The goblins and the orc prince were in their chamber gathering their gear. Shaymus held the one-handed dark blade the mage thief adventurer had used against them. It was light and had a similar weight and feel to her one-handed sidesword.
“I am taking this,” she said.
“That blade is enchanted with shadow magic,” Chalal pointed out. Nulrok perked his head and went to look at the blade, but Shaymus held it away from him.
“I’m not going to take it. I just want to look at it,” the goblin mage insisted. Shaymus obliged with a hiss.
Nulrok held the blade and closed his eyes. After a moment, the edge darkened even more. He took a practice swing at a chair, and the blade sliced into the wood easily and then got stuck. Shaymus’s eyes widened with glee, and she grabbed the sword from the mage.
“Sorry,” Nulrok apologized to Chalal. Just as Shaymus struck her blade into the same chair, it thudded into the wood. Not as clean a cut as before.
“How do I make it sharper?” she asked and was about to take another swing at the chair when Gilreg stopped her.
“This is Chalal’s home. Practice outside,” said the goblin warrior, and Shaymus glared at him with her pale eyes.
“You have to attune yourself to the sword,” observed Nulrok.
“What in the hells does that mean?” The demon-touched goblin growled.
Nulrok pondered and couldn’t come up with a way to explain. He scratched his white hair and thought for a moment. Finally, the necromancer floated over to them.
“It simply means just focus your attention on the blade,” said the necromancer.
“Oh,” said Shaymus, and she closed her eyes. Her face crinkled in concentration. Gilreg was always amazed how the normally distractible goblin could flip a switch and become focused on subjects of violence.
Raine was repairing the orc prince’s armor using parts from the templar’s platemail. In moments, the orc stood in a suit of mixed red and silver plates. He moved freely and grinned.
“This is good. You are gifted,” said Booger, and Raine nodded.
The braided hair goblin grabbed her sack and looked to the others. “We should go. The elves are waiting for us,” she said.
“Take this,” Booger said and tossed the templar’s longsword to Raine, and she caught it deftly.
“This is a good blade,” she observed and swapped it with her previous sword.
“I sense enchantments on that sword. It is of the Earth Magic school. It will grant you a slight resistance to attacks,” observed Chalal.
Raine nodded and held the blade with her eyes closed. It attuned to her immediately by glowing a faint golden aura. Her whole body shimmered slightly with a minor protective field. She smiled.
The group made their way outside the tower. In the courtyard, they found the elves. Annya had a red ruby in her hand, and the onyx-colored elf nodded to the group as they arrived. She closed her eyes and focused on the gem. In moments a shimmering portal of blue and black buzzed into existence. Nulrok’s eyes opened in wonder.
“A portal?” Raine asked, and she had read that such existed within the wastelands and in the dungeon.
“Lowly goblins wouldn’t have seen such as these where you come from,” Tassarion sneered.
Gilreg held back Shaymus before the small goblin attacked the offending elf. Raine ignored the comment and walked over slowly to the portal.
“I read that the civilization that used to live here created these portals for ease of travel. It was rumored that they also led to other realms,” Raine observed.
“Are you not worried about the adventurers finding these portals and then invading your home?” Gilreg asked.
“As far as we can tell, the portals only work in two directions. So they would have to find this specific one. Chalal has taken steps to guard this location,” the dark elf caster answered. She motioned for them to look around. It was true. The necromancer had taken precautions. Hovering in a complete circle around the courtyard were dozens of transparent specters. They were barely noticeable. A nasty surprise for an uninvited guest, thought Girleg.
“I bid you all farewell and good luck,” Chalal said with a bow of his bald white head. He and Annya embraced before the necromancer departed to his tower and back to his studies.
“Is it safe to go through?” The goblin warrior asked, and he had kept his distance.
“Now we are babysitters,” the green-haired elf said acidly and made his way through the portal. The other elves followed, each disappearing with a flash as they entered.
“Do not mind him. His pride over his place in the dungeons is all he really has. He feels threatened that you have gotten so formidable, and that challenges his self-worth,” Annya said.
Nulrok took a deep breath and walked through the portal. The goblin mage disappeared in a flash. Raine followed next. Shaymus, not to be put off, jumped in after. Booger was standing back.
“I don’t trust this magic,” the orc prince said.
“It is perfectly safe,” Annya assured him.
“We will go together,” Gilreg offered. The orc looked up, contemplating.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Finally, he nodded his tusked head. The two entered. They felt their bodies tingle, and they needed to squint their eyes from the flash. There was a brief sensation of falling, and then the two found themselves in a dark overcast forest. Annya arrived right after them, and the portal blinked out of existence with a hiss.
“Welcome to the Dark Forest,” the green-haired elf said mockingly.
Gilreg noticed right away that the elves had their weapons out. He unshouldered his shield and motioned to the others to do the same.
“Our camp is not far, but the Dark Forest is not safe,” Annaya warned.
“Why is it twilight? It was morning when we left the tower,” Booger observed. The large orc looked up at the sky to gauge the time.
“This area is in constant twilight,” Annya answered.
“Does this have something to do with the magical battles that tore this land asunder?” Raine asked, and the dark elf nodded.
“The forest and this land have changed. We are in constant flux between twilight and sunrise,” Annya explained.
“Your kind belongs in the Wastelands. This is above your level,” Tassarion, the green-haired elf, challenged.
“Ignore him,” Gilreg said, motioning for the group to huddle around him.
“Be vigilant. Listen to Annya, and we will find the Envoys,” he said and held his hand out. The other goblins put their hands on top of his, and Booger looked confused.
“Put your hand in, you big oaf,” Shaymus growled, and the orc put his massive gauntleted hand on top of theirs.
“Mook Req Shah!” The goblins chanted, and awkwardly after, Booger chanted the expression.
GILREG (WARRIOR)
Stats:
Toughness
Exceptional (5)*
Speed
Above average (3)
Mind
Average (1)
Combat Skills:
Defense
Skilled (8)*
Resistance
Proficient(4)*
Melee combat
Skilled (8)*
Thrown weapons
Proficient (4)
Skills:
Singing, Diplomacy, Leadership, Stealth 2
Talents:
Two Weapon Fighting, 1H swords 1, 1H axes 2, Shields 2
Gear:
Low quality Hand axe, good quality hand axe x2, Good quality Scimitar, Chainmail Shirt, (torso, Limbs), Round Shield, Steel Cap (Head)
SHAYMUS (ROGUE)
Stats:
Toughness
Average (2)
Speed
Exceptional (6)*
Mind
Average (1)
Combat Skills:
Defense
Proficient (6)
Resistance
Proficient(4)
Melee Combat
Skilled (7)*
Skills:
Stealth level 3, Mechanical, Trapmaking,
Talents:
Discern Vitals 2, 1H Swords 1, Demon Blood Ancestry 1
Gear:
Good quality daggers x3, Good quality Padded armor (torso, Limbs), Good quality Shadow Blade, Steel helmet (head)
NULROK (WIZARD)
Stats:
Toughness
Average (1)
Speed
Average (2)
Mind
Exceptional (6)*
Combat Skills:
Defense
Novice(2)
Resistance
Proficient (5)
Magic
Skilled (9)*
Skills:
Stealth level 1, History, Botany
Talents:
Ice Magic 2, Fire Magic 1, Necromancy 1
Gear:
Good quality Padded armor (torso, Limbs), fire focus wand
RAINE (EXPLORER)
Stats:
Toughness
Above Average (3)*
Speed
Above Average (3)
Mind
Above Average (3)
Combat Skills:
Defense
Proficient (4)
Resistance
Proficient(5)
Melee Combat
Proficient (6)*
Archery
Skilled (7)*
Skills:
Mechanical, Trapmaking 2, Awareness, History, Stealth 1, First Aid
Talents:
Bows 2, 2H swords 1
Gear:
Elven Compound Bow ,Defending Longsword, Chainmail Shirt (torso, Limbs), steel helmet (head)
BOOGERASHIKTI (ORC PRINCE, SUB BOSS)
Stats:
Toughness
Superb (7)*
Speed
Average (2)
Mind
Average (1)
Combat Skills:
Defense
Proficient (5)*
Resistance
Novice (3)
Melee combat
Skilled (8)*
Skills:
Diplomacy, Leadership
Talents:
Medium Armor, Heavy Armor, Poleaxes 2
Gear:
Full plate Templar armor (Torso, head, limbs), PoleAxe (Ole Linda), Javelins x3