The Dragon's Revenge Page 20

[Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘You’re like me. You’re from a working-class background, which you aren’t ashamed of. You’ve educated yourself though and you can see what’s going on, without showing your hand. If you know what I mean? Like me, when I was in the army: I couldn’t call bullshit on the officers but I knew some of them - most of them - were just acting. They were more concerned about how they looked to the brass than anything else. You could tell that a lot of them thought us grunts were barely literate scum.’

  I thought about this. [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Can I tell you a story?’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Sure, we have a few minutes until you can get out of your coffin.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Last year our school C team had a game of football - soccer to you - against Belrock Sud, the most expensive private school in Ireland. All the kids there think they are elite. And in financial terms, they are.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Nice.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘I don’t know how that game got scheduled, because our C team are crap and we were always going to be hammered by the likes of Belrock. It was ten-nil, in fact. Anyway, as we were getting changed, we could hear them singing: “Ten Nil. Who to? Belrock! Who lost? Scumra!” We’re from Cabra; it’s pretty lame but they were delighted with themselves, chanting it over and over. And the tone of the shouts was, like, utterly disdainful. It’s hard to explain unless you know our accents, but they had this posh accent anyway and they exaggerated it to emphasise that they were above us.

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘I get it.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘We had a lot of head cases in our team, including Seanie Howlin, whose life ambition - seriously - is to be a hitman. The lads just looked at each other, then the word went around. “Hurry up.” Quiet. Intense. I hadn’t a clue what was going on; feeling the urgency though, I hurried on with my socks and shoes. We stole out of the changing room, into their school and although most of the classroom doors were closed, we found one that was open so we got in and absolutely trashed it. I mean, everything smashed that could be and all the books off the shelves with the pages torn out and the furniture broken up even.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Hah, hah! Awesome man!’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Yeah, but there’s something else. I knew how this would look. On the one hand, we’d be heroes of a sort back in our school, which was fine. On the other hand, this incident would be used in Belrock for years to come to remind them of how superior they are. How the lads from Cabra really are scum. I could see how it would pan out over the years. The Belrock boys would end up running the country and they’d justify helping their rich friends screw the rest of us with memories of the visit of St Dominic’s.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘That’s it. I’ve seen it myself from the army point…’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Just a sec, Braj. Let me finish. You’re the only person I’ve ever told this to, because none of my classmates would get it. I think you’ll understand me though. There was a book on the floor, The Cambridge Course in Latin, Volume 1. I picked it up and put it in my bag. Later, I worked my way through all the exercises. Canis est in via and all that. So this is what they learned in Belrock, I thought. It wasn’t so difficult and I got Cabra Library to order the next five in the series.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘You know Latin?’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘More than those sods.’

  He was silent and I began to feel anxious. If Raitha was a kind of soulmate, with bonds forged over years of fighting side by side, Braja was a comrade and a mentor. Someone whose good opinion really mattered to me.

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Tyro.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Yeah?’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Astra inclinant, sed non obligant.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘They certainly don’t.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Go show our army that the General is a fool, will you?’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Can I?’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Sun is gone.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘At last.’

  Chapter 16

  Rescue

  Twilight in the shadow of the Tower of Nalinda was evidently a perfectly comfortable place to be a vampire. There were no warning messages coming my way about damage from being in sunlight. Under an indigo sky, a black crenelated silhouette stood tall above the nearby trees. Game lore said that the place was, in centuries past, the residence of Nalinda, a half-elven sorceress. Although impenetrable (for now, there was a future expansion flagged in the game notes), the aura of magic around the building allowed characters to fix their spawn points at the entrance, which is what Woan and Oveidio must have done.

  Arched, giant wooden doors faced me. They were covered with iron strips. Before the entrance was a wide grassy area and scattered everywhere were the corpses of the players in the raid. Only once the gear on them had been retrieved, or else if the body was abandoned for forty-eight hours, would these disappear. And then there were the ogres, of course. They formed a triangle. One was at the door facing me, he was the furthest point of the triangle. The other two were at the corners of the green, facing each other. Anyone who clipped up and entered the game in front of the tower would be seen by all three.

  In Epic 2 the ogre was a formidable enemy. Imagine very squat, stocky giants. Except that the faces and the bodies of ogres were more monstrous than that of giants: Neanderthal, heavy-browed expressions; dark green skin; tusks protruding from both upper and lower jaw. They had classes, so they could come with all sorts of abilities and spells, depending on whether they were warriors, hunters, rogues, or, less commonly, mages. They were tough, with a disproportionate constitution and inhuman strength. Tagged impossible, of course, as I scrutinised them.

  [Channel Raitha/Klytotoxos] ‘Nearly there,’ announced Raitha.

  [Channel Raitha/Klytotoxos] ‘Cool. I’m at the edge of the clearing in front of the doors.’

  [Channel Raitha/Klytotoxos] ‘Do you have a plan?’

  [Channel Raitha/Klytotoxos] ‘Not really, any ideas?’

  There was no reply. A swift-moving shadow fell from the sky and landed in the branches of a nearby tree.

  [Channel Raitha/Klytotoxos] ‘Hello, my old friend. Well, you could try to pull them and if you don’t get all three, I’ll endeavour to aggro whatever is left?’

  [Channel Raitha/Klytotoxos] ‘Perfect. Ready?’

  [Channel Raitha/Klytotoxos] ‘Indeed I am. In fact, I find myself full of righteous anger on your part and very much hope we can demonstrate to all those who currently have a very low opinion of you that they have been receiving a very biased version of events.’

  Righteous anger. That was me too. I loped forward onto the grass before the gate. Immediately, the nearest ogres lifted their weapons: the one to my left an enormous, knotted club and the one to my right a two-handed war hammer.

  ‘Good evening. I bring greetings from Mikarkathat.’ I raised my snout in what I hoped would seem like a salute. ‘And orders to all her followers to gather at Fort Hellsmouth, since an army of enemies is approaching.’

  ‘Ogre has order. Ogre never ever leave,’ said the one on my left. I looked at his companion, who nodded. Then to the Ogre Mage in front of the door.

  Suspicious and careful - raising a gnarled hand high as if to throw out a Fireball or other magic dart - the Ogre Mage said, ‘We have orders.’

  ‘Indeed. And you have obeyed them admirably.’ I sniffed at all the bodies. ‘Mikarkathat is extremely pleased with you. Now, however, she needs you at Fort Hellsmouth.’

  By way of response the Ogre Mage snorted loudly and spat a great, slimy gob on the ground. Then he (or was it a she? It was hard to tell with ogres) spat out his next three words just as violently: ‘What’s the password?’

  ‘I should be the one asking you that,’ I answered at once, stalling for time. The Ogre M
age looked puzzled and pulled back his lips, fangs opening in a snarl. Then inspiration struck and targeting him, I triggered Read Thoughts. ‘I hope you remember it. Ogres - no offence - are prone to forgetting such things.’

  The Ogre Mage is thinking of attacking you in the next few seconds by casting Bolt of Lightning and he is thinking of the word Icebreaker.

  ‘Icebreaker!’ I shouted anxiously. Then, resuming my calm demeanour, I added, ‘The password is “icebreaker”.’

  There was a long pause. The Ogre Mage lowered his arm. ‘We haven’t seen you before, werewolf.’

  ‘Yet I am one of Mikarkathat’s most trusted officers. I’m a vampire too and she sends me all over the world with her messages. You didn’t need me at Fort Hellsmouth last time; you do now.’

  ‘A vampire?’ said the Ogre Mage, all hostility gone from his voice. The other two grinned, at least, I felt it was a grin rather than a ferocious scowl. ‘Show us.’

  Which ability would do the trick? I triggered Summon Bats.

  From the trees and the eves of the tower, a flurried swirl of dark shapes swept towards us like leaves in an autumn storm. My UI flashed with a new window.

  Bat Swarm:

  Attack Target

  Conceal Self

  Fly to Location

  Disperse

  Choosing Conceal Self, I was pleased to see an impressive column of eager bats weaving in and out of each other’s way as they gathered around me. I was in the centre of a whirlwind of swift-moving bats. Neat.

  ‘Ogre has seen.’

  Disperse.

  At once, the column broke apart and the bats removed themselves into the deepening shadows of the forest and tower roof.

  ‘Ogre leaves to fight the enemy at Fort Hellsmouth.’ This was the one to my left, with the club, who had previously expressed his determination to stay.

  ‘Farewell, wolf vampire,’ said the mage, departing his post. The other ogre turned away too and as soon as they were lost in the trees, I contacted Braja, feeling a tremble of delight run right through my body.

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘Call them in.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘You’ve drawn them away? Are you immune to their attacks? It worked?’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘I managed to fool them into leaving. Don’t think I’ve got any aggro.’

  I heard him chuckle. [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘I wish I could go tell Blackridge, but he’s still in the game.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘While you are out, Braja, can you round up the seven players at Middlehampton? I’ll go there next.’

  [Channel Klytotoxos/Braja] ‘On it.’

  [Channel Raitha/Klytotoxos] ‘You are a very smart player, Tyro,’ said Raitha solemnly, ‘for a while I was dumbfounded, wondering how you knew the password. Now, I believe I have the answer. You used your Read Thoughts ability.’

  [Channel Raitha/Klytotoxos] ‘Hah, yes I did. Hey, Raitha, can you group with me now?’

  [Channel Raitha/Klytotoxos] ‘It would mean leaving the raid, a rather provocative step, yet one I am willing to take.’

  [Channel Raitha/Klytotoxos] ‘Now we’ve been successful, I think we are okay. I can justify breaking up Blackridge’s raid.’

  [Channel Raitha/Klytotoxos] ‘Very well. I am no longer in a group or the raid.’

  No sooner had I invited Raitha to join my group than he accepted. A minute or two afterwards, Oveidio appeared (a Level 32, male human warrior). When he had his bearings, he started to run for the trees. Laughing, I caught up with him and he immediately started to strike at me with a two-handed sword.

  ‘It’s all right; it’s all right. They’ve gone. This is me, Tyro, hold up a moment and take my group invite.’

  ‘Oh! Man, I thought you werewolf or somethin’ like that.’

  Next, I had to turn back and hunt down Woan (a Level 34, female half-elf cleric).

  [Group] ‘I am very pleased to meet you both,’ said Raitha, when they were finally in.

  [Group] ‘You’ve no idea how pleased I am to meet you,’ replied Woan in a French accent, ‘I thought I’d be locked out of the game for good when the raid went sour.’

  [Group] ‘Me too.’ Oveidio sounded Eastern European, Russian maybe? ‘Thanks, Klytotoxos, you’re good player.’

  [Group] ‘Call me Tyro, please. I made a mistake with Klytotoxos, it’s too much of a mouthful and confuses people who are used to me as Tyro.’

  [Group] ‘Of course, Tyro.’ Oveidio’s voice dropped an octave as he suddenly became serious. ‘Tyro. I was Blackstorm in Epic, leader of Dreadnought Guild. I know you. I respect you.’

  In the middle of the chaos that was the raid, we stood still, Blackstorm and I, and for a several seconds contemplated each other. Blackstorm and his guild was famous, much better known than me. The largely Russian guild had millions of followers for their raid videos. They did have a reputation, though, for being territorial and unfairly jumping the queue for top bosses. I offered my paw and the warrior shook it.

  [Group] ‘I respect you too. Next we go to Middlehampton. I’m going to explain matters in channel Yuno. Blackridge might well freak, take it out on you afterwards. Are you all okay with that?’

  Oveidio chuckled with a deep laugh that suggested he was a fair bit older than me. [Group] ‘Hanging out with known felon? Wouldn’t be the first time. And the name General does not mean you can command.’

  [Group] ‘I am good,’ added Woan.

  Raitha added his support. [Group] ‘Naturally.’

  [Channel Yuno] ‘Hi folks, Tyro here, we’ve rescued Oveidio and Woan, who are in-game…’

  [Channel Yuno] ‘Hey there!’ shouted Oveidio. ‘Oveidio here. I’m back!’

  [Channel Yuno] ‘I’m heading for Middlehampton next. If you can make it there within thirty minutes and are willing to leave the current raid to join mine, let me know.’

  When my UI started flashing with signals of one-to-one conversations (it did this when more than one was available), I chose Sapentia’s first.

  [Channel Sapentia/Klytotoxos] ‘Very proud of you, Tyro. Well done. Have left Blackridge raid.’

  [Channel Sapentia/Klytotoxos] ‘Thank you. Here’s a raid invite, you are a group leader. Please invite…’ I looked at the list of those players wanting to talk and gave her the first six names. ‘Apologise to them for me please, I won’t be able to take one-to-ones just now. Raid channel is Rescue.’

  [Channel Sapentia/Klytotoxos] ‘I understand.’

  Having opened the raid screen on the UI, I sent a new group invite and immediately Sapentia must have taken it, since her group appeared below mine.

  [Channel Rescue] ‘Hi Sapentia, Raitha here, good to see you so soon.’

  [Channel Rescue] ‘Hello Raitha, well done.’

  [Channel Rescue] ‘Much as I value your praise, it is misplaced. Our success was entirely due to Tyro. In fact, I just watched from a tree.’

  While Channel Rescue became lively with conversation, I muted it (resolving to get a grip on it later) and opened the one-to-one I was dreading.

  [Channel General/Klytotoxos] ‘What are you doing?’ Blackridge’s voice was cold and harsh.

  [Channel General/Klytotoxos] ‘Your job.’

  I almost laughed at my own daring. It was a cheeky response, I knew, but what else could I have said? He’d set it up for me like placing a ball on a penalty spot and inviting me to kick it at an empty goal. There was a long silence, in which I could hear Blackridge breathing heavily. Then the channel closed.

  [Channel Braja/Klytotoxos] ‘Hi Braj, are you there?’

  [Channel Braja/Klytotoxos] ‘Yep.’

  [Channel Braja/Klytotoxos] ‘I’ve really upset Blackridge. There’s a chance he’s going to unclip and try to drag me out of the game for a showdown. Would you mind guarding the door to my room? Sorry to be a pain. We are making some progress here and I don’t want Blackridge to wreck it.’

  [Channel Braja/Klytotoxos] ‘No pain at all. I’d be delighted.
I just hope he tries it.’

  [Channel Braja/Klytotoxos] ‘Thanks Braja.’

  [Channel Braja/Klytotoxos] ‘Good luck, Tyro.’

  It was a relief to have someone as tough as Braja on my side. Instead of having to worry that at any second I could be torn from Epic 2, I could concentrate on the game.

  [Channel Rescue] ‘Listen up, folks,’ I announced, ‘this channel is for my instructions and emergencies only. Swap to group for all other chat.’ I paused and was happy to find that the channel had fallen silent. ‘Everyone please assemble at the bridge to the south of Middlehampton.’

  There were still a dozen one-to-one channels winking at me. Among them was that of Grythiss.

  [Channel Grythiss/Klytotoxos] ‘Hey Grythiss.’

  [Channel Grythiss/Klytotoxos] ‘How can lizardman help vampire leader?’

  [Channel Grythiss/Klytotoxos] ‘Head up a group please, Grythiss, raid channel is Rescue.’ Then I gave him a list of seven players to group with, before inviting four of the new players to my own group.

  As Oveidio, Woan and I hurried along a dark forest path towards Middlehampton, Raitha flew ahead as scout. I found it necessary to quell an upsurge of new voices in Channel Rescue. In a way, it was a shame. Listening to voices of players who were clearly feeling a sense of liberation and excitement was heartening. Nevertheless, I needed the channel for its proper purpose and once again told everyone to confine all other chat to their groups.

  After a pleasant run through a forest in which the scents of wild garlic and chives were strong in my wolfish form, the path reached a small stream. Pleasant, too, was my sense of anticipation. At last, I was getting to lead a raid in Epic 2. Soon after turning west to follow the south bank of the stream, we came to an arched, stone bridge. The assembly point. My group were the first to arrive and so while the rest of the raid closed in on this point, I studied the raid screen.

  Raid Leader: Klytotoxos, hunter, half-elf, Level 13

  Loot rights: All

  Group 1

  Group Leader: Klytotoxos, hunter, half-elf, Level 13

  Raitha hunterhalf-elfLevel 13

  Oveidiowarrior humanLevel 32