“Someone claimed the bounty on the Orc Prince?” Asked Markham. The dwarf was looking up at the Quest Board. The board had quests listed on it that would magically appear or disappear if completed.

Impetitus looked up and shrugged. The wizard, Viridal, was reading a small book and not paying attention. The group was standing in the plaza of the first Adventurer encampment. Adventurers would materialize around the group in flashes of purple light from using their returning gems. These would glance up at the board and then make their way to the shops or tavern. Several groups would study the board and accept a quest.

“Boogerashikti has gone missing. Some say the Blood Fist Clan was wiped out, but none were able to claim his head,” a man with a squinting eye said.

“So, who is this Gorak the Warlord?” Markham asked.

The man shrugged and answered, “Gorak took over the Old City Ruins. For a while, it was empty and safe to travel through. Now orcs have taken control once again.”

“I reckon that will delay us,” Markham observed to Impetitus. The templar nodded.

“Where are you folks heading?” The squinty man asked.

“To the Dungeon!” Exclaimed the dwarf.

“Oh really? It’s been a while since a group has done a run, ever since that one group finished it. The Old Cemetery is where I plan to head to. I hear lots of treasure there.”

“Good luck, my friend,” the dwarf said, and the two shook hands. The man walked off.

A few meters off, Verene was talking to an elf. The elf wore a grey hooded cloak over dark leather armor. The handles of two swords can be seen strapped to both of their hips.

“You think they be joining us?” The dwarf asked.

“Looks promising. We are losing time,” the templar answered, his large arms crossed before his chest.

“They be a ranger, ya think?”

Impetitus studied the elf and then shrugged. “We just need someone to help us track,” he said.

“I’m not too keen on them having two swords. That makes no bloody sense. They be getting tangled up on ya. Sword and dagger that be fine. Sword and shield are better,” Markham observed.

Impetitus had no opinion. He used a two-handed sword. He straightened up as Verene walked over with the elf.

“This is Kithan. He has agreed to join us,” Verene said, and the elf nodded. They had purple eyes and dark skin.

“Nice to meet ya, and welcome aboard,” Markham said and shook the elf’s hand. The dwarf just came to their chin but was nearly double their girth.

“Impetitus,” the templar introduced himself and shook the elf’s hand. Impetitus was almost a head taller.

“That is Viridal, our wizard,” Verene said, and the wizard nodded at them without looking up from their book.

“Are we ready to depart?” The elf asked, his voice just above a whisper.

“What? Why are yer whispering?” Markham asked.

“This is how I talk,” Kithan whispered.

“Okay, let us depart,” Impetitus said, cutting off the dwarf from responding.

Later On

“I mean, it don’t make sense to me,” explained Markham. He and Kithan discussed weapons as the group made their way through the rocky Wasteland. Ahead of them, the group could make out the looming damaged buildings of the Ruined City.

“I am skilled with my blades, and they work just fine for me,” Kithan said in his whisper.

“Sword and dagger, or axe and dagger works. Ye can work the smaller blade around the larger blade. But two swords of the same size? They get tangled, and then ye be dead.”

Sighing, the elf drew his blades with a flourish. He did a rapid series of cuts and slices with both blades in perfect unison. The curved swords rapidly circled and passed over each other, creating a deadly whirlwind of steel. It was an impressive feat until Markham poked a long stick at him. The stick interrupted the twirling, and the blades became tangled with the stick. Markham pushed the stick further, and the tip poked the elf in the chest.

“See? Tangled up,” said Markham.

“That wouldn’t happen in a fight!” Exclaimed the elf, his voice going just a notch above a whisper.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“And what will you do against armor?”

“They are sharp, made of the finest steel. My technique allows me to cut deep. Want me to show you?” The elf asked.

“We don’t have time for this!” Impetitus cried. The others were ahead of the dwarf and the elf.

“This will take just a moment. Go ahead, elf, show me,” The dwarf challenged. He raised his shield and hammer.

“Fools!” Verene hissed with a shake of her head.

“Adventurers now are not like what they used to be,” Viridal observed.

Kithan rushed in and attacked with his blades. They twirled, and the slices came from different angles. Markham shoved his shield forward and stopped both blades. The dwarf thumped the head of his hammer into the elf’s gut.

“See? You ever thought about using a bow?” The defender asked.

“My blades are just fine!” Hissed Kithan, and the elf launched another attack. His swords clanged against Markham’s steel helmet and shoulder guard.

Without flinching or moving to raise his weapons, the dwarf glanced down at his armor. There was not even a scratch. “Maybe switching to a spear?” He asked.

“That is enough! Let us move,” Impetitus had stomped over and demanded. The elf scowled, and the dwarf shrugged. The group moved on.

Kithan gracefully navigated the rubble and rocks as they entered the Ruined City. He was in front and scanning the ground for tracks and traps. In the middle were Verene and Impetitus. Taking up the rear was the dwarf and the wizard. The dwarf had a hard time over some of the larger boulders. The wizard stayed close to the defender.

“Shouldn’t you be searching for traps?” Impetitus asked the mage thief.

“That’s why we have him,” she said, motioning toward the elf.

“What exactly is your role then?”

Verene didn’t answer but rolled her eyes and walked faster ahead of the templar. The group was entirely inside the city ruins. Large imposing buildings stood on either side of them, casting dark shadows. Markham unshouldered his shield and selected his warhammer from his arsenal of weapons. Orcs were usually heavily armored, so the warhammer was best suited against them. Viridal had put his book away and paid more attention, staying close to the dwarf. Verene and Impetitus drew their weapons as Kithan raised his hand, motioning the others to stop.

“Orcs,” he whispered, motioning to the tracks that only he was able to discern. The group moved cautiously. The elf took the lead, scanning their surroundings. A crossbow bolt thudded into the rock in front of Kithan’s face.

“We have been spotted,” he whispered.

“You think!?!?” Exclaimed Markham.

A LITTLE LATER

The five rushed as fast as they could through the ancient alleyways of the ruined city. Orc warriors were leaping down from the collapsed buildings on their sides, and some were firing crossbows at the party. They were surrounded.

Verene completed an incantation and brought her right hand to her forehead. Splitting from the mage thief’s body were four identical copies of her. They all rushed forward and confused the archers on which one to attack. Impetitus swung his massive two-handed sword in powerful arcs, cutting down orc warriors as they tried to engage him. Kithan was doing pretty well with his twin blades, ducking and slicing with deadly accuracy. One orc fell, gurgling to the ground holding its bloody neck.

“Why did we even bother getting da elf if we were going to walk right into ambushes anyway?” Markham asked as he raised his shield, intercepting two bolts aimed at the wizard. The dwarf shifted his shield to the side so he could cave in the head of an orc warrior with his warhammer.

On the rooftops, Verene appeared behind two of their crossbow attackers. She cut them down before they realized she was there. In front of the group, the alleyway opened into a rubble-filled plaza. The opening was quickly covered with a horde of angry orcs. The group’s exit was blocked off. Impetitus parried an axe swing and stabbed the orc through the neck.

“Viridal, can you do something, please?” the templar queried.

“Oh, very well,” the mage said with a sigh.

He chanted while completing a series of complex hand gestures. It ended with him extending his palm toward their enemies. A sphere of flame shot out from his hand, and it exploded, sending the group of orcs flying in all directions. The alley was filled with choking smoke, and when it dissipated, they saw that the opening was clear.

“Move!” Ordered Impetitus and the group rushed out of the alleyway stepping over the twitching and burned bodies.

“We are almost out of the Ruin City,” Kithan observed as they made their way across what was once a massively wide city avenue.

A group of larger and more heavily armored orcs appeared before them. They carried spears and moved fast, despite their bulk. They were between them and the exit of the city.

“Viridal?” Impetitus asked, and the wizard sighed heavily.

Completing a series of incantations and hand gestures, the wizard launched a lightning bolt. The orcs dodged out of the way as the bolt exploded into the ground, kicking up dust and rubble.

“Drat!” Cursed the mage.

“The elf having a bow would have been useful,” Markham observed, just as one of the lead orcs clashed their spear against Impetitus’s blade.

“Dispatch them as quickly as possible!” Ordered Impetitus as more orcs from the alleyway were coming toward them from their rear. The templar deflected a spear thrust with his sword, angled, and stabbed his sword through the orc’s plate armor and into their chest.

Verene completed a shadow spell upon herself that allowed her to phase. She lunged with her sword as it was covered with shadow magic. She sliced through her attacker’s armor, and they collapsed to the ground screaming in pain.

One orc rushed toward the mage, but their spear thrust was intercepted by Markham’s shield. The dwarf threw his hammer, and it smashed into his opponent’s face, sending teeth, blood, and bone in all directions.

Kithan danced gracefully around one of the armored orc spearmen. The elf’s blades slashed and cut, but they bounced harmlessly off the platemail. Kithan did a graceful black flip, giving himself some distance from the orc. He twirled his blades rapidly and rushed in. The orc thrust with their spear, and Kithan’s swords intercepted their attack. But the longer spear allowed the orc to have more leverage, and they knocked the blades to the side and completed their thrust through the elf’s lightly armored chest. Kithan gasped as he was impaled. Impetitus ran up and cut the orc’s head off with a mighty stroke. The orc’s body and the elf collapsed to the ground. Kithan’s body faded away as the rest of the group ran out of the city.

“I told ye. Two bloody swords don’t make a bit of sense,” Markham said to Impetitus.