Dreaming Orora Page 14

  “Nobody said anything about ruling this world. We just helped when you guys could not handle the Beastmen.”

  “Please, spare me the wives tales,” Ivan stopped face to face with Hok, “you Recruits are nothing but a disease, a plague forced upon our world,” he stepped closer his face almost touching the bars, “And we are here to eradicate you.”

  “You honestly think your world would exist without us? Get it in your head man, you’ll be deleted. You would cease to exist if we decide not to be here anymore.”

  “A fate far more dignified than owing your kind in any way. Besides,” Ivan stepped few feet back, “it seems our world is starting to affect yours. You are friends with that bitch that got crystalized by the Dark One, aren’t you?”

  Jack’s blood boiled and the rage inside him took over. He seldom exhibited any bursts of anger his whole life. Anger and being calculated seldom coincide in the same person. Hok jumped off his chair and grabbed the bars “You son of a-”

  Ivan just smiled from a safe distance, “Ah, did I touch a nerve?”

  Hok breathed slowly letting out the hot air, smiled and returned to his seat, “We’ll see for how long you’ll be able to keep this siege. And when it all collapses on your head, rest assured that I’ll be the one next to your sorry corpse.”

  “Hmmm,” Ivan scratched his chin, “let’s see. I have archers and mages on the city walls who need not sleep nor break.” He started counting by extending his index finger; “I have soldiers in the city who, again, can do this indefinitely. You have Recruits who are nothing more than target practice for my soldiers, and an outside world still undecided on how to attack, that is if they can in the first place. I can fairly say this’ll stay till you guys break.”

  Hok stood up, “funny how you didn’t mention any support from the outside. What, the Dark One backed up in his promise?” Ivan didn’t offer an answer, his face lacked any hint of emotion. “And I know your soldiers can hold for long and repel all attacks with the help of the dome, but can your wizard?”

  Ivan’s frowned then sighed with a smile, “I’d expected the infamous Hok Seven to find out about this sooner or later, and we don’t have an issue as far as protection is concerned. So, I’d like to see you try.”

  “Oh, believe you me we will. Remember that little disadvantage of a world we have?” the smile again went off of Ivan’s face, “we are planning to end you as we speak.”

  Few party terminologies that could help you in an MMO (it’s a free tip, on the house)

  Tank: the job usually tasked to keep the monster hate on it taking damage on behalf of his friends.

  Glass Canon: jobs capable of dishing devastating damage to the enemy, but couldn't withstand any punishment. A black mage comes to mind.

  DPS: Damage Per Second. Most damage dealer jobs are judged by this. The more the better.

  Support: as the name suggest, these are jobs specialized in boosting their party members or weakening the enemy.

  Healer: if we need to explain this, then don't play. Seriously.

  19 – friend or foe?

  Another patrol of three dark soldiers passed few feet away from them. Bale counted four in the last hour, a definite increase over the last few hours. No point in fighting them anymore, it just gave away their position. The soldiers die, respawn in their home point and rush to the area they were killed to look for them. It’s better to keep the soldiers alive and widen their search area.

  After looking around the cliff for some time, Bale spotted what looked like a beach with a loading dock. Dropping from where they stood would’ve only managed to send them home, so they climbed their way down. Not being a great climber and getting spotted midway down sent Bale stumbling down injuring himself in the process. He nearly gave the ghost when three soldiers piled on him, good thing Varga went berserk crushing every last one of them.

  Their plan went to the dumper soon after they reached the small dock. Not only was it devoid of any sign of life, but of any type of a boat either. The soldiers they disposed of came running back soon after. The second time fighting them proved easier, they had time to prepare. But after fighting the same wave again and again, they decided to hide somewhere close and avoid the unnecessary battle.

  So they stood at a safe distance, hiding from the increasing number of patrolling soldiers and waiting for any type of a ship to come by.

  “Tell me one thing, human,” Varga said after looking around making sure there were no soldiers within earshot, “how long are you planning to wait until you finally give up and kill yourself to port home?”

  “If I wanted, I’d done it long ago. I’m not the one to give up. The title of Warden was not bequeathed upon me for nothing. Besides, I’m not the one standing to lose anything if I did that, you are. You’ll practically cease to exist.”

  “I’m not complaining,” Varga shrugged, “I’ll be born back anew. Forgetting everything they did to me back there is a bless.”

  “Or,” Bale turned around to make sure his eyes met hers, “use it to exact revenge on them. Make them suffer like you did.”

  “Oh, believe you me I will, I won’t go down without a fight,” she looked at the passing soldiers with squinted eyes, “I’ll bring them down to their knees begging for mercy before I go out.”

  “You are one crazy-”

  “Here,” a voice exploded behind them.

  Bale sighed knowing what’s coming next. Another tedious fight that’ll end in their eventual victory and a repeat after fifteen minutes or so. So he pulled out his sword and charged. Varga jumped few steps ahead fanning her axe stopping the chargers in their tracks. If they could only feel and remember what happened to them last time. Perhaps it was indeed a blessing to forget what they went through last time.

  He took few hits here and there but nothing life threatening. Bale sat on the ground trying to regain some lost health. Varga sat next to him, breathing heavy. They both looked at the docks, still nothing.

  “I don’t think it’s even used,” Varga said.

  “Well, while you could be right, why would there be guards manning it?”

  They thought earlier about exploring the surrounding area for any other sign of a way out, but they soon found out how small the place was. A small wooden dock on a narrow strip of a beach followed by few feet of a green patch along with some trees, a beautiful contrast to the black rocks leading up to the fort. It provided the necessary cover for them, but nothing substantial to conceal them for a long time.

  “You know soldiers,” Varga said, “no disrespect, but they’ll be doing whatever their superior tells them. Right or wrong.”

  “Well, what about you? I thought you were soldiers as well?”

  Varga laughed it up, “Us? Orcs? We take orders from no one. Yes we have a chief, but he’s only there by force. You can ignore his orders, but he will punish and fight you for it. And anyone can challenge him to take his place.”

  Bale’s face wrinkled in confusion looking at Varga, “so how do you maintain order?”

  “What order? We are Orcs honey, we don’t know the word.”

  Bale turned his head back towards the dock, squinting at the water filled horizon. His eyes widened and he jumped off the ground, “Is that… a boat?” Varga jumped and ran towards the dock, “Damn it, wait.”

  She stood on the edge of the platform gazing towards the dot slowly advancing towards them. Bale caught up to her, “Are you crazy, they might be hostiles. Let’s hide and see.”

  “You hide. I’ll be right here,” Varga said, her eyes fixed on the dot.

  “Damn it, Varga. You are an Orc. Even if they are not with the Dark One they’ll attack you on sight.”

  She turned around, “Let them. I’ll be right here.”

  The dot got big enough to be recognized as a small boat. Good enough for seven, eight people perhaps. That was good news; at the very least they stood a chance taking out whoever might be on it. With this stubborn Orc standing to welcome them, even i
f they were Recruits, the probability of them attacking was high. Good thing the next patrol was not due for few more minutes.

  Another five minutes and the boat got close enough to view the people on board. Two figures stood on the stern looking back at the duo on the dock. The boat looked too small to have any hidden compartments or rooms. So, two on two it seems. Bale liked those odds.

  It slowed down to a halt few feet away from the dock. A man, all clad in red armor stood ahead of the dark brown adorned lady behind him. The small brown piece of wood swayed back and forth with the gentle waves below it. The man’s gaze unmoved on them.

  Varga raised her weapon. Bale placed a hand on her broad shoulder.

  “Let me guess. Warden of the east,” the man said, “and you must be Varga?”

  Varga lowered her hands and exchanged a look with Bale, “And you are?” Bale said.

  “My name is Kensin. And this here is Yayoi. Pleasure to make your acquaintances,” the man bowed and the woman followed. “As luck have it we are here to help you,” the man pointed at Bale then turned his head left and right, “but it seems you are in no need of such help. Not escaping prison at least.”

  “And how do we trust you?” Varga said.

  “You can’t, but the same can be said about you.”

  Varga laughed, “We were planning to kill you and take the boat anyways.”

  “You are welcome to try,” Kensin put his hand on the hilt of his sword, “but no guarantee you’ll be successful. Like I said Warden, we are here to help you. Should you not require such help, we’ll gladly leave.” He looked at the small body of water separating them, “We don’t need to dock.”

  “Master Kensin, we’ll be more than thankful for the help you can provide,” Bale said, “we’ll be forever in your debt.”

  Varga drew close to Bale, “save it till they actually help us.”

  ~

  For the last fifteen minutes or so, the boat pretty much moved in a straight line as far as Bale could tell. Another half an hour and they should see the mainland of the Falagan continent. They would not dock on the southern region though, The Mythic Mountains provided no availability of an easy way across, so they’ll have to sail on the eastern side of the mainland heading north to avoid the mountains. From there it should be a short trip to Bale’s good old outpost.

  Setting on the boat, Bale couldn’t help but smile remembering his old little home and all his friends. His training grounds and small little hut. Setting next to a bonfire enjoying a casual talk with his comrades. He never thought he’d miss his outpost this much because he never saw himself away from it.

  Soon he’ll be back with his friends. The smile faded from his face. His friends, murdered by the Dark One right before his eyes while he stood there doing nothing. Anger bubbled inside him. His home devastated by that army. “Any idea what befell Galawar?” Bale asked Kensin who sat opposite him. The boat was so small their knees almost touched. Varga sat next to him opposite the quite lady Yayoi.

  “Aside from an abundant number of refugees, nothing yet. News is the Dark One and his army are heading north as we speak though.”

  “That’s why nobody was around recently which made our escape easier,” Varga said.

  “More or less,” Kensin said, “I’m just surprised they let you go so easily.”

  Bale perked his head, “Do you happen to know what they want with us?”

  Kensin exchanged a confused look with Yayoi, then paused for few seconds. “So?” he said to Yayoi who nodded ever so silently, “Well, this’ll make whatever we are about to do all the more confusing.”

  Yayoi stood up and draw a small thin blade, she snapped it to one side and electricity flew through it. Kensin stood up pulling his own Katana and slashed Varga.

  Bale jumped up and got hit by the bolt flying from Yayoi’s small sword. A shock ran through him. He tried to move but his body did not respond. Must be a powerful form of paralysis.

  “What the hell?” Varga screamed but Yayoi slashed her sending sparks through her huge figure. The boat rocked right and left.

  “Keep them down,” Kensin screamed slashing again and again chipping away at Varga’s health.

  “Damn it, I told you not-” A surge of lightning engulfed Varga one more time. Kensin’s sword flashed red and struck her again and again.

  Bale reached for his sword, his body finally responding. Kensin stood in front of him giving his back to the two ladies. He turned his sword backwards and slashed at Bale’s feet stomping his foot at the same time sending more violent rocks through the small boat. Bale lost his footing and fell down to his knees.

  Kensin looked back, “finish her already.”

  Varga raised her weapon to hit Yayoi who just dashed back and began to cast. With a small puff, her body split into two. Varga’s gaze darted between the two before both Yayoies slashed at her.

  “Stop this,” Bale screamed but it was too late. Varga fell on her knees then her face hit the ground. Bale, still on his knees, watched as Varga’s body remained for a moment before disintegrating into a white smoke.

  “Yes!” Yayoi said, “Got it.”

  Kensin sheathed his sword and move next to Yayoi. Both looking at Bale from the far end of the boat.

  “You…” Bale said, “You said you came here to help.”

  “Yes Warden,” Kensin said, “I said we came to help you. I never said anything about her. Besides, it needed to be done.”

  Bale jumped to his feet and charged at Kensin. Yayoi shot another bolt and a shock jolted Bale’s body. It responded no more.

  “Please Warden,” said Kensin, “as angry as you may be, we still need you. We still require your help.”

  “You’ll be crazy to think that I’ll help you after this,” Bale’s voice raised above what he intended, “What do you even want from me?”

  “We require the dark pillar from you.”

  Bale’s eyes widened. The dark pillar? He always had that thing in his possession. Never had a use for it though. And no one ever asked for it.

  “Yes,” Kensin said, “you just realized it didn’t you? You see, while you have the item in your possession, Varga only had it as a drop. We had to kill her to get the item. And because we weren’t sure she’ll drop it, we had a friend waiting at where she spawns to kill her again if we didn’t get it. Luckily we did get it though.”

  That’s why the Dark One wanted them. That’s why the guards at the prison never killed him, but killed Varga over and over in hopes of getting the item. Bale felt stupid for not realizing all of this earlier. He felt sick.

  “But they killed her back in prison. They did so many times. You are telling me they were unlucky to get it while you did the first try?”

  “No, it doesn’t work if they resurrected her, and I’m sure that’s what they did,” Kensin said, “She had to be killed for good.”

  And that’s why they stopped killing her afterwards. It made more sense to Bale now.

  “Listen, I know you must be upset,” Kensin said, “but we had to do it. My sister is in a coma for more than a year now. The other guy waiting at Varga’s spawn point is her fiancé. A fiancé for a girl who is in a coma for more than a year. There is another guy who’s helping us with his wife in a coma.”

  “So what gives you the right to kill her? Your lives and the people you love are more important than us? As much as you degrade us and consider us just NPCs, like you call us, we still have feelings, we still lead our own lives.”

  “We know that. And we are trying to stop the Dark One so he doesn’t cause more troubles to this world. Others are helping us to stop this Dark One. And the pillars are the only way to kill him. I’m sure you of all people should understand this. I’m sure you remember what he did to your home.”

  “You need not remind me.”

  “So please understand where we are coming from,” Kensin extended a hand, “Please help us put an end to it.”

  Bale sighed, “I understand,” he breath
ed slowly calming himself. He sheathed his weapon and looked the two of them in the eyes, “I understand that without me you won’t be able to fight him,” he leaned his head forward, “so good luck doing that.”

  Bale took a step and jumped off the boat.

  So why do NPCs retain their memories and monsters don't? The simple answer is, after intensive study we, at ODI, decided that keeping the memory of an angry monster being killed again and again was not a good idea.

  While monsters can indeed level up and get new abilities, the moment they are killed they are brought back to their original state to avoid all the unnecessary anger by an AI.

  Or so we were told.

  20 – A deal with the devil

  Fitch found himself back in the cell when he logged in the next day. Still couldn't communicate and still couldn't break free. Couldn't equip his weapon, use magic, items or anything else. They got him pretty good. Darkness obstructed whatever existed two or three feet beyond his cell bars. Aside from that bitch, Tala, talking to him moments after dumping him in the cell, nobody passed his way.

  Something felt severely wrong about his situation. What part of this was he supposed to enjoy as a game? Why the hell would the developers allow this? Then again, the promise of Orora being a living a breathing world sprung to his mind. He smiled thinking about how it must be like inside that maximum-security prison, Yarg. A prison said to hold the most notorious outlaws in Orora. A prison in which no one could escape. With the consistency to which his luck progressed, he won’t be surprised to find himself there soon.

  He contacted Oz earlier to get any screenshots showing Tala and her so called brother so he could plaster them all over the net. That took him the better half of the last hour, but no results yet. It seemed people were more preoccupied by that dome. But he needed to let everyone know about them. Someone might lend a hand.