For several moments we kicked at one another, and Amara would punctuate each one with a filtered curse.
This was ridiculous. The moment either one of us let go of the banner, the game would assign it to the other.
What could I do? Wait until one of us had kicked the other to death?
Turned out I did not have to come up with a solution. As chance would have it, the solution presented itself.
The cavern suddenly brightened, and a large figure materialized next to us.
Both Amara and I paused in our kickfest to look in amazement at the new arrival.
A dwarf stood next to the banner, frowning at us. He was clad in heavy white armor. A voluminous red beard hung down to his waist where twin hand axes were tucked into his belt.
Although surprised at his appearance, it was the name above his head which caused me to gasp in surprise.
Y’Godda the Warrior King (Spirit)
“Oh, FILTERED,” said Amara.
Y’Godda’s frown deepened. “What do we have here?” he said, his baritone voice echoing around the chamber. “Two adventurers are trying to claim my banner? Yet, only one may have such an honor.”
He looked between us. “Who shall it be?”
Not realizing the spirit was asking rhetorically, Amara blurted out an answer. “Me! It’s me that should have it. The honor should be mine.”
Y’Godda turned to fix his ghostly eyes on me.
Figuring he wanted an answer, I said, “I have been seeking your banner for a long time, sire. The quest has been difficult and fraught with peril. It was by my hand that the magical seal on the door to this place opened. Only the rightful quester could do that.” I swallowed hard when he didn’t immediately respond. “The banner is mine by right.” I finished.
Y’Godda’s eyes bounced between the two of us in contemplation.
Come on! I wanted to shout. This is my quest, so this is my quest item!
I scowled at Amara who sneered at me in turn.
Finally, Y’Godda spoke. “There is only one rightful owner to this banner.”
Oh, thank the gaming gods, I thought. He was going to let me have it.
The spirit said, “This banner was meant to rally my troops during times of great strife, and it served me well.”
Until it got him killed, I thought. According to gaming lore Y’Godda overextended his troops and was overrun by some troll army. Not that I was going to point this out to him now.
“It was meant to be used in war,” he said.
Uh-oh, I thought.
“And therefore, can only be claimed in battle,” he continued.
Double uh-oh.
He raised his hands and grinned at us. “If you both wish to make a claim for my banner, then there is only one way you can earn it.”
The light in the cavern brightened, and Y’godda seemed to grow in size with his proclamation.
“You both must go to the Battle Field!”
The brightness grew until the world around me became a white void. Things were about to change, and in a big way.
“Oh, FILTERED,” I said.
CHAPTER TWO
My view-screen went completely white.
As I waited impatiently my thoughts went to Amara and what she had done. My anger toward her grew. She had used me to try to obtain the banner. Had she been stalking me, shadowing me while I worked my way through the quest chain?
Or maybe it was as simple as her waiting outside the sealed cavern until someone came along who had the ability to open it.
Regardless. Now, because of her, my chance to complete the quest had been delayed, if not outright stolen. Whatever was in store for me, I had to win. I couldn’t let that thieving elf get the better of me.
A system message appeared before my vision.
Entering Battle Field.
I grimaced with disappointment. Battle Fields were not my favorite activity in the game. In fact, up until now, I’d never once ventured into one. Delving into the role-playing aspect of this universe was why I played, not for war games.
The message continued.
Objective: Retrieve your opponent’s banner and bring it to the Battle Field’s center platform. The first player to keep their opponent’s banner on the platform for five continuous minutes wins.
Note: Only players can take or return a banner.
Use resources to build a base to defend your banner. Assemble offensive units to help you capture the opponent’s banner.
A feeling of dread washed over my like ice water. This was something I didn’t have any experience with, commanding armies or defending bases. I’d gone through my entire game playing existence as a solo player. Participating in group quests, sure. But actually commanding, or strategizing? Not my style.
This didn’t look good for my prospects of winning. How much experience did Amara have with these?
If units are eliminated, they can be replaced if you have the resources to do so. If you die, your avatar will be resurrected at your crypt.
That, at least, was good news and an aspect of the Battle Fields I was aware of. Upon death, you did not get sent to the newbie zone at level one. You could continue on until the battle was finally finished.
A line up of humanoids appeared before me.
Choose the race of your army. Each race has advantages and disadvantages, so choose wisely.
Choose wisely? I thought. I don’t even know what I’m doing!
Sighing, I called up the information on the first race, a troll.
Tall, green and with long gangly limbs, it certainly wasn’t pretty. But was it a good Battle race?
Race: Troll
Hit Points: 100
Speed: 25
Racial Notes: +10% speed when using mounts. Takes +15% additional damage from fire attacks.
Worker Notes: +5% to stone gathering.
Defensive Notes: None.
Attack Notes: +10% damage when using spears.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t quite know what to think of this information. These statistics were an extremely simplified version of what you would see in the gaming universe, itself. But here, in the Battle Fields, many stats were missing, like Intelligence or Strength. Which was fine. These weren’t the same kind of Non-Player Characters you would normally find. These were pawns in a game of violent chess. It wasn’t the tiny details which would make or break them it was how they were used overall.
I pulled up the Ogre figure. Tall, wide and brutish, it looked like something I would not want to face while questing, let alone on a battlefield.
Race: Ogre
Hit Points: 150
Speed: 10
Racial Notes: +15% damage in melee combat. Cannot use mounts of any kind. +15% damage taken by fire attacks.
Worker Notes: +10% to stone gathering.
Defensive Notes: +5% damage when close to a Unit Leader.
Attack notes: +20% damage to walls or other base structures.
Wow. Ogres, with their bonuses made them the tanks of the battle ground. But their lack of speed, coupled with no mounted units – which meant no cavalry – sucked big time.
Next was the Goblin race, who looked like a smaller version of the troll, only slightly less hideous.
Race: Goblin
Hit Points: 85
Speed: 25