Guinevere blocked the stinger of the giant wasp as it divebombed her from above the massive swarm assaulting the army from all sides. They had left the fortified walls only a few hours ago but had been assaulted by hundreds of wasps that poured out of hives they’d made in the ground.
Vespidae Warrior, Gifted- insect/giant-wasp, Mortal, Rank: 8
The stinger slid along her blade, and she used the momentum to turn aside the stinger and push it aside then struck back in rapid riposte.
“Winter’s Touch,” Guinevere said.
A sheen of ice grew along the wasp, its wings freezing in place. Unable to stop its momentum, the now brittle carapace of the wasp shattered on the ground.
Guinevere threw her sword skewering a wasp about to launch an attack against Mira then summoned her sword back to her hand wordlessly.
Jamis lashed out at the wasps that came near him but only Mira and Helen were having much luck against the aerial assault. The melee members of the party were forced to hunker down and only attack when the wasps came close.
Heedless of their own lives the wasps attacked again and again until finally they lay dead in piles as tall as Felrick. Each wasp had been at least four feet in length, not including the extra eighteen inches of their stinger.
“Should we harvest them for parts?” Jamis asked looking at the piles of wasps.
Helen kicked one with the toe of her boot and shook her head. “Working with monster parts is hard; you could use the stinger for weapons but tools like that just aren’t as good as enchanted weapons. Only savages and the chaotic tribes use them since they lack access to a steady supply of iron and steel.”
“We should get moving and make a bit more progress,” Guinevere said. “We’ve got wounded and probably already lost a day of travel to this battle, we need to rest up and try to make up some of the lost ground tomorrow.”
---
We kept moving down the hill reaching the bottom. Out of the underbrush ahead of us rose two dozen warriors in hide and fur armor with bows drawn on us. I could sense archers behind us as well, but my Foresight didn’t show me any danger, so I wasn’t worried.
“Who are you?” one of the warriors asked. He looked us over before his gaze froze on Syvia. “Syvia? You were captured, how did you get free and why have you brought these outsiders here?” he asked.
“Brother!” Syvia called out excitedly. “I have found the Warlord!” she pointed at me as she spoke.
“The Warlord?” the man, apparently Syvia’s brother asked skeptically looking me over.
“Should I use Dominion on him?” I asked.
“They might take it as a sign of aggression,” Jeriah said looking over the warriors warily.
That would make them taste better, you should do it, the voidling said eagerly.
“He is the Warlord,” Syvia said. “He Dominated me.”
“Choose different phrasing,” I told her reproachfully.
Ha! The voidling laughed.
“He forced me to follow his orders,” Syvia obediently complied.
I sighed. “I meant choose phrasing that’s less sexually charged.” I stepped forward. “I am Mordred, Champion of Kelesa, I have been given a quest to conquer the eight powers of the forest. You are one of them, take me to your leader, he and I have much to discuss.”
Syvia’s brother, whose name I learned was Hislian, lead me through the camp my vassals following nervously behind Kathleen and Katlyn still riding the cloud-doe. We were lead to a tent set into the face of a cliff, a large cave opening behind it. I was ushered forward and followed Hislian inside. Only Syvia was allowed with us, the rest of my vassals were told to stay outside.
I was brought into a cavern its sides and floor carved smooth. Furs covered the floor, and the walls were painted with depictions of hunts, battles, and other scenes of violence. A throne made of stone and carved with two wolves as armrests sat at the top of a dais a male elf with silver hair sitting it. The man’s hair was cut short, and his body was lean and muscular hide armor and wolf cloak his only clothing a long silver rapier leaning against the throne.
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Korsis the Moonwolf, Gifted- humanoid/Moon-Elf, Hero, Rank ???
This was the first hero rank gifted I had ever met. His eyes were a pale silver, and his skin was as pale as his niece’s.
“So, you are the one our goddess has chosen as her Champion?” Korsis asked.
“I am,” I said.
“And you wish to collar my clan I also hear,” Korsis asked.
He tastes like fear and ambition, the voidling commented and I heard a sniffing sound in the back of my thoughts.
“I have been given a quest by Kelesa, to conquer the eight powers of the forest, if that is you then yes, I have come here to take control,” I said.
“And what if I say no?” Korsis asked leaning forward and baring his teeth.
“Then we will fight,” I answered not blinking at his challenge.
Do it! The voidling urged me. You can totally take him.
No you can’t, Karnen cut in. I’ve already been killed once by you, don’t do it again.
I kept a straight face as the two spirits argued in the back and forth.
Korsis fell back in his throne laughing. “I like you, not even hero rank and already challenging me for position as chief. No, we will not fight today but you have not yet earned the right to lead our clan yet.”
“What do I need to do?” I asked crossing my arms.
“If you wish to be the Warlord you must be a warlord,” Korsis answered. “You must prove that you can lead an army and win a battle.”
“I’m going to guess you already have something in mind,” I said.
“The Dragon Clan have defied our ancient laws,” Korsis snarled. “It is one thing for a clan to fight another, this is right and proper; there is only the rule of strength. However they have brought in outsiders to kill our warriors and take our women. They weaken our clan without taking our strength for themselves.”
“And you want me to help you beat them?” I asked.
“Yes,” Korsis said. “We don’t have enough proof to bring to the other clans to show them the Dragon Clan’s treachery. Get proof, humble the Dragon Clan and kill their allies and we shall pledge our service to you as Warlord.”
Good, fight and kill them all, the voidling urged. Their deaths will be so sweet.
I ignored the voidling and thought over Korsis’ words. It was a fair deal, I needed to show I was a good leader and not just some random person Kelesa had selected on a whim. “I agree to your terms,” I said. “Where can I find the Dragon Clan?”
“Their camp is in the marshes along the river, next to the territory of the Hell Dragon,” Korvis said. “However, they have been attacking our camp every few days now, you are welcome to stay and help defend.”
I nodded. “I’ve heard tell that your clan has a dungeon I would love a chance to run it personally.”
Korvis looked me over and nodded. “For the Champion of Kelesa, I will grant you this favor. The dungeon has recently reset, you can take your party and run it today.”
Excellent! I’m starving, the voidling said. Fight, kill I want to your anger to fill me up again.
“I prefer to operate without a party,” I said blocking out the disturbing imagery and commentary I was getting from the voidling.
This got me some looks, but Korvis waved at his men to continue. “Do as you see fit.”
I was lead to a cave mouth, the opening of which was carved into the face of snarling wolf requiring you to enter through its jaws. I stepped past the stone fangs, my escort standing outside as I entered the dungeon. I had felt a pull to this place for a while thanks to my title Dungeon Finder.
You have entered the Dungeon, Den of the Wolf Mother, (Veteran Rank)
Dungeon Max Party Size
6
Time to get started fighting.
---
Arthur sat astride his horse. Columns of knights on horseback were lined up behind him, rows of foot-knights and archers alongside them. The army of Camelot was six-thousand strong; they would ride for the coast cross and land on their soil before marching toward the border. Once they reached it they would be joined by other companies from the other nobles of Camelot.
Beside Arthur were Lancelot and Kay on their own Gifted stallions, the horses snorting at each other’s presence. The army’s followers rode behind the army; cooks, blacksmiths, stable hands, runners, fletchers, healers and every other position needed to keep an army moving. Lionor was among them on her own horse with only two of her servants accompanying her. Noblewomen accompanying the army was not an uncommon occurrence, so no one made any note of her as they rode and marched slowly out of the cities mustering grounds.
“I’m still not sure how I feel about this,” Kay said.
“Dracon has been a thorn in our side for decades,” Arthur said.
“I’m not arguing with that but why are we going?” Kay asked. “We are champions of the gods not soldiers. It is our duty to grow stronger and fight against the champions of chaos not another kingdom, regardless of how wicked their rulers might be.”
“Do you think what we are doing is wrong?” Arthur asked.
“I think us doing it is wrong,” Kay said putting heavy emphasis on the word us. “We have a higher calling than these other knights. Our duty is to protect the world from the monsters spawned by the system and to reach for a higher purpose.”
“King Arthur needs us on this mission,” Lancelot said. “Our presence reassures the people that this is the will of the gods.”
“Exactly,” Arthur agreed.
“That’s what I’m saying,” Kay said. “This is not the will of the gods; I haven’t gotten a quest to go and conquer Dracon. This is the behavior the Warlord or Destroyer would do.”
“Enough Kay,” Arthur snapped. “I know your reticence and share some of your concerns; but this is what my father and king has commanded of me. Now are you with me or against me?”
“I’m with you Arthur,” Kay said. “I just don’t like this; I feel like this might someday result in something even worse for Camelot.”
“No one can see the future,” Lancelot said. “We can only use our wits and judgement to make our choices and actions in the present.”