“We got a runner!” Ethan could barely make out David’s call over the chaos of the battle.
Whipping his head around, he could see a panicked looking Orc sprinting away from where his guild had engaged their raiding party.
Too far for me to get to. If that runner got away, it could easily pull another group and overwhelm them. Making what should have been an easy trial encounter into something much more deadly.
“I’ve got it.” Alera’s voice, still unfamiliar in their group yelled out as she hurled one of her katars at the fleeing Orc.
In the same instant she threw her weapon, Alera vanished with a sizzle and flash of blue light. She appeared a heart beat later in front of the runner, the same moment that her thrown dagger penetrated into its side. An upward jab with her remaining katar into the enemy's throat finished it. She paused only to retrieve her thrown weapon before blinking out again, reappearing next to Ethan and hamstringing the Orc he’d been fighting with swings of both of her weapons.
“AAARGH-“ it’s roar was cut short as Ethan’s burning seax slashed through its neck in a spray of blood.
“Brutal.” Alera said with a wink before disappearing in another flash of blue light.
The tide of battle was clearly in their favor.
After Alera had revealed herself in the tavern two days before, he and David had agreed to a trial run with her to see how well she meshed with their group. She had performed far beyond his expectations.
“Skreeee!” What looked like a flying monkey demon dove out of the sky and ripped out the eyes of one of the surviving orcs, Alera once again appeared behind it, slitting its throat with both weapons. Blood spurted out, covering Sam’s demonic familiar who lapped at it happily.
In the seconds Ethan watched their probable new recruit dance death across the battlefield, he reflected back to two nights ago. She had teased him mercilessly, exactly as she had in Grassmere, before finally opening up.
“After release, when everyone got that fucking message about being trapped, I broke down. I couldn’t handle it. I tried killing myself. Repeatedly. But I just kept waking up on the cliffs.”
“But after months of seeing players come through, I just decided ‘why can’t I do that?’ And I realized that if I ever wanted to go home, I couldn’t be scared anymore. I had to actually do something about it.”
A massive club slammed into his breastplate, a painful reminder that he was still in the midst of a fight. He was thrown backwards onto his back as yet another Orc stood over him and roared.
A bolt of purple energy slammed into its chest, halting its attack. In yet another flash of light, Alera appeared straddling Ethan, and shoved her katars into his attackers chest. The sharp metal points easily piercing its flimsy chain mail armor.
“Check out my backside later, there’s still more of these bastards.” She said as she stepped over him and helped him to his feet.
“You’re the one-“ he started to call back to her, but she’d disappeared once again. “Well that’s only slightly annoying.”
“Why do you think you’d be a good fit for Disorder?” Ethan had repeated the question once Alera had revealed herself and dropped her act.
“Honestly, I don’t know.” Alera had looked nervously down at her hands resting on the table.
That had surprised him. He was used to self aggrandizing and bragging, but Alera’s vulnerability in her simple answer was surprising.
“What do you mean?” In just a few minutes, he’d learned more about her than the few days he’d spent in Grassmere. Granted, she was pretending to be an NPC bartender, but he’d obviously made enough of an impression on her that she’d found him, albeit accidentally, and wanted to join his guild.
Almost a dozen of the green brutes were still locked in combat with his friends. David was holding several at bay with his sword and shield, radiant energy flashing with every swing of his blade. A few lucky strikes managed to evade his deflection, but his white and gold enameled armor was preventing him from taking any serious damage. Sarah had summoned large thorny vines from the ground that whipped and threw the Orcs through the air. Her entire arms were glowing in green light as her Druidic tattoos flared with the destructive side of nature.
Sam and Miguel stood in stark contrast to each other side by side. Miguel’s snow white robes were a bright beacon of light illuminated by the golden energy he was channeling. Sam, in a long black coat with feathered epaulets, cast dark purple bolts of energy across the battlefield while his familiar dove and screeched through the air. Fel corruption cracked across his bald head leaving jagged purple lines of energy.
“I probably should help out just a little.” Ethan laughed to himself as he leapt towards David.
Ethan landed hard on his feet next to the Paladin, slamming his blades into the ground. A line of orange and blue ice shards shot forward from him into the packed mob of Orcs. The frozen earth both burned and slowed the enemies it struck, enhanced by the enchantments of his swords.
“So this is fun.” Ethan said as he cleaved through the Orcs next to David. “Why don’t we do this floor more often?”
David grunted as a sword longer than he was tall crashed into his shield.
“Because we usually out level this one by the time we finish our class quests.” He answered, swinging his heavy shield into the body of the Orc who’d attacked him with the sword. David followed up with a quick thrust to the mobs neck, finishing his foe. “Shouldn’t you be paying attention to our recruit?”
“I would, if I could even find her.” Ethan said, burrying one of his blades in the skull of a mottled black and green orc. “She just blinks around, hard to keep track of her.”
Two more Orcs broke away from the melee and charged at the duo of guild members. Before Ethan or David could react, Alera once again blinked between them and their attackers. With quick thrusts of her katars, she stabbed them both in their hideous, risked faces. They fell together as she removed the blades and turned to David and Ethan.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“You boys talking about me? My ears were burning.” She said, disappearing again.
“See what I mean?” Ethan said sarcastically.
“Well, I like her. She’s got style.” David said before turning to scan the battlefield with Ethan.
“I...I don’t have anyone here.” Alera said, still not making eye contact. “I’ve spent the last nine months hiding in a tavern. Any friends I may have had here, I don’t know where they are now.”
“Your friends fit so well together, they’re family. And I don’t have that. I’m alone.” She finally looked up at Ethan. “And maybe, I’m jealous. Maybe, I want that too. Because I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
Sam was channeling an arcing beam of red and black energy into one of the last remaining Orcs. It writhed and screamed as it’s flesh melted. Their warlock grinned maliciously as his pet chittered into his ear. Next to him, Miguel looked appalled. Warlock Magic was corrupting and somewhat evil. Having just spent weeks studying the Holy Light, Ethan wasn’t surprised Miguel was slightly adverse to seeing it in action. Even David gripped his sword a little tighter at the sight.
They’ll get used to it. Don’t have a choice, but Sam could at least pretend to not enjoy it so much. Ethan thought as he watched the battle.
The last few Orcs fell quickly, leaving them standing amidst a field of dead bodies. Alera moved quickly among the fallen combatants, lightening any purses she could find while Ethan and his friends watched her.
“Thoughts?” David asked Ethan while Miguel chased after Alera to try to heal the few wounds she’d sustained.
“I mean, I’m impressed so far.” He said, his arms crossed over his chest smiling as Miguel got more frustrated and just stood still waiting for Alera to stop. “Well have to see how she does on the Chieftain.”
“Agreed.” David nodded. “You think she’s really that broke that the few copper and silver she’s getting is worth it to her?”
“Dunno.” Ethan shrugged. “Probably. She said she hadn’t actually been in the Tower until recently.”
“How do you think she got her gear then? I mean, she’s not exactly undergeared here.”
“You ran a pick up group with her, she must have just been grinding through any dungeon she could.” Ethan spat out a little blood from one of the hits he’d taken. “You mind tossing me a quick heal, Miguel still hasn’t had a chance to catch the recruit yet.”
“No problem. Toouuuuch Hands!” Holy energy surged through Ethan from David’s minor healing spell.
“That’s not better than ‘I heal thee.’” He said, shaking his head as relief coursed over his injuries and walking towards Sam.
“I thought it was funny.” David called back to him.
Is what Alera is looking for any different than what we’re doing? Ethan pondered as he walked over to Sam. He knew that Leah had been part of the group that Alera had initially run with, but he hadn’t seen them interact. The way she was already antagonizing David and Miguel was a good start. She seems like she’s fitting in well with the group, but will she long term?
“Sam, you good?” Ethan asked his seated friend, refocusing on the current situation. Cracks had appeared in his skin, purple energy contrasting against his dark scalp. His demonic monkey sat chittering on his shoulder.
“Yeah.” Sam shook his head violently as if he was trying to clear water clogged in his ears. “The whispers were just getting a little loud.”
Ethan kneeled down and put his hand on the shoulder the tiny demon wasn’t currently clinging to. It hissed and bared tiny razor sharp teeth at him, it’s eyes blood red. Ethan ignored it.
“Focus on my voice. I’m the only one here.” He said softly. Now that Sam had completed the Warlock questline, Corruption has replaced Mana Depression. The more Fel energy Sam used, the louder the whispers would grow, possibly driving him temporarily insane and attacking his groupmates. When he’d been a Warlock, Ethan had always been overly cautious with Corruption. His own familiar, a snake like demon with dozens of legs, had been extremely bloodthirsty and constantly urged him on towards darker impulses.
Sam took a deep breath, held it, and then released in a slow exhale.
“You’re doing great. Just keep taking deep breaths and exhaling.” Ethan knelt patiently in front of his friend as Sam continued his deep breathing.
Finally, Sam opened his eyes. His sclera was a vibrant purple, but his pupils had returned to their usual dark brown. The cracks in his scalp were lessening as well. His familiar scowled after Ethan, crossing its small monkey like arms over its chest and flapping its wings.
“Better?” Ethan asked tenderly.
“Yeah, thanks man.” Sam said with a shake of his head. “It’s completely different out here than it was in Efelga.”
Ethan nodded in agreement. The Warlock quests were like the Battle Shaman quest, similar but very unique to the player. Sam had been transported to a demonic dimension and forced to dominate a lesser demon there to gain the information it had. Ethan’s familiar had been more snakelike in appearance, but very vicious.
“How did you handle it?” Sam asked, concern heavy in his voice. “I’m not sure I can keep going like this, the things Krizzit says and wants….”
“Alternate your spells. Don’t use only Fel ones, when the whispers get bad, sprinkle in some pure Arcane spells. Fireballs and Blizzards. The destruction will satisfy it, but it won’t be able to sink it’s claws as deep into you.”
“Thanks. Anything else?” Sam continued rubbing his burning head.
“Remind it you’re in charge.” Ethan stared at the monkey demon on his friend's shoulder. “You bound it to you, it’s not a pet or a friend. You dominated it, remind it of that. If it doesn’t listen, banish it back to the abyss.”
“I can do that?” Sam turned his head to the demon on his shoulder who shirked away in cowardice.
“Yes.” Ethan continued glaring at the demon. “And don’t forget it.” His words were both for his friend and his familiar. If the monkey demon saw weakness in its master’s friends it would try to exploit that.
“Thanks man.” Sam said as he went back to rubbing his temples.
“Any time.”
“Dammit Alera!” Miguel’s frustrated yell echoed across the area. “Hold still.”
“What do you think of her?” Ethan nodded over his shoulder at the fleeing Rogue.
“She seems solid so far.” Sam said, still concentrating on relaxing. “She was a beast on that pull. Kind of wish I’d gone Arcane Thief instead of Brawler last time after watching her. You thinking about sending her the invite?”
“Maybe.” Ethan said with a shrug. “Still have to see how the rest of the run goes before I make a decision.”
“Alright! Stay still!” Miguel’s voice rang out once again in his pursuit of the rogue.
“I’m going to go handle that before he attracts any more attention.” Ethan said, rising to his feet.
“Probably a good idea. Let me know when we’re moving out.” Sam went back to his breathing, trying to calm down the whispers of his demonic familiar.
Ethan jogged over to where Miguel had finally cornered Alera, forcing her to stay within range of his healing spell long enough to top off her HP.
“Miguel, keep it down.” They were at the base of a jagged mountain, attempting to sneak in the back of the orcish fortress that was the 8th floor’s dungeon. “We’re too close to their encampment. You keep yelling and we’re going to have a whole lot more trouble than I feel like dealing with.”
“Sorry man, the new chick just kept running away when I was trying to heal her.” Miguel complained as his spell ended and Alera bounded off to loot another body.
“Next time just let her eat and heal herself if she won’t take your healing.” Ethan said with a shrug. “She’ll learn to wait on you if she almost dies in the next skirmish.”
“Will do.” Miguel said with a nod. “Hey, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Is it something that can wait, or you want to do it now?” Ethan scanned the area around them. Night was rapidly falling, giving them the best chance to sneak into the fortress undetected.
“Nah, it can wait until we’re home I guess.”
“Cool. We need to get moving.”