Max dug his heels into the ground as he was dragged closer to the bank. Another tentacle grabbed his ankle. Max drew his sword as a third tentacle grabbed his sword arm, twisting around the elbow and up to the wrist, the tip of the tentacle grabbing for the sword itself. Max held on tight, refusing to let the tentacle rip it from his hand. The water shimmering over the thick rubbery tentacles formed a table of stats.
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> Name: Kamora
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> Status: Hungry
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> Attack: Tentacle Grip, Crushing Beak
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> Threat level: Deadly
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Max was lifted off the ground and up into the air feetfirst. He saw down to the deep dark waters just beyond the rocky shore. A dark shape lay just beneath the surface, roughly oval in shape, like a football but the size of a city bus. Tentacles writhed under the water. Another rose up, uncoiling slowly, the tip reaching out towards Max. It coiled around his head, covering his mouth and one of his eyes.
With his hands bound up, he had no chance to strike with his sword. With his mouth covered, he could not cast a spell. His sword, however, had another ability.
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> Max casts Sword Lightning.
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The lightning struck the base of the nearest tentacle. Fine lines of blue energy crackled over the surface of the tentacle and then rose up, spreading over the many tentacles. It spread and came ever closer to Max. He looked in fearful surprise as the beast covered his other eye. Then the lightning hit.
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> Kamora takes moderate damage.
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> Max takes moderate damage.
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The Kamora’s tentacles unraveled as the lightning bit. Max fell to the ground, lightning burning his scalp, fizzing at his fingertips. He hit the ground hard. He glanced at the water in hopes of seeing the tentacles receding as he rushed back from the water’s edge but was left disappointed and afraid as yet more tentacles emerged along with the huge head of the beast.
The oval-shaped head was black with purple splotches. It was domed slightly at its center. A set of huge eyes looked at Max. The mouth surrounded by hundreds of short fine tentacles opened to reveal a bright-white beak. The two huge parts of the beak were wide and sharp, a vicious hooked tip in the center. The lightning flickered over the body still, and the beak chattered with a sound like two huge rocks being smashed together repeatedly.
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> Max casts Magic Missile.
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> Kamora takes moderate damage.
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Max scuttled backwards and cast again. A second volley of magic missiles slammed into the beast, vaporizing the water on its black slimy skin.
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> Kamora attacks Max.
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A tentacle shot towards Max. He rolled aside and avoided the tentacle, only to be ensnared by a second one. He felt the power of the beast as it lifted him, crushing him. His ribs close to breaking.
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> Max takes moderate damage.
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Max turned his sword and held it two-handed with the point downward. He lifted and then stabbed down into the tentacle holding him.
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> Max attacks Kamora.
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> Kamora takes moderate damage.
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> Bonus Lightning damage.
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The tentacle unraveled and Max fell. Before he could hit the ground, he was grabbed around the legs by another tentacle and yanked upwards.
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> Kamora attacks Max.
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> Max takes minor damage.
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Max was lifted up and hung upside down. He hacked at the tentacle holding his ankles and struck a good blow.
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> Max attacks Kamora.
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> Kamora takes moderate damage.
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> Bonus Lightning damage.
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The creature was not giving up its prize so easily this time. Maybe it had become accustomed to the sting of the lightning. Max was drawn out over the water. He looked down and saw the wide head roll over so the beak was pointed upwards. Max was brought over the top of the beak as it repeatedly and rapidly clacked together in anticipation.
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> Max casts Fireball.
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Max aimed the fireball at the beast and struck it in the open beak.
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> Kamora takes heavy damage.
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The fireball expanded upward as the kamora sunk beneath the surface. Max turned to avoid the fireball, shielding his face with his arms.
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> Max takes moderate damage.
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> Max heavily injured.
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Max had to stop damaging himself, although it looked likely he would not have another chance. The kamora was still merely badly injured by all of Max’s attacks and still had about half its Health left. Then the huge head resurfaced; the fireball damage had been done. The beak opened. Max was lowered to the beast’s mouth.
Max held his sword out, ready to deliver a stinging blow, hopefully enough to delay the final crushing bite. Then the tentacle quivered, and Max felt the grip loosen. Max saw the crossbow bolt sticking out of the tentacle an inch from his ankle. Then a second bolt thudded home.
Max turned to see Jahrod loading another bolt to his crossbow. Anita was casting a spell. An insect swarm leapt away from her hands, a tight ball of tiny buzzing creatures that landed on the face of the kamora and began biting and stinging, repeatedly delivering minor damage. The beast again retreated beneath the surface of the water but tightened its grip on Max’s ankle.
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> Max takes minor damage.
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> Health critical.
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Max placed the sword blade on the tentacle and started sawing back and forth. Another crossbow bolt struck. Magic missiles from Elderon slammed into the beast. The tentacle released Max, and he fell to the water.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Under the water, Max saw the white beak come towards him. He tried to swim backwards. He felt a hand grab his collar and pull him with a mighty jerk, flinging him to the bank. As he landed, he saw Jahrod, waist-deep in water. He was hurrying backward, his axe hacking at any tentacles that came close to him. He backed off rapidly and clambered up onto the bank.
Elderon cast a Cold spell and the surface of the water around the beast froze, tentacles trapped above the ice, the head trapped below, both thrashing about and trying to break the ice that had it bound.
Jahrod ran from the water’s edge, backing off, furiously wiping the water from his beard and stripping off his wet clothes. He was yelping in pain as he tore his clothes off. He hopped as he tried to pull off a boot. He ran to the tree line, flinging his clothes away, and then, once totally naked, he started rolling in the dirt and leaf litter at the forest’s edge.
The kamora smashed through the ice and rose up, standing on several tentacles, its wide head climbing, tentacles writhing above its head. It slammed two tentacles down on Max. Max held his sword up in a hopeless defense. It was only then he saw that a Mage Sphere had formed around him.
All went quiet. Max could hear nothing except for his own labored breathing. The tentacles slammed down and hit the sphere. The sphere shimmered and rippled. Max saw the suckers on the tentacles grip the sphere and attempt to pull it upwards but there was nothing physical for the suckers to grip, and they simply slid away.
Anita was launching bullets from her sling at the kamora. Elderon cast another Magic Missile.
Max drew his catapult. He loaded a normal bullet and tested if he could shoot out through the sphere. The bullet passed through the Mage Sphere and dropped short of its target.
He could attack out of the sphere, but he was safe from any attacks made on him for now. He loaded a Bullet of Random Effect. He drew hard and took aim. He closed his eyes in case the bullet bounced back off the inner wall of the sphere.
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> Max attacks Kamora.
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> Kamora takes minor damage.
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> Random effect: Flame
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The kamora lashed out in rage at Max in his sphere. The tentacles struck hard, and the Mage Sphere shimmered and then failed. The tentacles slammed down around Max. He took aim before the tentacles could be smashed together and crush him.
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> Max attacks Kamora.
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> Kamora takes minor damage.
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> Random effect: Lightning
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> Kamora has been defeated.
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> Max gains experience points.
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The lightning flickered over the huge beast as it slid back into the dark water, leaving a flicker of lightning on the surface for a brief moment before dissipating.
Max sat on the edge of the water panting, propped up on his elbows. He stood up and walked over to Elderon and Anita.
“What brings you to this neck of the woods?” Max spoke with a smile.
Anita and Elderon looked at him, confused. Elderon spoke. “We came looking for you. Lucky we found you when we did. Why did you think we were here?”
“I’m glad you found me,” Max said. The sounds of Jahrod in the leaf litter under the tree were strange and worrying. He was growling and whimpering. Max walked over. The dwarf was rubbing himself down furiously with dry leaves. His clothes lay strewn about the place.
“And I have you to thank especially,” Max said. “If you hadn’t stepped into the water . . .”
Jahrod growled. “I have saved your life now, Mage. We are even. My debt to you is paid.”
“I am honored.” Max saw Jahrod was in real discomfort. Anita offered him a pot of ointment.
“Rub it over the salt burns, Master Dwarf,” Anita said.
Jahrod pulled the lid off, scooped up as much as he could get on his fingers and started smearing over his body. He moved his long beard to one side so he could get in between his legs. He stood there, one leg held up, and he rubbed the ointment all over, groaning in pleasure. Max turned away. There were some things in life he’d rather not see. He couldn’t count how many beards Jahrod had. He was happy he didn’t have to see whatever lay behind Jahrod’s many long beards and have that burned forever onto his mind.
Max gathered Jahrod’s clothes, boots, armor, and discarded axe and carried them to him. He was bent over rubbing ointment in the hard-to-reach areas of his lower back, upper thighs, and liberally everywhere in between.
Max turned away again at the merest glimpse of a hairy dwarven behind. Jahrod closed the pot of ointment and carried it to Anita. He handed it over.
Anita wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “No, you keep it, Jahrod. You never know when you might get a saltwater splash again.”
Jahrod nodded his thanks and then walked over to Max to gather his things.
“So saltwater is really painful for you guys,” Max said.
Jahrod nodded as he pulled on his pants. “It’s not just a cultural thing like some people seem to think, that we’re superstitious or something. No, saltwater really is very painful for us.”
“Then I am even more grateful to you for saving me.”
Jahrod grumped. “What did you think, I’d just let you get eaten by that beast?”
Max clapped Jahrod on his hairy shoulder. “Thank you, my friend.”
Anita cast Heal Major Wounds on Max. Max felt his Health returning. He checked it in a table formed on the surface of the water. His Health was showing that he was still moderately injured, a good way off from full Health, but healthy enough that if he tripped and fell, it wouldn’t end his days.
“We should get back to Fineblade’s elven company. We promised to help him free his king of the darkness.”
Elderon shook his head. “The elves have gone.”
“They took a ferry,” Anita said. “I wasn’t getting on that death trap. Besides, we needed to come and save you.”
“We should try and catch them,” Max said. He didn’t mind admitting it, but he found Fineblade interesting. He was older than Max, that much was for sure, although he looked about the same age. Max wondered if he wasn’t older than all of them, older even than Elderon. But Max felt they were friends. In a sense, they were both strangers to this world.
“If we stay close to the Salt River and follow the coast, it will take us up into Deepwood.”
“Let’s do that,” Max said, setting off a few steps.
“But we will have to pass castle Deadtide.” Elderon gave Max a questioning stare. “And we no longer travel with a company of elven soldiers. Do you think that is a good idea? You have just defeated their entire army. You might not be welcome.”
Max hesitated. “Is there another way around?”
Anita and Jahrod shook their heads.
“Did we not save Deadtide from the darkness?” Max said hopefully.
“This is true,” Elderon said.
“I don’t expect to be treated as a hero but we should not be treated as enemies.”
Jahrod buckled up his heavy armor and then slapped Max hard. “You are a born Warrior, Max. Only a frontline fighter would be so stupid as to walk into the defeated enemy’s lands so boldly.” Jahrod laughed and slapped Max again.
The morning brought the towers of Castle Deadtide onto the horizon; round towers at regular lengths along the outer wall with Deadtide banners hanging limply from the flagpoles on each tower. The outer walls extended out into the Salt River. The castle marked the easternmost tip of the narrow sea.
More than a military structure, Castle Deadtide was like a small city. The huge outer walls surrounding a circular inner wall, which itself surrounded a keep. The coast path along the Salt River passed through the southern gate of the outer wall and ran through the outer ward of the castle to the gate at the northern wall.
Once inside the outer wall, Max could see the castle was in disarray. The outer ward was as large as some of the small towns Max had visited, but here, buildings were left with open doors, broken window shutters. People lay about in the streets, staring into space. Some were attempting to restore some order. They were gathering the trash that littered the narrow main street and heaping it into orderly piles, but their movements were lethargic, their expressions listless and blank.
“Last time I was here, it was a well-ordered place,” Anita said. “The outer ward of the castle had some of the best adventurer’s stores anywhere on Awen. A meeting place for northern and southern Awen, for men and elves and dwarfs and all the other races of Awen.
“I fear the darkness has taken its toll,” Elderon said. “The people look like they are recovering from a sickness.”
Max saw a man wandering towards them. He recognized the attire but not the man. Then, when he came closer, Max saw it was Gaius Deadtide.
Gaius saw Max and stopped in his tracks. Max’s hand went to his sword. Elderon held an arm across Max’s chest.
“Don’t draw your sword, Max.”
Gaius started walking again, head cocked to one side. Curious. He looked like he hadn’t slept in a week.
“I know you,” he said. He looked around him at the disorder. “What has become of our town? Deadtide was one of the great towns and a great castle.” He looked up to the keep high over the outer ward, commanding views over the Hinge and the end of the Salt River. “King Deadtide is no more,” Gaius said. “He left no heir. I am all that remains of the Deadtide name.”
“You are Lord of Deadtide now, Gaius Deadtide,” Elderon said and laid a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Help your people recover. Castle Deadtide will be great again.”
Gaius looked at Max again. “I do know you. Like you came into a nightmare and pulled me free. What is your name, friend?”
“I am Max. Max Lightfoot.”
“You are Max Lightbringer, a friend of Castle Deadtide.” Gaius offered his hand in friendship.
Max shook hands. Gaius looked up to the castle walls, still holding Max’s hand. Tears welling up in his eyes.
“We have much work to do. We do not have much to offer adventurers in the way of hospitality, but I can find you rooms in the keep if you need rest.”
Max needed to activate some spells, and a rest would bring his Health back to full, but he didn’t want to stay here in Castle Deadtide. It was too sad, even though he was sure these people had a bright future now that they had been freed of the darkness.
“Alas and alack, we must away, Lord Deadtide,” Elderon said. “We must travel to the elven city of Deepwood.”
Gaius nodded. “Yes, the elves. They are in danger of suffering the same fate as ours. I will assist you. Wait here.”
Gaius wandered off, but his steps showed a little more purpose than a few moments ago.
“Is he going to get his sword?” Jahrod said. “Do we need an extra sword arm in the party?”
Max shook his head. He didn’t think he’d know how to turn Gaius down if he offered to join the party.
“No,” Elderon said. “The Lord of Deadtide is needed here.”
Then Gaius came, walking a pair of huge hogs harnessed to a covered wagon. He handed the reins to Max.
“These hogs know the road to Deepwood. Let them take you.”
Anita walked along the side of the hogs, as big as cows. She rubbed their flanks, and they grunted gleefully. “These are fine beasts. Are they as fast as they look?”
Max looked at the hogs. They didn’t look fast at all, maybe fast at eating.
“Yes, they are swift indeed.” Gaius patted one of the hogs. “You will be at Deepwood by morning tomorrow. Then if you would turn them around and send them back when you are done, they will return to us.”
Gaius nodded farewell to Max and wandered off. He stopped to give encouragement to some aimless and listless townsfolk who after a brief word from Gaius found purpose and meaning in their endeavors. As Max and his party left through the northern gate, the sounds of activity were already returning to the castle.
“So, how is this supposed to speed things up?” Max said, looking at the hogs plodding along beside him.
Jahrod jumped up onto the back of the wagon and clambered past the thick canvas cover. He turned and reached out for Anita. She took his hand and leapt up.
“Get in,” Elderon said.
Max climbed in.
Inside, the wagon was furnished for comfort with large pillows and blankets. The front canvas was rolled up, and Max looked out over the backs of the two large hogs. Elderon stepped in behind Max and walked to the front. He grabbed a set of reins and slapped them gently on the backs of the hogs. Then they started off at a rapid gait and steadily accelerated until the wagon was moving with great speed, as fast as Max could run, he was sure.
Elderon, Anita, and Jahrod settled down on the soft cushions.
“Shouldn’t someone drive?” Max said, glancing out at the road ahead. The trees on the side of the road flashing by.
“Rest, Max,” Anita said, her arm open for him. “Let the hogs work. They know the way, and they will let us know if they need our help.”
Max sat next to Anita, her arm around him. He sunk into soft pillows and drifted to sleep.