Cave Troll

Level: 19

HP: 450/450

Stamina: 410/410

MP: 90/90

Status:

Strength: 34

Dexterity: 14

Endurance: 22

Intelligence: 3

Willpower: 12

Personality: 4

Ted ducked back behind the rocky outcrop. Heavy armor, higher level, and lots of HP. Killing it wouldn’t be easy, and with 34 Strength, that club would hit hard.

Low Personality and only moderate Willpower, though—Mental Resistance, that was where to hit it.

Ted held up the Telepathy/Hold wand and gestured toward the troll.

Gramok nodded. He pointed to himself, held up four fingers, and punched in the air. The four flanking creatures were his.

Savage Orc

Level: 10

HP: 320/320

Stamina: 280/280

MP: 170/170

Status:

Four level 10 or so orcs, all by himself? Ted held up four fingers and raised an eyebrow.

A shrug. Gramok pointed to Ted, then to himself, then wiggled his fingers down across his face and chest. An Armor spell?

Ted nodded. A silent prebuff would work. He glanced at Cara questioningly.

Cara pointed to herself, then to a small rock cluster nearby. She’d take cover.

Some of Ted’s tension faded away, and he nodded to her. With her Punctured Lung, she was vulnerable. They had this. Better that she stayed safe and out of the way.

Trolls were vulnerable to fire, weren’t they? Ted pointed to himself, fluttered his fingers in a fire motion, and then outlined a large creature. Firebolt would make quick work of it, then he could help Gramok finish the rest.

Gramok repeated the fire motion, then dragged his finger across his neck.

Message understood. Fire would slaughter the troll. Ted held up three fingers and looked between them. Both nodded.

On three, then.

First, though, buffs. Ted cast an Armor effect upon Gramok, and its teal magic shimmered over the orc’s shining plate.

One finger. Two. Three. Go.

Gramok charged forward, shield at the ready, greatsword above his head. They wouldn’t know what hit them.

Ted stepped out, aimed the wand, and pulled on his mana. Fire magic swirled in his free hand. That troll was going down.

The savage orcs roared and surged forward. They were Gramok’s problem.

Ted fired the wand first. The purple cloud flew out and hit the troll. It stopped and swayed from side to side, its mouth hanging open.

“Enkir!”

The firebolt hit it straight in the chest.

Critical hit! 78 fire damage dealt (78 resisted)! Mild Burns injury inflicted!

Ted blinked. Fire resistance?

The troll straightened up and roared. The world shook, and it lumbered forward.

Shit.

Ted pulled on his mana and readied a blastbolt.

Metal clashed against metal as Gramok fought the savage orcs, four-on-one. Scarcely fair.

The troll charged toward them, its huge club slung over its shoulder, ready to end someone.

“Ronka!” The white Force bolt smashed against the troll’s chest, not even putting a dent in its momentum.

80 force damage dealt!

Force magic skill increased 1 → 2!

Nowhere near enough.

The savage orcs backed away, clearing a path for the troll to take a swing at Gramok.

His shield met the blow. A metallic crash echoed through the cave. The blow sent Gramok flying backward and smashed him against a wall.

Smelling blood, the three remaining savage orcs charged. Ted glanced at Gramok. That blow must have hurt.

HP: 86/295

Ted clenched his jaw and readied a Lifebolt for Gramok.

Gramok staggered to his feet and lifted his sword. “That all you’ve got?”

The three orcs descended upon him in a flurry of clashing weapons, too many to block them all.

“Lunaeka!” Ted’s green bolt hit Gramok, but the heal was over 10 seconds. An eternity in a fight.

Gramok wouldn’t survive another hit like that, and the troll was closing in.

Ted needed a new plan.

He activated Mind Over Body. Energy tingled through him as he sped behind the troll. His heart raced, and he bellowed, “Fight me!”

The troll turned and raised its club.

Ted dove forward and rolled between its feet, narrowly avoiding the crash behind him.

He rose, spun, and leaped onto the troll’s gnarly back, bounding up the rocks jutting out its back.

It roared and flailed helplessly with arms that couldn’t reach him.

Ted drew his falchion. It was time to finish this.

The troll jerked back and forth, trying to throw Ted off.

Ted tumbled. His hand shot out, only just finding purchase.

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He pulled himself up and stabbed at the beast’s neck. Might as well have stabbed a cliff.

Glancing blow! 5 piercing damage dealt!

He pulled himself up higher, narrowly dodging another grasping hand.

An orc screamed below. Gramok would be fine, so long as Ted could deal with the troll.

What might work? Ice. Water. Telepathic blast. Everything he didn’t have. Calm Creature?

A stone grip grabbed at his arm. He tugged it free, just in time to avoid his limb being crushed.

He didn’t have any better ideas. Calm creature it was.

Another orc cry was cut short, and the resounding chinks of steel against steel ended.

Ted focused on his mana, guiding it into the spell. “Wonarka!” He pushed the purple energy into the troll’s head.

Telepathy magic skill increased 1 → 2!

It stopped flailing, stopped shuddering and bucking. Its shoulders slumped, and it groaned.

Had it worked?

For now. Ted clambered down and deactivated Mind Over Body.

“Plan?” Gramok asked. His armor was battered, but he was still very much alive.

MP: 50/300

Ted took a deep breath. Nowhere near enough mana to win this fight, and any sort of damage would snap the troll right out of it. “We’re not fighting this thing, that’s for sure. Let’s go.”

They were alive. That counted for a lot. The dwarves could handle this one.

He beckoned Cara, and she started walking, slower than usual.

The troll began to stir, fighting back against the magic.

Ted’s heart squeezed tight. Could she make it with her injury?

Come on, Cara!

The beast roared and slammed its club into the ground.

Ted gulped. “Run!”

Cara sped up. Her face clenched, even just walking fast. She’d never make it.

How to stop it? A cave-in?

Too dangerous, it’d bury them all.

No, they had to kill it. He checked its hit points.

HP: 437/450

Shit. The troll had some kind of regeneration, it had to.

It turned on Cara and advanced, rapidly building speed.

Wearing it down wasn’t an option. Cara couldn’t run. His mana was almost out. That left one option—distracting it. “Go, I’ll lead it away.”

“Ted—” Her face scrunched up, but she nodded, and moved a little faster. “Go.”

He ran past her. His muscles burned, but he kept going. “Fight me!”

The troll turned on him and charged.

He shuddered to a halt, pulled on his mana, and cast Teleport (Short).

The troll swung its club.

“Raka-fa!”

Ted’s stomach jerked. The world shifted. He slashed behind him at the troll, just to make sure he had its attention, and broke into a sprint in the opposite direction.

He glanced back. The troll had turned. It was still following him, charging toward him.

The ground shook. The footfalls grew louder.

How long could he keep this up for? He couldn’t safely cast and keep running, but stopping was suicide.

Options were limited. Stop, die. Fight, die. Teleport, get stuck in the same situation with a little less mana or die trying.

Damn it. If he was dying, he might as well take the bastard down at the same time.

Energy, Touch, Lightning. He flung the aspects together, doing absolutely everything wrong.

Loose ends? Yup. Feedback loops? Dozens. Unstable connections? All of them.

The pounding closed in behind him, closer, and closer.

He called on his mana and poured all of it into the spell.

Energy swirled and sparked in the air, crackling as it grew exponentially.

He stopped, turned, and unleashed the spell.

He didn’t feel a thing.

***

“My, my, my, death by mana vortex. A deliberate one, no less. Such a hurry to see me—I feel so appreciated!”

Ted blinked. Salty air whipped across his face. Waves crashed against the ship below. The plank beneath him wobbled, nearly forcing him overboard.

Death stood at the other end of the plank with a gold-trimmed tricorn, navy blue officer’s dress, and a host of redcoats behind him. “I realized while you’ve been gone that I’ve been doing this all wrong. You’re not a warrior, power won’t tempt you. No, you’re a coward.”

Fire burned in Ted’s chest. Hadn’t he proven himself enough? “I’m not a coward.”

“No? Then what do you fight for?”

“I’m going home.”

“See?” Death held up his hands. “The boy wants to run away home.”

The crowd of redcoats brayed and laughed.

Ted stepped forward. His hand went for his sword, but it wasn’t there. “This isn’t my fight!”

“You’re right.” Death looked away and theatrically sighed. “You’re right. It’s not your responsibility. She’s not your responsibility.”

Pain stabbed at Ted’s chest. “Who?”

“Oh, come now, Ted, I don’t need to be a god to see that one.”

Ted pulled at his bottom lip with his teeth. “Saving the world saves her. That’s how I get to go home.”

A sneer spread across Death’s face. “Do you know what broke him in the end?”

Fingernails bit into Ted’s palms. “What do you want, Death?”

The bastard chuckled. “He fought it too. Oh, yes, he did, but in the end, it got him.” Death paused and wetted his lips. “Fear, Ted.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“And you shouldn’t be! I’m on your side, Ted. I’m here to help.”

Ted scoffed. Some help.

“Fear of being powerless. That’s what had him begging me to take it all away.”

“I’m not him.”

“This is your third time here, Ted. The first was free. The second, you lost your precious Dispel. How many more times will you die in a year? In ten years?”

“I’ll be long gone by then.”

“If you can complete your mission, yes.” Death pulled a flintlock pistol from thin air and took aim at Ted.

Ted’s heart leaped into his throat. He swallowed. “You can’t kill me here.”

“Not with a gun, but how will you complete your mission if you’re powerless?”

“Enough talk. What’s the bargain this time?”

Death smiled. “An easy one, this time. After all, I need you at your best to discover what he found. Healing saved that poor orc Gramok. What has your fear ever done for you?”

Ice filled Ted’s chest. Countless others might die without the ability to heal. Cara might die.

“Your ability to cast the Heal effect, or your capacity to feel fear. Your choice.” Death shrugged. “Fear led your father down a very dark path, Ted. I don’t want to see you go the same way.”

“You bastard.”

Another smug smile. “Technically, my parents weren’t married, so I suppose you’re right. Just imagine Cara bleeding out on the floor. Picture those lovely fingers of hers reaching up, begging you to heal her…”

Ted’s heart sank. He couldn’t do it.

“Is your fear worth her life? I know you’ll make the right choice.”

***

Gramok’s chest clenched. Maybe bringing her down here had been a bad idea. “You okay?”

Cara glared up at him, clenching her side. “What kind of a question is that? I can’t keep this up.”

He pointed to a rocky outcrop. At least it would provide some cover. “Behind there. You should rest.”

Her jaw set, considering arguing, but even she couldn’t fight this one. She nodded and hobbled toward the outcrop. “We shouldn’t travel too far. He’ll need to find us again.”

“Agreed.” He glanced around. Whatever that blast had been, it was likely to attract attention.

Cara slumped against the rock. “I’m sorry I screwed up our escape.”

“At least we got to escape.” He turned away from her cutting gaze and set down the lantern. “He’ll be back, Cara. We got the XP for the troll as well, didn’t we?”

She scowled. “No thanks to me.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Was it me or Ted who spotted them first? I can’t remember.”

Her fist slammed down on his toe. “You two couldn’t find a bracka in a tree hut.” She picked up a small stone and sent it clattering across the cave floor. “You’d still both be better off without me.”

A chill ran down Gramok’s spine. “I’d be dead and buried by now without you, Cara. Those thugs weren’t messing about.”

She shook her head. “Ted would have helped.”

“Would he? I’m not so sure.”

“He’s a good person. He just… needs a push sometimes. Don’t we all?”

Not everyone. “You don’t.” Karogar hadn’t.

She laughed. “Look where that got us.”

“Saving the world? Someone’s got to do it.”

“Yeah.” She sighed. Her lips pressed together and her gaze dropped to the floor.

“We’re going to do it, you know.”

She snorted. “I’m useless, you won’t go all the way, and Ted kills himself once a week. We’re not cut out the save the world.”

“You’re not useless.” Gramok sighed. Someone had to do it. Karogar would have been first in line. He should have been the one to survive. “How about I go all the way, you stop telling yourself that, and Ted… well, we need to give him an intervention, or something.”

“Really?” Cara squinted up at him. “You’d come to the Divine Empire?”

He nodded. How had he ever said no? What kind of awful, terrible person had he become?

“The kind of person that let their best friend die.”

That voice. Gramok’s heart froze. “Who said that?”

Cara tilted her head. “Who said what?”

There! Movement. A silhouette drifting in the shadows.

Gramok drew his sword and took a step forward. “I can see you.”

“You always could see me, Gramok.”

An eight-foot-tall figure formed out of the darkness. Bulky, just like an orc.

It couldn’t be.

Cara scrambled to her feet. “What do you see?”

He waved for her to stay back. No one else could die for him. Not like he had.

“Don’t you recognize me, Gramok?” Shadowy wisps rolled off the figure, revealing it, revealing him, piece by piece. “Don’t you recognize your best friend?”

Those wide teeth. His stubby nose. That happy-go-lucky smile.

Gramok gulped and shook his head. “No. You’re dead. You died!”

“Died?” Karogar stepped into the lantern’s light. “You killed me. But you can make it right.”