The volley of crossbow and longbow shots streaked across the sky. Max could hear their flight feathers fizzing in the cold clear air. Max flinched as the arrows and bolts fell down on them. They struck the Protection from Ranged Weapons defensive barrier that Elderon had cast over the party. A few arrows made it through, but they were slowed so much by the spell that they were far less dangerous. One dropped on Max, but the defensive bonus that Gorgoron had cast on the party deflected the arrow, so it fell harmlessly aside.
The archers and launched another volley just as the Skarak Warriors and Ralynn Guards reached the defensive spell. They moved through the spell boundary without any difficulty and charged at the party.
More arrows and bolts struck the magical barrier.
Jahrod charged the attackers, swinging his axe about his head in wide circles. The Skarak and Ralynn guards slowed and surrounded him.
Anita lined up alongside Jahrod. She jabbed and parried with her spear, the flaming tip fizzling. The pair of them held the line of Skarak and Ralynn Guards.
“Max, cast your Shield spell,” Elderon said.
>
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> Elderon casts Magic Missile at Skarak Warrior causing critical damage.
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> Skarak Warrior has been defeated.
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>
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> Jahrod attacks Ralynn Guard causing heavy damage.
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>
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> Anita attacks Skarak Warrior causing heavy damage.
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> Attack causes bonus fire damage.
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Max shot a bullet from his catapult at the Skarak Warrior Anita had just struck with her staff.
Max attacks Skarak Warrior causing minor damage.
Skarak has been defeated.
Max watched as the combined might of the Skarak Warriors and the Ralynn Guards attacked Anita and Jahrod. They defended, but some sword and spear strikes were getting through their defense.
>
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> Anita takes minor damage.
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>
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> Jahrod takes minor damage.
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“Max, cast Shield!” Elderon said. “We will have to engage the enemies with our swords. Anita and Jahrod can’t handle them all by themselves.”
At that moment, a volley of arrows struck the Protection spell. More made it through this time. They dropped harmlessly, but Max could see the spell was wearing off. Another volley of bolts and arrows were already on their way. Max loaded his catapult.
>
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> Max attacks Skarak Warrior causing minor damage.
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>
“Max! What are you waiting for? You need time to cast it. It’s a new level of spell craft for you. If the Skarak and guards break through Anita and Jahrod’s defensive line, you will be caught in the middle of casting it.”
Max couldn’t delay any longer, but he didn’t have a Shield spell. He’d learned Fireball instead, against Elderon’s express instructions. Max looked at the line of Skarak Archers and Ralynn Guards and wondered if the Fireball might deal with that problem. But he had no idea how big a Fireball he was about to cast. If it spread out, it might reach Anita and Jahrod. He didn’t want to be the sort of Mage that dropped Fireballs on his own party.
“I can’t help Anita and Jahrod,” Max said. “We need to close in with the crossbows and longbows. The Protective shield is weakening. And I don’t think those attackers will have any concerns about shooting at their own party if they think they can hit us.”
“And exactly how are you going to attack those bows?” Elderon said.
Max pulled up his hood.
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> Max activates Sneak ability.
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>
Max ran to the side to get on the flanks of the attackers.
“Max, don’t do it,” Elderon said, searching all around but unable to see Max.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“He already has,” Gorgoron said. The Mage drew his sword. It lit up with flame, bright red. “I’ll go with him. You assist the Druid and the dwarf.”
Elderon cast another Magic Missile, defeating a Ralynn Guard that was about to strike Anita. Then Elderon walked forward to join the fight with the swords and spears of the enemy. He drew his white longsword, and he advanced.
Max skirted the side of the line of Skarak Warriors and Ralynn Guards. He saw Gorgoron was with him but then Gorgoron charged directly at the Skarak and Ralynn archers.
The Skarak lowered their aim and pointed the bows directly at Gorgoron. Max moved further to the side out of danger. The moment the Skarak shot their crossbows, Gorgoron swiped his flaming sword in front of him and created a wall of flame that incinerated the bolts.
Max reached the rear of the line of Ralynn longbows. He drew his Shortsword of True Striking.
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> Max attacks Ralynn Guard with Sneak Attack causing critical damage.
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> Shortsword of True Striking delivers bonus damage.
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> Ralynn Guard has been defeated.
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Max knew he was visible now. The Ralynn bowmen turned on him, slinging their longbows and drawing long daggers. The Skarak Archers loaded another round of crossbow bolts and aimed at the melee.
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> Ralynn Guard attacks Max causing minor damage.
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The other guards stabbed at Max with their long knives. Max deflected some attacks with his sword, and others struck him in the chest and belly, but his leather tunic and the defensive Enhance spell Gorgoron had cast saved him from anything other than minor damage. However, the hits were stacking up. He quickly checked his Health bar and saw it was half full.
He couldn’t keep taking these hits. It had been a good plan to attack the bows, but now he realized he was outnumbered. At least they had stopped shooting at Anita and the others.
Gorgoron cast a dark spell, and it drifted forward from his fingers and surrounded the bowmen.
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> Gorgoron casts Dark Fear.
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> Ralynn Guards are consumed by fear.
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Max watched the guards’ faces turn to terror, overwhelmed by Gorgoron’s dark spell. They dropped their daggers, their screams silent inside the dark cloud of the spell. They turned tail and ran, and once they had left the sphere of the spell, their screams could be clearly heard.
The sudden eruption of fear infected some of the Skarak Warriors, and they hesitated. Max attacked.
>
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> Max attacks Skarak Archer causing heavy damage.
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> Shortsword of True Striking delivers bonus damage.
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> Skarak Archer is overcome with fear and flees.
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Max moved in on the next, and now, all Skarak were switching to their secondary melee weapon, the short clubs with barbs on the ends.
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> Skarak Archer attacks Max.
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> Max takes minor damage.
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> Max takes minor damage.
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Gorgoron was casting as Max fell back, avoiding the clubs swinging at him. His health was dangerously low.
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> Gorgoron casts Flame.
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> All Skarak take moderate damage.
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As the Skarak stopped their attack on Max to beat out the red flames that spread over them, Max saw the Ralynn Guards that had fled had rediscovered their courage. They were turning back to face Max. Although they were a hundred yards away, they lifted their longbows and took aim at Max.
“They are too far out for us to charge them,” Gorgoron said, grabbing Max by the arm. “We must fall back.” He continued to tug Max. “You can prepare your Sneak ability once we’re out of sight.”
Max looked to Anita. She, Elderon, and Jahrod were getting the upper hand over the Skarak and guards. The Ralynn Longbows were about to shoot. Max gave in and ran with Gorgoron.
Once out of sight, hidden behind a bunch of thorny bushes, Max was about to prepare his Sneak ability when Gorgoron stopped him.
“You are a skillful fellow,” Gorgoron said. “I don’t think Elderon gives you the credit you deserve.”
“I think he’s guided me pretty well,” Max said. “We need to get back to the fight.”
“Elderon has got it under control. Anita is a powerful Druid, and that dwarf could take on twice as many Skarak all on his own. You don’t need to worry about them.”
Max peered through the bushes to where he could see the longbows aiming at Elderon, but the Mage was already casting a fresh Protection from Ranged Weapons spell.
“Max, you should come with me. We will move more quickly if you let me guide you.”
“But I promised Jahrod . . .” Max said, looking again as Jahrod swung his mighty axe.
“Dwarfs will always try to drag you into their battles. It’s what they are known for. That and some truly awful eating habits.”
“But he helped me, so I must return the favor.”
“Elderon will fulfill your duty to the dwarf, he told me. It’s just a question of getting into the city and bringing out the young dwarf nephew. No one is going to miss a young dwarf. He’s probably a lowly servant. There’ll be dozens of them in the city. I think we should focus on what is good for you.”
Max watched the battle. The Skarak were all but defeated. The Ralynn Guards were still putting up a strong fight, but it looked inevitable that they would soon lose their will to fight and flee.
“Elderon wasn’t honest with you, Max,” Gorgoron said. “He told you to become a Mage, didn’t he? Elderon always wants people to become Mages so he can guide them and eventually control them. But I can see your true strengths. You could have chosen to be a great Thief.”
Max glanced from the battle to Gorgoron. It was as if he’d seen into his life before his life in Eveirea.
“A Thief? Why would I want to be a Thief?”
“It is more than just stealing gold, you know,” Gorgoron said. “Thieves can become some of the most versatile and powerful classes in Eveirea. The Thieves’ Guild is respected on both continents of Eveirea, Awen, and Scarfel—not always admired but respected. I bet Elderon didn’t tell you that. If you had specialized as a Thief, you would have gained extra abilities. With Agility like yours, you’d be exceptional at Pick Pocket, and your Sneak attack bonuses would be huge. You’d be able to activate your Sneak ability in bright daylight, and it’s not just that. You could still use wands and scrolls to be a powerful spell caster without the need for the clumsy Mage Book and resting to prepare spells. I can see you are a natural; you could be the best in Eveirea.”
Max looked again to the battle. The remaining Ralynn Bowmen were taking aim at his friends.
“I can help you,” Gorgoron said. “I can help you develop your Thief skills. And more.”
“But I am a Mage now, Level Three,” Max spoke almost to himself. What did Gorgoron mean when he’d told Elderon that he could control the dark portal? Could he save Janet? Send her home . . . or bring her here? Was Elderon trying to control him?
Gorgoron laid a hand on Max’s shoulder as he watched his friends fighting. “Fear not. Even though you’ve already chosen the Mage class, with my help, you will be able to develop your Thief abilities. You will get all the girls, gold, and fame, too, if you want. Everyone loves a good Thief.”
Max stared hard at Gorgoron. This red Mage sounded just like his old boss.
“I’m no Thief,” Max said. “I am a Mage, and my friends are in danger.” He prepared his Sneak Ability and crept up on the Ralynn Bowmen.