The hobgoblin mage cast a bolt of blue light towards an unsuspecting fighter engaged in combat with another hob. As the light struck him, his body froze as if suddenly turned into a statue. The effect was that he was unable to parry or block the sword stroke that cut into his abdomen. After several moments, the spell wore off, and the victim fell forward, grasping at his wound.
Snarling, getting angry, and seeing the mage’s underhand techniques, SJ took off from the roof, flying in a circular pattern, and moved around and behind the mage. She triggered her identification skill as she neared and was coming into land.
Hobgoblin Mage
Level: 18
Hit Points: 105 of 105
Mana Points: 145 of 270
Armour Class: 20
Attacks: Magic
Special: Invulnerability
Congratulations! You have reached Identification Level 6. At level six, you may now select your second Subterfuge skill.
SJ had no time to even consider selecting skills and didn’t know what to expect of a mage, SJ couldn’t tell if it had high or low mana in comparison. At least she knew the health it had remaining. As she read the display, the mage spun from where it had been facing and scanned the direction she was in. Diving as fast as she could to enter the cornfield, she felt the mage’s gaze track her movement.
“WATCH IT,” Dave shouted, as a red ball of fire travelled towards where she had moved.
Changing her direction and flight path, she immediately turned back from the mage, heading away as fast as her wings would carry her.
“Well, that was so stupid, casting identification on him,” SJ hissed.
“Not the best. I did say mages usually have high Wisdom.”
“Yeah. I know.”
Where SJ had been just moments before, there was a small explosion, and the crops where she had been burst into flames, ignoring the pelting of the rain due to its magical power. Sweeping around again in an arc, she moved to the mage’s side and again began approaching, this time much more cautiously moving through the tall corn. Rubbing her eyes, she peered toward the mage but could not see it. She didn’t want to chance flying above the height of the corn due to the ease of her being spotted, so she continued to edge forward.
The cries and shouts of battle continued, and just off to her right, another ball of flame hit the ground and exploded. Considering its direction, this had not come from the mage by all accounts, and she assumed a mage in the town was trying to attack it.
“Damn. I also need to watch out for friendly fire,” she said.
“No one knows you are out here. Anything currently outside the town limits is thought to be hostile.”
“I know,” SJ growled.
Not being able to see the mage was not helping, so she gently lifted to peek over the top of the corn. The mage was busy preparing another spell, looking towards the town, and she took the opportunity to move closer again, quickly flying at an angle leading behind it. As she got within ten feet, she crashed into a barrier. Not expecting the impact, she hit it headfirst. Sparks flew, and her momentum sent her spinning and crashing to the ground a couple of feet below. Lying on the ground stunned, shaking her head to clear it, she noticed her health had suffered, losing ten hit points from the impact.
There was no way she could force her way through the barrier that surrounded the mage. Getting to her feet and moving with her claws in front of her, she prodded until she reached a point where she felt resistance. Cursing under her breath, she had no way of getting through. Small arcs of power came off the barrier as her claws touched. The mage spun from where it had been facing the town, and SJ pulled her claws away as it did. Standing still, she didn’t move in case it saw her.
A bright blue bolt struck its shield, sizzling over its surface, and the mage turned towards the town again. SJ picked a small pebble from the ground and threw it at the barrier away from where she stood. The tiny stone, in her miniature size, sizzled as it touched the barrier, bouncing off it. Another bolt flew from the town’s direction, this time yellow, and crashed into the dome surrounding the mage, the combatting magic arcing off across its surface again. The dome was not visible unless something touched it.
“How do I penetrate that?” SJ asked.
“It will be taking damage like the personal shield the mage used on the church hall. There will be a damage limit before it wears out. That is when you can take advantage.”
“I can’t just stay here waiting.”
“What else can you do?”
“Wear it down,” SJ said, pushing her claw out and into the barrier again. Staying low, she began to circle the dome, dragging her claws across its surface. The mage was casting another spell, and she watched a red bolt fly from its hand and strike an archer trying to shoot at it. She heard the archer scream as the bolt hit it in its chest, catapulting it backwards from the wagon it stood on.
Looking toward town, SJ saw the massive forms of Bordon and the mayor slugging it out against each other. The hobs numbers were slowly dwindling, but so were the defenders. Three wagons had been used to block the road at the main entrance, where the widest street was. Only the one remained, with archers still trying to fire at close range at the hobs. Melee combat was taking place, and she heard a scream of rage as one of the hobs suddenly began to spin wildly, slashing its axe around as though possessed. It had to be one of the berserkers, and in its enraged state, she saw it take out one of its own with a strike across its back, as it didn’t care who or what was near it.
The mage turned and saw her moving around the dome, dragging her claws and creating a trail of sparks as she did. She hoped her claws damaged the shield, as she couldn’t tell. It growled and shouted something at her in its tongue.
“Oooo. That wasn’t very nice. He deserves to have his mouth washed out,” Dave said.
That was all the translation SJ needed, giving her the confidence that she was impacting it. Moving as fast as she could in a circle, she was visible but, at the moment, didn’t care. The mage shouted something, and one of the closest hobs to them turned and, seeing SJ, ran towards her. She flapped her wings, taking off, switching her path, moving up and keeping her distance, and heading to the other side. The dome did not affect the charging hob, and it passed through the shield and swung towards SJ’s miniature form with a sword. Seeing the wild swing coming a mile off with her enhanced senses, she jinked upwards, the sword blade sweeping underneath where she had been. She felt the draft of the blade as it passed her within inches.
“You are taking serious risks,” Dave said as the hob turned and came after her. Her small form and level of agility meant she could fly very quickly, and it could not reach her with a swing before she was out of the way again. A red ball of fire suddenly hit the hob chasing her, sending it crashing backwards towards the mage. Its leather armour scorched from the impact of the spell. Growling, it got back to its feet and, rather than chasing SJ, waited for her to move in its direction. That was when the barrier failed.
The sparks and resistance suddenly cut out, and the hob mage screamed what she could only imagine was a curse in response. Seeing the barrier was down, she immediately turned and headed away quickly. She could not take the chance to attempt to land and to grow with the fighter and mage present. Weaving in and out of the corn stalks, she moved several feet before cutting back through them and towards where she hoped the mage’s back would be. Taking a chance, she rose above and noticed she was a little off-target, realigning herself. The mage seemed to be busy concentrating on the town again. The hob, which had come to defend it, was standing nearby, still scouring the field.
She was now positioned behind the hob warrior, which looked to be flagging since it had taken the hit from the fireball. She quickly triggered her Identification skill.
Hobgoblin Fighter
Level: 8
Hit Points: 21 of 50
Mana Points: 45
Armour Class: 9
Attacks: Slash/Thrust
Special: Nil
Being a normal fighter with only 21 hit points remaining, SJ felt confident she could take it. Switching her path, she flew straight at its back, and as she neared, she dropped and grew, being in a full run as she reached it. Her claws extended as she stabbed into its side with her left while slashing with her right. The hob wailed in pain at the surprise attack and pulled away, swinging its blade around in defence. SJ moved her arm, catching the blade swing on her claws, sparks flying, and only parrying it just enough to stop it from striking her. She stepped back as the hob staggered. Its health was now showing as a sliver on her display. Attacking and not considering anything around her, she focused on finishing the hob.
The mage struck. There was no warning. The bolt at the range she was pierced her side in an instant of its cast. Crying from the impact, SJ stumbled sideways, her health reducing by 20 more. There was little choice remaining for her now. She had to fight, even if it meant her death. Kicking out at the hobgoblin, her foot catching it in its thigh, it staggered from the blow, and she proceeded to step in, punching with her clawed fist. The hob was so close that it could not get its sword up to defend, and she hit it square in its chest. The scream filled her ears as it fell to the ground.
Not paying it any attention, she spun to face the mage. It had moved away, creating more distance from her. It was circling its hand in the process of creating a spell, a red glow beginning to form. There was no way that she could possibly survive a fireball at close range. The speed they travelled, she would not get out of the way in time. It took her less than a split second to begin running at the mage.
The mage was looking at her, and its eyes widened slightly in surprise as it saw her move towards it rather than away. Screaming, she charged, closing the distance quickly, the mage trying to finish its spell before she reached it. The mage pushed the red ball of energy coursing at her with its hand. Her senses went wild, her body reacting without her knowledge, it unnaturally dove towards and down at the mage’s side as the energy crackled within an inch of her body. Automatically rolling, she sprung up, and her display triggered.
Precognition triggered – cooldown 24hrs
Knowing the only reason she had survived was due to the dragon blood inside her, she felt a renewed vigour. Standing, she launched at the mage, kicks and punches hurtling at its robed body. The mage was not in any way prepared for melee combat, and she hammered into it, striking and kicking with fierce abandon. This may be the last thing she tried to attempt in this life, and in a moment of absolute stupidity, as thoughts rushed through her mind, she shouted.
“Record!”
“Hang on,” came a very excited Dave in reply.
Punching, kicking, twirling, pressing against the mage, she continued her onslaught, the new techniques taught by Lorna paying off in an offensive fight. Her claws did little damage compared to the lower-level hobs, but they were gradually picking away at its health. When the beam of light hit her, she initially thought she was about to die.
“It’s Lythonian!” Dave screamed.
Not being able to even consider looking, she could see her health increasing as the light struck her. She spun to the side of the mage, and as she did, the light cut out. She was back to over half her health now. It hadn’t healed greatly, but it gave her the confidence to continue.
A dagger appeared in the mage’s hand, and he struck out, unable to cast a spell to the barrage of attacks he was receiving. SJ didn’t see it at first, and he swept the blade across her, cutting into her arm. She winced in pain from the strike, taking minimal damage when her display triggered again.
You have been poisoned.
The initial damage was nothing, but she knew that if she were poisoned, she would need more healing.
“Damn,” Dave suddenly said. “Break off now. I can’t believe it poisoned you below level 10.”
SJ kept pressing.
“NOW,” Dave screamed.
SJ saw a shape moving, and her senses triggered, noticing the towering form of Bordon in her peripheral vision. She had been so focused she had not noticed the turn in the battle. The hobs were beginning to flee and move back across the field. Bordon was leading their retreat. He did not stop and careered into her, not paying her any attention with his massive twelve feet in height. She was catapulted across the field, tumbling through the corn stalks. Her health plummeted again, and she had less than ten hit points remaining. The mage had been going down, and as she started to get her senses back from the impact, she saw it running across the field behind Bordon. It glanced back at her with a look of hatred, and her display was triggered.
Commiserations! Your reputation with Iratu the Mad has been reduced to Disliked.
She lay back in the cornfield with her body feeling like a charging rhino had hit it.
“Stay awake,” Dave said.
Her eyes felt heavy, and her health was ticking down from the poison, feeling it burn inside her. She only had four hit points remaining, and unless she received healing, she would die. As her health reached two hit points, she spoke to Dave.
“I will see you in the white room,” she said.
“No, you won’t,” Dave replied. “You are now out of active combat.”
“What?” SJ replied groggily.
“Look at your health.”
Her health remained at two. It appeared to try to tick down and then remained at two hit points, not going lower.
“What’s happening?”
“It’s your blood, the healing symbiosis. Thankfully, the poison is not as strong as many can be.”
Having completely forgotten about the increased healing she had earned from the dragon blood, she suddenly realised it was keeping her alive, counteracting the poison’s damage.
Hearing shouting and calls, she tried to stand, unable to do so in her battered state as she realised that her leg was pointing at a rather obscure angle. Shouting weakly, she called out as bodies from the town moved out into the field. She lay her head back on the soaked earth, the rain still heavy, splashing her face, not caring now, just wanting to lie there. Pain seeped through her body, the poison setting her nerves on fire as it tried to attack, her dragon blood fighting back. It felt as though small explosions erupted inside her.
A face appeared above her, one she didn’t recognise, but it cried out, finding her. “I found her, over here quick.”
Another face peered down, belonging to a human with a thick beard and moustache of brilliant white. The man was wearing plate armour and carrying a spear as he began to chant, placing his hand on her chest. She felt the warmth seeping into her, her health improving slowly but not as expected.
“She is poisoned,” the man said. “Get Tilly here now.”
SJ couldn’t focus properly; the pain was too intense. She was forcibly sat upright, crying in pain at the movement as the cold of a glass vial met her lips. The liquid was being poured into her mouth. Drinking greedily, the sweet-tasting liquid smelling of cotton candy.
“She will be good in a moment. Then you can heal her again,” a female voice said.
The white-haired man again placed his hand on her chest, and the warmth returned to her body, this time flooding her. It felt as though she had been hit with an adrenaline shot. Her leg suddenly realigned, feeling no pain as it did, and her health increased rapidly. It took moments for her to be brought back up to her maximum hit points. Feeling energized beyond anything she had felt before, she suddenly sprang up.
“There we go,” the white-haired man said, chuckling. “That’s the reaction I expect.”
With wide-open eyes, SJ stared at the man before speaking very quickly.
“Thank you,”
“I haven’t seen that in a long time,” Dave said.
SJ couldn’t reply with three people literally within a foot of her.
“Are you feeling ok now?” the female asked.
“Yes. I think so. I feel like I have just drunk two pots of coffee.”
“That will wear off in a moment,” she replied.
As she took in the scenes of the cornfield, she realised that a line of townsfolk was slowly working their way across them. They had now passed by where she had been lying. Standing in the centre of the line was Captain Broadaxe. She watched as he suddenly swung his great axe down and heard a scream before silence again.
“After battle is never pleasant,” Dave said, seeming to pick up on what SJ had been thinking.
The giddiness of the healing spell began to fade, and her vision cleared fully, her head calming.
“Thank you all for healing me,” SJ said, looking at the three standing by her.
“The thanks go to you. If you had not distracted that mage, the mayor wouldn’t have managed to get to Bordon. The mage always casts some form of invulnerability on him. It didn’t matter what he hit Bordon with we couldn’t break his skin. As soon as the mage’s shield failed, he lost it, and the mayor began to damage him, forcing him to pull back and retreat.”
“Oh!” SJ exclaimed in shock at the revelation. She had no concept of her impact on the battle.
“Mayor Maxwell is just being treated but asked that you be brought to the barracks as soon as you are fit,” the human man said.
Looking back at the line still moving across the field in the pouring rain, she considered her response. “I should go help.”
“You have done enough,” the woman said, taking her by the elbow and slowly turning her back towards town.
“I stopped recording and watched it back. You were a whirling dervish—very impressive for your level. I can’t wait for you to get stronger. Hopefully, one day, you will be able to watch it back, and I will definitely be sharing it on our social network,” Dave said excitedly.
SJ smiled at his comment as she began walking back into town.
The raid had been thwarted, but the hobs were still out there.
