stricken had a few tricks of his own. Let this bastard come for me. Stricken could keep running forever. Yes, he experienced a terrible hunger, that was never fully satiated, however much he ate. But despite that, he was not reliant on sustenance, as he had once been when alive. He could keep going without food, or water, for days. His hunter was human. That made him weak. Stricken would outlast him in the end. He drove himself northwest, reaching the periphery of the great stretch of moorland. If he went much farther, he would reach the fast-flowing Auster as it hurtled south to Urlay. If I have to, I¡¯ll cross and keep going, he told himself. Dead men can¡¯t drown. The attack came before Stricken knew what was happening. His pursuer had been hiding in the heather, waiting for him. He¡¯d got ahead of him, and¡ªsomehow¡ªguessed the route Stricken would take. He launched himself up, and the butt of his spear smacked on the back of Stricken¡¯s head. Stricken fell like a sack of potatoes, unable to recover from the blow. His pursuer was on him, kneeling on the back of his legs, pulling his arms behind his back with an iron grip. Stricken tried to wriggle free, but he was tied and trussed in moments. The bastard rolled him onto his back with his boot. ¡°What do we have here?¡± he asked in a growl. He had an outdoorsman¡¯s tanned skin, black hair, and stubble. A bow stave was slung on his back, and he wore studded leather, light enough not to hinder his movement. ¡°Who¡¯s asking?¡± Stricken spat back. He¡¯d never been one for fear. Now he was dead, he felt untouchable. ¡°Reckon I¡¯ve caught myself the wight of Urlay,¡± the man said, ignoring the question. He went to grab the rope around Stricken¡¯s chest, and Stricken lunged, trying to bite. He received a fist in the face as answer, leaving his head spinning. ¡°Try that again, and I¡¯ll chop something off.¡± Stricken¡¯s captor led him through the moors, in the direction of civilization. Each step became a dull blow that wore away his confidence. Becoming dead, yet alive, had made him feel untouchable. Now he wondered what this man¡¯s plan was. Where was he taking him, and why? Was it possible there was someone who could undo his master¡¯s magic? Steal back the life force that Amotken had given him? The hunter was implacable. He pulled or pushed at Stricken whenever he slowed, and revealed nothing. The man twitched, suddenly alert. With a shrug of his shoulders, his bow stave was in his hands. With nimble fingers, he strung it, and grabbed an arrow. He stared back the way they had come. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Stricken turned to look. He saw what his captor had sensed¡ªa figure, running towards them. The hunter grimaced, glanced at Stricken, then kicked out, taking away his legs. With his hands tied, Stricken landed heavily, getting a mouthful of dirt. He wriggled on the ground, trying to get sight of the approaching figure. There was the twang of a bow string, quickly followed by a thump as the arrow hit its target. Stricken struggled more, desperate to see what was happening. He used his knees to flop a few inches to the side. It was enough to reveal the figure coming for them. There was an arrow embedded in Princess Eyota¡¯s chest, but she still came for the hunter with a look of grim determination. Another twang, and a second arrow sprouted in her thigh. It stopped her in her tracks; but it didn¡¯t drive her to the ground, as such a shot would ordinarily have done. She continued on, relentless, if a little slower. Hope restored, Stricken pulled at the ropes binding him, desperate to free himself and join the fight. He heard his captor curse in his gravelly voice. It was followed by fumbling noises, then he emerged into Stricken¡¯s vision. His bow discarded, the man attacked Eyota with spear and shield. The spear kept Eyota at a distance, unable to get close with her sword. She circled, but the hunter followed her with the spear. Then he pulled it back and led with his shield, rushing her. She sidestepped; he glided out and with perfect footwork returned to a forward momentum, launching the spear into her path. The iron spearhead penetrated her armour, ramming into her groin. Eyota was spitted by the weapon, her movement curtailed. She chopped down with the sharpened edge of her sword, as her opponent pushed with the spear, intent on knocking her down. She stayed on her feet, at the cost of the spearhead lodging ever deeper. With her third strike, she cut through the shaft, leaving Stricken¡¯s captor holding two feet of wood. Stricken yanked at his restraints, to no avail. If anything, the knot tightened. Think, he demanded of himself. He managed to get to his knees again, then came down hard on his shoulder. He felt and heard the arm come out of its socket, but the pain was a distant thing, as if his mind didn¡¯t fully understand it was there. Somehow, the princess had the energy to go on the offensive, swinging wide. Her opponent followed the blow with his shield, but it was a feint. She lunged the other way, her sword inside his defences. He met the blade with the spear shaft. Eyota raked her blade down the length of wood. With his hands undefended, he was forced to release it. The hunter rammed her with his shield. This time he was successful, the force of it sending Eyota to the ground. He was quickly onto her, a knife now in hand. He knelt on her, knee jamming against the spear that was still lodged deep. Eyota should have been in excruciating pain, but it didn¡¯t seem to register at all. She used his weight to sit up, jabbing forward with her sword. The sword left her grip, flipping in mid air. His defensive knife block passed underneath, while she caught the sharp blade in one hand. She punched forward, the hilt of the weapon jamming into his neck. The hunter was suddenly all at sea, no longer in control of his body. They wrestled, Eyota trying to unbalance him. He hung on, desperate to maintain his position of dominance. Stricken slipped one hand then the other through the knot. One arm wasn¡¯t working, but with his other hand he pushed himself to his feet. He staggered towards the fight, throwing himself at the hunter. They hit the ground, scrabbling at one another. Stricken¡¯s opponent got both hands on him, and was strong enough to push him aside. Then Eyota¡¯s boot cracked him on the side of his head and he collapsed onto his back. Stricken was onto him like a wild animal, his hunger taking over even his desire for revenge. ¡°No, Stricken.¡± Stricken was inches from the man¡¯s throat. He could hear and smell the blood pulsing along his neck arteries. He could already taste it. He opened his mouth. ¡°I said no.¡± He couldn¡¯t do it. Couldn¡¯t close his jaws on the undefended neck. Stricken had prided himself on never doing what he was told. Not since he was a child had he allowed anyone to control him. Now, despite his all-consuming famishment, he had to obey her. What torturous spell had his master cast on him? ¡°We will take this one to Amotken,¡± Eyota said. She studied the man who had hounded and captured Stricken. ¡°He interests me. Who is he?¡± Stricken, a maelstrom of anger and misery, didn¡¯t answer. Chapter Six Mission #29 Raid Darkspike Dungeon Part One MERCS: Mila | The Explorer | Bletcher | The Bludgeoner | Randall the Heavy-Handed | Lurin Veinfinder | Rilie Rumblewind Character Sheets:
Mila
Name Liudmila Stradenko
Nickname Mila
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 21
Daily Wage 5 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 16
Core Stats
Might 5
Agility 10
Grit 9
Intellect 5
Skills Thievery, Medic, Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour Armour of Unyielding Silk
Other Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Medical kit, Potion of Healing
The Explorer
Name Jaelin Topolski
Nickname The Explorer
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 27
Daily Wage 11 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 5
Hit Points 23
Core Stats
Might 8
Agility 11
Grit 11
Intellect 10
Skills Scouting, Bows (proficient), Knives (proficient), Spears (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Shortbow (damage 3-18), Knife (damage 3-12), Short spear (damage 1-6)
Armour Studded Leather
Other Rod of Light
Bletcher
Name ?
Nickname Bletcher
Race/Nationality Human/Hargon Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
Age 21
Daily Wage 10 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 4
Action Points 4
Hit Points 16
Core Stats
Might 4
Agility 6
Grit 8
Intellect 7
Arcane Powers
Sanctity Blessed
Erudition Dolt
Skills Staves (novice)
Equipment
Weapons Staff of Warning
Armour Leather
Other Mask of Magical Warding
The Bludgeoner
Name Larik Hunder
Nickname The Bludgeoner
Race/Nationality Human/Livanian
Age 22
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 17
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 7
Grit 6
Intellect 6
Skills Maces (proficient), Shields (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Mace (damage 3-18), Shield (damage 2-6)
Armour Ring Mail (+Shield)
Other
Randall the Heavy-Handed
Name Randall
Nickname Heavy Hands
Race/Nationality Dwarf
Age 44
Daily Wage 7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 23
Core Stats
Might 9
Agility 7
Grit 11
Intellect 6
Skills Axes (proficient), Shields (competent), Hammers (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Battleaxe (two hander) (Splitter, To Hit +2 & Damage +2, 5-32)
Armour Ring Mail
Other
Lurin Veinfinder
Name Lurin
Nickname Veinfinder
Race/Nationality Dwarf
Age 54
Daily Wage 8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 3
Action Points 5
Hit Points 22
Core Stats
Might 7
Agility 7
Grit 12
Intellect 6
Skills Sapper, Axes (competent), Shields (competent)
Equipment
Weapons Pickaxe (2-12), Shield (2-6)
Armour Breastplate, Helmet
Other Sapper¡¯s Kit, Stone Speaker
Rumblewind
Name Rilie
Nickname Rumblewind
Race/Nationality Halfling
Age 31
Daily Wage 4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level 2
Action Points 3
Hit Points 14
Core Stats
Might 7
Agility 12
Grit 5
Intellect 4
Skills Sling (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons Sling of Accuracy (+4 To Hit, 3-12)
Armour Padded
Other
The Squished Plums in Mer Khazer was doing a roaring trade. Word of the town, founded by Lothar Sauer, the saviour of Gal¡¯azu, had spread far and wide. The more adventurous spirits in Gal¡¯azu visited¡ªonly for a day or two, sometimes¡ªbut most who came never left. Housing was cheap. It was safe. And there was a sense of contentment about the place. Nearly everyone commented on it. They used different words or phrases; put it down to one thing or another. But the growing number of townsfolk were united in their love for their new home. The Rotten Apples had managed to secure themselves a table in the inn. Not so hard these days. Until yesterday, there had only been four of them. Now there were seven. The drinkers in The Plums were cosmopolitan types¡ªnot afraid of leaving one place for another. Folks who¡¯d seen a bit of the world. But even they glanced over and muttered to each other with wonder. Because dwarves had come to Gal¡¯azu. Dwarves had come to Mer Khazer. To be precise, two dwarves and a halfling. Not, Jaelin considered, that anyone could really confuse Rilie with the other two. She was even shorter than Wilson; and slim with it. It was much more likely that a passing stranger might mistake her for a human child. The dwarves were shorter than humans, but stockily built. Easily wider in the shoulder than Jaelin, with muscular chests and limbs. Randall had reds and browns in his long hair and full beard. Jaelin was yet to see Lurin without his helmet; a beard and eyebrows with as much grey as black in them blanketed his face. With their evening meal demolished, it was the Bludgeoner who drew proceedings towards the reason they had gathered. Jaelin noticed Randall giving his cousin a nudge as Larik spoke. ¡°This is my thinking. When I joined the Rotten Apples last year, I struggled. A lot of the squad were more experienced than me and I felt like I didn¡¯t have opportunities to make an impact, or progress. So I came up with a solution: missions that the likes of us can take on by ourselves. We deal with the danger, and we claim the rewards.¡± ¡°Rewards are for the gods to gift,¡± Bletcher intoned. Larik ignored him. ¡°First, a raid on Darkspike Dungeon. It¡¯s inside a mountain. It was the home of an orc army commanded by a queen. But she and most of her troops are dead. I expect it to be lightly defended, with decent loot available.¡± ¡°Lightly defended or not,¡± Heavy-Hands commented, "breaching a mountain fastness is not an easy proposition.¡± ¡°Ordinarily, very true,¡± said Larik. ¡°But we have someone with us who has already done it once. Explorer?¡± ¡°I found a way into the mountain that was undefended. I doubt the orcs realise it¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t spot where you got in?¡± ¡°No, we left via another exit. No real reason to think they worked it out. I didn¡¯t get to see that much of the dungeon. But we found their armoury.¡± ¡°Armoury?¡± said Rilie, suddenly interested. ¡°With treasure?¡± ¡°No. It just held food and weapons.¡± ¡°Orc food and weapons are less than worthless,¡± Randall said. ¡°Maybe,¡± Jaelin said, ¡°but I still think the room is worth checking out. If there¡¯s nothing of value, then we move on to the throne room. My colleague identified it when we were there. It was too dangerous to explore at the time. But with most of the orcs killed in Eisenberg, it may be easier to get into.¡± ¡°There¡¯ll be treasure in the throne room?¡± Rylie asked. Jaelin spread his hands, unsure what the halfling was asking him. ¡°There might. I can¡¯t know until we search the room.¡± ¡°You and I can do the searching, Rilie,¡± Mila said. ¡°While they do the fighting.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m doing the fighting!¡± cried the halfling. She took her sling from her belt. ¡°Stiff gave me this to use.¡± She spun it around a few times, a wary eye on the two dwarves, who frowned at her. ¡°Fine,¡± Mila said. ¡°From a distance.¡± She pulled at the halfling¡¯s tunic. ¡°But this isn¡¯t going to save you from an orc spear. You¡¯re too vulnerable to be getting involved in combat.¡± ¡°She speaks true, Rumblewind,¡± Randall said. ¡°We need to get her some better armour,¡± Larik mused. ¡°Henrik in Eisenberg is the man for the job. But he¡¯ll have to get her measurements.¡± ¡°Which is why, for now, you mustn¡¯t be getting involved in combat, Rilie,¡± Mila said sternly. ¡°Do you understand?¡± Jaelin smiled at her motherly tone. Rilie sullenly hooked her sling back on her belt. ¡°I suppose so.¡± ¡°Then everything is settled,¡± Larik said, sounding relieved. Jaelin thought the Bludgeoner hadn¡¯t anticipated how much work leading a team of dungeoneers would be. ¡°May the gods bless our undertaking,¡± Bletcher pronounced. ¡°What gods?¡± Randall demanded. ¡°What?¡± ¡°What gods are you asking to bless this venture?¡± Bletcher looked confused. ¡°The gods,¡± he said, rather lamely. ¡°You don¡¯t even know which gods you are asking favors from?¡± asked the dwarf, aghast. Bletcher looked confused. ¡°They never told me. They just took my arm, and in exchange I can speak with them.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t know,¡± said the dwarf, ¡°I suggest you find out. Before they take something else.¡± A day¡¯s walk brought them to Darkspike. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Lurin asked, pointing to a structure sticking up from the mountain. ¡°A tower. That¡¯s where we exited the dungeon.¡± ¡°Is it defended?¡± Randall asked. ¡°It was last year. I don¡¯t know now.¡± I don¡¯t know. How many times have I said those words? Jaelin asked himself. He was tired of being the expert on Darkspike. All it did was bring endless questions. ¡°Well,¡± said the dwarf, ¡°we don¡¯t want them to see us coming.¡± ¡°No,¡± Jaelin agreed. ¡°We¡¯re going to detour around and approach from the west.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± said Heavy Hands, giving his unasked for approval of the plan. I wish it was just me, Jaelin said to himself. Well, me and Mila. He sighed. Perhaps dungeon raids aren¡¯t my thing.