The Travelers noticed the difference in the mood of Crown City as soon as they left The Heathens Head. Specifically they could hear screaming and a deep roaring from a few streets over. “They’ve even distracted themselves.” Said Goodman. Who then started walking away towards the infinity gate and the main guard barracks in the city. They stuck primarily to alleyways, so it was a winding path, Red had jumped up and climbed a building to scout the route from above. Telling the others which turns to take. From her vantage point on the rooftops she got a sense of the chaos that was raging through the city. It seemed a monster had escaped the archive and was causing both the npc city guard and the Silver Crown guild no small amount of trouble. Small fires had started and thin trails of smoke drifted up into the sky. She watched a squad of Silver Crowns charge down an adjacent street towards the creature. She wished them the best of luck.
The flesh golem was following the steady stream of players and npcs up main street towards its source. Either tossing it’s attackers out the way or tearing them apart. Sometimes they would land a hit on it, and they were steadily working away at it’s health. But not nearly quick enough.
Dune stood at the end of the street watching the golem charge down it killing and tossing aside any player or npc that happened to be nearby at the wrong moment. Even with his new armour he doubted he could take the thing on. Maybe if Ullen was still around and his stats let him get a suit too. Dune had circled round the citadel after coming out and approached the creature from the north, the city barracks can infinity gate behind him. The golem had been following the flow of players and was heading vaguely towards main street. If we can get it to main street we can surround it see if that helps. He started shouting to the people around him. The new armour was shining in the twilight. The face plate making his voice have metallic echo. He started to issue orders, and the players and npcs around him started to follow them. Gradually leading the flesh golem onto main street.
Flux exited the archive to find the remains of a battle. A few bodies and weapons scattered about the place, and a trail of destruction leading away down one of the allys heading northeast. She focuses on her new magic and the fresh blood from the bodies. Floated over to her, when it landed on her new armour it dissolved into it. And she felt her stats increase a small amount. The new armour wasn’t pretty to look at. The helmet was a stretched out skull which gave her a rictus grin. The cloak was made of skin and was a faded flesh colour. On her arms and legs were rows of bones tied together with sinew and tendons, giving her some armour. Her chest was covered by a ribcage that had enough ribs to cover her own chest entirely. In the spaces between the armour fleshy tendons could be seen holding all it all in place. The armour had a set bonus called vampiric talent. Allowing her to absorb a minor stat boost from any recently dead creature or player. She also now had access a few different spells based around blood magic. Most of which were debuff spells, causing her opponents to slow down or, take damage over time. She followed the trail of bodies, absorbing blood as she went.
Goodman emerged first into Barrak Square. Situated at the north most end of the shard. The infinity gate was surrounded completely by a thick wall, which also served as the main city barracks. Other smaller barracks surrounding it and a large training area in the center. Normally this place was filled with guards or players busy doing quests for them. Right now it was empty. Everyone was off seeing what all the fuss was about. Goodman strolled through the square towards the gate placed in the middle of the wall. It was actually two portcullis one on this side, and another on the side closest to the gate. He peered through but in the dying light couldn’t see anything.
“Any idea how to get the gate open?” asked Goodman
“I’ve got one,” said Amok, who was already pulling boulders out of the ground, his hands flaming green. He launched them and one shattered on the wall the other bounced of the portcullis not even leaving a mark. They stood around in silence for a moment then Amok said, “that normally works.” The others nodded
“Any other ideas?” asked Goodman, the group stood around thinking. Red had wondered off a little when Amok had started pulling boulders from the ground, she said, “what about?” pointing down the main street.
Down main street a line of Silver Crowns were facing of against the flesh golem, they had seen in the archive. The flesh golem was slowly advancing on the the formation, following a small group of rouges who were tossing throwing knives at it and then diving out the way. The creature lunged at the rouges missing each one by a hair, then it manged to grab one and roared in triumph, it lifted the screaming player above it’s head and proceed to tear the player in half. The silver crowns took a nervous step backwards and Dune who stood in the center wearing new shiny armour shouted something to keep them in line. The Travelers winced.
“That could work,” said Brett
“How did they get that thing working?” Amok said, “we’ll have to find a book about it sometime.”
“Later,” said Goodman, “how are we going to get that thing over here?”
“If only their leader had some kind of grudge against our leader, that we could use to get him to make a dumb mistake.” Red said.
Goodman Grinned.
Dune stood in the middle of his line, facing down the flesh golem. Now it was standing he could see it stood at about 10 feet tall, and bulged with muscle. It dragged itself forward with it’s arms and really only used its thick stubby legs for balance. The head had to small beady eyes which glowed red. It left a slick trail of blood as it walked. Dune couldn’t tell if the blood belonged to the players it killed or too the creature itself.
Dune had arranged his forces into three groups of 12 players each in two rows of six. He put these groups into a line, so the two groups on either side of the center could surround the monster. Dune stood in the center group in the middle. His new armour lending him a little height. The new sword and shield also had their own boosts to attack and defense. Each one was as shiny as the armour. He looked forward to breaking them in. The flesh golem began to drag itself forward, and the players around Dune shifted, “steady,” he said. The players in his center group were primarily tanks, they each had chain armour and some had recently started to acquire patchwork plate after the recipe had been shared by a clever player. The silver crowns readied their Shields in front of them. The two groups on either side of them took a step away giving them room. A few players in the back row had equipped crossbows and on Dunes order started to pump bolts into the creature.
The flesh golem went from a mindless lumbering gait to enraged as soon as the first bolt hit. It threw itself forward and rose it’s arms in the air ready to smash the players in front of it. The tanks each activated the ‘unmovable skill’ and raised their Shields. The flesh golem pounded down with a double fisted strike. The hit had a shock wave effect which tossed the players that had been using the crossbows backwards, the tanks however stayed where they were. And those closest were able to lash out at the flesh golems exposed stomach keeping the beast focused on them. Dune heard the commanders of the flanks order their people into position. And heard them start their attack. The two flanks were mainly made up of rouges and a few of the wizards that hadn’t gone into the archive. Flashes of light and throwing daggers began pounding into the flesh golem while it continued to attack the tank line. The tanks were using taunt skills to keep the golems focus on them, and lashing out with their swords or spears whenever they could. A part of Dunes mind was thinking about how they really all should of had spears. The extra range would make the fight somewhat safer. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt the golem land a heavy blow on his shield. He glanced up at the ‘unmovable’ status icon the counter only had roughly 15 seconds left, but the monster didn’t seem to be slowing down at all.
Their was a pause after each of the creatures attacks and Dune lashed out with his sword. He felt it bite into the golems flesh and scrape against bone. He watched a few other weapons strike at the creature, most of them barely broke the skin and those that did didn’t go nearly as deep as Dunes did. The creature roared again and lifted it’s arms, ‘unmovable’ only had 7 seconds left. The flesh golem roared, and began repeatably smashing it’s fists against the shield wall. Over and over again, raining down blows. A new attack, a combo move. The flesh golem gave one final roar and swiped it’s arm across the formation, just as it did ‘unmovable’ wore off and the formation was thrown backwards. The two flanks pulled back, and the flesh golem went through it’s post-attack animation. Which was normally the best time to strike at it.
Dune landed on his back and found himself staring up at Goodman, who was Grinning back down at him.
“How’s it going buddy.” Goodman said
Dune spun back onto his feet and faced him, “what are you doing here?” he demanded
“Thought maybe we should finish what we started, how about it a duel?” Goodman said
“You’ll cheat,” Dune said.
“I’m hurt you’d think I’d do that.”
“You did it already!”
“Dune we need you.” One of the Silver crowns shouted, they were frantically trying to form up again, a few were trying to distract the flesh golem to give the others time to form up again. Dune looked from them too and back to Goodman who hadn’t taken that stupid grin off his face.
“Well?” said Goodman.
Dune stared at him, then the flesh golem screamed. He spun around, and looked back. A long stone spike had speared it through on of it’s legs, and there was a player standing in front of the flesh golem wearing a dark brown cloak, along the cloak were runes which were all faintly glowing. The flesh golem brought down one of it’s fists towards the player who effortlessly stepped aside, and buried a dagger into the things, face. It roared in pain and swung with it’s second hand. The player again calmly stepped back dodging the swing by a hair.
The flesh golem stepped after them and the player stepped back again, leading the monster away.
“No, not this time.” Said Dune, he swung a fist at Goodman which connected and sent him stumbling back a few steps. Then ran back to his guild mates who were all standing watching the player lead the flesh golem. He shouted for them to form up and they snapped into action, forming up a few steps behind him. Dune charged at the creatures back and buried his sword in it up to the hilt then tore it out. Again the monster roared. And spun around, Dune stepped back into his formations and again readied himself to tank the monster.
Red watched as Dune pulled the golem back towards his own guild. Goodman walked up next to her, rubbing his chin. “Plan B then.” He said.
“Plan b is the worst plan.” She said
Goodman only shrugged, turned and cupped his hands around his mouth, “We’re doing plan B!” he yelled. Then to Red he said, “plan B is a great plan,”
She only rolled her eyes, “it’s just going to make things worse. We won’t e able to come back here ever.”
“So what,” Goodman shrugged.
Two boulders launched over their heads and landed squarely in the middle of the two flanking groups of Dunes forces sending them scattering around.
“Wish I could see his face.” Said Goodman.
Another two boulders then crashed into the tanks, they faired better than the rogues and wizards but, the formation just about held together, then Brett and Ammy charged out of a nearby alley way and threw themselves at the players, swinging wildly, and fully breaking their lines.
“Off you go.” Said Goodman, who was drawing his own sword and shield the runes on his armour glowing faintly, he ran to support Brett and Ammy in the Melee.
Red sighed, and got some throwing knives ready. This is going to be much harder now I don’t have focus she thought as she threw the first knife. It struck true and the flesh golem glanced her way just in time for the second, third and fourth knives to bury themselves into the monsters chest. It roared and began to lumber her way. This time she tried to keep more distance between her and it. The creature launched a fist at her and she dived backwards, it still hit her and she was thrown several feet back, the hit taking about a third of her health in one his. “Fuck” she muttered. The monster roared again and used its powerful arms to throw itself into the air. The two fists swung around and would have crushed her completely but she managed to scramble backwards just enough to avoid the major hit. The shock wave however still sent her tumbling and took another third of her health. Red began to wonder if she had overestimated her abilities. The flesh golem lumbered over to her and she pulled herself to her feet and began stepped back towards the infinity gate. She saw the the focus cool-down in her vision taunting her. The flesh golem rose a hand intending to swipe her into a wall a move which would surely kill her.
The monster swung,but in a practiced movement Red leaped into a back flip and threw a dagger at the same time. The dagger hit true, burying itself in the golem. She landed on her feet and had just enough time to again throw herself backwards narrowly avoiding a second attack. The monster went into it’s post attack animations and she took the time to swig a health potion and move further up the street throwing daggers as she went. When the flesh golem was ready again it jumped high into the air, but this time instead of landing and causing a shock wave that Red wasn’t sure she could dodge. A boulder crashed into it. Knocking it back to the ground, it roared. Red smiled, and silently thanked Amok. She continued to lead the creature back towards the infinity gate.
Goodman Brett and Ammy, fought and ugly battle with the Silver Crowns, all three of them had both a level and skill advantage. They also still had the enchanted armour. The only thing the silver crowns had were numbers and some training on how to fight a group.
Ammy swung her axe in a wide arc either knocking back or forcing the silver crowns to hide behind Shields. Then Goodman and Brett battered at those shields pushing the players back and earning themselves some breathing room. Goodman glanced to the side were Dune was pushing through his guild mates to get to him.
He indicated with his head to the other two and they nodded, but didn’t make a move to help Goodman when he turned to face Dune.
“Looks like I’m going to get that fight after all.” Dune said.
“Looks like it”
Goodman took in Dunes silver armour, the ornate shield and sword. The small silver crown engraved in the helmet. He thought Dune was trying to hard. Goodman's own armour was battered plate painted green, although some of the green paint had been scratched off leaving marks of a steely grey. Runes still glowed across the surface even on the places where the paint had been scratched off. His own sword was a sturdy steel thing. Chipped and stained after the long day he had, had. Goodman Grinned at Dune.
“Let’s go.” He said
Dune made the first attack. A thrust with his long silver blade. Goodman deflected it with his own sword and countered with a hard two handed thrust of his own, but Dune turned it away with his shield. The two took a minute regaining their balance and circled each other. Dune with his sword and shield and Goodman two handing his longsword. The Silver Crown members didn’t interfere instead they kept trying to take down Brett and Ammy who were having a whale of a time beating them back.
Goodman shifted his stance then struck with an overhead swing Dune raised his shield and began an began an attack that would have gone under Goodmans Guard. But Goodman saw it coming and twisted out of the way, switching his overheard swing to a diagonal one. This took most of the power out of it but it still landed, clanking off Dunes armour.
Dune spun his sword out in a horizontal slash, which Goodman blocked with his sword, but Dune struck with his shield smashing it against Goodmans face.
Goodman stumbled back and Dune pressed his advantage stepping forward and hitting with two horizontal slashes across Goodmans Chest. Several of the runes on his armour flared and went out. Dune tried for a third hit but Goodman got his sword up and in time, then he stepped forward and hit Dunes neck with the hilt of his sword. Dune dropped his own blade and tried to punch Goodman but Goodman, dropping his own sword caught it. The two went tumbling to the ground. Wrestling and throwing wild punches and kicks.
They broke apart and stared each other down, then Goodman grinned and pointed to behind Dune. Dune snorted and said, “you think I’m dumb enough to fall for that?”
There was a huge smash behind them, and Dune spun around. The Golem had broken through the walls gates. The infinity gate was open.
“Wait.” Said Dune, “No.”
“I know,” said Goodman
“You can’t do that.”
“Well technically they did it.”
The fighting around them had stopped everyone watching the ragged hole in the wall where the gate had been. Something on the other side roared, then the flesh golem flew back out onto the street. A giant silver javelin had speared it through. After it followed a 12 foot tall knight dressed in armour that shone with white light. It started to rain, heavy thick drops. The knight walked forward, shining like a lantern in the night.
“Called it,” said Ammy, “giant silver knight.”
“Anyone could have called that,” said Brett. They had walked up next to Goodman and watched with him.
The knight made it to the golem which was struggling to get up. The knight wrapped one had around the javelin lifted it out then jammed it back in. It did it several more times, till the golem stopped moving. Goodman stared at the knight it’s name appeared in his vision ‘Gate Guardian Crown Keeper’ on it’s waist was tied a small silver crown. Brett nudged Goodman “lets go,” he whispered. And the three snuck of towards an alley where they planned to meet up with the others.
The Crown Keeper stood up, and looked at the group of player. Despite the fighting only two had actually died. And the Crown Keepers Ai recognised the formation as a raid team. It raised the javelin and pointed at the Guild members. “You Shall not enter.” It said in a voice like tumbling gravel. Then threw the javelin at them.
Red watched as Dune pulled the golem back towards his own guild. Goodman walked up next to her, rubbing his chin. “Plan B then.” He said.
“Plan b is the worst plan.” She said
Goodman only shrugged, turned and cupped his hands around his mouth, “We’re doing plan B!” he yelled. Then to Red he said, “plan B is a great plan,”
She only rolled her eyes, “it’s just going to make things worse. We won’t e able to come back here ever.”
“So what,” Goodman shrugged.
Two boulders launched over their heads and landed squarely in the middle of the two flanking groups of Dunes forces sending them scattering around.
“Wish I could see his face.” Said Goodman.
Another two boulders then crashed into the tanks, they faired better than the rogues and wizards but, the formation just about held together, then Brett and Ammy charged out of a nearby alley way and threw themselves at the players, swinging wildly, and fully breaking their lines.
“Off you go.” Said Goodman, who was drawing his own sword and shield the runes on his armour glowing faintly, he ran to support Brett and Ammy in the Melee.
Red sighed, and got some throwing knives ready. This is going to be much harder now I don’t have focus she thought as she threw the first knife. It struck true and the flesh golem glanced her way just in time for the second, third and fourth knives to bury themselves into the monsters chest. It roared and began to lumber her way. This time she tried to keep more distance between her and it. The creature launched a fist at her and she dived backwards, it still hit her and she was thrown several feet back, the hit taking about a third of her health in one his. “Fuck” she muttered. The monster roared again and used its powerful arms to throw itself into the air. The two fists swung around and would have crushed her completely but she managed to scramble backwards just enough to avoid the major hit. The shock wave however still sent her tumbling and took another third of her health. Red began to wonder if she had overestimated her abilities. The flesh golem lumbered over to her and she pulled herself to her feet and began stepped back towards the infinity gate. She saw the the focus cool-down in her vision taunting her. The flesh golem rose a hand intending to swipe her into a wall a move which would surely kill her.
The monster swung,but in a practiced movement Red leaped into a back flip and threw a dagger at the same time. The dagger hit true, burying itself in the golem. She landed on her feet and had just enough time to again throw herself backwards narrowly avoiding a second attack. The monster went into it’s post attack animations and she took the time to swig a health potion and move further up the street throwing daggers as she went. When the flesh golem was ready again it jumped high into the air, but this time instead of landing and causing a shock wave that Red wasn’t sure she could dodge. A boulder crashed into it. Knocking it back to the ground, it roared. Red smiled, and silently thanked Amok. She continued to lead the creature back towards the infinity gate.
Goodman Brett and Ammy, fought and ugly battle with the Silver Crowns, all three of them had both a level and skill advantage. They also still had the enchanted armour. The only thing the silver crowns had were numbers and some training on how to fight a group.
Ammy swung her axe in a wide arc either knocking back or forcing the silver crowns to hide behind Shields. Then Goodman and Brett battered at those shields pushing the players back and earning themselves some breathing room. Goodman glanced to the side were Dune was pushing through his guild mates to get to him.
He indicated with his head to the other two and they nodded, but didn’t make a move to help Goodman when he turned to face Dune.
“Looks like I’m going to get that fight after all.” Dune said.
“Looks like it”
Goodman took in Dunes silver armour, the ornate shield and sword. The small silver crown engraved in the helmet. He thought Dune was trying to hard. Goodman's own armour was battered plate painted green, although some of the green paint had been scratched off leaving marks of a steely grey. Runes still glowed across the surface even on the places where the paint had been scratched off. His own sword was a sturdy steel thing. Chipped and stained after the long day he had, had. Goodman Grinned at Dune.
“Let’s go.” He said
Dune made the first attack. A thrust with his long silver blade. Goodman deflected it with his own sword and countered with a hard two handed thrust of his own, but Dune turned it away with his shield. The two took a minute regaining their balance and circled each other. Dune with his sword and shield and Goodman two handing his longsword. The Silver Crown members didn’t interfere instead they kept trying to take down Brett and Ammy who were having a whale of a time beating them back.
Goodman shifted his stance then struck with an overhead swing Dune raised his shield and began an began an attack that would have gone under Goodmans Guard. But Goodman saw it coming and twisted out of the way, switching his overheard swing to a diagonal one. This took most of the power out of it but it still landed, clanking off Dunes armour.
Dune spun his sword out in a horizontal slash, which Goodman blocked with his sword, but Dune struck with his shield smashing it against Goodmans face.
Goodman stumbled back and Dune pressed his advantage stepping forward and hitting with two horizontal slashes across Goodmans Chest. Several of the runes on his armour flared and went out. Dune tried for a third hit but Goodman got his sword up and in time, then he stepped forward and hit Dunes neck with the hilt of his sword. Dune dropped his own blade and tried to punch Goodman but Goodman, dropping his own sword caught it. The two went tumbling to the ground. Wrestling and throwing wild punches and kicks.
They broke apart and stared each other down, then Goodman grinned and pointed to behind Dune. Dune snorted and said, “you think I’m dumb enough to fall for that?”
There was a huge smash behind them, and Dune spun around. The Golem had broken through the walls gates. The infinity gate was open.
“Wait.” Said Dune, “No.”
“I know,” said Goodman
“You can’t do that.”
“Well technically they did it.”
The fighting around them had stopped everyone watching the ragged hole in the wall where the gate had been. Something on the other side roared, then the flesh golem flew back out onto the street. A giant silver javelin had speared it through. After it followed a 12 foot tall knight dressed in armour that shone with white light. It started to rain, heavy thick drops. The knight walked forward, shining like a lantern in the night.
“Called it,” said Ammy, “giant silver knight.”
“Anyone could have called that,” said Brett. They had walked up next to Goodman and watched with him.
The knight made it to the golem which was struggling to get up. The knight wrapped one had around the javelin lifted it out then jammed it back in. It did it several more times, till the golem stopped moving. Goodman stared at the knight it’s name appeared in his vision ‘Gate Guardian Crown Keeper’ on it’s waist was tied a small silver crown. Brett nudged Goodman “lets go,” he whispered. And the three snuck of towards an alley where they planned to meet up with the others.
The Crown Keeper stood up, and looked at the group of player. Despite the fighting only two had actually died. And the Crown Keepers Ai recognised the formation as a raid team. It raised the javelin and pointed at the Guild members. “You Shall not enter.” It said in a voice like tumbling gravel. Then threw the javelin at them.
A lot of the players however decided to stand and fight. They were shouting commands at each other and a few were laughing wildly as they tried to land a hit on the Crown Keeper. Dune watched these players, they naturally formed into pairs, one person trying to block while the other tried to hit. They were good at it, the training Dune had put them through was clearly working. The ranged players had used the time when the boss was kneeling to spread out more and were now showering it with spells and throwing daggers. A few were even using crossbows, the bolts bouncing off or breaking when they hit the Crown Keepers armour.
The Crown keeper itself had started to spin the javelin around itself again, forcing the players back. 2 paris of players however had managed to get under its feet and where all swinging wildly at the things knees. Sparks flew each time a hit connected and the boss was trying to stomp on them or kick them. Dune watched a few other players try to rush to help. They charged forward and tried to raise their shields but were unable to get them up in time. The javaliln clipped over the top and sent the players sprawling. They got up and pulled out health potions, they would have to sit out while their the potions regenerated their health.
The moon had risen above the buildings now and the spells the wizards were throwing lit up the street. When they connected they burst in an array of colours. It would have been beautiful if it wasn’t a desperate fight for the their lives. The buildings around them had missing walls, and blood stains, if they weren’t burnt down entirely. The flagstones torn up and destroyed. Player bodies littered the area around the crown keeper and further down the street the flesh golem lay dead.
More players were charging at the crown keeper in a disorganised mess. The 4 players beneath it had been stomped on and killed or kicked into range of the javelin and batted away. Dune gritted his teeth and charged in, raising his shield as he did so. He felt the javelin collide with his shield mid stride. Knocking him off balance and causing him to fall. Before the javelin could come round again and finish him off, hands grabbed his shoulders and dragged him backwards. Out of range.
“Close one eh boss?” said the player that dragged him away, “you have to go in pairs so someone is there to take the hit and the other can drag your ass out.” He continued then laughed, “you got anything like a plan or we just throwing ourselves at it?”
Dune stared at the sky in silence. The player waiting for him. The shouts and clanks of the battle filled the night. Dune sat up. He watched the Boss, it spun its javelin around its self knocking away any players that got to close not giving them an opportunity to get close enough to hit it. A few players were trying to use ‘immovable’ they ran into range after the javelin went past and before it came back achieved the skill. Dune watched as the javelin smoothly lifted up and flew over their heads, then sharply struck down crushing the immobile players. The javelin continued round knocking two more players away, now no one was in range the crown keeper started to slow it down. Then someone seeing this as an opportunity charged forward screaming at the top of the lungs. The javelin spun around and whacked them over, someone dragged them away.
“Whats your name?” Dune said
“Gull” said the player behind him
“Like seagull?”
“Yeah but without the sea.”
“Alright. We need to get people to pull back and form up into groups. Get over there,” Dune pointed to a group of players psyching them selves up, “and tell them to hold on.”
Gull nodded and trotted off to do as he was told. Dune stood up and and started to shout for the players to line up. They moved into formation a few of them grumbling. Dune could see Gull doing the same a little way away. The ranged players continued pelting the boss with spells and bolts further back.
Once the players stopped charging the crown keeper it stopped spinning. It stood tall holding the javelin upright at its side and waited for a few moments. Then it swiftly changed stance and brought the javelin down in an overhead swing towards Dunes formation. The players stepped sideways easily avoiding the blow. Then the Crown Keeper swept the javelin right, taking out the entire right side of the formations legs. They fell tumbling to the ground and getting the stunned debuff. Dune commanded the rest of the formation forward and to raise their Shields. They got there just in time to stop a third strike from he crown keeper. Another overhead blow but this time aimed at players who couldn't avoid it. The javelin clanked against the the players Shields forcing them down to their knees. Dune shouted for the second group of players to charge.
Gull led them, roaring as loud as any monster, a waraxe held over his head and tower shield in front of him. Many of the rouges had ran out of throwing daggers and were attacking with him, running along behind the line of tanks and warriors. Gull swung his axe at the back of the crown keepers leg, he felt the vibrations of the hit all the way up his arm, the strike was strong enough that he took a bit of chip damage.
“Boost!” someone yelled behind him, and without thinking Gull dropped and rolled forward. He came up with his shield held above his head. He felt the player that shouted land on it and pushed upwards, launching the rouge into the air. When he looked he saw the player flipping over the crown keepers head and grabbing onto its shoulders. The rouge buried a knife into the creatures neck piecing the armour. Other warriors were also launching rouges into the air, most of them missed or only got a glancing blow. But a few managed to grab on and start stabbing. The monster roared and stopped attacking Dunes formation, instead it tried to stomp or swipe with it’s javelin around its feet and pull the players off its back. Dunes formation charged forward to join in the attack. Gull saw Dune running over towards the wizards and speaking to them. He shrugged and went back to whacking at the bosses legs.
The crown keeper continued to struggle with the players on its back until the last one was pulled off. Then it shifted it’s stance and slammed it’s javelin into the ground.
Dune started shouting, “Back! Everyone get back!” the vast majority of players listened to him. But a few stayed to try and get a couple more hits off. When the boss yanked it’s javelin out the ground releasing the shock wave the players that stayed were thrown against and threw walls. Not one of them moved to rejoin the fight. The players that had backed of started to move back in but as they did the crown keeper started to spin again, the javelin forcing the players back.
It was then that Dune gave the order to the wizards. They had grouped together and were pooling their mana into one big powerful spell. The huge beam of light crashed against the crown keeper throwing him back and spraying colour and light all over the street. The players cheered as the crown keeper lost its footing and fell. The wizards patted each other on the back exhausted. And Dune ran back into the main body of his troops giving orders.
“Attack,” he said, “lets finish it.”
They charged forward ready to lay into the fallen creature with everything they had. Swords axes and hammers rose and fell and sparks flew as the Silver Crowns attacked. Chunks of the things armour broke away under the continued bombardment. Players were roaring and cheering and laughing, some had pulled up skill windows and were watching to see if they would unlock any new skills by doing this.
Then the crown keeper moved. Fast and violent. It surged upwards throwing players back. It’s armour fell away in pieces. It’s javelin lost when it was hit by the wizards combined spell. Under the armour, white washed bones and black crawling shadows. As more and more chunks of silverly plate fell away more of the monster underneath was revealed. A huge skeleton wrapped in clothing made of translucent shadows which crawled and shifted over it. The skull grinned at them and opened it’s mouth, “the Crown is mine. I am KING” then it rose it’s two clean white bone limbs and and the shadows collected there. It brought it’s hands down in a sudden violent sweep and the shadows streamed out hitting each player, they were thrown back and their health reduced by 50% of their total. Many player just died. The remaining, noticed a debuff appear in their vision, ‘crown keepers curse’ no information was available when they focused on it.
The crown keeper strode forward. Shadows grew on its bones and formed into a long black sword which seemed to absorb the light around it. It was like looking into a hole in the universe. The crown keeper laughed, “none will survive.”
Flux stood on a nearby roof watching the battle unfold. She watched Dune get his guild under control and launch a counter attack. She watched when the boss stood up again, all bones and shadows. The bosses shadow attack killed about half of the remaining Silver Crowns. She wasn’t sure were the rest of the guild was, likely out hunting or still exploring the citadel. Completely unaware of the terrifying monster lose in their city. She wondered what they would come back too. Down the street away from the fighting lay a dead flesh golem. This interested her a lot more than the fighting that was going on. Dune was trying to get his forces to regroup but the boss was among them swinging A new black sword in great sweeps and disrupting any hope of forming a line.
Flux watched this for a moment, making sure everyone was thoroughly occupied, before leaping down down to street level. All the blood she had absorbed had made her as agile as any rouge and strong as any tank. Though she had hit a point of diminishing returns. She ran silently over to the dead flesh golem and sat behind it. Pulling up her skill menu and materialising the book she started to flip through both till she found what she was looking for.
‘Rule of blood’
‘This skill allows the user to control untamed constructs so long as they
Are made primarily from flesh and bone (other skills may be required to
Create these constructs)’
Flux grinned and read the passage in the book. The skill lit up in on her skill window and she skimmed over how to use it. She used a second skill she had read earlier ‘blood channel’ to resurrect the golem. Small droplets of blood streamed out her out stretched hands and into the golem. It moaned and and shifted. The hole in its chest sewing itself up. She then used ‘rule of blood’ she put on hand on the monsters side and focused on the thought of using the skill. A brief warning popped up in her vision. ‘Rule of blood and other control skills are being tested, the experience my be disorienting. The dev team recommends you move your avatar somewhere safe before engaging in combat. All feedback is appreciated. Thanks for playing.’ She dismissed the message wondering what it meant when it said disorienting.
There was a rushing sound in her ears and it felt like she was falling forward then it stopped suddenly and and she opened her eyes to find herself staring at the sky. Her head spinning from the sensation of going from standing up to lying down.
She shook her head and tried to get up. Her limbs were heavy and unwieldy. Her legs felt to short and her arms too long. She ended up rolling onto her front in order to stand. The world was much smaller than her remembered. Then she looked down and saw her body slumped on the floor. Eyes glowing a vibrant red.
“Ooooh” she said. But it came out as a long moan. She tested her arms and legs hopping from one to the other and leaning on the arms. The golem was large and she could feel the strength in the limbs. The message from the dev team had said to keep her body safe, so she scooped up her body in one hand and lumbered into a nearby alley were she climbed up the side of a building feeling a little like King Kong, except wet and bloody. She carefully lay her body down on the roof and looked out at the fighting. No one had noticed that the golem had gotten up and wondered off. They were to busy trying to survive.
The fight was not going well for the silver crowns. They had been scattered and those that hadn’t ran were being killed off. The crown keeper was graceful and efficient. Its sword cutting through players like air. The bodies burst into black shadows when they died, damaging the players around them. Dune had managed to get them all to spread out but it wasn’t doing a lot of good.
She wondered if Dune would be mad at her for abandoning him in the archive. Then she shrugged, or shrugged as much as the golem could. There would never be a better time to get back on his good side. Then again, she looked down the street towards the unguarded infinity gate. There was always that. She could leave just scoop up her body or even abandon the golem and just run through the gate. She looked from the fight to the gate, and back again.
Dune was shouting at his guild mates to fall back, try to give themselves some room. But the street they were fighting on was restricting them. More than a few players were pinned against the wall and when the crown keeper chose to attack them, they couldn’t dodge anywhere and where killed. The creatures black sword left huge black smoking marks on the wall behind the dead players.
Dune gritted his teeth. He was about to call a retreat, and just hope that the thing went back to its post guarding the infinity gate. He sucked in a deep breath ready to shout. And something roared from the rooftops.
The flesh golem that had been dead threw itself from a nearby roof and crashed directly into the crown keeper. Sending them both tumbling to the ground. The players around Dune cheered. The crown keepers sword spun out of its hand and dissolved into shadow. The flesh golem was still roaring and pounding its fists relentlessly into the creature. Its attacks were mad and wild. There was no pattern to them, not like when the Silver Crowns had fought it earlier. The crown keeper reached up and started to strike back. Black claws forming on it’s fingers it ripped and teared into the flesh golem, fat chunks of meat were torn of and flew in every direction.
Dune shouted for his guild to regroup and from up. They did. Giving the battling monsters a wide berth. He noticed that Gull was shouting at the players on the other side to form up as well and grinned. That one gets a promotion if we make it out of this he thought.
The Silver Crowns formed lose formations on either side of the monsters and watched them go at it. The Flesh Golem and Crown Keeper rolled around clawing and punching at each other. The Crown Keeper was getting the best of the exchange, the flesh golem was already missing large chunks of its left arm and torso. One of its legs had been ripped off by the crown keepers shadowy claws. Both roared and screamed. The crown keeper rolled on top of the flesh golem and buried it’s claws into the creatures head. The flesh golem convulsed and then stopped moving completely.
On a roof top nearby Flux gasped and woke up, she was panting, her mana was drained and vision blurred. A status affect under her health read ‘spell sickness’ she lay on her back and tried to catch her breath. Watching the world spin around her and waiting for the status effect to run out.
The crown keeper stood up and roared at the sky. Its bones were stained with the blood of the golem, and Dune saw many of them were cracked or fractured. The crown keeper finished its roar and started trying to summon a new new weapon. Dune yelled for the wizards, who had been downing magic potions, to attack. They combined their spell again and blasted the crown keeper interrupting the boss, the sword half formed in its hands puffed away into black mist as the bright ball of colour hit, and burst. The crown keeper went over, tumbling to the side. The players didn’t need to be told and charged forward weapons raised. They reached the monster and and began slashing and hacking away at the bones. Dune brought his sword down again and again on one of the bosses already cracked legs. Using all the skills he had to increase his hitting power. Other players around him were all doing the same screaming and cheering while they did. The femur that Dune was hitting finally broke. Snapping into two ragged pieces. The crown keeper screamed. Other bones started to break too, and each time a cheer went up from the player. From the broken bones poured heavy black smoke which pooled around the players feet like liquid. The players ignored it and kept hacking away, the crown keeper thrashing around, sometimes one of it’s broken limbs would hit or spear a player on the jagged ends, that player fell down into the black smoke and didn’t get up again.
After another 5 minutes the street was covered in black smoke. It leaked through broken houses and pooled in their basements. It poured through the drains and into the sewers. The crown keeper was broken apart and dead. The surviving players cheered and slapped each other on the back. Dune walked over to Gull and smiled.
“Good work,” he said, “not many would have been able to get a second formation together.”
Gull only nodded, he was looking around at the dead bodies, “what do you think of that?” he said pointing at one. It was moving slowly dragging itself up, the through the chinks in the armour, they could see the flesh melting away leaving only bleached bones.
“Shit,” said Dune, he glanced up at the corner of his vision the ‘crown keepers curse’ debuff was still there. “It must be that curse.” He said then he turned to the others and shouted, “weapons up! We got undead.” The other Silver Crowns were slow to react at first. They glanced around and saw the skeletons, but they were wearing the colours of the Silver Crowns. And many thought at first that they were players that had survived. The fighting and were getting up, and joining the celebrations. These thoughts were done away with when the first of the corpses lifted its weapon, a now bent out of shape sword, and brought it down on the back of another players head.
After that the fighting ramped up quickly. There were a lot more dead then there were players alive. And each time a player died they would get back up as an enemy. Dune called the players around him and they formed a defensive circle formation. Other groups of players were doing the same thing. Soon their were several small circles of players defending against the onslaught of animated skeletons. It was hard fighting, as a rule the Silver Crowns wore high quality armour. This meant it took more than a few hits to bring down a single skeleton. The small circles of players fought, a hard fight. Sitting behind their Shields and waiting for an opening and then one when presented itself they had to strike quickly. Often their blows were poorly aimed and bounced of armour. If they weren’t fast enough a skeleton would counter attack, and the whole formation could go down. Dune saw a few, overcome like this. One player not being quick enough. A skeleton grabbing or sometimes cutting off the exposed sword arm. Then another skeleton would seize the opportunity and barge into the formation, breaking it and the horde would do the rest.
Dunes formation held firm, he shouted orders to those around him. Mostly “stay cool,” “be quick,” “don’t over commit.” Gull fought at his side, sitting behind his tower shield and jabbing outward with the spike on top of his axe. It was slow going.
Flux watched from the rooftop, wondering if she should get involved, or if she had done enough. The ‘spell sickness’ had worn off, but she still didn’t have very much mana, and despite her inflated stats, she didn’t have many any combat skills that would take full advantage of them. No she though if I go down their I’m dead, and someone else might die trying to help me she shook her head, and turned away from the fighting. It was a clear night and she had no trouble leaping from one building to the next. Back towards the archive. What are those guys I left there doing now?
The fight took about an hour, and by the end of it only three formations remained. Dunes being the largest made up of 9 players. The other two made up of, 4 and 6. The survivors sat down panting. A few cheered but most were too exhausted. Dune surveyed the damage. A big chunk of the high level players in his guild dead. Another part of the city destroyed. The infinity gate open, so anyone could just walk through and abandon the guild for whatever was on the other side. While he thought a prompt appeared in his vision
‘Congratulations on defeating the crown keeper.
The infinity gate in the north of the corwn lands is now free to access
Beware though, once you pass through you cannot come back without, defeating
Or sneaking passed the gate boss on the other side.’
Dune dismissed the message and saw other players reading it or dismissing it. Many of them were looking at him or the gate down the street.
“What do you want to do boss?” asked Gull, “should we go after him?”
Dune stared at the gate for a long moment, then looked around himself at his guild mates, all looking exhausted and beaten down. He took in the ruined street, and thought about the city, still recovering from the fire. And now a golem and Gate boss attack on top of that. Dune shook his head. “No,” he said, “it’s not worth it, he’s done enough damage. Block the tunnel to the infinity gate.” He said
Gull didn’t say anything for a moment, then nodded, “all right.” He said. And started to order people to their feet and for someone to get a wagon. Dune watched him work.
He would get Goodman for what he had done. But he wouldn’t be doing that today. First rebuild, Then revenge.
End